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2006's Offensive Line Previews
Posted: 8/1/06


NFC Team Analysis by: John Hansen, Publisher, FantasyGuru.com
AFC Team Analysis by: Adam Caplan, Editor, footballinjuries.com
Rankings by: John Hansen and Adam Caplan (after long arguments).
Last Updated on: August 1, 2006





1. Cincinnati Bengals



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Levi Jones, Willie Anderson

Guards: Eric Steinbach, Bobbie Williams

Center: Rich Braham



Outlook: Long-time offensive line coach Paul Alexander is working with one of the top-three offensive lines in the NFL, one that will be together for the third straight season. In fact, Jones, Anderson, Steinbach, and Braham are in their fourth year together. Jones just signed an extension recently and is probably one of the top-10 left tackles in the NFL and is a solid pass and run blocker. Steinbach is one of the best young guards in the league and is getting better every season. The Bengals also have one of the best pass-blocking left sides in the league. Braham is clearly at the end of his career but is more than serviceable. The team is very high on his potential replacement, Eric Ghiaciuc. Williams, who was a backup for the Eagles, has started the last 32 regular season games for the Bengals and is a solid run blocker but just an average pass blocker. Anderson, whose contract is up after this season, is still a solid pass blocker. Depth is good, but young, with Ghiaciuc; second-year C Ben Wilkerson, whom the team also is high on, second-round T Andrew Whitworth, who could wind up being Anderson’s replacement next year; and G Scott Kooistra. Whitworth is working on the right side in camp.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



2. Pittsburgh Steelers



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Marvel Smith, Max Starks

Guards: Alan Faneca, Kendall Simmons

Center: Jeff Hartings



Outlook: OL coach Russ Grimm is one of the best line coaches in the league and he has one of the league’s top units. Smith and Faneca are probably one of the best left-side combinations in the league, and Faneca is probably one of the top run-blocking guards around. Smith can be inconsistent at times, but he’s still clearly in the upper half of left tackles. Hartings is getting up there in years, but he’s still one of the top-five centers in the league and is very durable. The right side isn’t bad, but it’s not anywhere near as good as the left. Simmons missed all of 2004 with a knee injury, but he bounced back well last season. Starks was a full-time starter for the first time in his young career last year and hasn’t proven yet that he’s their starter long term at RT. Depth isn’t bad with T Barrett Brooks, who started some games with the Eagles earlier in his career; C Chukky Okobi, who is one of the better backups at his position in the league; and second-year T Trai Essex, who got four starts in last year when Smith was hurt. Fourth-round pick Willie Colon is going to back up Starks, although he’s a little small to play tackle.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



3. Minnesota Vikings



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Bryant McKinnie, Marcus Johnson/Mike Rosenthal

Guards: Steve Hutchinson, Artis Hicks

Center: Matt Birk



Outlook: There is obviously great reason for optimism, but it’s premature to anoint the Viking line as one of the league’s best. We still have to see how the All-Pro center Birk returns to form from last year’s injury, and there are still issues at RT and RG. Assuming Birk is okay, the Vikings should have one of the best left sides in football with McKinnie, Hutchinson, and Birk. McKinnie has been inching toward all-world status, and could easily reach that level this year, his big contract year (he’ll certainly be motivated to cash in on a major contract in 2007). Hutchinson is as close to a perfect player as you’ll see in the league, so there’s a major upgrade there. He should make McKinnie better. Birk, when he’s healthy, is one of the smartest and most effective centers in the game, and he’s good in run blocking and very valuable in pass protection, as QB Daunte Culpepper quickly found out last year without him in the lineup. Potential problems areas are on the other side, but there is plenty of hope. The team is still high on the mammoth Johnson, a #2 pick in 2005, who should beat Rosenthal out for the starting RT job. Hicks is a savvy veteran brought over from Philadelphia. He’s a bigger lineman who is better in run blocking than pass blocking. If he struggles, Chris Liwienski is a former starter who at one time was considered close to being at an all-pro level. There is solid depth along with the line, too, with guys like Adam Goldberg, Jason Whittle, and Rosenthal, if he doesn’t get cut. This group could have some chemistry issues early, but if all goes well, they certainly should emerge as one of the best lines in football.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



4. Denver Broncos



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Matt Lepsis, George Foster

Guards: Ben Hamilton, Cooper Carlisle

Center: Tom Nalen



Outlook: Their starting five will return for the second straight season, and Lepsis, Foster, Hamilton, and Nalen have started together the past two seasons. They have one of the best protecting lines and don’t give up a lot of sacks. Lepsis is an athletic lineman who is in the upper half of all LTs. He’s a solid run and pass blocker but will get out-powered by bigger ends from time to time. Hamilton, who is in his fifth season as a starter for the team, is a better run than pass blocker, but he does a good job overall. The durable Nalen is one of the best overall linemen in the league and is an outstanding pass and run blocker. The team doesn’t really have a weakness on their line, but the left is clearly the strongest of both sides. Carlisle, who was mostly a backup for the first five seasons of his career, became a starter last season and is a developing player. Foster, a former first-round pick, hasn’t yet lived up to his lofty draft billing. Scouts say he can be dominating at times, but then can play soft. Their depth is decent with the recently signed T Adam Meadows, who has started close to 100 games in his career, and Gs Martin Bibla and Cornell Green.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



