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After several weeks of the regular season, injuries are taking a toll on the league's offensive lines. Those teams that are struck by injuries at multiple positions have experienced significant downgrades. Other teams are getting players back from injury or suspension and are being upgraded. Some of these moves have occurred simply because the teams around them improved or got hurt. Below are the full rankings, notable upgrades, downgrades and other notes. For teams that aren't mentioned, just ask. As usual, I can be reached on twitter @draftdaddy or in the Shark Pool.
Rank | Old | Diff | Team | Score | Focus | Grade | Run | Pass | Injuries |
1 | 2 | +1 | CLE | 32.35 | Run | A+ | A+ | A | |
2 | 6 | +4 | DEN | 31.35 | Pass | A | A- | A | |
3 | 7 | +4 | DAL | 31.15 | Pass | A | A- | A | |
4 | 11 | +7 | CIN | 30.9 | Pass | A | A- | A | |
5 | 8 | +3 | SEA | 30.65 | Run | A | A | A- | |
6 | 10 | +4 | TEN | 30.6 | Run | A | A | A- | |
7t | 13 | +6 | DET | 30.35 | Pass | A- | B+ | A | |
7t | 5 | -2 | STL | 30.35 | Pass | A- | B+ | A | |
7t | 3 | -4 | SF | 30.35 | Run | A- | A | B+ | |
10 | 15 | +5 | NYJ | 30.15 | Run | B+ | A- | B | |
11 | 4 | -7 | MIN | 30.1 | Run | B+ | A- | B | w/o Brandon Fusco (pectoral) |
12 | 12 | 0 | NO | 29.9 | Pass | B+ | B | A- | |
13 | 17 | +4 | HOU | 29.8 | Run | B+ | A- | B | |
14 | 19 | +5 | TB | 29.65 | Run | B | B+ | B- | |
15t | 16 | +1 | BAL | 29.15 | Run | B | B+ | B- | |
15t | 9 | -6 | PIT | 29.15 | Pass | B | B- | B+ | w/o Ramon Foster (ankle) |
17 | 25 | +8 | IND | 29.1 | Pass | B | C+ | A- | |
18 | 21 | +3 | MIA | 28.8 | Run | B- | B | C+ | w/o Mike Pouncey (hip) |
19 | 31 | +12 | KC | 28.65 | Run | B- | B | C+ | |
20t | 20 | 0 | SD | 28.4 | Pass | C+ | C | B- | w/o Nick Hardwick (neck) |
20t | 14 | -6 | CHI | 28.4 | Run | C+ | B- | C | w/o Roberto Garza & Matt Slauson |
22 | 18 | -4 | CAR | 28.35 | Run | C+ | B | C- | |
23t | 24 | +1 | AZ | 28.15 | Run | C | C+ | C- | |
23t | 22 | -1 | WAS | 28.15 | Pass | C | C+ | C- | |
25t | 30 | +5 | NYG | 28.1 | Pass | C | C | C | |
25t | 29 | +4 | GB | 28.1 | Pass | C | C- | C+ | |
27t | 28 | +1 | OAK | 27.65 | Run | C- | C | D+ | |
27t | 26 | -1 | BUF | 27.65 | Pass | C- | D+ | C | |
29 | 1 | -28 | PHI | 27.6 | Run | C- | C | D+ | w/o Evan Mathis & Jason Kelce |
30 | 32 | +2 | JAC | 26.65 | Run | D+ | D | C- | |
31 | 27 | -4 | ATL | 25.85 | Pass | D | D- | D+ | w/o Joe Hawley & Lamar Holmes |
32 | 23 | -9 | NE | 25.35 | Pass | D- | D- | D- |
Notable Upgrades
Kansas City (plus 12)
The Chiefs' line did not have the greatest start. Between Jeff Allen landing on injured reserve and Donald Stephenson running afoul of the league’s performance enhancing drug policy, the unit experienced great uncertainty early in the season. Former number one overall pick Eric Fisher was a complete mess during that time (allowing several sacks). But he, and the rest of the line, really tightened up over the last few contests. The reconfigured unit, with Mike McGlynn at left guard and Ryan Harris at right tackle has been playing great football. McGlynn is possibly playing the best football of his career while Harris has been steady at the right tackle spot. Ironically, these injuries forced head coach Andy Reid to play veterans on what was previously one of the league’s youngest lines, and the result have been much better. The addition of these veterans have worked out so well, that Stephenson is reportedly not going to regain his starting position, once his suspension is complete this week. The extra depth will help their cause and offensive line coach Andy Heck has been impressive getting this unit to play at a high level.
