LT: Left behind
Left behind In today's pass-happy NFL, the image of the left tackle is taking a beating http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0401...as01jr_576.jpg Since Cleveland drafted Joe Thomas in 2007, its scoring offense has ranked above 24th only once. IN APRIL 2008, the Dolphins were so eager to make Michigan left tackle Jake Long the No. 1 pick overall and the cornerstone of their franchise that they signed him to a $57.5 million contract four days before the draft. Long more than lived up to that deal, becoming only the fourth tackle in 50 years to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons -- before a triceps injury sent him to injured reserve last December. Yet almost five years after the '08 draft, the Dolphins let Long -- who at 27 is entering his prime -- hit the open market without even offering him his $15.4 million franchise tag salary. Long ultimately became the 11th free agent offensive tackle to sign this offseason, inking a four-year deal with the Rams that could be worth as much as $36 million. But the contract came after he lingered on the market for a week, with his old team as the only other real suitor. So why the dramatic drop in urgency and currency for such a productive player? Actually, it's not Long who has lost so much value -- it's his position. The left tackle, once considered an essential building block for every franchise, has seen its importance erode in this era of read-option spread offenses. That's something NFL teams with high draft picks need to consider on April 25, when two left tackles, Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel and Central Michigan's Eric Fisher, are expected to be top-five picks. Times have changed dramatically since 2006, when the Ravens' Michael Oher was the inspiration for The Blind Side. That best-selling book and eventual blockbuster movie helped mythologize the left tackle's role in protecting the quarterback's back. But in '06, the ideal QB still stood in the pocket and worked through his progressions before delivering the ball downfield. Today, QB drops are shorter, the ball comes out quicker, the passers are far more elusive and the pressure is coming from all over, not just the right defensive end. As a result, Oher doesn't even protect the blind side anymore. In Super Bowl XLVII, he started at right tackle. Who would have ever predicted that when the Ravens made Oher their first-round pick in 2009? "If there's a great left tackle available, sure, people are still gonna take him," says Phil Savage, executive director of the Senior Bowl and former GM of the Browns. "But I absolutely think you're going to see more and more people rethink the idea of the left tackle as this top-notch, highest-paid, building block kind of player." Savage's reversal on the position is telling. In 1996 he was the director of player personnel in Baltimore when the Ravens drafted left tackle Jonathan Ogden with the fourth pick overall. In 2007, while running the Browns' draft, Savage selected LT Joe Thomas third overall. It's hard to dispute the impact of either guy; Ogden, in fact, was just elected to the Hall of Fame. But there's no disputing this either: Of the 12 left tackles drafted in the top 10 since 2004 -- at a collective price of more than $500 million -- only three have a postseason victory, and not one has an NFL title to his credit (Ogden won a ring in 2000). And although Thomas and Long have been to 10 Pro Bowls between them, neither has won even a single playoff game. Consider this also: In the first round of the 2007 draft, Savage bypassed Adrian Peterson, who last year had one of the greatest seasons by a running back in NFL history. To take Long in 2008, Miami passed over QB Matt Ryan, who has led the Falcons to the playoffs four times and took them to last season's NFC championship game. "I do not regret taking Jake Long," former Dolphins executive Bill Parcells told ESPN.com in April 2011. "But you always wonder if you should have taken a quarterback." For decades, old-school thinkers like Parcells and former Colts president Bill Polian considered quarterback, left tackle and pass rusher to be the "holy trinity" of team building. Now the argument can be made that the correlation between victories and elite left tackles no longer exists. "When coaches talk about position hierarchy, left tackle isn't among the top few anymore," an AFC team exec says. "Now it's QB, pass rusher, cornerback, wide receiver. A guy like Joe Thomas shows that a great left tackle isn't nearly sufficient." Nor is he necessary. After all, Eli Manning won two Super Bowl MVPs with former fifth-round pick and converted guard David Diehl protecting his backside. Aaron Rodgers sets up behind fifth-round pick Marshall Newhouse. And who can name Tom Brady's left tackle? How about Peyton Manning's? Considering that those two legendary QBs had the quickest releases in the league last season -- 3.03 and 3.04 seconds, compared with the league average of 3.46 -- do the names really matter? Linemen simply don't have to hold their blocks as long as they used to. Meanwhile, to counter quick-strike passing attacks, defenses like the Giants' and Ravens' have started to take a shorter, more direct path to the quarterback by overloading pressure up the middle, which places more value on guards and centers. That's why Alabama's Chance Warmack could become just the seventh guard taken in the top 10 of the draft since 1988. And because running backs and especially tight ends are too valuable in the passing game to stay in and block -- catches by tight ends are up 16 percent since 2008 -- even the right tackle position is on the rise. In the end, the importance of protecting the quarterback hasn't diminished; it's just that the responsibility and rewards are now more evenly distributed across all five O-linemen. "It used to be you found a great left tackle and built the rest of it from there," Savage says. "Now, because of defenses, you'd better be solid across the entire line. Instead of the super-elite left tackle, it's about five men who block well in a system. You could write a whole book about how the spread offense has impacted the NFL game." In that book, the chapter about left tackles could be titled Blindsided. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/91...-espn-magazine |
