Oline Woes

[BmoreBird22]

The Harvard study to which you refer was done by someone who I dare say never played a down of

football. So, I'm not as impressed by the study as you apparently are. You just regurgitated the

Giants' right tackle's quote about backpedalling and getting slapped in the head but you failed to

include their left tackle's quote about technique and protecting oneself. Eugene Monroe was brought

in to replace Michael Oher because Oher had poor technique. If Oher's replacement is not playing because he is getting hurt, it could have something to do with his technique, BmoreBird22! That is what's

embarrassing. Having said that, the lack of consistently great play from our left tackles does make

me appreciate the stellar play of Jon Ogden that much more.

As for your legitimate and considerate concern about his health, I suppose you are equally

outraged about professional boxers who do not wear any head gear since it is the nature of that

sport to get concussions. Here's to a speedy & full recovery for Eugene whether he plays for us or

some other team next year. Frankly, I'm more concerned about his heart than I am about his head, no

pun intended.

So wait, because a study (a study that is compiling data and trends) done by a Ph.D. student at Harvard (this is where she is now: http://www.bu.edu/cte/about/leadership/christine-baugh/).She works as a neurologist at a center for CTE, a disease caused by head trauma. So, your complete disregard for the author of the study is a bit... well, ignorant. 

 

Yep, pretty much just said what he did because he offered up insight from the position itself. You wouldn't take a researcher's word who specializes in traumatic head injuries and now you won't take the word of a football player. I guess you're stuck in your own ways. And by the way, Pugh acknowledged that you try to use technique to keep the opposition at bay and keep your head uninvolved, but it still happens that they will get into your pads, hit heads with you, and slap you around. And all his teammate said (I assume Will Beaty) was that you CAN protect yourself by using technique and you WANT to keep your head out of it, but it doesn't always happen that way.

 

I think this is honestly the first time he's ever had a concussion in his playing career, so it is unfair to say that his technique is poor and that he has a problem due to poor technique. He just happened to get dinged up.

 

I don't care for boxing, but I think they are horribly stupid for going out there with only a mouthguard. Who would want to subject themselves to constant punching to the head and face? It's dumb to me, but I guess they're getting hundreds of millions a year for a few fights for a reason. 

[ravensdan]

No. What's really disappointing is the play of our offensive tackles. Monroe left a pre-season game

with a bruised forearm and left the opening game against the Broncos after the first series with a

concussion. How many other starting O-linemen in the NFL have sustained concussions this year? I

would be surprised if he was the first offensive left tackle to be head-slapped by a defensive end.

There just seems to be a pattern with this LT leaving games. Maybe, he's just injury-prone but if the heat is too hot in the kitchen, what do you do? Maybe Eugene Monroe should take up a non-contact

sport like table tennis.

BTW, your post was the most educated & non-embarrassing posts I've ever read. Why? Obviously,you are

entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. You have every right to be embarrassed by my

post. That is your prerogative as a blogger but it was not uneducated. Baltimore's offensive tackle

play in the Denver game was woeful, including Monroe's play before he was unfortunately head-slapped if that is what happened. I missed it.

To be clear. My comment to your post had nothing to do with good or bad offensive line play. That's something to be discussed debated. Whatever.

You calling him out for leaving the field after getting a concussion was what I was commenting on. Just because they have gone unreported and or ignored for so long doesn't mean that is the way it ought to be. At some point you realize you have to move on from

The days of leather "helmets" and legal clotheslines.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

To be clear. My comment to your post had nothing to do with good or bad offensive line play. That's something to be discussed debated. Whatever.

You calling him out for leaving the field after getting a concussion was what I was commenting on. Just because they have gone unreported and or ignored for so long doesn't mean that is the way it ought to be. At some point you realize you have to move on from

The days of leather "helmets" and legal clotheslines.

I understand your point and agree he should sit down until he clears the protocol. Of course, there

are many unreported instances of head trauma in the NFL. If each of them was

reported and properly treated, there wouldn't be enough players on opposing teams to play on a given Sunday so there's a reality gap somewhere in this discussion. If the NFL took these injuries as

seriously as some of its fans, it seems to me they would treat the disease, so to speak, rather than the symptoms. What's beneath the 2 inches of synthetic turf most teams play and practice on? Solid

concrete, that's what! Why do officials paid by the NFL allow opposing teams to pile-drive a defenseless receiver or rip another player's helmet off or step on another players head? Those factors can

cause head trauma too. Oh, that's right! They are more concerned about under-inflated footballs!

Removing a player from a game because he is suffering from possible concussion symptoms is a good

thing but it is merely treating the symptoms and not the disease.

[52520Andrew]

What's wrong with you people acting like concussions are nothing? People get hurt. He's just had a really bad run of luck but I doubt Monroe goes out there on the field and he's looking forward to getting hurt so he can get off the field Smh go look at Junior Seau. You should all be ashamed.

