NFL's 'O-line epidemic' threatens its QB star system

[SeahawksFanForever]

"I've been harping on that for two years," said Matt Williamson, who scouts the NFL for ESPN. "I don't think the average fan realizes what an O-line shortage there is now. There are very few teams with lines that have had continuity, and there's certainly less Hall of Fame-level guys playing right now. You don't look around and see many of the Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace and Walter Jones types anymore."

Full article: http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/ ... tar-system

 

[Scottemojo]

While Hawk fans said this very thing all preseason, I tried to point out that this is a league wide issue, save about 5 teams.

 

[kearly]

The irony is that the two best QBs to be injured this year- Romo and Big Ben- both play behind good offensive lines. Even the small number of quality O-lines out there aren't safe from QB injury.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

I wonder what they do with the fact that a lot of teams to win the Super Bowl in the last decade (including the Colts, the Packers, the Steelers, and the Seahawks) have had mediocre to terrible offensive lines.

 

[JGfromtheNW]

Honestly I'm pretty curious if this is some type of after effect from the crackdown on PEDs and HGH. Linemen are by far the most bruised and battered and endure contact every snap they're on the field. They can't get away from the physical abuse that football has on the body at all. I'm wondering if the unavailabilty of PEDs is making it so linemen (amongst the rest of players/positions) can't recover as quickly and get their bodies into peak condition every week, every month, every season.

I think it's interesting to look at baseball and maybe draw a comparison with hitters, the players who play day-in day-out. I believe we're seeing the effects of a lack of PEDs - dudes bodies just aren't able to produce at the ridiculous level they once did and that's why we're seeing the MLB become a pitcher dominant league again where managers and teams have to play more small ball, shifts and percentages.

Or I could be completely off and this is a nonsense post. What say you guys?

 

[ringless]

I also think it has to do with less contact in the off season. I forget who it was who was talking about it but he was a former OL player. He said basically OL are the least athletic guys on the field.

I think It is really hard to get in a groove without the contact and with how athletic Lb's have gotten. Not only that but it's a more pass driven league which results mean there will be more hits on the QB.

There are a lot of factors at play.

 

[mikeak]

Honestly I'm pretty curious if this is some type of after effect from the crackdown on PEDs and HGH. Linemen are by far the most bruised and battered and endure contact every snap they're on the field. They can't get away from the physical abuse that football has on the body at all. I'm wondering if the unavailabilty of PEDs is making it so linemen (amongst the rest of players/positions) can't recover as quickly and get their bodies into peak condition every week, every month, every season.

I think it's interesting to look at baseball and maybe draw a comparison with hitters, the players who play day-in day-out. I believe we're seeing the effects of a lack of PEDs - dudes bodies just aren't able to produce at the ridiculous level they once did and that's why we're seeing the MLB become a pitcher dominant league again where managers and teams have to play more small ball, shifts and percentages.

Or I could be completely off and this is a nonsense post. What say you guys?

What crackdown on HGH?

1) testing just started

2) the test NFL uses is a joke

 

[HansGruber]

There shouldn't be a ban on HGH if that's what athletes choose as part of their recovery regimen, and they are legally prescribed.

I will be supplementing with HGH when I enter my 50s, and I know many physicians who do. When used properly, HGH can be very positive.

The most notable side effect is that it can accelerate the growth of cancers if already existent. Overuse has its own risks.

 

[Scottemojo]

I wonder what they do with the fact that a lot of teams to win the Super Bowl in the last decade (including the Colts, the Packers, the Steelers, and the Seahawks) have had mediocre to terrible offensive lines.

I think what you are pointing out might have more to do with the very small gap between a 6th ranked OL and a 25th ranked OL.

 

[CPHawk]

The problems have nothing to do with hgh or anything else, it's the fact every big, fast kid wants to play DL now. No one wants to be an OL nowadays for the most part, to many kids thinking DL is a lot more fun.

 

[mrt144]

I would also argue that outside of dl/ol position market one of the things at play is the rule changes to passing have increased the ceiling on the abilities and impact 4 to 5 of the top QBS have. When people are complaining about the OL play they're comparing their OL unit and QB play as a proxy for the OL protection.

 

[mrt144]

The problems have nothing to do with hgh or anything else, it's the fact every big, fast kid wants to play DL now. No one wants to be an OL nowadays for the most part, to many kids thinking DL is a lot more fun.

This would imply a change dating back 8 or so years

 

[kearly]

I wonder what they do with the fact that a lot of teams to win the Super Bowl in the last decade (including the Colts, the Packers, the Steelers, and the Seahawks) have had mediocre to terrible offensive lines.

I think what you are pointing out might have more to do with the very small gap between a 6th ranked OL and a 25th ranked OL.

Yup.

 

[Bigbadhawk]

Honestly I'm pretty curious if this is some type of after effect from the crackdown on PEDs and HGH. Linemen are by far the most bruised and battered and endure contact every snap they're on the field. They can't get away from the physical abuse that football has on the body at all. I'm wondering if the unavailabilty of PEDs is making it so linemen (amongst the rest of players/positions) can't recover as quickly and get their bodies into peak condition every week, every month, every season.

I think it's interesting to look at baseball and maybe draw a comparison with hitters, the players who play day-in day-out. I believe we're seeing the effects of a lack of PEDs - dudes bodies just aren't able to produce at the ridiculous level they once did and that's why we're seeing the MLB become a pitcher dominant league again where managers and teams have to play more small ball, shifts and percentages.

Or I could be completely off and this is a nonsense post. What say you guys?

Sorry I would have to go with your last statement heheh. The article goes on to say what many analyst and NFL folks have been saying for a while now, its due to the use of the spread offense. Oline in spread offense aren't asked to do much now a days so they lack a lot of basic fundamental skills and moves when they enter the league. It does appear that as more NCAA teams went to the spread that less quality of olinemen entered the NFL.

 

[BlackandGolden]

The problems have nothing to do with hgh or anything else, it's the fact every big, fast kid wants to play DL now. No one wants to be an OL nowadays for the most part, to many kids thinking DL is a lot more fun.

I agree. Plus, NFL teams value pass rushers as the most valuable guys in the draft other than Quarterback. When free agency rolls around, D linemen are usually the most coveted and gets the most cash thrown at them.

As I played Defensive line in high school, all I had to do was shoot up my assigned gap and get my sacks, while offensive linemen have to have proper technique and development. Much easier to be a defender than an OL.

 

[hawkfan68]

The problems have nothing to do with hgh or anything else, it's the fact every big, fast kid wants to play DL now. No one wants to be an OL nowadays for the most part, to many kids thinking DL is a lot more fun.

Good point. Then they get picked up by the Seahawks and become OL projects.