2014 NFL Draft: 4 Teams That Need to Focus on Finding Offensive Line Help
There are a ton of NFL teams that have poor offensive lines. And honestly, there's way more than four teams that need to focus on finding offensive line help. However, there are four teams that truly have issues up front and should go after help in the draft.
In breaking down these teams, we'll take a look at the Pro Football Focus offensive linemen grades, then each team's effectiveness both in road grading for a running back and protecting their team's franchise at quarterback.
Baltimore Ravens
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Baltimore is a unique situation because they actually have some talent on their offensive line. The issues they are facing is related to their cap situation. They will have to make a choice between Michael Oher and Eugene Monroe after this season. A new center could also be a possibility.
| Overall | -7.6 | -11.5 | -14.1 | +7.5 | -3.0 |
| Pass Block | -0.3 | -4.7 | -10.5 | +4.3 | +1.9 |
| Screen Block | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.5 | +0.5 | 0.0 |
| Run Block | -8.8 | -5.0 | -3.6 | +3.5 | -8.4 |
| Penalty Grade | +1.5 | -1.8 | +0.5 | -0.8 | +3.5 |
PFF O-Line Grades
As you can see by the Pro Football Focus grading, the left tackle position looks like it's in trouble. However, the left guard spot also looks like it could have issues. Kelechi Osemele fought injuries early, though. So when he is healthy, he should be better off. Center is definitely a need based on this.
| QB Disruptions | 23 | 20 | 21 | 12 | 25 | 101 |
| Sacks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| Hits | 4 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Hurries | 17 | 13 | 16 | 10 | 18 | 74 |
Quarterback Disruption Breakdown
In breaking down the pass protection for the Ravens, it looks like the right tackle Michael Oher is doing pretty terribly. However, the rest of the line seems to be very solid, and Eugene Monroe is bringing stability to the left side. A right tackle is easier to replace than a left tackle is.
| Carries | 13 | 14 | 14 | 39 | 34 | 24 | 18 | 19 |
| Yards | 41 | 28 | 44 | 97 | 90 | 76 | 49 | 56 |
| YPC | 3.15 | 2.00 | 3.14 | 2.49 | 2.65 | 3.17 | 2.72 | 2.95 |
Run Effectiveness Shown In Yards Per Carry
On the flip side, left tackles are normally horrible in creating push in the running game. But this line, overall, is just terrible at it. The Ravens would benefit from a better center calling out the blocking shifts needed and making sure everyone had their keys before the snap.
Potential Draft Options:
Considering the Ravens have talent at all positions but center, they could easily just continue with Geno Gradkowski and just work on getting him to play better. However, if an option like Utah State's Tyler Larsen is available in the later rounds for competition, they should take him.
At tackle, they should try to keep both Oher and Monroe, as the overall talent level there will be tough to duplicate. But if they lose Oher, getting a guy in the second round like Alabama's Cyrus Kouandijo or Texas A&M's Cedric Ogbuehi would be a wise move for their right tackle spot.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle is, arguably, the best team in the NFC. They also have, arguably, the worst line in the NFL. They only have two talented parts on the line—Russell Okung and Max Unger—and Okung has been injured since the second game of the season, while Unger has missed a couple of games already for injury as well.
| Overall | -10.0 | -8.9 | -6.2 | -4.1 | -4.7 |
| Pass Block | -12.3 | -1.9 | -1.8 | 0.4 | -3.2 |
| Screen Block | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -0.5 | 0.0 |
| Run Block | +0.8 | -6.1 | -3.8 | -4.1 | -1.7 |
| Penalty Grade | +1.5 | -0.9 | -0.6 | +0.1 | +0.2 |
PFF O-Line Grades
As you can see, the Seahawks are missing Russell Okung in the worst way. Left tackle has been horrible without the former Pro Bowl player there. At guard, the pairing of J.R. Sweezy and James Carpenter have been serviceable at best. Unger is set at center, but right tackle is a true hole.
| QB Disruptions | 28 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 21 | 83 |
| Sacks | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 15 |
| Hits | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
| Hurries | 20 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 57 |
Quarterback Disruption Breakdown
Taking into account the injuries from Okung and Unger, it is amazing that the left side has performed as well as it has. The right side, on the other hand, has just been bad. Sweezy has improved, but the revolving door at right tackle needs improvement and stability.
| Carries | 20 | 15 | 22 | 29 | 21 | 35 | 22 | 24 |
| Yards | 85 | 46 | 66 | 124 | 84 | 172 | 126 | 102 |
| YPC | 4.25 | 3.07 | 3.00 | 4.28 | 4.00 | 4.91 | 5.73 | 4.25 |
Run Effectiveness Shown In Yards Per Carry
Scheme helps the offensive line create a ton of push in the running game. Overall, the Seahawks can plug almost anyone in and create the kind of push they need to give Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin holes for the running game.
Potential Draft Options:
Left tackle and center have long-term guys already signed for years in Unger and Okung. The Seahawks just need to get them healthy. And with Sweezy's continued improvement, right guard looks to be set as well. So that leaves holes at right tackle and left guard.
