Bob in STL

By the second preseason game you need to see more out of the starting offense. I would like to see them move the ball in each series they play. Score a TD and no turnovers. OL blocking and the general timing of the offense needs to start looking sharper. On defense we need to see the starters an the first wave of backups continue to pressure the QB. Getting off gthe field on 3rd down is important. In the secnd half we will look at everybody so expect a mixed bag. Would like to win the 1st the 2nd quarter. After that it does not matter much.

I have not seen enough to tell who is getting outplayed. I think if you check one of my first posts on the subject you will see I said that Chan could be sending a message. Here is the excerpt: 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. fast forward to today and I am now reading that Chan is rotating Levitre and Rinehart. There is defintely a competition going on which is good. Like many others, I am more surprised that Rinehart is pushing Levitre and not Urbik.

It is stories ike this that make me concerned about Nix as a GM. I have no doubt he is an excellent scout and can help us to draft better players than we have in a long time. It is all the other things a GM does that concern me. So far I do not see him using all avenues to imorove the product on the field.

I am not saying that, Chan Gailey is.

I cannot say since I do not get to see practice or film. I can only belive what Chan is saying. Levitre needs to step up. Common thought is that Levitre is the best of the three but right now that is not the case. I do not believe in hidden agendas to give Urbik and Rinehart more reps. We are talking professional sports here.

Let's see ... Whitner -- gone Poz -- gone Maybin -- gone Kelsey -- check McKelvin -- check Hangartner -- che- uh no, replace with Urbik or Levitre any TE on the roster -- check ...

Donte? Drayton? Doyle?

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.