1. Why does everyone assume Olsen won't fit with the Martz offense? We have 3 pretty good "receiving" TE's on the roster. The Martz offense typically calls for 3 WR sets. Doesn't Olsen or Dez Clark become the 3rd WR??? A typical offensive set would be QB, 5 o-linemen, RB, 2 TE's, 2 WR's. Seems like a no-brainer.

2. Manumaleuna is such a unique player, who backs him up? When we drafted Lance Louis we speculated he might become a blocking TE. Is he the guy?

 

1. Why does everyone assume Olsen won't fit with the Martz offense? We have 3 pretty good "receiving" TE's on the roster. The Martz offense typically calls for 3 WR sets. Doesn't Olsen or Dez Clark become the 3rd WR??? A typical offensive set would be QB, 5 o-linemen, RB, 2 TE's, 2 WR's. Seems like a no-brainer.

2. Manumaleuna is such a unique player, who backs him up? When we drafted Lance Louis we speculated he might become a blocking TE. Is he the guy?

1 IMHO Olsen will fit because he is fast enough to play on the outside and in the slot. Actually we have four TE that can catch Manumaleuna, Davis,Clark, & Olsen

2. Lance Louis is now a lineman OG type and you will not be seeing him at TE. Now we can go four wide with the WR with Hester, DA and either Bennet/Knox & or Olsen

1. Why does everyone assume Olsen won't fit with the Martz offense? We have 3 pretty good "receiving" TE's on the roster. The Martz offense typically calls for 3 WR sets. Doesn't Olsen or Dez Clark become the 3rd WR??? A typical offensive set would be QB, 5 o-linemen, RB, 2 TE's, 2 WR's. Seems like a no-brainer.

 

Actually, Martz himself said shortly after being hired that if a TE can't block, he would just as soon have an extra WR out there. It was this interview that sent many running for the presses. The impression was, if Olsen can not block, and Martz prefers a WR to having two TEs, how does Olsen fit.

 

Thing about Olsen is, as a TE, he is a big mis-match problem. LBs don't have the speed and safeties usually lack the size. If he is a WR though, much of the matchup issue goes out the window. Its one thing to use him as such on occasion, but we saw last year how CBs better matchup with him. For Olsen to be great, he needs to remain at TE.

 

2. Manumaleuna is such a unique player, who backs him up? When we drafted Lance Louis we speculated he might become a blocking TE. Is he the guy?

 

I don't think so. From what I read, the staff actually loves his development thus far at OL, and actually talk about him more than most any other young OL in terms of position battles. I am not sure Manu is that unique. He is our best blocking TE, but I wouldn't say he is "that" unique. If he went down, Kellen Davis would be the most likely to step in. You lose some in blocking, though likely gain in receiving.

 

 

Actually, Martz himself said shortly after being hired that if a TE can't block, he would just as soon have an extra WR out there. It was this interview that sent many running for the presses. The impression was, if Olsen can not block, and Martz prefers a WR to having two TEs, how does Olsen fit.

 

Thing about Olsen is, as a TE, he is a big mis-match problem. LBs don't have the speed and safeties usually lack the size. If he is a WR though, much of the matchup issue goes out the window. Its one thing to use him as such on occasion, but we saw last year how CBs better matchup with him. For Olsen to be great, he needs to remain at TE.

 

My thinking is that a combination of DA, Hester and Olsen is probably our best WR trio. That's why we keep him.

 

I don't think so. From what I read, the staff actually loves his development thus far at OL, and actually talk about him more than most any other young OL in terms of position battles. I am not sure Manu is that unique. He is our best blocking TE, but I wouldn't say he is "that" unique. If he went down, Kellen Davis would be the most likely to step in. You lose some in blocking, though likely gain in receiving.

 

You could be right about us liking Louis at guard, but you're way off about Kellen Davis being able to replace Manamumla (sp). Mana is an offensive guard who is listed as a TE and catches the ball 10 times a year. He's 6-2, 296 lbs. That's pretty comparable to:

Lance Louis: 6-3, 305

Josh Beekman: 6-2, 310

Garza: 6-2 310

Kreutz: 6-2, 292

 

Compare that to our TE's:

Olsen: Olsen, 6-5 255

Davis: 6-7, 262

Clark: 6-3, 249

 

There's no way in hell Davis can do the job of Mana. We might draft a guy to back him up, but considering it was rumored we'd move Louis to TE previously, I think it's a possibility.

Actually, Martz himself said shortly after being hired that if a TE can't block, he would just as soon have an extra WR out there. It was this interview that sent many running for the presses. The impression was, if Olsen can not block, and Martz prefers a WR to having two TEs, how does Olsen fit.

 

Thing about Olsen is, as a TE, he is a big mis-match problem. LBs don't have the speed and safeties usually lack the size. If he is a WR though, much of the matchup issue goes out the window. Its one thing to use him as such on occasion, but we saw last year how CBs better matchup with him. For Olsen to be great, he needs to remain at TE.

 

My thinking is that a combination of DA, Hester and Olsen is probably our best WR trio. That's why we keep him.

 

I don't think so. From what I read, the staff actually loves his development thus far at OL, and actually talk about him more than most any other young OL in terms of position battles. I am not sure Manu is that unique. He is our best blocking TE, but I wouldn't say he is "that" unique. If he went down, Kellen Davis would be the most likely to step in. You lose some in blocking, though likely gain in receiving.

