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OL Rankings: The trenches are the first place to find winners

June 2, 2008
By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer


The New York Giants' run through the playoffs and their upset victory of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII once again reinforced the idea that, despite all the new wrinkles over the years, the NFL game is still won by having good players on both lines.

The Giants' defensive front four rightfully received plenty of hype after they helped shut down the high-flying New England offense in the Super Bowl and limiting Dallas and Green Bay in the playoffs. But the Giants' offensive line was almost as good in the playoffs, but nobody noticed.

That's the way it is for offensive lineman. The only way they get attention is if they're making mistakes.

As we head closer to the 2008 season, with the opening of training camps less than two months away and most teams getting a good feel for what their teams will look like, we thought it was a good time to take a look at the offensive and defensive lines of all 32 teams.

The first column we will rank the league's offensive lines, giving them a ranking of 1 to 32, with one being the best and 32 the worst. The next column will rank the defensive lines 1 to 32 and the final day will be an overall rankings.

The team with the lowest two-line total has the best line play in the league heading into the 2008 season and should be a Super contender.

If you're looking for a surprise team, you might want to look for a non-playoff team from last season that is in the top 15 in the overall line rankings.

It's all about the lines in the NFL.

The New York Giants once again reminded us of that last season.


Arizona Cardinals
Best player: RG Deuce Lutui. Weak link: Center Al Johnson.
The skinny: This is a unit that improved greatly in 2006. And with right tackle Levi Brown now in his second season it should be even better. Lutui developed into a quality guard last season and left tackle Mike Gandy was a pleasant surprise. They do need to block better for the run game.

Rating: 22


Atlanta Falcons
Best player: LG Justin Blalock. Weak link: The right tackle position, whoever starts -- if it isn't Blalock.

The skinny: This is a young group in transition. First-round pick Sam Baker will be the starting left tackle and will be a good one down the road but he is a rookie. This is a unit that might be overmatched early in the season. Blalock, now in his second season, could start at either guard or right tackle, depending where he is needed. Center Todd McClure is a decent player in the middle.

Rating: 32


Baltimore Ravens
Best player: RG Jason Brown. Weak link: RT Marshall Yanda.

The skinny: Brown is a rising star whose best football is in front of him. Left tackle Jonathan Ogden can still play at a high level if he doesn't retire, but not the way he did a few years back. There are some good, young players on this line who should get better in 2008. There will be a lot of competition for jobs. Yanda, the starting right tackle at the end of 2007, could be moved inside if a young tackle emerges.

Rating: 25


Buffalo Bills
Best player: LT Jason Peters. Weak link: C Melvin Fowler.

The skinny: Peters is a Pro Bowl player and the rest of the line is solid, if not great. This is a line that should get better each of the next few seasons as they develop. The Bills spent a lot of money last year to get Walker and left guard Derrick Dockery in free agency -- and it appeared to pay off. Dockery really played well. Fowler needs to play better.

Rating: 15


Carolina Panthers
Best player: LT Jordan Gross. Weak link: The right guard spot.

The skinny: The Panthers won't have one player starting in the same position he started in last season. But the line will be better. Gross moves from right tackle to the left side with rookie Jeff Otah in as the starter on the right side. Ryan Kalil takes over at center. Vincent will try to beat out Toniu Fonoti and Milford Brown at right guard.

Rating: 21


Chicago Bears
Best player: RT John Tait. Weak link: LT Chris Williams.

The skinny: Tait moves from the left side to the right side, his natural position, and rookie first-round pick Chris Williams will start on the left side. Center Olin Kreutz isn't the player he once was and the guards are average. Right guard Roberto Garza is average at best, and John St. Clair moves from tackle to left guard.

Rating: 26


Cincinnati Bengals
Best player: RT Stacey Andrews. Weak link: C Eric Ghiaciuc
The skinny: The Bengals had problems on their line last season with injuries to starting tackles Willie Anderson and Levi Jones. Andrews stepped in and played well in place of Anderson, which is why the team re-signed him before he hit the free-agent market. Ghiaciuc struggled with big power players last season.

