10 Best Offensive Line Units from the 2011 Season

Get ready NFL fans! Using a unique combination of several sources and statistical information, I was able to generate a very thorough scoring system in order to determine the best and worst offensive line units in the NFL for the 2011 season.

The total ranking of each offensive line was accomplished by ranking and adding together numerous key statistics as well as factoring in individual productivity and success.  The elements that have been considered for the total scoring system are:

• —Sacks allowed

• —QB hits allowed

• —Total rush yards

• —Average yards per carry

• —Negative play to big play ratio (total rushing plays for a loss of yards vs. total rushing plays of 10-plus yards)

• —NFL.com's power percentage average. (Percentage of rushes on third or fourth down with two or fewer yards to go that achieved a first down or TD. Also includes rushes on 1st-and-goal and 2nd-and-goal from the opponent's 2-yard line or closer.)

• —Individual player production created from combining profootballfocus.com, Matt Miller's Bleacher Report rankings of the top offensive linemen in the NFL and Pat Kirwan's article "Protect and Serve: NFL's Best O-linemen Come in All Forms"—which took opinions from three NFL offensive line coaches to go along with his own. 

All of these individual elements were brought together with a formula adding greater weight to more applicable categories to create a total score for each team's offensive line unit.  And so, I bring to you the 10 best offensive lines in the NFL from the 2011 season.

10. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders O-line is a good group of guys that have little to no weaknesses as a whole despite virtually no individual stars up front. 

Category Rankings:

Sacks: fifth

QB Hits Allowed: seventh

Rush Yards: seventh

Rush Average: seventh

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: eighth

Total Power Percentage: 10th

Individual Production: 29th

9. Buffalo Bills

Led by Andy Levitre and Eric Wood, Buffalo was ranked No. 1 in QB sacks and ranked near the top at average yards per carry.

In fact, a lack of individual stars and an inability to get the tough yards when you must ended up being the main reasons the Bills were not ranked higher in 2011 as a group.

Category Rankings:

Sacks: first

QB Hits Allowed: 10th

Rush Yards: 13th

Rush Average: fifth

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: 11th

Total Power Percentage: 25th

Individual Production: 17th

8. Baltimore Ravens

The highest ranked member of this group surprisingly is Marshal Yanda. The Ravens' O-line generally ranked above average in every category rather than being elite at any one thing.

But a unit with no weaknesses proves valuable enough to get the Ravens ranked all the way up to 8th overall.

Category Rankings:

Sacks: 13th

QB Hits Allowed: 20th

Rush Yards: 10th

Rush Average: 14th

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: 13th

Total Power Percentage: 16th

Individual Production: seventh

7. Minnesota Vikings

Led By John Sullivan and Steve Hutchinson, the Vikings were one of the best teams in the league in the "power" running category while also struggling to protect their young QB.

Interestingly enough, having the seventh-best offensive line in the league did not prevent the Vikings from winning only three games last year.

The Vikings ran the ball very well and managed to have lots of big plays in the run game with relatively minimal negative plays.

Category Rankings:

Sacks: 27th

QB Hits Allowed: 17th

Rush Yards: fourth

Rush Average: second

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: seventh

Total Power Percentage: second

Individual Production: 11th

6. New York Jets

The high score of the Jets offensive line is primarily because of individual production led by Nick Mangold.

The Jets were not a good rushing team in general, but when they needed one yard for that first down or touchdown (total power), they ranked among the highest in the league.

Category Ranks:

Sacks: 20th

QB Hits Allowed: 11th

Rush Yards: 22nd

Rush Average: 29th

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: 22nd

Total Power Percentage: sixth

Individual Production: fifth

5. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers' O-line of 2011 was a group that rarely allowed opposing defenses to put their hands on Rivers.

They were also very good in the "total power" category and had no weaknesses despite lacking elite individual stars.

Category Ranks:

Sacks: eighth

QB Hits Allowed: third

Rush Yards: 16th

Rush Average: 12th

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: fourth

Total Power Percentage: seventh

Individual Production: 14th

4. Carolina Panthers

When the panthers needed a yard for a first down or a touchdown, no team in the league was more successful than the Panthers. Led by Jordan Gross and Ryan Kalil, Carolina was one of the best rushing teams in 2011.

Clearly, having two talented running backs and a big athletic QB factors heavily into their success, but the value of a solid front should not be left unnoticed.

Ultimately, this squad was able to finish in the top 10 in all categories except sacks allowed were they finished in the middle of the pack.

Category Rankings:

Sacks: 15th

QB Hits Allowed: sixth

Rush Yards: third

Rush Average: first

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: first

Total Power Percentage: third

Individual Production: ninth

3. Houston Texans

Chris Myers is one of the highest rated and most consistent linemen in the league. The Texans successfully ran and threw the football while protecting the QB effectively.

Category Rankings:

Sacks: 12th

QB Hits Allowed: ninth

Rush Yards: second

Rush Average: eighth

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: ninth

Total Power Percentage: 14th

Individual Production: second

2. New Orleans Saints

In 2011 the Saints had everything going for them in terms of their O-line finishing in the top six in every category except for "total power percentage."

The results were: top ranked QB protection, great numbers in the running game, lots of big plays from scrimmage and very few negative plays and a group of very productive individuals with ever strengthening reputations. 

Category Ranks:

Sacks: second

QB Hits Allowed: first

Rush Yards: sixth

Rush Average: fourth

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: sixth

Total Power Percentage: 13th

Individual Production: third

1. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles did everything well as a front unit. Not only do they have the best offensive line in the league, they also have the best individual player in Jason Peters who will most likely miss the entire 2012 season with his second torn Achilles injury. 

Category Rankings:

Sacks: 11th

QB Hits Allowed: 13th

Rush Yards: fifth

Rush Average: third

Big Play vs. Negative Play Ratio: fifth

Total Power Percentage: ninth

Individual Production: first

Stay tuned for the 10 worst offensive lines in the NFL.

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