Riley Reiff at Left Tackle

[TrustMeIamRight]

. Why take issue with Reiff? He did absolutely nothing wrong last year. Maybe u should take issue with Schwartz and co. for not playing him. It's hardly Reiff's fault. That's completely asinine. I guess some people will never be happy with any LT we have.

I'm trying to understand the logic you are using. So are you saying Riley Reiff was a better option on the offensive line than one of the starters and it is Jim Schwartz who was holding him back?

 

[tpaulus_2]

. Why take issue with Reiff? He did absolutely nothing wrong last year. Maybe u should take issue with Schwartz and co. for not playing him. It's hardly Reiff's fault. That's completely asinine. I guess some people will never be happy with any LT we have.

Agreed. Schwartz is an idiot, imo, for not playing the depth players once the playoffs were no longer a possibility.

Imagine how good it would have been for Reiff, Fox, Hilliard, Austin, Palmer, T Lewis, Young, R. Lewis, Whitehead and Green to get some meaningful minutes over the last few games last season?

It would be extremely valuable to be able to have some tape on them against live, 1st string competition to be able to use to coach them up this offseason.

I could care less about winning meanless games (which we ended up losing anyways). Get young players better for when games matter again! Schwartz is too proud to be an effective coach, imo. Good coaches look in the mirror every day and say "what can I learn to better lead my team?" Schwartz looks in the mirror and says "Man my wide 9 is ahead of it's time!"

 

[tpaulus_2]

I'm trying to understand the logic you are using. So are you saying Riley Reiff was a better option on the offensive line than one of the starters and it is Jim Schwartz who was holding him back?

I don't know that he was saying that or not, but I am.

Schwartz is too big on loyalty and/or continuity. What good does trying to win games that don't matter do? Why not get the younger players in once the playoffs are out of reach?

I understand that continuity is big on the o-line, and you don't want to get your QB hurt. I also understand that we had two very good tackles and a good RG last year, and that Reiff wasn't going to step in at center. But I see no reason at all that he shouldn't have taken over for Peterman at some point during the season...

 

[tpaulus_2]

And 89 of the 326 snaps came in one game against the Texans.

What a game to get his first start in too! Getting to go up against the defensive MVP is about as good of experience as he could have hoped for...

 

[Microwahevo]

 

[Microwahevo]

Well fuck.....that little arrow-agree emoticon doesn't work when it's at the top of the next page. I was agreeing with u TP about going up against Houston's D in his first LT starting experience.

 

[tpaulus_2]

I was agreeing with u TP about going up against Houston's D in his first LT starting experience.

'Bout time you wised-up!

Smartest post you've ever made,lol...

 

[Microwahevo]

I'm trying to understand the logic you are using. So are you saying Riley Reiff was a better option on the offensive line than one of the starters and it is Jim Schwartz who was holding him back?

That's exactly what I'm saying. I think he was definitely better than "False start" Peterman. He should've, IMO, gotten many snaps from that position, as well as RT. Schwartz didn't know Backus was going to retire so putting Reiff in there for him wouldn't make sense IMO. But like TP said, Schwartz is too damn stubborn to play youth when we had nothing left to play for. That's why I think you're placing blame on the wrong person. Lord only knows why you don't think Reiff isn't capable.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

First off, he wasn't only in on running plays- we passed a fair amount out of that jumbo set. Otherwise it would have been way too obvious that we were running it.

The overwhelming majority of the plays Reiff was in the game -- The Lions ran the ball. Whether it be to start the game or goal line situations or short yardage plays. The announcers even mentioned it during a game, that once Reiff enters the game -- you know the Lions will be running the ball, as he isn't going to be running routes and it gave the defense 1 less player to account for in the passing game.

