The Official 2018 NFL Season Random Thoughts Thread
- Thread starter Deflatedhoopdreams
- Start date
Lakerman0834
Veteran
Julio finally scored 
Browns better not get a garbage TD here. 
Sam Darnold with 4 Interceptions???
Rams vs Saints is about to be a shootout
glad the Chiefs won easy over cleveland. In the past, this would have been one of those games where the Browns would have had that "spark" because of the coach firings.
lol @ the Bucs.
lol @ the Bucs.
Panthers came through...
010101
C L O N E*0690//////
thugger.kamara & monsieur.can't.guard nola got two bigg.tyme ballers*
Saints working out Dez
Hope he gets a ring
Khalil mack tied for 23rd in sacks...
Amare's Right Hook
Southeast World Champion
Stop lying about your O-Line Colts fans....
2018 NFL Offensive Line Rankings: All 32 teams' units after Week 9 | NFL Analysis | Pro Football Focus
Line Rankings: All 32 teams' units after Week 9
BY MICHAEL RENNER • NOV 7, 2018
We’ve crossed the halfway point of the season for all 32 teams which means it’s time to review the top offensive lines through the first half of the season. I’ll be handing out the biggest surprise performer on each – sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way.
[Editor’s Note: Now that we are through Week 9 of the 2018 regular season, we’ve adjusted the rankings to factor in ALL snaps played along each team’s offensive line so far this season. Therefore, the rankings below reflect how every offensive lineman on each team has contributed in Weeks 1-9.]
1.
The Steelers have one of the best track records for offensive line development of any team in the NFL, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that former undrafted free agent Matt Feiler has stepped in at right tackle for Marcus Gilbert and graded competently. Feiler was a practice squad player for the Texans as a UDFA in 2014 before being released in training camp the next year. He was picked up off waivers by the Steelers and has been back and forth on the practice squad ever since. When Gilbert went down with injury, though, it was Feiler getting the call and not 2018 third-round pick Chukwuma Okorafor. In three games, Feiler has allowed only five pressures and no sacks.
2.
Right guard Austin Blythe isn’t only the biggest surprise performer on the Rams; he’s the biggest surprise performer in the NFL. The former seventh-round pick had played all of 285 snaps in his career across two different franchises before this season. In those, he allowed more pressures (13) than he has in 607 snaps so far this season (12). His 80.2 overall grade is the second-best among guards in the NFL.
3.
Yet another offensive line that’s so good at developing players that no one seemingly overperforming should be a surprise. Right tackle Marcus Cannon being the weak link so far on a top-5 offensive line is a tad surprising. He earned a big deal after his breakout performance in 2016 where he had an 86.6 overall grade. Injuries have taken a bit of a toll since, and his 65.5 overall grade this season is more reminiscent of the player we saw early in his career.
4.
It’s never a complete shock when a player has injuries and comes back and isn’t the same player we saw before. That’s been much of the case with Taylor Lewan this season. His 70.2 pass-blocking grade is solid but not close to the three straight seasons in the mid-80’s that we’ve come to expect from the Titans left tackle.
5.
After an injury-hampered 2017 season, it was unclear if Packers center Corey Linsley would ever get back to his previous form. Not only has he bounced back, but he’s on pace for a career year with a 77.9 overall grade. He’s allowed all of five pressures in pass protection after yielding 26 a season ago.
6.
The Colts obviously thought highly of Braden Smith, drafting him in the second round, but even I don’t believe they thought he’d be this good as a rookie at tackle. His 73.1 overall grade currently trumps (albeit barely) that of top-10 pick Quenton Nelson, and he’s doing it at a position he only started at once in college. Smith was a three-year starter for Auburn at right guard with one start at right tackle his sophomore year. In four starts at right tackle for the Colts, he’s allowed zero sacks, zero hits, and seven hurries.
7.
While the interior of the Browns offensive line has been fantastic in pass protection, many of them up front have struggled in the running game. Most notably, Kevin Zeitleris on pace for a career-low grade as a run-blocker at 58.7.
8.
