Offensive Line Rankings

Jiggyfly

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Offensive Line Rankings
Khaled Elsayed | October 8, 2014

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/10/08/offensive-line-rankings-2/4/



8. Seattle Seahawks (27th)
PB: 12th, RB: 11th, PEN: 16th

Stud: There were collect gasps when Max Unger left the MNF victory over the Redskins with a foot injury, but his return prompted sighs of relief. He’s the glue holding this unit together, and with them all healthy he’s back to his best.

Dud: On a strong offensive line there’s always one guy a little behind the others. That man? J.R. Sweezy. He’s not in the liability category but still has breakdowns in pass protection you’d rather avoid.

Summary: Two things have really changed for the Seahawks this year. They’re a lot healthier and the addition of Justin Britt. Britt has fit in seamlessly and the consistency of selection has been a benefit to all.

7. Green Bay Packers (10th)
PB: 7th, RB: 14th, PEN: 4th

Stud: He may have given up his first quarterback hit against the Vikings since a sack allowed in Week 3 of 2013, but Josh Sitton is that rarest of linemen. Noticeable for all right reasons when run blocking and so rarely is his named called in pass protection so good is the job he is doing.

Dud: 124 snaps for Derek Sherrod have been about 124 more than Pack fans will be happy seeing. His opening-day struggles were the low point, but his other two games have hardly inspired confidence. Back to a reserve role as the Packers ponder what might have been but for injury.

Summary: Would be higher if not forced into starting a right tackle not prepared for the intensity of life at the NFL level. As it all the starters bar the left tackle have positives overall, and even he has a significant positive in pass protection. Strong unit.

6. Dallas Cowboys (4th)
PB: 9th, RB: 10th, PEN: 12th

Stud: One of the better left tackles in the game, Tyron Smith is the main man on a talented line featuring three former first-round picks. Five games into the season he’s allowed just seven quarterback disruptions and had two perfect games in pass pro.

Dud: He’s not been a dud, but Ronald Leary is the weakest link in a strong group and even in saying that it owes a lot to a horrible Week 1 performance. Since then he’s found his feet, and it’s the collective strength of this unit that you feel comfortable with all the starters.

Summary: Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? The Cowboys have invested big time in their offensive line in recent years, particularly through the draft, and it’s definitely paid off the production they get out of the unit. Given the age of the key players and the return to form of Doug Free, it’s hard not to see them getting better.

5. Chicago Bears (19th)
PB: 11th, RB: 6th, PEN: 13th

Stud: He was signed as depth but injury forced Brian De La Puente into the starting lineup and he hasn’t looked back. Currently No. 2 in our center rankings, he’s proved an invaluable get.

Dud: It’s Jordan Mills but he’s playing at a level where if he’s the worst player on your line, odds are you’re in good shape. Still surrenders too much pressure but there’s been progress this year.

Summary: The interior has been excellent (weirdly looking better when Michael Ola was in the lineup) and Jermon Bushrod has been steady. If you told the Bears’ braintrust they’d turn their line around this quickly they’d have taken it. Quite the transformation from the 2012 dark days.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (15th)
PB:4th , RB: 9th, PEN: 30th

Stud: After a slow start Marcus Gilbert has really started to justify that new contract. He’s playing as well as any right tackle in the league these past three weeks, with just three hurries allowed and some impressive run blocking.

Dud: Filling in for Ramon Foster proved hard work for Cody Wallace who had his issues. Still when your backup guard fills in and is below average, you can handle that.

Summary: It’s taken a while for this group to come together, but they’ve really started to this year. Devoid of significant injuries, David DeCastro and Maurkice Pouncey are playing as well as ever, while Kelvin Beachum has developed into a more than serviceable talent.

3. New York Giants (28th)
PB: 2nd, RB: 4th, PEN: 3rd

Stud: There was a feeling that Will Beatty may have phoned it in after getting his big pay deal. Yeah well that feeling has been vanquished with him our top-ranked left tackle this year. A combination of efficiency in pass protection and ultra activity in the run game.

Dud: There isn’t one. The only person you look at feeling sorry for is Geoff Schwartz who may struggle to get into the team given how it’s performed.

Summary: They looked something of a mess in preseason, but was this just the Giants rope-a-doping us? They’ve been superb and are getting better week on week. The tackles are the strength, but the team must be extremely pleased with the development of Weston Richburg these past three games.

2. Baltimore Ravens (23rd)
PB: 6th, RB: 1st, PEN: 2nd

Stud: You could pick either guard who look like they’re loving life under Gary Kubiak, but for the purposes of this we’re going with Marshal Yanda. Not as sturdy in pass pro as Kelechi Osemele, but boy does he make run blocking look good.

Dud: The team wouldn’t have expected to put James Hurst into start and he’s been the weak link when he’s set on the field. That’s to be expected.

Summary: Quite the turnaround. They underperformed last year but have hit the ground running in 2014, making life easy for their running backs. The interior is as good as any right now, with the trade for Jeremy Zuttah proving especially shrewd business.

1. Cleveland Browns (12th)
PB: 1st, RB: 3rd, PEN: 4th

Stud: How about going for a rookie? Joel Bitonio has been everything advertised and a little bit more. It’s not just that he doesn’t look lost on the field, he’s added some punch to the team’s running game. A great start to life in the NFL.

Dud: All of the starters are grading in the green. There is no dud. Not yet.

Summary: It’s rare the stars align like this. You’ve got five players who have played every snap and look like a line in sync. They’re opening up holes for their backs and giving their quarterback time to make plays. A real testament that the guys you associate with making up the numbers are playing just as well as the guys on the big money.
 

Cowboysrock55

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When I see the Giants ranked that highly in run blocking I know the rankings are just plain retarded.
 
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