Apart from that first year, when he seemed to think all guards were interchangeable, I have no problem with the amount of draft attention Thompson has given to the OL. The only thing he has seemed unwilling to do is go after top tier talent by FA/trade (Hutchinson, Faneca, Gaither, et al). (Or, if you'd prefer, overspend to get top tier talent.) But I'm not complaining about that anymore.
Besides, it isn't my biggest concern. My biggest concern is that Thompson and the rest of the personnel department under him have seemed below average (compared to their abilities with respect to other positions) when it comes to assessing OL talent.
Sitton looks to be a home run. But after that, we have various degrees of "potential" and "serviceable". I'm excited about Lang and Bulaga and Newhouse, but let's be honest. None of them have yet demonstrated that they are starters in the NFL, much less quality multi-year starters.
I'm more confident than I've been in some time OL-wise -- I personally think an awesome line of the future may end up being Newhouse-Bulaga-Wells(or replacement)-Sitton-Lang. But that's me just being convinced by potential again. Because I've been down that road before. Big time back when Colledge, Spitz, and Moll all got drafted. And to a lesser extent when I got excited about Barbre and his take-no-prisoners attitude.
Right now we have one young starter who has shown more than potential -- Sitton. And one who has shown some flashes, Lang.
Why haven't I mentioned Colledge and Spitz? Because a few stellar games or halves in four years doesn't cut it with me. I don't buy the "it takes time to learn the OL position" argument this far. Top OL show something the first year -- IMO, Colledge and Spitz have shown no more than Lang and far less than Sitton, and they've had how many years? Heck, Will Whitticker had a couple good games. I used to believe they had unrealized potential. Now I believe what we've seen is what we get, and what we've seen isn't much to write home about.
At best, either one of them is just a serviceable placeholder until someone else gets found. When they were drafted, I was very excited. To me, they've shown at most that they are the kind of backup talent every team needs for depth. I know everyone thinks of him as best groomed as Clifton's replacement because of the likelihood that Clifton will get injured before the year is out, but I'd rather see what Bulaga has at guard right now rather than depend on either of them. Bulaga has the potential to be a stud at guard. Colledge and Spitz? Sorry, I can't think of either of them as potential studs any more.
Yeah, I know. Dead horse.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)