Colts OLG - Lilja released
by KenPat on Mar 9, 2010 11:33 AM EST
Email
PrintThe Colts released one of their starting guards from last year - Ryan Lilja. Hopefully his roster bonus was part of the decision, but it would be great to pick up a not over the hill (he's 28) guard at least for depth if not to compete for a starting job.
This looks like it would be another good 'low key' fit to the free agency plan of Allen / Shanahan, and the Colts do use zone-blocking as well, so he could fit in as more than just a body.
74 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Height: 6-2 Weight: 290 Age: 28
He was on the Physically Unable to Perform list in 2008, anyone know what happened?
He started all 16 games in 2007 and 2009 though. I think we should definitely take a look at him before someone else gobbles him up.
Multiple knee surgeries
No thanks! He apparently isn’t much of a run blocker anymore either.
Lilja (#16) is rated better than either Dockery (#24) or Hadnot (#17) at left guard.
http://profootballfocus.com/by_player.php?tab=by_player&season=2009&page=1&surn=L&playerid=2105
His run blocking rating was much better Dockery’s in 2009. There was some complaints about line play against the Saints and it may have been directed at Lilja, because he was said to have taken offense at the criticism.
by Jefferson1935 on Mar 9, 2010 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
but remember he played in a much better system for a much better team
His run blocking rating was much better Dockery’s in 2009.
so you would expect his performance to be better as running through him was just one of many options the defence had to plan for, and then re-plan for during the snap count with Manning Audibling and doing all his crazy stuff, whereas poor old Dockery just had defenders foaming at the mouth and charging
We had no misdirection plays last year, we did no shifts, we did none of them things that halfway competent NFL teams do,
Not saying Dockery is better, personally I would not have a clue, but hard to compare last years Colts players to ours as ours were operating in a madhouse, whilst the Colts were all part of a precision machine
Pommylee
Just like you can't compare
JC to Manning for the same reasons. Oh, Manning would win out on a level field comparison, but we still don’t have much of a clue as to how GOOD JC can be – only the worst of it. And the worst of it was way better than a number of QBs, like Quinn and Anderson and not much worse than Eli Manning statistically.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Check out Dockery's play with the Bills.
Dockery did much better in regard to sacks allowed with the Skins as compared to Buffalo. Dockery’s best season from 2007 to 2009 was in 2007 – http://profootballfocus.com/by_player.php?tab=by_player&season=2007&surn=D&playerid=1396&group=1
Perhaps Dockery’s run blocking could come back to his 2007 level with a better left tackle next to him. Jason Peters was the left tackle next to him in his best and worst season. I not saying the you don’t have a point Pommylee. I am just for getting the best performers on the o-line that the Skins can plus adding depth. Let the competition begin!
by Jefferson1935 on Mar 10, 2010 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
I hope so
Perhaps Dockery’s run blocking could come back to his 2007 level with a better left tackle next to him
A top notch LT surely helps the Left Guard cos he occasioanlly would just have license to Tee Off on the DT in front of him right, knowing the LT can take care of his business??
Pommylee
2005: Sports Illustrated NFL All Pro Team
2005: Started 16 games at LG…with linemates, has helped club produce 5,000+ net yards and 400+ points…line surrendered league-low 20 sacks…line helped RB-Edgerrin James produce 1,506 rushing yards, his 4th career 1,500+ season, including nine 100+ games.
6-2 290
is a little small, unless this favors Shanny’s type of ZBS. Seems everyone else we’ve looked at is a lot bigger.
I still think we should make a play with the Ravens for Gaithers.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
ask them if they want to trade him for a malcontent corner!
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
all about the Gaither trade
even if it took our 2nd rounder. They need a ton of help in the secondary and I would totally part with Landry, Rogers or Doughty combined with a lower pick for a top LT. PFF had him ranked as the 11th best tackle overall(LT’s and RT’s) in 2008 his first year starting and then they ranked him 6th overall last year. Even if he settles into the top 8-10 range that would be a steal for a second rounder or less. Plus getting Gaither allows us to explore trade down scenarios or to take the BPA which would give us better value on our other picks.
by BayAreaBullet on Mar 9, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
The Gaither trade for our #2
might not be such a bad idea. He is only 23. He left Maryland for academic reasons. I don’t know why the Ravens don’t give him a better contract and get it over with. When you consider the Skins contract with Hicks I can’t imagine Gaither getting less than $9m for 3 years.
