To move Cross, or not to move Cross?

[toffee]

Our starting LT Charles Cross, he played ok in his rookie season although outshined by Lucas at RT. He was injured in his sophomore season but still graded out ok. I noticed that he got pushed around some, and often couldn't stop the pass rusher after contact, even when his hands landed on the chest of his opponents. Not sure if it was skill or strength?

Is he still our franchise LT? Or a chance of position will maximize his potential?

 

[Seahawker]

OT seems to be top heavy in this draft with so many slated for the 1st round that there will be a few fall to day 2.
I hope we grab one before day 3.
Our draft needs should be concentrated to, OT, OG, DT, LB, S.
QB only if they really, really like him regardless of round.
We need more offensive line depth and TALENT.

 

[Aircrew]

Funny, I've been mulling this very question over as of late. IMO, if there's an upgrade available in the draft, we take it and move him to LG. If not, keep him at LT.

 

[RiverDog]

This is a Tom Cable-type suggestion. Let Cross play LT and see if our new OL coach can help him develop. Besides, we don't have anyone who can fill his spot.

 

[pittpnthrs]

This is a Tom Cable-type suggestion. Let Cross play LT and see if our new OL coach can help him develop. Besides, we don't have anyone who can fill his spot.

I agree. Let's see if he rebounds from the injury and plays better under new coaching. Drafting a replacement just in case isn't a bad idea though.

 

[sutz]

I agree. Let's see if he rebounds from the injury and plays better under new coaching. Drafting a replacement just in case isn't a bad idea though.

More worried about Lucas and that knee than Cross.

 

[SeaWolv]

Our starting LT Charles Cross, he played ok in his rookie season although outshined by Lucas at RT. He was injured in his sophomore season but still graded out ok. I noticed that he got pushed around some, and often couldn't stop the pass rusher after contact, even when his hands landed on the chest of his opponents. Not sure if it was skill or strength?

Is he still our franchise LT? Or a chance of position will maximize his potential?

Sounds like RT material to me.

 

[pittpnthrs]

More worried about Lucas and that knee than Cross.

Yeah your right. That knee's a huge question mark and it doesn't very positive for the long haul.

 

[Fudwamper]

Cross is an above average LT. Consistently good. Not Great but good. We don't need to replace him. He doesn't need top tier tackle money. If both parties can agree to that there is no need to move on. Let the money match the play.

If you can put 5 consistently good linemen together you have a situation where the sum is greater than its parts line. That's tremendous value in the NFL.

Should you be drafting Tackles? Yes. 3rd/4th round T/G's. Look for potential. Use your higher end draft Capital for other Premium positions. Cross could play for 10 years plus. Use this time to develop T and get the other positions right.

 

[cymatica]

Cross is an above average LT. Consistently good. Not Great but good. We don't need to replace him. He doesn't need top tier tackle money. If both parties can agree to that there is no need to move on. Let the money match the play.

If you can put 5 consistently good linemen together you have a situation where the sum is greater than its parts line. That's tremendous value in the NFL.

Should you be drafting Tackles? Yes. 3rd/4th round T/G's. Look for potential. Use your higher end draft Capital for other Premium positions. Cross could play for 10 years plus. Use this time to develop T and get the other positions right.

This. I think people just expect more out of him based on his draft position. He might be even better after 2 years experience

 

[toffee]

Cross is an above average LT. Consistently good. Not Great but good. We don't need to replace him. He doesn't need top tier tackle money. If both parties can agree to that there is no need to move on. Let the money match the play.

If you can put 5 consistently good linemen together you have a situation where the sum is greater than its parts line. That's tremendous value in the NFL.

Should you be drafting Tackles? Yes. 3rd/4th round T/G's. Look for potential. Use your higher end draft Capital for other Premium positions. Cross could play for 10 years plus. Use this time to develop T and get the other positions right.

To my untrained eyes, he is an average to below average LT up to this point, Kind of serviceable but hasn't shouted 'franchise LT' with his plays.

 

[ivotuk]

This is a Tom Cable-type suggestion. Let Cross play LT and see if our new OL coach can help him develop. Besides, we don't have anyone who can fill his spot.

Times a thousand...

 

[ElvisInBlue]

To my untrained eyes, he is an average to below average LT up to this point, Kind of serviceable but hasn't shouted 'franchise LT' with his plays.

It was a given he needed to improve strength/ body weight distribution when drafted. He made good progress on that between years 1 & 2.

Then came the injury and a bit of a plateau. No sense in overreacting before we see year 3.

 

[Fudwamper]

To my untrained eyes, he is an average to below average LT up to this point, Kind of serviceable but hasn't shouted 'franchise LT' with his plays.

To me he is a Franchise LT, just not Hall of Fame/ All Pro LT. He is a franchise LT as long as HE understands he is not Hall of Fame All Pro LT and accepts notch below All Pro salary.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Still feels like he needs another year. Both our Tackles were clearly playing thru some stuff last year. (damn, that sounded like Pete)

 

[chris98251]

Lucas would be my concern with the knee, he missed several games, not sure if he is having it repaired or if it can be, I and in the event of course we draft a Left handed QB, that needs to be a LT type focus and we may need one in the draft, fortunately RT are much cheaper and easier to find, we would probably have our pick of the top 3 even in the third round.

 

[RiverDog]

Still feels like he needs another year. Both our Tackles were clearly playing thru some stuff last year. (damn, that sounded like Pete)

Agreed.

PFF had Cross graded out at 67.6 overall, or 38th amongst tackles. Since there are two tackles on the field, that's essentially 19th out of 32 teams, or slightly below average the way I read it. What's dragging him down is his run blocking, where he had a 58.3 grade, or 50th amongst starting tackles, which was the rap on him coming out of college.

The offensive line works as a unit, and bad play at one position can have a direct impact on another. If we can get improved play out of our guards and center, it's going to help Cross's performance. He's not a Pro Bowl tackle, but he's not dog meat, either. We have bigger fish to fry.

 

[SeaWolv]

Looking at how our Oline graded out on PFF is appears we may have a couple of decent tackles in Cross and Lucas. It takes time for T's to git gud (health caveats always apply). Cross is our highest rated T at #42 (@ 75% of snaps). Many of the highest rated T's didn't start hitting their stride until year 3, so perhaps we have that on tap for one or both.

According to PFF our G play is more concerning. Our highest rated G is Lewis (#49) and he and Haynes appear to have regressed in 2023. This may be an area JS needs to focus on in the draft.

I can't seem to find any recent data on the Cross knee injury, anyone got anything?

 

[Rat]

Would it matter if we end up drafting Penix, who is a lefty?

Cross reminds me of Okung. Not amazing, but just good enough where it doesn't feel worth replacing him.

 

[Hawkinaz]

Moving a guy from OT to OG is one thing moving from LT to RT is harder some have compared it to if you have been writing with your left hand all your life than trying to write right handed

i would like to see how Cross will do with a new coach, when Cross came out the other 2 LTs that were drafted before him are doing worse ( Ekwonu and Neal)