Rating: 17


Cleveland Browns
Best player: LT Joe Thomas. Weak link: C Hank Fraley.

The skinny: The addition of Thomas last year as a rookie and free-agent guard Eric Steinbach really improved the line, especially the left side. The right side isn't as good, but the addition of guard Rex Hadnot might help the run game. Fraley is solid at center, but he has trouble with the big nose tackles.

Rating: 6


Dallas Cowboys
Best player: C Andre Gurode. Weak link: LG Kyle Kosier.

The skinny: This is an outstanding line from tackle to tackle. Picking out a weak line is tough, but Kosier is the choice. Gurode and right guard Leonard Davis are both coming off outstanding seasons. It will be interesting to see how left tackle Flozell Adams plays with his new contract.

Rating: 1


Denver Broncos
Best player: LG Ben Hamilton. Weak link: The right tackle spot.
The skinny: The Broncos line, which has been a strong point in recent years, wasn't so good last season. That's why Denver picked Ryan Clady in the first round. He will start at left tackle. The rest of the line will see a lot of competition for jobs. At right tackle, Erik Pears should battle Chris Kuper for the starting job. Getting left guard Ben Hamilton back from injury is huge. Center will be a battle between Tom Nalen and Casey Wiegmann.

Rating: 19


Detroit Lions
Best player: C Dominic Raiola. Weak link: RT Gosder Cherilus.

The skinny: The Lions had major problems at right tackle last season so they will turn to rookie first-round pick Cherilus. Starting a rookie is always dicey. Raiola is the best of this line, with left tackle Jeff Backus second best. The guards are just OK. Left guard Edwin Mulitalo is a good run blocker.

Rating: 27


Green Bay Packers
Best player: RT Mark Tauscher. Weak link: Both guard spots.

The skinny: In Tauscher and left tackle Chad Clifton, the Packers have a good combination. Center Scott Wells is a good player, but isn't powerful. It's the guard play that worried the team last season. They need to get better play from both guard spots in 2007 if this line is going to make strides.

Rating: 10


Houston Texans
Best player: RT Eric Winston. Weak link: LT Duane Brown.

The skinny: The Texans have had problems at left tackle their entire existence, but Brown steps in as a rookie and will likely start. That's a risk in a division with Dwight Freeney. Winston is underrated at right tackle. The interior will be better with the acquisition of center Chris Myers from Denver. Adding Alex Gibbs to coach this group will help.

Rating: 18


Indianapolis Colts
Best player: C Jeff Saturday. Weak link: Whoever starts at right guard.

The skinny: The Colts always have a quality line, and this year's group is no different. Saturday is a Pro Bowl player and second-year left tackle Tony Ugoh can get there. Look for rookie Mike Pollak to possibly start at right guard ahead of Charles Johnson. The line had a lot of injuries to deal with last season, but came through them well.

Rating: 4


Jacksonville Jaguars
Best player: RT Tony Pashos. Weak link: LT Khalif Barnes.

The skinny: This is one of the best lines in the league. There are no real weak spots. Barnes' only troubles have been focus. If he's focused, he's a heck of a player. The team is moving Vince Manuwai from left guard to right guard and look for second-year player Uche Nwaneri to push Maurice Williams at left guard.

Rating: 5


Kansas City Chiefs
Best player: LG Brian Waters. Weak link: C Rudy Niswanger.

The skinny: The Chiefs were really bad last season up front, a big departure from recent seasons. Age and retirements set them back, so they are looking to improve. Rookie first-round pick Branden Albert will start at left tackle, which will help. Waters is still a top-flight guard. The rest of the line is so-so at best. Niswanger is a first-year starter at center, but he has potential.

Rating: 31


Miami Dolphins
Best player: RT Vernon Carey. Weak link: The right guard spot.
The skinny: This is a line in rebuild mode. The drafting of left tackle Jake Long with the first overall pick in this year's draft will help the improvement. He will be a good one. That move allows Carey to go back to the right side. They overpaid for left guard Justin Smiley in free agency, but he will be an upgrade. The other guard spot is open to competition with rookie Shawn Murphy in the battle. Center Samson Satele is a young player to watch in coming years.