**** left tackles.
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Welp.
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Jordan?
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Moar Geno hope
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Joeckel, Joeckel Joeckel!
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This article just reinforces what some of us have been saying for some time now.
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Jimmy Johnson said he would always value a average qb more than a Elite tackle because QBs win games and have the most impact as to a Tackle.
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Initially, I thought this thread was about Ladanian Tomlinson and the Rapture of the Church...
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Doesn't mean squat for Geno in our situation, it means that Dion Jordan could be the guy.
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Super duper. |
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If the Chiefs one day decided to only aquire linemen through FA, would Mayock, Kiper, McShay and all of truefannery spontaneously combust? This is an experiment I can get behind.
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Kiper has Geno going to the Eagles. Am I missing anything?
Vick was the most sacked qb. They need a o line bsd not us. We were ranked 13 and should be ranked top 10 with good qbs. |
The Ravens started 1st rounders at both tackle positions and a 5th and 7th rounder at CB. No way on earth would I rate CB ahead of LT. That exec is crazy. Although I agree if the game continues to develop into college spread football that may change. But still, the NFL has neutered the Ty Laws of the world just as much as the Jake Longs.
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And also, Peyton Manning's only Super Bowl win was with Tarik Glenn, a 1st round pick, at LT.
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Payton doesn't need linemen. He just uses his big, orb-head megatron brain-waves to keep defenders at bay/Hootie
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Also Rodgers won a Super Bowl with Chad Clifton, a 2nd round pick at LT... and Bryan Bulaga, a 1st round pick at RT. They've been whipped right out of the playoffs the last couple years.
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He raised his game to a level in that playoff run that we have rarely seen. He is the best QB in the game, and you know that as long as he's on the field, you have a chance. |
The Alex Smith trade contradicts the words out of Dorsey's mouth. That trade negates any hope you ever had. Accept it and despair.
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I agree. I think Rodgers play from the beginning of that playoff run to the end of the 15-1 regular season the next year is literally the best any QB has played the last 25 years or so, maybe longer. I said that multiple times, and I really mean that. Just unstoppable... which is why some of the comments on here about how Wilson and Kaepernick, etc, etc are HOF'ers playing better than anyone are crazy. They haven't even provided the best QB play of this decade to this point.
And why I think comparing any QB to Aaron Rodgers is a bad idea. |
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He did it with Rodgers already. Whats to say he wont do the same to Geno. |
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But you can watch a player and see similarities in their game. It's stupid to dismiss comparisons. I can watch Reggie Bush even today and see the valid comparison of his style to Gale Sayers. Anyone that would suggest that comparison is even remotely suggesting their production is similar is a moron that can't draw a distinction. |
**** that noise / archaic chiefs philosophy
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Excellent piece.
I still disagree, however. |
Eh, we are still taking a LT #1 overall...
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Lawrence Taylor wasn't raptured out? Shocking.
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I'm of the opinion and the tackle positions are incredibly important. I think the Chiefs should have kept both Albert and Winston. |
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Way to interior block there, you chance warmack beast you! You just got chanced, Broncos! /goddamned asshole mayock. |
Both Super Bowl teams had 1st round starting LTs. Manning had a first round LT. The Patriots have a 2nd round and 1st rounder as their starting tackles. Seattle has Okung at tackle.
