Add to that ...WestCoastJoe wrote:2003 Carl Gourgues
2005 Pierre Tremblay, Karl Ortmanns
2006 Dean Valli, Jon Hameister-Ries
2007 Andrew Jones, Kyle Kirkwood
2008 Justin Sorensen, Hubert Buydens
2009 Matt Morencie
2010 Danny Watkins, Adam Baboulas
2011 Yannick Sage
2012 Kirby Fabien, Matt Norman
2013 Hunter Steward, Matt Albright
......................
Drafting. Guys like Gourgues, Ortmans, Tremblay, and Buydens were deemed to be too small. Then why the heck draft them?
Jones? Morencie? Baboulas? Sage?
Many wasted picks over the years? Sure.
Lack of development in the NI O Line roster over the years? Yes.
And as noted, is it a coincidence that since Kelly Bates took over draft responsibility, we have made some outstanding picks for the O Line: Norman, Fabien, probably Steward.
Regarding making Hunter Steward puke ...
I cannot imagine that it was intentional to make Hunter Steward chuck his biscuits, as they used to say. But how wise was it, on his signing day, after eating, prior to the press conference, to run him so ragged that he pukes, and leans over in pain?
My bigger concern re the O Line is the uncertainty often shown over the years. Assignments not clear. Body language uncertain. We hear talk of changing philosophy in mid-season. Not good. We hear talk of scheme overhaul in the off-season. Go technical. Go physical. Power blocking. Zone blocking. I get a strong sense of overload, and far too much stuff in the heads of the athletes. Footwork. Hand work. Assignments. In the lab: Try this. Try that. We all tend to know how O Line is considered such a demanding position mentally. Agreed. Well then, in that case, it seems wise to me to keep things as simple as is possible. We seemed to do a better job of that with Matt Norman and Kirby Fabien, guys that have played successfully in their rookie years, unusual for our Non Import O Line.
Things are promising now.
This episode of making freshly signed Hunter Steward puke is one for the records though. It adds to the folklore of Dan Dorazio. Right up there with the "He's got good girth; he's got a good body" quote regarding Dean Valli. LOL
Regarding Danny Watkins ... He had a very difficult time in Philadelphia. He went to the armpit of the world for O Linemen, the Dolphins, home of harassment and abuse. He is unsure he wants to play football any more. If he ever signs with the Lions ... I don't see how puking on the field could ever be considered a good way to make a new guy feel at home and comfortable. (Or could this incident be enough to close the door for Danny Watkins?) There is enough of the discomfort of football in the dog days of summer. No need for leaving lunch on the grass.