Does Britt stir the drink on the O Line ?

[Largent80]

Because he was basically the only starter not playing.

Hunt got first team reps all week and the line regressed dramatically.

Just searching for answers.

 

[GLio14]

The OLine was actually starting to "get it" before this game. So the time Britt can't play, the Line collapses? I don't think it's a coincidence. Britt has really took on the Center role and ran with it, and he's an important cog in the OLine.

So yes, I think he is the straw that stirs the drink. I don't think Joey Hunt is a bad player. He was lauded for his intelligence, so I think he'll start to get better. But Britt has become a necessity on the Line.

 

[HawkGA]

Whodathunk?

 

[Steve2222]

Britt has been a huge bright spot this year on an otherwise terrible OL

 

[CodeWarrior]

The tackle play was some of the worst I've ever seen on a football field. A lack of Britt making the protection calls can account for some of that but a dearth of talent on the OL makes for the lion's share.

 

[gowazzu02]

I must not have been paying attention with the holiday, but whats wrong with Britt?? On the broadcast they said he dressed but was only an emergency plan

 

[Ozzy]

It definitely played a role with communication issues as multiple times guys went through literally untouched. Part of this is Ifedi having a new center to his left and guys alternating on his right. Having said that a lot of this game was just flat out getting beat over and over. The tackles were atrocious but Ifedi regressed big time and was probably just as bad. He looked slow and hesitant a lot yesterday. Strange game for him, maybe he's hurt?

But to answer the original question I do think missing Britt cost us points yesterday.

 

[bighawk]

Yes! Just like Bennett is for the d-line.

 

[RussB]

Hes the best offensive lineman they have. So yeah. Ive actually been very surprised by his play hes a good center i thought he would be bad before the season.

 

[Ozzy]

I hated the idea of moving Britt to center but I was dead wrong. He's been much better than I expected.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Hunt and Fant both had truly awful days.

That said, Gerald McCoy is still an elite presence at DT. Throwing Joey Hunt in there to start against him in his first ever start is a tall order.

But that said, Britt at least stabilized the middle of the line for the most part. Hunt got worked no question.

 

[scutterhawk]

It definitely played a role with communication issues as multiple times guys went through literally untouched. Part of this is Ifedi having a new center to his left and guys alternating on his right. Having said that a lot of this game was just flat out getting beat over and over. The tackles were atrocious but Ifedi regressed big time and was probably just as bad. He looked slow and hesitant a lot yesterday. Strange game for him, maybe he's hurt?

But to answer the original question I do think missing Britt cost us points yesterday.

I remember Walter Jones going through some troubled times after Steve Hutchinson bolted to the Vikings, and Steve Hutchinson taking a giant step backwards with his new teammates...That's exactly what they're talking about when they use the term "Chemistry", Britt not being there had a lot to do with Ifedi missing his assignments.
You can be 'All World HOF Great', but if there's a disruption to that continuity, you get a ripple affect, and in the case of Britt not being there to anchor and call for protection sets, Russell Wilson was "TOAST"

If I recall correctly, didn't Matt Hasselbeck use to buy his O-Linemen thank you gifts for keeping him healthy & upright?

So yeah, I think there's an obvious correlation to Britt not anchoring, and the faltering Offense only coming up with a measly THREE points.

 

[razor150]

The Britt conversion to center has been a huge success. We saw the same thing happen last year, once Patrick Lewis took over our line play got better. I think that it does say that the center needs to be ready to play the position and if not it can cause a cascading affect. This line doesn't have the talent to make up for subpar center play and communication.

 

[nash72]

Britt wasn't the only issue. Sure it's better to have him there but the tackles got absolutely eaten alive. They still need to do their jobs. I think blaming the horrible line play on Britt not being there is a weak excuse. They suck regardless.

 

[XxXdragonXxX]

2 huge problems starting a rookie center who cant block.

1: the protection calls will be off.

2: Its usually ok for the OT to let the DEs around as long as they push them deep enough for the QB to step up into the pocket. But if the Center gets blown up every play, no pocket to step into...sack.


Theres a good chance that a lot of the sacks that Fant gave up wouldnt have been sacks if the center play were better.

 

[lobohawk]

Britt being out was my greatest concern. Too much inexperience on the line to compensate for him being out. Figured they could handle those out on the D.

 

[LeftHandSmoke]

2 huge problems starting a rookie center who cant block.

1: the protection calls will be off.

2: Its usually ok for the OT to let the DEs around as long as they push them deep enough for the QB to step up into the pocket. But if the Center gets blown up every play, no pocket to step into...sack.


Theres a good chance that a lot of the sacks that Fant gave up wouldnt have been sacks if the center play were better.

Right. And not just the center, but his (non) work with the guards too.

A line that has been at times above-reasonable with its best player at center gone, looked like a suddenly-below reasonable one in Britt's absence, with compounding effects on everything else. Let's all hope this ankle injury is not too long lasting.

 

[Sports Hernia]

Because he was basically the only starter not playing.

Hunt got first team reps all week and the line regressed dramatically.

Just searching for answers.

I think so. Hunt was gawd awful. Britt's play at center has been a very pleasant surprise.

 

[BirdsCommaAngry]

He stirs that drink like its never been stirred before. James Bond would be appalled at what Britt's done to our proverbial martini.

 

[Foghawk]

Yes, too much inexperience on the OL to throw a rookie in at Center and not expect problems.