Re-sign Saffold?

[Memento]

Well, you get what you pay for.

Havenstein = Noteboom, plus or minus.

Brown = Demby, plus or minus.

Saffold = sorry, no All-Pros available.

Noteboom is our left tackle of the future. I don't see how he connects to Havenstein. Brown and Havenstein staying keeps the right side intact, while players like Allen and Blythe help if Sullivan happens to go down.

I imagine that Demby takes Saffold's place. Don't sleep on the kid; there's a reason why a lot of us like the guy as a prospect. Not to mention the fact that we're going to have a ton of draft picks to replace Saffold.

I imagine that Tru and Watkins are going to be third round picks, and we still have a first (and possibly more, if Snead does what Snead does) to play with, so I fail to see why there's so much fuss about replacing a player who has had major injuries and is on the wrong side of thirty.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I think the chance of Demby or Noteboom being coached up to the level of All Pro is much more slim than the chance of Noteboom and Demby solidly replacing starters Brown and Havenstien.

And again, I predict they will use the first rounder on left tackle which means it would be really good to have a Saffold right next to him to be a coach on the field.

Having Demby next to a new left tackle almost sounds like a disaster in the making that Fisher would think up.

 

[Soul Surfer]

*Hopefully* Noteboom is our left tackle of the future.

He's a third-rounder and a 3rd rounder becoming a left tackle does not happen on a regular basis.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Absolutely Demby is a good prospect for a guard as he proved he could play Tackle in college, which shows he has pretty good footwork.

They are nowhere near done drafting offensive lineman though, I guarantee you that.

 

[Loyal]

Absolutely Demby is a good prospect for a guard as he proved he could play Tackle in college, which shows he has pretty good footwork.

They are nowhere near done drafting offensive lineman though, I guarantee you that.

We should draft at least one offensive lineman every draft. Reloading when you have to, is too late.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Snack, that's a really risky bet. I explained below why it's problematic:


Basically, after two years, Saffold will enter his age-33 season. Only 15 OGs over the past decade managed 15 or more starts in their age-33 season on. Considering Saffold's injury history and how long he's been a starter, he is a player who is unlikely to be part of that club. Odds are that his game will hit a wall before his age-33 season or his durability will fall off a cliff. Personally, a two year deal is the max I'd give him, and I'd be apprehensive about that.

So basically half of the over 33 Guards started 15 games or more?
That sounds about right.

Saffold JUST turned 30 last month.
He just made his first All Pro.

Running backs are famous for hitting the wall at 30. Not necessarily offensive lineman.
Of course they will reevaluate after the season but he's not falling off lately, he's getting better.

Out of 64 projected starters, only 8 made All Pro.
That puts Saffold in the top 10% at the moment.

Top 10% players don't just grow on trees.

 

[jrry32]

I think the chance of Demby or Noteboom being coached up to the level of All Pro is much more slim than the chance of Noteboom and Demby solidly replacing starters Brown and Havenstien.

You're not buying the All Pro. That's what people ignore. You don't pay a guy for what he was. You pay him for what he will be. You're paying 31 to 34 year old Saffold (if it's a four year deal), not 29 year old Saffold.

The reality of OLs in the NFL is that they're a sum of their parts. If you have 5 quality starters and a great OL Coach, your OL is going to perform better than an OL with 2 All Pros, 1 quality starter, and 2 liabilities.

And again, I predict they will use the first rounder on left tackle which means it would be really good to have a Saffold right next to him to be a coach on the field.

I'd rather have the right side of our OL.

Having Demby next to a new left tackle almost sounds like a disaster in the making that Fisher would think up.

Okay, put Whitworth next to him. We have Whitworth signed through 2019. But I don't agree with you at all. If Demby can play, we'll be just fine with him next to a rookie LT, especially with Kromer and McVay coaching.

 

[Soul Surfer]

We should draft at least one offensive lineman every draft. Reloading when you have to, is too late.

I have been saying that for years.

And I'll go one further;
You should draft a player with upside that is due to go in the top four rounds every year.

And make sure you have a first-round draft pick when you need the left tackle replaced or you are going to pay through the nose like we are right now. (Thanks Jeff)

 

[jrry32]

So basically half of the over 33 Guards started 15 games or more?
That sounds about right.

That's not correct. 15 guards OVER A DECADE is what I said. On average, that's 1.5 guards per year (out of 64 starting OGs).

 

[Memento]

*Hopefully* Noteboom is our left tackle of the future.

He's a third-rounder and a 3rd rounder becoming a left tackle does not happen on a regular basis.

David Bahktiari was a fourth round pick for the Green Bay Packers. He's one of the best left tackles in the game.

Jared Veldheer was a third round pick. He was a mainstay at left tackle for the Raiders, and the only reason he fell off was because of injury.

Jermon Bushrod was a fifth round pick, and he was excellent for the Saints.

Our own Andrew Whitworth was a second round pick.

My point is that your linemen - even left tackles - can be found. It's just your job to coach them up, and I have total faith in Kromer coaching them up.

Absolutely Demby is a good prospect for a guard as he proved he could play Tackle in college, which shows he has pretty good footwork.

They are nowhere near done drafting offensive lineman though, I guarantee you that.