 

You could be right about us liking Louis at guard, but you're way off about Kellen Davis being able to replace Manamumla (sp). Mana is an offensive guard who is listed as a TE and catches the ball 10 times a year. He's 6-2, 296 lbs. That's pretty comparable to:

Lance Louis: 6-3, 305

Josh Beekman: 6-2, 310

Garza: 6-2 310

Kreutz: 6-2, 292

 

Compare that to our TE's:

Olsen: Olsen, 6-5 255

Davis: 6-7, 262

Clark: 6-3, 249

 

There's no way in hell Davis can do the job of Mana. We might draft a guy to back him up, but considering it was rumored we'd move Louis to TE previously, I think it's a possibility.

I think in this offense Louis could become the backup TE. The TE is just not a big receiver in Martz offense, so I would say Clark stays because he can block, and Davis goes. No way we keep 4 TEs.

Disagree. Manu is a big-a blocker, but he is still a TE, not an OG, despite his size. I do not believe we would replace him, if we have to, by moving an OG into his TE position.

 

I agree you would see a drop from Manu to Davis, but you usually see a drop when you replace a starter. Davis may not be his equal, but is supposed to be a good blocker. It would be different, but regardless, I just don't think we try to use an OG at TE.

 

You could be right about us liking Louis at guard, but you're way off about Kellen Davis being able to replace Manamumla (sp). Mana is an offensive guard who is listed as a TE and catches the ball 10 times a year. He's 6-2, 296 lbs. That's pretty comparable to:

Lance Louis: 6-3, 305

Josh Beekman: 6-2, 310

Garza: 6-2 310

Kreutz: 6-2, 292

 

Compare that to our TE's:

Olsen: Olsen, 6-5 255

Davis: 6-7, 262

Clark: 6-3, 249

 

There's no way in hell Davis can do the job of Mana. We might draft a guy to back him up, but considering it was rumored we'd move Louis to TE previously, I think it's a possibility.

 

 

I think in this offense Louis could become the backup TE. The TE is just not a big receiver in Martz offense, so I would say Clark stays because he can block, and Davis goes. No way we keep 4 TEs.

Why not. Keep 4 TEs and get rid of McKie. Martz does not really use the FB in his offense.

 

Peace

I think in this offense Louis could become the backup TE. The TE is just not a big receiver in Martz offense, so I would say Clark stays because he can block, and Davis goes. No way we keep 4 TEs.

 

Teach him to be an OG let's not waste development time moving him around. Besides if it's a short yardage situation you can always put anyone at TE as long as they report in as "eligible".

Teach him to be an OG let's not waste development time moving him around. Besides if it's a short yardage situation you can always put anyone at TE as long as they report in as "eligible".

Lets keep in mind that we did keep 4 TE's last year when we broke camp and continued to do so until we made the trade for Gaines Adams. I don't think its completely out of the question about carrying 4.

Lets keep in mind that we did keep 4 TE's last year when we broke camp and continued to do so until we made the trade for Gaines Adams. I don't think its completely out of the question about carrying 4.

I had forgotten that Michael Gaines was on the roster...good point. Maybe we'll keep all four TEs, then. Especially since we probably won't be carrying 4 running backs this year.

In a Martz offense, I think it possible we could dump the FB, but at the same time, I wonder if Martz wouldn't rather keep another WR. Martz likes to actually use more WRs in a formation than Turner would have active on game day, especially when you consider our 4th active WR was a special teams specialist.

 

Why not. Keep 4 TEs and get rid of McKie. Martz does not really use the FB in his offense.

 

Peace

 

Anything is possible with this new staff, but I still have to wonder if we won't look at adding a WR to the mix (late draft). Martz loves WRs. As I said in another post, Martz lines up more WRs than we would have active on game days.

 

I had forgotten that Michael Gaines was on the roster...good point. Maybe we'll keep all four TEs, then. Especially since we probably won't be carrying 4 running backs this year.

 

Agree 100%. From what I read, the staff was really impressed with the development (obviously in practice) of Louis. They love his size and athleticism, and how that can translate to OL. I get a bit tired of trying to develop players at so many positions that they never seem to develop at any one. Pick a position, and develop the kid there.

 

Teach him to be an OG let's not waste development time moving him around. Besides if it's a short yardage situation you can always put anyone at TE as long as they report in as "eligible".

 

Agree 100%. From what I read, the staff was really impressed with the development (obviously in practice) of Louis. They love his size and athleticism, and how that can translate to OL. I get a bit tired of trying to develop players at so many positions that they never seem to develop at any one. Pick a position, and develop the kid there.

Yeah, agreed. Stick him behind Garza and let Tice work with him. I'd like to see one of our developmental prospects actually get developed, for once.

Agree 100%. From what I read, the staff was really impressed with the development (obviously in practice) of Louis. They love his size and athleticism, and how that can translate to OL. I get a bit tired of trying to develop players at so many positions that they never seem to develop at any one. Pick a position, and develop the kid there.

 

The point your missing is that we're basically using Mana as a 3rd OT. Having Kellen Davis or Dez Clark back them up would be as silly as having them back-up Chris Williams. Somebody will have to back him up and it shouldn't be one of our receiving TE's.

I think he is more than just a 6th OL. We talk about him that way, but that is not solely how he will be used. Frankly, if all he was was a 6th OL, it would make backing him up easy as any OL could, but would also make life easier for the defense, as defenses are capable of defending a 6 man front.

 

I will be you he still runs routes. He will be on the move far more than the rest of our OL. He will block downfield, as well as stay back. If all we do is keep him on the LOS to block, his value is nearly negated.

 

I think it more a matter of changing the role if he goes down. He is a nitch player, and you just can't have a backup for every nitch player. If he goes down, then you alter your plans some to adapt to the new guy.

 

 

 

The point your missing is that we're basically using Mana as a 3rd OT. Having Kellen Davis or Dez Clark back them up would be as silly as having them back-up Chris Williams. Somebody will have to back him up and it shouldn't be one of our receiving TE's.