Max Unger not playing (per Danny O'Neil)

[hawk45]

The line will play much better this week for several reasons:

1. Not playing JJ Watt + Brian Cushing + Arian Foster + Andre Johson + DeAndre Hopkins (who will be a top 10-20 WR by the end of the year).
2. Michael Bowie is much more athletic than Breno, has quite a bit of college experience and has one game/week under his belt.
3. Lemuel is more athletic than Unger and also will be playing his 2nd game in a row with the same line (something we have not always experienced the past 2 years).
4. Our defense will play better early this week so there won't be a big lead by Indy which would allow their defense to "T" off on Russell.
5. Even though the stats show Indy's defense to be very good vs the run, I believe Marshawn will get 100+ yards which always makes it easier for the line to pass block on play action.
6. Tom Cable is one of the best OL coaches in the NFL and a great teacher. He will show the linemen their mistakes and teach them how to avoid them. He will also boost their confidence in their own game.

I expect a win in this game, 27 - 21 with one TD coming from Golden Tate along with him, and the rest of our special teams providing great field position.

Cable seems to be a great teacher of run-blocking. This line has been crap at pass protection pretty much his entire tenure. Lynch had 98 yards last week and that didn't do jack to stop the rush.

I expect our typical OL performance this year: decent run blocking and a dumpster fire when Russell drops back. Not playing the Texans D is about the only reason Russell will survive. Because none of the rest of these reasons move the needle much.

 

[Basis4day]

everyone making this sound like no big deal sounds just like people who said it wouldn't be a big deal last week.

It is a big deal.

Now, hopefully this week we do the opposite of what we did last week and actually planned on not having a pocket or bothering pretending 'next man up' applies when you're missing most of your starting O-line and the guys who are there have +/- one season of actual experience.

Oh and on defense we can help them out by not playing some wierd random zone scheme and just doing what we do with press coverage.

You need consistency for any line to have success. I have a better feeling this week because it will be the same O-Line and if you trust your coaches you expect improvement. Worrying about it isn't going to magically make them play better. We're 4-0 and to me that means fans need to give the coaching staff the benefit of the doubt.

Fans need to give the opposing lines the team have faced a bit of credit. It's not everyday you go up against a JJ Watt or a Justin Smith.

 

[hawk45]

Fans have been giving the opposing Ds plenty of credit. Carolina, SF, Houston, all I see is "well we're not going to face lines like that all the time."

Guess what, we're facing lines like that all the time and our pass game can't get off the ground. Now I don't expect Indy to be quite the same, but I think we need to come to grips with the notion that many of the playoff caliber teams are going to have front 7s good enough to walk right through our pass protection.

I don't see the consistency of 2 weeks having much of an impact. Our line couldn't pass protect when it was healthy.

We're a good team, we're winning games, AND our line can't protect our QB. All at the same time.

 

[Basis4day]

Fans have been giving the opposing Ds plenty of credit. Carolina, SF, Houston, all I see is "well we're not going to face lines like that all the time."

Guess what, we're facing lines like that all the time and our pass game can't get off the ground. Now I don't expect Indy to be quite the same, but I think we need to come to grips with the notion that many of the playoff caliber teams are going to have front 7s good enough to walk right through our pass protection.

I don't see the consistency of 2 weeks having much of an impact. Our line couldn't pass protect when it was healthy.

We're a good team, we're winning games, AND our line can't protect our QB. All at the same time.

1. That is a reality, but none of our O-Lineman are down with season ending injuries. The O-Line play improved over the course of last season and i expect the same.

2. Our O-Line was only healthy for a game and a half (Okung went out against SF). Patience in football development is important. Being 4-0 should help with that.

 

[T-Hawk]

No chance of Spitz being cut for Irvin's return now.

 

[Hasselbeck]

The line will play much better this week for several reasons:

1. Not playing JJ Watt + Brian Cushing + Arian Foster + Andre Johson + DeAndre Hopkins (who will be a top 10-20 WR by the end of the year).

:lol:

Ok.. I don't know how OL play is dictated by a RB and two WR's.. but.. ok then.