Year Team Base Salary Sign Bonus Other Bonus Total Salary Cap Value Position
2009 Ravens $ 460,000 $ 0……………… $ 6,760………. $ 466,760…….$ 504,428 …..OL
2008 Ravens $ 370,000 $ 113,000 …..$ 4,680………..$ 374,680 ……$ 412,346 …..OL
2007 Ravens $ 285,000 $ 113,000 $ 0………………$ 398,000…….$ 322,666 ……OL
by Jefferson1935 on Mar 9, 2010 7:18 PM EST up reply actions
I think they see Oher as a quality LT and don't wanna pay for 2 LT's
Gaither would earn WAY more than 9M for 3 years. I can also see their thinking in that their secondary is a mess and they weren’t prepared for Ed Reed’s retirement. Also they just traded some picks for Boldin so trading Gaither would be a way to keep on rebuilding on the fly.
by BayAreaBullet on Mar 9, 2010 7:41 PM EST up reply actions
Excellent points
we should jump all over some kind of deal for Gaithers before the draft, even for our second rounder and a body (SS/WR). Or a straight up deal, maybe Malcom Kelly and Doughty for Gaithers.
We risk not getting Okung and whomever rates out as #2 by draft day (some drafts have both gone by #4) and Gaithers is a proven performer at the level we can reasonably hope our #1 can be. We then have a better chance at trading down (most scenarios have Suh availble since either Clausen or Bradford will go in the top 3) for additional picks for the likes of another stud lineman plus RB/FS/NT, whatever.
We could really mess with the Kipers and their predictions with this kind of scenario as we could end up with: Spiller, Graham, Berry, the top NT (Dan Williams?). It would be awesome.
NO QB THIS DRAFT
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Gaither played and started 11 games in 2009.
He suffered a neck injury in the 2nd quarter of 10/04/09 and missed a couple of games after wards. The games logs for him are show as follows: http://www.nfl.com/players/jaredgaither/gamelogs?id=GAI786653 . He had a foot injury later in the season, but came back to play in weeks 17, 18, and 19. It doesn’t look like injuries are a serious concern for Gaither.
“Jared Gaither-T – Ravens Mar. 3, 2010 – 3:11 pm et
The Ravens have assigned a first-round restricted free agent tender to LT Jared Gaither.
Though Gaither missed large chunks of 2009 with foot and neck injuries, he possesses All-Pro caliber upside as both a pass protector and run blocker. He was going to be tendered high. Still, Gaither may get some sniffs in terms of offer sheets because he’s only 24 (the age of many rookies). A team would have to pony up a first-round pick and highly competitive contract. Source: Adam Schefter on Twitte”r Also “Gaither hired agent Drew Rosenhaus last year, who has expressed interest to team officials in eventually working out a long-term deal.” Rosenhaus is not known to be an agent that is easy to deal with, but this guy is a left tackle in the prime of his career. He is worth as much as some of the older free agents already contracted with other team.
by Jefferson1935 on Mar 10, 2010 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
hasn't Rosenhaus (Read: Vincenzo)
been screwing this team for years?
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
Listening to the Football Today podcast from yesterday
and for the second week in a row they are saying only tendering him a first is a huge mistake and teams at the end of the first like the Colts should def. be looking at him. I have no problem with giving him a big contract as he is a franchise LT and would still be cheaper than whoever we draft at #4. Who knows how reliable the rumors are that Baltimore would take a second rounder for him but it’s not like there is alot of difference between our pick and the Colts. His first year as a Starter he was ranked as the 11th best tackle by PFF. Last year in only 11 games he was ranked the 6th best.
by BayAreaBullet on Mar 10, 2010 3:33 PM EST up reply actions
GAITHER TRADE...
I WANNA KNOW IF THE ACTUAL TEAM IS CONSIDERING THE TRADE AVENUE FOR GAITHER OR IF ITS JUST US INTELLIGENT FANS….ALSO…ANYBODY KNOW IF HADNOT FROM CLEVELAND IS AVAILABLE
I WANT TO KNOW IF YOUR CAPS LOCK IS BROKEN
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
LMAO
NAH…I JUST ALWAYS TYPE IN UPPER CASE….
just to annoy people?
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
NAH....
SEEMS LIKE U MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE ANNOYED…….
not to come down on you or anything
it is a little rough on the eyes.
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
No, it's pretty widely annoying.
