Offensive Line Rankings: Week 9

Photo: Greg Bartram, USA Today Sports

At the mid-way point of the regular season, it is now time for the second major quarterly re-ranking of the year. We are at a point where injuries are making changes to the rankings. Many teams have seen small upgrades just by staying healthy. As usual, if you have a specific question about a team not listed here, please contact me via Twitter or in the Shark Pool.

Notable Upgrades

San Francisco (plus 5)

Despite losing starting center Daniel Kilgore for the season, the San Francisco offensive line is actually getting better since the last quarterly rankings. Mike Iupati had been forced from the game two weeks ago against Denver with a concussion, but appears to be full go for this weekend’s contest against St. Louis at home. Iupati also had various injuries earlier in the year, and appears to be recovered from those as well during the bye week. Rookie Marcus Martin has been impressive in practice and looks to step in for Kilgore, with Joe Looney as a veteran option behind him. Martin was drafted in the third round to take over for Kilgore, so this is not an awful setback for the team. Another Martin, Jonathan Martin (no relation), is no longer needed to start at right tackle, as Anthony Davis seems fully healthy. Martin proved himself as a swing tackle, and was a savvy pickup for the team in the offseason. It's good that the team has this depth in case of emergency. Right guard Alex Boone is finally in football shape after his extended holdout and the team will have four of the five from last year’s dominant line going the rest of the way. The cohesion level has not been great for this line this year, but the trend line is pointed upward. In general this franchise could look to emphasize the run down the stretch, and the team (which is already tenth in total rushing) could see increased production from their tailbacks in the games to come.

Baltimore (plus 10)

The Ravens’ offensive line gets a significant boost due to improving health on their left side. Specifically, left tackle Eugene Monroe returned last week after missing four weeks due to knee surgery. Although he was prone to holding penalties, rookie James Hurst did a decent job in his place, and could actually have a future in this league starting somewhere. Fellow rookie John Urschel also proved himself as a feasible depth option while left guard Kelechi Osemele recovered from his injuries. Osemele also returned to action last week after an extended absence. Right guard Marshal Yanda left last week’s game with a left knee injury but returned after halftime. All three starters are expected to play this week at Pittsburgh. Getting through this period without two key starters was a significant test for the depth of the unit, and overall the depth delivered. Part of this upgrade is the Ravens getting healthier while many teams above them are getting more injured.

Miami (plus 7)

The Dolphins’ offensive line got some really good news when Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey returned to the lineup for the first time this season two weeks ago. Pouncey was rusty and did not slot in at his usual position, which has been capably manned by Samson Satele. Instead Pouncey started at guard, something that he has done in the past (both in the pros and college). Pouncey really has come on in the last game and putting him at center is still an option, if Satele struggles. Dallas Thomas did a decent job in that right guard position before Pouncey returned to the lineup. Dallas Thomas was called upon again last week as left guard Daryn Colledge pulled out of last week’s game with a migraine. As any player with a head injury is required to pass the league’s concussion protocol, his status is somewhat in doubt for this weekend. Still, assuming all five starters play, this line is trending upward.

Philadelphia (plus 15)

This ranking upgrade assumes that center Jason Kelce, who is back at practice after missing several weeks with a sports hernia, will be starting this weekend at Houston. Should Kelce not be ready, David Molk would play another week, and the line upgrade should be disregarded. In related news, All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis has also been practicing, and looks like he is on schedule to return to the lineup for Week 10, which is the earliest he can return from the IR-DFR list. This is all good news, right? Well, not so fast, as right guard Todd Herremans has disclosed that he will attempt to play with a torn bicep. Herremans missed part of last week's game, and was replaced by Andrew Gardner. It is not clear what the severity of this injury is, as a full tear is a season ending injury requiring surgery, but a mild tear can be dealt with on a week to week basis. It could be that Herremans is just trying to last one more game before Mathis can return, it also could be that he plays the entire year. This ranking assumes the latter. Herremans is a tough player, having started 123 of the last 126 possible games for the team. Herremans has been practicing with the first team this week, wearing a bulky wrap around his arm. If Herremans can't function, Matt Tobin will swap over from left guard. Tobin has been filling in for Mathis and doing a decent job on the whole. Tobin made news this week for absolutely obliterating his own teammate during an Antonio Cromartie interception return. Ouch. Still, despite all the uncertainty, this unit has only given up seven sacks this season, and a big part of that is the play of Jason Peters, who is enjoying another high performance season. This line should be ranked among the better lines in the league as the season enters the stretch run.

