Offensive Line Struggles?

[AsUpRoDiGy]

According to these stats, the line performed admirably, the RB's were the weak link in the running game.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/54459

Lyle Sendlein is the only linemen who performed somewhat below average, but every other linemen was above the league average. The RB's couldn't capitalize on the running lanes, making for the worst rushing attack in the league.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

According to these stats, the line performed admirably, the RB's were the weak link in the running game.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/54459

Lyle Sendlein is the only linemen who performed somewhat below average, but every other linemen was above the league average. The RB's couldn't capitalize on the running lanes, making for the worst rushing attack in the league.

But.....but I thought Sendlein wasn't the problem. Levi Brown is the problem.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

But.....but I thought Sendlein wasn't the problem. Levi Brown is the problem.

lol, in terms of giving up sacks, Levi Brown didn't fare so well. I'm sure everyone would agree that Sendlein is the weak link on the line, he's a small center that gets pushed around by bigger DT's, which affected the run game in some aspects.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

According to these stats, the line performed admirably, the RB's were the weak link in the running game.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/54459

Lyle Sendlein is the only linemen who performed somewhat below average, but every other linemen was above the league average. The RB's couldn't capitalize on the running lanes, making for the worst rushing attack in the league.

Classic example why stats lie.

 

[moklerman]

I hate to take the easy way out but "In Whis I Trust".

I recently re-watched the Cardinals @ Rams game from last year and it was glaring how much faster JJ was than Hightower who had a career game. Both of them were explosive looking compared to what Edge had looked like.

Hightower was a nice surprise but I'm certainly curious to see what Wells will look like with a)more talent b)more speed & c)more potential. As good as the o-line has pass blocked so often it's certainly strange that they struggle so much in run game.

Pass blocking is much more difficult than run blocking generally speaking and with the passing threat this team has, running the ball should not be such an issue.

 

[Unsterblich856]

The run game failed for three reasons:

1. Hightower's behind the line dancing and indecisiveness.
2. Throw-throw-throw-throw-shotgun draw-throw-throw-shotgun draw-throw
3. Sendlein can't hold his own in the run game.

After the Rams game Hightower suddenly started doing his best Barry Sanders impression. He looked for the big gain and not the hole for 3-5 yards. It seemed like 90-95% of the run plays after the Rams game were shotgun draws that only went for two yards. The big problem why the shotgun draw plays didn't work is because Sendlein was getting powered back and defensive tackles had a clear shot at Hightower. Haley was trying to fit a square peg into a round hole with Hightower.

 

[Mitch]

Which part of 27 points per game in the regular season and 30 ppg in the playoffs and Super Bowl berth does the o-line not get credit for? Been saying it all along...these guys deserve far more credit than they've received.

 

[moklerman]

2. Throw-throw-throw-throw-shotgun draw-throw-throw-shotgun draw-throw

I think you've got that one wrong. There were many games that were saved by going to the pass after run, run, penalty, third and long, punt. They made many different attempts to be run strong and/or balanced and had to fall back on going pass-happy.

 

[Skkorpion]

Did any of you bother to read the article? Sendlein played the year with a bad shoulder and Whisenhunt expects Lyle to continue to improve.

 

[Dayman]

I'd like to see the POA win rates for our tight ends, as well. They seemed to be a common source of the running game's problems.

 

[CardinalChris]

While all but Sendlein were above 80% POA, nobody on the line was phenominal either....... interesting.....

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

I'd like to see the POA win rates for our tight ends, as well. They seemed to be a common source of the running game's problems.

Very True, i'm sure it was too embarrassing to write about. The only good blocker it seems is Spach, and he's probably average at best.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I'd like to see the POA win rates for our tight ends, as well. They seemed to be a common source of the running game's problems.

Ding Ding DIng. Thats the hidden problem.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Makes you wonder why Wiz was so adamant about not upgrading at center.

Maybe he realizes there will be good options available picking at #32 next year

 

[IAWarnerFan]

The Cardinals better just keep with what worked in the playoffs last year.