Rating: 29


Minnesota Vikings
Best player: LG Steve Hutchinson. Weak link: RT Ryan Cook.

The skinny: Hutchinson and left tackle Bryant McKinnie are very good on the left side, but the right side is a concern. Center Matt Birk is getting up in the years, but he can still play at a high level. Right guard Anthony Herrera is good in the run game.

Rating: 8


New England Patriots
Best player: LG Logan Mankins. Weak link: RT Nick Kaczur.

The skinny: This is a unit that took a beating for the way it played in the Super Bowl loss. They struggled in pass protection. But Dante Scarnecchia, the best line coach in football, should get this unit back on track. Mankins is one of the game's best and center Dan Koppen went to the Pro Bowl last season. Left tackle Matt Light needs to play better. Right guard is a concern.

Rating: 3


New Orleans Saints
Best player: RG Jahri Evans. Weak link: C Jonathan Goodwin.

The skinny: Evans plays at a Pro Bowl level and left tackle Jammal Brown is a good player as well. The biggest concern is center, where Jonathan Goodwin takes over for the departed Jeff Faine. Right tackle Jon Stinchcomb needs to revert to his 2006 form. He could be pushed for his job this summer.

Rating: 13


New York Giants
Best player: RG Chris Snee. Weak link: LG Rich Seubert.

The skinny: The Giants' line exceeded expectations last season, especially the tackles. Right tackle Kareem McKenzie and left tackle David Diehl played good football in the Super Bowl run. Center Shaun O'Hara is underrated. Snee is a Pro Bowl player who hasn't gone yet, while Seubert is a fighter.

Rating: 7


New York Jets
Best player: LG Alan Faneca. Weak link: RT Damien Woody.

The skinny: They added Faneca and Woody in free agency. The Woody move will be one to watch because he's moving from guard/center to full-time tackle. Does he have the feet to handle the speed out there? The key for this group will be if left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold show better than they did last season.

Rating: 14


Oakland Raiders
Best player: RG Cooper Carlisle. Weak link: Right tackle spot.

The skinny: The Raiders bypassed the chance to take an offensive tackle and instead picked running back Darren McFadden in the first round. So who blocks for him? The best of the weak group is Carlisle, who played well last season. Left guard Robert Gallery was a bust at tackle and pretty good inside. Adding John Wade isn't the answer at center. Kwame Harris is an upgrade over Barry Sims at left tackle, but not by much. The right tackle will be either Cornell Green or Mario Henderson or Paul McQuistan.

Rating: 23


Philadelphia Eagles
Best player: RG Shawn Andrews. Weak link: LG Todd Herremans.

The skinny: This was the unit that helped the Eagles to the playoffs in 2006. But it didn't play as well last season, giving up 49 sacks after 29 the year before. Andrews was clearly the best of the group, but the others didn't play as well as they did in 2006. Tackles Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan are getting up in years, and that's a concern. Center Jamaal Jackson needs to play better.

Rating: 9


Pittsburgh Steelers
Best player: LT Marvel Smith. Weak link: LG Chris Kemoeatu.

The skinny: They've traditionally had one of the better lines in the NFL. But with the loss of guard Alan Faneca and the poor development of players like tackles Willie Colon and Max Starks, the line isn't what it used to be. Smith had back surgery in the offseason that needs to be watched. Justin Hartwig will be an upgrade over Sean Mahan at center.

Rating: 24


St. Louis Rams
Best player: LT Orlando Pace. Weak link: The center spot.

The skinny: This line was terrible last season because of injuries. They get Pace back from injury, which is huge. He has missed big parts of the past two seasons. They also will have right guard Richie Incognito back, which is important to the run game. At center, Brett Romberg will try to fend off Mark Setterstrom. The problem is neither is good enough.

Rating: 28


San Diego Chargers
Best player: LG Kris Dielman. Weak link: RT Jeromey Clary.

