How about these tackles?

[Aseahawkfan]

When is the last time anyone saw tackles start this well in their rookie seasons? We watched Walter Jones make it look easy from the beginning, but two tackles? Damn. I cannot recall that happening, especially during the Carroll/Schneider era.

Pancake and Sweet Feet are pretty shocking me. They get a few penalties and won't get the benefit of the doubt until they prove it for years, but they are starting strong. We haven't had a pocket this clean ever during the Carroll and Schneider era.

Hats off to whoever scouted and sold these tackles to Schneider. They deserve a bonus.

[RiverDog]

When is the last time anyone saw tackles start this well in their rookie seasons? We watched Walter Jones make it look easy from the beginning, but two tackles? Damn. I cannot recall that happening, especially during the Carroll/Schneider era.

Pancake and Sweet Feet are pretty shocking me. They get a few penalties and won't get the benefit of the doubt until they prove it for years, but they are starting strong. We haven't had a pocket this clean ever during the Carroll and Schneider era.

Hats off to whoever scouted and sold these tackles to Schneider. They deserve a bonus.

Lucas finally gave up his first sack yesterday.

I am very pleased with their progress so far, but it's still early. We'll have to wait a little longer into the season before we can get a better evaluation, but so far, so good. They still need to clean up the penalties.

Although Geno is holding onto the ball longer than I'd like to see, he does seem to manage the pocket better than Russell did, which makes an OT's job a lot easier. He's been stepping up and finding receivers across the middle of the field. Russell tended to break the pocket to the right or the left.

[Aseahawkfan]

Lucas finally gave up his first sack yesterday.

I am very pleased with their progress so far, but it's still early. We'll have to wait a little longer into the season before we can get a better evaluation, but so far, so good. They still need to clean up the penalties.

Although Geno is holding onto the ball longer than I'd like to see, he does seem to manage the pocket better than Russell did, which makes an OT's job a lot easier. He's been stepping up and finding receivers across the middle of the field. Russell tended to break the pocket to the right or the left.

I don't recall our tackles ever being this good at pass blocking while Russell was here. That is why I like these tackles.

[RiverDog]

I don't recall our tackles ever being this good at pass blocking while Russell was here. That is why I like these tackles.

Russell was a nightmare to block for. As much as we all were thrilled with his Houdini like escapes and extending plays, scrambling around like a fart in a skillet, for a lineman, they had to sustain their blocks a lot longer than the average QB and had less of an idea where he was or where he was going. Russell always ranked very high in time to throw. I'm convinced that part of the reason why these two tackles seem to be playing much better than what we've been accustomed to in the past is due to the quarterback.

That doesn't mean that I disagree with your argument or that they're not better than the tackles we've had here in the past. I'm merely saying that the quarterback they're blocking for enters into their performance equation.

[Hawktawk]

Addition by subtraction . Although I did call the play of the tackles . Looked at the measurables , the film , . But as I’ve said Geno throws the ball or slides upfield , remains extremely disciplined in the pocket . He holds it as long as needed till a receiver clears but he’s a much more line friendly qb . He’s on a pace for under 30 sacks . Russ went to a line that gave up 40 and is in a pace fir a career high 51

[NorthHawk]

When is the last time anyone saw tackles start this well in their rookie seasons? We watched Walter Jones make it look easy from the beginning, but two tackles? Damn. I cannot recall that happening, especially during the Carroll/Schneider era.

Pancake and Sweet Feet are pretty shocking me. They get a few penalties and won't get the benefit of the doubt until they prove it for years, but they are starting strong. We haven't had a pocket this clean ever during the Carroll and Schneider era.

Hats off to whoever scouted and sold these tackles to Schneider. They deserve a bonus.

They seem pretty prepared which is surprising considering the turnstiles we had in the past on the edges as rookies and sometimes veterans.
I think their coaches are doing much better than previous ones but it wouldn't be unusual for rookies to wear down later in the year when they get to games 12 and beyond.
The QB extending plays might have been a small factor, but in the past decade our Tackles were often beat from the first step.
The future looks bright on the edges.

[c_hawkbob]

We have not done this well at the position since the Holmgren era. Excellent picks!

[Aseahawkfan]

Addition by subtraction . Although I did call the play of the tackles . Looked at the measurables , the film , . But as I’ve said Geno throws the ball or slides upfield , remains extremely disciplined in the pocket . He holds it as long as needed till a receiver clears but he’s a much more line friendly qb . He’s on a pace for under 30 sacks . Russ went to a line that gave up 40 and is in a pace fir a career high 51

There is no addition by subtraction when your record is 2 and 3. You're still not doing well. And fans are going to learn it wasn't Russ's fault we were in the hole, but Pete and John's fault for fielding a terrible defense. All the guys like you blaming Russ are going to find out by the end of the year that Pete not rebuilding the defense is the problem, not the QB. For whatever reason, you continue to make excuses for Pete and this terrible defense while piling on Russ when our record is no different and we're on pace to a massive losing season.

I know everyone is hot on Geno right now. He still has some things to prove. He has to do it the whole season. He has to lead us back to some wins in the fourth quarter in tight games. He has to show he can step up against division opponents. If Geno wants the contract and the money, you gotta show you can go against the division. He gets a pass on Frisco because they are ridiculously good on defense right now and we don't have a defense to hang right now. Arizona is coming up. We gotta win this to remain competitive. We're at home. Arizona is not Frisco. He should lead us to a win.

I personally don't care about the Detroits or New Orleans or any of that. I watch this game as a fan wanting to win. I need to see Geno step in the games that matter: Division games and playoff teams. Those are the teams you'll see in the post-season and you have to beat them.

I'm done responding to you in this thread. Anything other than I agree this defense is terrible and Geno has to prove he can win the fourth quarter and against division and playoff games is a waste of my time to read.

[RiverDog]

We have not done this well at the position since the Holmgren era. Excellent picks!

Who did Holmgren draft? Walter Jones was drafted in 1997, two years before the Walrus arrived. Sean Locklear?

The real find is Abe Lucas. Cross was highly rated coming into the draft (Cbob had him in his draft) and we took him with the #9 overall, so you would expect him to play well. But Lucas was a 3rd rounder.

[c_hawkbob]

I'm not comparing drafts as much as I am our tackle position as a whole then and now. I'm not about to look up now who Holmgren drafted and who he inherited, it's not relevant to what I said. I wasn't crediting Holmgren (although he did place a much greater priority on O-line than our current administration) as much as identifying eras.

[RiverDog]

Here's a PFF ranking of rookie offensive tackle's pass blocking grades:

Rookie OTs PFF Pass Block Grades

1. Abraham Lucas 68.5
2. Thayer Munford 65.1
3. Tyler Smith 61.1
4. Charles Cross 59.4
5. Ikem Ekwonu 51.2
6. Max Mitchell 50.6
7. Evan Neal 50.0
9. Nicholas Petit-Frere 39.8

https://twitter.com/hawkblogger/status/ ... _&ref_url=

To be fair, there isn't a whole helluva lot of rookie offensive tackles that are starting or getting significant playing time, but it does support the notion that our two offensive tackles are playing very well.

[NorthHawk]

Far better than expected and without a veteran presence at OT, the coaching must be pretty good.
I hope they are getting good advice about nutrition and rest as well because it's a longer season than they have ever experienced.
At some point we have to expect them to hit a wall so to speak as the grind of the season wears on them but they are young so there's hope.