Our Offensive Line is Awful, Just Awful

WayToGoBucs! · 2013-12-18T17:59:14Z

of you won’t recognize the names of offensive linemen or offensive line coaches, which is why I want to discuss some of them in this week’s article.Offensive linemen get almost all of the blame for sacks and low rushing yardage, and almost no credit for well-protected, prolific passing attacks and strong rushing games. It has always been like that and will always be like that. Aside from offensive and defensive coordinators, offensive line coaches are usually on the short list of most important coaches on a staff as they are usually key components in running game coordination and installing different protections.I’ve been lucky enough to watch an offensive line coach prepare for the chess match that goes on during NFL games. The amount of contingencies that they have to prepare for and teach to their linemen is overwhelming. If you don’t have a line coach who is good at preparing running games and pass protection against various blitz packages, you won’t have much of a chance. And even if he is good at that element, if he can’t properly impart that information to his players or teach technique, the rest of it usually won’t matter much either.There were very few offensive line units whom I thought would struggle more than the San Diego Chargers this season, but that simply hasn’t been the case. Line coach Joe D’Alessandris has been able to get substantially more from left tackle King Dunlap than anyone thought possible, and left guard Chad Rinehart is turning into a very solid run blocker. Rookie right tackle D.J. Fluker has added more power to that offensive line and D’Alessandris has the unit improved in the running game and pass protection.Editor's Note: Rotoworld's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-week $300,000 Fantasy Football league for Week 16. It's $25 to join and first prize is $25,000. Starts Sunday at 1pm ET. Here's the FanDuel link.Offensive Line Shout-outs* Rookie left tackle David Bakhtiari was one of my favorite draft values when the Green Bay Packers grabbed him in the fourth round. I had a second-round grade on Bakhtiari and loved his long arms, good feet and ability to pass protect. According to STATS ICE, the rookie left tackle has given up just 5.5 sacks and 15 total pressures (hurries and QB knockdowns) with two games to play. Last season, Marshall Newhouse gave up 10 sacks and 32 pressures at that same position for the Packers. Bakhtiari has been more consistent in pass protection than Eric Fisher, Lane Johnson and D.J. Fluker, who were all drafted ahead of him.* The Detroit Lions had just 9 explosive rushes (15 yards or more) last year and 18 this year. Reggie Bush has helped a great deal on that front, but the Lions' offensive line has held its own on the ground and might be an even better pass protection unit than last year’s veteran unit. Rookie right guard Larry Warford is a mauler and will be a Pro Bowler as soon as next year.* Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles running game has taken off as expected, however, what has impressed me the most is that the results aren’t based just on tempo, but rather on scheme and play-calling. Most teams run their zone plays (outside and inside) from behind the quarterback, and the running back’s first step indicates whether it is an outside or inside zone play. Kelly runs his zone plays out of the shotgun with an offset back, which allows the running back to have the same first two steps whether it is inside or outside zone. By disguising this footwork, Kelly is able to use his inside zone calls as a counter when teams start flowing too hard to the outside to stop LeSean McCoy. It looks like the play will flow outside and then BAM - McCoy cuts inside where the Eagles are setting up the inside zone play.* Sometimes we are ready to count veterans out and then they surprise us with strong seasons to prove they still have something left in the tank. Pro personnel people told me that Jake Long “has fallen off badly” before the season started, but what I’ve seen in-season is a guy who is still a solid pass blocker and an outstanding run blocker who helped get the St. Louis Rams' running game going. Willie Colon has fought through injuries for a few years now but has turned in a strong effort at right guard for the New York Jets. Manuel Ramirez and Nick Hardwick may be getting older, but the Broncos and Chargers sure are happy to have them opening holes for a couple of running games that really struggled last season.* It is the offensive line coaches' job to prepare for various blitz packages, teach proper technique, help coordinate running games and get the most out of players who are often less physically gifted than the players across from them on the defensive side. In his first year as offensive line coach, Jeremiah Washburn of the Detroit Lions has done a great job of growing as a coach and getting the most out of all of his new starters. I remember watching him work with o-linemen at the Senior Bowl and there were some salty, older line coaches taki...

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Cabin Boy Guest

based on performance vs. salary cap hit, I consistently believe that our offensive line is offensive. How do you feel about their execution?

We know how former coach McKay would have answered this.... (RIP)

Posted : Dec. 19, 2013 11:53 am

Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest I think a lot of attention needs to be paid to the offensive line in this upcoming draft. I remember in 2010 when the 49ers took Anthony Davis at #11, then Mike Iupati at #17. That offensive line has been dominant ever since. Posted : Dec. 19, 2013 12:12 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest I'm in favor of it :-) based on performance vs. salary cap hit, I consistently believe that our offensive line is offensive. How do you feel about their execution? Posted : Dec. 19, 2013 2:48 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest agree with you guys, we need to rebuild this Oline but if you want to draft OL, first you have to find a new GM... Dominik dosn't draft OL!would like to see Joseph & Penn cut or trade for some picks in 2015 not sure for Nicks, Zuttah & Carimi yet...would like to keep Dotson, sign Jared Veldheer if Dotson stay on the right side or Rodger Saffold if Dotson move on the left side (maybe both?), draft two OG & one OC... if Nicks isn't healthy, cut him & sign Jon Asamoah...some prospect i like:2nd/3rd roundOG Cyril Richardson, David Yankey*, Zack Martin, La'el Collins*, Xavier Su'a-Filo* & Gabe JacksonOC Travis Swanson4th/5th roundOG Tre Jackson*, Jon Halapio, Andrew Norwell & Spencer LongOC Tyler Larsen & Weston Richburg Posted : Dec. 19, 2013 3:39 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest I think a franchise center to anchor this offensive line and develop a rapport with the quarterback is essential Posted : Dec. 19, 2013 3:58 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest To me, Zuttah is that guy. I really can't say enough about his efforts this year. He is good in both phases, but spends most of his time cleaning up the OG s messes. I am very confident that there is no need to make any moves except for the guard positions. We could sign one free agent and draft one, but my heavy preference is to draft two. Posted : Dec. 19, 2013 6:09 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest To me, Zuttah is that guy. I really can't say enough about his efforts this year. He is good in both phases, but spends most of his time cleaning up the OG s messes. I am very confident that there is no need to make any moves except for the guard positions. We could sign one free agent and draft one, but my heavy preference is to draft two. Draft two and Meredith is a decent stop gap. Nicks and Joseph don't seem to have a future with this team.... Posted : Dec. 19, 2013 10:03 pm Anonymous (@Anonymous) Posts: 0 Cabin Boy Guest so lets say Jake Matthews falls into our laps, with Clowney and Barr off the board.... pull the trigger? Posted : Dec. 20, 2013 10:22 am

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Our Offensive Line is Awful, Just Awful

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