The skinny: This line opens a lot of holes for LaDainian Tomlinson. The left side, with Dielman and tackle Marcus McNeil, is very good. Center Nick Hardwick and right guard Mike Goff are above-average players as well, although Goff is getting older at 32. Clary took over as a starter midway through last year and did OK, but he needs to be a better run blocker.

Rating: 2


San Francisco 49ers
Best player: LT Joe Staley. Weak link: C Eric Heitmann.

The skinny: They will move Staley from right tackle to the left side. He played the right side as a rookie, but is more of a left tackle. Look for rookie Chilo Rachal to start at guard, although he has worked some at right tackle. The inside people are average at best. Rookie Cody Wallace could challenge Heitmann.

Rating: 30


Seattle Seahawks
Best player: LT Walter Jones. Weak link: RG Rob Sims.

The skinny: Jones is the best in football. He continues to play at a high level. Right tackle Sean Locklear is solid. The interior is made up of a center Chris Spencer, veteran (Mike Wahle) at left guard and Rob Sims at right guard. Wahle was signed as a free agent. Spencer needs to play better inside than he did a year ago for the line to improve. Sims moves over from left guard.

Rating: 11


Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best player: LG Arron Sears. Weak link: LT Luke Petitgout.

The skinny: The Bucs have worked hard to improve their line and it's showing. In Sears and right guard Davin Joseph they have two guards who should be starters for a long time. Acquiring center Jeff Faine in free agency will help. He isn't strong in the run game, which can hurt. Donald Penn could push Petitgout.

Rating: 20


Tennessee Titans
Best player: LT Michael Roos. Weak link: LG Eugene Amano or Leroy Harris.

The skinny: In Roos and right tackle David Stewart, the Titans have one of the best tackle duos in the game. Roos has Pro Bowl ability right now. Amano or Harris will move in as a full-time starter for the first time, which is a concern. Center Kevin Mawae is still playing at a high level.

Rating: 12


Washington Redskins
Best player: RG Randy Thomas. Weak link: C Casey Rabach.

The skinny: The Redskins line was hurt last season when Jon Jansen was lost for all but one game with an injury and Thomas missed most of the season. If Jansen and left tackle Chris Samuels can stay on the field, the Redskins have a solid line. Thomas and Pete Kendall give them two veteran guards who get the job done. They have some quality depth in Jason Fabini and Stephen Heyer, two players forced to start last season because of the injuries to Thomas and Jansen.

Rating: 16

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10851305/1


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If Hank Fraley is a weak link, as he calls it, we've got nothing to worry about.

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WOW,, I didn't know we were that bad

Fraley was by far NOT our weakest link,, in fact, I'm not sure we really had much of a weak link..

This guy completely missed how few sacks were given up (please, let's not get into the whole "DA gets rid of the ball quick thing", we know it's part of the total package).

He forgot that Stienbach played for us and did an extremely tremendous job.

Maybe it's just the Homer coming out in me or something, but does this seem more like a contrived review rather than one that was really researched?


#GMSTRONG

“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan

"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
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I don't know, Daman, he still gave us a good ranking. And, saying that Fraley was our weak link isn't saying that he was our worst player. He says that Fraley was solid, just that he had some troubles with big NTs. Maybe we had to slide some help his way with those big guys. I know I don't notice those things.

But, if Fraley was our biggest problem, I'll take that all day!!!


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LOL! Gotta love rankings threads. First of all, we all know better than to put too much stock into anything in this article, whether it be positive or negative. So I'm not gonna get all riled up over any of it. The overall ranking of 6 is nice, and well-deserved in my opinion. As for the comments on Hank, let's remember, Pete Prisco doesn't know everything about every single o-lineman in the NFL. He had to put someone as a weak link. No matter who he put, we would've found fault with it. So take it for what it's worth Daman. I'm also not gonna read into where he has the other teams ranked, like say, the Steelers. I'm sure their fans have a thread going like this tearing Prisco a new one for ranking them 24th. While we see that and grin, they are thinking what we think towards his comments on Fraley. All BS. So whatever. It's nice but it doesn't really mean anything. With that said, I'll be interested to see where our D-line ranks.

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Quote:

If Hank Fraley is a weak link, as he calls it, we've got nothing to worry about.