5. Philadelphia Eagles


Projected Starters:

Tackles: Tra Thomas, John Runyon

Guards: Todd Herremans, Shawn Andrews

Center: Jamaal Jackson/Hank Fraley



Outlook: We have some new faces on this line, but by retaining veteran John Runyon, the Eagles should be able to maintain continuity and a pretty high level of play. Runyon and Thomas are very solid on the outside and very experienced. Runyon is very good for the run and the pass, while Thomas is viewed as a better pass protector. At guard, the team has former #1 pick Shawn Andrews, who still needs to polish his game and become more consistent, but he is a big road grader and very effective blocking for the run. The team saw enough of Herremans last year filling in for the injured Thomas to insert him as the starting LG. We’ll see how that goes; he’s not considered very strong at the point of attack, so he could be their weak link. At center, the team appears fully prepared to go with the younger Jackson over veteran Hank Fraley. A converted tackle, Jackson is raw, but he’s bigger and stronger than Fraley. If Fraley is still around, he’ll be a nice backup option because he’s a heady player very familiar with the system. Speaking of backups, the Eagles also scored big on draft day and will have two rookies, LT Winston Justice, and RG Max Jean-Gilles, who have the potential to step in quickly and become quality starters, so the team’s depth on the line looks very good. Philly is known for building its team from the inside out, and they appear to have taken significant steps to ensure their O-line is a strength for years to come. For this year, they should be about the same as they’ve been the last few years, which is better than above average.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Same



6. New England Patriots



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Matt Light, Brandon Gorin

Guards: Steve Neal, Logan Mankins

Center: Dan Koppen



Outlook: Four out of the five starters return for underrated OL coach Dante Scarnecchia. He boasts one of the best pass blocking units in the league, but two of them are coming back from injury as well as one key backup. Light missed 13 games last season due to a broken leg, and he’s been limited in the early stages of training camp. Gorin is seen as a marginal starter and is probably the weak link of the five. He’s expected to be challenged by Nick Kaczur who still isn’t able to practice as he’s returning from last season’s shoulder injury. Neal and Mankins are very solid run blockers who play with a nasty streak. Koppen, who is coming back from shoulder surgery as well and may not be ready for the regular season, is probably one of the top-five players at his position in the league and is a tremendous pass blocker. The depth is good with Kaczur, versatile OL Russ Hochstein, who can play center and guard, and rookie OT Ryan O’Callaghan, who could challenge for the RT job down the line. Hochstein did a great job filling in for Koppen last season, and the team rewarded him with a contract extension. Overall, this is one of the best pass-blocking lines in the league and an above-average run-blocking unit.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



7. Seattle Seahawks



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Walter Jones, Sean Locklear

Guards: Floyd Womack, Chris Gray

Center: Robbie Tobeck



Outlook: This team lost an excellent player in G Steve Hutchinson, and there’s no easy way to overcome that, so there should be a drop-off from previous years. Seattle loves to run Shaun Alexander on that left side (even if the run starts to the right), so it will be incumbent upon Floyd Womack to keep his weight down, stay healthy, and perform consistently. Womack’s been one valuable pork chop for the Seahawks, and he’s an experienced veteran, so the drop-off may not be dramatic. The team, of course, still has all-world LT Jones, and they are in good shape on the other side with Sean Locklear, who exceeded everyone’s expectations last year and is entrenched as the starter. Locklear isn’t big, but he’s quick, mobile, and considered a good fit for their offense. Inside, Womack is a very solid player, with durability his biggest issue. The team, however, added veteran and former starting LT for the Patriots, Tom Ashworth, who will provide the team a very capable backup for Womack should he get hurt. The other guard, Chris Gray, has some limitations, but he is overall an above-average starter who can deliver a serious blow. At center, the 11-year veteran Tobeck finally made the Pro Bowl last year, so the team is in good shape there. Tobeck, in particular, has mastered the mental elements of the game and does an excellent job calling line plays. This group isn’t a glamorous as it once was, but it’s still one of the better starting units in the league. Even better, there is good depth. In addition to the veteran Ashworth, they have the physically gifted Chris Spencer, last year’s #1 pick, who is waiting in the wings to take over for Tobeck. They also have Ray Willis, a 4th round pick last year, who has been a star of the team’s OTAs. He will be their third tackle.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Worse

