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The backup depth we need at the offensive tackle position


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Hey Boone, just to move the discussion along, another thing the Bills mentioned that they really liked about Hairston was that he pass blocked well from the 3-point stance.

 

On some down and distances, you don't want to give away the passing play call by lining up in a 2-point stance.

 

The Bills mentioned that they felt that more than some of the other high-mid tackles (Orlando Franklin, Ben Ijalana, Marcus Gilbert, Jah Reid, Joseph Barksdale), that Hairston pass blocked well from the 3-point stance and that they felt this was important.

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Interesting point!

 

I like this kid a lot, going mostly on what I saw in about 2 quarters of football. Very agile with great footwork for a man his size, reminds me of a couple of our d-linemen that way. Seems to know how to use his hands well in pass pro on the edge and seems strong enough to be effective in the run game. Appears to have the potential to start for us at Tackle someday, and for a long time after that. Let's hope the development and improvement continues, we need help on the offensive front more than anywhere else on the roster. Go Bills

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Hairston's prowess as a NFL OT can be deduced after 1 pre-season game against what appears to be an average defense? :o

 

 

I was waiting for somebody to do this....

 

NO...it cannot but you can only block the person you put in front of you.

 

Rather then watching what the name was on the defenders jersey....I was keying in on Hairston himself....the two things I was looking at were technique and strength

 

Technique....he had some negatives coming out of college about being a very athletic guy who didnt keep himself in great shape.....but i saw a guy that not only moved his feet well he was also a knee bender with pretty darn good balance.....I actually had no complaints technique wise. I saw a play where he hit a corner on a running play and that corner was flat out hauling @ss.....he still got a piece of him and it was from a sideline to sideline block.

 

Strenghth...I have said it before and I will say it again....When I see him I wonder how he generates such good strenght with what appears to be "chicken legs".....but he DOES...he must be very naturally strong in the upper body.....

 

I want to see him against a pure speed edge rusher like Von Miller.....I think Von Miller can dip to the edge on him.....but I want to see how he would handle it with that strength....you have to exend your arms and put a hurt on a pass rusher when try to get the edge like that and slow them down then ride them outside....I saw him do that against a scrub and liked his technique.....you allow the defender to use his own momentum to take him out of the play still keeping the integrity of the pocket......

 

Then I always look for improvement...Hairston seriously needs a year of NFL trainers to add some muscule onto that lower body and get rid of that pooch......if he does that he could be VERY good.....his ceiling is very high.

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The line looked really good tonight, I don't think they gave up any sacks. Was pleasantly surprised with bell as he did well in one on one situations but Kampman was out so we will see if can stay consistent with better opposition.

Von Miller is a monster for Denver. He is going to make a lot of LT's look bad. Don't get rapped around the axel about any one game.

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I hope so.

 

No, the team will be better off with him developing at left guard and Bell developing at left tackle. Consider, for them, and for Hairston, o-lineman take time to develop. We're in a cycle of a lot of younger guys. I see this line as having a lot of potential, IF (notice the big "if"), they continue to develop. Yes, there has been some shuffling lately--coaches have their reasons and methods, they know and see things we don't, I suspect most of it was for motivational purposes--but I think in the end we have the nucleus for a pretty effective line for a long time. If we can add upgrades, go for it, certainly.

 

By the way, it seems like every time NFL Network or the boyz at the four letter network analyze a team, they always seem to say the line needs to improve, especially right tackle. It's not an easy fix. There are no instant cures. The long term solution: Keep working at it, keep developing, and keep looking for potential upgrades.

 

Well. my point: there is room for cautious optimism with this line and with the people we have now (Hairston being one of them).

 

Call me a fool if you must.

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No, the team will be better off with him developing at left guard and Bell developing at left tackle. Consider, for them, and for Hairston, o-lineman take time to develop. We're in a cycle of a lot of younger guys. I see this line as having a lot of potential, IF (notice the big "if"), they continue to develop. Yes, there has been some shuffling lately--coaches have their reasons and methods, they know and see things we don't, I suspect most of it was for motivational purposes--but I think in the end we have the nucleus for a pretty effective line for a long time. If we can add upgrades, go for it, certainly.

