One of the key factors that can really help your decision between two seemingly equal players is reviewing the quality of the offensive line
for those players. All things being equal, a player that plays behind a very solid line brings more stability to the table
relative to a player that plays behind a suspect line. Coupled with a Strength of Schedule Analysis, you can significantly
stack the fantasy odds in your favor for having a very successful draft. At the end of day, it is these subtleties that
can help provide a big boost to your fantasy football draft selections, helping you select players with favorable circumstances while
avoiding potential duds that can crush your team.
How did the Docs create the FootballDocs 2007 Offensive Line Rankings?
Similar to our other fantasy football projections, a very intense level of detail and analysis has been carefully built into the FootballDocs
projected 2007 offensive line rankings. This provides an extremely comprehensive evaluation of each and every line in the NFL.
Every effort has been made to separate the offensive line contribution to its 2006 team offensive success. The evaluation goes well
beyond just looking at total sacks allowed and other traditional, first-level factors. For one, assuming every team in the NFL had exactly
the same offensive line, simply the teams that had the most pass attempts would yield the most aggregate sacks allowed. Consequently,
although sacks allowed can be an indictor of line quality, it is not a true, accurate reflection of line quality. Similar examples can
be made with other first-level pass blocking ratings as well as run blocking ratings. Rather, ratings were normalized between each and
every team in the league. Long runs were discarded from rushing yards per carry in an effort to extract line contribution to the success of the play. Several
other factors were included to provide a baseline rating in both run and pass blocking based on 2006 performance. Next, 2007 run and
pass blocking projections were made for each and every offensive line. Factors that were considered include key additions, key losses,
changes in offensive line coaches, and other statistically significant considerations. The end result is a very detailed, thorough
evaluation and projection for each offensive line.
The Docs have broken down our 2007 projected offensive line rankings in a very clean, user friendly format. Both projected
2007 run blocking rankings and 2007 pass blocking rankings are given, as well as an in-depth commentary for each team, highlighting
key additions and losses. These include Pro-Bowl level talent, other experienced talent, significant NFL offensive line rookies,
and key offensive line coaches.
ATLANTA FALCONS: (2007 Run Blocking - #11; 2007 Pass Blocking - #32)
The Jim Mora Jr. show has ended in Atlanta
and the Bobby Petrino era has begun. One of the biggest impacts of
Mora leaving is the loss of offensive line guru, Alex Gibbs. Gibbs
is one of the top line coaches in the country and famous for using undersized
lineman in a zone-rushing attack made famous in DEN. ATL led the league
in rushing each of the three years Gibbs was with the team. Enter 2007
and enter Mike Summers, who was the o-line coach for Petrino in Louisville.
Both Summers and Petrino favor the “bigger-is-better” philosophy and have
been working to retool the Falcons line. This has brought new, unproven
personnel and a completely new system for returning veterans to learn.
The end result is a bad pass blocking and good run blocking line in ’06 just
got a tad worse, as ’07 should prove to be a season of growing pains.
CINCINNATI BENGALS: (2007 Run Blocking - #4; 2007 Pass Blocking - #3)
Hats off to HC Marvin Lewis. Back in 2003, he decided to take on the
impossible and try to reshape a bunch of Bungles into a football team that
is to be feared. Four years later, mission accomplished.
During this process, he and his coaching staff have completely retooled an
offensive line that was among the worst in the league to now one that is
among the best in the league. Anchored by 4 time Pro-Bowl T Willie
“Ain’t nobody gonna get you Carson” Anderson, all the '07 starters on the o-line
have starting experience from ’06, putting the Bengals offense in a nice position for this
season. QB Carson Palmer has had a season to rebuild his confidence
after a brutal season-ending knee injury from ’05, and the quality of the
o-line has helped that confidence in no small part. We really like
the stability this o-line brings to the offense for their skill position
players.
OAKLAND RAIDERS: (2007 Run Blocking - #18; 2007 Pass Blocking - #22)
The Silver and Black have become the Black and Blue after the beatings they
have taken in recent years. Amassing a 15–49 record over the past four
seasons, the Raiders have “earned” every NFL draft pick they have accumulated
during that span. Their o-line was one of the worst in football last
year (including college and high school ball), and major changes have been
taking place by first-year HC Lane Kiffin (previously OC at USC). For
one, they snared Pro-Bowl C Jeremy Newberry from their buddies across the
bay in SF. They also acquired T Cornell Green from TB, drafted T Mario
Henderson out of Florida State, and have given the starting Guard spot to
second year player Paul McQuistan, who came on strong to take over that role
in the final four games of last season. With stud T Robert Gallery
now healthy, the end result is a better line in 2007.
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