For the pass: Same



8. Washington Redskins



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Chris Samuels, Jon Jansen

Guards: Derrick Dockery, Randy Thomas

Center: Casey Rabach



Outlook: New offensive coordinator Al Saunders like his linemen to be athletic and mobile, and the group in Washington fits the bill well enough. The conversation on their line has to start at tackle, where Samuels and Jansen form one of the best tackle tandems in the league. Samuels may not be elite, but most NFL teams would love to have him and his strong run and pass blocking starting for them (all but 2-3, most likely). Jansen isn’t a great athlete, but he’s a throwback player who excels in the running game and is usually solid in pass protection. Center Casey Rabach isn’t an elite player, but he was a nice addition last year, giving the team ample run and pass blocking and doing a good job calling plays for the line. If there’s a weakness, it’s probably at guard, where Dockery, while a good run-blocker, struggles a little against faster defensive linemen. Thomas was having a terrific season last year before getting hurt (broken leg). Assuming he’s healthy, which he should be, he’ll be a strong performer for this group. From top to bottom, the Redskins have one of the best lines in the NFL, but their problem is depth; it’s very shaky. Veteran Ray Brown bailed them out last year when Thomas went down, but Brown has retired. Bottom line, if this line is healthy, it will be very good. If there are multiple injuries, Saunders and line coach Joe Bugel will be left scrambling.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



9. Kansas City Chiefs



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Jordan Black, Kyle Turley/Kevin Sampson

Guards: Will Shields, Brian Waters

Center: Casey Wiegmann



Outlook: The team was dealt a blow right before camp started with the long-time starting LT Willie Roaf announcing his retirement. Roaf, a sure-fire Hall of Famer some day, was one of the most dominating run and pass blocking LTs in the last 10 years or so. Last season, Black started in place of the injured Roaf for six games, so it’s not like he’s taking over the position blindly. Now he’ll get to work there exclusively in camp and during preseason games. Black was going to compete for the RT job, but now that will be contested between Turley, who is well under his playing weight, and Sampson, whom the team sees as their future starter at the position. Turley reported to camp less than 270 pounds so he’ll have to put on at least 20 more pounds, which may be kind of tough in the sweltering heat. Shields, yet another future Hall of Famer on their OL, returns for his 14th season and is one of the most durable guards in NFL history. He’s never missed a game and has started all but one of them. While he may be undersized, Wiegmann is as tough as they come and still one of the top-10 or so players at his position in the league. Waters may be a little undersized as well, but he’s a tough run blocker and very underrated, which will happen when you play with Roaf and Shields. Because of the retirements of Roaf and fellow veteran OL John Welbourn, their depth is really depleted. Their top backup is the versatile Chris Bober who can play pretty much any position on the line, and they’ll have the loser of the RT tackle job to back up.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Worse

For the pass: Worse



10. Chicago Bears



Projected Starters:

Tackles: John Tait, Fred Miller

Guards: Ruben Brown, Roberto Garza

Center: Olin Kreutz



Outlook: The Bear line came together very well last year and emerged as one of the more cohesive units in the league. They were particularly strong for the running game and Thomas Jones. There is talent here for sure, especially at C where Olin Kruetz has been to multiple Pro Bowls, but the age factor could slow this group down in 2006. Both tackles John Tait and Bubba Miller are still playing at a pretty high level, but they are both over 30, and Kreutz is 29. Ruben Brown is 34. Tait and Miller form a nice pair of tackles, but Miller is only slightly above average. Inside, Brown is nearing the end of the line, and Garza is nothing special. Terrence Metcalf is at least a serviceable 3rd guard who can play either spot. Things could be a lot worse for the Bear line, but there’s a good chance this group comes back to earth a little this year and doesn’t perform as well as last year.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



11. New York Giants



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Luke Petitgout, Kareem McKenzie

Guards: David Diehl, Chris Snee

Center: Shaun O'Hara



Outlook: Without much fanfare, the Giants have put together a young, improving, and darn good line. They were up-and-down in terms of blocking for the pass last year, but the sack numbers were acceptable. The line should be better off in 2006 after logging in a full year together in the system in 2005. LT Luke Petitgout may be a little inconsistent, but when he’s at his best, he’s one of the better tackles in the game. McKenzie wasn’t a free agency slam-dunk last year, but he should be better off in his second year and he has top-end talent. Diehl and Snee are both better blocking for the run than the pass, but both are excellent for the Giants’ ground game, especially Snee. The versatile O’Hara isn’t a stud, but he’s a keeper, and he’s solid in all areas other than maybe working against some of the bigger and more powerful D-linemen. There is some depth, too, most notably reliable veteran Bob Whitfield (tackle) and G Rich Seubert, who was considered a potential star before suffering a leg injury that knocked him out of the 2004 season. This is a very good group that, again, should be better in 2006 (although it will be hard to do a better job blocking for the run than they did in 2004).



