I think he's another reason our OL went to shit when Mangold went down and anytime Vlad got on the field. I don't think he could be an everyday starter, but like Wayne Hunter in 2010, I think those 2 make very very good OL backups and can be dependable for a stretch of games. Hope he's back and healthy (or close to it).
As per rotoworld: Free agent G/T Robert Turner visited the Rams on Friday.Turner was one of three free agent guards to visit the Rams on Friday, joining Chilo Rachal and Jamey Richard. Turner missed 2011 with a broken leg, but appeared in all 16 games for the Jets in 2010. He'd be a versatile depth signing for a team reconstructing its offensive line. Mar 24 - 11:18 AM Possibly following Schotty to St. Louis
So what's the plan if Turner doesn't come back? Mangold, Moore and Slauson are going to be injury free all year? God I hate how clownish this FO is.
Turner wasn't the team all year last year. The team traded for Schlauderaff and signed Austin Howard. They were the backups last year, and presumably will be the backups next year. I hope someone else is brought in, whether via draft or free agency, but it's not like Turner is a huge loss: we didn't have him all year last season and made moves to replace him then. Are Howard and Schlauderaff any good? Who knows? We don't know. But the FO seems to like them. I hear Tanny bring up Schlauderaff a decent amount. No one knew if Hunter was any good before we played him. Maybe they can play.
I think the point was Turner is a huge upgrade over Schlauderaff, Howard, and the other abomination that was at C while Mangold was out. His nickname should have been "the Raven's Opening" cause the whole DLine got through him that game. So losing Turner is another hit to the depth of the oLine. However, I'm sure as a player he wants to start.
I hope they're really high on Schlauderaff and Howard if they let Turner walk. Otherwise they'll just be left with another hole to fill. After the Oline fiasco last season they better not fuck this up...
Look for us to draft a versatile lineman in round 3 or 5... we're not in trouble depth wise, but could use an OL who has the ability to play inside and outside... a guy like Brandon Washington could be the missing cog in round 5.
not in trouble depth wise? are you serious? you rarely get guys capable of starting in the 5th rd, pipe dream!
In Baxter's defense he was trying to sub for the best C in football against Ngata. Ngata makes good Centers look shitty much less undersized backups.
Id love this signing Washington would be a starter within a year However theres little chance he makes it past the 3rd, early 4th at best.
So our priority should be for a back up offensive linemen who didn't play last season because of a broken leg.
