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Its pretty clear to me.
They were glaringly exposed in the SB. It was broadcast nationwide that Sullivan and Blythe were weak links. Saffold was the only decent interior OL that they had. They replaced Saffold with a 2nd year player that never played OG. They replaced Sullivan with an undersized inexperienced Center who is getting eaten up now. And they kept Blythe, enough said.
Yes, Havenstein certainly made matters worse with his current level of play, but he was never a good pass blocker to begin with. His claim to fame was Gurley loved running behind him.
It just doesnt pass the mustard, zn. They overplayed their hand and lost.
And you dont need to use all high draft picks like the Cowboys did, but not using any is a very risky plan, especially with a drop back passer.
Its ok if we differ on how we see this. I just hope it doesnt end up with Goff on IR or with battered QB syndrome.
I think when people say things are clear to them they often just mean "this is one opinion but I uphold this particular one." That was the entire OL in the superbowl not just Sullivan and Blythe. Plus of course there was the fact that McVay did not adjust to a 6 man front, something he has done since. (See Waldman.) And it was not just the superbowl, it goes back to Detroit and Chicago. This OL has never played well against top DLs. Often what happens after that is panic ensues and some people just see doom. I never bought that approach.
This year's line was supposed to develop. We have direct quotations from both Kromer and McVay on that. The (to me always just fantasy football idea) that you can only build lines with high picks is always something I hear from people who don't actually look around at how different good OLs are built. It becomes a stuck record mantra.
Hav was never all that. I said so when they extended him. Blythe was never good against top DLs. But that has nothing to do with Noteboom or Allen. But they could play effectively as a unit when they were not facing one of the handful of top DLs.
Whit was always gone in 2020. I don't know anyone who ever thought otherwise.
I know what your argument is and I never bought it. Still don't.
So let's agree to disagree.
