Bob in STL

Not really. Two very important factors to an offensive line are cohesiveness and timing. The players need to know what each other will do in any given situation and the only way to get to that level is to play together all the time. No way do you move a starter (such as Andy Levitre) out of the first rotation just to look at another player simply to "see what he can do". That is counterproductive. Levitre is out because the coaches are sending him a message. This is a wake up call. Levitre now must earn the job back. Levitre may very well win the job back and Rinehart may inevitiably replace Urbik but not for the reasons you state. It is clear that the coaches are less happy with Levitre than Urbik. At least for now. Thank you Chan for creating some competition. These guys need it.

Buddy Nix, have you been taking those "how to" computer night classes at the public library again?

I can see this scenario: Chan: Hey Hangman we need you work with the first team at RG this week. Hangartner: Coach, I am just not sure that is something I am interested in. Let me check with the wife and get back with you. Seriously now --- The RG job was handed to Urbik and it is his job to lose.

Yes. 1. He has a funny name. 2. He is about to become another temporary legend on TBD.

I clearly stated the reluctance. If he wanted to draft a tackle sooner he could have. Concur with building the defense first. It is the OL depth, or lack there of, that really concerns me.

Let me jump in ... 1. I heard of him so he must be good. 2. Git'er done Buddy. 3. Ralph is cheap. Thanks,

Great points. I fear Buddy waited too long to fortify the OL this year and any pickups that we are likely to get are going to be Cornell Green-like players. Back to he initial question: Is Levitre-Wood-Urbik > Levitre-Hang-Wood? We need to give Urbik more time and hopefully he comes arround. I fully understand Buddy's "building through the draft" philosophy but in the meantime we are being subject to a painful 3-4 year rebuild that will probably take more like 5 years and that assumes we start hitting on our draft picks. So far Buddy has brought in Wang (draft 5th round), Howard (UDFA), Green (FA), Wrotto (waivers), Urbik (practice squad raid), Pears (waivers), Rhinehart (waivers), Hairston (draft 5th round) and a few other UDFAs. His reluctance to improve the OL via drafting a top prospect, signing a legitimate NFL starter via free agency, or by trade is baffling.

That is pretty much the concensus. Bell and Pears are OK ... not great, ok. No depth behind them. Urbik is unproven and looking lost. He could easily lose his job to Howard/Hangertner/Rhinehart. We need to find a solid veteran backup before the seaosn starts.

Not a bad cut at it. Kelsey will stay. Easley will make the team. Japser and Dotson to the PS. One of the stiffs on the OL will be gone (Wang or Wrotto) too. Not sure that Corner stays either. Coleman on the bubble too. Roosevelt and Jones in a dog fight.

Not Moorman. We have a rookie punter on the roster that did what last night? You want to cut Moorman after one preseason game? Please. To all the Moorman haters please remember he is our holder too. You want to mess up Lindell? Then cut Moorman. Great idea.

And great QBs make everyone else seem great. See both Super Bowl teams last year.

We need to see what he does by the end of the preseason, not the beginning. Hold Wang for a little while longer.

Trenches yes ... and don't forget that elite and rare "franchise" QB.

Agree except for one thing. Bellicek is going back to a 4-3 for one reason and one reason only. Personell. He does not have enough good linebackers to play the 3-4. Had he been the Bills coach last year he would have played 4-3 simnplty based on the people he add to work with.

Careful ... Lots of Urbik fans out there. Because Whaley picked him up and he was a Steeler he must be good. Right? My opinion is to give him more than one partial game before we judge. The OL takes longer to jell and he has very little playing time. The guy could not get on the field at Pittsburgh. I am hopeful that he develops but he did not get off to a great start yesterday. If Urbik fails then what is behind him? Hangartner? Cordero Howard? Chad Rhinehart? Or do we go back to Hang at center and Wood at RG. Come on Urbik. Step up!!

I thought Jasper was the next Pro Bowler? Are you suggesting we should actually let them play and see what they can do first?

