Easton or Boone?
Let me start by saying that I am not a fan of Alex Boone. My opinions on who should start at LG are probably a little bias just based on the fact that I simply don't like Boone. With that said, I think Nick Easton is making a case to take his job. I realize it was only one preseason game, but the starting OL unit looked as good as we've seen in quite some time. I'm all for a complete overhaul of a the worst unit in football over the past 2 seasons. Sure, Boone was one of the better pieces of the line, but he still wasn't good. Reiff/Hill, Easton, Elflein, Berger, Remmers would make 5 new starters along the line. As long as Reiff returns, you're going to have some pretty good depth with Sirles, Hill and Isadora.
At the end of the day, I do think Boone will start just based on his salary alone. He has a pretty good size dead cap number, so i dont think he will be cut and im not sure anyone would trade for him. Just based on his contract though, I do expect this will be his last season with the team. He has 0 dead money after this year. Baring a major step up in his play, of course. The coaches have been saying they are going to play the 5 best guys. I will be interested to see if they see Boone as a better option than Easton. I'm not sure he is?
Unfortunately, I think Boone is still the front runner when healthy. I'm also not a Boone fan, he's overrated and his height works against him at guard IMO.
I don't see any way Easton supplants Boone yet. Boone is better than most give him credit for. I mean look what he had to deal with at LT last year. Hard for him to block for 2 positions at once. He isn't great but he is solid. I don't know at this point if Easton is even solid there. Not enough time yet playing the position.
Boone has been nothing but glib sound bites to date, but it's way too early too move Easton in...for now...
Boone talks the talk, just wish he'd walk the walk. I agree with Barr...Easton hasn't seen much combat yet
At this point I think we know what we have in Easton at Center and Boone at LG, but I don't think we have enough information about Easton at either G spot or Elflein at C or G. I'd hope that over the next 2 games we get to see an extended look at those 2 guys in those positions, especially given Easton's limited experience at G.
I didn't go back and watch how Elflein or Easton did individually against the Seahawks... but my initial impression was both played well. I was worried that Michael Bennett and a talented Seahawks defensive line was going to cause the Vikings a lot of issues, but the opposite happened. The line opened up some nice holes, got good push in the running game, and Bradford never got sacked.
I thought the line looked the best it has looked in.....well....too damn long. I know it was preseason and it's vanilla defense time, but a vanilla Seahawks D is better than a lot of other defenses in the regular season. It gave me a whole lot of hope seeing Hill, Easton, and Elflein perform the way they did. I honestly think the Vikings may have found a great combo.
Zero sacks, and some good running lanes. Until Easton is proven to be a fake leave him be. Tempted to leave Hill at LT too. Maybe put Reiff back to RT if Remmers continues to struggle. We already know the ceiling of Boone, and his 6'8" head has bumped against it multiple times.
I'm really looking forward to seeing how the line looks Sunday night since I believe both Reiff and Boone will be back in the lineup. Having said that, I'm also not a big fan of Boone's and wouldn't mind seeing more of Easton at LG.
Zim made reference to liking those "lower center of gravity" guys, this could get interesting!
@"BarrNone55" said: Boone has been nothing but glib sound bites to date, but it's way too early too move Easton in...for now...I pretty much agree with this. I like what I've seen from Easton, and that's a very good thing, but it's too early to say he's ready to replace Boone. But if I were coach, I would definitely put Boone on notice. Who knows, might get him to ratchet up his play a level or two.
Boone was our best (relative term) pass blocker last year, it was his run blocking that really disappointed me. But on a team that's still not even sure it has 5 real OL starters cutting him is not an option. Boone stays for depth at the very least. And I expect to see him starting opening day.
@"RS Express" said: Boone was our best (relative term) pass blocker last year, it was his run blocking that really disappointed me. But on a team that's still not even sure it has 5 real OL starters cutting him is not an option. Boone stays for depth at the very least. And I expect to see him starting opening day.
I think we all expect him to start day 1. My point is that I like what I have seen from Easton on the line and with what we saw last year... I think many of us are looking for a breath of fresh air
@"Canthony" said:@"RS Express" said: Boone was our best (relative term) pass blocker last year, it was his run blocking that really disappointed me. But on a team that's still not even sure it has 5 real OL starters cutting him is not an option. Boone stays for depth at the very least. And I expect to see him starting opening day.I think we all expect him to start day 1. My point is that I like what I have seen from Easton on the line and with what we saw last year... I think many of us are looking for a breath of fresh air
We will certainly have 2 new starters and very likely 3 on the OLine. I don't know how much more fresh air you can get.
Is Remmers at RT still a given? He has looked dubious and camp reports have been worse. I guess the only alternatives are Hill and Beavers...unless our new greater competitiveness at OG leads the team to move Boone to RT...
@"twgerber" said: Has Boone ever played RT?He played OT in college and his first couple years with the 49ers. Not sure if LT or RT - I don't see him nimble enough for the blindside. His height seems better for OT than G.
@"Jor-El" said:He played LT with SF. Not sure on college. It's a lot to assume he can just flip to the RT position@"twgerber" said: Has Boone ever played RT? He played OT in college and his first couple years with the 49ers. Not sure if LT or RT - I don't see him nimble enough for the blindside. His height seems better for OT than G.
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