Time to Build an Offensive Line

So once again I will create thread on a good subject that I'm sure will get under 30 responses since it doesn't involve Campbell, a rookie QB, or some of the other overused topics people like to debate ad nauseam.

With that being said, here is your challenge. You are the GM (or Shanahan), how do you build the Redskins offensive line? Who do you keep? Who do you cut? Who would you draft? And which free agent would you go after?

Now, no crazy Madden-esque trades. Also, remember if you have an RFA in mind, that means that you trading picks for them (i.e. San Diego's tackle Marcus McNeill). And of course, if someone is under contract, well I say it's not even worth mentioning them.

Oh and don't just answer with the phrase "Shanahan can build an offensive line with just about anyone."

Good thread.

Any topic or discussions about this is a good one. As long as it's followed through with by the front office I'm all for it.

I don't have any recommendations other than using multiple high draft picks on OT's and OG's. I haven't seen a free agent list of available OL for this year.

I thought that you said NOT an overused topic? This is definitely one of the more discussed topics. Unfortunately I don't follow many other teams nor much of college so I don't know who to target.

Guys I'd look at replacing.. basically everyone other than maybe Dockery and maybe Rabach (can't believe that I'm saying that).. whatever gives us competence past that is fine..

Nice thread idea!

LT: I draft the very best prospect w/ our 1st pick...probably Okung

RT: I draft the very best prospect w/ our 2nd pick.

LG: Dockery stays

RG: I let Rinehart and the Williams fight it out to see who adjusts best the zone blocking scheme. The other two are kept for backups.

C: I do everything I can to replace Rabach in FA and the earlier the better. Rabach seems to get more mistake prone every year and w/o excellent guards sandwiching him, i.e. Dock and Thomas in their prime, Rabach almost guarantees a very porous interior. He sucks donkey balls in reality and I highly doubt he'd start anywhere else in the league. Shanny/Allen can find a better Center.

The hope w/ this strategy is to find bookend tackles for the next decade and enough talent in between to give our offense a chance to win immediately.

Here, I even did some homework for you guys. Here is a list of UFAs/RFAs offensive linemen from the NFC by ProFootball Weekly (http://www.profootballweekly.com/2009/11/25/2010-nfc-free-agent-preview).

NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Potential UFAs: OG Montrae Holland
Potential RFAs: OT Pat McQuistan*, OG Duke Preston*, OT Cory Procter

New York Giants
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen
Potential RFAs: OT Kevin Boothe*, OT Guy Whimper*

Philadelphia Eagles
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen.
Potential RFAs: OG Nick Cole*, OT Winston Justice

Washington Redskins
Potential UFAs: OT Levi Jones, OT Mike Williams
Potential RFAs: OG D'Anthony Baptiste, OT Stephon Heyer, OG Will Montgomery*.

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen.
Potential RFAs: No o-linemen.

Detroit Lions
Potential UFAs: OT Damion Cook, OT Jon Jansen, OT Ephraim Salaam.
Potential RFAs: OG Dylan Gandy*,OT Daniel Loper*, OG Manny Ramirez

Green Bay Packers
Potential UFAs: OT Chad Clifton, OT Mark Tauscher.
Potential RFAs: OG Daryn Colledge*, C Jason Spitz*.

Minnesota Vikings
Potential UFAs: OG Artis Hicks
Potential RFAs: OT Ryan Cook*

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen.
Potential RFAs: OT Tyson Clabo*, OG Harvey Dahl*, OL Quinn Ojinnaka*

Carolina Panthers
Potential UFAs: OG Keydrick Vincent.
Potential RFAs: No o-linemen.

New Orleans Saints
Potential UFAs: C Nick Leckey,
Potential RFAs: OT Jammal Brown*, OT Jermon Bushrod, OG Jahri Evans*, OG Zach Strief*

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen.
Potential RFAs: OT Donald Penn*, OT Jeremy Trueblood*


NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals
Potential UFAs: OG Jeremy Bridges, OT Mike Gandy,
Potential RFAs: OG Ben Claxton, OG Deuce Lutui*, C Lyle Sendlein,

St. Louis Rams
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen.
Potential RFAs: OT Alex Barron*, OG Mark Setterstrom*

San Francisco 49ers
Potential UFAs: OT Tony Pashos, OT Barry Sims
Potential RFAs: OG David Baas*

Seattle Seahawks
Potential UFAs: OT Damion McIntosh,
Potential RFAs: OT Brandon Frye, OG Rob Sims*, C Chris Spen

1rst Rd- LT R. Okung
2nd Rd- C M. Pouncey
4th Rd- LT J. Veldheer (Unless QB LeFevour or higher rated RB/FS is available)
5th and 7th, Yet to be determined.

Keep Dockery, Rabach (back-up), Rinehart, Heyer, Fanaika, Lichtsteinsteiger, E. Williams.

