Trends Found in Play-off Teams' Offensive Lines

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:03 am

I looked at all of the play-off teams offensive lines and the NFC East team's O lines (Primary Starters). I highlighted the names of all O linemen that were either a UDFA or a 5th rounder or greater.

TRENDS of Play-off O lines
Drafted or developed by the team
Maybe one stud or above avg FA added to compliment system
Continuity

MYTH - Must draft studs or get othet teams studs- every team had at least one highlighted player. Continuity is an IMPORTANT ingredient.

Of the top 5 teams of the Decade All 5 virtually home grew their O lines. All of them had late round or UDFAs - Colts, Pats and Eagles had three. Note* The Steelers had the weakest line, but they lost Willie Colon to innjury. They let a stud like Alan Fanaeca go a couple of years ago which is in keeping with their policy of letting folks go how want more than they are willing to pay. A strong FO keeps them where they are.

Note worthy:

1. Every O line had at least one guy highlighted except Seahawks
2. Several star players were highlighted
Tyson Clabo, Harvey Dahl, Jeff Saturday, Matt Birk, Carl Nicks, Brian Waters, Jason Peters, David Diehl and Rich Seubert
3. Jets had three first round talents (4th in the NFL in Rushing)
4. Packers - all Packer Draftees
5. Colts and Pats - all home developed talent 6. Three highlighted players, but Peters aquired after establishing himself
7. Chiefs - 4 highlighted players (1st in NFL Rushing in 2010)
8. The Bears, Seahawks, Redskins, Cowboys and Giants all had as many or more O linemen drafted by other teams. We know that three of these teams struggled with their O lines all season. The Giants, at least, had an excsue, theirs was due to injury - CONTINUITY IS IMPORTANT

Green Bay Packers

LT Chad Clifton 34 Green Bay Packers / 2nd / 44th pick / 2000
LG Daryn Colledge 29 Green Bay Packers / 2nd / 47th pick / 2006
C Scott Wells 29 Green Bay Packers / 7th / 251st pick / 2004
RG Josh Sitton 24 Green Bay Packers / 4th / 135th pick / 2008
RT Bryan Bulaga 21 Green Bay Packers / 1st / 23rd pick / 2010

Pitsburgh Steelers

LT Jonathan Scott 27 etroit Lions / 5th / 141st pick / 2006
LG Chris Kemoeatu 27 Pittsburgh Steelers / 6th / 204th pick / 2005
C Maurkice Pouncey* 21 Steelers / 1st / 18th pick / 2010
RG Ramon Foster 24 1 8
RT Flozell Adams 35 Dallas Cowboys / 2nd / 38th pick / 1998

rve all New York Jets

LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson* 27 New York Jets / 1st / 4th pick / 2006
LG Matt Slauson 24
C Nick Mangold*+ 26 New York Jets / 1st / 29th pick / 2006
RG Brandon Moore 30
RT Damien Woody 33 New England Patriots / 1st / 17th pick / 1999

Chicago Bears

LT Frank Omiyale 28 Atlanta Falcons / 5th / 163rd pick / 2005
LG Chris Williams 25 Chicago Bears / 1st / 14th pick / 2008
C Olin Kreutz 33 Chicago Bears / 3rd / 64th pick / 1998
RG Roberto Garza 31 Atlanta Falcons / 4th / 99th pick / 2001
RT J'Marcus Webb 22

Indianapolis Colts

LT Charlie Johnson 26 Indianapolis Colts / 6th / 199th pick / 2006
LG John Detwiler
C Jeff Saturday* 35
RG Mike Pollak 25 Indianapolis Colts / 2nd / 59th pick / 2008
RT Ryan Diem 31 Indianapolis Colts / 4th / 118th pick / 2001

NE Patriots

LT Matt Light* 32 New England Patriots / 2nd / 48th pick / 2001
LG Logan Mankins*+ 28 ew England Patriots / 1st / 32nd pick / 2005
C Dan Koppen 31 New England Patriots / 5th / 164th pick / 2003
RG Steve Neal 34
RT Sebastian Vollmer 26 New England Patriots / 2nd / 58th pick / 2009

Philadelphia Eagles

LT Jason Peters* 28
LG Todd Herremans 28 Philadelphia Eagles / 4th / 126th pick / 2005
C Mike McGlynn 25 Philadelphia Eagles / 4th / 109th pick / 2008
RG Max Jean-Gilles 27 Philadelphia Eagles / 4th / 99th pick / 2006
RT Winston Justice 26 Philadelphia Eagles / 2nd / 39th pick / 2006

Atlanta Falcons

LT Sam Baker 25 tlanta Falcons / 1st / 21st pick / 2008
LG Justin Blalock 27 Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 39th pick / 2007
C Todd McClure 33 Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 237th pick / 1999
RG Harvey Dahl 29
RT Tyson Clabo* 29

