There is much to celebrate in offensive line land. Primarily, the rankings have been included in the positional rankings page, select at the bottom of drop-down here: FBG Rankings. The articles will continue but for the most up to date line rankings (mid-week changes etc), check the rankings page. It's an honor to be included among the greats like David Dodds, Sigmund Bloom, and Maurile Tremblay.
Q&A Mailbag
Readers ask questions (about Trent Williams, and others). Here are the responses:
Who are your three favorite Offensive Lines this year (and why)?
• New Orleans Saints – Great tackles in Terron Armstead, Ryan Ramzyck and if they need Andrus Peat, he can play there too. Second-round rookie center Erik McCoy (from Texas A&M) handled himself like a vet in his preseason debut, which is good news after Max Unger's offseason retirement.
• Philadelphia Eagles – Center Jason Kelce is excellent and there's just tons of talent - 1st round rookie recently Andre Dillard had two camp fights in two practices. Dillard was known as a finesse athlete in college and an old-school coach would consider these incidents signs of life. Dillard's a backup to Jason Peters, which speaks to the depth.
• Dallas Cowboys – After missing a year with injuries and illness, center Travis Frederick looked like his usual self in his 9 snaps against San Francisco. Assuming he's back, this line can impose their will on defensive fronts.
Honorable mention – Pittsburgh Steelers – 4 out of 5 of these players are flat out maulers, the only question is if right tackle Matt Feiler can maintain his development without positional coach Mike Munchak on staff.
What Lines are the weakest in the NFL?
I'm worried about the Cincinnati Bengals. They lost their first-round pick Jonah Williams to the injured reserve and long-time left guard Clint Boling retired. Cordy Glenn is aging and Bobby Hart has always been beatable. Left guard is still a wide-open battle. There's a great deal of uncertainty.
On paper, Miami could be bad. They are starting rookies at both guard positions: Michael Dieter and Shaq Calhoun. Interesting prospects but they were both reportedly roughed up by Ndamukong Suh in joint practices with Tampa Bay.
The Rams are thin and if Taylor Lewan's suspension holds up in Tennessee, both of those units fall into the danger category.
Note: these so-called "weakest" lines might not be the lowest-ranked. All can rise in the ranks just by staying healthy and playing together. Often the highest-ranked teams by fantasy playoff time are those who were healthiest, not necessarily the teams who started the season the most highly ranked.
Who's a free agent addition that you think makes the biggest positive impact for an O-line unit this year?
Right tackle Ja’Wuan James to Denver. He’s a rare athlete and will be coached by one of the best in Mike Munchak.
The Trent Williams holdout in DC … how big of an effect does his absence have on the likes of Derrius Guice or Adrian Peterson?
Potentially this would be a loss, but there are layers. How healthy is he? Washington hopes for a first-round pick in a trade scenario but could he only be worth a second or third? Williams is dissatisfied with the medical staff (more red flags) but the team might want to see how he reacts to missing huge weekly game checks once the season starts. Williams is not included in the rankings for now, and about a week ago I was sure he'd be shipped out of town or sit out the year. But there is still time and motive (on both sides) for an agreement to be worked out, and for Williams to again play for this team this season. A great deal depends on how Donald Penn looks at the age of 36 in replacement.
Is there an O-line out there that you would spotlight and say that if they all are healthy and play their talents, they could lift an overlooked RB to big things in '19?
This dovetails into another article due in a couple of weeks: Most Improved Offensive Lines. But here's a preview:
- Seattle Seahawks and Chris Carson (DJ Fluker and Mike Iupati are big 'if healthy's') but the situation is all set up for power running.
- Atlanta Falcons and Devonta Freeman (Chris Lindstrom rookie right guard from Boston College is a player – The first unit manhandled MIA, even without Alex Mack)
- New York Jets and Le'Veon Bell - Don't believe it? Watch new left guard Kelechi Osemele maul Lorenzo Carter vs NYG, his third play from scrimmage. And this was without center Ryan Kalil. Kalil has no time table to join team activities but is expected to be ready by the season opener.
