A lot of Sanchez's turnover came to avoid the sack. Mcelroy was sacked 11 times. ELEVEN. On the other side of offense, could anyone see any running lanes? I couldn't. Hardly seems like 3rd best.
It's hard to find running lanes when the defense can stack 8 players in the box because the offense is predictable and never goes vertical.
Actually, Sanchez throws the vast majority of his interceptions when not pressured, to the point of the lowest percentage in the league. Whoops. And next you'll tell me that he rarely makes quick decisions and very often holds onto the ball. Yeah. Definitely everyone else's fault there. Because, as Big Blocker alludes to, these stats don't give a crap about team yardage. They're about individual performance. And speaking of individual performances, how about that Shonn Greene? Second worst ability to make people miss in the league combined with his complete ignorance of the idea of reading blocks instead of charging into an assigned hole no matter what? Yeah, definitely the offensive line's fault. Brandon Moore? Oh no! He's so old and getting worse by the minute! He went from top right guard to third best right guard in the league! Quick, fire him and draft a college kid! What a joke. And while Slauson isn't a great run blocker (only slightly above average, as originally stated), he is one of the top 15 pass blockers in the league. Whoops, guess he doesn't suck so badly after all. And unfortunately I don't have the Howard links (there are many) but while he started the season as one of the worst tackles in the league (for pass blocking anyway) he finished well. Get rid of the 3rd best RG in the league and slide over a guy who struggled getting his feet set in the position he's always played to a position he's never played and put a rookie outside him. SURELY that will upgrade those positions. Look, people, I know you love to have contrary personal opinions to seem different but reality trumps fiction every day of the week and twice on Sunday. The Jets' main pass rusher, Calvin Pace, can't rush the passer. The Jets' second ILB Bart Scott is the worst tackling linebacker in the NFL. Cactus rounds out the group that's fortunately not completely lost because it's headed by David Harris who is one of the most clutch linebackers in the league. Damn is he ever. That's right, LTJF. Despite riding pine in Seattle and only being with the Jets for a few games, Braylon Edwards was one of only two receivers able to get separation with any regularity, and even when he didn't get separation, he still boxed out defenders to make absurd grabs like he has his entire career. But you guys are right. The run blocking sucks so move one of the team's better run blockers to a position he's never played, fire the #3 RG in the league, and replace the vacant spot with a gamble on a rookie in a weak draft class. The pass blocking sucks so fire one of the top 15 pass blockers in the league because he wasn't a first round pick and has a stutter. Bilal Powell and Shonn Greene, the second worst running back in the league at running and the owner of the fifth most granite-like hands, behind only three people and your lord and savior all purpose back from Louisville, are both fine and would carry the Jets to ten consecutive Superbowls if only they had the #2 or #1 offensive line in the league instead. You're upset over a pair of shitty seasons. You want someone to blame. That's normal. That's fine. Blame who deserves it, though: The lack of depth at tight end, the lack of any viable running backs who won't fumble the game away (I'm looking at you, McKnight, it's the only reason you aren't starting), three out of four linebackers, receivers aside from the #3 and the guy who only played 3, and of course, your quarterback of the New York Jets, Mark Sanchez. Don't like it? Too bad. Reality trumps fiction.
I stopped being a "Sanchez fan" after the Arizona game. I think their rankings are not fully accurate, especially if they don't consider sacks and YPC. When the individual rankings of the run blocking came out, they listed the runs to the right as pretty good, but the runs up the middle and to the left were severely lacking. The average didn't come out to even close to #3 in the league. That's why I'm suspicious. I don't think you can really just put all the blame on Shonn Greene and call it a day. Blocking matters, and Slauson is a BAD blocker. Greene was taught to plow guys over, that's part of ground and pound. I don't see how individually they rank around average in the run game, but together they rank #3? Makes no sense. Sorry, I just don't agree with their methods. I saw the individual rankings on the line, and it DOES NOT ADD UP. It was posted here like a month or so ago.
Agreed ! We could never find a decent lane like 2009 hopefully this new offense should be the opposite and will be unpredictible
That article you're referencing is YPC by hole hit (3/5/etc) and is dependent on the running back because it's a stat largely for the running back (yards per carry). They grade offensive linemen run blocking largely on two things: Win percentage (how often you beat your opposing defender) and how much you won by (how far back you pushed them). The Jets' offensive line is #3 based on those statistics: They beat their men very often (This is Moore's hallmark, for example, not being a guy who pushes his defender four yards but one who almost never fails to push his defender back) and they make room for the running back. The running backs fail. This is why the YPC is low. What doesn't add up is how you keep confusing the offensive line's performance with the running backs'. You want something that doesn't add up? Gauging offensive linemen by running back statistics. Your opinion on Slauson? Again, it's an opinion. Welcome to reality.
Fair enough. I still don't agree that the hole hitting is ALL about the running backs. The linesman have to create those holes in the first place. They are all connected. I think you really need to look at the big picture, rather than selective stats, but the ones you listed were good. I don't think it quite tells the whole story of our line, however.