I'm not advocating taking Joeckel or Fisher, but this article while having some good points isn't being completely honest. Using Long and Thomas as examples is deceiving. They both have never had a good or even average QB playing behind them. And then using Matt Ryan as the example of a QB being successful in the playoffs without an upper echelon LT is hilarious. The one playoff win Matt Ryan whose team has repeatedly been upset in the playoffs?! Typical ESPN lazy reporting. |
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Albert has a lot of technique to learn and I believe he can learn to become a solid LT, but he burned bridges imo. So, moving forward, I would look at Kyle Long, Dave Quessenberry or Jordan Mills -- guys that might be available in the top of the 3rd rnd and go ahead and invest in Geno Smith up top for the future. |
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The Chiefs are finally in a postion to draft a franchise left tackle. Only to have the game evlove the postion to neanderthal footing. ****ing Chiefs' luck.
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Combine numbers for Big Don: 6'6" 312 lbs. 34 1/2" arms 40 yard: 4.94 Vertical: 35.5" Broad: 114" Those are absolutely ridiculous speed/burst numbers for a guy of that size. The guy only needed another year of weight room time to build his strength up to the frame, which he's done with the Chiefs. Personally, I thought it was a pick of the same level of Jamaal Charles when he came out early and we got him with a third. I said it when we drafted him, that if he (Charles) stayed in school, he would have had a legit shot at the Heisman and it was the steal of the draft. In fact, this (Stephenson) is the guy that Pissholi is going to hang his hat on for future jobs IMO. (Along with Houston.) Stephenson is going to blow up this year. Book it. |
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This article is complete BS. The Ravens were having O-line problems. When McKenzie came on board, Oher volunteered to move to right. Oher spent his rookie year at right tackle. The move made Flacco a better QB. In the same division as Von Miller, I'll take the bookend tackles. |
"When coaches talk about position hierarchy, left tackle isn't among the top few anymore," an AFC team exec says. "Now it's QB, pass rusher, cornerback, wide receiver."
the point in this article is that the "trifecta" is void and the LT isn't even part of the equation anymore. |
In fact, in considering Direckshun's yearning for Winston, I think that Jeff Allen has the potential to be a solid right tackle in the league. He's solid on pass protection and does a nice job of keeping his guy in front of him. Redardless of what Crennel/Pissholi thought, he's not a guard and has played both tackle positions in college at a high level.
He doesn't have Stephenson's length or athleticism, but he's fundamentally sound with good feet, has functional strength and will keep his defender in front of him. That's what you want out of a right tackle in this day and age. Personally, I think drafting an offensive tackle early is a bit redundant at this point. They'll definitely take one in the draft (as well as an interior guy), but one early after drafting both Stephenson and Allen in the third and second rounds last year would be somewhat irresponsible. Dream scenario would be Barrett Jones at the top of the third. |
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And it's not like there is a singular "system" at this point anyway. Most teams are utilizing variants of numerous systems on both sides of the ball. You'll see cover 2's, 46's, 43's, 34's, etc. out of one team. It's not three yards and a cloud of dust with the best players on the best teams winning. Teams have been forced to employ various sets in order to counter the innovations that we've seen on both sides of the ball in the past decade. |
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Fail. |
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The article even contradicts itself by saying pass rusher is important, but The LT's importance is diminished. Who do they think has the job of blocking these important pass rushers? |
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Spread concepts mean a spread out field, more receivers, faster throws, more space. That's why elite o-line isn't as important as elite pass rush, and coverage guys that neutralize the quick passing game. The league is always changing, many people still see the NFL teams built in the 80's and 90's as how one builds a team today. |
Neither is corner though.
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Pissing away this pick on a damn tackle would be foolish.
