"Hogs do it in the Trenches", The 2011 Offensive L

[Skinsfan55]

we'll see how the Eagles using our old formula for success goes for them over the next 3 years Laughing

The Eagles aren't close to using the old Redskins model. Have you seen all the draft picks that they are stockpiling?

Yeah, the model they're using is proven to be successful. Build around the draft, fill in the gaps with free agents. This is actually how you build a winning football team but I can understand how Redskins fans might be confused given the fact that it's been some time since we've seen winning football.

[SkinsJock]

I'll be very surprised if Andy Reid is the coach of the Eagles in 2012 if they don't get to the Super Bowl

I do not think they're going to the Super Bowl


this FO is rebuilding this offense - the 2 most important parts are the QB & the offensive line - we will get there ... it takes time


we will continue to see improvement but we have come a long way from the disaster of an O line that we had here in 2009

[CanesSkins26]

I think everyone can agree that an offense's success relies on how well the offensive line plays. You need holes to run, lanes to pass and enough time to do both. As of right now, this is the 2011 Redskins O-Line:

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Starters

#71 LT- Trent Williams
23 yo, 6-5 315
Former #4 overall pick. Considered a huge athletic prospect coming out of school. Struggled at times but that's to be expected from a rookie. Should be a solid lineman for the scheme but time will tell if he becomes an elite player.

#78 LG- Kory Lichtensteiger
26yo, 6-3 290
He was cut twice before landing in DC. Considered a decent reserve at center by some, Shanahan converted him to LG where he started 14 games last season. The coach seems to like him, but he's largely unproven. This year will likely make or break his NFL career.

#63 C- Will Montgomery
28 yo, 6-3 307
Backup C and G in his career who's also been cut multiple times by other teams. He's started 15 games in his 5 year career for 3 different teams. Not much experience and this is another case where it's do or die for his career.

#65 RG- Chris Chester
28 yo, 6-3 315
In Baltimore he was given opportunities to start but wasn't especially productive in his times as a starter. He has starting experience though and if he fits the Shanahan system he could be a key on this offensive line.

#77 RT- Jammal Brown
30 yo, 6-6 313
Brown was a two time pro-bowl LT for New Orleans before coming to Washington in a trade. Last season he was coming back from a ACL injury and struggled at times. He still managed to start 14 games last season. Now fully recovered he should be our most dependable lineman this year.

Reserves

#75 G/T Artis Hicks
32 yo, 6-4 314
A versatile swingman, Hicks has played every position on the offensive line except center in his career. He started 10 games for the Redskins in 2010 at RG before getting replaced by our current, tentative starting center Will Montgomery last season. Barring injury, Hicks won't start this season but he brings quality depth to the line.

#68 T- Clint Oldenburg
27 yo, 6-5 315
Suited up in our first mini-camps at the starting RT. That shows the coaching staff has some trust in his abilities. More or less a complete unknown, will probably be on the roster bubble.
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It's not a comprehensive list of reserves but that's all the Redskins have right now. I'm of the opinion that their interior line looks weak and the depth is a little thin. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of help available in free agency. The best guards have already been taken, and the market for centers is pretty weak. Like I said earlier, I think Chester's ability to play in Mike Shanahan's scheme is going to be the key to the success of the offensive line.

For better or for worse I'm pretty sure this is the offensive line we'll break camp with. Given all the unknowns, if they gel together and become a decent offensive line unit we'll have to consider ourselves pretty lucky. I don't think anyone in the interior line will be considered a long term solution, but they may get us through a season better than last year and remain an area of need next season.
[/b]

Below average players at every position but RT, and even at RT there are health related issues. Time to face it here: T Williams was one of the worse left tackles in the league last year (one of the twenty worse, according to a major rating service). Who knows what he'll be able to do, for sure, but he could be a genuine bust. The same rating service reported that only Montgomery was rated as "average" for the NFL.
Here's the outlook for the offensive. Worse OL in the East, the worse quarterback, a competent running back who is injury prone, a tight end who is close to being a star, a good backup TE, an adequate WR in Moss, a prospect in AA at WR, a prospect in Hankerson at WR, a group of journeymen receivers, and one of the best punt and kickoff returners in the game. A few bright spots, but it must be said that our offense will likely be terrible. Draft grade for offense: D FA grade for offense : F
Seems Shanny has a thing for second rate players-- thinks they can be coached up and gel. The other teams, of course, seem concerned with nabbing first-rate players who can be coached up and gel. Guess who will win.

