Quote:
Originally Posted by Ponderception
I'm just going to post my thoughts.
Quality line play is essential.
You can obtain quality line play through both elite and average players.
Having a competent QB and/or offensive philosophy/scheme can mask deficiencies on your OL.
From a personal standpoint, I tend to undervalue OL players (meaning, if I had draft selection power, I'd be pretty hesitant (typically) to draft any OL in the 1st round. For me to personally spend a first on a tackle, I'd probably need to be set at QB.
To me, you can plug in 2nd or later round picks and maintain effective levels of production. However, that's dependent on a variety of other factors, so it could change depending on the personnel and philosophies.
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Who are the lineman available in the 2nd round who'd make good left tackles?
Menelik Watson is going first, now. DJ Fluker's almost certainly off the board in the 1st.
The truth is, if you have a stud QB, a future Hall of Famer, you can make do with just about anything. But there are like five future HOFer QBs in this league. That's it. The vast majority of the league has to function by the idea that left tackles need to be taken higher and need to be really good prospects.
Your post works if you've got Brees under center. For everybody else, you've got to take a 1st rounder at LT when you can. Or pray you hit on one later, and I don't think I need to go over how difficult that is.