Indianapolis (plus 8)
The Colts’ line is bookended by two solid Boston College products at tackle in Anthony Castonzo and Gosder Cherlius. These tackles are the strength of the line, or at least have been for the last two seasons. But the interior line positions have been uncertain in recent times. Enter A.Q. Shipley. Unceremoniously cut by the Ravens at the end of preseason, Shipley was quickly snapped up by the Colts, who needed a short term fill-in at center for Khalid Holmes, who suffered an ankle sprain in the preseason. Shipley has wildly exceeded expectations and ranks among the league’s better centers thus far in the season. Holmes has returned to health but is not getting his starting position back. The guard positions have been capably manned by Hugh Thornton and Jack Mewhort, however Lance Louis is playing significant snaps, as the starters have been fighting various minor injuries. Louis had been subbing for Thornton, who has returned to health this week. Mewhort is now ailing with an ankle injury and Louis will start there this Sunday. The take-away here is that the Colts’ line is much better, as they have finally gotten above average center play, probably for the first time since Jeff Saturday left the squad. Because of Shipley and the improved depth at guard, the Colts’ line is a much stronger unit, across the board, than in previous years.
Cincinnati (plus 7)
The Bengals’ offensive line has been dominant in every phase of the game so far this season. In pass protection, they have not allowed a sack on quarterback Andy Dalton this season. This is a huge improvement from where they left off last postseason, with their quarterback getting beat up by the Chargers in January. A big part of this achievement has been the play of rookie center Russell Bodine, who has been levelling defenders in the run game and opening up huge holes for the team’s tailbacks. Bodine is playing outstanding for a rookie and is showing huge potential. Bodine should be among the league's better centers in the seasons to come. Getting left guard Clint Boling back from last year's season ending injury has also been huge, and while the team has missed right guard Kevin Zeitler (knee) for the last few weeks, veteran Mike Pollak has filled-in admirably. With this tackle pairing of Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith, this is shaping up to be one of the league’s elite units.
Notable Downgrades
Philadelphia (minus 28)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Considered the league’s best line as preseason concluded, this unit has been ravaged by poor luck. Lane Johnson’s PED suspension came first, and if that was the only bad news, they would still be among the league’s best lines. However major injuries to capable backup Allen Barbre, left guard Evan Mathis and center Jason Kelce (the latter two are expected back in roughly eight games, give or take) have left the team scrambling for answers. Lane Johnson returns from his suspension this week, and that certainly helps matters, but the loss at center is not so easily remedied. Kelce is an athletic and ascending player in the league, considered to be among the best young players at the position. Losing this player is huge. David Molk has this job for the time being, and while he a scrappy player, lacks bulk and has been frequently pushed around. Left guard is not much better off, as Andrew Gardner has already been swapped out for Matt Tobin. Neither is starting quality, let alone comparable to Evan Mathis, who was playing at an All-Pro level. Off this adds up to the biggest one time move in the relatively short history of the offensive line rankings. In the long term, when the starters get healthy, this unit could come together just in time for the fantasy playoffs. However in the short term, Nick Foles and LeSean McCoy owners, beware.
