Offensive line concerns

[MrJL]

how many of those 25 sacks are essentially running plays where he just lost a yard.

I don't feel like RG3 has been hit that much on traditional dropbacks and on non traditional pass plays it's less the O-line fault

[squatch66]

i can really only count the panthers game as one where the line allowed constant pressure. im really hoping that compton steps up to take the rt spot away from polumbus but i cant find much fault with our offensive output right now. i think that we need to let the young guys develop while we sink some resources into fixing the secondary, but if a stud rt is available to us in the 2nd im not going to complain either lol.

[Rpredskins]

2 things matter when it comes to pass protection. One is to minimize the hits your QB takes. The other is to be able to pass. Even if our line is doing a sub-par job at stopping the pass rush, RG3 is doing fine. He is taking about the normal number of hits as the result of pass rushers (the hits he takes as a runner are a completely different issue and have nothing to do with o line). And the % of dropbacks resulting i sacks is worse than league average but it's not horrible. This is because he is so good at eluding defenders. Is it fair that he makes up for the line's mistakes? Probably not. But he can. And the net result is the same as it would be if we had a normal pocket passer with a better line. So I'm not terribly concerned.

[London Kev]

Prior to the season, I think that most fans had two major concerns, o-line and secondary.

I think that the line has over-achieved and played better than the sum of its parts. Lich has come back from serious injury and been quietly solid, Chester gets on with the job and Trent has just been Trent (pro-bowl anyone?).
It's Monty that has really surprised me, he seems to be improving with every game. Polumbus does seem to be the weakest link and RT is ripe for an upgrade. Dunno if Black or Compton can step up, not really seen enough of them.

All said and done, I think the o-line has has been down-graded from a major concern, to a work in progress. Now the secondary on the other hand.....

[zoony]

I can't remember a time where our OLine was healthy this far into the season. Thats why I feel good about this group.

Also, it appears that Josh Leribus was a waste of a third round pick

[MartinC]

The running game has been decent but the pass protection still needs work.

This sums up our OLine just about perfectly.

Its not easy rating/grading Olines objectively but Football Outsiders do a great job using a great many measures and variables. See their rankings at the link below. In short we rank 14 for adjusted yards in rushing (that's yards generated by the OLine) but 8th for open field ranking (yards generated by the running backs). That suggests our line is doing a pretty good job in the run game but a lot of our success is down to our running backs and of course RGIII. We rank 25th in pass protection even with the help of a really strong running game - its clearly the weakness of our line.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol

[MrJL]

I can't remember a time where our OLine was healthy this far into the season. Thats why I feel good about this group.

Also, it appears that Josh Leribus was a waste of a third round pick

he's younger than Chris Chester. He could be a RG of the future.

[Leonard Washington]

This sums up our OLine just about perfectly.
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol

Awesome analysis. I hope someone pays these guys because doing all this analysis has to take a TON of time.

This analysis also shows what little confidence the coaching staff have in running on the right side. Though when they do, they have been very successful.

[DogofWar1]

I can't remember a time where our OLine was healthy this far into the season. Thats why I feel good about this group.
Also, it appears that Josh Leribus was a waste of a third round pick

Knock on wood, but yeah, the line has managed to stay the same week to week this year fairly well. I remember in previous years we'd lose one or two starters by week 6 like clockwork. Sometimes in week 1.

I think we need to wait a year on LeRibeus. If he's not challenging for starting time next year then he might be a bust. He lost to the starters, but as a rookie in the 3rd, that probably should have been expected.

[Redgrape]

0 sacks last week, I wouldn't say I am worried about it.

Upgrade at RT would be great though.

[AlvinWaltonIsMyBoy]

I admit that the talent level on our OL is average, and I think they have performed well this year. However, I think there is a fundamental problem with fielding a line that is designed to run the ZBS. These guys are quicker, and more agile than "standard" OL, and that is all fine and well when the score is in your favor. When you get behind, and you have to run more drop back passes, the physical weakness of such a line gets exposed. We saw it happen to us against Carolina, and you saw it when Houston got down big to the Packers earlier this year.