Is Juan Castillo helping our Blocking?

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

After further review,

Maybe it was not Trestman, but Castillo and the Oline blocking that truly has been hurting this offense.

What kind of accountability does Castillo get? A free pass?

Since he has gotten here, except for the Kubiak year post SB, I have seen nothing but sub par O line play - his area of responsibility.

Games are won in the trenches, and no matter who is calling plays, if the Blocking scheme is a fail, then the Offense will fail. 

Review the game tape, see for yourself. It does not all fall on him, but we saw marked improvement when Kubiak implemented his own version. Thoughts?

[redrum52]

I'd give him a little wiggle room considering our OL is never healthy, Zuttah isn't that good and we had two rookies on the left side.

[The Raven]

For the millionth time, Castillo is responsible for technique and player development. And if you look at player development, Castillo is doing one hell of a job.

Kelechi Osemele wasn't the dominant force that he became until Castillo got here.

Rick Wagner is lowkey one of the best right tackles in the league.

Until his injury, Ronnie Stanley was looking like a top ten left tackle -- as a rookie.

Alex Lewis held his own at left tackle and is coming into his own at left guard.

Ryan Jensen has gone from a no-name D-2 linemen to a very reliable backup that would have been a starter ten years ago. He's by far the second best run blocker on our roster.

The question marks are Jeremy Zuttah and John Urschel. Zuttah came in here as a vet, someone who Castillo wouldn't be able to make an impact on. And his issue, I think, is just strength and nastiness. For Urschel, I no longer think his heart is in it. Either that, or he had a bad offseason, because he just looks weak/

Simply put, position coaches should be graded on player development, and if you think our offensive linemen aren't developing, you don't know what you're watching. Wagner, Stanley, Osemele, Lewis, and Jensen have all demonstrated significant growth. Castillo is not the problem.

Edited November 13, 2016 by The Raven

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

I think we can all agree, West is a good back. 

What is the reason then, that we practically abandoned the run game the first half? If you cant open holes, you cant run for any yards,  thus abandon the run and can the OC right?

It seems to me, the coaches in charge of the Oline need some accountability here, imho.

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

19 minutes ago, The Raven said:

For the millionth time, Castillo is responsible for technique and player development. And if you look at player development, Castillo is doing one hell of a job.

Kelechi Osemele wasn't the dominant force that he became until Castillo got here.

Rick Wagner is lowkey one of the best right tackles in the league.

Until his injury, Ronnie Stanley was looking like a top ten left tackle -- as a rookie.

Alex Lewis held his own at left tackle and is coming into his own at left guard.

Ryan Jensen has gone from a no-name D-2 linemen to a very reliable backup that would have been a starter ten years ago. He's by far the second best run blocker on our roster.

The question marks are Jeremy Zuttah and John Urschel. Zuttah came in here as a vet, someone who Castillo wouldn't be able to make an impact on. And his issue, I think, is just strength and nastiness. For Urschel, I no longer think his heart is in it. Either that, or he had a bad offseason, because he just looks weak/

Simply put, position coaches should be graded on player development, and if you think our offensive linemen aren't developing, you don't know what you're watching. Wagner, Stanley, Osemele, Lewis, and Jensen have all demonstrated significant growth. Castillo is not the problem.

Based on your analysis, no one is accountable.

The FO supplied the players, the HC and FO made their cuts, and settled on the starters and backups, as Nfl caliber players able to get the job done. Even against the Browns, they were getting blown up with Stanley and Lewis in there. I did see a ton of missed blocking assignments Thurs night, even by the TE's.

Schemed up properly, would we be seeing the same issues? 

The Oline coaches are responsible for the Oline, bottom line, then the OC has to step in and make adjustments. 

Maybe it gets back to bringing in the right players, but there has to be Oline accountability here, because the rest of our season depends on it. The games are truly won or lost in the trenches.

 

[redrum52]

3 minutes ago, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

Based on your analysis, no one is accountable.

The FO supplied the players, the HC and FO made their cuts, and settled on the starters and backups, as Nfl caliber players able to get the job done. Even against the Browns, they were getting blown up with Stanley and Lewis in there. I did see a ton of missed blocking assignments Thurs night, even by the TE's.

Schemed up properly, would we be seeing the same issues? 

The Oline coaches are responsible for the Oline, bottom line, then the OC has to step in and make adjustments. 

Maybe it gets back to bringing in the right players, but there has to be Oline accountability here, because the rest of our season depends on it. The games are truly won or lost in the trenches.

 

Two rookies on the left side and the starting unit has not played many games together.  An OL needs to gel.

[The Raven]

20 minutes ago, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

Based on your analysis, no one is accountable.

The FO supplied the players, the HC and FO made their cuts, and settled on the starters and backups, as Nfl caliber players able to get the job done. Even against the Browns, they were getting blown up with Stanley and Lewis in there. I did see a ton of missed blocking assignments Thurs night, even by the TE's.

