Where Some More Credit is Due
INDIANAPOLIS – Lets take the time to shed some light on a seemingly dark area for the Colts, a group that has been heavily scrutinized for the past few seasons, a group that receives little credit when the offense runs smoothly and receives criticism when skill positions play poorly; the offensive line.
By no means will I excuse the fact that Andrew Luck has been sacked 33 times this season, which is by far the most in the NFL and I’m sure everyone in the organization would tell you the Colts must continue working to reduce the amount of hits on their franchise quarterback.
However, there are a couple important facts that I think fans need to reflect on before they start busting the O-line’s chops over what they believe is an underperforming unit thus far in the 2016 season.
1. The Colts have used six different offensive line combinations in their first nine games.
Any good offensive lineman will tell you it takes time to develop chemistry. It takes time to learn your teammates strengths and weaknesses and to compensate accordingly. It all comes with reps and continuity. I can imagine it is really difficult to develop continuity when you are constantly doing patchwork due to injuries and plugging holes with guys who do not have a lot of game reps with the player lined up to his left or right.
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2. Their steady-piece inside, Jack Mewhort, has been in and out of the lineup with injuries throughout the first half of the season.
Of course, injuries are never an excuse for losing games or for giving up sacks and quarterback hits and I’ll refuse to say they are valid excuses. However, I do think it's imperative to understand that injuries to an offensive line, especially to a key player such as Jack Mewhort, are undeniable factors that play into the some of the blocking woes we’ve seen this season.
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3. This is second-year guard Denzelle Good’s first year as a starter at right guard.
Good was the 255th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2014 draft out of Mars Hill University.
Yes, Mars Hill, a little private coed liberal arts university just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Maybe it is because I’m not all too familiar with the east coast, but I had never even heard of Mars Hill until Denzelle Good was drafted. He is only the third player out of Mars Hill to play in the NFL.
I think we can all agree that we were expecting him to be a project, but the rate of his development has been staggering and his strength and size make him really stand out on film. He is very athletic for someone who is 6’5” and 340 lbs. Along with athleticism, his 35.1” arm length is an extremely favorable quality for an offensive lineman at the point of attack and it gives him some flexibility to rotate over to the tackle spot, which he has done for the Colts in the past. However, the Colts are really starting to see Good settle in at the guard position because he thrives in the run game with his ability to take good blocking angles against the interior of an opposing defensive line.
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3. Starting center Ryan Kelly is in his first year in the NFL.
Although it may not seem like it as steady as he is, Kelly is still adjusting to the speed of the game at the highest level, even after starting in the SEC for three collegiate seasons.
Kelly has proven to be exactly what the Colts needed him to be. A smart, communicative, poised, athletic center to protect Andrew Luck and open up things in the run game. He has the athleticism and skill to climb to the second level and to pull on running plays designed outside the tackles.
Nonetheless, as good as Kelly has been, he is not immune to the extensive learning curve from college to the NFL and is prone to committing some rookie mistakes here and there, but I’m hesitant to use the term “rookie” and Ryan Kelly in the same sentence because it just seems…well…incompatible. He is that good. Well beyond his years.
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4. Starting (blank) Joe Haeg, is also in his first year and adjusting to the speed of the NFL.
I say “blank” because only the coaching staff knows what position he is going to play next week. As mentioned in the prior note with Ryan Kelly, Haeg is also acclimating himself to the pace and athleticism of the competition in the NFL, but he is not making the typical jump from FBS play to the pros. He is making the leap from FCS play to the pros. I’m sure that’s a whole new beast. Not to mention the fact that he isn’t specializing in the skill sets and techniques for one position on the line. He is being cross-trained by Offensive Line Coach Joe Philbin.
I know it may be common for offensive line coaches to develop their players to be dynamic and to play multiple spots on the line, but it’s another thing to have the confidence in a rookie to start at multiple spots on BOTH sides of the line. Joe Haeg has started games at: right guard, right tackle and left guard.
The 155th overall pick taken in the 5th round out of North Dakota State has started in seven of the Colts nine games this season.
I know what you’re probably thinking…this should be a story in and of itself!
Back to Square One of Offensive Success
Offensive leaders Andrew Luck and Frank Gore are having solid seasons and they both would tell you that their early success would not be possible without the offensive line play.
As good as Luck and Gore are and as good as they can make an offensive line seem, I firmly argue that the offensive line has held up relatively well in the first half of the season, despite the list of factors I have named above.
No quarterback can put up strong numbers without time to throw and no running back can be on pace for over 1000 yards without an offensive line getting consistent push and opening up lanes.