As Rekka said, nothing personal. It’s just polite to not do it.
http://creativecurio.com/2007/08/why-you-shouldn%E2%80%99t-type-in-all-caps/
http://www.simplehelp.net/2006/08/14/how-to-be-polite-while-youre-online-practicing-good-netiquette/
http://socialife.blogspot.com/2009/09/stop-typing-in-all-capital-letters.html
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Well we know they are willing to give him up for a first rounder cuz they tendered him only a first not a first and a third
Which means they are willing to listen to other offers most likely. It was reported on Sports Radio in Baltimore they are willing to take a second rounder and we have a high second rounder which would only be a couple picks behind a team that would think about signing Gaither for a first like the Colts. I’d say it’s a rumor with some legs we should def. be exploring. I would like us to not have to give up our second and throw some players in there as with the new Draft format, top of the second round picks have added value this year. I’d just love to not have a gun to our heads at the #4 pick and not have the whole offense this year hinge on us being able to have Okung or whoever fall to us and that guy being able to be a decent starter at LT from day 1. Hate to see us have to trot out Hicks or Heyer at LT cuz Okung went to the Lions.
by BayAreaBullet on Mar 10, 2010 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Even So
Bulaga is equally good #4, and your absolutely right about the new format. We can easily spin the 2nd rndr into multiple picks, which I think we NEED to do.
I would still do our second for Gaither in a heartbeat.
by BayAreaBullet on Mar 10, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
If we go QB at #4 then yes
If we take a LT at 4 I think we trade back. That pick isn’t just a 2nd at that point, it’s a 2nd and 4th or a 2nd, 5th and 6th. I would trade back and then see if they would make the deal.
I'd rather have Gaither than any dude in the draft honestly
He’s proven, just as young, and would be cheaper. If they do move Gaither I doubt it is anytime soon but I would take it as soon as I get it and then try and trade down from #4. Like I said though I’d rather do something like Doughty and our 4th rounder though.
by BayAreaBullet on Mar 10, 2010 1:47 PM EST up reply actions
I could see a draft day trade too
after the first round, everyone goes home and re-shuffles their draft boards. We are on the clock at #37 and the Ravens want someone but don’t pick again for quite a while. We give them a call and they ship us Gaither for that 2nd rounder. Boom, we come out of the draft with a top tackle prospect from our #4 pick and a proven 23 year old top-shelf talent from our 2nd round pick. We have our bookends for 10+ years and we’re in business.
Lilja
Yes. Let’s see if Bruce is as quick as Vinny would have been.
For $2-3M per, $10M bonus? Do it
If he wants top-10 money, forget about it.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Bad Knees
That’s why he missed the 2008 season because he had several knee operations. Not sure we want someone with knee issues on a line trying to run a ZBS..
thats not stopping us from keeping Rocky
by BayAreaBullet on Mar 9, 2010 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
rocky's never missed an entire season
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
True, but that's a different position..
and Rocky was drafted by us, so I would think the organization had a good idea that he could come back from his injuries and be productive. We are talking about signing someone here. Maybe they check him out and he’s fine, but all I’m saying is, we have had health issues the last several years on the o-line, and if we are trying to build around one for the future, going out and signing a guy that has had multiple knee surgeries might not be a good idea. I understand it’s slim pickings in FA this year for OL, but that’s why we need to spend several draft picks there, not sign guys that are injury risks. We have seen what that gets us the last couple of years.
The health issues scare me way too much with this guy
Also, like someone posted earlier, it seems we have a lot of G’s already. Dock is a starter, and should remain one. Williams, Reinhart, Fanaika, Hicks, Lichtensteiger(can play bothe G and C) E Williams(amother G, and C). We could also use a later rd pick on a young rookie who can learn for a year or so, then come in and compete. I think we are set at G.
just cos we have lots of guards
does not mean we have quality there
I would love a top rated Guard taken in the Second Round, who could be dominant for a decade, rather than a bunch of “Not Quite Good Enoughs” and “Just about good enoughs” that we have now
Never forget just how bad our line was last year, it was not just LT, we had players being beaten one on one all across the line,
I get where your coming from Tiller, but Lest we Forget what we sat through just 4 months ago
Pommylee
Pommy, def get your point.
Prob is, this guy would want starter money wherever he signs, and prob would want a serious committment to that staff making him a starter. I’d rather shy away from that type of player right now, and try in vain to develop some of the young G’s we already have on the roster like Reinhart, E Williams and Fanaika.
