I've heard a lot of criticism on this website about Alan Faneca's age. I think it's a little premature. It is a common misperception that a thirty-year old running back and a thirty-year old offensive lineman are the same age. Offensive linemen don't really rely on speed, agility and quickness ("young" characteristics) as much as strength, experience and technique ("veteran" characteristics). I dug up a couple of stats about pro bowl offensive linemen that you might find compelling. (All of these players were over 31 [Faneca's age] when they made the Pro Bowl). 2007: Flozell Adams 32, Walter Jones 34, Jeff Saturday 32 2006: Jeff Hartings 34, Will Shields 35, Jonathan Ogden 32 2005: Kevin Mawae 35, Jeff Hartings 33, Will Shields 34 2004: Will Shields 33, Kevin Mawae 34, Jeff Hartings 32, Willie Roaf 34 2003: Kevin Mawae 33, Willie Roaf 33, Lincoln Kennedy 33 So it seems that there is some prosperity to be had by offensive lineman in the 31-34 year-old range. (I left off everyone who was exactly 31 years old as well). Hopefully this eases some of the distress over Faneca's age. Incidentally, you know what name a kept seeing as I was reviewing the pro bowl rosters, assembling this list? ALAN FANECA. Enjoy 2008, folks!:jets:
nice find...I never really have any bad feelings about the Faneca signing...I just dont think he will be as productive as he once was in a year or two. Regardless, 80% of Faneca is likely better then 100% of the average starting Guard in the NFL
While your point, that offensive linemen enjoy success into their mid to late 30s quite frequently in the NFL, is correct, using the Pro Bowl as evidence is ridiculous... The average NFL fan doesn't pay attention to the line... Once an OL has established a reputation in the media as an excellent player, he generally is voted into the Pro Bowl in every year subsequently unless he suffers a major injury.... In fact, sometimes (as was the case with Kevin Mawae in 2005) an OL will get selected to the Pro Bowl even after missing most of the season with an injury, on reputation alone....
Actually not to be nitpicky, but Farve played for 17 seasons, one less than matthews, not 2. Also, I don't believe that Matthews made a probowl in his last 7 years in the league. He still was very good, but not probowl caliber anymore. This is saying something, because probowl caliber is only important for the young guns. The vets get in a lot of times based on popularity, look at how John Lynch keeps beating out Rhodes for the probowl especially after the 06 season as Rhodes was clearly the best safety in the AFC and arguably the NFL that year, yet Lynch was voted in over Rhodes.
Nice criticism, the Pro Bowl is shite. I normally wouldn't use the Pro Bowl to define a player's impact, but with offensive linemen, how else can their success really be measured? Rushing yards? Passing Yards? Total Offense? Divide by Five? I think some good stats to analyze an offensive guard would be (and I am not assembling this info, hopefully someone else will): 1) Games started. Gotta stay healthy. 2) NFL rank of team rushing yards. 3) QB Sacks (I know it seems like I just sunk Faneca, but Ben NEVER throws the ball away, cut him some slack) 4) Team conversion percentage on third/fourth and short/inches. 5) Whether or not he has a bad-ass handlebar mustache.
Exactly. How can you tell when an offensive lineman's performance falters? There are ways to tell statistically, but you need to go to a site like Footballoutsiders.com or similar and most fans just vote for the guy they voted for last year instead. That said, there wasn't any real buzz about Faneca's play declining over the last couple of years and I think the Jets made a move that really helps us in the short-term by signing him.
As I'm sure your probably know but have forgotten is that the NFL Pro Bowl voting selection rules differ from MLB's All Star voting procedures significantly and are much less the popularity contest you seem to be suggesting. In the NFL, the coaches vote counts for 33-1/3 %, the players vote 33-1/3 % and the fans 33-1/3%. Faneca has been going to so many Pro Bowls more so because opposing coaches and players believe he belongs there than due to any potential ballot stuffing by Steelers fans....
I know that, but that doesn't change a thing.... The players vote for their friends, or the guys they hear about in the media... You have hundreds of players in the league... 20-40 of them, tops will get to face an OL head to head in a season... The rest are voting the same way the fans are... That's 2/3 of the vote largely uninformed.... ' Look at the facts.... John Lynch made the Pro Bowl in 2006-2007, because of his reputation, not his play... Troy Polamalu did the same in 2007-2008... Kevin Mawae was out for the season in 2005-2006, and was selected to the Pro Bowl... Players aren't these insightful, all-knowing entities you're making them out to be... Most players don't ever go head to head with the guys they're voting for... They're going on reputation, just like everyone else...
I think its a good post. I dont recall you claiming it to be the Holy Grail of offensive lineman quality measurement. It provided a little perspective.
I agree with the poster...O-linemen, like wine, only get better with age. They get smarter, they get meaner, and they learn tricks to use the younger defender's speed and aggressiveness against them. I'm optimistic that D'Brick will get better as he gets more of his shiny edges knocked off him and develops a little mean streak and even more savvy.
While its plausible to dismiss the Pro Bowl as a popularity contest, I'd like to see any credible argument that the aforementioned old offensive linemen were not legitimately among the best in the league.
Anyone who thinks Faneca won't be what he once was... just put it in perspective and remember who our starting LG was last year.
