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-   -   Article: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued? (https://blackandgold.com/saints/57464-examining-pressure-left-tackles-overvalued.html)

papz 04-29-2013 05:34 PM

Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
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The blind side. It’s a movie. It’s the left tackle’s responsibility to protect. But is it overvalued?

To begin, I’d like to admit that I came into this project slightly biased as I believe the swing toward the passing game in the NFL necessitates a team has two good offensive tackles, not just one. The old adage that you put your best pass protector at left tackle (the blind side) and your mauling run blocker at right tackle (teams used to run to the right more often) is outdated.

I’m also of the belief that scouting jargon such as, “he’s a right tackle only” no longer holds water as NFL offenses are less predictable with regard to run direction, while NFL defenses are more unpredictable with their dispersing of pass rushing talent. In other words, the left and right tackles both need to run block and pass block with equal acumen.

Perhaps NFL teams have been reading our research as the NFL Draft saw a surprising emphasis on right tackle candidates.

On a macro level, it’s easy to dismiss the need for an elite left tackle given the recent Super Bowl winners. Since we started grading in 2008, here are the Super Bowl winning teams along with their starting left tackle, overall grade, and rank at the position:


Season Team Left Tackle Grade Rank
2008 Pittsburgh Steelers Max Starks +14.2 22nd
2009 New Orleans Saints Jermon Bushrod -8.0 69th
2010 Green Bay Packers Chad Clifton +2.1 33rd
2011 New York Giants David Diehl -17.6 69th
2012 Baltimore Ravens Bryant McKinnie +3.9 8th in playoffs

It should be noted that the last two Super Bowl winners faced different cases as Diehl took over for the last six games of the regular season and carried his poor play into the playoffs, while the Ravens re-shuffled their offensive line just before the playoffs and McKinnie played well during their four-game run.

Continue reading: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?

homerj07 04-29-2013 05:58 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
Yes I think they are becoming more so. The movie was cool the story even better. But...

Rugby Saint II 04-29-2013 08:11 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
Fascinating! However, Sean Payton seems to value LT more so than RT and that is fine with me. I asked my lady if LT was overvalued and she said no he's protecting the QB. I've got to go with her on this one.

Leighton B 04-29-2013 09:42 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
Yea tackles period are overvalued if you have a QB with good pocket presence and footwork! Drew Brees's game doesn't need elite Tackles he needs good Gaurds and Center! When we were going through the center chaos when Kreutz was here and ineffective we had constant inside pressure and Drew had no time to survey the field or check his progression! Most good QB's that know how to manipulate and control the pocket have no trouble from outside pass rush all they have to do is step up with a shoulder shrug or turn and dip to maneuver inside his protection "pocket" so that is why they didn't and won't break the bank on outside lineman but will on a inside gaurd the gaurds are the ones who absolutely have to be effective for our offense to work! That's why when we had center trouble it caused our offense to basically sputter unless our run game was on then you could use playaction which that is a small part of our passing game, but we are more of a west coast system than a power run and playaction system although we are a blend of the two! See a power run playaction deep passing system is the type of system you need those elite tackles because of how long it takes for the plays to develop or the route to be ran!

hagan714 04-30-2013 07:56 AM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
I do not know but i will ask Drew after he peels himself of the dome turf for the 100th time

Danno 04-30-2013 08:17 AM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
With the 3 and 4 wides, quick strike, short drop offenses the LT isn't as important as it once was.

TheOak 04-30-2013 11:08 AM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
The slower the QB, the more important the LT is.

Manning, Brees, Brady are quick through their progressions.

vpheughan 04-30-2013 06:05 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
LT's are like grass, you can find them anywhere. Teams have 5 or 6 of them on their rosters. Don't even waste a draft choice on them. Sign em as UFA's. Put those draft choices to better use by picking punters!

Next topic: Are clutch QB's overvalued? Hint, see the Tebow articles.

Seer1 04-30-2013 06:07 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Rugby Saint II (Post 499772)
Fascinating! However, Sean Payton seems to value LT more so than RT and that is fine with me. I asked my lady if LT was overvalued and she said no he's protecting the QB. I've got to go with her on this one.

You lucky bastard!

Seer1 04-30-2013 06:09 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by vpheughan (Post 500036)

Next topic: Are clutch QB's overvalued? Hint, see the Tebow articles.

Hahahaha!

hagan714 05-01-2013 04:45 AM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
OMG i can not believe the way LT is minimized here. Bushrod was serviceable at LT because of Drews ability. watch Cutler get eaten alive in Chicago.

