Penei Sewell should be more dominating

[rustyhilger]

Given his size, athletic ability and skillset, by now he should be dominating the competition and be the top one or two tackles in the league.

When I watch the film, I see a really good football player, but not elite. Frank Ragnow is elite even with a foot that's all messed up, and he wasn't anywhere near the prospect coming in to the league that Sewell was.

I just don't think the dude's mean enough. He's missing the nasty streak. Nice guy syndrome. He'll make the block, but he's not going to knock anyone on their ass in the process.

[Felix]

Disagree...think he's the meanest, nastiest OL we have...

[rustyhilger]

Sept 27, 2023 1:14:12 GMT -6 Felix said:

Disagree...think he's the meanest, nastiest OL we have...

Which isn't really saying much.

[Blaming Brad]

Definitely don't agree on the nasty streak thing. He's got it, probably up there with the meanest in the league. That's one of the reasons they drafted him.

He has not played well this year at LT, but like you even said, it's a big adjustment and he showed his rookie year it takes him some time to adjust. I just hope the move back to RT doesn't throw him off again.

[badnews3123]

I don’t think he’s been that bad on left side, just not the same guy as at RT. Which is an All-Pro level.

[TRUMP]

so what happens when Sewells contract is up? do we pay him LT money or RT money and if we offer RT money does he test FA? someone else will pay him LT money. so what happens?

[badnews3123]

I’d guess this off-season they’ll offer him the highest paying RT deal. Which I’d guess will be pretty close to top LT money like when Lane Johnson got that huge deal a few years ago. But I don’t really know what they have planned going forward for him.

[Vic]

He is a dominant RT.

His rookie year when he had to play LT, I feel like he had more time to get reps.

If something is off, I'm sure we will know it when he goes back to RT. I will say I am a little surprised as well he has been rather ho hum at LT, some major whiffs and holds. Especially given how well he played at LT as a rookie.

[Blaming Brad]

Sept 27, 2023 8:36:33 GMT -6 badnews3123 said:

I’d guess this off-season they’ll offer him the highest paying RT deal. Which I’d guess will be pretty close to top LT money like when Lane Johnson got that huge deal a few years ago. But I don’t really know what they have planned going forward for him.

My guess would be the longer term plan for him is to have him take over LT in 2025, after Decker's contract is up and hopefully by then they have his heir apparent at RT already on the roster.

Bottom line is they're not gonna be able to afford to keep all of Decker, Ragnow, Sewell and Jackson beyond 2024.

Most curious what they decide to do with Jackson who's contract is up after this year. Part of me thinks they let him walk.

[rustyhilger]

Sept 27, 2023 9:18:43 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

Sept 27, 2023 8:36:33 GMT -6 badnews3123 said:

I’d guess this off-season they’ll offer him the highest paying RT deal. Which I’d guess will be pretty close to top LT money like when Lane Johnson got that huge deal a few years ago. But I don’t really know what they have planned going forward for him.

My guess would be the longer term plan for him is to have him take over LT in 2025, after Decker's contract is up and hopefully by then they have his heir apparent at RT already on the roster.

Bottom line is they're not gonna be able to afford to keep all of Decker, Ragnow, Sewell and Jackson beyond 2024.

Most curious what they decide to do with Jackson who's contract is up after this year. Part of me thinks they let him walk.

I think you let him set his own value. Based on how he's played so far, he's a good guy to have but he's replaceable.

[badnews3123]

I don’t know what they’ll do with Jackson. It’s a tough spot. I’m sure he knows he’ll be highly sought after if he hits FA, so getting a deal done with him may be tough.

Still, you’re looking at likely replacing both guards next off-season which is also tough. I know OL guys talk about how important continuity is for an OL.

[rustyhilger]

Sept 27, 2023 8:45:00 GMT -6 Vic said:

He is a dominant RT.

He is really good. He's easily in the top 5 for RTs. Top 10 Tackles in general.

It's just that leading in to the draft, he was a bit of a freak, and I thought this guy has first-ballot HOF potential. I put him up there in the Calvin Johnson category in terms of sheer physical dominance and athletic traits (as far as Tackles go). One of the best prospects I've seen in decades.

And certain guys, you can see it the second they step on the field "Man, this guy is special." And the guy I'm seeing that with right now is Brian Branch and Aiden Hutchinson to an extent. This feeling you get when you watch them on the field and it's like they're operating on a whole different level.

I don't see that with Pennei. I see a really good offensive lineman who poses matchup problems. His play really elevates with Vatai next to him. They make a pretty lethal combination where the whole is greater than the sum of parts. I believe Dan Campbell once said that he thought Pennei was a great Tackle, but that he "could have been a Hall of Fame Tight End" if he had chosen that route. Which I think was a Freudian slip. I don't think his own coaching staff thinks he's HOF good.

[Vic]

He is still a young player

He has been healthy so far in his career

He pretty much locks it down at RT, he wins a vast majority of the time in both the run and pass game. He was consistently scoring pretty high marks in PFF weekly last season. Not even the very very best are 100% dominant at this level. I don't know what else you want from the guy in all honesty. You mention Frank Ragnow as the standard, I really do not see much difference in their performance in comparison. Ragnow also got beat pretty bad a few times VS Atlanta, they have a really good DL, among the best in the NFL. Plus Ragnow isn't out on a island in pass protection, somewhat apples and oranges. 

[def]

He's our best lineman on a good o line. Wtf you bitching about Rusty?

[Blaming Brad]

Sept 27, 2023 15:40:19 GMT -6 rustyhilger said:

And certain guys, you can see it the second they step on the field "Man, this guy is special." And the guy I'm seeing that with right now is Brian Branch and Aiden Hutchinson to an extent. This feeling you get when you watch them on the field and it's like they're operating on a whole different level.

