Same path as Unger

[pmedic920]

Is there a reason people are completely down on Oluwatimi? This is a kid who won two prestigious awards for best college center in 2022: The Outland Trophy and the Rimington Trophy. Last season he only allowed 8 pressures, 3 hit and 0 sacks. In Grubbs janky offense and only playing part of the season due to Connor Williams suddenly retiring. I really don't think this guy is as bad as everyone makes him out to be. For the love of Football, give him a chance in Kubiak's Wide Zone before you have a rookie slated for LG take over the center position.

Well said.

It’s rare that a rookie OL guy is amazing. The NFL is a huge step up for these guys.
I’m happy to give a guy a couple/3 seasons to evolve.

 

[Shane Falco]

I don't worry about going in with Olu and Sundell at center either. I think the deal there with fans is that they just want an all pro level center. But I feel RG was the biggest issue after Lucas being healthy or not. And then despite Laken Tomlinson not being great, we still didn't even replace that spot and didn't really have anything but some developmental guys in the wings.

With high-upside Grabel for that empty LG spot, Bradford and Haynes duking it out again at RG, Lucas finishing the year healthy and some of the other depth players being allowed to sit and grow.... we are in a much better place.

Now if they can just keep these young guys together and allow some continuity to build we may finally get off of this bad oline trip.

 

[SocialParasite]

With high-upside Grabel for that empty LG spot, Bradford and Haynes duking it out again at RG, Lucas finishing the year healthy and some of the other depth players being allowed to sit and grow.... we are in a much better place.

Don't forget about Laumea, I think he & Haynes are gonna be the ones fighting to be the starting RG. Wouldn't surprise me if Bradford isn't retained when they have to get the roster down to 53.

 

[Shane Falco]

Don't forget about Laumea, I think he & Haynes are gonna be the ones fighting to be the starting RG. Wouldn't surprise me if Bradford isn't retained when they have to get the roster down to 53.

I didn't forget Laumea. But you typically don't throw your 6th round guy in there right away unless he tears it up which is kind of rare or out of emergency / necessity. These late round developmental guys are essential, but they should be sitting behind your front-line guys and allowed to develop. I think Cabeldue is a real interesting prospect too as well as Sundell. Last season we were throwing guys into the fire before they should have been out of emergency. Michael Jerrell wasn't close to ready either.

 

[SocialParasite]

I didn't forget Laumea. But you typically don't throw your 6th round guy in there right away unless he tears it up which is kind of rare or out of emergency / necessity. These late round developmental guys are essential, but they should be sitting behind your front-line guys and allowed to develop. I think Cabeldue is a real interesting prospect too as well as Sundell. Last season we were throwing guys into the fire before they should have been out of emergency. Michael Jerrell wasn't close to ready either.

Once Laumea was put in at RG last season, the run game got better, they chose to keep him there the rest of the season, rather than giving Bradford his job back or putting Haynes in. That's why, even though he was a late round pick, he'll be given serious consideration for a starting role.

 

[Shane Falco]

Once Laumea was put in at RG last season, the run game got better, they chose to keep him there the rest of the season, rather than giving Bradford his job back or putting Haynes in. That's why, even though he was a late round pick, he'll be given serious consideration for a starting role.

True, he finished out the season. I don't think he fared too well though, he was real bad pass-blocking. But Bradford and Haynes stunk it up too.

I do agree that I don't think they are big on Bradford either. We'll see, throw in Cabeldue as well for that RG competition. Hopefully one of them emerge as a solid fit.

 

[MagnificentSeven]

If I were a betting man, I would say Sundell comes out of the pre-season with the starting job at center. His athletic profile is more in line with what the team wants ideally than Ulu. The biggest knock on him coming out of college was that he hadn't yet developed the functional strength to deal with NFL-level DTs and NTs, and a year in the weight room should bring him closer to that. He has ideal size 6'5", 301, is athletic, and smart. I still like Ulu as a prospect, but he should be more solidified by now and I think Sundell might just beat him out if given a fair chance.

It's early, but....

