David Blough and the Offensive Staffing Thread

[Conn]

I’m not worried about the Tunsil situation, but not for the reasons you may think, reading this comment.

I’m not worried about it because if AP fails to get it done, I’ll be 100% out on him, sure this regime is guaranteed to fail, and the dramatic tension will be gone from the next year or two until it comes crumbling down. I’ll lament the waste of Jayden Daniels’ rookie contract and I’ll care a lot less for a while. I’ll wonder if we fumbled our best opportunity to resurrect the franchise into a winning one, until the next regime.

That’s how sure I am that this Tunsil situation is representative of this regime’s competency, after the trade they made for him. They’ve failed a bunch of my personal competency tests the last two years, but not in a way that’s impossible to come back from, yet. This would be the end for them, in my mind. It would just come to fruition from there in slow motion.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

"They’ve failed a bunch of my personal competency tests the last two years, but not in a way that’s impossible to come back from, yet."

Well, watching Macdonald win the SB, and watching the differences in how he carries himself vs DQ... yes.
Like you said, they can come back from their mistakes.

Look, Tunsil or not, they are already on a bit of a thin thread in my opinion. These coordinators have to stick - and that's hard to do as it is. If THAT works out, even if they screw up some more other stuff? In my opinion they have a chance.

I think that's hard enough.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Currently, I think it's tough to hit on these coordinators, but just looking at it, my biggest question mark overall - using the old metric that many of us use - who else wants him in the league? ---- is the OL Coach. From everything I understand, that position is so critical to the functioning of the offense.

Looking around the league, you see that successful offenses have employed some guys with a lot of heavy experience at that spot. I think that's the kind of "we're serious" move. So, I would say out of everything we've done this offseason, the biggest pause for me is there.

I am not against getting rid of Bobby. I am not against moving on from Kliff. Not even about my personal opinions; if they think it won't work out, move on. I'm fine with that in principal. I would say that kind of decisive move can get you much more rapid improvement than the alternative. My issue is, you improve. I am very unclear on how Stapleton moves the needle; nothing against him, it's not visible to me, and that's a concern because most OL coaches I look at, I can see the logic there in some ways. I just don't really see it in Stapleton but maybe I missed something.

 

[Chris]

I can’t name more than 3-4 of the OL coaches in the NFL (or college for that matter). Maybe I’m an outlier. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I can’t name more than 3-4 of the OL coaches in the NFL (or college for that matter). Maybe I’m an outlier. 🤷🏻‍♂️

In this cycle I did at least some research into OL coaches and resumes; otherwise I may know fewer than 3. Probably the least heralded coach compared to team value though. It just seems that many right now tend to have more experience, likely because of the complexity. Look at Stoutman - there is a lot of really justified concern that losing him is going to lead to major problems for the Eagles. I may have read that more now than when they changed OCs in the last few years.

I would say that OL coach and perhaps the return of Donatell, for me, are red flags (for coaching staff) even more than having the two new coordinators. We will see how it all shakes out.

 

[Chris]

I would say that OL coach and perhaps the return of Donatell, for me, are red flags (for coaching staff) even more than having the two new coordinators. We will see how it all shakes out.

Jones worked under Tom Donatell’s father Ed, so… 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[D’Pablo]

Have we interviewed anyone for the OL job? What’s the status? I feel like this is a major issue needing to be addressed.

 

[SkinsGuru]

Have we interviewed anyone for the OL job? What’s the status? I feel like this is a major issue needing to be addressed.

they promoted the backup o-line coach . . . he has more of a zone blocking history from what i've heard and the plan is to go that route.

 

[Chris 44]

All due respect, but after Boone's post we still had people posting outside of topic.

On a Blough/offense note... It's going to be very interesting to see which guys inevitably get jetisonned / replaced because they don't fit the vision. And which guys are elevated because they do.

I have a feeling guys like Sinnott are going to be utilized different and Burks is going to be much more highly valued.

Have I mentioned how vital getting Tunsil re-signed is? Blough really can't have a situation where we don't do anything to replace him and then he doesn't play and our depth suffers because of it.

Watching NE left tackle struggle last night made me appreciate Tunsil more

 

[Bulldog]

I think you can look at the left side of the New England offensive line and see that their 'rebuild' is not complete but like Washington in 2024 they were able to stitch together wins at a rate that was far in excess of the talent when you went down the roster each Sunday.