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1. You don't block as long 2. You have less time to get to the QB Lowers requirement for elite blockers, raises the need for elite pass rushers. Got it Frankie? |
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1. Elite pass rushers are going to be less effective. 2. You still need a dominant blind side protector to protect your most valuable asset, your QB on the occasions that the quick pass is not available. There is a reason everyone has insurance on their cars and homes. Got it PeytonsPrincess? |
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This article doesn't claim that o-line isn't important, it says that the LT is no longer the building block. An elite LT doesn't do shit if they are rushing you from the right side of your line.... |
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As far as Rodgers though... I don't think there's anyone out there like him. Stafford probably. The way the ball comes out of his hand, it's amazing. It is kind of that Elway-like zip to rip it down the field. Flacco probably has a bigger arm... but he throws a lot of rainbows. |
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But that said, even Matt Ryan had a 1st round pick at LT. |
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It's why you've got to spread out the capabilities of all the offensive linemen, just not put all your money into a blindside protector and four roadgraders. It's why the term "blindside" doesn't have as much meaning as it did 10-15 years ago. And why I really like the offensive line that we have. Pissholi deservedly got a lot of shit for what he did, but I seriously think that he put together the building blocks for establishing a very solid offensive line unit that has the potential to be one of the best in the league. The only guy he missed out on was Zane Beadles when he drafted McCluster instead, but otherwise, the pieces are in place to have a pretty darn good O-line, especially if they can re-sign Albert. But even if they trade him, I'm not too worried about a line consisting of: LT: Stephenson LG: Asamoah C: Hudson RG: Schwartz RT: Allen especially if Lilja comes back for depth on the interior and they pickup a guy from someone's camp or draft a good tackle prospect this year. (KU's Hawkinson, Wisconsin's Ricky Wagner or Virginia's Oday Oboushi would all be ideal in that 5/6 round range. All have plus athleticism and have been very good pass protectors for their entire careers.) |
I'd be scared to ****ing death of Stephenson at LT, sorry.
Penciling him in as a solid player at this point is laughable. HUGE question mark. Same goes with Jeff Allen. |
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Do you pay attention to the positions getting big money? Have you not noticed the contracts LT's are getting is going down, while all the other line positions is going up? In today's NFL the left tackle is no longer a top 3 piece to build your team around. |
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Stephenson was as good as any of those guys as a junior and got good playing time late last season. He was definitely better than Johnson on the same team. A training camp with Reid and he's going to be ready to absolutely blow up. And Allen was a four year starter at right (freshman) and left tackle (sophomore, junior, senior) for the Illini. Second team All-American as a freshman and made All-Conference lists every single year. Don Stephenson at left tackle is one of my least concerning concerns for next season and I think that Allen has the capability of being a solid right tackle in this scheme. He's 6'4 1/2", 315 lbs. with good power, feet and hands. I hated that they (Crennel/Pissholi) tried to shoehorn him into the guard position, but with Winston gone, I think he's got a shot at the RT spot. It's like Geoff Schwartz said: I can play right tackle, but I'm a better guard. Allen is a better tackle than guard. No, my stated lineup wouldn't worry me in the least. |
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Having a good rush in the 4th quarter is essential and will never go away especially in a pass happy league. |
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Reid isn't going to war with those guys based on their rookie tape. |
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Allen, not so much as he's operating out of a 43, but he flips as well. Miller is all over the field. It's still an important position, but it's not the absolute cornerstone of a team as it once was. Teams are looking for more balance on the line versus sinking a huge contract into one guy and having run paving road graders at the four other positions. It's rapidly turning from a run-run-pass league (which mandated a high quality blindside protector) to a do whatever you can to move the ball downfield offensive game plan. Pulling guards and centers and tackles capable of quickly getting to the second level are just as important as that blindside protector. |
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With both of them getting good reps last season, it only helped their development if Albert gets traded prior to the start of the season. And there are very few rookies who are forced into playing time that usually come out looking like rock stars. Neither of those guys got first team reps until they were forced onto the field due to injury. However, both were high level players at the college level with potential for the NFL who now know what it's like to block at that level. That game time that they got was extremely valuable and an off-season/summer camp with a guy that is a pretty decent offensive mind versus a complete buffoon like Daboll is going to be Nirvana-level enlightening for not only the offensive line, but for all the players. I think that both of those guys are going to be okay when the season rolls around. |
I saw this great article on Twitter last night. Good stuff. :clap:
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