A very enlightening article on Oline around the NFL.

I read that article, and it makes sense. It seems that everyone (like a lot of people on this, and other boards) seems to consider OLmen just another fungible good. You let one go, and pick another up - like a plug n play device for your computer. But, then when pass pro drops off, the running game can't get one yard when needed, and the primary flag seems to be for false starts, the shoulders begin to shrug and wonder who to blame. I would imagine that if we did an exhaustive examination of line play, we would find that virtually none of the OLines on pro football teams have been together for more than two years - consistently - which is about the number of years it takes to really learn how to anticipate your line mates moves, reactions, and blocking styles without having to stop and think about it. Then, if you do get to three years, someone decides (the GM) not to play the man next to you, or you, and you wind up with a new whole bunch of mates to try to figure out how to stop the DL - who can get by more with free styling than the OL can. Most of the half vast wags who say that there is nothing to playing OL haven't played it. Those guys who have played OL look at the present situation and know the problem, but cannot get anyone else to understand the the OL is a unit - a team within the team. If they work well together, leave them bloody well alone, and spend the money to keep them together. That is what really griped my tookus about Sparano - four years, and the OL looked like it should be declared a Federal Disaster area.

 

Thanks. Good article.

I like to think this staff gets it. It's the first time I can remember seeing a staff make a starter, a high draft pick at that, play in preseason for as long as it takes. That was very refreshing to see.

 

Reading that article makes me glad we locked up a premier center like Pouncey in the 1st round. If Martin develops, we'll have an outstanding trio in Long-Pouncey-Martin at the most important oline positions while the rest of the league is still looking for answers.