That being said, Luck is having one of his best seasons with a career-high in completion percentage (63.7%) and the second best quarterback rating of his career at 93.9. Prior to the week 10 bye, Luck ranked 4th in the NFL in completions, 3rd in passing yards and tied for 5th in touchdown passes.
The offensive line has to be doing something right…
The overcasting question: How does the offensive line play well enough to facilitate success at the skill positions but allow Andrew Luck to get hit so much?
Andrew Luck’s greatest strength can sometimes highlight weaknesses in the offensive line
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Extending plays often increases the likelihood of quarterback hits.
Yes, sometimes Luck has to escape the pocket and extend plays because the pocket collapsed on him---fault the offensive line.
However, there are other times where coverage is good downfield and Luck has enough time to maneuver the pocket while keeping his eyes down field and extend out of the pocket to his left or right, leaving him vulnerable to take hits from defensive linemen or linebackers who have had time to disengage in blocks---Not necessarily fault of offensive linemen.
Luck has always been admired for his ability to buy time in the pocket and use his athleticism and strength to extend plays. This can make it very difficult for lineman to hold their blocks for an extra 2-4 seconds for the quarterback to escape the pocket and extend plays, especially when they cannot see where the quarterback is shifting.
According to Pro Football Focus, Luck averages 2.91 seconds to throw on passing attempts, which ranks third highest in the league behind only Aaron Rodgers (2.91 seconds) and Tyrod Taylor (3.34 seconds) and all three of these quarterbacks respective teams rank in the bottom third of the league in sacks allowed per game.
Luck also ranks among the upper half in the league in average pass length. (11th to be exact) and ranks 2nd in the NFL in completions of 20+ yards. These statistics support the fact the Luck is a quarterback who looks to push the ball down the field and will let routes develop down field. The Colts aren’t exactly running a West Coast style offense and getting the ball out quickly on short yardage completions.
Below are some names that ranked right behind Luck in average pass length per completion before the Week 10 bye week:
Dak Prescott
Russell Wilson
Phillip Rivers
Ben Roethlisberger
Notice what is similar with all of these quarterbacks?
Any scout would tell you that these players are athletic enough to extend plays and have reputations for doing so. It is a celebrated skill and usually coaches will give these types of players the green light to hold the ball for a few extra seconds to let routes develop downfield.
Frank Gore would credit his mid-season success too…
After the bye week, Gore ranks 12th in the NFL in rushing yards with 592 and is on pace to surpass the 1,000 yard milestone and is averaging 4.1 yds. per carry. Lets not forget, he’s doing this at the age of 33.
To further show some perspective on how well Gore is running behind the Colts offensive line, here are the names of the 11 running backs that have rushed for more yards than Frank Gore this season:
1. Ezekiel Elliot – 1,005
2. DeMarco Murray – 930
3. Melvin Gordon – 838
4. David Johnson – 760
5. Matt Forte - 732
6. Jay Ajayi – 725
7. Lamar Miller – 720
8. LeSean McCoy– 683
9. Devonta Freeman – 620
10. LeGarrette Blount 678
11. Jordan Howard – 592
Note: 7 of those players have had more carries than Frank Gore this season.
To speculate at the beginning of the season, I don’t think anybody would’ve been completely surprised if they were told these would be the names of running backs that would run for more yards than Gore halfway through the 2016 campaign. (Maybe aside from Jay Ajayi and Jordan Howard who have taken the entire league by storm)
I certainly would’ve been encouraged to know Gore was amongst that tier of backs in the rushing yards category although Frank would probably tell you that he should be number one on that list. He would also humbly give most of the credit to his offensive line because he has been around long enough to know credit must be given where credit is due.
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It’s also important to note that Gore isn’t the type of runner that is going to break one for a large gain and take it to the house, after all, his longest run this season is 22 yards. Gore’s shoulder-over-knees running style wears opponents out with carries for four-eight yards and he will fall forward to get the hidden yards. With this rushing style, I do believe that Gore often makes the offensive line look good, just as the offensive line can make a 33-year-old future Hall of Famer look like he hasn’t lost a step.
As fans, it is easy to follow the ball and to see what isn’t being done and preventing success. The offensive line group is one that is consistently scrutinized, and at times, respectfully so. I admit, it is really tough to see Luck get slammed to the ground as much as he does. For fans, it makes us gasp for a moment, especially after losing him last season. Emotionally, as fans that love to play the convenient blame game, where do we turn to? Where it’s most convenient and obvious, the offensive line.
However, it must be acknowledged that there are some bright spots within that group and we can only expect them to improve once they develop more continuity.
Just like any team sport, to develop chemistry and continuity is not a sprint, but for the Colts, it certainly can’t be a marathon either, and it won’t. At least I don’t think so.