Amen

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You know what, I completely miss understood his rankings.. What an Idiot I am... Geez


#GMSTRONG

“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
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Well this was an interesting diversion. Rank threads are usually a redundancy. Pigskin drips stats which are helpful, seldom reliable enough, and this is true here. As an aspect of a game, a team, a squad, etc., it is interesting. But these do not win games, especially THIS year's games, especially when based on last year. Enjoy it; ignore it.


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Quote:

WOW,, I didn't know we were that bad

Fraley was by far NOT our weakest link,, in fact, I'm not sure we really had much of a weak link..

This guy completely missed how few sacks were given up (please, let's not get into the whole "DA gets rid of the ball quick thing", we know it's part of the total package).

He forgot that Stienbach played for us and did an extremely tremendous job.

Maybe it's just the Homer coming out in me or something, but does this seem more like a contrived review rather than one that was really researched?




Being ranked 6th isn't all that bad! he did mention Eric. I just don't think Fraley is a weak link but rather our RG spot.

Good to see our Oline get some respect after many though we were the worst in the league a season and a half ago. Last year was fixing the oline...this year dline...I smell a lot more winning.


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Did you read my post a few up from yours,, I realized I read the thing wrong..


#GMSTRONG

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Daniel Patrick Moynahan

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Quote:

Good to see our Oline EARN some respect after many though we were the worst in the league a season and a half ago.




fixed it for you...


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Pitts #24, we're #6. My, how things have changed.

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It's all good...rankings just you a picture of what they see..and I'll take a 6..when it used to be a -6..

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Quote:

WOW,, I didn't know we were that bad

Fraley was by far NOT our weakest link,, in fact, I'm not sure we really had much of a weak link..

This guy completely missed how few sacks were given up (please, let's not get into the whole "DA gets rid of the ball quick thing", we know it's part of the total package).

He forgot that Stienbach played for us and did an extremely tremendous job.

Maybe it's just the Homer coming out in me or something, but does this seem more like a contrived review rather than one that was really researched?





Quote:

The skinny: The addition of Thomas last year as a rookie and free-agent guard Eric Steinbach really improved the line, especially the left side.





??


If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.

GM Strong




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Read on.


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

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Tardy again, Peen.


I hate that we have to play the supposed best OL in the opener.

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If I had to choose a week link on our O-Line I would say Shaffer. While he has been a pretty good Right Tackle I think that Fraley has a lot of value and helps us a lot more than Shaffer.

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I can't think of a better test for our new DL.


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

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Yeah, I had that thought too, just to make myself feel better.

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hehe

Hey, we get to test our young CB's too... Eric Wright vs. T.O. sound good?

They also have like 4,000 new CB's themselves, so we get to test our offense really well in the opener too... it's gonna be fun


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

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Quote:

Read on.




I did....I saw where he said he read the ranking wrong. It was more the comment on Steinbach I was addressing.

I guess you could read that wrong.


If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.

GM Strong




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Ahh, my bad... guess I should have read on, hehe.

I just saw you quote him and then the '??' and figured you were just questioning the rest of it


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

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Its Not a big surprise that we have the Best OL in the AFC North! JMHO Go Brownies!!!!


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It'll be even more interesting to see where he ranks our improved, D-line. I'll be interested to see that.


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Center Shaun O'Hara is underrated.




Pete Prisco is really Pete 314


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Quote:

Weak link: C Hank Fraley.






LOL...If Hank is our weakest link than I'd say were sitting pretty darn good,


Our weakest link would be the best player on many NFL lines, I think that says something about or line.

Hank dont get it done pretty, Hank just gets it done....

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I don’t know what he rates his conclusions by;

I.E…..run blocking, pass blocking and depth should be considered equally and age should have some measure of consideration.

Given that criteria I don’t know how he could come up with the conclusion that the Browns had
The 6th best OL and Dallas was #1.

The Browns rushed for 1,895 yards as a team.

Dallas rushed for 1,746 yards as a team.

Cleveland allowed just 19 sacks in 07.

Dallas allowed 25 sacks in 07.