Washington (plus 10)

When the rankings were last updated, the Washington offensive line was missing left guard Shawn Lauvao. While not considered one of the better linemen in the league, Lauvao was a pricey free agent addition last offseason, and probably the best guard on the roster. Getting him back, even with his  flaws, is a boost to this line. A further boost to this line came when beleaguered right tackle Tyler Polumbus was finally benched, replaced by Tom Compton. Polumbus had been the weak spot of the line, giving up double digit sacks, in less than half a season.  While not amazing, Compton is more reliable than Polumbus. The team responded with a big win in Dallas on Monday Night Football.  Polumbus was not active for the game, and could be on the way out of town. The bench still has interesting players, including rookies Morgan Moses and Spencer Long. Overall, this line is trending upward.

Notable Downgrades

Cleveland (minus 18)

This is a long way to drop for a line formerly ranked as the best in the league. The reason for this drop is simple: the injury to All-Pro center Alex Mack. Mack broke his leg two weeks ago and is out for the season.  Initially, guard John Greco slid over to center, a position he had not played at any level. Paul McQuistan took Greco’s guard spot. That didn’t work, so this week, the team is started Nick McDonald and moved Greco back to right guard. This lineup is better for cohesion reasons and McDonald did actually play decently. But, in general, this is an unstable situation. It’s tough to have faith that the line will improve beyond the current mid-tier ranking; if they can maintain it for the rest of the season that would be victory of sorts.  The loss of an impact player like Mack is pretty much a worst case scenario for any team.

Tennessee (minus 17)

While a huge part of this downgrade is the loss of Michael Roos (knee) for the year, a more troubling concern is how the rest of the line is performing. All of the other players are under performing. This is of special concern on the interior, where Chance Warmack appears to be in the midst of a sophomore slump, and Brian Schwenke is not developing. The Titans could be in the market for a new center this offseason. Although vulnerable at times in pass protection, Andy Levitre is still one of the better guards in the conference; he and Taylor Lewan are doing an excellent job run blocking. Lewan especially is a nasty player, who clearly enjoys the rougher aspects of the game. Overall, this line has the talent to improve their ranking and they do ok in run blocking but something is not quite clicking with the pass protection. The Titans’ line should be a strength of the team, but is currently not reliable.

St. Louis (minus 23)

Prior to last week, the St. Louis line was among one of the league’s best. I was actually on fellow Footballguy Matt Waldman’s video chat the other night touting their underrated status (*cough* shameless self-promotion). But all that is over. The Rams line was absolutely ravaged against Kansas City. Jake Long tore his ACL (the same knee as last year), which promotes Greg Robinson from left guard to left tackle. If that was the only change they might be ok. However Rodger Saffold injured his shoulder, and Scott Wells hurt his elbow. The Rams lost three starters in one afternoon, and it’s not clear when Saffold and Wells will be ready to return. In their place, Mike Person steps in at left guard for Robinson, Davin Joseph steps in for Saffold at right guard, and Barrett Jones steps in for Scott Wells at center. Tim Barnes, returning from shoulder injury, could also be in the mix at center. The Rams elevated Brandon Washington from their practice squad. That last move could be a sign that they don’t expect Saffold back any time soon.  These guys are actually not bad players, as far as NFL depth goes, but to have this much change, happen so quickly, is dire for a line’s cohesion.  Those fantasy players brave enough to start the Rams’ skill positions, proceed with caution.

Other Notes

SEA - There is a strong chance that center Max Unger returns to the line up this weekend. This has been a key loss for the team and the above rankings assume that he makes his return sooner rather than later.

CHI - Left guard Matt Slauson tore his pectoral and is out for the year. Struggling right tackle Jordan Mills will likely move to left guard while surprisingly decent former CFL'er Michael Ola will move to right tackle. The change could actually help Mills, only a small downgrade to the Bears' line at this time.

JAC - Left tackle Luke Joeckel is going through the league's concussion protocol and it is not clear if he will start on Sunday. Joeckel was cleared for a  non-contact practice on Thursday, which is a positive sign.

DAL - Left guard Ron Leary was forced from the game on monday night with a groin injury. Mackenzy Bernadeau replaced him in the lineup. Whoever starts, this position is the weakest of the five starters. Still the Cowboys' line has generally played at a high level and there is no downgrade at this time.

GB - Starting guard T.J. Lang sprained his ankle last week, but will get the bye week to recover and is expected back in the lineup for Week 10.

NYG - Free agent addition Geoff Schwartz is practicing and likely to be activated from the IR-DFR list after Week 9.

OAK - Right tackle Menelik Watson injured his shoulder, and was replaced by Khalif Barnes. Neither player is all that great, no change to the ranking at this time.

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