2011 NFL Draft: Gabe Carimi Interview Points to 8 Teams Improving Passing Game
New York Life has created an authoritative measure relative to pass protection in the NFL. The New York Life Protection Index measures a team's aptitude in pass protection, and shows that 60% of the teams that selected an offensive lineman in round one improved their index from the prior season (most of them had double-digit increases).
I had the opportunity to interview Gabe Carimi, this last season's Outland Trophy winner, and 2011 NFL Draft first round draft pick.
"I partnered up with New York Life, which has partnered with STATS to create the New York Life Protection Index," Carimi informed me.
Carimi did state he is very pleased with this new statistical measure. “Finally there’s a value set aside for offensive linemen. We really don’t have anything but negative value with sacks and holdings and offsides," Carimi said.
"(this measure) finally will show what lineman protection is." They update the protection index weekly, and Carimi urges fans to "go to NewYorkLife.com/protectionindex to see how your team is performing.
There is more from Carimi on the Chicago Bears' page as we go through all eight offensive linemen taken in the 2011 NFL Draft.
The measure reveals that selecting two offensive linemen in the same round can bring divergent results. The New York Jets had the biggest one-year gain, coming on the heals of the 2006 draft when they grabbed Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
The only other team to take two OL in round one since the stat measure began was the 2010 San Francisco 49ers. They actually registered a drop of 6.9 percent.
Full summary of the New York Life Protection Index, copied from their website:
The New York Life Protection Index is the authoritative measure of a team’s aptitude in pass protection. In today’s football, the ‘golden age’ of passing, a pro football team’s ability to protect the quarterback is a key attribute to winning games. The New York Life Protection Index was created by sports information leader STATS to provide a composite gauge for this undervalued component of the game. While the New York Life Protection Index is calculated using a proprietary formula, the fundamentals are comprised of the length of a team’s pass attempts combined with penalties by offensive linemen, sacks allowed and quarterback hurries and knockdowns. The New York Life Protection Index is updated weekly throughout the regular season.
No. 9: Dallas Cowboys Select Tyron Smith, OT USC
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The Dallas Cowboys suffered last season compared to many projections that had them doing more than just hosting the Super Bowl. However, a few analysts asked how that team could make the post-season with the offensive line they were planning to field.
The offensive line struggled, resulting in losing QB Tony Romo for the season.
The Cowboys took the first offensive lineman in the draft, Tyron Smith. While early analysts had him pegged as a second round choice, I placed Smith in the Cowboy's slot in February. He's a tenacious blocker in the ground game, and offers solid skills in pass protection.
No. 15: Miami Dolphins Select Mike Pouncey, G/C Florida
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The Miami Dolphins have relied on their offensive linemen to create a solid rushing game. Entering the 2011 season, they find themselves with free agency issues at RB and holes to fill on the offensive line.
They selected the twin brother of Maurkice Pouncey, that helped lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl in his 2010 rookie season. The Dolphins will lean on Pouncey to continue to produce a solid ground game, and hopefully add to the protection that will enable the franchise to gain some traction in the passing game.
No. 17: New England Patriots Select Nate Solder, OT Colorado
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The New England Patriots know how important it is to stay ahead of the curve with protecting the QB. Tom Brady has been the face of the franchise, and giving him time to pick apart opposing defenses is a cornerstone of their offense.
The Patriots grabbed a project for their offensive line. Solder has a big frame and an ability to continue adding bulk that will improve his abilities. He struggled at time in pass protection, and doesn't figure to start enough games to impact the Protection index in 2011. However, the Patriots believe he can be a solid starter down the road in the NFL.
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No. 22: Indianapolis Colts Select Anthony Castonzo, OT Boston College
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The Indianapolis Colts didn't have the best offensive line last season, despite their first-place ranking in the Protection Index. They have a QB that is very adept at getting rid of the ball and avoiding sacks.
Still, the Colts know that games are won in the trenches. They opted to grab a solid prospect from Boston College, known for producing solid NFL linemen. Castonzo will have an opportunity to start for the Colts in 2011, as the team deals with multiple free agents on the offensive line.
