I think we all think too little of GG after last yearâs effort at LG. Likewise, we may have thought a little too much of him after his spectacular 2023 season.
Can Ratlege beat him out? I donât know. Itâs not going to be easy.
GG provides excellent depth across all 3 IOL positions, but he definitely benefitted in 2023 playing RG. You could put a kicker at RG between Rags and Sewell and theyâd look pretty good.
Then Sorsdal must be really REALLY bad.
I just read that they trained together during the pre-draft process and are now pretty tight.
This is proof that Brad realizes that Goff needs everything around him to be absolutely perfect to be serviceable as a QB. The 0 QB hits and 0 sacks are nice. But with Goff the 5 pressures will lead to 5 sack/fumbles or pick 6âs. But hey, we gotta do what we gotta do until Brad finally admits what we always knewâŚGoff is nothing more than a bridge QB.
If Ratledge and Frazier both hitâŚMahogany probably moves to center.
Hes only 6â2â and repped at center in the senior bowl.
I donât know. Seems like such an emphasis that we need a new level of absolutely perfect, âabsolutely â â â â â â â perfectâ.
Its like going from Mr. Perfect to the level of:
I have heard from podcasts/broadcasts that these picks were not sexy picks. I canât help but think they are missing something. Not only are they sexy picks, they are probably going to leave people sore after they are done playing them.
Basically the complete opposite of the Manu and Sorsdal picks
The other advantage getting good pass pro OGs could provide is getting the ball to Jamo. Having that one last tick to throw or the ability to step into the throw a little more in a clean pocket could be money in the bank.
Brad said they have every intention of having Fraley cross-train them. No idea if that includes C.
Good point cause GG was getting beaten often last year in pass pro.
When I look at this, all I see is $ saved which is a very smart move by Brad. If we can continue to have a dominant o-line with the bonus of them being inexpensive then we can afford toys elsewhere. Also, IOL is one position that gets consistently undervalued so you get top talent later in drafts. This is how we will afford to keep Gibbs.
IMO, in the middle rounds we should always be looking to draft IOL, LB, TE, RBs, and Safeties as those positions are undervalued.
I think I might be in the minority in that I think GGâs days are numbers. Yes, he is a grizzled vet and can teach the new guys. I get that part. But just because you are a grizzled vet doesnât mean you play well. GG did not play great last year. Some say its because he likes the right side better. But we now have, like somebody mentioned, four guys whose most comfortable position is RG. I donât think they are in a hurry to cut Graham, but I do think he is going to have to really work hard and improve to keep his job. Especially if pass blocking has taken on heighten importance because he was really bad there last year.
Ratledgeâs long legged 6â6" build doesnât look ideal for OG, much less OC. In his game clips heâs often leaning forward, to get low enough for some leverage. Looks awkward at times.
His foot speed seems good however, so covering ground doesnât seem to be an issue at all. I wonder if they think he could possibly be the guy that ends up at RT, with Penei replacing Decker in a year or two at LT???
I think the getting out over his skis + short arms is a worse combo at T, though I do agree that he doesnât have ideal G build either. Iâm not overly worried about his height - plenty of tall guys succeed at guard - but youâre right that heâs got a top-heavy, long-legged build and will always need to have his pad level on his mind.
Which is honestly why he might be better off at C. Heâs not that much taller than Ragnow and his early-snap leverage worries will be mitigated by initial double-team help from the L or R guard. Once thatâs sorted he goes on the move, where I think heâs best. Or at least has his highest potential. Heâs easily got the smarts to hold up at C as well.
He reminds me of another tall, long-legged center who had leverage concerns coming into the league, Joe Tippmann. Theyâre basically the exact same height and length, with similar hand size too. And Tippmannâs been great. A lot more experience at C than Ratledge coming into the league, but I have faith the move wouldnât be too big.
And if he doesnât become the full-time C thatâs fine as well, I think heâs got at least a higher floor than Glasgow at G and heâll probably be a lot better than that (even if we have to help him from time to time), and he can be our main backup C too. Kinda like Glasgow, basically, but better.
I believe they were both actually 4yr starters