Eagles fans have not been happy with the success of their run game so far this season, and much of that has started up front. After utterly dominating a season ago, right guard Brandon Brooks is in the midst of the lowest-graded run-blocking season of his career. His 60.4 run-blocking grade isn’t close to the 79.1 he earned in 2017.
9.
Orlando Brown Jr. was the talk of the combine last February, and not in a good way. His athletic testing was abysmal – even for a 345-pound man. Thought by some to be a first-round talent, he fell to the third but is looking more and more like a steal with each passing game. He’s started that past three games for the Ravens and most recently didn’t allow a single pressure on 45 pass-blocking snaps against the Steelers. His 73.9 pass-blocking grade for the season is fantastic for a rookie.
10.
It’s well past time to admit that the former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher is never going to be the position-changing left tackle he was billed as coming out. Solid is his ceiling at this point, he hasn’t even reached that at times this year. After a career-high 77.2 pass-blocking grade a season ago, he’s dipped back down to a 65.9 this season. His 26 total pressures allowed are the eighth-most among tackles in the NFL.
11.
While the fact that Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk are the highest-graded tackle duo in the NFL is noteworthy, it isn’t all that surprising. What has surprised is former first-rounder Andrus Peatstruggling mightily after the progress we saw him make in recent years. Peat’s 41.9 overall grade this season is the lowest of any guard in the NFL.
12.
Atlanta has boasted one of the top-5 offensive lines in the league of late, which makes their fall this season a bit surprising. Right tackle Ryan Schraeder’s down year has been the main culprit. He’s already allowed as many pressures this year (20) as he did all of last season and doubled his penalty total (3 to 6).
13.
It might not be shocking if you’ve followed his career path, but the fact that Charles Leno Jr. is one of the best pass-protecting left tackles in the NFL after being a seventh-rounder in 2014 qualifies as a tad surprising. Leno currently owns the fifth-best pass-blocking grade of any tackle in the league at 85.1.
14.
After a couple seasons of thinking La’el Collins was on the cusp of putting it all together, it might be time to admit that he may never live up to his pre-draft billing. Collins was thought by many to be the top offensive line talent in the 2015 draft but fell to a UDFA due to unforeseen issues in the days leading up to the draft. The Cowboys were thought to have gotten a steal, but now in his fourth season, he’s still never cracked 70.0 overall for a single season. His 22 total pressures allowed this season are 17th-most among offensive tackles while his eight penalties are third most.
2018 NFL Offensive Line Rankings: All 32 teams' units after Week 9 | NFL Analysis | Pro Football Focus
Line Rankings: All 32 teams' units after Week 9
BY MICHAEL RENNER • NOV 7, 2018
We’ve crossed the halfway point of the season for all 32 teams which means it’s time to review the top offensive lines through the first half of the season. I’ll be handing out the biggest surprise performer on each – sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way.
[Editor’s Note: Now that we are through Week 9 of the 2018 regular season, we’ve adjusted the rankings to factor in ALL snaps played along each team’s offensive line so far this season. Therefore, the rankings below reflect how every offensive lineman on each team has contributed in Weeks 1-9.]
1.
The Steelers have one of the best track records for offensive line development of any team in the NFL, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that former undrafted free agent Matt Feiler has stepped in at right tackle for Marcus Gilbert and graded competently. Feiler was a practice squad player for the Texans as a UDFA in 2014 before being released in training camp the next year. He was picked up off waivers by the Steelers and has been back and forth on the practice squad ever since. When Gilbert went down with injury, though, it was Feiler getting the call and not 2018 third-round pick Chukwuma Okorafor. In three games, Feiler has allowed only five pressures and no sacks.
2.
Right guard Austin Blythe isn’t only the biggest surprise performer on the Rams; he’s the biggest surprise performer in the NFL. The former seventh-round pick had played all of 285 snaps in his career across two different franchises before this season. In those, he allowed more pressures (13) than he has in 607 snaps so far this season (12). His 80.2 overall grade is the second-best among guards in the NFL.
3.
