O-Line Vs. Pittsburgh

[POE]

It wasn't a perfect game for our offensive line, but when the time came to give Joe some time to make some plays they showed up. This game also showed how important Ben Grubbs is to that group as well. As many have said already this offense goes as far as the protection goes for Joe, and I agree 100%. When Joe can stand in there and go through his reads he can be as good as any QB in this league. This year he has added a better pocket presence to his game which has showed to be very key at times. This oline has been up and down all year because of new blood being added, along with injuries, but it can really be effective against great defense and that could take us a long way in the post-season if it can continue to get better and play consistent.

[Tank 92]

I hope Ben's toe stays good!

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='POE' timestamp='1320764110' post='860234']
It wasn't a perfect game for our offensive line, but when the time came to give Joe some time to make some plays they showed up. This game also showed how important Ben Grubbs is to that group as well. As many have said already this offense goes as far as the protection goes for Joe, and I agree 100%. [b]When Joe can stand in there and go through his reads he can be as good as any QB in this league[/b]. This year he has added a better pocket presence to his game which has showed to be very key at times. This oline has been up and down all year because of new blood being added, along with injuries, but it can really be effective against great defense and that could take us a long way in the post-season if it can continue to get better and play consistent.
[/quote]

I've believed this for a long time, but as mobile as Joe can be, he is a pocket passer. If you look at guys like Brady and Manning, yes they will slide around a little in the pocket, but rarely do you see them scramble around and make throws from different angles line Aaron Rodgers will do or like Cam Newton can do. And this year the Bills made Brady look terrible simply by collapsing the pocket around him (something that seems to happen to Joe in like every game) Joe is like Brady and Manning, although I think he's a bit more mobile then they are. He is a big guy, and most big quarterbacks just cannot scramble around. When he has time to plant, set, and throw, Joe can pick any defense (except maybe Cinci's so far) apart. If Joe is this good with a suspect o-line (one columnist had the line ranked 19th in the league), imagine what he'd be like with an oline on par with Atlanta's or the Giants' or Jets'.

[Twistidfunk]

You can't expect an o-line to dominate other teams 100% of the time, especially a defense like Pittsburgh. I thought our o-line played very well. I know our run game didn't produce the yardage we all want but we ate up the clock and the most telling stat line all game was the 14 for 21 3rd down conversions. Our o-line was insane on Sunday night.

[POE]

[quote name='Twistidfunk' timestamp='1320764841' post='860243']
You can't expect an o-line to dominate other teams 100% of the time, especially a defense like Pittsburgh. I thought our o-line played very well. I know our run game didn't produce the yardage we all want but we ate up the clock and the most telling stat line all game was the 14 for 21 3rd down conversions. Our o-line was insane on Sunday night.
[/quote]
Of course not and that was my point when starting this topic. I don't think it was as solid of a game like they played in week 1, but when it mattered most they came through and gave Joe the time he needed. This offense depends on that happening consistently in order to do what they are fully capable of.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Twistidfunk' timestamp='1320764841' post='860243']
You can't expect an o-line to dominate other teams 100% of the time, especially a defense like Pittsburgh. I thought our o-line played very well. I know our run game didn't produce the yardage we all want but we ate up the clock and the most telling stat line all game was the 14 for 21 3rd down conversions. Our o-line was insane on Sunday night.
[/quote]

Our line did very well Sunday, but the problem is that the line is flat-out inconsistent. A big part of both of our losses this year was that the oline flat out could not pass-block or run-block. You saw in the Jacksonville game that when we went no-huddle and the oline had less responsibility (because they didn't have to block as long) we were able to move the football. I don't know if consistency will come with more time, or if we need better players on the line, but it's not as good as it needs to be on a regular basis.

[rlh445]

I loved watching the pocket collapse a bit at Ketchup, and watching Joe calmly take a few steps up into it and heave a perfect pass to Torrey......who dropped it. They didn't get the completion but that pocket awareness/movement is something Joe has stumbled a bit with in the past so it was great to see.

[POE]

[quote name='rlh445' timestamp='1320770863' post='860339']
I loved watching the pocket collapse a bit at Ketchup, and watching Joe calmly take a few steps up into it and heave a perfect pass to Torrey......who dropped it. They didn't get the completion but that pocket awareness/movement is something Joe has stumbled a bit with in the past so it was great to see.
[/quote]
Exactly. I look at it this way there are a lot of good olines in the league but every week it is going to get challenged and what happens lands on what decision the QB makes. Rodgers has a good oline but when it breaks down or WR's don't get open in time he makes some moves to help the play create itself. Same with Ben, his line isn't as good as most, but he makes good decisions when it breaks down. Joe is starting show this same pocket presence, not as drastic or even as good as the two aforementioned, but hopefully you get my point. Consistency of this oline will only help Joe be what Joe wants to be but his improved awareness and pocket presence only help his game. This oline has had it's ups and downs but when it was critical of them to get the job done they answered the call.