If any of the UFA's out there appear to be solid...sign them. Sportscurmudgeon mentioned Justin Hartwig, Nick Kaczur, and Bobby Williams. I would definitely check them out.

If Samuels decides to come back, (I think he should retire, I would), him or Okung could go to RT.

Open competition at Training Camp. May the best men win. Find out early who they are and work 'em. The more time they play together the better.

To help the quality of upcoming posts in this thread, here's a link to a list of FA O-lineman:

2010 NFL Free Agents: OL (http://www.footballsfuture.com/2010/fa/ol.html)

As far as starters go, I can honestly see Derrick Dockery being the only incumbent. Samuels should retire, I doubt Randy will be back, Rabach and Heyer are bums, and I'd be surprised if Edwin Williams or Chad Rinehart could earn a starting job.

I think we need to build the entire O-line around Armstrong. :)

Here's the AFC list from ProFootball Weekly (http://www.profootballweekly.com/2009/11/25/2010-afc-free-agent-preview). Thanks for the other link (http://www.footballsfuture.com/2010/fa/ol.html) GMScud, I'm glad footballsfuture.com updated their list.

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills
Potential UFAs: OG Seth McKinney
Potential RFAs: OT Jonathan Scott.

Miami Dolphins
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen
Potential RFAs: No o-linemen

New England Patriots
Potential UFAs: OG Stephen Neal
Potential RFAs: OG Dan Connolly*, OG Logan Mankins*.


New York Jets
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen
Potential RFAs: OL Wayne Hunter*


AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen
Potential RFAs: OG Chris Chester*, OT Jared Gaither, OT Tony Moll*, QB Troy Smith, OT Adam Terry*, OG Marshal Yanda.

Cincinnati Bengals
Potential UFAs: OG Scott Kooistra, OG Bobbie Williams
Potential RFAs: OG Evan Mathis*, OG Dan Santucci.

Cleveland Browns
Potential UFAs: OG Rex Hadnot, OT Ryan Tucker.
Potential RFAs: OG Billy Yates*.


Pittsburgh Steelers
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen
Potential RFAs: OT Willie Colon*, OG Darnell Stapleton.


AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans
Potential UFAs: OG Chester Pitts, OG Tutan Reyes,
Potential RFAs: OT Rashad Butler*, C Chris White*.

Indianapolis Colts
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen
Potential RFAs: OG Daniel Federkeil, OT Charlie Johnson*,

Jacksonville Jaguars
Potential UFAs: OG Kynan Forney
Potential RFAs: No o-linemen

Tennessee Titans
Potential UFAs: C Kevin Mawae.
Potential RFAs: No o-linemen


AFC WEST

Denver Broncos
Potential UFAs: OT Brandon Gorin, OG Ben Hamilton, OG Ross Hochstein
Potential RFAs: OG Chris Kuper*,

Kansas City Chiefs
Potential UFAs: OT Wade Smith
Potential RFAs: OG Andy Alleman, OT Ikechuku Ndukwe, C Rudy Niswanger*, OG Ryan O'Callaghan*

Oakland Raiders
Potential UFAs: OT Cornell Green, OT Langston Walker
Potential RFAs: OT Khalif Barnes*, C Chris Morris

San Diego Chargers
Potential UFAs: No o-linemen
Potential RFAs: OT Jeromey Clary, OT Marcus McNeill*

To help the quality of upcoming posts in this thread, here's a link to a list of FA O-lineman:

2010 NFL Free Agents: OL (http://www.footballsfuture.com/2010/fa/ol.html)

As far as starters go, I can honestly see Derrick Dockery being the only incumbent. Samuels should retire, I doubt Randy will be back, Rabach and Heyer are bums, and I'd be surprised if Edwin Williams or Chad Rinehart could earn a starting job.

I think we need to build the entire O-line around Armstrong. :)

Or he could just play the o-line by himself. He's THAT good! :)

This is a great thread.

Here's what I would do:

Try to build a team rather than a few stellar players.

I would try to pick up a veteran LT in FA. Trade down in the first round to try to pick up an extra second rounder. I would trade Portis since I think between his health and work ethic he won't be an asset to the team. Maybe we can get another second rounder for him. Then I would keep Dockery and fill the rest of the line with the best available guys using the now 4 picks in the second round. I would then look for CBs and developmental O-linemen in the rest of the draft.

I would hope this would build a solid O-line - though maybe not stellar. I think if Campell had 1 more second per play we would be a significantly improved team.

Next year I would take a LT with the first pick.

Keep in mind that I think we'll play a lot of two tight end sets this year so cooley and davis can help with the blocking - or go out. The defense not knowing if these guys are staying in or going out means they'll have to be able to cover them in case they go out and they won't be able to bliz as freely. Campell also needs tobe given the abilty to audible into TE screens in case there is a full blitz.