Throne Logic
10-27-2004, 04:41 PM
There is a well known cliche in the world of football. "It all starts in the trenches". As with most cliches, there is much truth in the statement. In the decades of football played in the NFL, this truth has been proven over and over again. Teams that win the battles on the line of scrimage control the game.
As is understandable, the common fan is far more concerned about the entertainment values offered by the game of football. Fans do not typically appreciate the play of linemen as much as they do the flashier, more exciting skill positions. When was the last time you saw a fan wearing an authentic NFL jersey with a number in the 60's?
As fans, they can afford to overlook the importance of where the true work is done. Their role is to root for the team. As an NFL GM, you must not become distracted with rooting for the team. A good GM must have an intimate understanding of what really makes a team successful. The true heart of a football team is not found in the QB, the RB, or the star WR. The real heart of a football team is found in the Offensive and Defensive Lines. For as they fair, so will the rest of the team.
Football is a strategic game relying heavily on the factors of time and space. Pass plays require time to develop. Who dictates the control of time and space more than the men in the trenches? The OL strives to provide time for WRs to run their routes and time for QBs to stand in the pocket and find those WRs. DLs do their best to limit that time. RBs perform best when there is space for them to run; we typically call that space "holes". DLs work to control gaps so RBs are forced to run into the space where the LBs are waiting.
If building a team from scratch, I would begin with the 9 men that comprise the O and D lines. A team can then be built around that line. A great line can make average skill position players productive. In contrast, good skill position players will often find themselves "underachieving" if they are relying on a subpar line to provide them time and space to perform. It is true that the skill position players can still put up good numbers behind poor lines. However, those numbers tend to be less consistent in the flow of the game. This translates into numerous stalled drives on offense and a large number of third down breakdowns on defense.
The 2002 - 2005 Buffalo Bills have been a case study in why line play makes all the difference between winning and loosing. They have put together an extremely impressive group of skill positions. Unfortunately, they have placed those skill position players behind poor lines.
On offense, there is not enough time for WR's to complete their routes and for the QB drop back and locate a receiver. It wouldn't matter if Dan Marino at age 25 were behind this line. If the QB is being pressured upon the third step of his five-step drop, you can't expect too much success. The running game is unable to get rolling because the space is controlled by the opposing defense. There is simply no where to run.
On Defense, the Bills have had little success with their front four in either pressuring the QB or controlling the gaps at the line of scrimage. To compensate for the ineffective DL, they have had to commit LBs and DBs in order to make any kind of impact. This tends to work fine on first and second down. However, third down traditionally separates the men from the boys. Despite their success on first and second down, the Bills have struggled on third down.
Furthermore, neither the OL or DL has shown the ability to control the game with any consistency. This is particularly evident in the drives that tend to define the tone of each game; the opening and final drives of each half.
What does this case study teach us? Nothing new. It just serves to remind us that cliches tend to be grounded in truth. As is the case with many teenagers, the Buffalo Bills' front office tried to rebel against the tried and true. Now that their experiment has proved to be a failure, prehaps they will conform with what has been proven over and over again. Tom Donahoe and company need to take a lesson from NFL history and put together Offensive and Defensive lines that will allow the skill position players to perform at their best. Even if it requires sacrificing some of the flashy skill players in trades, this must be the priority. Until Buffalo is able to control the line of scrimage, it won't matter who lines up at QB, RB, or WR.
As is understandable, the common fan is far more concerned about the entertainment values offered by the game of football. Fans do not typically appreciate the play of linemen as much as they do the flashier, more exciting skill positions. When was the last time you saw a fan wearing an authentic NFL jersey with a number in the 60's?
As fans, they can afford to overlook the importance of where the true work is done. Their role is to root for the team. As an NFL GM, you must not become distracted with rooting for the team. A good GM must have an intimate understanding of what really makes a team successful. The true heart of a football team is not found in the QB, the RB, or the star WR. The real heart of a football team is found in the Offensive and Defensive Lines. For as they fair, so will the rest of the team.
Football is a strategic game relying heavily on the factors of time and space. Pass plays require time to develop. Who dictates the control of time and space more than the men in the trenches? The OL strives to provide time for WRs to run their routes and time for QBs to stand in the pocket and find those WRs. DLs do their best to limit that time. RBs perform best when there is space for them to run; we typically call that space "holes". DLs work to control gaps so RBs are forced to run into the space where the LBs are waiting.
If building a team from scratch, I would begin with the 9 men that comprise the O and D lines. A team can then be built around that line. A great line can make average skill position players productive. In contrast, good skill position players will often find themselves "underachieving" if they are relying on a subpar line to provide them time and space to perform. It is true that the skill position players can still put up good numbers behind poor lines. However, those numbers tend to be less consistent in the flow of the game. This translates into numerous stalled drives on offense and a large number of third down breakdowns on defense.
The 2002 - 2005 Buffalo Bills have been a case study in why line play makes all the difference between winning and loosing. They have put together an extremely impressive group of skill positions. Unfortunately, they have placed those skill position players behind poor lines.
On offense, there is not enough time for WR's to complete their routes and for the QB drop back and locate a receiver. It wouldn't matter if Dan Marino at age 25 were behind this line. If the QB is being pressured upon the third step of his five-step drop, you can't expect too much success. The running game is unable to get rolling because the space is controlled by the opposing defense. There is simply no where to run.
On Defense, the Bills have had little success with their front four in either pressuring the QB or controlling the gaps at the line of scrimage. To compensate for the ineffective DL, they have had to commit LBs and DBs in order to make any kind of impact. This tends to work fine on first and second down. However, third down traditionally separates the men from the boys. Despite their success on first and second down, the Bills have struggled on third down.
Furthermore, neither the OL or DL has shown the ability to control the game with any consistency. This is particularly evident in the drives that tend to define the tone of each game; the opening and final drives of each half.
What does this case study teach us? Nothing new. It just serves to remind us that cliches tend to be grounded in truth. As is the case with many teenagers, the Buffalo Bills' front office tried to rebel against the tried and true. Now that their experiment has proved to be a failure, prehaps they will conform with what has been proven over and over again. Tom Donahoe and company need to take a lesson from NFL history and put together Offensive and Defensive lines that will allow the skill position players to perform at their best. Even if it requires sacrificing some of the flashy skill players in trades, this must be the priority. Until Buffalo is able to control the line of scrimage, it won't matter who lines up at QB, RB, or WR.