EDS has value because Van Roten is rotten. We'll see how EDS does in a few hours. I hope he does well.
Is it possible that EDS is actually a good player that the mob mentality has decided stinks and needs to be replaced?
Some fans were calling for EDS to be replaced the minute he took over the job from Saturday. The negativity directed at him is a little puzzling and AR views him as the long-term answer, which is good enough for me.
The fact that a coaching staff that knows EDS very well chose to start Saturday in front of him for so many weeks just a season ago says something. Now he is the long term answer?
Yeah, they even cut EDS at one point...and he went to Seattle. But lineman develop over time and are often late bloomers compared to the skill positions.
I also think he wasn't taking it seriously enough based on one of the earlier articles. Like Lang, he needed to grow up a bit
Part of the challenge last year was the fact that Bulaga went down, Lang shifted and EDS had to play guard. If not for that the switch may have happened a little sooner
Put a larger, solid center between Lang and Sitton and I think the interior would be very good going forward. Not sure if EDS will ever be big enough to handle the NTs- although Wells managed and he was a "little" guy with great technique
Ranked #15 on Vandermause's list and that's AR's view:
15. Evan Dietrich-Smith
Call him the quarterback of the offensive line. He serves as an upgrade over Jeff Saturday from a year ago and, according to Rodgers, is the long-term solution at center.
FreeSafety- Maybe EDS developed over the past 14 months. Maybe a year ago he wasn't ready to be a starter, especially after TT signed Saturday. But half way through the season, he got playing time. And maybe between that, an off season and another camp, he's developed into a starting caliber C. Otherwise, why wouldn't TT have addressed it in the off season?
He'll have his shot to prove the doubters today.
You people need to get a life.
I do think EDS can play in the league and think he is a great backup for the inside positions. He can also be a starting C if need be. I don't have a problem with him being the the starting C this season, if he is the best C on the team. I just don't think he is the long term answer for this team.
Originally Posted by BrainDed:
He did address it, he drafted Tretter.
That's not addressing it for THIS season. If TT thought a 4th rounder was his best option, then I think there's a problem there.
Was there a problem when TT got our two starting CB's off the unwanted/undrafted pile?
Pakrz - I'm not talking about Tretter down the road. Or the starting CBs off a undrafted FA scrap heap. My point is that TT probably thought EDS was starting caliber, otherwise he would've gone after a fix in the offseas...be it a FA or a higher draft pick.
Do you really think TT drafted Tretter in the 4th to be the starter this year???
Ok...I missed your point. I didn't bring up Tretter. Like Bacteria, I think he was drafted for depth and development into a possible starter in the future.
I'm completely comfortable with the idea that TT and MM fully planned for EDS to be the starting C in Green Bay.
My point was, and still is, that I think it's comical that a few fans decide that EDS sucks and it just steamrolls into a general fact on message boards. We've seen the same thing with coaches and other players alike.
I've heard that there are some fans here who other fans fight with each other to sit next to so they can learn more about football. Fans are never Rong, and memes don't actually exist. I mean - every fan knows everything about interior OL play, right?
Tretter was drafted with a chance to compete for playing time. You know, sorta like those other two 4th round picks currently starting in Lang and Sitton. Both saw a good amount of time on the field in their rookie years and each had a few starts.
Originally Posted by Pakrz:
My point was, and still is, that I think it's comical that a few fans decide that EDS sucks and it just steamrolls into a general fact on message boards. We've seen the same thing with coaches and other players alike.
Originally Posted by JJSD:
Tretter was drafted with a chance to compete for playing time. You know, sorta like those other two 4th round picks currently starting in Lang and Sitton. Both saw a good amount of time on the field in their rookie years and each had a few starts.
I agree as to why he was drafted: to compete for playing time, to add depth, to be ready to play if called on....just like Lang and Sitton. But neither of those two were drafted to start (same for Tretter), and both developed over time into quality linemen (possibly like EDS).
Just because a GM can't find a better option during a certain period of time doesn't always mean he is satisfied with the player he has.
TT had complete confidence in BJ Coleman just a few hours before he cut him in favor of a better player who became available.
Originally Posted by Pakrz:
Is it possible that EDS is actually a good player that the mob mentality has decided stinks and needs to be replaced?
Then you aren't watching the games. The guy is a backup at best. Players develop, he's been "developing" for an eternity in NFL years. When you hear about Lacey's highlight run in spite of EDS you have his overall play in a nutshell. EDS is a freakin' backup plain and simple.
I don't give a flip what the rest of you clowns on this board think, he's a scrub.
To that overall notion of EDS scrubhood and TT addressing said scrubbery, Tretter was obviously brought in with the intention to supplant EDS. Every team has to weigh it's strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the cap and knowledge of the scheme. EDS makes sense as the starter simply due to time on the team. Tretter is the guy of the future. Do I think it's horrible that EDS is starting? No, I see it as balancing your scheme with what you have but to say EDS is a good player is complete horse****.
When the guy's strength is supposed to be in the run game and he gets slapped around playing with the rest of the starting Oline against a Rams defense playing vanilla defense in preseason it doesn't exactly speak volumes for Lump O' Spuds.
He just needs another 4 years to develop and then he should be eligible for Social Security.
EDS will grade out well today.
Anything else you dum-dums need to know before kickoff?
should I drink beer or liquor today?.... or both?
any help is appreciated
Overall point, TT made the move to get a very smart, capable rookie who could overcome his coaching and become a solid interior lineman, likely the starting center. He broke his ankle, it happens. EDS is like driving your Porsche on the spare donut.
You should already have a Bloody w/beer-back in you. If not, I'm not sure I can be of any further help.