So how does this year's O-Line stack up?

[comish]

No sacks allowed again yesterday. I believe around 16 total for the season.

There is NO DOUBT this is the best line the Brown's have had since the re-birth, but I'm starting to wonder if this may be the best line they have had EVER.

Even in the 80's I remember the complaining about how we needed a better line.

Thoughts?

[fundamentals]

People can point to Anderson or the other weapons on offense for the season thus far, but the line should get most of the credit. It is solid.

[jfiling]

Shaffer should be at left tackle, Ryan Tucker is worthless playing out of position, Fraley is a bum, we paid way too much for Steinbach, and Joe Thomas was a ridiculous reach at #3.

[fundamentals]

Shaffer should be at left tackle, Ryan Tucker is worthless playing out of position, Fraley is a bum, we paid way too much for Steinbach, and Joe Thomas was a ridiculous reach at #3.

[hermanfontenot]

Well, at the very least it's a better line than any during the Bernie era. Even in '86 and '87 we were doing it with low-round draft picks like Paul Farren, scrap-heap guys and USFL refugees like George Lilja and Dan Fike, and guys converted from other positions like Rickey Bolden. I think the guy drafted highest out of that line was Mike Baab, and he was something like a fifth-round pick. There was no franchise guy a la Joe Thomas.

Go back to 1979-80 at least to find an offensive line this good, at least on the pass-blocking side.

[onlyindreams]

I think the left side could be the best we've had. The right side is above average but we have trouble consistently running that way.

[jfiling]

Shaffer should be at left tackle, Ryan Tucker is worthless playing out of position, Fraley is a bum, we paid way too much for Steinbach, and Joe Thomas was a ridiculous reach at #3.

I hope you could tell I was kidding.

[mattvan1]

I think the left side could be the best we've had. The right side is above average but we have trouble consistently running that way.

Go back a ways and look at the lines from '63-'69. Scafrath made the Pro Bowl every year as LT. Plus add a HOF'er (Hickerson) and a sprinkling of other Pro Bowlers (Wooten, Morrow) and that line was certainly one of the best. Not that Thomas and Steinbach can't get there eventually, but I think we might want to wait more than 13 games before throwing around terms like "best ever". YMMV

[comish]

I think the left side could be the best we've had. The right side is above average but we have trouble consistently running that way.

Go back a ways and look at the lines from '63-'69. Scafrath made the Pro Bowl every year as LT. Plus add a HOF'er (Hickerson) and a sprinkling of other Pro Bowlers (Wooten, Morrow) and that line was certainly one of the best. Not that Thomas and Steinbach can't get there eventually, but I think we might want to wait more than 13 games before throwing around terms like "best ever". YMMV

Well, Matt, I am 36. So maybe a better statement would have been, Best in MY lifetime. If you are going back to the 60's to find one better . . . then I would be spot on.

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Best line I've seen in my lifetime, but I grew up in the 80s and 90s.

[oberle]

MV:

Go back a ways and look at the lines from '63-'69. Scafrath made the Pro Bowl every year as LT. Plus add a HOF'er (Hickerson) and a sprinkling of other Pro Bowlers (Wooten, Morrow) and that line was certainly one of the best. Not that Thomas and Steinbach can't get there eventually, but I think we might want to wait more than 13 games before throwing around terms like "best ever". YMMV

oberle:

And how appropriate that a poster with Hal Lebovitz as his avatar would post this!.

The only thing I disagree with is "YMMV."

The middle '60's had Fred Hoaglin at center. My recollection is that he was a pretty fair Center; even if he didn't go to any Pro Bowls.

BTW, the 1950 OL was

Groza, Houston (Jim's older brother, Lin), Gatski, Gibron, Rymkus (or Sandusky) with Alex Agase as the messenger guard.

That's 3 HOf'ers and a couple of Pro-Bowlers on that line, also.

[mattvan1]

Well, Matt, I am 36. So maybe a better statement would have been, Best in MY lifetime. If you are going back to the 60's to find one better . . . then I would be spot on.

Unfortunately, you have to go back to the 60's to find a championship as well. Also, the 81 line sent 3 to the Pro Bowl - Joe DeLamielleure, Tom DeLeone, and Doug Dieken. We sucked that year, though, so I don't know if that may have been a carryover from the Kardiac Kids seaon in 1980. Not that a Pro Bowl invite is the measuring stick, but Joe D is a HOF'er as well.

[brooks1957]

Do you notice on Jamal's dagger to the heart of the Jets, it was a run to the left side? It's not just about the sacks. Old School, baby - way to jam it down their throats!

[Joens]

can anybody find some stats on like ypc to left and right and how many times we run to each side.

[mattvan1]

can anybody find some stats on like ypc to left and right and how many times we run to each side.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/splits?playerId=2136

[swerb]

can anybody find some stats on like ypc to left and right and how many times we run to each side.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/splits?playerId=2136

Couple great stats for Jamal ...

Left Side 87 483 5.6

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Rush Att. 11-15 51 204 4.0
Rush Att. 16-20 34 164 4.8
Rush Att. 21-25 16 119 7.4