seabowl":3vk14r12 said:
Could you imagine how much further along they would have been if they took him?
Not that much farther along? We don't know anything about Humphrey's line calls and center is the least important position by far in our scheme when it comes to just run blocking and pass blocking. Our center is nearly always just double teaming against a tackle, or blocking a LB on the second level in the running game. That's probably the obvious reason why we didn't draft a center.
I just watched week 18 again over the weekend. My TE/RB/OL notes were generally very positive and there was really only one time all game where I felt the run blocking needed to be better from the center (Q3 7:30 2nd&9 at ARI49). Somebody who just watched this game without any preconceptions would consider this a good OL although they might be a bit concerned by DLewis's pass blocking.
1st drive: Strip sack was on DLewis who bit on an inside fake and got beat to the outside.
2nd drive: Huge holes on three Penny runs in a row up middle, left side B gap, and up middle. Parkinson nice snag on low pass.
3rd drive: Great Penny move dodging open field tackle. QB option carry that didn't fool them. Successful QB sneak. Everett slow to block LB that led to Penny getting tackled in the backfield. Pressure given up by Curhan.
4th drive: Miscommunication on pass to Parkinson. Major confusion on run play; Eskridge lined up 5 yards outside of the guy he was supposed to block and Curhan fell down.
5th drive: Great cut by Penny. Pocic needed better effort on second level block where he was surprised Penny got through first level blocks behind him. Bad series for Everett; Miscommunication on pass, then OPI then dropped TD on over the shoulder catch.
6th drive: DLewis and Curhan both beat around the outside, edge pressure on Russ leads to bad throw and INT.
7th drive: Good holes from OL runs by Penny. Brown gives up interior pressure. DLewis gets away with blatant holding call on third down.
8th drive: Curhan pushes his guy 8 yards down the field. Good blocking effort from Everett on quick pass. Penny with a great juke on LB in right side B gap for huge gain.
9th drive: Arizona DL showing fatigue after fumble gives us football at their 10 yard line. Three runs for TD with lackluster tackling from defense.
10th drive: Odd decision from Everett on one play to abandon blocking his man in order to double team DE. Great block from Jackson and Curhan and speed from Penny for 62 yard TD run around right side.