Like James Harrison for the Steelers was a seen as an above average player by the media when he first became a starter. He got coached up. Recognize these names: Jonathan Scott (5th round), Max Starks (3rd round), Chris Kemoeatu (6th round), Ramon Foster (UDFA), Flozell Adams (Cast off from Dallas). Bunch of no names on the Pittsburgh Steeler offensive line.

From the thread "What Would Your Game Plan Be?"
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:06 pm

ChiefHog44 wrote:

Anyone see NFL films tonight on the 98 Denver Broncos? All the players were quoted throughout how Shannahan was such a great coach. How he took a bunch of no name players, cast offs, undrafted players, unwanted free agents, and made them all feel hand picked. THAT's what made them WANT to win. He make's players think and play better than they really are.

Sound Familiar? I feel like this team is a bunch of no-namers, and I for one really dig it. Kind of like the Hogs.

If anyone is interested in HOW Shanny has built other championship teams out of hard working, blue collar nobodies, watch that video. This thing will be fully built by next year in my opinion.

For those of you keep keep saying that he had Elway (as if Elway was a one man show). True, in this league, you do have to have a top notch QB to go all the way that's why he didn't draft anyone this year, they didn't fill the bill. I am sure that he sees his QB in the draft next year and there are more options than than just Luck. We just haven't found that piece yet.

You do realize that the Steelers don't have a particularly strong offensive line, right? Big Ben is consistently among the most sacked qb's in the NFL. Part of that is a result of his extending plays, but they've also had some problems along their line. Yes, they've had success despite the struggles of the oline, but it makes no sense to point to the Steelers as a model for putting together an offensive line.

[Red_One43]

Below average players at every position but RT, and even at RT there are health related issues. Time to face it here: T Williams was one of the worse left tackles in the league last year (one of the twenty worse, according to a major rating service). Who knows what he'll be able to do, for sure, but he could be a genuine bust. The same rating service reported that only Montgomery was rated as "average" for the NFL.
Here's the outlook for the offensive. Worse OL in the East, the worse quarterback, a competent running back who is injury prone, a tight end who is close to being a star, a good backup TE, an adequate WR in Moss, a prospect in AA at WR, a prospect in Hankerson at WR, a group of journeymen receivers, and one of the best punt and kickoff returners in the game. A few bright spots, but it must be said that our offense will likely be terrible. Draft grade for offense: D FA grade for offense : F
Seems Shanny has a thing for second rate players-- thinks they can be coached up and gel. The other teams, of course, seem concerned with nabbing first-rate players who can be coached up and gel. Guess who will win.

Like James Harrison for the Steelers was a seen as an above average player by the media when he first became a starter. He got coached up. Recognize these names: Jonathan Scott (5th round), Max Starks (3rd round), Chris Kemoeatu (6th round), Ramon Foster (UDFA), Flozell Adams (Cast off from Dallas). Bunch of no names on the Pittsburgh Steeler offensive line.

From the thread "What Would Your Game Plan Be?"
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:06 pm

ChiefHog44 wrote:

Anyone see NFL films tonight on the 98 Denver Broncos? All the players were quoted throughout how Shannahan was such a great coach. How he took a bunch of no name players, cast offs, undrafted players, unwanted free agents, and made them all feel hand picked. THAT's what made them WANT to win. He make's players think and play better than they really are.

Sound Familiar? I feel like this team is a bunch of no-namers, and I for one really dig it. Kind of like the Hogs.