 

[toffee]

This will be Olu's 3rd year? That tends to be the year linemen start to figure it out if they ever do. I have high hopes for him and he's held his own at times. With a better O line coaching staff, this may be the year it clicks for him? Wouldn't that be nice. The team really likes Sundell as well plus he has chemistry with Zabel.

I don't think Zabel moving to center anytime soon is in the cards. Kubiak wants a solid smart veteran at center. Zabel is a rookie, he at the very least will get his feet wet at LG while learning/developing.

But Zabel has super high football IQ. An OL with Cross-Haynes-Zabel-Bradford-Lucas will turn heads this season. This line could be top 10 in the league by mid-season.

 

[CPHawk]

I hope not. If he has to play C, then guard will just continue to be a rotating door. Would really like for him to follow Hutchinson path instead, and have Olu follow Ungers.

 

[MagnificentSeven]

Guys, the video talks about Sundell at C, which is why I referenced my quote from April. Sundell is a much better fit for this scheme.

 

[Sperrydogg]

If Olu and Haynes both show expected 2nd year lineman improvement and Lucas is in fact 100% back from injury we could have a pretty decent, young OL.

And we’d know why they didn’t sign any menh lineman

 

[Sperrydogg]

But Zabel has super high football IQ. An OL with Cross-Haynes-Zabel-Bradford-Lucas will turn heads this season. This line could be top 10 in the league by mid-season.

I agree I think that high IQ at center is how the whole line gels. Jason Kelcie taught that Philly line. Unger excelled at center cause of his IQ

 

[Smellyman]

Once Laumea was put in at RG last season, the run game got better, they chose to keep him there the rest of the season, rather than giving Bradford his job back or putting Haynes in. That's why, even though he was a late round pick, he'll be given serious consideration for a starting role.

coinciding with Lucas being back. Laumea was still awful. Huff and Grubb were a couple of dunces. Haynes and Bradford were shafted by playing next to Jarrell and trafficCone Forsythe.

Right now Laumea has been put at LG backing up Zabel.

 

[toffee]

coinciding with Lucas being back. Laumea was still awful. Huff and Grubb were a couple of dunces. Haynes and Bradford were shafted by playing next to Jarrell and trafficCone Forsythe.

Right now Laumea has been put at LG backing up Zabel.

Oh man, our OL's ceiling is top 5, floor may be top 15.

 

[seabowl]

The team depth at center now appears to be at a minimum of four deep at center ...............



................ and with an emphasis on multi-position athletes, there could be more.

The goal remains to get the best five combination on the field of play.

Off-topic but the only reason why this agent posted this was to advertise his own services as saying he got a “very large guarantee” for his client. Incredibly self-serving.

 

[Hawkstud]

I think Zabel will be starter at LG and will demonstrate that he deserved to be the 18th pick in the draft.

100% agreed, and I have a feeling that Zabel's upgrade at Left Guard will help to take undue pressure off of Charles Cross playing to his left and to whomever winds up playing Center.
I believe Grey Zable fixes the "weak link'' on the left to Center of the Offensive Line.

 

[gmor]

No. Why and to what end?

Just attach him to one position and let him stick, develop, and excel there. No need for that shuffle when they're trying to finally settle on continuity with the line.

A Zabel switch to C in year 2 would mean that, at minimum, 2/5ths of the oline are playing new positions for the '26 season. Enough already.

Exactly. Let him learn and be good at one position. Move him only if you have to. People do grow if left in one position for a bit.

 

[Ostatehawk]

Zabel is LG and only LG. He’s versatile but end goal is LG, let’s not just toss him around the line because they can.

100% no need to try and get "cute". I think Pete had a tendency to do this sometimes.

 

[Sperrydogg]

100% no need to try and get "cute". I think Pete had a tendency to do this sometimes.

Yeah., jr sweazy?

 

[Jville]

To each their own .........

I enjoyed the play of JR Sweezy.

Successful transition from defensive lineman to offense. Explosive get off with the snap of the ball. Started 104 games of 117 games played. Totaled 6803 snaps over an eight year career with 3 different teams. Partially overcame a terrible knee injury.

When I see a lineman struggle to get off with the snap of the ball, Sweezy comes to mind as someone who showed the way and did it right.