 

By the way, it seems like every time NFL Network or the boyz at the four letter network analyze a team, they always seem to say the line needs to improve, especially right tackle. It's not an easy fix. There are no instant cures. The long term solution: Keep working at it, keep developing, and keep looking for potential upgrades.

 

Well. my point: there is room for cautious optimism with this line and with the people we have now (Hairston being one of them).

 

Call me a fool if you must.

 

Actually, my post was a mistake. I thought he meant LG. :doh::oops:

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Considering it was his first game he graded out extremely well to me.....and even though Wang looks horrible against backups Hairston does not.....

 

He gets movement in the run game.....hits moving targets well......and uses his long arms well to redirect pass rushers to the outside....and for the most part? Is UNMOVABLE

 

I agree that Hairston shows promise.

 

My personal opinion, the Bills need to do for the OL what they did for the D - bring in a couple of veteran players who really "had it going on" for a contender at one point, even if they're possibly now on the downhill slide. Guys who can serve as veteran leaders and player-coaches and really hold the OL accountable in the weight room and on the field.

 

I think that's what they tried to do with Clabo.

 

I don't have a good sense of who other possibly worthwhile vets might be and whether anyone worth talking about is actually available.

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I'm here watching the replay of the game and finally getting a good look at Hairston...I can clearly see why some of you guys are so high on this kid. There was one play where the guy literally took out two pass rushers almost simultaneously...he took on his main assignment with his left arm and gave him sort of a stiff-arm punch block type shot, and then immediately launched his right arm laterally to do the exact same to the rusher on the outside. I've also seen him deliver a crushing block on a second level defender to spring the runner on two occasions, and then on another play he smartly used the momentum of the outside rusher against him and literally shoved his ass about 5-8 yards deeper into the backfield to give Thigpen time to make the throw.

 

I can't wait to see what he can go against better quality competition, but at least in this game he was a man among boys :thumbsup:

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I'm here watching the replay of the game and finally getting a good look at Hairston...I can clearly see why some of you guys are so high on this kid. There was one play where the guy literally took out two pass rushers almost simultaneously...he took on his main assignment with his left arm and gave him sort of a stiff-arm punch block type shot, and then immediately launched his right arm laterally to do the exact same to the rusher on the outside. I've also seen him deliver a crushing block on a second level defender to spring the runner on two occasions, and then on another play he smartly used the momentum of the outside rusher against him and literally shoved his ass about 5-8 yards deeper into the backfield to give Thigpen time to make the throw.

 

I can't wait to see what he can go against better quality competition, but at least in this game he was a man among boys :thumbsup:

 

I walked away from the game trying to figure out if Hairston was a left tackle or a right tackle....honestly I would like to have two of these guys

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Hey Boone, just to move the discussion along, another thing the Bills mentioned that they really liked about Hairston was that he pass blocked well from the 3-point stance.

 

On some down and distances, you don't want to give away the passing play call by lining up in a 2-point stance.

 

The Bills mentioned that they felt that more than some of the other high-mid tackles (Orlando Franklin, Ben Ijalana, Marcus Gilbert, Jah Reid, Joseph Barksdale), that Hairston pass blocked well from the 3-point stance and that they felt this was important.

That's a real good point, SJBF. :thumbsup: Defenses key in on things like that and when a tackle can disguise a play, it makes the line better.

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I walked away from the game trying to figure out if Hairston was a left tackle or a right tackle....honestly I would like to have two of these guys

 

Yep, just finished watching the OT, too, and he looked pretty solid on the left side. This weeks' game will be very interesting...I hope he gets some snaps earlier in the game so he can have some quality opposition to go up against. This guy is just HUGE, though, and his arms are long and very much able to knock rushers off balance pretty severely. :thumbsup:

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With rookies, you hope that they belong in the field first. Hairston looked comfortable at both positions, he was not forcing the issue.

Watch the kid and then look at the other side, look how Cordaro Howard is trying so hard to contain his man, his lack of natural talent shows how hard it is for him. I believe Howard should be moved inside and be the swing guard in case of an injury disaster.

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