If anyone is interested in HOW Shanny has built other championship teams out of hard working, blue collar nobodies, watch that video. This thing will be fully built by next year in my opinion.

For those of you keep keep saying that he had Elway (as if Elway was a one man show). True, in this league, you do have to have a top notch QB to go all the way that's why he didn't draft anyone this year, they didn't fill the bill. I am sure that he sees his QB in the draft next year and there are more options than than just Luck. We just haven't found that piece yet.

You do realize that the Steelers don't have a particularly strong offensive line, right? Big Ben is consistently among the most sacked qb's in the NFL. Part of that is a result of his extending plays, but they've also had some problems along their line. Yes, they've had success despite the struggles of the oline, but it makes no sense to point to the Steelers as a model for putting together an offensive line.

Yes, if the Steelers didn't have a QB that could move around like Ben, they would have been in serious trouble with this O line. They were not good, but adequate. I would never say this is a model for how to put together a line. My point is don't panic when injuries happen. Don't run out and throw money at free agents. If you lose players like Colon, you get those guys to play better than what they are. Go with what you home grew for continuity - Kemoeatu, Starks,Foster and Trai Essex, get a young guy like Scott that you might develop and one proven stop gap vet - flozell Adams. Considering how cheap they got these guys, they played above expectation and played well enough for the QB tha they had to get Ben to the Super Bowl. Point being, not the model, but you don't have to have all stars at every position to make it. The Steelers understand that. Shanny understands that. He understands that he needs a mobile QB that can make plays with is feet. He hasn't found that guy yet. Shanny also knows that we aren't in a position to home grow our guys (it takes a few drafts to do that), so he is going after team guys that fit the work ethic - if you can't grow 'em get guys that fit - they don't have to be superstars - it is a team game.

Again, for CH1, James Harrison was not a star when he joined the Steelers (he wasn't even drafted), he was developed into one. That is called good coaching.. Players can be coached up especially when they fit a system.

[Red_One43]

I want to invite y'all to the General Manager's Office and look at the thread titled - Trends of Play-off Teams' Offensive lines. Below are trends that I found.

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 UDFA or late round draft talent. Multiple play-off teams had as many as three of these guys. Some of the guys that we were wanting Shanny to sign in free agency were UDFA and developed into studs.

Mike Shanahan gets it.

1.He started drafting and developing his own last year - 3 O line draftees. (Of course, being in year two he is not yet in position to play his own - he is still in the finding his nucleus)
2.He added 1 former Pro Bowler last year in Brown (Hicks replaced BMW)
Keeping with the trend he only added one O line member (of course injuries can upset this as with last year's Steelers)
3. By only adding one and allowing Monty to replace Rabach - Shanny is in keeping with the Continuity trend. CONTINUITY is extremely important for a ZBS blocking scheme. - a lot of fans don't get this.

Patience

This group of O linemen, working jelling together, knowing their assignments and being in sync, can be an effective O line for us this season. These guys fit the trend of the play-off team O lines. The issue is needing time to develop continuity. How much time depends on how hard they work. All of these guys are hard workers. As the season progresses these guys will progress.

http://www.the-hogs.net/forum/viewtopic ... 769#539769

[Red_One43]

Why the Redskins O-line will be better in 2011

Wednesday, August 17, 2011 11:00 a.m.

By Rich Tandler
Redskins Blogger
CSNwashington.com

The Washington Redskins’ offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL last year. You don’t have to go too far beyond the 46 sacks allowed or the fact that the running game was ranked 31st in the NFL to see that.

Change certainly was in order but after the team finished making its offseason moves it turns out that four of the five players who started much of the 2010 season are back for 2011. Is this change we can believe in?

There are several reasons why the Redskins offensive line should improve from last year despite the relative stability of personnel. Let’s take a look.

