Ryan Clady: Pro Bowl Left Tackle in 2009

Left tackle is regarded as one of the most important positions in the National football league.  Come draft time the saying goes that you don't pass up a franchise quarterback, a shutdown corner, or a premium left tackle if there is one left on the board. 

The left tackle position is so important that the Miami Dolphins selected Jake Long No. 1 overall in 2007. And in recent years and in years to come quality left tackles will always be top ten picks.  

The left tackle protects the (right handed quarterback's) blind side.  He needs to be an excellent pass protector, with good feet and quickness to thwart the attempts of the pass rushing specialists who come from the blind side.

Ryan Clady proved last year that he was up to the task last year. Clady only gave up 0.5 a sack on 616 passing attempts. Clady was just a rookie, but he played like a probowler against the likes of John Abraham (16.5), Joey Porter (17.5), Julius Peppers (14.5), and Richard Seymor (8) to name a few.

(#) - number of sacks in 2008

These statistics prove that Clady has already become a dominant force in the league, and is a force to be recognized. 

Despite Clady's amazing performance he was snubbed by Probowl voters in 2008.  Granted it was his rookie year, and there are many talented LT's in the AFC, and the Probowl is voted on way to early in the year to really find out who the best players are;

But rookie Jake Long was invited as an injury replacement over Clady and that just does not seem right. 

I think that as long as Clady continues to perform at the high level he did last year he should be an shoe in Probowl left tackle.