Which brings me to my second point- you say he was a TE, but when we passed out of the jumbo he was an extra pass blocker. I can't recall him running a single route. Maybe you're too stuck inside the box and feel the need to label him as a TE because he replaced a TE when he came in, but he blocked and only blocked. That's an o-lineman in my book. Other teams, particularly San Fran and New Orleans use the jumbo set quite a bit with an extra o-lineman subbing for the TE, so it's not like we were doing some novel thing experimenting with Reiff as a TE. The jumbo package just uses 6 linemen instead of 5. What's so hard to get about that?

I listed him as a TE, because that is where he lined up. Blocking out the TE spot is nothing like blocking as a LT. At LT, he is going to be going 1 on 1 with the best pass rusher on the opposing team -- something he never had to deal with when lined up at the TE spot. Also -- on the few plays he did pass block -- his responsibility was to double the DE, something he won't have the luxury of having at the LT position. That is why I said -- his one game at LT gave him more experience than any of the games he lined up at TE.

I think you're remembering things in the way that's most convenient for your argument. As for his position- call him a TE if you want, but all he did was block, so, in my book, that's o-line experience...

I agree, it did give him some game experience, but none of the blocking he did while lined up at the TE position is going to be blocking he will deal with at the LT position. He isn't going to be going in motion as the LT. He isn't going to have another Offensive Tackle to double the DE with him. He will be going 1 on 1 with the best pass rusher on the opposing team. His only experience dealing with that is -- against the Texans in his one start, which is why I said he learned more in that game than all of the other plays combined.

 

[broncosmitty]

Hahaha... I thought you'd put up one of Smitty's p o r n clips there for a second...

Theres one that almost exactly like it. E Honda gives me a pink belly, but half the screen is all pixelated and shit. Stupid Eazy Peazy Japonezy blurry*orn. Ryly Rafe Rulez!

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

rookies playing................

That's exactly what I'm saying. I think he was definitely better than "False start" Peterman. He should've, IMO, gotten many snaps from that position, as well as RT. Schwartz didn't know Backus was going to retire so putting Reiff in there for him wouldn't make sense IMO. But like TP said, Schwartz is too damn stubborn to play youth when we had nothing left to play for. That's why I think you're placing blame on the wrong person. Lord only knows why you don't think Reiff isn't capable.

Schwartz made the statement right after drafting Reiff that he would have to earn his playing time and Detroit would be playing the 5 best OL that gave the Lions the best chance to win.

I find it EXTREMELY hard to believe that a guy whose career depends on winning games, decided to sit a better player, because he was "stubborn". It didn't stop him from starting Levy as a rookie, or Delmas, or Suh, or Stafford, or LeShoure, or last year with Bentley, Jonte Green, Ryan Broyles, etc. etc.

On top of that -- the OL responsibility is to protect the Lions franchise QB, so it makes it even more unlikely he would play an inferior player and take the chance of Stafford getting hurt.

If Reiff was better than anyone on the OL last year -- he would have been starting on the OL, just like every other player taken in the 1st two rounds started for their respective teams from either day 1 or by the end of the year.

And with Jeff Backus -- If Reiff was better than Jeff Backus -- Reiff would have been the LT last year and Backus would have been moved to either RT or inside to Guard. LT is the most important position on the OL and no coach in the NFL is going to put a lesser player at LT because they are "stubborn". The LT protects the blindside of arguably the most important player on the team.

 

[Microwahevo]

Well there you have it. Reiff is a bust.....already. He couldn't beat out anyone on last uear's line so he must suck something fierce. Glad that's settled.

 

[Microwahevo]

Schwartz made the statement right after drafting Reiff that he would have to earn his playing time and Detroit would be playing the 5 best OL that gave the Lions the best chance to win.

. So you believe everything Schwartz says? Or do you think Schwartz makes the correct call on everything? He threw the flag on that TD run against Houston last year. Does that mean u agree with him on that, even though he screamed at Harbaugh last year to "learn the fucking rules"? Thing is, Jim Schwartz doesn't know everything. If he did, we'd have a SB by now. There's a reason he's on the hot seat. Whether he was stubborn last year or just can't quite evaluate the players correctly, I firmly believe Reiff will be a very good player.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

.................