Trent Williams is leaner and meaner

If Trent Williams had been a mid-round pick in the 2010 draft he would have been hailed as one of the great steals of the draft. He played respectably against a tough slate of opposing pass rushers. But more was expected out of the fourth overall selection in the draft.

Williams came to work this year about 10 pounds lighter and looking a bit more toned. Perhaps as importantly, he came with a new attitude. Against the Steelers he was finishing off blocks with a ferocity we did not see much of a year ago. Overall, he seems to be taking his job much more seriously and that mentality combined with his athletic ability should bring his play up a couple of notches.

Jammal Brown is healthy and adjusted

Right tackle Jammal Brown came to the Redskins in 2010 in a trade after OTA’s and minicamps had been completed. He still was suffering effects from a hip injury as well as a sports hernia that cost him all of the 2009 season. Brown missed a lot of reps in camp and snaps in preseason games due to the injury. And, all the while, he was learning how to play in a new offense at a different position. He was the Saints’ left tackle before the trade.

“It was an adjustment for him,” said offensive line coach Chris Foerster. “He played right, went to left, back to right, plus the injury, plus a new offense, all those things. It just took him more time.”

“He didn’t have the OTA days with us, he missed a lot of camp last year and the preseason.”

The first part of the season essentially became Brown’s OTA’s and training camp, Foerster said.

“He’s got a year under his belt from last year, he knows all of the calls, all of the schemes,” said center Will Montgomery, who played right guard next to Brown for the last part of the 2010 season.

Will Montgomery is in his natural position at center

Montgomery gave it a go at guard last year after it became apparent that Artis Hicks was better suited to a reserve role. After longtime starting center Casey Rabach, who struggled all of last year, was released right after the lockout ended Montgomery was named the new center.

“I definitely think that (center) is my natural position,” Montgomery said. “I feel like I can play guard in this offense but I’m probably a little better fit for center.”

Montgomery seems to have the physical tools to handle the position. If he can master the line calls, the position should be solid. Playing next to Rabach last year certainly helped him in that regard, he said.

Chris Chester is an upgrade at right guard

Free agent Chris Chester will take Montgomery’s spot at right guard. Although he will be coming into a new offense and will have to convert from the power blocking scheme he played with the Ravens to the Redskins’ zone blocking he appears to be adjusting well.

While he will have to learn how to work with his new teammates, it is better to have one new player on the line than four, as the Redskins did last year.

In any case, he is a natural guard and that will be an upgrade over an out-of-position Montgomery and Hicks.

They have a year in the scheme under their belts

Just being together and in the scheme for another year should help them perform better.

“The camaraderie is there, it’s not like everyone needs to learn how to trust each other,” said left guard Kory Lichtensteiger. “We know what we can do and what we can’t do. We’ve gelled pretty well together.”

The players aren’t the only ones who will benefit from experience in the system.

“I’m doing a better job coaching it this season, having a year with Coach Shanahan and Kyle and the things they want,” Foerster said. “I was a work in progress, we were all getting on the same page last year.”

http://www.csnwashington.com/08/17/11/W ... eedID=6355

[skinsfan#33]

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You do realize that the Steelers don't have a particularly strong offensive line, right? Big Ben is consistently among the most sacked qb's in the NFL. Part of that is a result of his extending plays, but they've also had some problems along their line. Yes, they've had success despite the struggles of the oline, but it makes no sense to point to the Steelers as a model for putting together an offensive line.

Ben will always be one of the most sacked QBs in the NFL wether his OL is any good or not, just like most mobile QBs he has faith that his legs can get him out of a sack. A lot of time that works, but out also doesn't work quite often. I it is conter intuitive, but mobile QBs, in general, get sacked more often than pocket passers. Vick, while he was at Atlanta was the most sacked QB, during that time frame. You know who has one of the lowest sacks/pass attempt ratio: Peyton "I'm a statue" Manning. One of the most immobile QBs of all time, Dan "quick draw, concrete footed" Marino, almost always had a low sack/atempt ratio.

