Phins OL Problems Are League Wide

[So Be]

Many look at our OL last year, and say they sucked which they did. However, we are far from the only ones.

If you look at run blocking, there were only 8 teams with a positive grade for the year. We did suck worse than most with a -67 grade but, the average at #16 was a -16.

If you look at pass blocking, we were #16 with a 3.9 grade. There were 16 teams worse but, no one here watches the other 31 teams closely to compare.

Point is that the quality of blocking, throughout the NFL, has diminished, especially on the run. It used to be that guys coming out of college could run block but, needed time for pass blocking. Now, it is reversed.

The game has changed in both college and the pro's, with the OL so far not keeping up.D's have gotten much more complicated.

So, we have every right to complain but, are far from the Lone Ranger.

 

[Pat-London]

Outside of QB - OL is the toughest position to develop. If it was me, I'd use the practice squad to develop both these positions with at least 1 QB and 3 or 4 OL every year.

 

[LDaniel7]

Many look at our OL last year, and say they sucked which they did. However, we are far from the only ones.

If you look at run blocking, there were only 8 teams with a positive grade for the year. We did suck worse than most with a -67 grade but, the average at #16 was a -16.

If you look at pass blocking, we were #16 with a 3.9 grade. There were 16 teams worse but, no one here watches the other 31 teams closely to compare.

Point is that the quality of blocking, throughout the NFL, has diminished, especially on the run. It used to be that guys coming out of college could run block but, needed time for pass blocking. Now, it is reversed.

The game has changed in both college and the pro's, with the OL so far not keeping up.D's have gotten much more complicated.

So, we have every right to complain but, are far from the Lone Ranger.

If you look at numbers alone, you'll miss the absolute wreck the OL was last year.

It was beyond pitiful.

LD

 

[So Be]

Outside of QB - OL is the toughest position to develop. If it was me, I'd use the practice squad to develop both these positions with at least 1 QB and 3 or 4 OL every year.

Why do you think that is, and how much has it changed in recent history?

 

[Ruckus45]

Why do you think that is, and how much has it changed in recent history?

More of a focus on pass rush specialists, more complicated D formations, push for young qbs to start ASAP. My guess

 

[So Be]

If you look at numbers alone, you'll miss the absolute wreck the OL was last year.

It was beyond pitiful.

LD

Numbers alone show that we absolutely sucked in run blocking with a negative 67, and #29. They also show that there were around 16 teams worse than us in pass blocking. I am not disputing in any way that we were a HUGE mess, just that there were actually teams who were worse.

 

[MRojas4]

Why do you think that is, and how much has it changed in recent history?

1. Power run game is basically gone. Much, much easier to "train" O-line for run protection than pass protection.

2. Emergence of top notch pass rush specialists.

3. Emergence of hybrid defense formations no longer allow cookie cutter O-line blocking schemes as well.

4. Athletics. You are asking 6'6 300lbs giants to protect against small, quick, shifty D-line and pash rush specialsts.

Basically, if teams can now store roster spots for pass rush specialists that exploit slow, heavy, O-line. One would think you need to store roster spots for "pass rush specialists" O-line. Smaller, more agile, quick, O-line men.

 

[So Be]

More of a focus on pass rush specialists, more complicated D formations, push for young qbs to start ASAP. My guess

Good points, especially on the young QB's, and then there is the ZBS which half the teams are using. I have to think that takes a little time to adapt to the Pro level.

 

[spiketex]

If you look at numbers alone, you'll miss the absolute wreck the OL was last year.

It was beyond pitiful.

LD

The amazing thing was that we were still highly competitive in most games (until the wheels fell off the cart up in Buffalo). I'm still strongly of the belief that if we can fix the O-line, and with better play calling, we can be a good team.

 

[justdev7]

More of a focus on pass rush specialists, more complicated D formations, push for young qbs to start ASAP. My guess

This is why I'm happy that we have Knowshon. Having a back that really excels with pass protection helps your o-line so much. With the amount of pressure that comes from unconventional angles and just the expertise of some of these pass rushers, even a great O-line is going to miss a guy now and then. Having a back in there on clear passing situations that can pick a guy up is a huge advantage.

 

[RkyDaMan34]

Skillled big guy's are hard to come bye, hence the reason the good ones get snatched up in the first round. I wouldn't be surprised if we go OT in the first two rds.. I hope not but I wouldn't be surprised..

 

[So Be]

This is why I'm happy that we have Knowshon. Having a back that really excels with pass protection helps your o-line so much. With the amount of pressure that comes from unconventional angles and just the expertise of some of these pass rushers, even a great O-line is going to miss a guy now and then. Having a back in there on clear passing situations that can pick a guy up is a huge advantage.