If you have to ask than either you are not watching or you don't know what you are watching. I did not see him make any mistakes last night. Every coach he has ever had says he is solid and plays the defense he is instructed to play. He does not look good as a LB, especially in coverage but he did not ask to play there either. As a DE on the line of scrimmage he is decent. He lined up on the line with Dareus inside on those key passing downs and he did his job. Football is a team sport. Calm down and assume that Nix, Gailey, Edwards and Wannestadt know a little bit more about football than you do?

I really want to give Nix a chance and I understand his philosphy to build from the draft. I just think that he is ignoring other opportunities to improve the product on the field while we all wait for "his draft picks" to save the day. This year all the new rookies get a pass, even Dareus. I do expect to see why he drafted Spiller at #1 and Troupe at #2. My money is on Troupe to be a bigger contributor than Spiller. I would love it if they both step up. This year I expect to see the great improvement in the OL by the addition of waiver wire stalwarts such as Urbik and Pears. Nix likes these guys soooo much that he did not draft OL until round 5 and no FA pick ups so far. I have been following this team since 1963. I am waiting and I expect I will still be waiting long after Nix is gone.

1. To many holes, this thing will take time, but we will turn it around. 2. Not gonna make a splash in free agency, gonna build through the draft and keep our own players. 3. The fans are great and deserve better ... I know we have to show you the baby. yada yada yada

Agree. Sounds about right but they missed a few points. 1. Bell - good backup LT indeed. Now that he is healthy maybe he gets better? If not expect a long season. 2. Levitre - he is not a power blocker but he is a very good player. 3. Wood - unproven at center but looks like a keeper. 4. Urbik - Urbik lovers amaze me as he has never really played. Huge question mark in my mind. 5. Wrotto or Pears? Either way it is not much but I hope and pray that Pears is a player because we already know that Wrotto is not. Depth - Hangartner (C/G), Rheinhart (G), Howard (G/T), Wang and Hairston (T) --- scary, especially at OT. Buddy Nix amazes me to essentially sit pat with last years line. Let the games begin.

Problem is some of the second and third stringers on our team could end up starters or play significant amnounts of time. Especially on defense were we will rotate the front 7 a lot. I would hate to see top prospects get hurt (See Easley last year).

I think our starters will struggle on O because it is the first game, we are young, and we had no mini camps. It is harder to get the O going than it is the D. Starters will hardly play. The first preseason game --- time to play at game speed against another team with full contact. This game gets the blodd flowing but both teamns will play a simple gameplan and Chan will look at last years backups and the new kids for a long time.

I understand the plan and all that. 3-4 years of "building through the draft" means we have to draft good players. We shall see.

Far below average. Hairston will only play if we have injuries. He is a project with good upside but that is all he is right now. Bell is average when healthy and below average at run blocking. Pears might be better than the past few starters at RT but not saying much there. Injuries will kill us. Wrotto, Hairston and Wang are the backups and that is not good at all. If our two starters miss a lot of time we are in big trouble. Not much blocking help from TE and RB either. Scott Chandler and Fred Jackson can block. Nelson and Spiller cannot. Would love to see us pick up a veteran OT for better depth.

The second round picks are no better. Well .... maybe McKelvin, Wood, Spliller, and Dareus will develop into star players? 2001-Richard Seymour - Pro Bowler 2002-Daniel Graham - Decent player 2003-Ty Warren - Very Good Player 2004-Vincent Wilfork - Pro Bowler 2004-Benjamin Watson - Decent player 2005-Logan Mankins - Pro Bowler 2006-Laurence Maroney - Good Player 2007-Brandon Meriweather - ? 2008-Jerod Mayo - Looks like a stud 2009-no pick 2010-Devin McCourty -- TBD 2011-Nate Solder --- TBD I would say they win in a landslide. Notice that 5 lineman are picked out of 10 players and they are their best picks too (along with Mayo at LB)