 

[SuperSpck]

Joyner's got some interesting stuff. I'd mentioned his annual, Scientific Football and his other book Blindsided (not to be confused with the Blindside) before. He may not always be right, but it's always very interesting.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Did any of you bother to read the article? Sendlein played the year with a bad shoulder and Whisenhunt expects Lyle to continue to improve.

Coming from the man who doesn't like "jock-sniffers".

If Sendlein comes out and plays well that is great. But forgive me if my confidence in the weak link on our offensive line (at least last year) is not there just yet.

History, is not on the side of the Cardinals when it comes to under-sized, "plays with a lot of hear and intensity" centers.

Jason Starky, Alex Steponovich, Nick Leckey just to name a few.

But if Whiz thinks the kid can do it, I guess that should be enough for me to not worry and just be apprehensive.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I'd like to see the POA win rates for our tight ends, as well. They seemed to be a common source of the running game's problems.

Ooooh.

Now that is low. Did we really need to go there ?

I would like to see the POA rankings for our TE's against a tooth pick stuck in the grass, or against a fart in the wind, or against the probablity that the defensive players' shoe laces are untied.

 

[JeffGollin]

Garbage In/Garbage Out...

No knock on stat guys, but just because a bunch of them give each lineman a high success rate doesn't necessarily make it so.

In other words, who's rating the raters?

Football is a team sport with 22 players on the field at any one time. Trying to compress the impact of all the things they do into a single POA stat for each blocker? Hmmh, I'm skeptical.

When in doubt, go back to the eyeballs.

All I know is that when I watched us run the football during 20 game regular and post season play - my perception was one of watching our backs "run to darkness" a higher percentage of the time than RB's on other teams and conversely, I saw other teams' RB's run through gaping holes to daylight more frequently than did our RB's.

I'll concede that perhaps my perceptions are faulty and colored by subjectivity, but that's what I saw and I'm sticking to my story.

Stats or no stats, our run blocking was at best "average" and at times somewhat less than that.

 

[Savage58]

When in doubt, go back to the
All I know is that when I watched us run the football during 20 game regular and post season play - my perception was one of watching our backs "run to darkness" a higher percentage of the time than RB's on other teams and conversely, I saw other teams' RB's run through gaping holes to daylight more frequently than did our RB's.

I'll concede that perhaps my perceptions are faulty and colored by subjectivity, but that's what I saw and I'm sticking to my story.

Stats or no stats, our run blocking was at best "average" and at times somewhat less than that.

I agree here. Our offensive line was just "ok" last season, and the reason for that was lack of injuries for the first time in many seasons our line got to play together for many consecutive games to learn each others style of play.

Our RBs rarely ran through huge holes as I've seen from other teams OLines. Our OL would've faired far worse if our QB wasn't playing out of his mind last year, with quick reads and releases, our WR(s) playing out of his mind(s) getting open and the ability to just chuck it on up any given play.

Last season Gandy played very well imho, Wells is growing on me, but he still doesn't get enough push on running plays, Deuce is lazy and doesn't give full effort on every play(if he did, he'd be GOOD!), Levi is still young, but strong and his future looks bright imo. Don't get me started on Sendlein, he's been overachieving since day 1 and he gets washed by DTs regularly, then our RBs have to adjust their angles almost immediately to avoid the clutter in the middle, making most of our inside running plays, outside running plays.

I appreciate Send coming in and playing well for us after our cluster* at center for the past few years, but it's obvious an upgrade is needed there and at guard. Our OL mentality shifting from pass first to run first, is what I am waiting for and can't wait til it happens, it may not come soon as we have the best WR in the world on our team and he's very young, and we will continue to feed him I am sure.

Our O-Line is adequate, meaning they do well at what they do pass blocking, cuz that's what we do alot of. But they lack the ability to take control of a game as alot of other NFL teams that do have the ability to run the ball and get multiple first downs. Hopefully that changes this season, but I thought we should've gotten atleast 1 FA OL signee to start at Center/Guard.