Last year, Moreno was behind a VG pass blocking OL, and a VG pass blocking TE, along with Peyton getting rid of the ball. Think that did not make a difference?

 

[Pat-London]

Why do you think that is, and how much has it changed in recent history?

Some of the posters have already commented on this and they are all parts of it, for me though - it's about building the perfect OL that can counteract the demands of the position.

Getting the combination of the physical attributes of size, strength, athleticism, the reach, the power and accuracy of their punch, are they a knee versus waist bender, the intelligence, the ability to work with the other 4 and make one unit - and that all important [at least for me] mean, aggressive streak. And then you have to make sure they fit your scheme.

It's very difficult to get it right x 5 plus quality back ups, hence why you should never stop wanting to develop the position. I would always be of the opinion of going after those athletic freaks in the later rounds that have all the physical attributes who you could look to coach up.

 

[NRA]

i only care about the miami dolphins and 58 sacks doesnt cut it.

you need talent on the o-line for sure but i think back to what nate newton said when he was a guard on the jj led cowboys. that line was considered the best in the game and a writer was interviewing him and asking about why they are so different. he said that yes, we have talent, were good at what we do, but other teams have big talented guys also. the thing is, we have emmit smith and troy aikman and Michael.

so many times we run a play and we get blown up or theres a mistake and the play shoud be dead and then all of a sudden we look up and emmit is running 40yds for a td. mike irvin is is flying by into the endzone and that makes us look awfully good! now, if we are not getting big plays and scores, then all the mistake we do make become an issue and we all of a sudden are not a good line. were good, but we have skill players who would do just as well on almost any team with any line.

big statement by nate. a very humble one!

58 sacks and lots of hurries is bad news and our line absolutely needed more talent. however, ryan tannehill was responsible for a whole bunch of those sacks by holding the ball to long. that is another thing he has to figure out to be a TRUE franchise back.

and there are a LOT of teams around the nfl who seemingly have the same issue we do with the line who wouldnt look so bad if they had better talent in the skill position.

no coincidence that people like dan marino, tom brady, barry sanders, ricky williams, peyton manning, drew breese, oj simpson, zonk, emmit, jim brown, jim kelley and thurman thomas, etc... played or are playing at high levels no matter who is in or out of the lineup. when you have players like i mentioned above, everything looks kosher because they find a way to make things happen no matter what is going on with the line, the oppositions defense, etc.. . you dont see to many fans after the rb runs 60 yds for a td or a wr gets a 30 yd td or your qb has thrown for 400 yds and 4 scores go back after the big plays and say yeah, but that guard ssure sucks. those things get looked at and magnified when plays are not happening, when theres no points.

if tanny can pick up whats lacking in his game and we can find a big time rb, our line is going to look very, very good. and we will be one of those teams like the kelley/thurman thomas bills who no matter what happened to them, no matter who they lost or who they drafted it worked out. GOD i hated that!!!

great skill players make EVERYTHING look great!!

 

[WVDolphan]

Many look at our OL last year, and say they sucked which they did. However, we are far from the only ones.

If you look at run blocking, there were only 8 teams with a positive grade for the year. We did suck worse than most with a -67 grade but, the average at #16 was a -16.

If you look at pass blocking, we were #16 with a 3.9 grade. There were 16 teams worse but, no one here watches the other 31 teams closely to compare.

Point is that the quality of blocking, throughout the NFL, has diminished, especially on the run. It used to be that guys coming out of college could run block but, needed time for pass blocking. Now, it is reversed.

The game has changed in both college and the pro's, with the OL so far not keeping up.D's have gotten much more complicated.

So, we have every right to complain but, are far from the Lone Ranger.

Exactly what I have been saying. OL play is down across the board. IMHO this is due to the emergence of 7 on 7 leagues. Not enough players are taught proper technique at early ages. We are just now seeing the results of something put in place several years ago. The kids who were playing those 7 on 7 leagues a few years back are finishing up college ball and entering the NFL.

Combine the emphasis on AAU with those leagues and the new college offenses and you get bad OL play.

But, everyone wants to scream about how we had the worst OL ever. We didnt. Honestly, it wasnt the worst in the league last season. Did anyone see the Giants play? There were plenty of teams with bad OLs. The Broncos and Seahawks managed just fine with terrible OL play last season. Denver had the benefit of a QB who scans the field pre-snap and delivers a strike within 2 seconds of the snap, making his blocking irrelevant........ of course until he met the Seahawks secondary which gave his WRs issues, causing him to have to use more time to throw, which allowed enough time for his OL to be exposed by a very good DL.

Several teams' offenses did just fine with bad OL play last year. Thats because they had good QBs.