So a QB, dramatically impacts how many sacks an OL gives up, that is why I think QB hurries is a better indication of how well an OL pass protects.

[Skinsfan55]

Peter King says the Redskins biggest plan for free agency was to get Marshal Yanda. He describes him as "the one that got away."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... index.html

That was written on the first, and I believe it but I guess the price was just too steep. Anyway, hopefully Chester pans out, but he probably can't top this story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBQXvmRO_IE

[Red_One43]

Peter King says the Redskins biggest plan for free agency was to get Marshal Yanda. He describes him as "the one that got away."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... index.html

That was written on the first, and I believe it but I guess the price was just too steep. Anyway, hopefully Chester pans out, but he probably can't top this story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBQXvmRO_IE

I like that we are not spending huge bucks to lure away stars from other teams. Yanda may have been the guy, that Shanny really wanted, but with the Ravens coveting him, it was going to take huge money to get him. That causes problems later down the line. Cap and others on the team wanting that kind of money That is not the way to build a foundation for a team. If we were one or two players away from completing that foundation, then you do it.

Enjoyed the taser story on the video clip.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Peter King says the Redskins biggest plan for free agency was to get Marshal Yanda. He describes him as "the one that got away."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... index.html

That was written on the first, and I believe it but I guess the price was just too steep. Anyway, hopefully Chester pans out, but he probably can't top this story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBQXvmRO_IE

Eh..... I have my doubts. These journalists say a lot of stuff. IMO I'm happy with who we got. We got the TRUE starter at that position from the Ravens. Yanda is injury plagued and is currently injured. I'd rather have the "lesser" guy that can suit up every game.

Reading articles around this area makes it sound like we really wanted Chester cus he can move in space.

This sounds no different than us supposedly wanting Jenkins from GB....

[Red_One43]

One thing we do know for sure, Shanahan was consistent in free agency.
No Jenkins but Bowen
No Yanda, but Chester
No Asomugha, but Wilson
No Franklin, But Cofield

[yupchagee]

Peter King says the Redskins biggest plan for free agency was to get Marshal Yanda. He describes him as "the one that got away."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... index.html

That was written on the first, and I believe it but I guess the price was just too steep. Anyway, hopefully Chester pans out, but he probably can't top this story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBQXvmRO_IE

Eh..... I have my doubts. These journalists say a lot of stuff. IMO I'm happy with who we got. We got the TRUE starter at that position from the Ravens. Yanda is injury plagued and is currently injured. I'd rather have the "lesser" guy that can suit up every game.

Reading articles around this area makes it sound like we really wanted Chester cus he can move in space.

This sounds no different than us supposedly wanting Jenkins from GB....

I agree. From what I have read, Yanda is best suited to power blocking (which the Ravens use). Shenny seems to think Chester will thrive in his ZBS.

[1niksder]

Peter King says the Redskins biggest plan for free agency was to get Marshal Yanda. He describes him as "the one that got away."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... index.html

How was Yanda "the one that got away"?

It seems as though every player linked to the Skins before the lockout ended "got away". Also seems as though everyone that has signed seem to be better fits for what the team wants to do.

Back to the one that got away...
He signed with the Ravens AFTER Chester had signed with the Redskins. The Redskins needed a G and that's what Chester plays, Yanda is listed as a G but when healthy he spent more time at Tackle.

I think it have been a catch and release situation if the Skins even tried to get him. At any rate once Yanda is healthy he be playing T, Oneil Cousins has been moved into the Guard spot that Yanda would have played if healthy.

Whatever the situation was the Redskins got the guy from the Ravens that will start the season healthy and will fill a position of need. Yanda would have been unable to do either

[emoses14]

Peter King says the Redskins biggest plan for free agency was to get Marshal Yanda. He describes him as "the one that got away."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... index.html

How was Yanda "the one that got away"?

It seems as though every player linked to the Skins before the lockout ended "got away". Also seems as though everyone that has signed seem to be better fits for what the team wants to do.