Of course you're right here: It can't ever tell the whole story. The offensive line pushing the defense back two to three yards, even if they don't make a single six inch crease to squeeze a shoulder into, should never result in a running back averaging 3.9ypc though. That means that your running back isn't even good for a fucking yard half the time. If you only wanted one yard you'd give the damn ball to your fullback! When you have two elite pass blockers on your left side, a top 3 center and guard, and a right tackle who run blocks pretty damn well, that's the makings of a top offensive line. The biggest issue it has (and why the #3 ranking lies, just not by nearly as much as people here think it does) is that Slauson is pretty awful at pulling. If the Jets had a right guard who could step into Moore's shoes so that he could slide to left guard, the Jets would have, without a doubt, the #1 offensive line in the league. That's a pretty fucking huge luxury though, and the line, as it is, is extremely good. When your biggest concern is that your power runs aren't as effective as they should be in comparison to your standard man runs you don't have any major concerns. The problem in 2011 was the right tackle (Hunter) and injuries across the line (Slauson, Mangold, and Moore were all injured either at some point or throughout the season) and in 2012 the line got healthy and the issue became Howard's progression as a pass blocker (he was a good run blocker to begin with and went from terrible to decent in the pass blocking arena). The big deal with offensive lines that everyone talks about is consistency and this line hasn't had a lot of it but still plays extremely well. You want to talk about improving the team? Retain Slauson, Moore, and Howard and get some consistency on the offensive line. Load up on fast linebackers and offensive skill positions (a WR, at least one RB, and at least one TE) in the draft. Pray that half of them contribute enough next season that the Jets aren't fishing starters from the Dolphins' practice squad and you'll have a team that goes 9-7 even if every ball rolls the wrong way.
I wonder if there's a stat that indicates a running backs effectiveness when facing specific defensive fronts. Also, I wonder what the teams' overall blocking grade would be if the blocking grades of the TEs and FBs were taken into account.
3rd best RG in the game when he's too slow to pull? Give me a break. How often do you think this 3rd best RG (according to you) pulls to lay down a block on runs to the left side? How often do you see this 3rd best RG blocking people at the second level? Claiming this article as a source when it reality you're showing me this article has big flaws in its evaluation criteria. Also showing me your inability to see what's happening on the field because you accept it so blindly. Moore used to be an extremely good player but he's at the ending of his career. It happens. ***************** Slauson is average but cheap. I didn't say he sucks. It's almost like you're arguing with yourself but want to blame me for it. ***************** For his salary, Howard played well. However, he was still average. This upcoming draft has plenty of OL prospects so Jets should upgrade it.
Nice post. My only quibble is that Moore is getting old and if Slauson gets a decent offer from anyone other than the Jets, he will be gone. So much for maintaining consistency with these players.
The problem with those two guys is that Moore is old and good franchises get rid of guys a year early. I think it would be the right move to get rid of him unless he takes a vet min, but even then I could see the guy going downhill fast next year. Slauson was Calihan pick and was decent in his system. The guy was clearly the weakest link last year, and is not versatile where he could backup both left and right guard spots. Would not take him back unless its vet min. I would put Ducasse in at right guard and we will see once and for all what kind of player he is. Its his 3rd (or 4th?) year and being considered aproject pick he should something this year. I would look into free agency/draft for the other guard spots. Rounds 4-7 should be used on 1 or 2 promising linemen. Good enough to backup for the time being and hopefully become starting grade years down the road.
I've been beating this same drum for months. We'd all be amazed at how running lanes miraculously open up, if DC's had to spend even a single minute of their time worrying about getting burned by our passing game ... and that's a direct result of having the worst QB in the sport.
I read how I think it was PFF rated Slauson fairly well, and i hope you are not saying he's worse than VD. For your sake.
True. An accurate analysis of OL's cannot be based on stats that the Qb and Rb's have a huge impact upon.
The Jets likely DID have the 3rd best OL in the NFL this year.The problem is that the quality of play has gone down at that position league wide. Quality offensive tackles capable of matching up w/ the ultra athletic pass rushers of today are hard to find. Take a look at this past offseason. The Jets were in crisis mode to try & find a competent replacement for Wayne Hunter. Problem was...there were a half dozen other teams w/ similar RT problems of their own. Teams are almost forced to pick their poison nowadays. Either build an O-line to pass pro..or build one to drive block. It's too hard to find guys who are equally effective running as well as pass pro.
You lost me at 'whine' big boy. :up: Wanting to address a unit for the purpose of establishing dominance at the point of attack (vs. cosmetically messaged stats) constitutes whining? Er, ok... ^^ Yeah against the soft part of the schedule. The 1st half of the season involved the Bills in week #1, a shit team, and the Colts who were notoriously bad against the run. McElroy (even if he held the ball too long at times) was nevertheless sacked ELEVEN fucking times....by a non-playoff team...led by a ROOKIE pass rusher. Stats are like a trick dog: you can make 'em roll over, play dead, etc., etc.,... Chance Warmack? Eric Fischer? Jones (AL)? Warford (KY)? Johnson (OK)? Shit, I'll 'whine' for days for a Chance Warmack. You want to go a different direction in the draft, all well and good. That said, my point is that an opinion just because it's contrary to yours does not constitute 'whining'