The trick is knowing
whether or not any of our not quite good enoughs can get to the next level and be serviceable and consistently good. A lot of one-on-one breakdowns are due to lack of cohesion between players, at least part of the time; but little talent and poor play will screw you every time.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
probably didnt make myself clear Tiller
I am not suggesting we get Lija, I am saying I want us to use our 2nd Rd pick on a mean nasty, gets to the second level, Run Blocking Guard.
I just want us to double down on O-Line with our 1st 2 picks
Pommylee
Bring on Lilja
and let the competition begin at left guard. No player should have a secure slot coming off of a 4-12 record.
by Jefferson1935 on Mar 10, 2010 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
damn right....
i concurr with that statement brother!!
Also, this just in - ARE
has signed back with the Steelers – and they are ecstatic about it. Is there something I’ve missed? Looks like a 3-year deal.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
He's a solid 3rd WR
And the Steelers probably got him cheap.
Our problem was that we were over paying.
Also, the Steelers will smartly not play him at PR
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Agree. He was certainly a better than average athlete.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
solid 4th WR
No way ARE plays 3rd WR in Pittsburgh. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes posted over 1000 yards a piece last year and Mike Wallace is emerging as a real playmaker. They’d be nuts to start ARE over Wallace; Wallace is young and explosive. ARE is a quality backup in Pittsburgh
I think they are quite happy to have him
at 1/3 the cost of what we were paying him. My guess is he won’t be returning punts. He is great insurance if someone pops Heinz in the earhole for some of his questionable hits over the years.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Their organization is smart enough
to not let ARE keep dynamic young receivers on the bench. Zorn? Notsomuch.
I wonder if Danny had a "favorites list
We know he liked CP. Maybe Zorn got the hint more than once from his boss that certain people were being paid to play and that was that.
Just giving Z a little benefit of the doubt. Doesn’t exonerate him as a lousy HC, though.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
With the way the team is looking,
I only see 1 draft pick going O-line, for a LT. They need to use one of the early(1,3,4) picks on a running back, 1 pick on a defensive back(possibly 2), another pick on a linebacker, and in my opinion they will use a pick on a quarterback. They still have defensive line questions also. With the acqusition of Hicks, I think they will only use 1 pick on the offensive line. They will bring in undrafted guys to compete and hopefully develope.
They do?
They need to use one of the early(1,3,4) picks on a running back
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
I think so, what happens if Portis is shot or out of shape?
Either way, I don’t see Clinton being here in a year or 2. Can’t take a chance on waiting for a 7th rd or undrafted back to be productive.
Well
Can’t take a chance on waiting for a 7th rd or undrafted back to be productive.
I think you can. Especially with Shanahan at the helm.
OL is such a massive need, with multiple holes, that we have to just make do at RB with a FA back up, or a late round pick.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Agreed...
RB is really one of the deepest positions out there at least at the level of ‘who can play’ – i.e. there is a dearth of serviceable back-ups at the very least (you’ll quickly get past anyone with home-run ability, but that’s a bonus in the running game, not the point of it).
And without the OL in solid place, there’s not much anyone other than Barry Sanders in his prime could do about it anyway.
VARGAS??
ID LOVE TO SEE US TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT JUSTIN VARGAS…..HES A SOLID NFL BACK THAT CAN SPLIT CARRIES WITH C.P AND GIVE US A VERY SEVICEABLE BACKFIELD….
Fargas*
It’s an option I think we should take a look at for temporary service, but definitely not long term.
i agree
not long term in the sense of being here for 5-6 yrs but a very serviceable backup for the next three yrs i would think….
1yr??
I was thinkin at the least two because he has relatively light usage on those wheels being as though hes split carries in oakland the past 3-4 yrs, but i agree……hes definitely not the answer. Hell ill take fast willie as well…just aint that thrilled about seein CP RUN THE BALL 22-25 times a game this season…..
We don't have a 3rd round pick this year
because we got Jarmon last year in the supplemental for it.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Good luck with that
I would re-instate Vinnie if that were to happen and I could.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Nah he said one each
Vinny would’ve carpet bombed. He would’ve drafted 1QB and 2 RBs or traded back into the 1st to take Bradford and Claussen. The best part of that strategy is if one gets killed behind this line you’ve got another QB.
Vinny and his carpet-bombing.
Its like he addressed one need each draft. Oh, they say we need a receiver. Boom, 2 WRs and a TE that runs like a WR in the 2nd round.
But wait, there's more!
Don’t forget to throw in the complimentary next year’s 3rd rounder to sweeten the deal for our trading partner.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
