Om Field: Breaking Down the Lines (Pt. 1)

[-Om-]

Originally Posted by bedlamVR

I think the work in blogs like this are admirable, but OM the thing is you may as well just post a three word post .. our FO sucks ... as from reading your article that looks to be the opinion you start with ...

When you compare our lines with the NFCE be sure to compare how many times their FO have had to change coaches, how many philoposophy changes they have been through and how much disruption this flux causes to player acquisition .

Look at the Skins in 1999-2008 ...

I did. And I found one constant: regardless of coach, regardless of system, they don't draft linemen.

No, I don't think "the FO sucks." Due respect, but if that is what you took from the piece, I'm more inclined to think that's you superimposing your own beliefs than me expressing mine.

The piece is very specific and fact-based. The only conclusion I have drawn (even qualifying it by noting we'll let the facts speak for themselves as we proceed in the research) was that I believe they have failed in one specific area--the line of scrimmage.

I understand the effect regime and system changes have on the kind of players you draft.

I understand the effect poor QB play has on the appearance of how an OL is playing.

I understand certain defensive systems stress the DL occupying lanes and blockers as opposed to pinning it back and attacking the passer.

I understand that the Redskins instead of focusing on the draft have tried to build and maintain their lines with the occasional veteran (Rabach, Kendall, Carter, Taylor) and a host of UDFA and journeymen FA.

I also understand that the Redskins, by a significant margin, draft and develop linemen less than their competition. The numbers are startling.

I also understand that their current batch of starting linemen are not competitive against the NFL's best from other teams. That isn't scientific analysis, that's watching the Redskins get owned in the trenches every time they face a playoff-caliber opponent. If you've seen something different, perhaps that is where we're parting ways.

I also understand that there is perilously little talent in the pipeline behind that current batch of starters.

I started with the hypothesis that the Redskins are getting overmatched badly at the line of scrimmage against playoff-level teams. I'm digging into the data to find out exactly how the Redskins have built those lines, and comparing them to a representative sample of other NFL teams to see if any patterns emerge that shed any light on the subject.

I think I'm finding it in spades, to be honest. But I'll keep plugging along and lay the results out there. If when I'm done I conclude that my initial impressions were misguided and the FO is doing and has done an acceptable job of addressing the line of scrimmage, I'll say so.

If the evidence suggests otherwise, I hope you'll do the same.