See, I feel more the way you feel about Sewell about Hutchinson. To me, Sewell has that "it" factor, and it seemed pretty evident right away, but I'm not sure about Hutchinson. Like you said about Sewell, I see Hutchinson as a great player, could be a top 10 edge rusher in the league at some point, but I don't feel like he is or ever will be on the level of guys like Garrett, the Bosa's, etc. It just seems like he's elite when it's an easier match up, but when he's double teamed or schemed around, he doesn't step up like the truly elite ones do. Not saying he can't develop into that at some point, but I feel like with guys like the Bosa's (and even Sewell), you knew right away they were special.

[rustyhilger]

Sept 27, 2023 19:28:13 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

Sept 27, 2023 15:40:19 GMT -6 rustyhilger said:

And certain guys, you can see it the second they step on the field "Man, this guy is special." And the guy I'm seeing that with right now is Brian Branch and Aiden Hutchinson to an extent. This feeling you get when you watch them on the field and it's like they're operating on a whole different level.

See, I feel more the way you feel about Sewell about Hutchinson. To me, Sewell has that "it" factor, and it seemed pretty evident right away, but I'm not sure about Hutchinson. Like you said about Sewell, I see Hutchinson as a great player, could be a top 10 edge rusher in the league at some point, but I don't feel like he is or ever will be on the level of guys like Garrett, the Bosa's, etc. It just seems like he's elite when it's an easier match up, but when he's double teamed or schemed around, he doesn't step up like the truly elite ones do. Not saying he can't develop into that at some point, but I feel like with guys like the Bosa's (and even Sewell), you knew right away they were special.

Brian Branch. C'mon now.

[Blaming Brad]

Sept 27, 2023 21:49:59 GMT -6 rustyhilger said:

Sept 27, 2023 19:28:13 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

See, I feel more the way you feel about Sewell about Hutchinson. To me, Sewell has that "it" factor, and it seemed pretty evident right away, but I'm not sure about Hutchinson. Like you said about Sewell, I see Hutchinson as a great player, could be a top 10 edge rusher in the league at some point, but I don't feel like he is or ever will be on the level of guys like Garrett, the Bosa's, etc. It just seems like he's elite when it's an easier match up, but when he's double teamed or schemed around, he doesn't step up like the truly elite ones do. Not saying he can't develop into that at some point, but I feel like with guys like the Bosa's (and even Sewell), you knew right away they were special.

Brian Branch. C'mon now.

Maybe. 3 games in. Definitely has a Troy Polamalu vibe.

[rustyhilger]

Sept 27, 2023 22:13:08 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

Sept 27, 2023 21:49:59 GMT -6 rustyhilger said:

Brian Branch. C'mon now.

Maybe. 3 games in. Definitely has a Troy Polamalu vibe.

Ed Reed for sure.

[Vic]

Pretty evident flipping sides is much tougher than we think

[rustyhilger]

Do you think it would be like learning to drive in the left lane?

[badnews3123]

I remember an OLineman saying once it was like learning to wipe with your other hand.

[Blaming Brad]

Sept 29, 2023 5:46:24 GMT -6 badnews3123 said:

I remember an OLineman saying once it was like learning to wipe with your other hand.

I think that was TJ Lang.

[badnews3123]

Sept 29, 2023 6:51:51 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

Sept 29, 2023 5:46:24 GMT -6 badnews3123 said:

I remember an OLineman saying once it was like learning to wipe with your other hand.

I think that was TJ Lang.

I think you’re right. Definitely an analogy he would make, too.

[rustyhilger]

Sept 27, 2023 17:59:00 GMT -6 def said:

He's our best lineman on a good o line. Wtf you bitching about Rusty?

I think he's a different lineman when he's lined up next to Vatai. They clearly work well together but I think he struggles with adjusting to change, and it takes him longer than most to gel with the guy next to him and and he isn't as position flexible. Evan Brown and G Glasgow really excel in this area, by comparison.

Given his draft position I just hoped for a little more. Am I nitpicking? SURE.

[Felix]

Sept 27, 2023 19:28:13 GMT -6 Blaming Brad said:

...
I see Hutchinson as a great player, could be a top 10 edge rusher in the league at some point, but I don't feel like he is or ever will be on the level of guys like Garrett, the Bosa's, etc. It just seems like he's elite when it's an easier match up, but when he's double teamed or schemed around, he doesn't step up like the truly elite ones do. Not saying he can't develop into that at some point, but I feel like with guys like the Bosa's (and even Sewell), you knew right away they were special.

several thoughts on this...

1. I know what you're saying and don't necessarily disagree, but..Garrett and Bosa didn't exactly come out the box as their dominant selves...like Hutch, good stats, but nothing mind blowing...they've really dominated the last 2-3 yrs, but weren't the elite forces they are today from day 1

2. I'm not sure it's fair to judge Hutch against them...I don't think he's the same type of player as them and don't think he's being asked to do the same things as them. I feel (without watching Bosa and Garrett every week) that hutch is playing more read-react than straight edge rush like they are

3. Furthermore, both SF and CLE are stacked on the front 7 compared to the lions, imo, so he draws ALL the extra help, not some like the other guys

That said...I may even agree he does not seem to be elite like them...but he doesn't have to be. His non stop energy and 100% effort sets a tone...it exemplifies what the coaches preach and gives something the coaches, and team can look to...the type of player he is transcends individual stats...he is the embodiment of grit...you give me 22 Hutchinson and you are looking at championships, elite or not...