Schemed up properly, would we be seeing the same issues? 

The Oline coaches are responsible for the Oline, bottom line, then the OC has to step in and make adjustments. 

Maybe it gets back to bringing in the right players, but there has to be Oline accountability here, because the rest of our season depends on it. The games are truly won or lost in the trenches.

 

Where did I say no one is accountable? All I said is that it's not Castillo. If you want blame, blame Ozzie for not doing enough to address our interior and not getting a better center. Blame Harbaugh for playing Lewis at LG instead of Jensen, who is head and shoulders better as a run blocker.  Blame Wagner for not being a bully and driving guys off the line. 

Castillo shouldn't be criticized for an injury-plagued line, a mediocre center, a below average left guard, and an underperforming right tackle who just can't drive anybody. 

Against Pittsburgh, I mean, they just shut it down. They stacked the box. They blitzed. The oline sucked. I forget which lineup we had but it was ugly. I'm going to attribute the run game struggles to Lewis and Zuttah. They were bullied into the backfield on almost every play that game. Against Cleveland, we were hurt across the line. 

Edited November 13, 2016 by The Raven

[flynismo]

50 minutes ago, OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL said:

Maybe it was not Trestman, but Castillo and the Oline blocking that truly has been hurting this offense.

It has been both. It was always both.

[flynismo]

1 minute ago, The Raven said:

Castillo shouldn't be criticized for an injury-plagued line, a mediocre center, and a below average left guard. 

It really is that simple. I cannot fathom what is so hard to understand about that.

[The Raven]

Just now, flynismo said:

It really is that simple. I cannot fathom what is so hard to understand about that.

And you can add an underperforming right tackle to that list. Wagner is a top 10 right tackle but that's due in large part to his pass blocking. Michael Oher in his last year might have been a better run blocker than Wagner is right now.

[The Raven]

Anybody watching the Denver-New Orleans game? Watch the Saints run game. That's how big an impact a dominant center has on an offense. Max Unger is a tank. Go compare him to Zuttah and come back to me.

[JoeyFlex5]

Castillo coaches up really solid players out of 4th 5th and 6th rounders. His LT for a lot of the past 3 years has consisted of a undrafted, and Our starting LG sliding out. That starting left guard was a tackle in college and projected to be a natural RT in the NFL but he has played at a starting level at guard and solid depth at LT, a 4th round rookie. Wagner was atrocious as a 5th round rookie, went on to have a pro bowl caliber season and has been very good when healthy. Ryan Jensen was a 6th rounder who has turned into solid depth Or a lower end starter at 2 positions, same with urschel the 5th rounder. 

His starters are always hurt and he is working with late rounders that he coached into passable NFL players and mixmatching them in different positions throughout the year. 

I'd say Castillo has done a better job than you could ever ask of an OL coach.

[The Raven]

I honestly put the blame at Ozzie's feet. Look at the Dolphins. They had a crappy, crappy line, and over the offseason, they invested in it big time. Now it's poppin'.

Imagine if, instead of drafting a project in Ryan Jensen, Ozzie actually got a quality guard. I think he gambles and puts a little too much faith in Castillo to get satisfactory results out of mediocre players. Robert Myers and Ryan Jensen fit that description in my book.

Edited November 13, 2016 by The Raven

[gtalk12]

Yea well we had KO and he got an offer from OAK that he could not refuse.....

 

 

KO and Stanley on one side would have been great 

[FlocksGottaFeed]

1 hour ago, The Raven said:

For the millionth time, Castillo is responsible for technique and player development. And if you look at player development, Castillo is doing one hell of a job.

Kelechi Osemele wasn't the dominant force that he became until Castillo got here.

Rick Wagner is lowkey one of the best right tackles in the league.

Until his injury, Ronnie Stanley was looking like a top ten left tackle -- as a rookie.

Alex Lewis held his own at left tackle and is coming into his own at left guard.

Ryan Jensen has gone from a no-name D-2 linemen to a very reliable backup that would have been a starter ten years ago. He's by far the second best run blocker on our roster.

The question marks are Jeremy Zuttah and John Urschel. Zuttah came in here as a vet, someone who Castillo wouldn't be able to make an impact on. And his issue, I think, is just strength and nastiness. For Urschel, I no longer think his heart is in it. Either that, or he had a bad offseason, because he just looks weak/

Simply put, position coaches should be graded on player development, and if you think our offensive linemen aren't developing, you don't know what you're watching. Wagner, Stanley, Osemele, Lewis, and Jensen have all demonstrated significant growth. Castillo is not the problem.

Agreed. There hasn't been a (profootballfocus) performance rating all season that didn't have multiple offensive linemen in the top 5. Considering the injuries, multiple position moves, questionable/transparent scheming (before OC change), etc. there's no way to not acknowledge the great job Castillo has done.

