OM FIELD: Redskins OL - Tale of the Tape

Anyone who says size doesn't matter must be listening to a consoling girlfriend.

Yeah, we got I think 2 of the 3 smallest guys out of starters AND backups in the division. Our guys start, theirs don't.

Well Doc certainly is a big upgrade on that regard...about 35 pounds worth. Rabach and Jansen, if he starts, are the only sub300 guys left; however I don't think weight is an issue w/ Jansen, he must be very strong/tough, it's just a matter of his age/movement. We'll see...

Well Doc certainly is a big upgrade on that regard...about 35 pounds worth. Rabach and Jansen, if he starts, are the only sub300 guys left; however I don't think weight is an issue w/ Jansen, he must be very strong/tough, it's just a matter of his age/movement. We'll see...

I mostly hope that Dock can pick up where he left off here, more so than where he did in Buffalo. I've got a couple of Bills fan friends and they said he was nothing to talk about and that if they were Skins fans they'd say it would've been a "Snyder signing" (aka way overpaying).

Plus mark to him for WANTING to play for us, him and Samuels' friendship, etc.. I think that chemistry alone will help us, on top of the other things

It's not all about how big you are, even at center - New England's center is only 8 pounds heavier than Rabach.

There's an even article that was written by a former NFL offensive linemen (i forget his name right now) that played all 5 positions. He said playing center was the physically easiest position to play for him.

It's not all about how big you are, even at center - New England's center is only 8 pounds heavier than Rabach.

There's an even article that was written by a former NFL offensive linemen (i forget his name right now) that played all 5 positions. He said playing center was the physically easiest position to play for him.

It's a Ross Tucker article on SI.com. Thing is height/weight ratio comes into play. Sure there are centers about the same weight as Rabach but to a man they're shorter w/ a lower center of gravity and probably stronger. Rabach is almost lanky at his height and weight...just gets pushed over by larger, stronger DTs.

Rabach got pwned by Shaun Rogers once, and he isn't even the best NT in the league. Rabach alone vs. Ngata would spell death for ANY QB behind Rabach.

It's a Ross Tucker article on SI.com. Thing is height/weight ratio comes into play. Sure there are centers about the same weight as Rabach but to a man they're shorter w/ a lower center of gravity and probably stronger. Rabach is almost lanky at his height and weight...just gets pushed over by larger, stronger DTs.

I agree that it comes into play, but that's what I'm trying to say - is it is just one thing among others that affects the way a lineman plays or how they should play. But when it's all said and done - it's about how they play not how big they are.

You can't make a broad generalization that the bigger man will do better than a smaller man at the same position. This is most effective when you are playing the game on paper. On paper, the bigger you are the better you are.

Linemen in the nfl are kinda like the frontcourt of an nba team. You've GOT to have a certain level of size to start with, then other variables come into play. Sure, NBA teams have started 6'9 centers, but they had to be that much more athletic to make up for it, e.g. Alonzo Mouring. That's the exception, most teams have a 7 footer even if he's just there to alter shots.

If your O line is smaller they'd better be fundamentally sound & relatively athletic & very strong. I think OM makes a great point. The division is really tough in the trenches. Of course you want guys that can block, but other teams have guys that can block & are bigger. Leonard Davis, e.g., is quite athletic & he's 6'5, 350 or so.

Of course we all agree that the line is old & needs some new blood.

Of course it's not ALL about size. But all things being EQUAL, the big man wins every time IMO. If I have a choice between 2 guys with the same skill set at C, G or T but ones 288 lbs. and the other is 315 lbs., I'm taking the 315 lb. guy every time.

Linemen in the nfl are kinda like the frontcourt of an nba team. You've GOT to have a certain level of size to start with, then other variables come into play. Sure, NBA teams have started 6'9 centers, but they had to be that much more athletic to make up for it, e.g. Alonzo Mouring. That's the exception, most teams have a 7 footer even if he's just there to alter shots.

If your O line is smaller they'd better be fundamentally sound & relatively athletic & very strong. I think OM makes a great point. The division is really tough in the trenches. Of course you want guys that can block, but other teams have guys that can block & are bigger. Leonard Davis, e.g., is quite athletic & he's 6'5, 350 or so.

Of course we all agree that the line is old & needs some new blood.

The redskins offensive line seemed to play well enough to win in the first half of the season, but were not as effective as in the second half. Part of it was the way they played, but most of it was do to injuries and wearing down as the season went along. I think this has more to do with their age than it has their size.

And I agree that the tradeoff with size is technique and athleticism and it all depends on what kind of identity (particularly offensive) you want with your team.