Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
Here is the thing with SOBO. He does know his stuff, he really does know technical aspects of offensive line play and he studies tape so he knows his stuff and he does the homework. I respect the hell out of his knowledge and listen when he shares knowledge. However, even with his knowledge SOBO isn't always right. He tends to be overly aggressive in arguing certain opinions declaring a player that he wanted was or is playing much better than a player that someone else wanted even when that isn't true and he dismisses evidence that is counter to his opinion.
Last year is a classic example. He wanted the DT Brown that NE got and didn't want Danny Shelton and was ripping Shelton before the first preseason game and praising Brown before the season began. Way too soon to make any declarative statements. When glaring mistakes of Brown were pointed out he would dismiss mistakes and highlight the splash plays and whenever Shelton made a great play SOBO would aggressively point out any mistakes he made. It was like he HAD to be right since he had dug his heels in. He knew Brown was used totally different in Belichick's scheme where he was asked to penetrate and make splash plays and not take on double and triple teams that Pettine had Shelton doing so SOBO. No acknowledgment of the different schemes, anything he could use to force his argument, SOBO used because he dug his heels in and had to be right. His followers who haven't his knowledge and who don't do the homework tend to follow his lead on being overly aggressive in defending SOBO's takes.
The season began and Shelton was starting and wasn't great but was 'ok' but SOBO pointed out every mistake. Brown was not starting and when he played he was erratic and made glaring mistakes but he'd make flash plays and SOBO would highlight the flash plays and overlook the glaring mistakes of Brown. SOBO had a biased slanted opinion and forced his agenda and instead of using his knowledge to teach and empower others to learn what he knows he would use his knowledge to sway people to become followers where he is the guru. So I take the good with SOBO. I went and checked out what he had to say on Decker and he has not dug his heels in at this point. He also hasn't dug his heels in on Conklin and he even said he would go back and rewatch tape so he may side with Al Williams and others on Conklin.
Al Williams is a guy I respect and one of the reasons is because of Von Miller. Al was a staunch supporter of the Broncos to take Von Miller in that draft long before others. Al played OLB/DE in the NFL, he knows pass rushers like SOBO knows offensive lineman. I remember hearing AL Williams nearly cry when the Broncos took Von Miller live on the radio because I was folowing the draft on the Internet and thought it would be cool to find local sports radio stations on the Internet and listen to takes from the local guys who have great inside takes. Many with the Broncos media wanted Marcell Dareus, the DT that Buffalo took. Dareus has turned out to be a very good DT BTW and he has played great but Von was the better player. I felt the others in the Denver and national media were right and that Al Williams was wrong but as it turns out Al was right. I gained a lot of respect for him because the Broncos really badly needed a DT and Marcell Dareus went with the very next pick after Von Miller. Many in the media thought the Broncos would take Dareus and so did I but Al was vehemently arguing for Von the entire time. Williams dug his heels in but the circumstances and stakes were much higher. The 2nd pick in the draft, many arguing for the DT and he got crucified but he didn't care. He nearly cried on the radio. Von Miller has made a tremendous impact and played a key role in the Broncos Super Bowl victory.
Al showed that when you dig your heels in and argue for a guy like Von Miller, it makes sense do to the tremendous impact he could make but Al didn't turn around and try to point out mistakes of Dareus or anything like that to make his case. He argues passionately at the time he needed to take his stance and let the player make his case. He didn't force it.
SOBO may change his mind on Decker Conklin, he hasn't dug his heels in yet but if he takes one side over the other, well. I prefer the way Al Williams allows the player to make his case on the field.
I'm not sure how long it will take for the #22 pick scab to heal over given our past but it's still tender.