New England (minus 9)
Now the lowest ranked unit in all of football, the Patriots' line is a dumpster fire. There’s no nice way to put how this unit has been playing. The main problem with the New England line isn’t necessarily talent. There are other lines making do with less. The problem is that they can’t find a steady lineup. After trading away Logan Mankins, the team has not been able to stick with any sort of consistent group of players, and they look lost out there. Josh Kline was the first “replacement” and has been a healthy scratch since floundering in Week 1. Marcus Cannon and Jordan Devey were both elevated to starter, and then quietly replaced. Ryan Wendell and Bryan Stork are rotating at center, during the game. Dan Connolly has played three different positions. Cameron Fleming was thrown into the mix (and looked out of sorts at guard). The players that the team thought they could depend upon, tackles Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer, have been terrible (possibly because of all the uncertainty at the guard spots). All of this adds up to a huge mess. They don’t all have to be amazing first round players, but the team needs to pick a line up and let these guys generate some cohesion.
Atlanta (minus 4)
The Falcons falling four spots isn’t necessarily a huge move, in terms of the rankings. However this team has been absolutely crushed by injuries. Starting with Sam Baker going on the injured reserve in preseason, the team also added center Joe Hawley and right tackle Lamar Holmes to the reserved list this week. Justin Blalock was also banged up (back) and his status is in serious doubt for this weekend’s contest against the Giants. Who’s left? Tight end Levine Toilolo had to finish the game last week at right tackle, which is never a good sign. Jake Matthews is actually doing a decent job at left tackle, but is still a rookie. Jon Asamoah has been a stalwart since joining the team in free agency. But that's it for the starters, only two out of five remain. In terms of depth, Gabe Carimi has been surprisingly decent and will likely start, somewhere. Peter Konz (considered a bust by many fans) will start at center. Ryan Schraeder is talented but raw and could start at right tackle. He will have to beat out the just signed Cameron Bradfield, who wasn’t good enough to play for the Jaguars. Harland Gunn (great name) was elevated from the practice squad and could actually start for Blalock this week (which would shift Carimi to right tackle). Picking a lineup out of these names is somewhat like throwing darts at this point. This line, which wasn’t real good to start with, just got worse.
Other Notes
DAL - If you want to see how a zone blocking scheme is supposed to be executed, check out this film room breakdown (with gifs) of Demarco Murray's long touchdown against the Saints. Really good stuff from the Cowboys' line this week.
BAL - At left tackle, James Hurst subbed in for Eugene Monroe (arthroscopic knee surgery) and played really well last week. He could be a find for the Ravens. No downgrade at this time, but it is a situation that bears close observation.
PIT - Left guard Ramon Foster has missed the last two games (ankle) and Cody Wallace has been atrocious in his place. If Foster was hurt more severely, the Steelers would be in trouble However, Foster was reportedly raring to go last week and should be in the lineup sooner rather than later. Assuming Foster can get healthy, expect an upgrade back to cusp of the top 10 in the next rankings.
SD - Center Rich Ohrnberger has done an outstanding job filling in for Nick Hardwick, who was placed on the injured reserve with a neck injury. Hardwick's career could be in doubt, which is a sad ending for one of the better players at that position in the league over the last decade.
WAS - Left tackle Trent Williams injured his knee last week but did not require an MRI. Williams called it a "slight dislocation of the kneecap" which sounds painful, but he should be fine going forward.
CHI - Left guard Michael Ola has been surprisingly decent in the last few games, subbing in for Matt Slauson. He's actually been less of a liability than center Brian de la Puente (starting for Roberto Garza), which is the opposite of what most believed would occur. Ola has CFL ties to Head Coach Marc Trestman and if he keeps this up, could factor into the team's future plans. Slauson and Garza are still probably a few weeks away from returning to the lineup.
MIN - The Vikings have lost right guard Brandon Fusco for the year with a torn pectoral, and this is the main reason for their seven slot downgrade. However all is not lost, as Vlad Ducasse actually played well last week. Check him out on this long gain screen play. If this continues, expect an upgrade back to lofty status in the next rankings update.