Time to inkle in my thoughts..
In my honest opinion we are in the best shape we have been in the Ted era along the offensive line.. hands down.
We have 5 starters that at worst are solid, yes that includes Newhouse whom some would disagree with that sentiment. Remember this.. Newhouse was kind of thrown into the left tackle spot and forced into duty last season.. he is an instant upgrade in run blocking and plenty athletic to pass block. IMO, he needs experience and that is what hurts the most with him getting dinged.. however I don't think it is that bad as they haven't ruled him out of this weeks game.
Back to the depth chart here a bit.
We have a pro bowl caliber right side of the line.. we should be set there for Aaron's prime years or most of them. We have a solid short term solution at Center.. a guy that probably isn't a physically gifted center.. but much like Frankie Bag of Doughnuts.. makes up a ton in the savvy, experience and intelligent department. Saturday lives up to that smartest guy on the line mantra that is waved inside football locker rooms.
Lang found his place to settle down and continue his development into what I think will be probably the most decorated guy on this current line when it is all said and done. Either him or Sitton.. but I think Lang has that kind of talent, all the way to being selected out of college. Took longer to settle in than I expected.. but just the same settled in.
Depth, tested depth is and will always be a concern along NFL offensive lines when good lineman command the type of money they command. You are either going to fill it out with young developing players that are untested.. or players that are in decline and you question how much they have left in the tank.
Inside we have EDS, Genus and Dominguez. EDS is proven that he can step in.. and Genus and Dominguez have flashed here or there.. I have confidence that inside we have decent depth. Or we will find it in cut downs.
IMO, Sherrod will develop into a very good player.. but it will be stunted due to his injury last season.. couple that with lingering when will he be ready questions. But if we can make it out to the PUP deadline.. I think he should be able to suit up then and solidify the depth.
So the question is.. can someone like Taylor cover the depth in the interim or will we need to swing a camp cutdown deal or comb the waiver wires for a potential 4th tackle?
There are many teams still answering question in terms of starters along multiple spots of our line.. I like the fact we are sweating the 4th tackle on our depth chart. We have some depth at WR that we can leverage if needed or should.
Come a long ways from the days I wanted to slam my fingers in a door rather than watch our line try to pickup a stunt or hell even just straight up man block.
For a different thread.. I have a heck of a lot more confidence in this years makeup of a defensive line than last season. Worthy will bring it.. by midseason we will be talking in terms of him starting.. if not in line for post season awards for rookies.
Hargrove, Daniels, Muir, give us a better rotation straight out of the blocks..
My friends.. book this.. it will not be a personnel issue up front for defensive struggles unless a repeat of 2010 and the injury bug strikes hard. We have that much talent infused on this team.
Want the honest truth.. I hope Hargrove has to sit 8 games.. because that is going to be one hunger fresh dog to add for the second half of the season.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"