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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tackle (the blind side) and your mauling run blocker at right tackle (teams used to run to the right more often) is outdated.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

Yes I think they are becoming more so. The movie was cool the story even better. But...

Rugby Saint II

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

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

I do not know but i will ask Drew after he peels himself of the dome turf for the 100th time

Danno

With the 3 and 4 wides, quick strike, short drop offenses the LT isn't as important as it once was.

TheOak

The slower the QB, the more important the LT is.

Manning, Brees, Brady are quick through their progressions.

vpheughan

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

You lucky bastard!

Seer1

Hahahaha!