I have to file this one under "We've come a long way, baby." I remember when we had to run trolls outta here for chiding us how much our O-line sucked and how we ruined HWWNBN's career by not protecting him better.
LINK
I only quoted/posted the top five but all 32 teams are ranked in the article. I found it interesting that the Colts' line is listed at #26.
LINK
I only quoted/posted the top five but all 32 teams are ranked in the article. I found it interesting that the Colts' line is listed at #26.
Offensive line play heavily influences fantasy production. A dominant run-blocking line can turn an undrafted free agent into a 1,600-yard rusher, or help resurrect a declining back's career. A unit that can't pass protect may get its quarterback hurt and ruin a team's season.
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Taking stats, scheme, experience, and depth into consideration, I've ranked the NFL's offensive lines in order from 1-32. Keep in mind that in-season injuries are an unpredictable but often difference-making variable. Experienced and/or promising depth behind a first-team front five can be crucial.
* = new starter. + = switching position. Number of returning starters is in parentheses.
1. Houston Texans (5)
LT: Duane Brown
LG: Wade Smith
C: Chris Myers
RG: Mike Brisiel
RT: Eric Winston
Houston returns all five starters from a line that paved the way for NFL rushing leader Arian Foster and allowed just two sacks a game. Gary Kubiak is keeping competition alive by listing undrafted rookie Darius Morris at first-team right guard, a position that should be won back by Brisiel before the season. This unit has zero Pro Bowls to its credit, but executes zone blocking to perfection and holds its own in protection. Top reserves are athletic swing tackle Rashad Butler (four starts last season), G/C Antoine Caldwell (10 career starts), and G Kasey Studdard (14 starts in 2009).
Biggest beneficiary: Arian Foster. Zone blocks are his best friend.
2. New England Patriots (5)
LT: Matt Light
LG: Logan Mankins
C: Dan Koppen
RG: Dan Connolly
RT: Sebastian Vollmer
Elite starters and elite depth. The Pats are so talent-laden in the front five that No. 17 pick Nate Solder will ride the bench as a rookie. Mankins is the best guard in the game, and Vollmer may possess more impressive athleticism than any right tackle in the NFL. Koppen is a stalwart, having missed one start since the 2005 season. Among backups, swing tackle Mark LeVoir, C Ryan Wendell, and G/C Chris Morris have started before. Fifth-round pick Marcus Cannon, a first-round talent, could be a real difference maker if he cracks the lineup after beating lymphoma.
Biggest beneficiary: Tom Brady. Pats are loaded with pass blockers.
3. Carolina Panthers (4)
LT: Jordan Gross
LG: Travelle Wharton
C: Ryan Kalil
RG: Mackenzy Bernadeau
RT: *Jeff Otah
Don't laugh. The Panthers went 2-14 last season, but they'll be much better this year and line play has a lot to do with it. Gross and Kalil return from Pro Bowl berths, and Wharton is an elite left guard in protection when healthy. A mammoth run blocker, Otah is the big addition after a season lost to injury. Bernadeau, the question mark, was shuttled between guard spots last year and briefly lost his job, but the Panthers could switch to mauling, 25-year-old "backup" Geoff Schwartz (19 career starts) and probably upgrade the position. G/T Garry Williams (11 starts) is another experienced reserve. Seventh-round value Lee Ziemba fits Carolina's nasty mentality up front.
Biggest beneficiary: DeAngelo Williams. Think along the lines of 2009.
4. New York Jets (4)
LT: D'Brickashaw Ferguson
LG: Matt Slauson
C: Nick Mangold
RG: [URL="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/NFL/475/Brandon-Moore"]Brandon Moore[/URL]
RT: *Wayne Hunter
The Jets have fielded the best line in football over the past two seasons. The reason they're not in the top spot this year is the retirement of Damien Woody and downgrade to Hunter, who's been in the league eight years but made just four career starts. Hunter was the line's weak link down the stretch last season, so the Jets may have to turn to enigmatic former second-round pick Vladimir Ducasse sooner than they'd prefer. Right tackle is a critical position for such a run-heavy team. The rest of the front five is elite, but New York's depth is near-nonexistent. Behind the first string, only Undertaker-lookalike Robert Turner has ever started a game. And Turner's done it just twice.
Biggest beneficiary: Santonio Holmes. More emphasis on pass game.
5. Green Bay Packers (4)
LT: Chad Clifton
LG: *Derek Sherrod
C: Scott Wells
RG: Josh Sitton
RT: Bryan Bulaga
The lone starter lost is Daryn Colledge, who was overpaid by Arizona. Green Bay has penciled in first-round pick Sherrod as Colledge's replacement, though the college left tackle is experiencing growing pains early in camp. Still, this is one of the NFL's most talented lines on the right side with Sitton as an All-Pro caliber strong-side guard and Bulaga likely to make strides in his second year. The top subs include potential left tackle of the future Marshall Newhouse and versatile T.J. Lang.
Biggest beneficiary: Jermichael Finley. He'll do very little blocking.