Re: Potential O - Line upgrade

[007klm]

LT: Walts likely retired . Lock was given $23M or $25M contract extention by TR who thought Lockd be LT replacement for Walt. Im not sure anybody really considers Lockll ever become that guy. Damion McIntosh played avg @ both run and pass blkg @ LT but hes getting too old for what PC and Bates want to do and doesnt look to have the athleticism A Gibbs wants from his OL guys so that they can get to the 2nd level so hes likely gone in FA too. Brandon Frye was middlin @ pass-pro and didnt impress @ run-blocking @ LT. Not sold that Frye is future LT didnt last too long before he was IRd. Maybe Frye at LT backup. K Williams was released for a reason - bad in 08 @ LT too. Hawksll have best OL coach/teacher in business for this training cycle so any early LT draftee that meets A.Gibbs pre-draft scrutiny would have best chance of success @ LT in upcoming season as starter. Either R Okung @ pick 6 or B Bulaga @ 14 should do well.

LG: Ryan Sims must be re-signed and yes he does have the athleticism to pull get to 2nd level etc. Sims was the best OL player @ both run-blkg and pass-pro for Hawks last season. Trust A.Gibbs to help find someone in later rds if Sims leaves in FA but better to keep him. Vallos may improve under Gibbs as backup here.

C: Max Unger was worst @ run-blocking while @ RG. He was also near best @ pass-pro while @ RG. Switching to C his run-blkg improved and pass-pro dropped. Needs lotsa improvement but seems most likely to make lotsa improvement and is SEAs C of the future. Vallos was good @ C as backup in 09.

RG: C.Spencer was below avg run-blkg @ RG above avg @ pass-pro. If Chris leaves in FA SEA could maybe try Lock there. Maybe Lock is closer to having the athleticism of a ZBing G than a LT. Vallos may improve under Gibbs as backup here.

continued . . .

[007klm]

continued . . .

RT: Ray Willis was good in pass-pro @ RT in 09 but was awful @ run-blkg. Maybe because of frequent injury Lock hasnt played all that well at RT since 05. If Hawks get Iowas LT B Bulaga at #14 Id get Iowas RT K Calloway @ 40. Gibbs might find somebody else.

Because of the no-cap everybody is RFA and cheaply restricted with an offer that requires new teams giving both 1st &amp 3rd rd draft picks to acquire them. Itll be very difficult to get good young starter ZBing FA OL guys but if anybody can do it - its Gibbs.

[mthawks]

We need to keep Sims where he is at. Switch Unger to center and go from there. As far as I am concerned Spencer can go away in free agency. I havent been impressed with him since we drafted him. Lock needs a strong guard to be beside him so if we move him back to right tackle I think that would solidify things there. We need to find a left tackle in the draft.

[DHimself]

If we cant pick up Okung I think Charles Brown would be a great pick in my opinion hes the best OT other than Okung in this draft. I would put him above Bulaga Williams and Davis. Very underrated and already familiar with Pete Carrolls blocking scheme.

[FozzyBear]

They decided to tender Spencer I just hope they dont plan on him being the center next year.
I think moving Locklear back to RT is the best thing for him. And we need to draft a LT whether Walt retires or not. I think weve waited too long to get a solid replacement for him already.

[mthawks]

Just for some clarification because I am not sure but doesnt Spencer automatically get the number one tender because he was a number one pick? I know you can designate players at different tenders if they were drafted lower and have proven themselves Miles Austin etc but I thought that number 1s were automatically given that alotment.

[robrardin]

If you really want to keep Rob Sims better show him some love real quick. 4th round not much to give up for a guard with starting experience. Will get offers. Do you guys thing Hawks will match or let him go?

[mshomfeldt]

If they dont fix the O line. The backs cant run Matt gets killed and the D is on the field too much. If the free agent talent on the Oline is not available then do it with the draft. #6 pick pray for Okung or take best LT pick #14 take Iupui G and if Pouncey C is still there in round 2. Mix in the vets that can do the job and have a line that will grow up together and be together as a unit for the next 14 years + or -. Petes job is not on the line in the first year so he can take this first year to get this fixed. He can take skill players next year.

[pmac]

With Okung likely not there at #6 Pouncey would be a great pick in round 2 or maybe even 4 if hes still there. He played center at Florida but I think he has the strength to succeed at RG as well as the feet/quickness for our ZBS

[georgej66]

Hawks could pick Bulaga at #6. He looked good in a bowl game shutting out DE Derrick Morgan I believe.