Again I say it.....Victor Salako is not a natural left tackle. It might sound like a crazy proposition, but I see a few things that are happening with him:
1) His footwork is inadequate for the position. Crabtree is more agile and athletic, and he can nullify blindside pressure better with his technique in pass blocking. Victor's a very big, strong kid who is a good athlete, but not a great one, and we need to reduce sacks. I believe he's our best pure run blocker, however...
2) Now...along with pass protection improving, we're also going to run the ball better. Salako is an engager and finisher, so let's utilize that attribute to maybe alleviate some pressure on the right guard. Crabtree will be able to clear to the second level quicker, and we'll get those bigger runs Gundy is wanting instead of collectively grabbing our heads along with his and beating them against the F'ing wall trying to get somewhere with 2 and 3 yarders.
3) If I were an NFL scout, I wouldn't project Salako on the next level at left tackle, but Crabtree might have that potential, so why are we forcing it ourselves? I don't understand the stubbornness to not believe or the ignorance to not see that some personnel experimentation might be a good thing. I can't stand post-OSU Joe Wickline, but that shady son of a bitch made guys better sometimes just by putting them at a different spot. What if the 5 we have IS the right 5, but we are just maybe not balancing the strengths and weaknesses correctly?
We're going to be playing a team that ranks in the top 10 in rushing and scoring defense and has played an offense better than ours to this point. I know we have the potential to light up the scoreboard, but eventually it should come to a point where we need to make a bigger adjustment than just these minor tweaks and fixes. I hope these coaches at least take a look at moving someone around, but this would be my ideal scenario, as it puts a mauler next to Lewis to provide more push on the stretch blocks when Salako takes to the backers, and a solid pass pro on our QB's blindside is created with Crabtree and Wilson.
I could certainly be wrong and talking straight out my posterior orifice about any or all of this but why not take a look? Let's build a cleaner pocket so Mason's not having such garbage lanes and sightlines all the time. It just might reduce turnovers as well.
1) His footwork is inadequate for the position. Crabtree is more agile and athletic, and he can nullify blindside pressure better with his technique in pass blocking. Victor's a very big, strong kid who is a good athlete, but not a great one, and we need to reduce sacks. I believe he's our best pure run blocker, however...
2) Now...along with pass protection improving, we're also going to run the ball better. Salako is an engager and finisher, so let's utilize that attribute to maybe alleviate some pressure on the right guard. Crabtree will be able to clear to the second level quicker, and we'll get those bigger runs Gundy is wanting instead of collectively grabbing our heads along with his and beating them against the F'ing wall trying to get somewhere with 2 and 3 yarders.
3) If I were an NFL scout, I wouldn't project Salako on the next level at left tackle, but Crabtree might have that potential, so why are we forcing it ourselves? I don't understand the stubbornness to not believe or the ignorance to not see that some personnel experimentation might be a good thing. I can't stand post-OSU Joe Wickline, but that shady son of a bitch made guys better sometimes just by putting them at a different spot. What if the 5 we have IS the right 5, but we are just maybe not balancing the strengths and weaknesses correctly?
We're going to be playing a team that ranks in the top 10 in rushing and scoring defense and has played an offense better than ours to this point. I know we have the potential to light up the scoreboard, but eventually it should come to a point where we need to make a bigger adjustment than just these minor tweaks and fixes. I hope these coaches at least take a look at moving someone around, but this would be my ideal scenario, as it puts a mauler next to Lewis to provide more push on the stretch blocks when Salako takes to the backers, and a solid pass pro on our QB's blindside is created with Crabtree and Wilson.
I could certainly be wrong and talking straight out my posterior orifice about any or all of this but why not take a look? Let's build a cleaner pocket so Mason's not having such garbage lanes and sightlines all the time. It just might reduce turnovers as well.