Back to the one that got away...
He signed with the Ravens AFTER Chester had signed with the Redskins. The Redskins needed a G and that's what Chester plays, Yanda is listed as a G but when healthy he spent more time at Tackle.

I think it have been a catch and release situation if the Skins even tried to get him. At any rate once Yanda is healthy he be playing T, Oneil Cousins has been moved into the Guard spot that Yanda would have played if healthy.

Whatever the situation was the Redskins got the guy from the Ravens that will start the season healthy and will fill a position of need. Yanda would have been unable to do either

Please do not hurt yourself trying to make sense of Peter King's ramblings. I for one am squarely in the "fan of Mike and Bruce approach". All I am waiting for is to see if these pieces fit the way they envision. Thought the line looked really good against Pitt and actually thought the one knock on Rex could have been that he rushed on at least 3 occassions where he heard the rush coming but the line had blocked them out and he could have gotten more out of the play.

[SkinsJock]

Some QBs just make quicker decisions - the line might get credit but the QB can help lower the sack total by just knowing when to get rid of the ball

some of these QBs just don't get it

[Kilmer72]

Unproven is a kind word. Kory Lichtensteiger seems like the glaring hole to me. I didn't really understand his playing ahead of Dockery last year to begin with. Am I wrong or was he a huge liability on the line last season?

Watch these three video clips and point out how Kory is a glaring hole or find any video clip after Kory and Monty became the permanent starters together, and point out how Kory was a glaring hole. From the three clips below, I would say he did a better job than Monty. Once you view the clips, I ask you, was he a huge liability? Kory's play was bad at the beginning of the season. I guess first impressions are lasting impressions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQTJX30 ... F058E83D3E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCAy9UUYkHs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jugw7ZjyMLs

I see this mostly as growing pains associated with switching to the ZBS. Dockery was a big power guard who is a decent player, but was too slow and not nimble enough to play the ZBS very well. Rabach was getting older and was also not athletic enough to play center in the ZBS.

Center is a very demanding position in the ZBS. Too many times I saw opponents using their quickness to cut in front of Dockery or Rabach as the line was moving left or right.

In the ZBS, think of the O-line as a serrated blade cutting left or right. If even one lineman doesn't keep up, the whole thing falls apart.

Yeah but, as I pointed out last year... Dock made running lanes where Kory failed. Portis when he was able to run, ran for many more yards following Dock.

He gone now no biggy.

[SkinsJock]

Thank the lord we got rid of players like Dockery

they were the epitome of offensive O linemen

[Kilmer72]

Thank the lord we got rid of players like Dockery

they were the epitome of offensive O linemen

Awe, I feel your hate for him. He wasn't so bad, as a matter of fact if you really look at it, he was better than his replacement just not as good of an athlete. At least he wasn't butter when the hot knife came through like Lichtensteiger was for us last year. I think he (Lichtensteiger) did well for us against Pitt last Friday. He was awful last year though but maybe you do not remember that.

[Red_One43]

Thank the lord we got rid of players like Dockery

they were the epitome of offensive O linemen

Awe, I feel your hate for him. He wasn't so bad, as a matter of fact if you really look at it, he was better than his replacement just not as good of an athlete. At least he wasn't butter when the hot knife came through like Lichtensteiger was for us last year. I think he (Lichtensteiger) did well for us against Pitt last Friday. He was awful last year though but maybe you do not remember that.

Not sure who you were watching the last 6 games of the season, but have a look at the improvement when Lichtensteiger became the permanent starting guard. I think Shanny has the advantage over us all watching tape of every play, but for us fans, stats are one of the few things we have to go by since we don't see each player for every play.


Dock just didn't fit this offense and you might have noticed Dock has fit anyone's offense lately. Probably after the season when someone goes down, he will get signed, you would think.

Rich Tandler:

A quick way to evaluate an offensive line is to look at the sacks allowed per pass play and the average yards per rush. Here is how the Redskins did in those areas in 2010 for the first ten games and then for the last six, when Montgomery and Lichtensteiger were the starting guards.