No. 23: Philadelphia Eagles Select Danny Watkins, OL Baylor
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Danny Watkins was a wild card in the first round. He is a talented offensive lineman and projects as a quality starting guard in the NFL.
Eagle's head coach Andy Reid has a habit of using high draft picks on offensive linemen. Watkins will give the Eagles some flexibility up front, as he can also play RT. He is an aggressive and tough blocker that isn't afraid to get down and dirty.
Look for Watkins to improve the Eagles' protection index (28th in 2010) and hopefully help give the often-battered Michael Vick some time in the pocket.
No. 25: Seattle Seahawks Select James Carpenter, OT Alabama
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This selection was a major surprise to most Seattle Seahawk fans. For some of us, it was only marginally surprising. At this point I had visions of Seattle possibly taking Jimmy Smith, but was amazed at the fortune of Gabe Carimi still being on the board; the unimaginable had happened.
James Carpenter is a blocker that I had pegged to the Arizona Cardinals in round two. In my wrap-up on their first round pick of Patrick Peterson I specifically mentioned that when their second round pick came in they would likely be able to draft a gem of a sleeper in Carpenter...if the Steelers didn't grab him.
The Seahawks need significant help on their offensive line. While they were improved in pass protection in 2011, particularly when Russell Okung was able to play, they were abysmal with run blocking.
Look for new offensive line coach Tom Cable to drive home run blocking and set up a powerful pass block scheme. Carpenter will have some competition at the right tackle position, as Stacey Andrews has one year left on his contract. The team will likely bring back Ray Willis and possibly Tyler Polumbus to compete at RG and RT.
Coach Steve Carroll said Carpenter will likely be working at the RT position, but that he will be given a chance to unseat Okung at the LT spot.
If Carroll sees a blocker that could be better than Okung, I really need to find some more footage on Carpenter. What I have is limited, but his toughness and talent is obvious. He is also versatile, and his 6'4", 321 pound body can move down and play guard.
Don't worry, Seahawk fans. You'll be happy with this draft pick soon enough.
No. 29: Chicago Bears Select Gabe Carimi, OT Wisconsin
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No team stands to benefit more from a stud rookie offensive lineman than the Chicago Bears...and that is just what they gained with Gabe Carimi. Most draft boards (OK - every mock draft I saw) had Carimi coming off the board by the 23rd pick in the draft.
Carimi is the type of humble, yet driven athlete that will only use this as a little extra encouragement to show six teams that they made a mistake.
The fall to the Bears wasn't completely a surprise, though. There were several quality offensive lineman with varying skill sets, allowing teams to pick not whom they saw as the best lineman, but the one that fit their line the best. This is what likely led to Carimi's draft slot.
The Bears were a logical, expected landing spot for Carimi, though I thought he would land there via trade. In fact, they Bears attempted to trade up to draft Carimi, but a mistake by Bears' management led to the trade not getting approved.
I asked if it would be hard to play for the arch-rival of the NFL team he grew up supporting, the Green Bay Packers. Carimi said the Super Bowl win for the Packers was fortunate timing, as he knew that would likely be the end of him being able to be a Packer fan.
"I’m looking forward to going to whatever team drafts me and being able to improve their protection index,“ Carimi confirmed.
He is certainly going to the right team to do that. The Chicago Beas were ranked dead last in last year’s protection index, so they have nowhere to go but up.
No. 32: Green Bay Packers Select Derek Sherrod, OT Mississippi St.
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Ted Thompson, GM of the Green Bay Packers, has several rules on draft day. These rules helped him build a Super Bowl team in Seattle, and now a Super Bowl Champion in Green Bay.
While he doesn't divulge all of his secrets, his best player available strategy is well known.
It might be a stretch to consider the best player on the board at the 32nd pick, he was certainly the best offensive linemen left. He is very athletic with great footwork that make him an excellent candidate to play OT in the NFL.
Some fans might have wanted a bigger name or a more splashy pick (after all, Da'Quan Bowers was still available), but the Packers proved last season that depth is paramount to being successful in the NFL. Sherrod looks to be a quality player that will give the Packers depth, even if it is by moving a starter a step lower on the depth chart.
No person in Green Bay should be happier than Aaron Rodgers. Improved protection could help him from suffering more concussions in 2011.
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