Re: I don't buy the bad buzz on NB

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zn

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dzrams

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LMU93
Exactly. And he's already showing signs of declining. He's gone from a great LT to pretty good. To think that trend does anything but continue in a year at age 38 isn't logical.

Sure, he's declining and that will continue. And yet, even in his declined state, he is by far our best olinemen. Which of our other olinemen are coming close to his performance this year?

Maybe Edwards and he's only had what 2 games?

It's possible he could take another step down next year and still be our best olinemen.

Noteboom was awful at guard and more importantly he's now injured. As Ferragamo said below, going with NB to protect the blind side given his injury and performance at guard this year is a big roll of the dice. You would have to assume that he would play much better at OT. That's not a given. You would also have to assume that he comes back right away from a major injury. That's also not a given.

Going with NB at LT without a strong contingency plan is foolish. Very foolish.

The injury is an issue but just in terms of how soon he will be up to speed.

But as Kromer said, NB was improving at the LG spot before getting hurt. I simply do not buy the idea that he is a bad player or even a below avg. one. I think instead that people are too quick to judge after a few games and can't see the upward trajectory on a good player. He did play LOT in 2018 and did well.

In terms of contingency plan, Edwards can play LOT.

And what you have with the Rams is one of the best OL coaches of the last decade. And yet we're quick to judge, and even call them foolish?

Meanwhile the Rams found a good OL starter in a 5th round rookie, and yet people are so sure they're this complete mess.

I probably wasn't all that clear. Or you misunderstood me. Or both.

I'm not saying that NB is a bad or below average player. I'm saying that he struggled at guard and now he's injured.

IMO, it's one thing to toss a struggling guard in there at LOT, it's another to do so immediately after coming off a major injury. It's not just one potential red flag to consider; now you have two.

I haven't made a final judgment on what Noteboom will become as a player but when comparing him to Edwards, because NB struggled at guard and Edwards has excelled, that is a factor in making me believe that Edwards is a good player with a higher or at least clearer upward trajectory. IOW, for me, performance at the guard position is a factor in how I think they'll do at LOT.

What I was saying was foolish was the plan discussed here of handing Noteboom the LOT job next year. There's got to be a really good contingency plan.

I wasn't calling the Rams coaches foolish at all. We don't know what they're going to do at this point. For all we know, they may prefer my plan of bringing Whit back very cheaply.

I agree that Edwards playing LOT is a decent contingency plan. I simply prefer to bring Whit back in the $5M range, IF possible, and keep Edwards at guard where he is doing very well.

I'd like to see them go this route and draft another guard fairly early and let him develop for a year.