Yards/rush
First 10: 4.1 yards
Last 6: 4.3 yards

Sacks/pass play
First 10: 7.6%
Last 6: 6.3%

The improvement in yards per rush attempt is small but not insignificant. The league average for the sack rate is about 6.5 percent so they improved from bad to mediocre when the line became set.

http://www.csnwashington.com/06/30/11/R ... eedID=4717
Rich Tandlers states:

[burgngold4life]

Looking forward to seeing some Oline burst against Indy tonight... they did well last week, let's hope it keeps up for weeks and weeks to come.

[Skinsfan55]

I'm just starting to realize how good the Washington Examiner's sports section is. I followed a link from ESPN.com once and checked them out despite never having gone there, and they do an excellent job. Here's some o-line related highlights from John Keim's latest game breakdown.

16. The offensive line is still a work in progress. There is good and bad to look at from this game. In some cases, very good and very bad. By the same guys no less. I also think this line is not impressive individually, but collectively can help. And the scheme will help them. Anyway, at times I think Will Montgomery is an upgrade and other times? I don’t know. He did have a couple nice blocks and was able to help seal the cutback lane on Tim Hightower’s run. Another time he did something Casey Rabach could not do last year: Hook a defender shaded to the side the play was going. But I also saw him get moved back on multiple occasions; once Shaun Droughn could not execute a draw play because when he received the ball he was about a foot behind Montgomery, who had been pushed back. That killed the play. On a red zone run, Montgomery got shoved back because he was too upright. By the way, on this play, four offensive linemen were at least a yard behind the line of scrimmage as the play developed. He also failed to block starting DT Antonio Johnson on a stretch run to the left. Chester had hit Johnson before heading to a linebacker and Montgomery needed to then control him. The play was blocked to be a big gain, except Johnson stopped it. But, as I said, there were a few times where Montgomery did a nice job. He is definitely stronger than Rabach.

17. Kory Lichtensteiger and Chester had their moments where they got shoved back or allowed pressure. But both of them contributed on Hightower’s 58-yard run on the second play of the game. First, Lichtensteiger blocked the defensive tackle, shaded just inside him, enabling Montgomery to then get control and seal him off. Lichtensteiger then blocked the middle linebacker, creating the opening. Meanwhile, Chester ran downfield and blocked the safety – possibly adding 45 yards to the run.

18. Trent Williams did a nice job hooking Freeney on Hightower’s run. He also gave up a few pressures, including one where Freeney bull rushed him and sacked Beck. Williams also whiffed on block attempt of the immortal John Chick and gave up pressure inside. He also gave up another pressure off the edge, almost resulting in a stripped ball.

19. Williams and Jammal Brown try to stop defenders very differently. Williams is all about moving his feet; they are quick. Brown, though, is more about trying to swallow up a guy in his arms. Williams is better at keeping his shoulder square; Brown does more reaching. With Brown, he once allowed a pressure to Robert Mathis because he reached. But on the next play his man tried to go inside and he stopped him with his left arm.

20. Big Mo Hurt needs to stop lunging into guys. Did it twice and got beat both times because of it. But the pile mover did move out a tackle on his first snap of the second half. Another backup lineman, center Erik Cook, gets moved back too often. This is against backups. He’s the No. 2 center. What happens if Montgomery gets hurt?

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/nfl ... z1VfIAiOk3

Kinda confirms some of our fears about the line. Tackles are okay (though Williams played a poor game on Friday according to reports) and the interior line is weak. Hopefully they can gel as a unit, and with an athletic QB like Beck maybe he can get out of trouble easier.

[Red_One43]

I'm just starting to realize how good the Washington Examiner's sports section is. I followed a link from ESPN.com once and checked them out despite never having gone there, and they do an excellent job. Here's some o-line related highlights from John Keim's latest game breakdown.

