Can someone please explain how one measures an O-line?

[mandal24]

This drives me nuts...

We spend $155+ million to get a solid, top 10 O-line.. One that is going to maul defenses, one that would be able to pass protect with the highest paid book-end tackles in the game. We traded for one of the best run-blocking centers in the game... etc, etc. you get the idea... and yet we cant pass block for sh*t, our run blocking is below average, no holes for our running backs to run through.. and its not like we're playing the Vikings or Giants dline, its the Atlanta Falcons dline?! What gives?!

And then to make matters worse, watching the two Monday night games, I saw two teams in the Bills and the Raiders who supposedly had TERRIBLE Olines play really well. The Raiders were able to push the Chargers Dline back all night as well as control Merriman and that supposedly fierce pass rush.
The Bills were able to handle Wilfork and their Dline all night, making it look like the Pats made a big mistake trading Seymour away.

I dont get it?! We have the better individual players than both the Raiders and Bills and yet we looked terrible while the Raiders and Bills looked so much better, playing against arguably the better Dlines. GRRRRRRR!!!!

Im so scared Jake Long didn't get his confidence shook. He's got Dwight Freeney Monday night. It could be a nightmare!

 

[nick1]

the Chargers have zero pass rush outside of Merriman thats why they were so desperate to get him back.... as for our own o-line i think the run blocking did very well we averaged 5 ypc just didnt run often enough. outside of the fumbles the offense moved the ball. We will improve against indy and pull off the upset i think

 

[fishypete]

With a large ruler?

 

[tcdrover]

This drives me nuts...

We spend $155+ million to get a solid, top 10 O-line.. One that is going to maul defenses, one that would be able to pass protect with the highest paid book-end tackles in the game. We traded for one of the best run-blocking centers in the game... etc, etc. you get the idea... and yet we cant pass block for sh*t, our run blocking is below average, no holes for our running backs to run through.. and its not like we're playing the Vikings or Giants dline, its the Atlanta Falcons dline?! What gives?!

And then to make matters worse, watching the two Monday night games, I saw two teams in the Bills and the Raiders who supposedly had TERRIBLE Olines play really well. The Raiders were able to push the Chargers Dline back all night as well as control Merriman and that supposedly fierce pass rush.
The Bills were able to handle Wilfork and their Dline all night, making it look like the Pats made a big mistake trading Seymour away.

I dont get it?! We have the better individual players than both the Raiders and Bills and yet we looked terrible while the Raiders and Bills looked so much better, playing against arguably the better Dlines. GRRRRRRR!!!!

Im so scared Jake Long didn't get his confidence shook. He's got Dwight Freeney Monday night. It could be a nightmare!

The raiders have had a good running game for years now.

The line was built with the AFC East teams in mind not an NFC South team that we only play every 6 years. Abraham showed Long where he needs to improve, let's wait and see how they do against their division rivals before running to cash in that life insurance check...

 

[Ikema]

It was very plain to me watching Houston, NC, and the Skin's (Pat's & Chargers Mon.) some teams were more prepared to start playing then others. In a 17 week reg. season it is more important to gain momentum between late Oct. - early Nov. and finish strong then to jump out of the gates in Sept.

That said, the frustration is overwhelming when the reasons for Sundays defeat are analyzed. Seeing a huge guy get knocked back onto his butt always looks worse then it is. He simply got hit while his heals were down.

As for your original question I will go for the dual combo of a "scale" and a "ruler"

 

[mandal24]

The Raiders are probably the most one-dimensional team in the league. Everyone and their mother knew they were going to run, run and run some more and yet there was absolutely nothing the Chargers could do to stop it! And i dont buy that lines are built a certain way to play certain teams.. trades and drafts change Dlines looks so that point is null.. All in all, from watching last year and this years preseason and game 1, our oline is not very good. until that is fixed, we wont win games

 

[ArmyFin7]

IMO everyone is in the wrong place....Carey would be a dominating LG, Long is a stud RT playing LT....we don't have a real stud LT even though folks don't agree with me.

Watch Longs first step, it is so hugely rediculous, but necisarry to keep him from gettin killed by speed around the edge. Problem is with a yr of film on the guy pass rushers know how to beat him and it will be an issue all year.

 

[FinHopeful]

This drives me nuts...

We spend $155+ million to get a solid, top 10 O-line.. One that is going to maul defenses, one that would be able to pass protect with the highest paid book-end tackles in the game. We traded for one of the best run-blocking centers in the game... etc, etc. you get the idea... and yet we cant pass block for sh*t, our run blocking is below average, no holes for our running backs to run through.. and its not like we're playing the Vikings or Giants dline, its the Atlanta Falcons dline?! What gives?!

And then to make matters worse, watching the two Monday night games, I saw two teams in the Bills and the Raiders who supposedly had TERRIBLE Olines play really well. The Raiders were able to push the Chargers Dline back all night as well as control Merriman and that supposedly fierce pass rush.
The Bills were able to handle Wilfork and their Dline all night, making it look like the Pats made a big mistake trading Seymour away.

I dont get it?! We have the better individual players than both the Raiders and Bills and yet we looked terrible while the Raiders and Bills looked so much better, playing against arguably the better Dlines. GRRRRRRR!!!!

Im so scared Jake Long didn't get his confidence shook. He's got Dwight Freeney Monday night. It could be a nightmare!

My favorite ways to evaluate an offensive line are the following criteria:

• Did the line have control of the line of scrimage?
• The ratio of 1st downs to 3rd downs (converting 1st or 2nd downs)
• Average distance on third downs
• Average rushing yardage per carry
• Number of sacks allowed (QB pressure better but difficult to find the stats)

Normally, you have to watch the game to answer the 1st question, so this will be a statistical comparison only.

Giants
------
Ratio: 18/14
Avg 3rd Dist: 5.6
Avg Gain: 5.8
Sacks Allowed: 0


Dolphins
--------
Ratio: 16/11
Avg 3rd Dist: 5.5
Avg Gain: 4.4
Sacks Allowed: 4

 

[XxJustinxX]

1. Jake Grove just got here.

2. Donald Thomas had only played 1 regular season game before that game and is coming off a few injuries.

3. Justin Smiley is also coming off an injury.


The middle of the line will hopefully start to gel together as they get more playing time with each other.

As for Jake Long and Vernon Carey, they just need to kick it into a higher playing level and show they deserved those contracts .

I have faith that our O-line will come together eventually, the question is, when though?