Now add this: The 'new' 2016 rule to pretty much eliminate the 'Zone Blocking Scheme' which completely changed a blocking technique that we've been concentrating on, mastering, basing FA/draft picks and coaching prospects on for the last 5 years. Castillo and the players' commitment got our guys adjusted and fluent in one concentrated off-season. That's coaching.

[flynismo]

50 minutes ago, The Raven said:

I honestly put the blame at Ozzie's feet. Look at the Dolphins. They had a crappy, crappy line, and over the offseason, they invested in it big time. Now it's poppin'.

Imagine if, instead of drafting a project in Ryan Jensen, Ozzie actually got a quality guard. I think he gambles and puts a little too much faith in Castillo to get satisfactory results out of mediocre players. Robert Myers and Ryan Jensen fit that description in my book.

That's a fair criticism. However, I think it's just that good values in the middle rounds are common at OG, so I think we focused more on the high valued positions early on.

Of course, that's a gamble in itself, which is why I think the criticism is more than fair.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

22 minutes ago, flynismo said:

That's a fair criticism. However, I think it's just that good values in the middle rounds are common at OG, so I think we focused more on the high valued positions early on.

Of course, that's a gamble in itself, which is why I think the criticism is more than fair.

Fair criticism? Currently Ravens Offensive Line ranked #13 - Dolphins Offensive Line ranked #31

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-this-season/

That's 'slightly' lower than a fair assessment. And it's all Ozzie's fault?

Just in: Currently 11th ranked OLine - Ravens

 

Edited November 13, 2016 by FlocksGottaFeed
11th ranked OLine - Ravens

[flynismo]

25 minutes ago, FlocksGottaFeed said:

Fair criticism? Currently Ravens Offensive Line ranked #13 - Dolphins Offensive Line ranked #31

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-this-season/

That's 'slightly' lower than a fair assessment. And it's all Ozzie's fault?

Just in: Currently 11th ranked OLine - Ravens

 

I'm very anti-PFF:

This is another example of why. Can you honestly look someone in the eyes, and tell them with a straight face that this OL is one of the 11 best in the league?

Me neither.

[Tru11]

1 hour ago, The Raven said:

I honestly put the blame at Ozzie's feet. Look at the Dolphins. They had a crappy, crappy line, and over the offseason, they invested in it big time. Now it's poppin'.

Imagine if, instead of drafting a project in Ryan Jensen, Ozzie actually got a quality guard. I think he gambles and puts a little too much faith in Castillo to get satisfactory results out of mediocre players. Robert Myers and Ryan Jensen fit that description in my book.

draft will always be a gamble and quality guards are not cheap.

quite curious on what positions where you looking to sacrifice to get that top quality guard.

 

[FlocksGottaFeed]

5 minutes ago, flynismo said:

I'm very anti-PFF:

This is another example of why. Can you honestly look someone in the eyes, and tell them with a straight face that this OL is one of the 11 best in the league?

Me neither.

Speak for yourself fly. My I test tells me that the PFF assessment may not be the all-in-all barometer, but multiple Oline players having top 5 performance grades consistently throughout the season thus far says - we're not the scrubs that some are seeing in here.

[The Raven]

On ‎11‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 4:29 PM, FlocksGottaFeed said:

Fair criticism? Currently Ravens Offensive Line ranked #13 - Dolphins Offensive Line ranked #31

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-this-season/

That's 'slightly' lower than a fair assessment. And it's all Ozzie's fault?

Just in: Currently 11th ranked OLine - Ravens

 

That list is for last season. See the part where it says "10 months ago"?

And by the way, this season we're ranked 20th in sacks, 26th in QB hits, and 28th in yard per carry. Dolphins are beating us bad in each category.

 

[flynismo]

On ‎11‎/‎13‎/‎2016 at 5:13 PM, The Raven said:

That list is for last season. See the part where it says "10 months ago"?

bhahahahahaha! Well, I thought that was weird, even for a rag like PFF, to have us ranked that highly....

[flynismo]

9 minutes ago, The Raven said:

this season we're ranked 20th in sacks, 26th in QB hits, and 28th in yard per carry. Dolphins are beating us bad in each category.

 

17 minutes ago, FlocksGottaFeed said:

Speak for yourself fly. My I test tells me that the PFF assessment may not be the all-in-all barometer, but multiple Oline players having top 5 performance grades consistently throughout the season thus far says - we're not the scrubs that some are seeing in here.

In light of the above...what does the eye test tell you now? (Pro tip: it should tell you to visit an ophthalmologist ASAP!)

[FlocksGottaFeed]

1 minute ago, The Raven said:

Dolphins are top five in yards per carry and 18th in sacks allowed. Overall, that's better than us.