Will Houston be able to protect Desean Watson … do you think they figure it out?
Not completely, but the line is showing signs of life. Veteran left tackle Matt Kalil and rookie left guard Tytus Howard can pass block, which is a start. Right tackle Seantrel Henderson has always had the potential but is rarely available. The short answer is they are in a better spot this year than they were last year (and it would help to keep a consistent lineup).
Who is the best offensive line coach in the NFL and why?
Dante Scarneccia from New England. He has the best eye for talent and can also develop these players on the fly.
Honorable mentions: Dan Roushar from New Orleans, Bill Callahan in Washington, and Mike Munchak who left Pittsburgh for Denver this offseason.
OTHER NEWS
Baltimore/NY Jets - Left guard Alex Lewis was traded to the Jets for a conditional 7th round pick. Lewis should challenge Brian Winters at right guard, and provide an option should starting left guard Kelechi Osemele miss time. All of these players have had injury concerns in the past and it might take three vets to do two jobs.
For the Ravens, Jermaine Elumunor and Patrick Mekari (undrafted from Cal) are nominally fighting for the spot. Elumunor is fading and the coaches like Mekari but veteran James Hurst (swing tackle) will likely swoop in and save the day and start, should the younger players prove unworthy.
Atlanta - Kaleb McGary (rookie right tackle from Washington) had heart surgery and is out for six to eight weeks. This is a condition he has had before, and while the team is playing it down, the procedure (for a condition called cardiac ablation) throws McGary's rookie season into doubt. Ty Sambrailo maintains his lock on the starting right tackle job, and while McGary has the physical upside, Sambrailo's experience represents a cohesion upgrade in the model.
Carolina - In addition to his leg rehab, Daryl Williams swapped over from right tackle to left tackle this offseason. He has been outperforming expectations, keeping rookies Greg Little and Dennis Daley at bay. Williams is a former All-Pro, who might not be in the Panthers' long term plans, but he is extremely motivated to play well while on a one-year contract.
San Francisco - Center Weston Richburg remains on the PUP list, as he rehabilitates from quad and ankle surgery. Ben Garland has taken his place in the lineup. Richburg remains in the ranks (for now) but he could conceivably miss the opener.
New England - Right tackle Marcus Cannon earned rave reviews during joint practices with the Tennessee Titans. On the left side, the team is increasing Isaiah Wynn's workload and, while not dominating, Wynn is also rounding into form. Joe Thuney kicked out to left tackle while Wynn missed time earlier in camp. This line is looking stronger of late and rising in the ranks.
LA Chargers - Forrest Lamp has won the left guard job, sending Dan Feeney to the bench. Lamp has always had potential and it will be exciting for all fans of the line to see if he meets it. In "other-other" news the team has decided to keep Sam Tevi on the right side and give Trent Scott the starting left tackle job in place of Russell Okung.
Tampa Bay - Starting quarterback Jameis Winston reportedly said new right guard Alex Cappa was dominant, and one of the reasons the offense can improve this season.
Buffalo - Center Mitch Morse has been in the concussion protocol for the last two weeks. Those familiar with his career know this is not a new affliction for Morse. His status (as well as another backup Russell Bodine) are both could be in doubt for Week One. Jon Feliciano mans the pivot in Buffalo, for now.