Robert Mathis is going to be a lot of trouble this week. But he's a lot easier to help on than Watt was.

 

[DavidSeven]

This is a problem.

Yes, HOU's D-line is more intimidating than Indy's, but we could do literally nothing in the passing game. So, what can we do now? Barely more than nothing? Miller might be out, too, and he was giving tons of help in protection and run-blocking.

I'll be amazed if we get 200 yards in the air on Sunday. Any NFL defense is too good to think this rag-tag group can hold up in protection.

 

[chris98251]

People say we improve when the line gels, problem we have is we keep stirring it up due to injuries so it can't gel, and it isn't just one piece it's all across the line with player switching positions or new ones inserted. If and big if we get the same guys in the same positions for more then two games at a time we may have a chance to gel. Until that time we are playing on guts and raw ability and not as a unit. Thats the problem a Offensive line has to act like a hand with all the fingers working together. We have splints on 3 of the 5 fingers and a sprained thumb right now and are still trying to grasp straws. Not a easy task to ask of them.

 

[bestfightstory]

UPDATE:


THE SEAHAWKS HAVE OFFICIALLY LISTED UNGER AS QUESTIONABLE

 

[Basis4day]

UPDATE:


THE SEAHAWKS HAVE OFFICIALLY LISTED UNGER AS QUESTIONABLE

Yeah, Pete said this morning that they'll see with Unger but they're proceeding as if Lem is the starter.

 

[Blitzer88]

Crap!!!!! Not good.

 

[brimsalabim]

last season the line got better in pass protection as the season went on. This season most of them are watching from the hot tub.

 

[Happypuppy]

What about Miller his was out yesterday with a hamstring. He is a great blocker and if he is out too, yikes!

 

[onanygivensunday]

DUCK!!... THE SKY IS FALLING.

Holey crap!!

If we win this one, were CRAZY good (and deep, talent-wise).

 

[kmedic]

I'd be less worried about Lem and Bailey and more concerned about Carp and Sweezy. Face it guys they may be good run blockers but they are definitely below average in pass protection. Throw one stunt at Carp and you can fuhget about it....

 

[HawKnPeppa]

Mathis aside, I expect the whole line to have an easier time this week. We will be alright.

Damn! I wanted Miller to give Freeney 'the J.J. Watt treatment' just as Tate tries to give guys the 'Shawn Lee treatment.' Ah well, he can make that up later.

Not happy about still having 3 OL starters out on the road and against another really good team, but what can ya do.

 

[HawKnPeppa]

I'd be less worried about Lem and Bailey and more concerned about Carp and Sweezy. Face it guys they may be good run blockers but they are definitely below average in pass protection. Throw one stunt at Carp and you can fuhget about it....

Baily isn't playing. You couldn't have meant Bowie. Naw!!

 

[Tech Worlds]

The line will play much better this week for several reasons:

1. Not playing JJ Watt + Brian Cushing + Arian Foster + Andre Johson + DeAndre Hopkins (who will be a top 10-20 WR by the end of the year).
2. Michael Bowie is much more athletic than Breno, has quite a bit of college experience and has one game/week under his belt.
3. Lemuel is more athletic than Unger and also will be playing his 2nd game in a row with the same line (something we have not always experienced the past 2 years).
4. Our defense will play better early this week so there won't be a big lead by Indy which would allow their defense to "T" off on Russell.
5. Even though the stats show Indy's defense to be very good vs the run, I believe Marshawn will get 100+ yards which always makes it easier for the line to pass block on play action.
6. Tom Cable is one of the best OL coaches in the NFL and a great teacher. He will show the linemen their mistakes and teach them how to avoid them. He will also boost their confidence in their own game.

I expect a win in this game, 27 - 21 with one TD coming from Golden Tate along with him, and the rest of our special teams providing great field position.

This is only your opinion and not a fact. You do not know if things will be better or not. We are playing Indy in their house. We need our guys.

 

[sc85sis]

Too bad we can't borrow the Kalil brothers for a couple of weeks...

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

Guess it's good that the defense is nearly full strength then?