We might be 11th best in sacks but we're 6th worst in QB hits. Dolphins are 13th worst.

Thanks for playing but the Dolphins line is better than ours.

You're welcome. Now visit the actual Dolphins Forum or Insider Blogs and you'll see things very similar to this thread:

"The team could have gone into free agency and signed interior lineman to help block for Tannehill. Instead, they ignored the position once again. Now it is entirely possible that they address the need in the draft by selecting guards, but there aren’t any first-round prospects at the position. So, what is the Dolphins’ plan for 2016 on the interior O-Line? I have absolutely no idea."

Based-on injuries, shifting positions, etc. (i.e. Ravens) OLine performance has been erratic - sometimes good (lately) and sometimes bad (more frequently). That said, fan critical assessments have been just as microwaved. Blame it on Castillo? Come-on man!

[Ravensfan23]

How many different oline combinations have the Ravens had this year due to injury? It sucks that injuries continue to be such a thorn in the side of this team but that's just what it is. It's nearly impossible to grade Castillo with so much change up front. Also anyone who thinks the 7th, 8th or 9th Olineman should be just as good as your starters is just kidding themselves. 

[The Raven]

6 minutes ago, FlocksGottaFeed said:

You're welcome. Now visit the actual Dolphins Forum or Insider Blogs and you'll see things very similar to this thread:

"The team could have gone into free agency and signed interior lineman to help block for Tannehill. Instead, they ignored the position once again. Now it is entirely possible that they address the need in the draft by selecting guards, but there aren’t any first-round prospects at the position. So, what is the Dolphins’ plan for 2016 on the interior O-Line? I have absolutely no idea."

Based-on injuries, shifting positions, etc. (i.e. Ravens) OLine performance has been erratic - sometimes good (lately) and sometimes bad (more frequently). That said, fan critical assessments have been just as microwaved. Blame it on Castillo? Come-on man!

It's like you're in some kind of weird portal, stuck in the past and oblivious to the fact that the Dolphins are 2nd in yard per carry, 18th in sacks, and 19th in QB hits. Not top of the league, I guess, but better than us.

Newsflash! The Dolphins no longer have the worst line in the league.

Edited November 13, 2016 by The Raven

[FlocksGottaFeed]

1 minute ago, flynismo said:

 

In light of the above...what does the eye test tell you now? (Pro tip: it should tell you to visit an ophthalmologist ASAP!)

Team and Schemes - make dreams. The original poster questioned Castillo's coaching (Really?) because last game blocks were missed (Really?). We had our best offensive performance this season. Yes, blocks were missed by a make-shift Oline without it's pro-bowler, but what my I test saw was TEs missing blocks who were never blocking tight-ends, defensive overloads to the play side (good DC scheming to win a down) and great effort out there once we adjusted-out of those plays.

Yet, it's all because of Castillo? 2 O-linemen ranking in the top 5 performance rankings. Pro Tip Fly: Most times I find you to be quit resourceful and within reason, but are you saying that Castillo must go?  That's not somebody I would ever take professional advice from on this matter. Thanks, but no thanks.

[flynismo]

7 minutes ago, FlocksGottaFeed said:

Pro Tip Fly: Most times I find you to be quit resourceful and within reason, but are you saying that Castillo must go?

No no, I'm not sure how you arrived at that conclusion, but absolutely not! In fact, you probably missed it, but just a few posts ago in this topic, I said the exact opposite. It absolutely is not on Castillo. Not at all! Here's the post I mention:

2 hours ago, The Raven said:

Castillo shouldn't be criticized for an injury-plagued line, a mediocre center, and a below average left guard. 

It really is that simple. I cannot fathom what is so hard to understand about that.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 

We are in complete agreement with each other. The only difference in opinion we had is I think maybe I wasn't clear in my meaning, and confused you as to what I was saying.

Edited November 13, 2016 by flynismo

[FlocksGottaFeed]

6 minutes ago, The Raven said:

It's like you're in some kind of weird portal, stuck in the past and oblivious to the fact that the Dolphins are 2nd in yard per carry, 18th in sacks, and 19th in QB hits. Not top of the league, I guess, but better than us.

Newsflash! The Dolphins no longer have the worst line in the league.

This is not about the Dolphins. They are really irrelevant to me. This thread is about Castillo and if he's the cancer of our O-line development and if Ozzie has ignored the O-line when team building. That's when I chimed-in. Read the post dude.

[The Raven]

2 minutes ago, FlocksGottaFeed said:

This is not about the Dolphins. They are really irrelevant to me. This thread is about Castillo and if he's the cancer of our O-line development and if Ozzie has ignored the O-line when team building. That's when I chimed-in. Read the post dude.

That's my point. Dolphins addressed their OL issues and are doing much better. We didn't do enough and now we're struggling. Castillo's not to blame. Ozzie is, or maybe Harbaugh.