I don't know that he was saying that or not, but I am.

Schwartz is too big on loyalty and/or continuity. What good does trying to win games that don't matter do? Why not get the younger players in once the playoffs are out of reach?

I understand that continuity is big on the o-line, and you don't want to get your QB hurt. I also understand that we had two very good tackles and a good RG last year, and that Reiff wasn't going to step in at center. But I see no reason at all that he shouldn't have taken over for Peterman at some point during the season...

Two words why Schwartz didn't put in young players on the OL at the end of the year. Matthew Stafford. You don't put your franchise QB at risk. Schwartz, obviously, gets to see how these lineman do in practice. It is evident they were fine with Reiff's run blocking, and IMO, by not putting him into the starting lineup on the OL, it tells me they weren't comfortable with his pass protection.

All the talk about being too loyal or stubborn is non-sense. Detroit has started a ton of rookies since Schwartz has taken over at just about every position on the field -- QB, RB, TE, WR, LB, DT, CB, S. That is why I have said -- if Reiff was the better option on the OL, he would have been a starter on the OL.

 

[broncosmitty]

Is it a bad thing that Gos and Backus were better than an untested rookie? Just kinda seems typical to me. What with them being veteran former first rounders n all.

 

[Microwahevo]

And for the live of God, who cares what kind of blocking experience Reiff got last year. He still got live game experience. And I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I bet he got 2nd team reps at LT and other positions. So he still learned the playbook, which is one of the biggest obstacles to rookies.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

................

Well there you have it. Reiff is a bust.....already. He couldn't beat out anyone on last uear's line so he must suck something fierce. Glad that's settled.

NOWHERE will you find me call Reiff a bust right now. The only statement I have made regarding Reiff is -- IF he was the better option to start on the OL, he would have been a starter on the OL last year.

I actually think Reiff will be a serviceable starter on the OL, with the chance to be good if he progresses. IMO, the Lions, after getting to see him in practice, don't feel as if he is the answer at the LT position long term. I honestly wouldn't be suprised to see the Lions sign a veteran OL to start at LT this year and move Reiff to RT or G.

I believe Reiff will upgrade the Lions run blocking, but may struggle early in pass protection this year.

 

[TrustMeIamRight]

...................

And for the live of God, who cares what kind of blocking experience Reiff got last year. He still got live game experience. And I'm gonna go out on a limb here, but I bet he got 2nd team reps at LT and other positions. So he still learned the playbook, which is one of the biggest obstacles to rookies.

To take a quote from yourself -- "I'm going to go out on a limb" and say you didn't play much organized football.

Not only are his responsibilites completely different blocking out of the TE position, but the techniques used are completely different.

Let me ask you this -- how many plays lined up at TE did Reiff have to pass protect against the best pass rusher on the opposing team 1 on 1? That is the experience he needed to help him succeed at LT.

 

[broncosmitty]

Blocking as a Tight End is often more difficult than blocking as a LT. You are consistantly responsible for outside rushers, middle linebackers and safeties on the same series let alone throughout the game. You can pull, chip, pass protect and lead on four consecutive plays. RR is athletic and seemingly intelligent. Had JB been back I, personally, would have been fine with him starting at RG. But that's not the case. And it seems it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Since Schwartz didn't plug him in there last season. And has repeatedly said he was drafted to play tackle.

 

[Microwahevo]

To take a quote from yourself -- "I'm going to go out on a limb" and say you didn't play much organized football.

Consider that limb broken.

Again, he may not have gotten the required amount of reps you wanted him to get at Any position other than "TE", but he got reps. He also got a shit ton in practice. And that's where he was able to grasp the playbook more. And he did a fine job against Houston, for his first start at LT. I'm not concerned about him. I'll leave that job to you and muzzer.