Offensive vs Defensive linemen

[Tahuyaman]

The way people view offensive linemen vs defensive linemen is strange.


A team generally has somewhere around 60 offensive plays a game. An offensive lineman can absolutely manhandle a defensive lineman for 58 of those plays, but the DL is raved about for the two plays he sacks a QB or stops a running play for a loss.

All of a sudden the 58 plays he got his ass handed to him didn’t happen.

[carolina73]

You forget how many times the ball gets thrown away only because of pressure. Then there are a few tipped balls.

Plus the offensive line does not have to go far. It is the defense that has to run through and pursue the QB or runner and they are usually outnumbered.

[Tahuyaman]

You forget how many times the ball gets thrown away only because of pressure. Then there are a few tipped balls.

Plus the offensive line does not have to go far. It is the defense that has to run through and pursue the QB or runner and they are usually outnumbered.

Usually an offensive and defensive lineman start a play basically nose to nose. That defensive lineman can get manhandled on 99% of the plays, but he’s praised for making one good play.

I’m not talking about defenses in general. Plus how do you figure defensive players are outnumbered?

[carolina73]

The most common line ups are the 3 -4 or 4-3 for the defense against typically a 5 man front.
Then when they get through they have alternate backs to block for the quarter back and then running backs or even the quarterback can choose to block in a slower evolving play.

A 2 man blitz just evens the numbers.

[carolina73]

But the point that an offensive lineman seldom gets the glory is true. It is perceived "as their job" to stop the defense but they will always show replays of how they missed.

[Omar]

Usually an offensive and defensive lineman start a play basically nose to nose. That defensive lineman can get manhandled on 99% of the plays, but he’s praised for making one good play.

Most battles end in a stalemate, and the OL wins all ties, so there's that.

[Tahuyaman]

Most battles end in a stalemate, and the OL wins all ties, so there's that.

It’s my view that the offensive lineman is the most unappreciated position, but the effectiveness of an offense depends on them. Even if they have a Hall of Fame QB

[Rationalist]

It’s my view that the offensive lineman is the most unappreciated position, but the effectiveness of an offense depends on them. Even if they have a Hall of Fame QB

That does seem to be largely true, although it's also true that the top tier offensive linemen are among the best paid players. Offensive linemen that are highly rated also tend to be taken in the first round over a lot of other positions in many drafts as well. Quarterback is one of the few positions taken earlier in a draft when a player is highly rated, but other than that, it does seem like offensive linemen are given ample respect within organizations even if fans and the media don't seem to.

[Tahuyaman]

That does seem to be largely true, although it's also true that the top tier offensive linemen are among the best paid players. Offensive linemen that are highly rated also tend to be taken in the first round over a lot of other positions in many drafts as well. Quarterback is one of the few positions taken earlier in a draft when a player is highly rated, but other than that, it does seem like offensive linemen are given ample respect within organizations even if fans and the media don't seem to.

In the last 10 years 60 offensive linemen have been selected in the first round of the NFL draft. That’s a very low number seeing that there are five on the field on very play.

[ripmeister]

I’ll take a stud offensive left tackle for my right handed quarterback any day.