Should Walter Jones Start If He Can't Practice before September?

week 1, considering only that scenario, straight up, that answer is then further complicated by our depth at tackle. I think that’s what the team began to find the answer to, yesterday.

No Walt means Locklear at left. Locklear there means something at both RT and potentially RG. Locklear and Willis starting means one of the steepest downgrades to replacement on the roster, although we’re learning that perhaps CB contends for that title as well. If, say, the team really feels that Unger is not ready at RG, nor Wrotto, and it’s a concern, but they have to take the plunge on not starting Walt, and putting Locklear there, or putting Locklear at RG, because they can count on him and they have the most talented 5 guys starting, pick your poison, what do you do? I don’t know the right answer.

But yeah, It’s not a foregone that Walt can just step in and do it well. it’s not like all the other camps. ZBS theoretically means he needs more reps. While I’m sure not getting reps next to Walt affects Sims’ progress in adapting to it, I wonder if “the blind spot” possibly is less in need of adjustment than the other 4 spots. On the edge, are you really only blocking a space? A man coming off the edge or through the B gap becomes blitz pickup responsibility; if a guy really takes the edge wouldn’t it be better for the tackle to keep him and the back to simply step into the pocket and chip the gap rusher?

Run blocking is different. And I think is more of a concern. For one, we’ve already run the stretch quite a bit — everyone does — but that was hat on hat, so without reps, how surely does Walt adapt? How much space between him and Sims does he leave? Or if Sims pulls, how does he manage the space he’s assigned? Cutting on the backside — will he get that down adequately? (Aside: I can’t imagine it would take long for defenders to fear the potent devastation from a nasty Ray Willis cut block).

We have time to figure this out, but I don’t really know the answer. I think if the other guys show they’ve stepped up enough, Walt is out that long, gets no reps, and isn’t necessarily healthy, I would prefer he be held out until that is no longer the case. That’s a lot of contingencies, though.

So far I’ve liked what I’ve seen from our line, but I don’t trust the left side all that much. So if our left side is looking weak going into the season, but we like the rest of the line, then I think you put him in, cohesiveness be damned. And if he struggles during the season and is clearly over matched and a liability, then look at replacing him. We’re only talking about one man on a five person line, and one that is good enough that I suspect he can adapt to the new schemes without the practice.

Honestly though, I don’t think this becomes a critical issue until around the 3rd preseason game. Until then, we’re still early and Jones still has time to practice with the rest of the line. If he’s still out and misses the 3rd game, then it starts to become a critical issue.

Jones may not like this suggestion, but it could be best for his longevity and for OL cohesiveness to put together the best front 5 possible without Jones for September. Mora discloses the honest truth—it is imperfect with or without Jones.

A healthy Jones as a backup is far better than an endangered Jones as a starter. If for some reason Walt gets healthy within the next week or so, then the line still might have enough time to pull together.

We honor Jones by allowing him to recover completely.

If we look at the schedule for the first three games: Rams, Niners, and Bears. The Bears are the only team of the three that has a legitimate pass rush. I say, let him rest til then. He’s got 6 weeks to rest that back of his.

And assuming if the team believes him to be fully healthy, then he is fully healthy, and if he is then yes absolutely he should start. Locklear still looks better on the right side then the left; maybe because he knows it better, maybe because he needs the help.

The only part that’s a little worrisome is the backside cut blocks, which pretty much most the o-line failed at in the first preseason game, simply because that’s something they don’t follow through all the way on in practice.

Maybe this is a hard question to answer because we haven’t even gotten to the 2nd pre-season game but I believe he should not start if he cannot practice.

What if he never gets healthy? What if this is the healthiest he will be all season? What if this is really a way of getting out most of training camp and he does start Week 1? What can we expect then?

Is it logical to believe that he will be ‘fine’ with little or no practice time? jacobstevens makes a strong point. There is something to be said about the time everyone else is putting in TOGETHER. Nothing would make me happier than to see him come out of that tunnel September 13 and hear his name called but in the back of my mind, I will saying to myself Walt was Seahawks Football.

If Walt is healthy and is the best option at left tackle he should play regardless of practice time.

I could be 100% wrong, but that’s just how I feel.