An interesting O-Line analysis by FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS.COM

[Gladsadmad]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol.php

According to this website's formula, Miami improved from 32nd to 11th in run blocking performance and from 19th to 5th in pass blocking performance.

They go on to indicate that Miami's left side of the O-line is among the best in the league (according to their formula).

If Hudson Houck ran for Mayor.... :D

 

[Superself]

Good stuff! Thanks!

 

[MiamiMan147]

However, it is important to understand that these ratings only somewhat separate the offensive line from the running backs. A team with a very good running back will appear higher no matter how bad their line, and a team with a great line with appear lower if the running back is terrible.

With Ricky and Ronnie, we probably have the best pair of RB's in the league. That would skew the results a little bit. Right now, I regard our OLine as average to below average which was a hell of a lot better than last years abomination. You have to give Houck credit for that. I'd still like to see us use our 1st on OL if Cutler's not there.

 

[jlfin]

With Ricky and Ronnie, we probably have the best pair of RB's in the league. That would skew the results a little bit. Right now, I regard our OLine as average to below average which was a hell of a lot better than last years abomination. You have to give Houck credit for that. I'd still like to see us use our 1st on OL if Cutler's not there.

You don't watch a lot of football do you? They are better than most. Frerotte wasn't sacked a whole lot this season and the running game averaged about 4ypc.
Those are not slightly below average figures.

 

[His Dudeness]

good lines make good running backs, not vice versa. yes, ronnie and ricky are good... but look at the way ricky ran in his second season in miami... when nails went down. he was like 4.6 yds per carry.

look at the ground games denver can spew out with that line.... same thing with the chiefs.

 

[t47c]

With Ricky and Ronnie, we probably have the best pair of RB's in the league. That would skew the results a little bit. Right now, I regard our OLine as average to below average which was a hell of a lot better than last years abomination. You have to give Houck credit for that. I'd still like to see us use our 1st on OL if Cutler's not there.

maybe the running backs are better than most. BUT the passing improvement would not be a direct result of the RB's

 

[rafael]

With Ricky and Ronnie, we probably have the best pair of RB's in the league. That would skew the results a little bit. Right now, I regard our OLine as average to below average which was a hell of a lot better than last years abomination. You have to give Houck credit for that. I'd still like to see us use our 1st on OL if Cutler's not there.

Gus was also very good at throwing the ball away, so that will help the stats. Overall I feel we were avg. It just didn't seem like we could impose our will like the elite lines in the league.

 

[phinfan_1]

With Ricky and Ronnie, we probably have the best pair of RB's in the league. That would skew the results a little bit. Right now, I regard our OLine as average to below average which was a hell of a lot better than last years abomination. You have to give Houck credit for that. I'd still like to see us use our 1st on OL if Cutler's not there.

I agree...and I'd like to add that our running game was better this year because our offense was more of a down the field offense, that opened up the running lanes more. As in years past it was more of run,run,offense.

 

[CanadaPhinsFan]

maybe the running backs are better than most. BUT the passing improvement would not be a direct result of the RB's

Actually, it could. A good running game is one way to slow down a pass rush.

The line is improving, but not yet where it needs to be. One thing the formula probably doesn't consider is penalties. How many o-lines do you think had more pre-snap penalties? It couldn't have been many. That is not a sign of an elite line.

 

[Noodle Arm]

wow left side huh? for some reason I thought our right side was more dominant, guess I was wrong.

 

[BlueFin]

With Ricky and Ronnie, we probably have the best pair of RB's in the league. That would skew the results a little bit. Right now, I regard our OLine as average to below average which was a hell of a lot better than last years abomination. You have to give Houck credit for that. I'd still like to see us use our 1st on OL if Cutler's not there.

I'd say your appraisal would be sorely lacking, no sane person would now say our line is below average....not even close.

 

[dont fumble]

No team has more runs over the left side than Seattle (36%), that's not surprising. What surprises me is that they are only ranked 16 (left end) and 24 (left tackle). They get there average over the middle and on the ride side. It seems that every opponent is concentrating on Jones/Hutchinson.

And for Miami. Are we successful on the left side because we prefer the right side (25% to 19% left side) or should we have called more runs over the left side?

 

[Shamboubou]

I wouldn't call our line an elite group in the leage by any means. But I also would not burn a 1st round pick on OL. We need help at other positions a lot more than O-Line. Not to mention this was the first year of this line being together, they will even improve off of this season. I think instead of bring in more young players we need to let the ones we have develop.

 

[PhinsPhan]

I wrote in this post just the other day defending our oline. There are so many fans on here that feel our oline is weak. I have not seen that many sacks and have seen decent push on runs. I wouldn't say they are the best but they are certainly in the above-average to good range. Also I always felt Gus was a reason they looked worse. Whenever the blitz came he would stand like a deer in headlights. He also likes to roll into the pressure and get sacked for some strange reason. If anything Gus could be a reason for lowering our ranking in that comparison.

 

[PhinsTD]

Honestly, I think it was a combination of improved OL play and good scheme design with our OL. Houck was a big part of the improved OL play part of things for sure.

We consistently left McMike and a RB in to help block while having sometimes only two to three men in the pass pattern.

I would our OL definitely improved, but football is a game where the lines dominate and I wouldn't be upset if they decided to go OL in the first round on the right talent.