I just don't see there being any right fix to that problem at game time. Hindsight obviously allows us to draw conclusions. I was beating the drum to keep Barbre in the lineup to stick to the no more musical chairs theme, was not upset at all when Clifton went down and the line was shifted as it was. Made most sense to me, get the best players out there. Hindsight, obviously Colledge probably shouldn't have even played, but what can you do at that moment. Sucky situation with an even worse outcome.

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I love it when Foster gets a bone in his mouth (figuratively speaking, of course), and for the record I wholeheartedly agree with him. This O-Line problem existed all off-season and wasn't addressed. We've got the same players who've underperformed regularly and the same coaches who've failed to bring that playing level up. This has to fall on Thompson and McCarthy - who, yes, I have defended, but I'm not some blind rube - they messed up this time.

BUT.

How does it get fixed, or at least strung together with duct tape and other Rube Goldbergian contraptions so it'll at least float? What can be done - realistically - at this point to improve the situation?

I'm not arguing, by the way - I'm asking. Many of you are bright folks who spend a lot more time on the NFL than I do, so I'm curious to know what can be/should be done.

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First thing I would do is find a veteran tackle on the market.. preferably more of a pass protector first and sign him.. someone that you can put out there to steady one edge or the other.. we can't continue to chip with the Tightends on one end and keep the backs in to assist the other side.. see third and fourth quarter.

My money.. a Right tackle as I see Clifton coming back.

Next.. I would pull Meredith back to the active roster and trim down his protection reads and get him ready. Yes he might be green as hell but I see more out of him than I did in Breno in the preseason..

Additionally I would tell Lang to forget all you have learned on the inside and you are being groomed as a tackle.. he has the best "natural" footwork of the group I have seen.. start getting him ready to go. Once he is ready.. I think I would add a "U-71" type package with him playing that role.. he is athletic enough to pull it off and start establishing a rushing attack on the edges.. even if we have to cheat.

I would leave the interior alone as that group was starting to jell.. Colledge, Spitz and Sitton.. Wells to provide depth at all three slots.

A

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At a minimum I would request that Mike kindly not tell the fans that it isn't a physical thing. Hey Mike, your o-line is getting jacked up, pal.

That's physical, in my book.

Put another way, everybody else's d train keeps leaving the station, and our o-line is on the tracks in front of it, there... Snidely Whiplash.

(My fellow geezers will get that one for sure, lol)

Edit:

Snidely---

[youtube]PhC_JJwlep0[/youtube]

With the way Colledge played, why not throw Lang in the fire for 10 snaps and see how he fares? If Colledge continues to suck it up, I'm all for seeing what Lang's learned so far.

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I think the shift was our only option to be honest. This will be our weakest point this entire season and something needs to be done...quick.

Jon Runyan OT UFA 6-7 330
Mark Tauscher OT UFA 6-3 316

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I was furious that everyone was moved over. I want to see what Lang can do I wish he got the call.

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I dont know it seems almost by design that Wells was not cut or traded for this reason. Someone goes down wells steps in and everyone gets shuffled.
I always had an impression that it would be colledge that replaced clifton some day. I never really thought Colledge was a guard.

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