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Better



12. Indianapolis Colts



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Tarik Glenn, Ryan Diem

Guards: Ryan Lilja, Jake Scott

Center: Jeff Saturday



Outlook: While they had some issues during their playoff loss against the Steelers, the Colt offensive line usually plays well as a unit and they have one of the top OL coaches in Howard Mudd. Glenn is still considered one of the top-10 or so LTs and is a solid run and pass blocker. Lilja is an undersized lineman who is a bit of an overachiever and is coming off of his first season as a full-time starter. Saturday is easily one of the top-10 players at his position. Scott also was a full-time starter in his early career last season, so both players should get better with experience. Diem can play inside or outside but is a much better run blocker than pass protector. Depth is a problem, and the only backup that has any starting experience is G Dylan Gandy, who has started just two games.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



13. Jacksonville Jaguars



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Khalif Barnes, Maurice Williams

Guards: Vince Manuwai, Chris Naeole

Center: Brad Meester



Outlook: Four of their starters (Williams, Manuwai, Meester, and Naeole) have played together for the past three seasons. Barnes started 12 games last season as a rookie and is a developing but skilled and athletic lineman. Manuwai has a tremendous upside, but pro scouts say he can be a bit inconsistent and he’s a bit short. Still, he’s getting better each season. The underrated Meester is an above- average lineman who is a pretty solid blocker in the running and passing game. Naeole is one of the toughest interior linemen in the league and a very solid pass and run blocker. If they have any weakness at all, it’s with Williams, who is inconsistent in pass protection. He had a terrible game in their playoff loss at the Patriots in which he gave up four sacks. Their depth is solid and it includes former Bill first-round pick T Mike Williams, former Dolphin and Lion T Stockar McDougle, former Seahawk T Wayne Hunter, and journeyman G Derrick Fletcher. The first two players have a lot of starting experience.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Better



14. Carolina Panthers



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Travelle Wharton, Jordan Gross

Guards: Mike Wahle, Evan Mathis

Center: Justin Hartwig



Outlook: Perhaps a little overrated, the Panther line wore down last year, and they need to get better in 2006, especially in the run-blocking department. Former #1 pick Jordan Gross last year switched from the left side to the right side, where he did extremely well as a rookie in 2004. But in 2005, he wasn’t as effective, so he needs to step up this year if the line is going to be a team strength. The team did add Hartwig, who is a quality run and pass blocker, plus he’s a smart leader. He will, however, have to adjust quickly, since the Panthers run a complex blocking scheme. They have an elite player, too, in Wahle, the former Packer, who was their best lineman last year. The uncertainty is at LT and RG. Wharton struggled at time last year, but the team is happy enough with him for now. He’s a better run-blocker than pass blocker. Mathis is adequate, but he might get a run for his money for the starting job this year. The depth behind these guys doesn’t look great. The Panthers have three quality players, if not great players, so their line should be fine. But it remains to be seen if it will emerge as a major team strength.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Same



15. New York Jets


Projected Starters:

Tackles: D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Adrian Jones

Guards: Pete Kendall, Brandon Moore

Center: Trey Teague/Nick Mangold



Outlook: Journeyman offensive line coach Tony Wise will take over what looks to be, on paper, a much-improved group. Ferguson, the first of their two first-round selections, will help solidify an offensive line that has been very shaky the past few seasons. Ferguson is seen as one of the best pass-blocking left tackles to come out of the collegiate ranks in many years, and he’ll be an immediate starter. While he’s not an outstanding run blocker, he’s more than adequate. He’ll play next to Kendall, who is a solid run blocker. Jones is just seen as an average player. Moore, a former defensive lineman, is an improving run and pass blocker. Teague could miss all of camp due to a broken ankle suffered during off-season workouts, and his availability for the start of the regular season is up in the air. Mangold, who is the second of their two first-round picks, will fill in for him. Mangold had a terrific week of Senior Bowl practices and a solid NFL Combine workout, which helped him get drafted with the 29th selection overall. The depth is decent with either Teague or Mangold backing up each other. Teague can also play at guard if needed, and journeyman OL Anthony Clement can play tackle or guard.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



