* Offensive line: The first unit o-line started out OK in a half-plus of play but declined steadily until it really became irresponsible to keep Bradford on the field behind them. At RT, Jason Smith was a big disappointment. He gave up two of the sacks of Bradford (and they were big hits, too) and one of the pass knockdowns. Getting outmuscled by journeymen is not what I was looking for from last year’s #2 pick overall. I’d say he also gave up too much cushion in pass protection. Granted, he’s barely back from his toe injury, but if this were a two-week preseason like the NFL wants in the future, you’d be starting Adam Goldberg at RT opening day. Let’s see if Smith can play his way into competence by September 12th, and hope. Rodger Saffold looked good enough at LT, though I thought some of the early reviews of him were a little too glowing. I scored him as giving up a sack and the first big hit on Bradford. The Rams wouldn’t really let us have the much-anticipated Saffold-Jared Allen matchup. They ran away from it the first two plays. Probably a good thing, because both plays I thought Allen really got a step on Saffold. Saffold was successful against Allen the only time Jared really got to pass-rush him, and the fourth sack, while Smith was woefully getting run over on the right side, Saffold was pancaking his man on the left side. Saffold’s at LT to stay. I wasn’t really thrilled with Roger Allen at RG, or any of the run blocking; I don’t think the Rams have opened a decent hole for a RB since camp opened. Blitz pickup was as awful as it’s ever been, though I’m putting that on the running backs. I’m also weary of all the Hank Fraley / Jason Brown guard / center flip-flopping. I don’t think Fraley merits the effort, you’re paying Brown a lot to play center, and how is that helping o-line chemistry? If you want to see Fraley at center so much, let him do it with the twos. I didn’t see any roster-crackers amongst the twos – there almost never are – but I’ll have to get a better look at them on TV the next couple of weeks. I wouldn’t rush out to get a Joe Gibbs jersey.
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