woodbuck27
09-23-2006, 12:54 AM
Offensive Line Analysis - Updated by Derek VanRiper - RotoWire Editor
Team: CHICAGO BEARS
Starters: John Tait (LT), Ruben Brown (LG), Olin Kreutz (C), Terrence Metcalf (RG), Fred Miller (RT)
Quality: Good
Health: Good
Notes: 9/12: Chicago gained just 3.0 YPC against a very suspect Green Bay defense in the opener. Running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson picked up a combined 97 yards on 32 rushes, while failing to find the end zone.
The Bears return all five starters from an offensive line that played well last year and should be one of the league’s better lines again this season. The group paved the way for Thomas Jones to rush for 1,335 yards in 2005 and will have to be good once again for Jones and Cedric Benson to have successful campaigns.
John Tait and company also have a big responsibility in protecting Rex Grossman, who has never been able to stay healthy and must avoid taking big hits to finally make it through an entire season.
Entering 2006, the only starting lineman below 100 percent is Terrence Metcalf (knee), but he is expected to be ready by Week 1.
Olin Kreutz, a five-time Pro Bowler, and Fred Miller seem to be on decent terms after Kreutz broke Miller’s jaw in an altercation last year,
and eight time Pro-Bowler Ruben Brown, is fully healthy after suffering a neck injury in 2004.
While Chicago has capable backups in Roberto Garza and John St. Clair, expect the Bears’ offensive line to thrive if the unit can avoid any major injuries
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Team: DETROIT LIONS
Starters: Jeff Backus (LT), Ross Verba (LG), Dominic Raiola (C), Damien Woody (RG), Rex Tucker (RT)
Quality: Fair
Health: Fair
Notes: 9/12: Tucker hopes to be ready for the Week 2 showdown with the Bears, after missing the opener with a knee injury.
A paltry 2.2 YPC was a big part of the Lions six-point output against Seattle, but receiver Roy Williams said it was "stupid" how close they were to putting up 40 points in Week 1, so maybe he knows something that we don't.
The Lions have another tough matchup with Chicago on the road.
The only real position battle here is between Tucker and Barry Stokes. Tucker is currently considered "week-to-week" with a sprained left knee, but he’s crafted an extensive injury history since coming into the league in 1999.
If Stokes shows himself ready, willing and able, he could take away Tucker's job from him while he's on the shelf.
Stokes, along with Rick DeMulling, Ross Verba, and Fred Matua will be the club’s key reserves.
The Lions were forced to play without Tucker (knee), Woody (hand), and Stokes (hamstring) in their preseason opener. Of those injuries, Tucker and Woody are surrounded by the most uncertainty. Both players are expected to miss the team’s second preseason contest, while their status for the third is still unknown.
Poor line play was a big part of the Lions’ inability to generate a consistent running game last season, and it certainly didn’t help the exiled Joey Harrington.
This group will need to improve if the Lions hope to make strides with new offensive coordinator Mike Martz calling the shots.
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Team: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Starters: Chad Clifton (LT), Jason Spitz (LG), Scott Wells (C), Tony Moll (RG), Mark Tauscher (RT)
Quality: Poor
comment woodbuck27:
ONLY TEAM in the NFL with a POOR RATING.
I Noted that Ted Thompson's former Team " the Seattle Seahawks " Gets an EXCELLENT Grade for it's OL.
So surely Ted had something to do with acquiring the Seahawks OL and will emphasize need here or we are cook'd.
Health: Good
Notes: 9/12:
Only one unit looked more abysmal than Green Bay during Week 1 (Oakland), and while the Packers had a very tough matchup against Chicago, the line gave quarterback Brett Favre no time to make throws.
The major surprise here was Ahman Green getting over the 100-yard mark on 20 carries (5.5 yards per carry).
Clifton has been sidelined by a lingering knee injury throughout the preseason and the depth behind him at left tackle is very suspect. Junius Coston is the backup now, but he's never played anything but guard, and it showed when he struggled mightily in the scrimmage last week.