Baltimore Ravens

LT Michael Oher 24 Baltimore Ravens / 1st / 23rd pick / 2009
LG Ben Grubbs 26 Baltimore Ravens / 1st / 29th pick / 2007
C Matt Birk 34 Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 173rd pick / 1998
RG Chris Chester 27 Baltimore Ravens / 2nd / 56th pick / 2006
RT Marshall Yanda 26 Baltimore Ravens / 3rd / 86th pick / 2007

Seattle Seahawks

LT Russell Okung 23 Seattle Seahawks / 1st / 6th pick / 2010
LG Ben Hamilton 33 Denver Broncos / 4th / 113th pick / 2001
C Chris Spencer 28 Seattle Seahawks / 1st / 26th pick / 2005
RG Stacy Andrews 29 Cincinnati Bengals / 4th / 123rd pick / 2004
RT Sean Locklear 29 Seattle Seahawks / 3rd / 84th pick / 2004

New Orleans Saints

LT Jermon Bushrod 26 New Orleans Saints / 4th / 125th pick / 2007
LG Carl Nicks* 25 New Orleans Saints / 5th / 164th pick / 2008
C Jonathan Goodwin 32 New York Jets / 5th / 154th pick / 2002
RG Jahri Evans*+ 27 New Orleans Saints / 4th / 108th pick / 2006
RT Jon Stinchcomb 31 New Orleans Saints / 2nd / 37th pick / 2003

Kansas City Chiefs

LT Branden Albert 26 Kansas City Chiefs / 1st / 15th pick / 2008
LG Brian Waters* 33
C Casey Wiegmann 37
RG Ryan Lilja 29
RT Barry Richardson 24

Washington Redskins

LT Trent Williams 22 Washington Redskins / 1st / 4th pick / 2010
LG Kory Lichtensteiger 25 Denver Broncos / 4th / 108th pick / 2008
C Casey Rabach 33 Baltimore Ravens / 3rd / 92nd pick / 2001
RG Will Montgomery 27 Carolina Panthers / 7th / 234th pick / 2006
RT Jammal Brown 29 New Orleans Saints / 1st / 13th pick / 2005

New York Giants

LT David Diehl 30 New York Giants / 5th / 160th pick / 2003
LG Rich Seubert 31
C Shaun O'Hara* 33
RG Chris Snee* 28 New York Giants / 2nd / 34th pick / 2004
RT Kareem McKenzie 31 New York Jets / 3rd / 79th pick / 2001

Dallas Cowboys

LT Doug Free 26 Dallas Cowboys / 4th / 122nd pick / 2007
LG Kyle Kosier 32 San Francisco 49ers / 7th / 248th pick / 2002
C Andre Gurode* 32 allas Cowboys / 2nd / 37th pick / 2002
RG Leonard Davis 32 Arizona Cardinals / 1st / 2nd pick / 2001
RT Marc Colombo 32 Chicago Bears / 1st / 29th pick / 2002

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:46 am

You know to fully analyze trends you not only have to analyze playoff teams but non-playoff teams to establish that they are different

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:34 am

KazooSkinsFan wrote:You know to fully analyze trends you not only have to analyze playoff teams but non-playoff teams to establish that they are different

You are correct! But to fully do that I would have to quit my day job and be fully employed to analyze such things.

It took my just over 3 hours to do it but I enjoyed since I wasn't pressured by deadlines. I see it as a work in progress- sometime to go back and add to. I might try adding a team a day.

Yes, this is by far not a scientific study. Also, what is missing is how long the O lines have been playing together. I am looking for a site that includes withthe roster "how acquired." If you know of one, please send me the link. The site I am using ( profootballreference.com ) has a wealth of knowledge, but it doesn't tell me when UDFAs were acquired. At least not on its starter rosters. Were they acquired early in their careers and developed or were they an established star? Jason Peters, UDFA with Philly, was an establihed star with Buffalo before moving to Philly. Dahl and Clabo played for several teams. Shanny had Clabo in Denver. Both were did not become stars until they were in Atlanta. I knew about Peters by memory, but I had to look up Dahl.

I deliberately chose the winning teams as my sample group because the NFL tends to copy cat what the winning teams do. This gives us a snap shot of winning teams and how their O lines are made up.

The biggest thing that surprised me that there are so many UDFA and late rounders on the lines of these top teams. I believed that the Jets with three first rounders would be the norm but even then, the Jets have two UDFAs.

Thanx for your feedback.

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:56 am

Red_One43 wrote:
KazooSkinsFan wrote:You know to fully analyze trends you not only have to analyze playoff teams but non-playoff teams to establish that they are different
You are correct! But to fully do that I would have to quit my day job and be fully employed to analyze such things. It took my just over 3 hours to do it but I enjoyed since I wasn't pressured by deadlines. I see it as a work in progress- sometime to go back and add to. I might try adding a team a day.