We have added to our good depth in 07 with Rex Hadnot in 08.

Other then Tucker our OL is fairly young. I would give us a slight edge here too.

I wouldn’t trade this group of Browns OL men for any other in the League.


Take a Hike Prisco


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We go from 54 sacks in 06 to 19 in 07, with 6 of those in the first game due to charlie holding the ball forever. We gave up only 13 sacks in the next 15 games. We had at least two games where Anderson didn't have to have his uniform cleaned after the game. I think we should be ranked first. The OL really earned that last year.


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Quote:

I wouldn’t trade this group of Browns OL men for any other in the League.

Take a Hike Prisco




Tell me about it.....

As a unit they could be better run blockers, but I will tell you right now we have the best pass blocker in the NFL and I think you will see a better run blocker out of Big Joe also.

They mention that guy from the Colts who was a rookie (Tony Something?) last year as a player with a shot to make the probowl. Well I watch every Browns game and I watch a lot of football besides that as well. I don't know many players I'd trade Joe Thomas for. I don't know one single offensive lineman either.

I noticed that the Colts line was ranked higher than ours, that is absolutely rediculous. Realistically if we can improve runblocking and don't go through horrible injuries we should be the best in the NFL.

Hank Fraley is fine, our RG position will be fought over and we'll establish a quality player as a winner, we have as good of a LG as almost any in the NFL and we might have the best LT in the NFL. Kevin Schaffer is a fine RT.

We're better than number 6 for sure. We're also better than the Cowboys line. Prisco might not realize it but we definitely are


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Quote:

19 [sacks] in 07, with 6 of those in the first game due to charlie holding the ball forever.




Let's not exaggerate... only four of those were due to CF holding the ball forever. The first one was due to Schaffer getting trucked on the first third down of the game by James Harrison, and another one was due to Frye deciding to immediately run directly between JoeT and whoever he was blocking at the time. That was the play that got Frye pulled and demonstrated that he had absolutely cracked.

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dallas is ranked #1 offensive line whatever it doesn't matter. What matters is the Browns keep the team together, A and B I hope they come out acting like their playing the steelers on week 1 again, and get a re-match game and whip the cowboys.

It is not going to matter what the rank is, as long as the Browns get a victory on week 1, and week 2 and week 3 and week 4
Because if the Browns go 4-0 there will be no stopping them.

I wonder if Martin Rucker helps , Keeep the team together.


Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
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I'm just enjoying the beauty of being able to have the legitimate discussion of whether us being ranked as the #6 OL is ranking us as high as we deserve. 12 months ago we'd be debating whether the number in front of the 6 should be a 1 or a 2, and two years ago we didn't debate it, we knew we were as close to 32 as we ever wanted to be.

It's a beautiful thing.


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

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Quote:

You know what, I completely miss understood his rankings.. What an Idiot I am... Geez




lol so did i, i figured rating you wanted a high number like movies and stuff, and ranking is where you want to be #1...

6/32 Not bad at all.

the stillers are 24 it could be worse. When you go from a horrible line to a pretty solid line thats saying somthing.

The only concern i have for the line right now in the furture mostly on the right side is age. Some of those guys are in their 29s-30s I believe.


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I put this hear since it was the last post commented on, in regards to the o-line and d-line threads.

Line rankings: Physical Chargers put up two nasty fronts
June 5, 2008
By Pete Prisco
CBSSports.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10854851






Prisco: OL rankings | DL rankings
Memo to all players who have the San Diego Chargers on their schedule in 2008: Get ready for a physical 60 minutes, maybe more so than against any team in the league based on our breakdown of the NFL's 32 offensive and defensive lines.

The Chargers, who went to the AFC Championship Game last season, are again considered an elite team heading into this season. A lot of that is because they have the game's best runner in LaDainian Tomlinson, a gutsy passer in Philip Rivers and an elite tight end in Antonio Gates.

They also have the best pair of lines in the NFL.