Of course not. I fully expect there to be a tackle and a guard, maybe two. We absolutely have the picks for it, and letting Saffold go in free agency probably grants us a third round compensatory pick. I'd take the pick, and trust Demby to take the next step.

 

[fearsomefour]

You're not buying the All Pro. That's what people ignore. You don't pay a guy for what he was. You pay him for what he will be. You're paying 31 to 34 year old Saffold (if it's a four year deal), not 29 year old Saffold.

The reality of OLs in the NFL is that they're a sum of their parts. If you have 5 quality starters and a great OL Coach, your OL is going to perform better than an OL with 2 All Pros, 1 quality starter, and 2 liabilities.



I'd rather have the right side of our OL.



Okay, put Whitworth next to him. We have Whitworth signed through 2019. But I don't agree with you at all. If Demby can play, we'll be just fine with him next to a rookie LT, especially with Kromer and McVay coaching.

This is always the tricky part with contracts.
Projection.
Either projecting production yet to come or projecting continued productivity.
Keeping the right side of the line would be squarely preojecting production as they have been largely average. They can improve, particularly Brown as Havenstein size gives him some physical limitations.

 

[jrry32]

This is always the tricky part with contracts.
Projection.
Either projecting production yet to come or projecting continued productivity.
Keeping the right side of the line would be squarely preojecting production as they have been largely average. They can improve, particularly Brown as Havenstein size gives him some physical limitations.

Even if they don't improve, they were rock solid last year under Kromer and McVay. If both guys are reasonably priced, keep them. We know that they're not liabilities and their age makes them unlikely to hit a wall. Saffold's projection is a very dangerous one. We have to be careful with our money.

 

[Soul Surfer]

You're not buying the All Pro. That's what people ignore. You don't pay a guy for what he was.

Okay, put Whitworth next to him. We have Whitworth signed through 2019. But I don't agree with you at all. If Demby can play, we'll be just fine with him next to a rookie LT,

Saffold is a CURRENT All Pro.
And after we win the Superbowl this year he could be a first-team All-Pro.

So in your mind Whitworth could last until he's 38 but Saffold is going to break down any minute?

And *IF* Demby can play, next year he's a second-year player, FIRST year starter and then a possible rookie left tackle?

Check out the YouTube video highlighting the offensive line and notice how many big runs of Gurley were to the left.
The announcers even mention it.

 

[Loyal]

Saffold is a CURRENT All Pro.
And after we win the Superbowl this year he could be a first-team All-Pro.

So in your mind Whitworth could last until he's 38 but Saffold is going to break down any minute?

And *IF* Demby can play, next year he's a second-year player, FIRST year starter and then a possible rookie left tackle?

Check out the YouTube video highlighting the offensive line and notice how many big runs of Gurley were to the left.
The announcers even mention it.

No doubt...Saffold was getting downfield and helping Gurley get loose....He and Whitworth are just great to see in this way...Old guys doing that bit extra.. *flexes guns

 

[jrry32]

Saffold is a CURRENT All Pro.
And after we win the Superbowl this year he could be a first-team All-Pro.

So what? We're not paying him for what he was. We're paying him for what he will be.

So in your mind Whitworth could last until he's 38 but Saffold is going to break down any minute?

We need to plan for Whitworth not to last, but he's under contract. However, Whitworth has no injury history and is a complete anomaly in terms of his ability to maintain his health and level of play as an OL in his mid-to-late 30s. Saffold has had major surgeries on both shoulders and other significant injuries to his pectoral and knee.

And *IF*Demby can play, next year he's a second-year player, FIRST year starter and then a possible rookie left tackle?

Coached by Aaron Kromer and Sean McVay. Of course, if Joe Noteboom isn't the LT, why wouldn't he start over Demby at LG? And that guy has massive upside at OG. Of course, Demby has a ton of upside at OG too. So why are we casting off young players in Hav and Brown to keep an aging one?

 

[Soul Surfer]

We could have an almost entirely new offensive line next year.

Whitworth could retire.
Saffold could sign somewhere else.
Sullivan could retire potentially.
Brown could resign somewhere else.
Havenstein could resign somewhere else.

This next offseason or even during the season could be a serious transitional period for our o-line.

Saffold could be the veteran presence solidifying the left side between our new center and left tackle.

That could be huge.

 

[Loyal]

jrry32, we just need to acknowledge Saffold greatness...Those negative stats about aged olinemen, don't apply to our current Iron Man, Rodger Saffold.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Kromer is actually our new "Run Game Coordinator" and I assume our offensive line coach as well.

Hopefully that doesn't detract from his ability to develop offensive lines.

What he did last year with our o-line last year is nothing short of a miracle.

 

[Merlin]

We should draft at least one offensive lineman every draft. Reloading when you have to, is too late.

I agree. And the next one that needs to be drafted is an OT with good feet and size who has a chance to play LT. Oh and hopefully at the end of round 1 next year.

 

[OldSchool]

Kromer is actually our new "Run Game Coordinator" and I assume our offensive line coach as well.

Hopefully that doesn't detract from his ability to develop offensive lines.

What he did last year with our o-line last year is nothing short of a miracle.

Yet you and others don't trust him to find a guy to replace and even upgrade Saffold. Instead we'd rather pay him top OG dollar and ignore his injury history