16. The offensive line is still a work in progress. There is good and bad to look at from this game. In some cases, very good and very bad. By the same guys no less. I also think this line is not impressive individually, but collectively can help. And the scheme will help them. Anyway, at times I think Will Montgomery is an upgrade and other times? I don’t know. He did have a couple nice blocks and was able to help seal the cutback lane on Tim Hightower’s run. Another time he did something Casey Rabach could not do last year: Hook a defender shaded to the side the play was going. But I also saw him get moved back on multiple occasions; once Shaun Droughn could not execute a draw play because when he received the ball he was about a foot behind Montgomery, who had been pushed back. That killed the play. On a red zone run, Montgomery got shoved back because he was too upright. By the way, on this play, four offensive linemen were at least a yard behind the line of scrimmage as the play developed. He also failed to block starting DT Antonio Johnson on a stretch run to the left. Chester had hit Johnson before heading to a linebacker and Montgomery needed to then control him. The play was blocked to be a big gain, except Johnson stopped it. But, as I said, there were a few times where Montgomery did a nice job. He is definitely stronger than Rabach.

17. Kory Lichtensteiger and Chester had their moments where they got shoved back or allowed pressure. But both of them contributed on Hightower’s 58-yard run on the second play of the game. First, Lichtensteiger blocked the defensive tackle, shaded just inside him, enabling Montgomery to then get control and seal him off. Lichtensteiger then blocked the middle linebacker, creating the opening. Meanwhile, Chester ran downfield and blocked the safety – possibly adding 45 yards to the run.

18. Trent Williams did a nice job hooking Freeney on Hightower’s run. He also gave up a few pressures, including one where Freeney bull rushed him and sacked Beck. Williams also whiffed on block attempt of the immortal John Chick and gave up pressure inside. He also gave up another pressure off the edge, almost resulting in a stripped ball.

19. Williams and Jammal Brown try to stop defenders very differently. Williams is all about moving his feet; they are quick. Brown, though, is more about trying to swallow up a guy in his arms. Williams is better at keeping his shoulder square; Brown does more reaching. With Brown, he once allowed a pressure to Robert Mathis because he reached. But on the next play his man tried to go inside and he stopped him with his left arm.

20. Big Mo Hurt needs to stop lunging into guys. Did it twice and got beat both times because of it. But the pile mover did move out a tackle on his first snap of the second half. Another backup lineman, center Erik Cook, gets moved back too often. This is against backups. He’s the No. 2 center. What happens if Montgomery gets hurt?

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/nfl ... z1VfIAiOk3

Kinda confirms some of our fears about the line. Tackles are okay (though Williams played a poor game on Friday according to reports) and the interior line is weak. Hopefully they can gel as a unit, and with an athletic QB like Beck maybe he can get out of trouble easier.

Good article. One of the things I noticed in the last game of the season against the Giants, the O linemen got pushed back a lot on pass plays. I think that the writer points out legitimate concerns, but what is kinda funny is the Redskins rushed for over 200 yards despite the criticism and played better in the first game. In other words, if I hadn't have known anything about the game and just read the O line segment, I would have thought the O line was terrible. No O lineman wins every battle and no O lineman on our line sniffed the Pro Bowl roster last year, so it stands to reason that this early in the pre-season that there are going to be concerns. Keeping things in perspective, this is not our year to compete for the Division Championship. We are still a work in progess as a team, not just the O line. The team will better than last year and will get better as the season goes along.

[Red_One43]

Offensive Line Breakdown vs the Baltimore Ravens

This is the link to a series of frame breakdowns of our O line's successes agains tthe Ravens. Definitely a good read.

http://www.hogshaven.com/2011/8/29/2390 ... #storyjump

[Skinsfan55]

Through the first two games the Redskins are the least penalized team in the NFL and they've only allowed 5 sacks. This unit is starting to look legit. I'd like to see more breakdown on o-line play in the media, but from what I've seen, they look decent.

[emoses14]

Didn't get to really see most of the game. . . How Did T. Williams look yesterday?