16. Dallas Cowboys



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Flozell Adams, Rob Petitti

Guards: Kyle Kosier, Marco Rivera

Center: Andre Gurode/Al Johnson



Outlook: This group has issues, but it should be better off this year. Tackle was a major problem area, but the veteran Adams is back and should be healthy, which is very important because he’s close to a Pro-Bowl caliber player. Petitti struggled mightily in pass projection, but he did improve as the season went on and has the upside to develop into a strong starter (he’s already considered a good road grader). If not, the team does have veteran Jason Fabini in the fold now. In theory, they should be much better off on the outside. Inside, the team lost all pro Larry Allen, and that will be a pretty big loss. Kosier may be younger, but he’s a drop-off from Allen. He is faster and more athletic, but he’s not the mauler Allen is, so they will have to utilize him well for him to not be a significant downgrade from Allen. At center they don’t have a clear starter. Rivera wasn’t bad, but he was a little bit of a disappointed given the big free agent payday in 2005. Al Johnson has been the starter and handles the responsibility of the position well, but Gurode is bigger and handles bigger nose tackles better than Johnson. They should have some depth in Fabini and in either Johnson or Gurode, but if there are more injuries this unit should be in trouble. If their starting five stay healthy, this looks like it will be at best an above-average line, and it could easily settle in as an average group.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



17. Detroit Lions



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Jeff Backus, Rex Tucker

Guards: Ross Verba, Damien Woody

Center: Dominic Raiola



Outlook: This group was a major disappointment last year. Slow and plodding, they were one of the team’s biggest problems, although, of course, there were many on this team. On paper, this is a pretty decent group, but there are plenty of issues. Verba sat all of 2005 out because he was asking for too much money. He’s a pretty good player and could easily be a major upgrade over Rick DeMulling, who struggled last year. But it’s hard to assume great things from a player who is coming off a full year off. Tucker has played well in the past and could be the answer at RT, where Kelly Butler struggled badly last year, but Tucker has had a ton of injuries problems, so he really can’t be counted on. They do have two high-end players in tackle Jeff Backus and guard Damien Woody, and center Dominic Raiola is a better-than-average leader and performer on the field. If the planets are aligned, this line could be okay, and they should be better than last year. But it’s a stretch to assume this group will go down as a team strength, especially since there will be a learning curve with the new coaching staff and offense. That said, they better gel quickly if they want to run Mike Martz’ offense effectively because the QB has to have time to sit in the pocket and get the ball to the wideouts, and they want to run the ball more.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



18. Baltimore Ravens



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Jonathan Ogden, Tony Pashos/Adam Terry

Guards: Keydrick Vincent, Edwin Mulitalo

Center: Mike Flynn



Outlook: The Raven offensive line suffered through a disappointing 2005 season, but there’s room for optimism. Ogden, after 10 years of play, is still one of the best LTs in the league and is a dominant pass blocker. Mulitalo suffered though an injured-plagued season last year, but when healthy, he’s one of the best guards in the league. So the left side of the line is pretty solid. Flynn is in the upper half of all centers. The right side is where the issues lie. Vincent was injured for half of last season and didn’t play well when healthy. Pashos has the inside track on the starting job but only has seven starts over his three-year career. Terry is a second-year player who has yet to start a game. But either of them could wind up proving to be an upgrade over former starting RT Orlando Brown, whose play really waned in recent seasons. Brown wasn’t brought back and may be retiring. The depth is very young and unproven with the loser of the RT job, rookie second-round pick C Chris Chester, and third-year G Brian Rimph.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Same



19. Oakland Raiders



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Robert Gallery, Langston Walker

Guards: Barry Sims, Paul McQuistan/Brad Badger

Center: Jake Grove



Outlook: The new coaching staff made some very wise changes to their starting lineup up front. Gallery moves from RT to LT, where he’s a more natural fit because of his long arms and reach, and Walker is a more natural RT. The 6’8� Walker played inside last season. Sims was probably out of place playing LT and is better off inside. Grove has seen time at C and G but is a more natural center. The rookie McQuistan plays with the kind of nasty streak the Raiders like, and he’ll challenge the veteran Badger, who is probably better off being a backup. The team really doesn’t have a lot of depth, and only C Adam Treu has meaningful starting experience.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers



Projected Starters:



Tackles: Anthony Davis, Kenyatta Walker

Guards: Dan Buenning, Sean Mahan

Center: John Wade



Outlook: The Bucs have been rebuilding their offense line for what seems like a couple of decades now, but they might be as close to forming a strong line now as they’ve been in many years. The team has more depth than it’s had in a long while, and that will create competition. The Bucs return all five starters from last year, and all five linemen started all 16 games last year, so even though those five aren’t locks to start, the Buc line should have more continuity than we’ve seen in a while. Tackles Anthony Davis and Kenyatta Walker are probably the weak links, but Davis at least is a strong run-blocker, and Walker has at least scratched his excellent potential these last couple of years. The team is strong inside. #1 pick Davin Joseph is no lock to play over starter Sean Mahan, who is very solid and strong fundamentally. The team also has former Charger and Viking Toniu Fonoti, who is a strong option if his weight is down, which it appears to be this year. If Joseph is too good to keep out of the lineup, the team could move Mahan over to center over the veteran John Wade. Dan Buenning, a rookie last year, started every game on the left side, and is a good run blocker. Tackle is an issue, but the team used its 2nd pick on Jeremy Trueblood, who could push for playing time. The bottom line with this group is that it’s coming off a promising season last year, now has some continuity, and has better depth and competition than it’s had in quite some time, so things are promising. If they continue to come together and can improve in their pass protection, the team won’t have to use as much max-protect to keep QB Chris Simms upright, which, in turn, would open up their offense.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



