Big mistake if that means Klien at center. Wtf,??
Wow. I guarantee you this was not a sudden move. This was a secret decision who knows when it was made but not spur of the moment. They did an amazing job keeping that under wraps so that the Falcons didn't prepare for it. Not even idle speculation about this, and yet you know it was practiced quite a bit. Had to be.
Heck sucks. Pretty odd to move the Center to LT in an NFL game.
Bredesen has experience at center. Barton is very versatile. I trust the coaches.
yet you know it was practiced quite a bit. Had to be.
Or the GM and HC lost their nerve late and made the switch. Not good
It wasn't perfect, but that line looked way too polished to be thrown together at the last minute.
It will be interesting to hear the postgame explanation. Not only did they move the center to LT, they moved the guard to center and brought in a guy off the practice squad to start at LG. Crazy. One sack, no fumbles. Won the game. Don't think Baker didn't have input on this as well. I'd let it ride for Game 2.yet you know it was practiced quite a bit. Had to be.
Or the GM and HC lost their nerve late and made the switch. Not good
You'd certainly hope that it was not a last minute decision, but I am not sure there is some strategic advantage to hiding your O-line lineup. Maybe?
That was pretty nice call they made, didnt even know all offseason, after they saw how overrated arm length can be when Goedoeke became a top 15 RT when he went back to his original position, they figured comfort/tenchnique matters more
"Barton told Joe he was informed that he’d be starting at left tackle after training camp broke."
Then they did keep it a secret for a couple weeks. I think it was an advantage that the Falcons game planned against Whatthe Heck and instead they're staring at Barton. And at center they didn't take advantage and cause any snap mistakes. Perhaps the Falcons should take some heat for not adjusting their strategy. The Bucs didn't have a great rushing game, but they didn't have any glaring mistakes in executing plays. ."Barton told Joe he was informed that he’d be starting at left tackle after training camp broke."
I think it was an advantage that the Falcons game planned against Whatthe Heck and instead they're staring at Barton.
Oh yeah, it’s definitely an advantage. Defensive players - the good ones anyway - study who they will be going up against every week.
Anybody that follows the game for any amount of time would know that.
As has been said, I think The Secret, offensive line shakeup, did a passable job.
Bucs did a good job throwing smoke screen with hype with UDFA center Majors and Klein moving to center with reps in pre season.
The Bucs have done so many things well, particularly along the O line, so its hard to be too critical but clearly they messed up in the handling of Heck/Wirfs. They messed up on Wirfs rehab and then found themselves without an actual back up plan at LT.
Generally, you don't shuffle 3 guys on a line - including a guy elevated from the PS Saturday (?) - unless you really have a bad situation. You dont make that kind of move very often because what you improve at LT with Barton over Heck (run game according to Bowles) you offset (or worse) with the expected downgrade of Bredeson over Barton at C and Jordan over Bredeson at G . . not to mention continuity.
It does seem like the O-line got a bit better as the game went on, but their lead runner (the primary reason per Bowles) was still only 2.7 ypc and they did give up one sack.
Will take any division road win though, especially against a team that swept you last season.
On to the next!
When does Wirfs get back ?lol