Right tackle could easily be addressed in the first round with James Hurst from North Carolina. He currently plays left tackle but could easily switch back to right tackle. At left guard, taking someone like Alabama's Anthony Steen in the second round would be the wisest choice they could make. He plays in a pro-style scheme and can jump right in as a starter.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite having just Luke Joeckel as someone people can name on the offensive linem the Jaguars have some overachieving players from the center to the right tackle spots. They could really use a ton of just talent on the line, though.
| Overall | -14.5 | -16.3 | -0.8 | -1.9 | -0.9 |
| Pass Block | -3.4 | -3.9 | +1.1 | +4.9 | +5.2 |
| Screen Block | 0.0 | -0.5 | +0.5 | -1.0 | +0.5 |
| Run Block | -11.3 | -10.9 | -3.8 | -7.3 | -6.8 |
| Penalty Grade | +0.2 | -1.0 | +1.4 | +1.5 | +0.2 |
PFF O-Line Grades
While left tackle looks like the biggest hole here, the Jaguars have their best player for the job already on the roster in Joeckel. The rest of the line is solid, but unspectacular outside of the tackling dummy masquerading as a left guard.
| QB Disruptions | 30 | 22 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 90 |
| Sacks | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Hits | 7 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
| Hurries | 20 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 61 |
Quarterback Disruption Breakdown
Again, the left side is having trouble. But with a fully healthy Joeckel and a better player at left guard, the Jaguars could protect any quarterback. The right side does allow a lot of pressure, but they don't allow many hits or sacks.
| Carries | 15 | 7 | 23 | 18 | 27 | 17 | 12 | 18 |
| Yards | 38 | 27 | 40 | 46 | 89 | 54 | 50 | 62 |
| YPC | 2.53 | 3.86 | 1.74 | 2.56 | 3.30 | 3.18 | 4.17 | 3.44 |
Run Effectiveness Shown in Yards Per Carry
Left guard, for a third time, is the biggest hole on the line. The rest of the line can at least create an NFL average-level push. But there is no help from the horrible performance they are getting from Will Rackley at left guard. It's time to cut their losses from the former third-round pick.
Potential Draft Options
After looking at a quarterback in the first round of the draft, the Jaguars should easily make sure they protect him with later picks. They have a competent center, right guard and right tackle but could bring in some better talent.
And with Joeckel being a top pick at left tackle, they need to fix their situation at left guard before anything else. Notre Dame's Zach Martin looks like an ideal candidate to play left guard, and his long-term versatility could push him to center when Brad Meester retires. Then after that, they need to draft for depth.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals need to protect their quarterback next season whoever it may be. And they have some of the pieces already. Jonathan Cooper, Lyle Sendelein, Daryn Colledge and Bobby Massie look like a good core group, but Eric Winston is stinking up the joint. And they don't have a good left tackle.
| Overall | -23.2 | -3.1 | +1.2 | -11.8 | -6.0 |
| Pass Block | -25.6 | 0.0 | +1.0 | -9.6 | -6.6 |
| Screen Block | +0.5 | 0.0 | +0.5 | -1.0 | 0.0 |
| Run Block | +0.7 | -5.3 | -1.7 | -3.3 | +1.4 |
| Penalty Grade | +1.2 | +2.2 | +1.4 | +2.1 | -0.8 |
PFF O-Line Grades
As you can tell, the left tackle and right guard holes are the biggest. Right guard should be fixed pretty easily by 2013 first-round pick Jonathan Cooper when he gets healthy. Right tackle also should see some improvement when the coaching staff realizes Massie is actually good.
| QB Disruptions | 42 | 15 | 7 | 24 | 34 | 112 |
| Sacks | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 17 |
| Hits | 12 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 27 |
| Hurries | 23 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 23 | 78 |
Quarterback Disruption Breakdown
Again, left and right tackles as well as right guard need to be fixed. Sendelein is surprisingly good in the middle of the offense, allowing just one quarterback disruption every game. And Colledge has been almost equally as effective.
| Carries | 21 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 23 | 14 | 25 |
| Yards | 80 | 13 | 76 | 38 | 57 | 80 | 41 | 115 |
| YPC | 3.81 | 1.86 | 5.85 | 2.24 | 3.17 | 3.48 | 2.93 | 4.60 |
Run Effectiveness Shown in Yards Per Carry
College, again, has shown to be effective and so has Sendelein. Adding the talent on the right side should only help push the pile. But again, left tackle is so weak, it looks like the Cardinals are just tanking that part of the offensive line this year and praying for help next year.
Potential Draft Options
Arizona's biggest hole is, obviously, left tackle. Right tackle should be fine if they just give Massie a chance. Left guard and center have been performing well with Colledge and Sendelein starting this season.
Right guard has a good player already on the roster in Cooper. However, he went down in preseason for the year. So, left tackle should be the focus for the Cardinals along with quarterback. Their best option would be Tennessee's Tiny Richardson. He's been able to hang with the best of the best in the SEC and could team up well with Colledge on the left side.
All stats used are either from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats (subscription required), ESPN, CFBStats or the NFL. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac and Rotoworld.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL draft. He also runs DraftFalcons.com.
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