If Clifton is unable to play, there is a good chance that quarterback Brett Favre will be under heavy pass rushes from his blindside. Favre is going to get hammered.
The revamped line features two rookies starting at guard in Colledge and Spitz. The young duo has looked good in practice, but the inexperience may be exposed once the regular season is underway.
Wells is locked in to start at center, after starting a handful of games there last season.
In addition to the personnel changes, the team’s new coaching staff is changing the blocking scheme.
New head coach Mike McCarthy says he wants to run the ball a lot,
Comment: woodbuck27
Mike McCarthy says he wants to run the ball a lot
Mike McCarthy says he wants to run the ball a lot
Mike McCarthy says he wants to run the ball a lot
and the team is now running a new zone-blocking scheme similar to that of Atlanta and Denver.
now running a new zone-blocking scheme
now running a new zone-blocking scheme
now running a new zone-blocking scheme
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Team: MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Starters: Bryant McKinnie (LT), Steve Hutchinson (LG), Matt Birk (C), Artis Hicks (RG), Marcus Johnson (RT)
Quality: Good
Health: Good
Notes: 9/12:
86 rushing yards on 34 carries is far from impressive, for a unit that made major personnel and financial upgrades during the offseason.
Pass protection was fine, as Brad Johnson was sacked just once, but the Vikes will need to be more effective run-blocking going forward.
The Vikings will have three new starters on the offensive line in 2006 and two of them are former Pro Bowlers.
The team signed Steve Hutchinson away from Seattle with a seven-year, $49 million contract, which should make the left side with tackle Bryant McKinnie among the best in the league.
Former Pro Bowl center Matt Birk returns after missing 2005 due to hernia and hip problems.
Finally, the Vikings traded for Artis Hicks from the Eagles. The former starter in Childress' offense should help the unit mesh quickly.
The only open position is right tackle, where Marcus Johnson is expected to start after being moved all over the offensive line in his rookie season.
The end result could be a significant improvement over the ** 54 sacks allowed last season (the second most) and increased offensive production across the board
** 54 SACKS ALLOWED ????
What ? 54 !!??
Team: CHICAGO BEARS
Starters: John Tait (LT), Ruben Brown (LG), Olin Kreutz (C), Terrence Metcalf (RG), Fred Miller (RT)
Quality: Good
Health: Good
Notes: 9/12: Chicago gained just 3.0 YPC against a very suspect Green Bay defense in the opener. Running backs Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson picked up a combined 97 yards on 32 rushes, while failing to find the end zone.
The Bears return all five starters from an offensive line that played well last year and should be one of the league’s better lines again this season. The group paved the way for Thomas Jones to rush for 1,335 yards in 2005 and will have to be good once again for Jones and Cedric Benson to have successful campaigns.
John Tait and company also have a big responsibility in protecting Rex Grossman, who has never been able to stay healthy and must avoid taking big hits to finally make it through an entire season.
Entering 2006, the only starting lineman below 100 percent is Terrence Metcalf (knee), but he is expected to be ready by Week 1.
Olin Kreutz, a five-time Pro Bowler, and Fred Miller seem to be on decent terms after Kreutz broke Miller’s jaw in an altercation last year,
and eight time Pro-Bowler Ruben Brown, is fully healthy after suffering a neck injury in 2004.
While Chicago has capable backups in Roberto Garza and John St. Clair, expect the Bears’ offensive line to thrive if the unit can avoid any major injuries
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Team: DETROIT LIONS
Starters: Jeff Backus (LT), Ross Verba (LG), Dominic Raiola (C), Damien Woody (RG), Rex Tucker (RT)
Quality: Fair
Health: Fair
Notes: 9/12: Tucker hopes to be ready for the Week 2 showdown with the Bears, after missing the opener with a knee injury.
A paltry 2.2 YPC was a big part of the Lions six-point output against Seattle, but receiver Roy Williams said it was "stupid" how close they were to putting up 40 points in Week 1, so maybe he knows something that we don't.
The Lions have another tough matchup with Chicago on the road.