21. San Diego Chargers



Projected Starters:



Tackles: Roman Oben, Shane Olivea

Guards: Kris Dielman, Mike Goff

Center: Nick Hardwick



Outlook: Former Saint offensive line coach Jack Henry is in his second tenure with the Chargers and is in his second season on the latest go-around. He’ll coach a bunch of over achievers, and Henry hopefully will get back the veteran Oben, who missed half of last season with an injured foot. Oben still is nursing the injury. Second-round pick Marcus McNeill will get extended reps in camp in his place. Dielman is a nice story. The team signed him as an undrafted free agent, and he won a starting job last season. Hardwick is a developing lineman who is very athletic but needs to get stronger. Goff is a really good run blocker but can get overpowered at times by bigger DTs. Olivea is another nice story. The former seventh-round pick has been a starter his entire three-year career. Depth is an issue as only T Leander Jordan has any meaningful starting experience.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



22. Tennessee Titans



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Michael Roos, Jacob Bell

Guards: Benji Olson, Zach Piller

Center: Kevin Mawae



Outlook: For the most part, this is an offensive line that has a good mixture of veteran and young players. Roos, a second-year pro, will take over for long-time starting LT Brad Hopkins, who was released and is expected to retire. Roos did start all 16 games last season at RT. But some with the team believe is more of a natural LT because of his long arms. He’ll play next to Piller, who is a better run than pass blocker. Mawae takes over for Justin Hartwig, who signed with Carolina. While Mawae isn’t the player he once was and probably isn’t one of the top-10 at his position in the league, he’s still an upgrade over Hartwig, and he’s a better than average run and pass blocker. Olson is a tough run blocker, but his lack of athleticism makes him a less than solid pass blocker. Bell, who has played mostly at right tackle, missed most of last season with a knee injury. Depth is an issue, as none of their top backups have any meaningful starting experience.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Worse



23. Atlanta Falcons



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Wayne Gandy, Todd Weiner

Guards: Matt Lehr, Kynan Forney

Center: Todd McClure



Outlook: The Falcons were the #1 run offense in 2005, but that really says a lot about the system (and Michael Vick’s running) because this O-line doesn’t have a lot of quality players. In fact, one could argue they don’t have any. RT Todd Weiner has been a decent player and usually excels in the system and in pass protection, but defenses and injuries got the better of him more times than usual last year, so he’s on the hot seat this year, the final one of his contract. On the other side, the team lost LT Kevin Shaffer, an excellent run blocker, but they were able to replace him with veteran Wayne Gandy, who isn’t as good for the run but is better for the pass. Gandy’s been around for a long while (12 years), and it’s unknown if he’ll excel right away in this system. Kynan Forney was viewed as an emerging player previously, but he took a little bit of a step back last year, thanks in part to injuries. Lehr’s solid enough, and he’s a good fit for the zone-blocking scheme, but he’s undersized and can get overpowered easily. McClure, too, is undersized, but he’s smart and athletic and is built to play in this system. As a group, this unit is solid enough, but it’s hard to pinpoint any reason to believe these guys are anything special.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Better



24. Houston Texans



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Seth Wand/Charles Spencer, Zach Wiegert/Eric Winston

Guards: Chester Pitts, Steve McKinney

Center: Mike Flanigan



Outlook: The much-maligned Texan offensive line might finally be on the right track. Don’t look for a lot of juggling linemen at different positions with new OL coach John Benton. Left tackle will have good competition in camp between the incumbent Wand, who had a good off-season, and the first of their third-round picks, Spencer, who has tremendous size and athleticism. Our money is on Spencer, who has better feet. Pitts was playing out of position last season at left tackle, so he’ll play inside at LG. The former Packer Flanigan takes over for McKinney, who will be kicked over to RG, which probably is a better position for him. Wiegert is probably better off inside at guard, which is why they selected Winston with their other third-round pick. Depth will have a mixture of youth and experience. The loser of both tackle jobs will be the main backups at the position, and backups T Ephraim Salaam and Gs Fred Weary and David Loverne have plenty of starting experience among the three of them.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



25. Miami Dolphins


Projected Starters:

