Boone Injury Opens a Door?

I guess I missed Boone being injured,  but I still think that Sirles gave us the best OG play we saw last year in his limited snaps at the position.  Yes he is working at OT currently,  but shit,  I want our best 5 starting regardless of who is where and under what contract situation...sometimes I really question if we get that.

@"mgobluevikes" said: I'm not sure if Easton is as athletic as Elflein

Easton is actually more athletic than Elflein. At least in terms of his workout numbers. What makes Elflein good is his technique. Man, he looked good in that Bills game. 

I sort of see it like this: The coaches probably think that Elflein has the potential to be an elite center, but that could take some time. 10 games? A year? Hard to say, but do you put in Elflein and live with him while he cleans up his snapping and line calls, knowing you'll go to the playoffs with a very good center? Or do you keep a more reliable Easton in there and put Elflein at RG, delaying his development at center? Or do you just keep him at guard? I agree with you: Elflein could be even better at guard. He graded better there at OSU, and he's said he prefers playing there. That says something. 
 
Be interesting to see what happens. But I think this competition will be decided by the 3rd preseason game when Zimmer will probably want to start his intended opening day line up. 

Sounds like Boone's injury is not serious.

Guess it's not a good preseason to work on the left side of the line.  Hopefully all will be healthy when the season opens and the best 5 are lined up and ready to go.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"mgobluevikes" said: I'm not sure if Easton is as athletic as Elflein

Easton is actually more athletic than Elflein. At least in terms of his workout numbers. What makes Elflein good is his technique. Man, he looked good in that Bills game. 

I sort of see it like this: The coaches probably think that Elflein has the potential to be an elite center, but that could take some time. 10 games? A year? Hard to say, but do you put in Elflein and live with him while he cleans up his snapping and line calls, knowing you'll go to the playoffs with a very good center? Or do you keep a more reliable Easton in there and put Elflein at RG, delaying his development at center? Or do you just keep him at guard? I agree with you: Elflein could be even better at guard. He graded better there at OSU, and he's said he prefers playing there. That says something. 
 
Be interesting to see what happens. But I think this competition will be decided by the 3rd preseason game when Zimmer will probably want to start his intended opening day line up. 

Sounds like Boone's injury is not serious.

Boone sucks, I hope he works out but he truly does feel like Fred Smoot number 2.  He wasn't anyones first choice but we all kinda got excited because we made a move on a position we desperately needed.

Smoot is an excellent comparison...Boone has been all bluster to date...hopefully he doesn't own a captain's hat...

Geez - I don't think Boone is really that bad.  I think he is avg and that's Ok.  I mean look what he has had next to him at LT.  Makes it a lot harder for him to play great.

Boone quotes/talk >>>Boone production...Boone salary>>>Boone production...

@"BarrNone55" said: Boone quotes/talk >>>Boone production...Boone salary>>>Boone production...

this pretty much sums it up to date.  Linemen are supposed to let their play do the talking off the field.... especially when they are part of a historically bad line.

Boone has a great attitude. If he played as well as he talks, he'd be an all pro. He now has some time in the system and the new blocking scheme should help him a bit. I can't remember if this is his contract year, but if so, I expect better play from him. Kind of sad to hold out hope for an average performance! 

It's been my experience that no matter how bad one of our starters is playing, theu guy behind him is worse. I have yet to see an injury improve this team. Maybe I'm forgetting someone, but there have been mulitple instances of losing a starter to injury, some fans and posters get excited the the replacement is going to be so much better but he's always worse. 

@"twgerber" said: Geez - I don't think Boone is really that bad.  I think he is avg and that's Ok.  I mean look what he has had next to him at LT.  Makes it a lot harder for him to play great.

True, but remember, he was brought here as part of the annual effort to "help Kalil" (Fusco moving to LG was supposed to be the solution in 2015, Boone in 2016). Kalil was beyond help, but my point is that Boone was brought here as a relatively high-priced free agent and both he and the staff had the expectation that he could, at a minimum, hold his own (if not boost the LT next to him). I agree with you that he is average, not terrible. But we might be able to get average from Sirles or someone else for less than Boone's cost.

@"NoGoingBack" said: It's been my experience that no matter how bad one of our starters is playing, theu guy behind him is worse. I have yet to see an injury improve this team. Maybe I'm forgetting someone, but there have been mulitple instances of losing a starter to injury, some fans and posters get excited the the replacement is going to be so much better but he's always worse. 

recently,  Diggs  wasnt a starter until what week 5 that year?  I am sure he was likely the better player all along,  but it took an injury IIRC for him to see the field and then he flew... for a while.   I am sure that there are others as well.

Boone was having a good camp. The game againest the Bills he didn't have a great game.
Are we going to try and pick somebody up off waivers or are we going to keep who we have on the OL?
Another question with the injuries we already have, will we keep 9 or 10  OL on the roster.
I think after the Seahawks game we will have a good idea who is going to be center.

Who gets the start for Boone? Nick Easton, Pat Elflein or Sirles

Easton is my bet.

Easton> Boone...

I want to see Sirles at LG but I doubt it happens until Reiff is back at full go.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"NoGoingBack" said: It's been my experience that no matter how bad one of our starters is playing, theu guy behind him is worse. I have yet to see an injury improve this team. Maybe I'm forgetting someone, but there have been mulitple instances of losing a starter to injury, some fans and posters get excited the the replacement is going to be so much better but he's always worse. 

recently,  Diggs  wasnt a starter until what week 5 that year?  I am sure he was likely the better player all along,  but it took an injury IIRC for him to see the field and then he flew... for a while.   I am sure that there are others as well.

Shit show of injuries on the O-line again. Crazy.

@"StickyBun" said: Shit show of injuries on the O-line again. Crazy.

I think we are better off this year though. Once we find the right mixture and chemistry I think we will be a lot better. Right now it is a bunch trial and error till we can figure it out.