Michael Oher vs. Paul Kruger

[SeaHawk]

Proof? Because I don't think that's the case at all.

 

I, once again, have to agree with you here. Oher, in his past, has struggled with elite pass rushers, yes. But in the playoffs, he excelled at his natural position against top flight pass rushers. The line's success was just as much of the reason for Joe's elite playoff run as Joe himself. Our line, during that stretch, is still grossly underrated for the performance they put up. I'm just glad that we have pretty much the same line intact, with the only exception being Birk's retirement.

[flynismo]

I see the point here. I get it, when the team around you starts going down, chances are you're going down as well. But what about the fact that both Ware and Matthews are elite pass rushers without having even a decent D around them? I could pull up more instances here, including Jared Allen in Minny last year. Kruger is a decent pass rusher, I'm not knocking that, but I'm not going to say he's a star at it.

 

Besides, the fact that he excels only when he's surrounded by talent is kind of moot here anyways. He will be playing alongside players like Mingo and Sheard, along with Taylor. He will have talent around him, so he should do just fine. I'm just not going to call him a beast at it though.

 

What does having other good players around him have to do with Kruger beating his one on one matchups? If we are going that route, then we could easily argue that with Ngata having a subpar (by his standards) year, and the entire DL playing terribly for that matter, it made Kruger's job harder than it needed to be and honestly, as crappy as our DL was last year, it was an incredible effort for Kruger to do what he did...had our DL actually played well and done their jobs, Kruger's numbers may have been monstrous.

Nobody has ever claimed that Kruger is on Suggs/Ware/Matthews level as a player, but that doesn't mean he isn't damn good in his own right

[flynismo]

I think Kruger would make Oher look silly, just sayin'. Oher is horrible against speed/finesse rushers. Better have the RB chip Kruger while going out for his route.

As a pass rusher, Kruger reminds me a lot of John Abraham for some reason....and we all saw how Abraham just destroyed Oher when they played, so I really wouldn't be surprised if Kruger did too.

[flynismo]

Proof? Because I don't think that's the case at all.

Proof that Kruger would make him look silly, or that Oher struggles against speed rushers?

[flynismo]

 
 

Oher will dominate him. He's played well against a lot better pass rusher then Paul..

He's also been annihilated by guys I've never even heard of (Rob Ninkovich, anyone?)

[SeaHawk]

What does having other good players around him have to do with Kruger beating his one on one matchups? If we are going that route, then we could easily argue that with Ngata having a subpar (by his standards) year, and the entire DL playing terribly for that matter, it made Kruger's job harder than it needed to be and honestly, as crappy as our DL was last year, it was an incredible effort for Kruger to do what he did...had our DL actually played well and done their jobs, Kruger's numbers may have been monstrous.

Nobody has ever claimed that Kruger is on Suggs/Ware/Matthews level as a player, but that doesn't mean he isn't damn good in his own right

 

I agree. But don't cuss.

[flynismo]

I agree. But don't cuss.

Yes mom

[SecretAgentMan]

He's also been annihilated by guys I've never even heard of (Rob Ninkovich, anyone?)

It's like he's still coached by Cam Cameron.

 

Does good vs stud pass rushers. Sucks vs situational pass rushers/ no names

[flynismo]

It's like he's still coached by Cam Cameron.

 

Does good vs stud pass rushers. Sucks vs situational pass rushers/ no names

Oh, I can name quite a few GOOD pass rushers that have destroyed Oher as well, not just the no-names

[SecretAgentMan]

Oh, I can name quite a few GOOD pass rushers that have destroyed Oher as well, not just the no-names

Oher is inconsistent as hell. I only hope Castillo helps him with all of his problems 

[SeaHawk]

Yes mom

 

Lol just don't complain when you get a warning is all I'm saying, Son.

[Gordo52]

Oher held is own in the playoffs. Nothing spectacular but not bad....

I still think Kruger would get the best of that match up.

[SeaHawk]

Oher is inconsistent as hell. I only hope Castillo helps him with all of his problems 

 

If Castillo is really the coach I think he is, then Oher will at the very least pick up some technique, which looks like his biggest weakness.  This should at least help him a little, hopefully to maintain consistency.

[flynismo]

Oher is inconsistent as hell. I only hope Castillo helps him with all of his problems 

I think we all hope Oher finally puts it together. He is a thoroughbred physically. His problem is grasping even fundamental concepts of his position.

