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Football post coming


Andrew Luck was hit and sacked a ton the last few years.

The Colts drafted OL and spent money in FA and he was only hit twice and hasn't been sacked in the last 2 weeks and Luck has been playing lights out.

Rebuild this OL

It helps the passing game, having a passing game opens things up for the running game.

It's not establish the run to open up the passing game anywhere (I hope you're reading this McDermott). Establishing a passing game opens up the running game!

Matt Barkley...played the best game all year from the QB position in a Bills jersey.

I don't know if Allen would have had the same success. Not saying he is a bust but he needs time. I would play Barkley against Jacksonville.
- Stripes77

OL is the most important thing in football IMO. A great OL can make almost any QB/RB look good. Our OL actually played very well yesterday, and a QB with 6 practices had a great game.

I like the second line a lot better if Erod and his speed were at C.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Well I mean the 2nd and 3rd lines are really line 2a and 2b

Erod did do a good job filling in at C while Eichel was out but I don't think he has the size to play center full time.

I like the second line a lot better if Erod and his speed were at C.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Erod plays a much better game at center... His best game of the year by far was the game he played center. WHY would they move him out??????

last year his best games were at center as well.

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Erod-Sobotka-Pommer
Sheary-Mittelstadt-Okposo


Top 3 lines at practice today
- Stripes77

If they put him on the 4th line, and played Nylander there, that's a very nice lineup

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Sheary-Mitts-Nylander
Erod-Sobotka-Pominville
Berglund-Girgs-Okposo

Totally agree about the OL. How many games did Dallas used to win simply by controlling the line of scrimmage with that great OL?

Don't agree about Barkley starting. The Jets are an awful team, like us. Beating them shouldn't get him the starting job, it should cost Peterman a job, but not Allen the starting role. If this was the start of the year, I'd agree, but at this point, I would like Allen playing every minute he can.
- RhinoFan

The Jags are very good on the defensive side of the ball.

Allen wasn't very quick at getting the ball out in his previous starts. That's the only reason I would sit him one extra week.

Allen plays the week after Jacksonville.

It is more of a sheltering the rookie type of move. Plus McDermott is in a tough spot. The offense just put up 41 points. The defense has been playing lights out and getting no points from the offense. He could lose the locker room if they start Allen and can't show any life of offense.

Plus if you start Allen and he starts the game off poorly he could be looking over his shoulder knowing Barkley is there.

The Jets defense is not awful they were ranked in the top half of the league going into the game yesterday. The just laid an egg yesterday.

Well I mean the 2nd and 3rd lines are really line 2a and 2b

Erod did do a good job filling in at C while Eichel was out but I don't think he has the size to play center full time.
- Stripes77

I wish I saw something that could pass as a second line, they're both really bad. Not a fan of Sam on the top line. In part because it destroys any semblance of line balance.

OL is the most important thing in football IMO. A great OL can make almost any QB/RB look good. Our OL actually played very well yesterday, and a QB with 6 practices had a great game.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Barkley looked comfortable in the pocket. He stepped up when he had to and got the ball out quickly.

That is exactly what I want Allen to learn how to do

If they put him on the 4th line, and played Nylander there, that's a very nice lineup

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Sheary-Mitts-Nylander
Erod-Sobotka-Pominville
Berglund-Girgs-Okposo
- jcragcrumple

Don't think Nylander is ready, it not like he is lighting the AHL on fire (although he's been better this year) But playing better wasn't hard to do from prior years.

Well I mean the 2nd and 3rd lines are really line 2a and 2b

Erod did do a good job filling in at C while Eichel was out but I don't think he has the size to play center full time.
- Stripes77

Housley's been moving him around but I think he's at his best playing center

If he keeps up his play of the last two games then yes sir it does.
- Stripes77

Starts slow, hopefully this is his upswing and he doesn't wait until game 42 to play like this consistently.

I'm hopeful.

The Jags are very good on the defensive side of the ball.

Allen wasn't very quick at getting the ball out in his previous starts. That's the only reason I would sit him one extra week.

Allen plays the week after Jacksonville.

It is more of a sheltering the rookie type of move. Plus McDermott is in a tough spot. The offense just put up 41 points. The defense has been playing lights out and getting no points from the offense. He could lose the locker room if they start Allen and can't show any life of offense.

Plus if you start Allen and he starts the game off poorly he could be looking over his shoulder knowing Barkley is there.

The Jets defense is not awful they were ranked in the top half of the league going into the game yesterday. The just laid an egg yesterday.
- Stripes77

There are reasons to go either way IMO. I think it's easier to start Barkley, if you lose so what, if he plays great you can say you were resting Allen. My issue is simply that I'd like to challenge Allen and really know by year's end what we have.

If he isn't the answer, I'd be drafting another QB or trying to acquire one in the offseason. If Allen only plays 3 or 4 games the rest of the year, you don't have the data necessary to make that call, effectively ruining another season if he isn't the answer.

Not saying you are wrong at all, just would go a different way for different reasons. They could be playing the Pats or KC, same answer.

You are right about the Jets, didn't know their defense had been okay thus far.

