NFL Analyst Projects O'Neill as opening day starter

I've got a better chance of starting than O'Neill...

Well this certainly lowers the bar for what it takes to be an NFL analyst.  99% of the reviews have said hes a project and this guys predicting a starter. ..ok

But will he be ready?? I'm not going to worry one way or another.  With luck the coaches can decide and hopefully not necessity. 

When he's ready he'll be ready.

We'll see how much weight he can put on between now and camp. I'd say its an uphill battle but not impossible. 

@"Geoff Nichols" said: We'll see how much weight he can put on between now and camp. I'd say its an uphill battle but not impossible. 

He needs strength and some more muscle density. Probably should be at 315 lbs., not sure he can get there in one year. 

@"JimmyinSD" said: Well this certainly lowers the bar for what it takes to be an NFL analyst.  99% of the reviews have said hes a project and this guys predicting a starter. ..ok

Yeah, he's an NFL analyst. He's looking at a depth chart and a 2nd round pick and putting two and two together. If he were a draft analyst, or anyone who sat down and bothered to watch the Senior Bowl, he would have a different take. 

@"Geoff Nichols" said: We'll see how much weight he can put on between now and camp. I'd say its an uphill battle but not impossible. 

Maybe he can put on 10 more lbs before camp, but I'd say he needs more than just anchor weight. He needs pretty serious coaching before NFL pass rushers jack him up and push him into the QB. He gives up his chest too easily, and when he's upright, it's over.

The most alarming thing about O'Neill is that he comes from an offense at Pitt of bootlegs and rolling pockets, where he can look pretty good. No doubt, on the hoof he's fantastic. If all we do is have him pull and get in front of screens or outside runs, he'll be rookie of the year.

But sadly in the NFL he'll be asked to protect the QB in a stationary pocket. The Senior Bowl was the first time we saw him in an offense like that and it showed just how far away he is. 

@"StickyBun" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said: We'll see how much weight he can put on between now and camp. I'd say its an uphill battle but not impossible. 

He needs strength and some more muscle density. Probably should be at 315 lbs., not sure he can get there in one year. 

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said: We'll see how much weight he can put on between now and camp. I'd say its an uphill battle but not impossible. 

He needs strength and some more muscle density. Probably should be at 315 lbs., not sure he can get there in one year. 

He was able to gain about 35lbs of good weight in 6 weeks when he was transitioning from TE to OT at Pitt. So I wouldn't call it a reach to think he can gain an additional 25 in the 8-10 weeks he's before training camp in an NFL strength & conditioning program. 

Two words:

Costco

Cheesecake

I really thought they would get over Pittsburgh lineman after the TJ Clemmings Project. But I digress...

Start where? Certainly not for Reiff at LT yet, and he's at least 20 pounds too lean for RT even before considering the coaching up they have to do. Maybe 2019 for RT or 2020 at LT when Reiff can be released for "only" $4.4 million dead cap.   

I'm curious how much of what he needs is strength and how much is technique.  I wouldn't be surprised if with improved technique he doesn't have to gain as much muscle mass as people are thinking to get the starting spot.  I still think he's more of a year 2 guy.

He has a better shot of starting at TE lol

@"medaille" said: I'm curious how much of what he needs is strength and how much is technique.  I wouldn't be surprised if with improved technique he doesn't have to gain as much muscle mass as people are thinking to get the starting spot.  I still think he's more of a year 2 guy.

He's going to need a little more lead in his ass to start at RT in the pros and I doubt he has the chops yet to be a starting LT.  I haven't watched any tape on him but there must be something rrally special on there to get him picked that early.

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"medaille" said: I'm curious how much of what he needs is strength and how much is technique.  I wouldn't be surprised if with improved technique he doesn't have to gain as much muscle mass as people are thinking to get the starting spot.  I still think he's more of a year 2 guy.

He's going to need a little more lead in his ass to start at RT in the pros and I doubt he has the chops yet to be a starting LT.  I haven't watched any tape on him but there must be something rrally special on there to get him picked that early.

@"minny65" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"medaille" said: I'm curious how much of what he needs is strength and how much is technique.  I wouldn't be surprised if with improved technique he doesn't have to gain as much muscle mass as people are thinking to get the starting spot.  I still think he's more of a year 2 guy.

He's going to need a little more lead in his ass to start at RT in the pros and I doubt he has the chops yet to be a starting LT.  I haven't watched any tape on him but there must be something rrally special on there to get him picked that early.

From what little tape I have watched his special skill is that he moves like a nimble TE.  So he can slide, get downfield on screens, with the best of them which is great for our ZBS/screen game.  But let's hope he is a Tackle and not a TE?  

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"minny65" said:

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"medaille" said: I'm curious how much of what he needs is strength and how much is technique.  I wouldn't be surprised if with improved technique he doesn't have to gain as much muscle mass as people are thinking to get the starting spot.  I still think he's more of a year 2 guy.

He's going to need a little more lead in his ass to start at RT in the pros and I doubt he has the chops yet to be a starting LT.  I haven't watched any tape on him but there must be something rrally special on there to get him picked that early.

From what little tape I have watched his special skill is that he moves like a nimble TE.  So he can slide, get downfield on screens, with the best of them which is great for our ZBS/screen game.  But let's hope he is a Tackle and not a TE?  

thats what I have been wondering,  did he get moved to OT because he was getting to big to play TE?  or maybe he is the jumbo TE that Flipper has been wanting since he was a little boy back in philly dreaming of becoming a professional OC someday?  :p

Article from 2 years ago when O'Neill was RT:

http://www.espn.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/96204/pitt-ot-brian-oneill-winning-over-internet-and-more-importantly-his-linemates

Quote from article:

What's gone overlooked is just how steady O'Neill has been during those other 70 plays. Pro Football Focus says O'Neill is second nationally in pass-blocking efficiency (96.6), allowing just one sack on 208 dropbacks. The Panthers are tied for second nationally, having allowed just five sacks this season.