Yet another offensive line that’s so good at developing players that no one seemingly overperforming should be a surprise. Right tackle Marcus Cannon being the weak link so far on a top-5 offensive line is a tad surprising. He earned a big deal after his breakout performance in 2016 where he had an 86.6 overall grade. Injuries have taken a bit of a toll since, and his 65.5 overall grade this season is more reminiscent of the player we saw early in his career.4.
It’s never a complete shock when a player has injuries and comes back and isn’t the same player we saw before. That’s been much of the case with Taylor Lewan this season. His 70.2 pass-blocking grade is solid but not close to the three straight seasons in the mid-80’s that we’ve come to expect from the Titans left tackle.
5.
After an injury-hampered 2017 season, it was unclear if Packers center Corey Linsley would ever get back to his previous form. Not only has he bounced back, but he’s on pace for a career year with a 77.9 overall grade. He’s allowed all of five pressures in pass protection after yielding 26 a season ago.
6.
The Colts obviously thought highly of Braden Smith, drafting him in the second round, but even I don’t believe they thought he’d be this good as a rookie at tackle. His 73.1 overall grade currently trumps (albeit barely) that of top-10 pick Quenton Nelson, and he’s doing it at a position he only started at once in college. Smith was a three-year starter for Auburn at right guard with one start at right tackle his sophomore year. In four starts at right tackle for the Colts, he’s allowed zero sacks, zero hits, and seven hurries.
7.
While the interior of the Browns offensive line has been fantastic in pass protection, many of them up front have struggled in the running game. Most notably, Kevin Zeitleris on pace for a career-low grade as a run-blocker at 58.7.
8.
Eagles fans have not been happy with the success of their run game so far this season, and much of that has started up front. After utterly dominating a season ago, right guard Brandon Brooks is in the midst of the lowest-graded run-blocking season of his career. His 60.4 run-blocking grade isn’t close to the 79.1 he earned in 2017.
9.
Orlando Brown Jr. was the talk of the combine last February, and not in a good way. His athletic testing was abysmal – even for a 345-pound man. Thought by some to be a first-round talent, he fell to the third but is looking more and more like a steal with each passing game. He’s started that past three games for the Ravens and most recently didn’t allow a single pressure on 45 pass-blocking snaps against the Steelers. His 73.9 pass-blocking grade for the season is fantastic for a rookie.10.
It’s well past time to admit that the former No. 1 overall pick Eric Fisher is never going to be the position-changing left tackle he was billed as coming out. Solid is his ceiling at this point, he hasn’t even reached that at times this year. After a career-high 77.2 pass-blocking grade a season ago, he’s dipped back down to a 65.9 this season. His 26 total pressures allowed are the eighth-most among tackles in the NFL.
11.
While the fact that Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk are the highest-graded tackle duo in the NFL is noteworthy, it isn’t all that surprising. What has surprised is former first-rounder Andrus Peatstruggling mightily after the progress we saw him make in recent years. Peat’s 41.9 overall grade this season is the lowest of any guard in the NFL.
12.
Atlanta has boasted one of the top-5 offensive lines in the league of late, which makes their fall this season a bit surprising. Right tackle Ryan Schraeder’s down year has been the main culprit. He’s already allowed as many pressures this year (20) as he did all of last season and doubled his penalty total (3 to 6).
13.
It might not be shocking if you’ve followed his career path, but the fact that Charles Leno Jr. is one of the best pass-protecting left tackles in the NFL after being a seventh-rounder in 2014 qualifies as a tad surprising. Leno currently owns the fifth-best pass-blocking grade of any tackle in the league at 85.1.
14.
After a couple seasons of thinking La’el Collins was on the cusp of putting it all together, it might be time to admit that he may never live up to his pre-draft billing. Collins was thought by many to be the top offensive line talent in the 2015 draft but fell to a UDFA due to unforeseen issues in the days leading up to the draft. The Cowboys were thought to have gotten a steal, but now in his fourth season, he’s still never cracked 70.0 overall for a single season. His 22 total pressures allowed this season are 17th-most among offensive tackles while his eight penalties are third most.