I'm frustrated with his recent injury history but think about what you're saying here

 

Yeah, Borland retired due to concerns about concussions, they aren't something that people should take lightly. Slam your head into a wall as hard as you can(don't really do this, you could die) and see what you are able to do. And even if he did play through it(which would be stupid), his level of play would probably be worse than what Hurst gave us due to having to play with a concussion. 

[ravensdan]

I understand your point and agree he should sit down until he clears the protocol. Of course, there

are many unreported instances of head trauma in the NFL. If each of them was

reported and properly treated, there wouldn't be enough players on opposing teams to play on a given Sunday so there's a reality gap somewhere in this discussion. If the NFL took these injuries as

seriously as some of its fans, it seems to me they would treat the disease, so to speak, rather than the symptoms. What's beneath the 2 inches of synthetic turf most teams play and practice on? Solid

concrete, that's what! Why do officials paid by the NFL allow opposing teams to pile-drive a defenseless receiver or rip another player's helmet off or step on another players head? Those factors can

cause head trauma too. Oh, that's right! They are more concerned about under-inflated footballs!

Removing a player from a game because he is suffering from possible concussion symptoms is a good

thing but it is merely treating the symptoms and not the disease.

Well we are in agreement there. Everyone if those incidents should have been suspensions for those players. The league didn't want another court battle trying to overrule those suspensions. Which is just not right. However none of this addresses your original comment calling out Monroe for not playing through the concussion. Yeah we're well aware there are an insane amount of unreported injury. Just doesn't override the comment I had a problem with.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Well we are in agreement there. Everyone if those incidents should have been suspensions for those players. The league didn't want another court battle trying to overrule those suspensions. Which is just not right. However none of this addresses your original comment calling out Monroe for not playing through the concussion. Yeah we're well aware there are an insane amount of unreported injury. Just doesn't override the comment I had a problem with.

Its amazing there aren't more concussions resulting from the celebratory helmet butts some players

like Tom Brady exchange with offensive lineman after scoring TDs. As for my comment calling out

Monroe for not playing through a concussion, I'll admit that I was wrong because I don't know how

severe the concussion was. Only Eugene Monroe and God knows how he feels right now. I can't feel his pain. It must have been a pretty severe concussion because it appears he will not play in Oakland. I just find it incongruent that the NFL's policy regarding concussion protocol is so tough and yet the other factors that obviously contribute to concussions go un-noticed and/or un-enforced. My bad!

[Tank 92]

Safe to say that while he has had some good games, Monroe has been a disappointment. Hopefully he can get well, stay healthy and provide the consistent, quality play that was expected from him.

Edited September 19, 2015 by Tank 92

[Ozzsome]

The banana peel comment was humorous ... I'm just responding to the cries to dump Hurst and go get a better backup LT after this performance. Wagner got abused as well. Both were double digit negatives in grading. Should we be rid of him as well? 

 

Last year, Monroe was out at the end of the season and into the post season. Many say we were a super bowl team, had it not been for our secondary. I didn't hear anyone saying we were a super bow team, had it not been for our back up LT. 

 

Sunday was ugly all the way around. Hopefully, Monroe gets back ... and more importantly, plays well when he does. 

 

The difference between Wagner and Hurst is that Wagner showed what he is capable of all of last season, while Hurst never impressed me at all, not even last year.

 

I think this week Hurst had a bad game again and seemed to have been struggeling throughout the game. Wagner rebounded quite well and had a solid outing in my opinion

 

With the run game we had last year you could get away with a struggling LT, although Osemele saved Hurst on more than one occasion (remember that play on James Harrison). BUT if you face a guy like Brady you will never ever get away with a hugely struggeling defensive backfield. That is why in my opinion we were a backfield short of the SB last year, and could get away with Hurst playing

[balfan23]

The difference between Wagner and Hurst is that Wagner showed what he is capable of all of last season, while Hurst never impressed me at all, not even last year.

 

I think this week Hurst had a bad game again and seemed to have been struggeling throughout the game. Wagner rebounded quite well and had a solid outing in my opinion

 

With the run game we had last year you could get away with a struggling LT, although Osemele saved Hurst on more than one occasion (remember that play on James Harrison). BUT if you face a guy like Brady you will never ever get away with a hugely struggeling defensive backfield. That is why in my opinion we were a backfield short of the SB last year, and could get away with Hurst playing

He wasn't great this weekend ... he wasn't awful either. I know that's not high praise, but for a backup, especially one that is being paid peanuts and was undrafted, I'm not sure what else to expect. 

 

We could certainly use a more reliable guy, but this team is starting to show pressing needs at so many positions and there are limited means to address those needs mid-season. I fear we're going to get lots more opportunities to see if Hurst can improve during the course of this year. If it is a season long struggle, finding someone who can fill in for Monroe will become a top 5 need in the off-season