Tackles: L.J. Shelton, Vernon Carey

Guards: Jeno James, Seth McKinney

Center: Rex Hadnot



Outlook: Like with Buffalo, the Dolphins have one of the best OL coaches in Hudson Houck, who did a masterful job with the Charger and Cowboy lines previously. Houck’s latest project will be to get underachieving LT Shelton to raise his level of play. Shelton’s motivation and performance has been up and down over his seven seasons of play. The former first-round pick will get a challenge from former starting OT Damion McIntosh. Carey, the club’s former first-round pick in 2004, has yet to reach his big potential. McKinney, who was their starting center the past three seasons, is being moved over to right guard, and Hadnot, who was their starting RG, is being moved over to center. The coaches believe Hadnot is a more physical player than McKinney, and he’s better suited for the middle. James returns for his second season as the starter at LG. The starting five is probably a better run-blocking unit than pass blocking. The depth is decent, with former Raven and Bill G Bennie Anderson, former Jaguar OT Mike Pearson, and former starting OT Wade Smith, who moved to center last year.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



26. Cleveland Browns



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Kevin Shaffer, Ryan Tucker

Guards: Joe Andruzzi, Cosey Coleman

Center: Bob Hallen



Outlook: The team addressed their center position in free agency by signing former Saint LeCharles Bentley. Former starting C Jeff Faine was traded away earlier this year. With Bentley in the fold, they had one of the most dominating players at his position from a run and pass-blocking standpoint. Unfortunately, just one hour in to their first training camp practice, Bentley suffered a torn patella tendon in his knee and will be lost for the entire 2006 season. The team will move Hallen, who has only started a handful of games at center, into his spot. Offensive line coach Jeff Davidson is one of the better young coaches at his position, so he should be able to find a way to lessen the loss of the All-Pro center. Despite the devastating loss of Bentley, the left side of the line should be pretty solid, with Andruzzi and Shaffer who is a clear upgrade from former starting LT L.J. Shelton. Andruzzi is a tough-minded run blocker who is a real team leader. Shaffer’s upgrade should be in pass protection. The right side of the line isn’t bad, with veterans Tucker and Coleman. Depth is going to be stretched because Hallen now has to start. And Tucker is expected to have knee surgery soon, which will keep him out until the start of the regular season. The team signed former Texan OL Todd Washington, who has mainly been a reserve in his career, to be Hallen’s main backup. They also have former Viking Nat Dorsey, who is slated to back up Tucker; backup G Dave Yovanovitz; and T Kirk Chambers, who backs up Shaffer. But none of their backups really has extensive starting experience.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Worse

For the pass: Better



27. San Francisco 49ers



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Jonas Jennings, Adam Snyder/Kwame Harris

Guards: Larry Allen, Justin Smiley

Center: Eric Heitmann/Jeremy Newberry



Outlook: While the 49ers have been known as a team that has a weak offensive line, the potential is there for this group to emerge quickly as a team strength. Their big free agent acquisition in 2005, Jonas Jennings, missed a lot of time with an injury last year, and the team has added veteran Larry Allen, who can still play and who had already set a tremendous example of toughness for their young players. Former #1 pick Kwame Harris showed flashes last year at RT, but he will have to beat Snyder, who played LT for the injured Jennings last year, a testament to their solid depth. Justin Smiley will have to move from LG to RG, so there could be a transition, but he’s a physical player considered to be a quality starter. Jeremy Newberry has made a couple of Pro Bowls and is a versatile player capable of playing at a high level, but he may not be 100% heading into the season (microfracture surgery on his right knee), so Eric Heitmann is considered the starter for now. Again, at the very least, the team has depth. When you add it all up, the 49er line should be better in 2006, and again, they have the potential to develop into a quality line with a nice mixture of youth an experience. This bodes well for their running game with OC Norv Turner in the house.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



28. St. Louis Rams



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Orlando Pace, Alex Barron

Guards: Claude Terrell, Adam Timmerman

Center: Andy McCollum



Outlook: The good news is that the Rams have one of the best bookends in the business in Pace and Barron. The future hall-of-famer Pace is a pancake specialist, and he always excels at protecting the QB’s blind side. Barron is still developing, but he’s shown he can be an elite pass protector. Assuming he becomes a little stronger and more physical, things he’s worked on this off-season, he should elevate his game to an even higher level. Elsewhere, unfortunately, the Rams have issues. Terrell showed promise last year, but an injury has cost him some conditioning in the off-season, and he has to reprove himself to the coaching staff to secure a starting spot. At his best, at least, Terrell should be an above-average run blocker. C Andy McCollum and G Adam Timmerman are both savvy veterans, but they are both in their mid-30s and durability is a big issue for Timmerman, whose pass-blocking is slipping. McCollum is at least durable, but he’s not very athletic and mobile. Nothing really jumps out depth-wise other than maybe Richie Incognito, a 3rd rounder in 2005 who missed the entire season due to surgery on his kneecap. At the end of the day, the beasts on the edges will prevent this line from being bad, but the issues on the inside should mean this line winds up as an average group.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