The only real position battle here is between Tucker and Barry Stokes. Tucker is currently considered "week-to-week" with a sprained left knee, but he’s crafted an extensive injury history since coming into the league in 1999.
If Stokes shows himself ready, willing and able, he could take away Tucker's job from him while he's on the shelf.
Stokes, along with Rick DeMulling, Ross Verba, and Fred Matua will be the club’s key reserves.
The Lions were forced to play without Tucker (knee), Woody (hand), and Stokes (hamstring) in their preseason opener. Of those injuries, Tucker and Woody are surrounded by the most uncertainty. Both players are expected to miss the team’s second preseason contest, while their status for the third is still unknown.
Poor line play was a big part of the Lions’ inability to generate a consistent running game last season, and it certainly didn’t help the exiled Joey Harrington.
This group will need to improve if the Lions hope to make strides with new offensive coordinator Mike Martz calling the shots.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Team: GREEN BAY PACKERS
Starters: Chad Clifton (LT), Jason Spitz (LG), Scott Wells (C), Tony Moll (RG), Mark Tauscher (RT)
Quality: Poor
comment woodbuck27:
ONLY TEAM in the NFL with a POOR RATING.
I Noted that Ted Thompson's former Team " the Seattle Seahawks " Gets an EXCELLENT Grade for it's OL.
So surely Ted had something to do with acquiring the Seahawks OL and will emphasize need here or we are cook'd.
Health: Good
Notes: 9/12:
Only one unit looked more abysmal than Green Bay during Week 1 (Oakland), and while the Packers had a very tough matchup against Chicago, the line gave quarterback Brett Favre no time to make throws.
The major surprise here was Ahman Green getting over the 100-yard mark on 20 carries (5.5 yards per carry).
Clifton has been sidelined by a lingering knee injury throughout the preseason and the depth behind him at left tackle is very suspect. Junius Coston is the backup now, but he's never played anything but guard, and it showed when he struggled mightily in the scrimmage last week.
If Clifton is unable to play, there is a good chance that quarterback Brett Favre will be under heavy pass rushes from his blindside. Favre is going to get hammered.
The revamped line features two rookies starting at guard in Colledge and Spitz. The young duo has looked good in practice, but the inexperience may be exposed once the regular season is underway.
Wells is locked in to start at center, after starting a handful of games there last season.
In addition to the personnel changes, the team’s new coaching staff is changing the blocking scheme.
New head coach Mike McCarthy says he wants to run the ball a lot,
Comment: woodbuck27
Mike McCarthy says he wants to run the ball a lot
Mike McCarthy says he wants to run the ball a lot
Mike McCarthy says he wants to run the ball a lot
and the team is now running a new zone-blocking scheme similar to that of Atlanta and Denver.
now running a new zone-blocking scheme
now running a new zone-blocking scheme
now running a new zone-blocking scheme
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Team: MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Starters: Bryant McKinnie (LT), Steve Hutchinson (LG), Matt Birk (C), Artis Hicks (RG), Marcus Johnson (RT)
Quality: Good
Health: Good
Notes: 9/12:
86 rushing yards on 34 carries is far from impressive, for a unit that made major personnel and financial upgrades during the offseason.
Pass protection was fine, as Brad Johnson was sacked just once, but the Vikes will need to be more effective run-blocking going forward.
The Vikings will have three new starters on the offensive line in 2006 and two of them are former Pro Bowlers.
The team signed Steve Hutchinson away from Seattle with a seven-year, $49 million contract, which should make the left side with tackle Bryant McKinnie among the best in the league.
Former Pro Bowl center Matt Birk returns after missing 2005 due to hernia and hip problems.
Finally, the Vikings traded for Artis Hicks from the Eagles. The former starter in Childress' offense should help the unit mesh quickly.
The only open position is right tackle, where Marcus Johnson is expected to start after being moved all over the offensive line in his rookie season.
The end result could be a significant improvement over the ** 54 sacks allowed last season (the second most) and increased offensive production across the board
** 54 SACKS ALLOWED ????
What ? 54 !!??