It was like these teams were being carried forward on golden wings and they got every break possible. Nix getting hurt was just the icing on the cake.

Our luck ran out when Hurts and Barkley showed up for the NFC title game.

 

[Conn]

Watching NE left tackle struggle last night made me appreciate Tunsil more

And Conerly, who is already better (after a rough start) and didn’t cost us the #4 overall pick. RT for now, but showing more promise with the tools to be really good.

 

[burgold]

And frankly, when Coleman was asked to step in for Tunsil, he did. He proved to at least be a very good swing tackle and spot starter. So not only do we have a line, but we have some good depth (need more at guard and center), but we have a good starting oline and the beginnings of depth.

 

[skinsfan4128]

And frankly, when Coleman was asked to step in for Tunsil, he did. He proved to at least be a very good swing tackle and spot starter. So not only do we have a line, but we have some good depth (need more at guard and center), but we have a good starting oline and the beginnings of depth.

This has me thinking (purely speculation on my part) if a team inquires about Tunsil and is willing to part with some serious draft capital (imagine the difference would have been for the Pats if they would've had Tunsil against the Seahags), if AP might feel compelled to make that move.

Coleman played well in relief of Tunsil late last season. And if (again, all hypothetical here before someone goes the hell off on me...lol) you gamble on Coleman and it pays off, you have 2 young Tackles that could be around for awhile. I fo realize there are some mighty big ifs associated with this hypothetical, but it stands to reason you'd have to at least consider this if you're AP.

I suspect an extension with Tunsil is the odds on favorite. But I can't help thinking AP might want to at least test the waters and see what kind of offers may materialize to recoup some draft capital that we sorely lack in this upcoming draft (especially if you think Coleman can develop into a solid LT).

Something I've thought about that i wondered if anyone else had considered.

HTTR!

 

[Dlts20]

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[skinsinparadise]

Tough for me to get an initial impression on Blough like I did for Daronte Jones. He came off a little nervous at the beginning which is understandable. Seems to be a thoughtful guy. This is my first watch of him being interviewed, I'll say all the talk about him being a HC soon, maybe but he doesn't come off like a charismatic guy.

Sean McVay was a great play caller but had a lot of personality, too. Kyle granted was abrasive but he had some spunk to his personality. Not saying you need to have some oomph to your personality to be a HC but I think it helps.

 

[Dlts20]

The bottom line is that Jayden has the potential to be of the elite level QBs so let's not baby him or limit him into thinking that he is only capable of playing out of the gun. He's bright, a film study freak, and has the highest work ethic. He is the first person in the building and the last one out. He's more than capable of being under center with great coaching and repetition.

Also, no one has talked much about this but remember that Blough is also a QB and he wasn't the most athletic so you are going to want to do things that you were successful with and believe in. He's probably played under center alot in his life so he believes that is what he's comfortable with and how QBs should play.

Then you have the best offensive minds in Johnson who he was under is the same way so that is going to be ingrained in him. Jayden can do it. He has the IQ, talent, work ethic, and drive. Let's not assume just because he's never been given the opportunity. We still will be in the gun a decent amount, I'm sure.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Tough for me to get an initial impression on Blough like I did for Daronte Jones. He came off a little nervous at the beginning which is understandable. Seems to be a thoughtful guy. This is my first watch of him being interviewed, I'll say all the talk about him being a HC soon, maybe but he doesn't come off like a charismatic guy.

Sean McVay was a great play caller but had a lot of personality, too. Kyle granted was abrasive but he had some spunk to his personality. Not saying you need to have some oomph to your personality to be a HC but I think it helps.

Haven’t watched many pressers with ben j or macdonald but a couple of interviews they did seem less personal, bit awkward. Maybe Blough is cut from that cloth - hopefully he has the acumen to match! Haven’t watched Blough presser yet

 

[KDawg]

Blough seemed nervous and a bit unsure. Which I expected. But sometimes guys get like that in situations they aren’t used to being in.

He was the opposite impression of Daronte, for me. But games are played in the field and not in the press

 

[skinsinparadise]

Blough seemed nervous and a bit unsure. Which I expected. But sometimes guys get like that in situations they aren’t used to being in.

He was the opposite impression of Daronte, for me. But games are played in the field and not in the press

That echoes my thoughts, too. Left it feeling even more confident in Darone and more unsure of Blough.