Combined line rankings
No. Team OL rank DL rank Total
1. Chargers 2 1 3
2. Cowboys 1 5 6
2. Patriots 3 3 6
4. Vikings 8 2 10
5. Giants 7 4 11
6. Eagles 9 9 18
6. Seahawks 11 7 18
8. Colts 4 15 19
9. Packers 10 10 20
9. Browns 6 14 20
11. Jaguars 5 16 21
12. Titans 12 13 25
13. Saints 13 17 30
13. Texans 18 12 30
15. Ravens 25 6 31
16. Bills 15 18 33
17. Bears 26 8 34
18. Steelers 24 11 35
19. Jets 14 22 36
20. Broncos 17 24 41
21. Panthers 21 21 42
21. Cardinals 22 20 42
23. Redskins 16 27 43
23. Buccaneers 20 23 43
25. Bengals 19 25 44
26. Rams 28 19 47
27. Raiders 23 26 49
28. Dolphins 29 28 57
29. Lions 27 31 58
30. 49ers 30 29 59
31. Chiefs 31 30 61
32. Falcons 32 32 64
After studying the offensive and defensive lines of the league's 32 teams the past two days, we crowned the Chargers as the team with the best overall lines. The Chargers, based on our rankings, had the second-best offensive unit and the overall best defensive squad.

Those numbers, a 2 for the offensive line and a 1 for the defensive line, give San Diego a total of 3, the lowest total in the league, making them the best combo group.

The Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots tied for second with 6.

The worst line groups belong to the rebuilding Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were 32nd in the offensive line rankings and 32nd in the defensive line rankings for a combined score of 64.

Yecch.

That's quite a mess Mike Vick and Bob Petrino left behind.

If you're looking for a 2007 non-playoff team that might be ready to make a move based on their line rankings, the Minnesota Vikings are that team. They are in the fourth spot with a combined score of 10, getting an 8 for offensive line and a 2 for the defensive line.

Now if they can only get Tarvaris Jackson to make strides. If not, those power lines will go to waste.

The Philadelphia Eagles, who are tied for sixth with the Seattle Seahawks with an 18, are another non-playoff team from last season that could make a strong push based on their line rankings. The Eagles have the ninth ranked offensive and defensive lines.

It's not hard to figure out which teams might struggle this season. The Falcons are obvious based on their score. Others at the bottom are the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions.

Playing those teams will be a whole bunch different than playing the Chargers.

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Just to filter the information a little... here it is in regards to our schedule:


Code:
 
OLINE DLINE OVERALL
CLEVELAND BROWNS 6 14 20

vs DALLAS COWBOYS 1 5 6
vs PITTSBURGH STEELERS 24 11 35
@ Baltimore Ravens 25 6 31
@ Cincinnati Bengals 17 24 41
vs NEW YORK GIANTS 7 4 11
@ Washington Redskins 16 27 43
@ Jacksonville Jaguars 5 16 21
vs BALTIMORE RAVENS 25 6 31
vs DENVER BRONCOS 19 25 44
@ Buffalo Bills 15 18 33
vs HOUSTON TEXANS 18 12 30
vs INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 4 15 19
@ Tennessee Titans 12 13 25
@ Philadelphia Eagles 9 9 18
vs CINCINNATI BENGALS 17 24 41
@ Pittsburgh Steelers 24 11 35




If lines are all that matters, we're better than the other team in 12 of the 16 games on our schedule going by the overall score. Add in that we have the offensive weapons to match up against any team, anywhere... and we're in pretty darn good shape.


Browns is the Browns

... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.

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Quote:

I hate that we have to play the supposed best OL in the opener.




Not me. I think it's the best thing for'em. If they can hold their own against Dallas, it will set them up well for everyone else. If they get tossed around like rag dolls, it's better to know up-front, and make what adjustments we can early in the season.

Can't wait to see if Tucker will be this year's Chud, too. We might surprise folks again this year, on the D side of the ball.

Courage, Jules. Grow a pair.


"too many notes, not enough music-"

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I'm more worried about Dallas's front 7 then anything... They are what we want to be this year.... They grind it out 4real...


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Think our weak schedule last year may cause those numbers to be a little scewed?

Maybe he's closer than you think.



Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.

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