I feel pretty good this morning after reading what Bender's old teammate had to say in the post this morning about him: "He truly is a wild man," Vavala said. "In college he would be screaming loud when he was burying somebody into the ground. He's a player I'd always want on my team." Sounds pretty metal if you ask me. Maybe we're not totally screwed...
I wanna see Bender bury Esante Samuals (sp) when Estane comes on a corner blitz. Just hope Bender don't hurt him since Esante will be our starting corner next year.
Asante Samuel would not blitz straight at a left guard... He's a lcb for one. Plus, who'd run a play blitzing a number 1 cb, straight into the middle of the line...
lol...got to love some of the questionable football knowledge people show on a regular basis here. And yeah, him screaming at his opponents doesn't really make him set for week 1 against team many predict will win the superbowl. For what its worth though, since he is our future we should throw him into the fire, assuming he doesn't let anyone kill Chad in the process it will be a great experience for the rookie. I mean, he can run block already from what I have heard, so that makes him better then Dbrick he doesn't seem that good at pass blocking but can at least get his arms on someone and stick with him.
I agree with the above completely. Bender, Brick, and Mangold are all long term investments along the line at this point. If they are really going to start him, they are admitting that they are willing to live through his growing pains. I expect to see a TE on their side during obvious passing downs.
Brick and Mangold are long term investments, because of their large contracts and 1st rounders. Bender is a 6th round pick who's ass will be cut next year if he sucks - see Schlegal.
Schlegal was never close to starting. He barely got any time on special teams. If they are willing to start Bender at this point, I believe they are thinking he is a long term answer. From the little we have seen of bender he is good a run blocking, but needs work in pass protection. Getting out of his stance quicker is a must. At least he does not looked completely out of place like our Boar hunting friend, who was a disaster every time he touched the field.
They drafted Schlegal in the 3rd, obviously they had high hopes for him. Bender is a 6th rounder. And what choice do they have exactly? Sign some no name off the street? Jones? Smith? Clarke who disappointed bigtime in preseason? They drafted the kid so they might as well start him. But it is apparent from their cutting of Schlegal that they have no issue cutting loose draft picks that suck it up. And they have so little invested in Bender being a 6th rounder, I have no doubt they would cut him and look for a LG in the offseason. I am sure they want him to succeed, obviously, but with his contract he is definitely not a "long term investment." And to say he is good at anything at this point is a bit premature.
I like that fire in any player. We need more vocal, fiery people on our team imo. There is something to be said about the controlled, almost emotionless, approach to the game, but there is also something to be said for those big mouth badasses a la Ray Lewis that gets everyone going. Not that I am comparing Bender to Lewis lol.
Tony Ugoh had some serious issues at LT in the game last night in pass protection, but no one was saying he sucks or couldn't play like everyone did here when Bender played in game 3. In the game last night, they kept talking about how one of the things that makes Dungy successfull is the willingness to start young players. I agree with that and think it is part of the secret to championship teams. Herm had the opposite policy and it got us into serious trouble, yet it seems many here share the "veteran first" theory even though they should have learned from Herm how damaging it could be.
Corner blitzes generally come from the corner, not the middle. Remember, Bender plays Guard now, not Tackle.
it's easy to be screaming in the face of a 20 year old d-lineman, who you outweigh by 50 pounds, playing for a D-1AA school as you're driving him into the turf. lets see how vocal, and loud and intimidating he is, when he's trying to block a guy, his size, if not bigger, with 6 years of NFL experience, who's got a screw loose himself... i'm just saying.