If Castillo can get his head right, then Oher would be a monster...but unfortunately, I just dont think Oher has what it takes between the ears to ever play up to his true potential

[flynismo]

Lol just don't complain when you get a warning is all I'm saying, Son.

Meh, I'm used to those things...besides, I dont think I really cussed, "damn" isn't a cuss word if it didnt get blocked by the filter

[flynismo]

If Castillo is really the coach I think he is, then Oher will at the very least pick up some technique, which looks like his biggest weakness.  This should at least help him a little, hopefully to maintain consistency.

Technique is part of it, but watch him closely on any play where he gets to the second level or plays where he has to pull (like a WR screen to his side). It is almost embarrassing how clueless he still is at times

[SeaHawk]

Technique is part of it, but watch him closely on any play where he gets to the second level or plays where he has to pull (like a WR screen to his side). It is almost embarrassing how clueless he still is at times

 

That's exactly right. His struggle is in his thought processing, which very well may not be fixable. There's no doubting his physical abilities (which are monstrous, as mentioned previously), but if you don't have it all together "upstairs", then you will never achieve your potential. He is one such example of that. Technique will help him, sure, but what about his mental game? You can't teach someone to process things differently in the heat of the battle. You can put that person through a multitude of classes, but when the heat is on, its up to that player to respond to the teaching.

[BirdWatcher]

If he's out there "thinking" he will never succeed. He needs to just react. More playing time can help that.

[scrock]

Kruger wasn't that special in the first six weeks or so..it was only once Suggs made his return that Kruger started to pick up his game..mostly because he had Suggs on the opposite side.

 

I think Oher would handle him...too many Oher haters/doubters in here....Kruger got paid, good for him...but Cleveland will regret that contract

[H8R]

As a pass rusher, Kruger reminds me a lot of John Abraham for some reason....and we all saw how Abraham just destroyed Oher when they played, so I really wouldn't be surprised if Kruger did too.

Except Abraham has a long history of being a pass rush talent, regardless of who his opposite is.

[H8R]

Proof that Kruger would make him look silly, or that Oher struggles against speed rushers?

That Oher struggles as a RT against "speed rushers "

[H8R]

He's also been annihilated by guys I've never even heard of (Rob Ninkovich, anyone?)

And Ninkovich isn't a speed rusher at all. Oher had some problems at LT ... but he's pretty solid on the right side. Kruger has disappeared more then Oher has been bad. Really, run right at Paul and it's game over. Oher and Yanda will make him look foolish.

[H8R]

Kruger wasn't that special in the first six weeks or so..it was only once Suggs made his return that Kruger started to pick up his game..mostly because he had Suggs on the opposite side.

I think Oher would handle him...too many Oher haters/doubters in here....Kruger got paid, good for him...but Cleveland will regret that contract

Exactly! Suggs was a fraction of himself, and he still was respected enough to help Paul a lot. Kruger is a good player, he can drop in coverage and rush the passer.. but he's not a complete player like Suggs.

[The Raven]

Proof? Because I don't think that's the case at all.

 

Watch Oher play, and you'll find your proof. I root for the guy day in and day out but the fact that he doesn't hold up well against finesse rushers is undeniable.

[H8R]

Watch Oher play, and you'll find your proof. I root for the guy day in and day out but the fact that he doesn't hold up well against finesse rushers is undeniable.

I saw that as more of a problem when he wasn't on the right.

[JoeyFlex5]

the kruger hate is RIDICULOUS!! we knew he was gone, but he is a legit pass rusher. not a legit 3 down OLB, but the man has a beautiful jump on the snap count, great burst, great finesse, and a very high motor, and hes also a pretty tough cookie, i think oher is gonna have trouble with him honestly, i expect a sack per game from him when we play cleveland

[flynismo]

That Oher struggles as a RT against "speed rushers "

 

I saw that as more of a problem when he wasn't on the right.

 

He gave up 10 sacks this past year. Ten! That was tied for third worst in the league.

 

He typically wont face the better pass rushers on the right, so naturally he will appear to perform better on the right, due to lesser competition (for the most part)

[H8R]

He gave up 10 sacks this past year. Ten! That was tied for third worst in the league.

He typically wont face the better pass rushers on the right, so naturally he will appear to perform better on the right, due to lesser competition (for the most part)

That is pretty bad... was that not on the left side though?

[flynismo]

That is pretty bad... was that not on the left side though?

I'm not sure how many came at LT, but I'd assume that the majority was when he was at LT.

[H8R]

I'm not sure how many came at LT, but I'd assume that the majority was when he was at LT.

He didn't play RT until the playoffs, right?