Drew carried Bushrod to the Probowl on his play, so now drew is to do the same with an even lesser LT? i fear this is the last year the coaches can pull this stunt and expect drew to cover up the even lower caliber of LT play. I fear for Drew

We are going to have a major drop off at LT IMO and drew will pay the price. I hope he survives and the saints finally get a solid running game going so teams can start defending the run first. Oh thats right, thats another area not addressed by the saints. little hope here. This is were the price for NT in draft will hurt us.I fear the Saints hung drew out to dry with that move

LT do not grow on trees and i am praying for divine intervention to produce a LT for Drew and improve OC play to give him half a chance. We have a roster full of RT and as it looks now not one starting caliber LT

please do not over estimate drew's pocket presence to cover for yet another drop in LT play. i fear the coaches have reach to far on this one.

go to church every sunday pray, put money in the poor box, light a candle and do not swear and race out of the parking lot, for Drews sake

Danno 05-01-2013 09:36 AM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by hagan714 (Post 500180)
OMG i can not believe the way LT is minimized here. Bushrod was serviceable at LT because of Drews ability. watch Cutler get eaten alive in Chicago.

Drew carried Bushrod to the Probowl on his play, so now drew is to do the same with an even lesser LT? i fear this is the last year the coaches can pull this stunt and expect drew to cover up the even lower caliber of LT play. I fear for Drew

We are going to have a major drop off at LT IMO and drew will pay the price. I hope he survives and the saints finally get a solid running game going so teams can start defending the run first. Oh thats right, thats another area not addressed by the saints. little hope here. This is were the price for NT in draft will hurt us.I fear the Saints hung drew out to dry with that move

LT do not grow on trees and i am praying for divine intervention to produce a LT for Drew and improve OC play to give him half a chance. We have a roster full of RT and as it looks now not one starting caliber LT

please do not over estimate drew's pocket presence to cover for yet another drop in LT play. i fear the coaches have reach to far on this one.

go to church every sunday pray, put money in the poor box, light a candle and do not swear and race out of the parking lot, for Drews sake

I don't think anyone is saying they aren't important, just that they aren't as crucial as they were 20 years ago when 7 step drops and 5 seconds of protection were needed.

Bushrod was an above average LT in my opinion. He wasn't great but he got the job done. Replacing him shouldn't be a monumental task. Its not like we lost a 29 year old Willie Roaf.

And it may not be that LT has declined in importance as much as OG's and OC's have gotten to be more important than before. Obviously with shorter drops the pressure up the middle gets to the QB faster.

TheOak 05-01-2013 09:48 AM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by hagan714 (Post 500180)
OMG i can not believe the way LT is minimized here. Bushrod was serviceable at LT because of Drews ability. watch Cutler get eaten alive in Chicago.

Drew carried Bushrod to the Probowl on his play, so now drew is to do the same with an even lesser LT? i fear this is the last year the coaches can pull this stunt and expect drew to cover up the even lower caliber of LT play. I fear for Drew

We are going to have a major drop off at LT IMO and drew will pay the price. I hope he survives and the saints finally get a solid running game going so teams can start defending the run first. Oh thats right, thats another area not addressed by the saints. little hope here. This is were the price for NT in draft will hurt us.I fear the Saints hung drew out to dry with that move

LT do not grow on trees and i am praying for divine intervention to produce a LT for Drew and improve OC play to give him half a chance. We have a roster full of RT and as it looks now not one starting caliber LT

please do not over estimate drew's pocket presence to cover for yet another drop in LT play. i fear the coaches have reach to far on this one.

go to church every sunday pray, put money in the poor box, light a candle and do not swear and race out of the parking lot, for Drews sake

You fear a lot brother...

We are here to help.
Coping with fears and phobias - Stress, anxiety and depression - NHS Choices

hagan714 05-01-2013 09:49 AM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOak (Post 500238)


lmao i do.

Brian de la Puente, BP from here on out thats to long lol

BP was exposed a bit with inside stunts and delayed blitzs last year and i hope he corrects it this season because Evens will be helping out our LT more this year than last. Grubbs might be able to kick in and help in the middle with a chuck or two but we need the RT to step up big time. There are only so many places our OGs can be on any given play. Te and RB are going to year of chip blocking and over load to the left IMO. limits the play calling for drew.

So yes i have the same worries as i did when Bushrod signed and the saints have done nothing to address it so far. Our OL has been getting weaker and weaker ever since the superbowl. one piece at a time. sooner or later it is going to bit us in the butt

Tobias-Reiper 05-01-2013 10:09 AM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
I wonder what does Steve Young have to say about this.

vpheughan 05-01-2013 08:04 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
I hear Young, Kenny Stabler, Michael Vick, Boomer Esiason and of course Tim Tebow are filing a class action lawsuit against the NFL for overvaluing the right tackle. After all it cost Tebow a career!!

Boutte 05-02-2013 05:25 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
It would be nice to see what Brees could do with a first rate LT. I'm pretty comfortable with Stief at RT. When healthy I think he's a good tackle.

TheOak 05-06-2013 12:55 PM

Re: Examining Pressure: Are Left Tackles Overvalued?
 
It is not as easy as just saying yes or no.

LTs do face the opponents stronger DE, however the LT gets help from the line due to the O-Line slide.

LT benefits from a strong LG and C down the chain...


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