If they put him on the 4th line, and played Nylander there, that's a very nice lineup

Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart
Sheary-Mitts-Nylander
Erod-Sobotka-Pominville
Berglund-Girgs-Okposo
- jcragcrumple

Roll 4

Don't think Nylander is ready, it not like he is lighting the AHL on fire (although he's been better this year) But playing better wasn't hard to do from prior years.
- gordong

12 points in 14 games. It's not bad by any means. I'm also fine if they want to wait until Olofsson is healthy and plug him in. Or smith. We definitely need some more speed/scoring, however they accomplish it. If they want these guys on the left, they can move Erod to the right. It accomplishes the same goal

They're winning now, so whatever, but they're going into these games against some very good teams. I don't want the Sabres to lose, but this is a tough stretch, and a few losses here would show the kind of organizational swaps between But/Roch I believe they need to make. Or they finally hit the elusive 4 game win streak this week. We shall see

Don't think Nylander is ready, it not like he is lighting the AHL on fire (although he's been better this year) But playing better wasn't hard to do from prior years.
- gordong

Why are you sending Okposo all the way down? That was a great pass on Saturday

yeah, we don't suck anymore.. This is exciting

OL is the most important thing in football IMO. A great OL can make almost any QB/RB look good. Our OL actually played very well yesterday, and a QB with 6 practices had a great game.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

100% agree also why UB turned it around that was the big thing Lance did when he came... Took a bit but look at them now.

All over the league you can see players drop in production do to the OL
Look at Zeke in Dallas that line was great 2 years ago
COnnor in Pittsburgh ... was bell that good or just a great ol?

12 points in 14 games. It's not bad by any means. I'm also fine if they want to wait until Olofsson is healthy and plug him in. Or smith. We definitely need some more speed/scoring, however they accomplish it. If they want these guys on the left, they can move Erod to the right. It accomplishes the same goal

They're winning now, so whatever, but they're going into these games against some very good teams. I don't want the Sabres to lose, but this is a tough stretch, and a few losses here would show the kind of organizational swaps between But/Roch I believe they need to make. Or they finally hit the elusive 4 game win streak this week. We shall see
- jcragcrumple

They also need to send Thompson down to Rochester to play lots of top 6 and PP time. Plus I think Thompson/Nylander/Smith or not 4 line guys so don't set them up for failure. Girgs/Berglund and Larsson seem to be doing just fine on the 4th plus Girgs and Larsson are doing a good job on the penalty kill. Having said this, if Botterill traded Larsson today (along with Beaulieu), I would be a happy man.

Why are you sending Okposo all the way down? That was a great pass on Saturday
- hubie

Our fourth line is playing more minutes I think then an average fourth line across the NHL. Berglund-Larsson/Girgensons-Okposo for 10 minutes a night with Okposo getting PP time would be good for us. The question is I don’t think Thompson nor Nylander can play good enough to allow us to do that.

What happens when other NFL teams have a chance to watch tape for Barkley

They also need to send Thompson down to Rochester to play lots of top 6 and PP time. Plus I think Thompson/Nylander/Smith or not 4 line guys so don't set them up for failure. Girgs/Berglund and Larsson seem to be doing just fine on the 4th plus Girgs and Larsson are doing a good job on the penalty kill. Having said this, if Botterill traded Larsson today (along with Beaulieu), I would be a happy man.
- SabreWest

You say you don't want Larsson, but we all know he's going to match up against Stamkos tomorrow.

They also need to send Thompson down to Rochester to play lots of top 6 and PP time. Plus I think Thompson/Nylander/Smith or not 4 line guys so don't set them up for failure. Girgs/Berglund and Larsson seem to be doing just fine on the 4th plus Girgs and Larsson are doing a good job on the penalty kill. Having said this, if Botterill traded Larsson today (along with Beaulieu), I would be a happy man.
- SabreWest

He’s been our 3rd best d-man the past three games. If anything get rid of Scandella. Beaulieu is fine if he plays 40 games a year in a 6/7 role for us.

They also need to send Thompson down to Rochester to play lots of top 6 and PP time. Plus I think Thompson/Nylander/Smith or not 4 line guys so don't set them up for failure. Girgs/Berglund and Larsson seem to be doing just fine on the 4th plus Girgs and Larsson are doing a good job on the penalty kill. Having said this, if Botterill traded Larsson today (along with Beaulieu), I would be a happy man.
- SabreWest

I am still of the opinion that they need to pick 2 of these guys on any given night, and put one in the press box. If Girgs truly was a healthy scratch, that seems to be what they're doing. But let's be honest, Thompson isn't going to accomplish anything down there on line 4. I'd rather Okposo/Pominville play with Berglund + either 22/28, and play a kid up top, like you said, where they have a chance to score. And I'm with you, I've seen enough Thompson for a while

He’s been our 3rd best d-man the past three games. If anything get rid of Scandella. Beaulieu is fine if he plays 40 games a year in a 6/7 role for us.
- Pegullaville

He has been very good imo. Pleasant surprise

I am waiting in line for an echl game

Maybe I will see lehner

Team is fun and infuriating at times...

As I see it we still need a little more scoring....and at least one more GOOD defenseman. the question is will Botts try to speed up the process by bringing someone in, or are we going to wait for the kids in Rochester. that's the million dollar question.
-gordong

Does it have to be one or the other?
As long as we aren’t wasting the extra picks we have on rentals
We can bring in guys that’ll be here long term, and let the kids fight their way into the lineup

We still have some Vets i think we could do without too
So that could clear roster spots if/when we move on from them