Offensive Line, give them some pass protection love

[Kaiser Toro]

As it stands right now with one more game played than 30 other teams the offensive line has given up 21 sacks for the year (1.5 per game). This puts us at 8th best in the league.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...D&d-447263-n=1

The first three games they started Salaam, Pitts, McKinney, Weary and Winston. McKinney went out in game 3. From games four through twleve they started Salaam, Pitts, Flanagan, Weary and Winston. Games thirteen and fourteen saw Brisiel take over for Weary and White to some degree.

We have been a much maligned organization and the brunt of the criticism has most often fallen upon the O Line over the years. We need to build it up in the draft and on the FA market, but the results to date for this season have been a great story for this organization.

[joedinkle]

They have done much better than they have in the past, but I refuse to give them props until I see our QB hits and QB hurried stats. Just like stats don't tell the whole story for a DE or a DT, they don't tell the whole story for a O-line. Freeny is always harrassing the QB even if he's not getting the numbers. Mario is getting to wear if he doesn't get a sack, he's hurring the QB and poppin' him just after the ball is thrown. Our O-line needs to prevent this. When Matt went out in the 1st game against the Tacks, Haynesworth pancaked him AFTER he threw the ball...

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Kaiser Toro

As it stands right now with one more game played than 30 other teams the offensive line has given up 21 sacks for the year (1.5 per game). This puts us at 8th best in the league.

Very impressive stats given the teams history.

Originally Posted by Kaiser Toro

We have been a much maligned organization and the brunt of the criticism has most often fallen upon the O Line over the years. We need to build it up in the draft and on the FA market, but the results to date for this season have been a great story for this organization.

I dunno, what do we attribute the past to and who gets credit for the progress ?
Carrs departure coupled with the arrival of 2 pretty savy QBs is maybe the
bigget single factor ?
But also maybe Kubiaks assistants who work the OLine are a better group than what the previous regime had ?

[Kaiser Toro]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Very impressive stats given the teams history.

I dunno, what do we attribute the past to and who gets credit for the progress ?
Carrs departure coupled with the arrival of 2 pretty savy QBs is maybe the
bigget single factor ?
But also maybe Kubiaks assistants who work the OLine are a better group than what the previous regime had ?

We have two QB's who can execute a tried and true playbook that often can throw in plug and play players at skill positions. If you have an overpaid skill player that has no feel for the playbook or the speed of the game then in my opinion you have chaos. Carr = Chaos.

[Scooter]

they've really played above their talent level all season, and with the injuries across the board they've done a great job. the right side especially has looked real strong with winston looking to be a stud, who i for one had many doubts about.

i'm not going to say they're good though. salaam has been eaten up in almost every game, and the stats directly reflect the quarterbacks more than the line itsself. schaub and sage both have very quick releases and outside of a few play-actions are throwing with defenders a LOT closer than they should be. left tackle and center are major areas of concern going into the offseason, but i'll concede that our current group is giving 110% and it's showing.

[Fox]

Gotta give them props, they're giving up far fewer sacks and played great against the Broncos.

[Scooter]

my favorite part of that stat is the team aspect of it ...

21 sacks on our quarterback
28 sacks for our defense

this is the first time we've been positive in the sack department, and if i'm right, the first time we've even been remotely close. kubiak and smith IMO deserve a ton of credit for what they're doing getting the most of out capers' failures and bringing in players who are making a ton of noise.

[Kaiser Toro]

Originally Posted by joedinkle

They have done much better than they have in the past, but I refuse to give them props until I see our QB hits and QB hurried stats. Just like stats don't tell the whole story for a DE or a DT, they don't tell the whole story for a O-line. Freeny is always harrassing the QB even if he's not getting the numbers. Mario is getting to wear if he doesn't get a sack, he's hurring the QB and poppin' him just after the ball is thrown. Our O-line needs to prevent this. When Matt went out in the 1st game against the Tacks, Haynesworth pancaked him AFTER he threw the ball...

It largely depends on how you measure it and sacks have usually been the yardstick for our woes which is why I am leading with that metric. My own measurement of an offense looks at three things from a statistical standpoint - 3rd down conversion percentage, RZ efficiency and Turnovers. Move the chains, put the ball in the end zone and protect the football. We have moved the chains this year, but have given the ball way up to many times - 17 lost fumbles and thrown 17 interceptions.

[Maddict5]

i think the scheme and qb's def contribute to their success but yeah well done to the o-line... there was many times versus the broncos that they gave sage loads of time


its not 'fixed' though and the run game has been pretty so-so all yr

[The Pencil Neck]

The end of last year and most of the preseason, I was saying that we really couldn't say how good or bad our o-line is just because the numbers were skewed because of Carr's play.

I still think that our line is a little substandard but now with better QB's and good coaching/gameplanning/play calling, it doesn't look like as big of a weakness as it did going into this season. But I think we all know that we need to improve the quality and depth of our line.

OTOH, I don't know how good Rashad Butler is. Will Spencer be able to return and will he be in good enough shape to be able to challenge for a position let alone LT? It will be interesting to see what Smithiak does in the offseason on the line.

[Fox]

Smithiak.... I like it. I think we have to address LT this off-season in one shape or another. Salaam is not the answer and Spencer is a big fat question mark as to how he will return from a major injury and almost two years away from the game. I think Winston has the RT spot locked down, and we have some players at guard with Weary (if we resign him), and Pitts. Center is another position we need to upgrade, IMO. McKinney was playing well to start the season, but neither he nor Flanagan seem to be an ideal solution at what is a very important position on the line.

Good coaching and quarterbacking have made a huge impact on our OL's performance, but with some good young talent it could help our offense step up to the next level.

[Maddict5]

is it me or has flanagan played decent lately?? i dont remember him getting noticeably pushed back into the backfield like he was earlier in the yr

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Kaiser Toro

As it stands right now with one more game played than 30 other teams the offensive line has given up 21 sacks for the year (1.5 per game). This puts us at 8th best in the league.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...D&d-447263-n=1

The first three games they started Salaam, Pitts, McKinney, Weary and Winston. McKinney went out in game 3. From games four through twleve they started Salaam, Pitts, Flanagan, Weary and Winston. Games thirteen and fourteen saw Brisiel take over for Weary and White to some degree.

We have been a much maligned organization and the brunt of the criticism has most often fallen upon the O Line over the years. We need to build it up in the draft and on the FA market, but the results to date for this season have been a great story for this organization.

Nice thread. We do need to recognize the positive steps we've taken from time to time.

Originally Posted by Scooter

my favorite part of that stat is the team aspect of it ...

21 sacks on our quarterback
28 sacks for our defense

this is the first time we've been positive in the sack department, and if i'm right, the first time we've even been remotely close. kubiak and smith IMO deserve a ton of credit for what they're doing getting the most of out capers' failures and bringing in players who are making a ton of noise.

I agree with both of your posts, but this one was really nice to read.