You didnt watch Gallery play last year?
Im going to come to RGs defense big time here.
Gallery showed that he can make that transition and fit in quite well with that zone/read scheme we run. Theres no shame in not panning out as a tackle because DEs are so quick in todays game due to many teams going to hybrid types so they can run both 3-4 and 4-3 alignments. Thats why OTs are a premium in todays game.
But so what?
Gallery is playing Guard now and he played very well so for you to say that makes me wonder if you watched him play last year. I dont mean to come down on you but that is polpulist thinking albeit inaccurate given the way he played last year. We got a starter at that draft slot and thats OK with me. People throw the term "Bust" around a lot when talking about Gallery but guys with starting jobs in their sixth pro season are not busts. Gallerys lateral quickness allows him to play guard the way he played tackle in college. Hes quicker than most DTs and NTs. You dont run well inside without the guards getting the job done and we ran exceptionally well between the A gaps last year.
Youre also forgetting to factor in that he had 4 different schemes in the first 5 seasons he played. When he was drafted, we executed a hybrid zone/man blocking scheme and the next year went to a pure zone scheme with Bob Colletto. Then, when Art Shell was hired, we went to a pure man blocking scheme and that doesnt suit Gallerys skills at all.
I dont mean to hijack a thread here but for all of you that constantly rip on Gallery, youre failing to see the strides hes made in Tom Cables zone/read scheme.
Im saying this to point out the positives weve seen since Kiffin came on board.
Robert Gallerys play was a huge part of our success running the ball last year.
Marshall Faulk, on the NFL network stated a few weeks back that he thought Gallery would become a Pro Bowl Guard.
Given the condition of the team when he was drafted, and the problems weve had, Im willing to let the man prove me wrong.
His play was excellent last year and I expect him to get better. Its only a matter of time before the populist thinking catches up with that fact.