FULL RANKINGS
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Old
|
Diff
|
Score
|
Overall Grade
|
Cohesion
|
Notes
|
|
1
|
New Orleans
|
1
|
0
|
35.25
|
A+
|
4
|
|
|
2
|
Philadelphia
|
2
|
0
|
34.4
|
A+
|
4.5
|
|
|
3
|
Pittsburgh
|
3
|
0
|
33.58
|
A
|
4.5
|
|
|
4
|
Dallas
|
4
|
0
|
33.3
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
5
|
Kansas City
|
5
|
0
|
32.65
|
A
|
4
|
|
|
6
|
Green Bay
|
6
|
0
|
32.33
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
7
|
Indianapolis
|
8
|
1
|
32.3
|
A
|
5
|
|
|
8
|
Chicago
|
7
|
-1
|
31.8
|
A-
|
5
|
|
|
9
|
Atlanta
|
15
|
6
|
31.3
|
A-
|
3.5
|
Ty Sambrailo retains RT job (rookie Kaleb McGary heart surgery - cohesion upgrade).
|
|
10
|
Carolina
|
12
|
2
|
31.28
|
A-
|
4.5
|
LT Daryl Williams proving it on a one-year deal (grade adjustment).
|
|
11
|
Seattle
|
11
|
0
|
31.03
|
A-
|
4
|
|
|
12
|
San Francisco
|
10
|
-2
|
30.9
|
B+
|
5
|
C Weston Richburg still on PUP (Ben Garland replacing; expected to play week 1)
|
|
13
|
New England
|
18
|
5
|
30.63
|
B+
|
5
|
LT Isaiah Wynn rounding into form; RT Marcus Cannon dominating.
|
|
14
|
Baltimore
|
9
|
-5
|
30.53
|
B+
|
4.5
|
Traded LG Alex Lewis to NYJ (Jermaine Elumunor and Patrick Mekari battling to replace).
|
|
15
|
Cleveland
|
13
|
-2
|
30.43
|
B+
|
4.5
|
|
|
16
|
Jacksonville
|
16
|
0
|
30.3
|
B
|
4
|
LT Cam Robinson activated off PUP list.
|
|
17
|
LA Chargers
|
20
|
3
|
30.3
|
B
|
4.5
|
Forest Lamp to starting LG over Dan Feeney.
|
|
18
|
NY Jets
|
17
|
-1
|
30.15
|
B
|
4
|
|
|
19
|
Tampa Bay
|
22
|
3
|
30.05
|
B
|
4.5
|
New RG Alex Cappa looking strong (grade adjustment; cohesion upgrade)
|
|
20
|
Detroit
|
14
|
-6
|
29.93
|
B-
|
4.5
|
|
|
21
|
Washington
|
19
|
-2
|
29.56
|
B-
|
3.5
|
LT Trent Williams holding out (NOT IN RANKS). Donald Penn signed.
|
|
22
|
Oakland
|
21
|
-1
|
29.25
|
B-
|
3
|
|
|
23
|
LA Rams
|
23
|
0
|
29.15
|
C+
|
3
|
|
|
24
|
NY Giants
|
24
|
0
|
29.15
|
C+
|
4
|
|
|
25
|
Minnesota
|
28
|
3
|
29.15
|
C+
|
4
|
|
|
26
|
Houston
|
25
|
-1
|
28.93
|
C+
|
4
|
|
|
27
|
Tennessee
|
27
|
0
|
28.55
|
C
|
3.5
|
LT Taylor Lewan suspended four games (NOT IN RANKS).
|
|
28
|
Cincinnati
|
26
|
-2
|
28.43
|
C
|
3
|
|
|
29
|
Denver
|
29
|
0
|
28.13
|
C-
|
3
|
|
|
30
|
Arizona
|
30
|
0
|
28.03
|
C-
|
3
|
|
|
31
|
Buffalo
|
31
|
0
|
27.83
|
D+
|
3
|
C Mitch Morse still on PUP (Jon Feliciano).
|
|
32
|
Miami
|
32
|
0
|
27.78
|
D+
|
3
|
|
Generally speaking, the teams with A grades are among the league's best, the teams in the B grades are solid, and the teams in the Cs and Ds are concerning.
If you have a question about a player, team or matchup not specifically talked about in this article, please feel free to contact the author via Twitter.