Yes, this is by far not a scientific study. Also, what is missing is how long the O lines have been playing together. I am looking for a site that includes withthe roster "how acquired." If you know of one, please send me the link. The site I am using ( profootballreference.com ) has a wealth of knowledge, but it doesn't tell me when UDFAs were acquired. At least not on its starter rosters. Were they acquired early in their careers and developed or were they an established star? Jason Peters, UDFA with Philly, was an establihed star with Buffalo before moving to Philly. Dahl and Clabo played for several teams. Shanny had Clabo in Denver. Both were did not become stars until they were in Atlanta. I knew about Peters by memory, but I had to look up Dahl.

I deliberately chose the winning teams as my sample group because the NFL tends to copy cat what the winning teams do. This gives us a snap shot of winning teams and how their O lines are made up.

The biggest thing that surprised me that there are so many UDFA and late rounders on the lines of these top teams. I believed that the Jets with three first rounders would be the norm but even then, the Jets have two UDFAs.

Thanx for your feedback.

Ironically better lines probably get more UDFA help because they ask little from them and give them time to develop. You can also draft guys who say have the right size and skeletal structure but need to bulk up and be coached up.

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:51 pm

I decided to do all of the 2010 offensive lines per a tip from Kaz. Here is the NFC West.

Notes:

1. 49ers - 4 out of 5 drafted by 49ers - three first rounders and two second rounders
Two first rounders were rookies in 2010. Potentially look like a strong line in the future.
2. The Rams and Cardinals lack the home grown aspect of our top 5 teams of the decade. 49ers have it, but the O line is extremely young.

NFC West -non Play-off Teams

Rams

LT Rodger Saffold 22 St. Louis Rams / 2nd / 33rd pick / 2010
LG Jacob Bell 29 Tennessee Titans / 5th / 138th pick / 2004
C Jason Brown 27 Baltimore Ravens / 4th / 124th pick / 2005
RG Adam Goldberg 30
RT Jason Smith 24 St. Louis Rams / 1st / 2nd pick / 2009

49ers

LT Joe Staley 26 San Francisco 49ers / 1st / 28th pick / 2007
LG Mike Iupati 23 San Francisco 49ers / 1st / 17th pick / 2010
C David Baas 29 San Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 33rd pick / 2005
RG Chilo Rachal 24 an Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 39th pick / 2008
RT Anthony Davis 21 San Francisco 49ers / 1st / 11th pick / 2010

Cardinals

LT Levi Brown 26 Arizona Cardinals / 1st / 5th pick / 2007
LG Alan Faneca 34 Pittsburgh Steelers / 1st / 26th pick / 1998
C Lyle Sendlein 26
RG Deuce Lutui 27 Arizona Cardinals / 2nd / 41st pick / 2006
RT Brandon Keith 26 Arizona Cardinals / 7th / 225th pick / 2008

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:14 pm

NFC South - Non Play-off Starting Offensive linemen

Buccaneers

LG Ted Larsen 23
LG Keydrick Vincent 32
C Jeremy Zuttah 25 Tampa Bay Bucaaneers/ 3rd / 83rd pick/ 2008
RG Davin Joseph 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers / 1st / 23rd pick / 2006
RT James Lee 25

Carolina Panthers

LT Jordan Gross* 30 Carolina Panthers / 1st / 8th pick / 2003
LG Travelle Wharton 29 Carolina Panthers / 3rd / 94th pick / 2004
C Ryan Kalil* 25Carolina Panthers / 2nd / 59th pick / 2007
RG Geoff Schwartz 24 Carolina Panthers / 7th / 241st pick / 2008
RT Garry Williams 24

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:21 pm

NFC North - Non play-off Starting Offensive linemen

Noteworthy:

Lions didn't start an UDFA or a player later than a 4th rounder (only team so far)

Vikings

LT Bryant McKinnie 31 Minnesota Vikings / 1st / 7th pick / 2002
LG Steve Hutchinson 33 Seattle Seahawks / 1st / 17th pick / 2001
C John Sullivan 25 Minnesota Vikings / 6th / 187th pick / 2008
RG Anthony Herrera 30
RT Phil Loadholt 24 Minnesota Vikings / 2nd / 54th pick / 2009

Lions

LT Jeff Backus 33 Detroit Lions / 1st / 18th pick / 2001
LG Rob Sims 27 Seattle Seahawks / 4th / 128th pick / 2006
C Dominic Raiola 32 Detroit Lions / 2nd / 50th pick / 2001
RG Stephen Peterman 28 Dallas Cowboys / 3rd / 83rd pick / 2004
RT Gosder Cherilus 26 Detroit Lions / 1st / 17th pick / 2008

