Let me clarify on Garza though. I really respect him a lot. Playing OL in the NFL on only one knee is simply amazing. He actually was really good moving forward. His problem was moving laterally in a pull. He only had one knee to stabilize him, the other was all brace. Caught mid pull, he would regularly get blown up. That's not a good thing from any offensive lineman but particularly from your RG, who's supposed to be like the power forward of your OL. And these often happened at most inopportune times.
We brought in Garza after he failed two physicals--one with the Packers and one with the Ravens. My problem isn't with his performance as an individual--he did what he could, and it really is amazing what he accomplished on one leg. My problem is that they never deigned to bring a prospect to groom for him. It's simply not good when you have an offensive guard who can be taken out by a DB as he's pulling. It's not good to rely on a guard with only one knee without trying to groom somebody to replace him.
Rich's stance has always been that it's no big deal if a defensive back takes out an offensive lineman if that DB doesn't make the tackle, that it's as good as a block. My take has always been that that's a load of crap. If a DB takes out an offensive lineman and doesn't make the tackle, he still either clogs up the hole with a mass of bodies or he forces the DB deeper and wider letting the pursuit get there. Aside from it just being a horrible visual with your offensive lineman being punked by a DB, it also has very real on field ramifications to the success of a play even if that DB doesn't make the actual tackle.
When Rich notice in that clip that well of course an offensive lineman should be able to wipe out a DB with one hand, I thought that Rich had finally realized the truth. But apparently I was wrong. Apparently, Rich still feels that's entirely okay if your offensive lineman is getting blown up by DBs so long as that DB doesn't make the tackle.
And I'll leave it at that.
