Mr. Scot

Definitely gonna download this.

For sure... I've bought probably a dozen books on football strategy and coaching over the years. Heck, Lady Cowboy Fan got me a couple of scouting books as gifts, one by Neal Stratton and the other by Steve Belichick. I probably need therapy

Bottom line on this: I can't see a single scenario where Ickey isn't one of the best five linemen we have. That means you need to be getting him ready for a starting role. The best way to do that is not going to be putting him into some kind of goofy "competition" for his spot, with the consolation prize if he loses being that he has to start at a position he hasn't practiced as much for. You pick a damn spot and you give him the damn reps he needs to get ready there. You do the same thing with Christensen, Bozeman and everybody else so they can get their chemistry built. This "earn your spot" thing is really frigging stupid.

Agreed, though I suspect there aren't many casual Twitter users willing to dig through a dozen pages of run concepts

This brings up a point... My opinion of these two guys wasn't formed overnight. It's not going to be changed overnight either. I know a lot of folks have said "winning" and some have clarified "consistent winning". That's key. It has to be more than just this season. If a consistent winner isn't built, nothing changes.

Makes sense, though I'm admittedly a little iffy when it comes to Anderson on crossing routes because of how thin he is. I think we saw him "alligator arm" one or two also last season. Curious, where'd you get the play sheet? I've seen a bunch of things like that posted from Honest NFL (good stuff)

Subtle

I have zero personal feelings about Rhule. I don't believe he's qualified to be an NFL coach. Anyone who does can get as excited as they want, but I'm not up for building a false sense of hope over someone I don't believe in. Nothing personal about that at all...

I've seen it referenced, but even setting that aside if you really want him to be starting left tackle as a rookie, he shouldn't be in a "competition". I'll ask the same question I did above: say Christensen wins the starting job? Do you try Ekwonu somewhere else or just bench him?

If we were talking about a guy who had been drafted much lower, I could agree. As it stands, I can't. A player drafted in the top ten is meant to be a plug and play guy. I believe Ekwonu can be that, but to ensure it happens he needs to be taking the lion's share of the starter reps st left tackle, and he's not. The team is giving genuine consideration to starting Brady Christensen at left tackle. That would move Ekwonu to guard, unless you just want to bench him and make him a backup.

Mostly at tackle, but more than one source has confirmed he's taken reps at guard. Person has also confirmed that Christensen is indeed a genuine option to start at left tackle, which would mean Ekwonu at guard. Again, from the article... But Christensen seemed to change their thinking with an impressive audition at the blindside spot late in his rookie season and has looked like the more polished pass blocker in the early going of camp. During Wednesday’s one-on-one blocking drills, not long after Christensen deftly handled Pro Bowler Brian Burns’ speed rush, Ekwonu whiffed on Marquis Haynes when the edge rusher beat him with a swim move.

Splitting them with Christensen... We acknowledge that he's a rookie who has a lot to learn, yet we ask him to learn two positions and have him splitting reps with someone else at the spot where we believe he's designated. What part of this sounds like a wise plan?

Then he should be getting as many reps as possible at that spot to lower his learning curve and build chemistry.

I'm more than happy to say good things about the team...when they're true. Saying Matt Rhule is a good NFL coach though?

Options like Pat Elflein and Michael Jordan? Those guys are currently starters.

From the article... If there’s been a constant in Rhule’s second real training camp (the Panthers didn’t come to Wofford in 2020 because of COVID-19), it’s that no one is going to be handed a starting job. Not Mayfield. Not center Bradley Bozeman. And not the aforementioned “Ickey,” the former NC State standout who was the first offensive player taken on Day 1 of the draft. “To me, Ickey’s a rookie. He’s gotta earn everything he gets, and he’s got a long way to go,” Rhule said. “He does some things really well naturally. He’s unbelievably powerful and talented. But there’s a lot to this game. There’s a lot of nuances and techniques and all those things. He has a long way to go. He’ll get there, but every day he’s gotta work.” Maybe it’s owing to his background as a college coach, but Rhule is not about anointing many players as starters before they’ve stepped on Wofford’s campus. There are exceptions. Former Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Austin Corbett jumped into a starting job at right guard, while veteran safety Xavier Woods slid into the first-team defense alongside Jeremy Chinn from Day 1 in Spartanburg. “I don’t think it’s fair to make decisions about the depth chart unless it’s blatantly obvious,” Rhule said. “But guys who are battling after a week, you’ve gotta (get) these guys to settle in.” Rhule has made it clear that he’s in no hurry to name a starting quarterback, nor has he given any indication when he plans to do so.

The Haslams have been trying to push the story that Watson is remorseful. Watson himself is doing a pretty good job of undercutting that narrative.

Dude, the guy has a nice story. Don't be a prick about it.

Big part of it, yeah. Also didn't take much time to figure out the defense.

Yep. When you look at the skill positions, we have damn near ideal personnel for running a WCO.

Going off what 'm reading right now, I wouldn't bet on it. The Players Association didn't appeal the six game suspension so that stands. The next battle will be over whether he's suspended longer.

The Exempt List is an option as far as I know. Not sure on the second but I'm guessing he would, probably with Rusty Hardin by his side. i think pretty much everyone was expecting this. The NFL knows fans and the general public (outside of Cleveland) are anywhere from very upset to absolutely livid about the length of the suspension.