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:44 pm

AFC West Non Play-off Starting O Linemen

San Diego Chargers

LT Marcus McNeill 27 San Diego Chargers / 2nd / 50th pick / 2006
LG Kris Dielman* 29
C Nick Hardwick 29 San Diego Chargers / 3rd / 66th pick / 2004
RG Louis Vasquez 23 San Diego Chargers / 3rd / 78th pick / 2009
RT Jeromey Clary 27 San Diego Chargers / 6th / 187th pick / 2006

Oakland Raiders

LT Jared Veldheer 23 Oakland Raiders / 3rd / 69th pick / 2010
LG Robert Gallery 30 Oakland Raiders / 1st / 2nd pick / 2004
C Samson Satele 26 Miami Dolphins / 2nd / 60th pick / 2007
RG Cooper Carlisle 33 Denver Broncos / 4th / 112th pick / 2000
RT Langston Walker 31 Oakland Raiders / 2nd / 53rd pick / 2002

Denver Broncos

LT Ryan Clady 24 Denver Broncos / 1st / 12th pick / 2008
LG Zane Beadles 24 Denver Broncos / 2nd / 45th pick / 2010
C J.D. Walton 23 Denver Broncos / 3rd / 80th pick / 2010
RG Chris Kuper 28 Denver Broncos / 5th / 161st pick / 2006
RT Ryan Harris 25 Denver Broncos / 3rd / 70th pick / 2007

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:50 pm

AFC West Non Play-off Starting O Linemen

Miami Dolphins

LT Jake Long*+ 25 Miami Dolphins / 1st / 1st pick / 2008
LG Richie Incognito 27 St. Louis Rams / 3rd / 81st pick / 2005
C Joe Berger 28 Carolina Panthers / 6th / 207th pick / 2005
RG John Jerry 24
RT Vernon Carey 29 Miami Dolphins / 1st / 19th pick / 2004

Buffalo Bills

LT Demetrius Bell 26 Buffalo Bills / 7th / 219th pick / 2008
LG Andy Levitre 24 Buffalo Bills / 2nd / 51st pick / 2009
C Geoff Hangartner 28 Carolina Panthers / 5th / 169th pick / 2005
RG Eric Wood 24 Buffalo Bills / 1st / 28th pick / 2009
RT Mansfield Wrotto 26 Seattle Seahawks / 4th / 124th pick / 2007

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:56 pm

AFC North Non Play-off O line Starters

Browns

LT Joe Thomas*+ 26 Cleveland Browns / 1st / 3rd pick / 2007
LG Eric Steinbach 30 Cincinnati Bengals / 2nd / 33rd pick / 2003
C Alex Mack* 25 Cleveland Browns / 1st / 21st pick / 2009
RG Floyd Womack 32 Seattle Seahawks / 4th / 128th pick / 2001
RT John St. Clair 33 St. Louis Rams / 3rd / 94th pick / 2000

Bengals

LT Andrew Whitworth 29 Cincinnati Bengals / 2nd / 55th pick / 2006
LG Nate Livings 28
LG Bobbie Williams 34 Philadelphia Eagles / 2nd / 61st pick / 2000
C Kyle Cook 27
RG Bobbie Williams 34 Philadelphia Eagles / 2nd / 61st pick / 2000
RT Dennis Roland 27

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:02 pm

AFC South Non Play-off O line Starters

Jaguars

LT Eugene Monroe 23 Jacksonville Jaguars / 1st / 8th pick / 2009
LG Vince Manuwai 30 Jacksonville Jaguars / 3rd / 72nd pick / 2003
LG Justin Smiley 29 San Francisco 49ers / 2nd / 46th pick / 2004
C Brad Meester 33 Jacksonville Jaguars / 2nd / 60th pick / 2000
RG Uche Nwaneri 26 Jacksonville Jaguars / 5th / 149th pick / 2007
RT Jordan Black 30 Kansas City Chiefs / 5th / 153rd pick / 2003

Texans

LT Duane Brown 25 Houston Texans / 1st / 26th pick / 2008
LG Wade Smith 29 Miami Dolphins / 3rd / 78th pick / 2003
C Chris Myers 29 Denver Broncos / 6th / 200th pick / 2005
RG Mike Brisiel 27
RG Antoine Caldwell 24 Houston Texans / 3rd / 77th pick / 2009
RT Eric Winston 27 Houston Texans / 3rd / 66th pick / 2006

Titans

LT Michael Roos 28 Tennessee Titans / 2nd / 41st pick / 2005
LG Leroy Harris 26 Tennessee Titans / 4th / 115th pick / 2007
C Eugene Amano 28 Tennessee Titans / 7th / 239th pick / 2004
RG Jake Scott 29 Indianapolis Colts / 5th / 141st pick / 2004
RT David Stewart 28 Tennessee Titans / 4th / 113th pick / 2005