29. Arizona Cardinals



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Leonard Davis, Oliver Ross

Guards: Reggie Wells, Milford Brown

Center: Nick Leckey



Outlook: While their depth is very questionable, especially at tackle, the Cardinals do have some players on the line capable of performing at a high level, and they actually have a real line coach in Steve Loney, as opposed to Everett Lindsey, a former player for Dennis Green who was in over his head as the O-line coach. Loney’s goal this year isn’t to develop a dominant group, but to simply bring the line to respectability. If he succeeds, the Cardinal line shouldn’t be an albatross for the team. Davis is a mauler who has the potential to play at a high level, but he might be better off playing guard. Still, he’s their best player and will look much better this year if he gets some help. Ross came over from Pittsburgh last year but missed a lot of time with an injury. He’s not a great pass protector, but he’s a much better run-blocker and overall a decent player. Wells is versatile and was probably their most consistent lineman last year before missing time with an injury. Brown was added in free agency and the club is high on him. He’s still unproven, but he’s viewed as a good run-blocker. Both starting center Nick Leckey and backup Alex Stepanovich are more athletic than they are strong at the point of attack. One possible move is taking Wells and using him at center and inserting promising rookie and #2 pick at Deuce Lutui at LG. If they do this, they will probably be playing their best five linemen and could have a pretty decent line. They will need to stay healthy and gel quickly, but the Cardinal line has some promise this year, particularly in terms of their improvement blocking for the run.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Better

For the pass: Better



30. Green Bay Packers



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher

Guards: Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz

Center: Scott Wells



Outlook: As it did last year, the team has two strong tackles in Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, and little else. In fact, this year they don’t even have C Mike Flannigan, so they could be worse off than last year as they attempt to switch to a zone-blocking scheme similar to what’s run in Denver and Atlanta. The Packers at least have youth on the line, but with it brings some uncertainty, since it’s no lock that Colledge, Spitz, and even Wells start. Wells is the safest bet of the three, but his lack of size is a concern against the league’s bigger and physical DTs. The concern with Spitz is whether or not he has the quickness to navigate in the new scheme, which asks its linemen to get mobile. Colledge can move, but he’s considered raw with a lot to learn. Stranger things have happened, and you never really know if a line will gel or not, but this group overall, on paper, looks real shaky.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



31. Buffalo Bills



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Mike Gandy, Jason Peters

Guards: Chris Villarrial, Tutan Reyes

Center: Melvin Fowler



Outlook: Thankfully, the Bills have one of the best OL coaches in the league in Jim McNally because this is one of the least talented groups around. Three of their starters return from last season, including Gandy, who is seen as a marginal starting LT, and Peters is a converted tight end. But Peters seems to be an emerging player and the team rewarded him with a new contract. Fowler has been a backup most of his career. Next to him on each side are veterans Villarrial and Reyes. Villarrial is a solid run-blocking lineman who has been a full-time starter in 9 out of his 10 seasons of play, while Reyes, who is seen as marginal starter, has only been a starter the past two seasons of his six years in the league. The team has questionable depth. Only journeyman OL Aaron Gibson has meaningful starting experience. Interestingly, the coaches are working him inside at guard, even though he’s played outside at tackle his entire career.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Same

For the pass: Same



32. New Orleans Saints



Projected Starters:

Tackles: Jammal Brown, Jon Stinchcomb

Guards: Montrae Holland, Jermane Mayberry

Center: Jeff Faine



Outlook: This group will open the 2006 season with a different player manning all five starting positions from 2004, and that’s a tough situation. After trading starting LT Wayne Gandy to the Falcons in the off-season, the Saints will rely on former #1 pick Jammal Brown to make a smooth transition to that position, and they will also need youngster Jon Stinchcomb to get the job done at RT. Brown played very well last year and looks like an elite player, but his technique will need some work as he moves to the left side, and there could be some growing pains. As for Stinchcomb, a former guard moving to tackle, he’s coming off a serious knee injury, has good athleticism and potential, but he remains an unknown commodity. The team does have the solid veteran Mayberry back, and Holland looks like a solid young player, but neither is considered a top-end player, and both have moved to new spots on the line. At center, the team lost star LeCharles Bentley, but they were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to add Faine, who is young and should be viewed as a strength on their line. Faine may not be the biggest and toughest center out there, but he’s athletic and smart, so he should help stabilize what should be an unstable O-line. Overall, though, it’s hard to be very optimistic about this revamped line.



Better or worse than last year:

For the run: Worse

For the pass: Worse



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SaintFanInATLHELL

Ouch! That's painful! I certainly hope that the OLine coach posts this on the bulletin board and gets some players fired up.

SFIAH

Euphoria

I don't think we will be that bad but this should be a good warning about our OL