Welcome to my newest blog tilted In The Trenches. I will breakdown some of the bet match-ups involving the best offensive and defensive lines in the NFL. Establishing the line of scrimmage is what every teams aims to accomplish. The offensive line has to be able to push the line of scrimmage back so that running backs have room to run. Defensive linemen have to stand firm at the point of attack and limit the amount to room the running back has. It’s the life line of football and seems to the least talk about aspect of football. Not anymore, I will give credit to the “Big Uglies”, the players that get down and dirty. The players that don’t get to do pretty dances after scoring touchdowns. Everything that happens in the NFL starts up front in the trenches.
Houston vs Jags
I know you’re think why would we need to highlight this
matchup in the trenches. The Texans have probably the best front seven in
football. Last season they did an excellent job of controlling the line of scrimmage
without the best defensive player in the NFL, JJ Wyatt. On paper the Texans
will dominate this matchup. You would be 100% correct! I agree that this
matchup will be dominated by the Texans but how do I have an in the trenches
blog and not talk about the best front defensive line in football. Also this is
my tribute to Wyatt, he missed the entire year last year and I can’t wait to
see him get back to wrecking havoc up front.
Let’s make this one short and sweet. The Texans front
seven (3-4 defense) feature pro bowler Jadaveon Clowney, Whitney Merciless, and
former defensive player of the year JJ Wyatt. Clowney is a speed rusher with
rare athleticism. He is able to generate power at the point of attack and then
has the speed to blow past any offensive linemen. Clowney reall put it together
last season and really looks to build on that this season. He will have Wyatt
back to give him more one on one opportunities. I don’t see the Jags being able
to keep him out the back field, expect a huge game for Clowney.
Merciliess plays outside linebacker in the Texans 3-4
scheme but will put his hand in the dirt at times. He is a very good edge
rusher. He doesn’t play with the power of Wyatt, and doesn’t possess the speed
of Clowney but he a baller. Merciless puts himself in good position to make
plays on the edge. He is quick off the ball and has enough power to get past
the offensive linemen to the quarterback. Merciless will benefit greatly from
the return of Wyatt.
JJ Wyatt is a machine. There is no blocking this guy. He
has the power to play inside at defensive tackle, the athleticism to play outside
at end, and skill set to drop in coverage. Wyatt is the rare defensive player
that makes everyone around him better because he is able to cover for their deficiencies.
It going to be great to see Wyatt back in action.
I have nothing to say about the Jags offensive line. They
will stink, they will struggle and I expect a great showing for the Texans defensive
front. I feel bad for Fourette!
Redskins vs Eagles
This matchup will be interesting. The Skins have a strong
offensive line. All pro left tackle Trent “Silverback” Willams, first round
pick Brandon Scheriff, and right tackle Morgan Moses highlight the skins
offensive line. Trent Williams is still in the discussion for best left tackle in
the league. He is a rare combination of size and speed. This guy has pulling
plays where he is leading the running back seven or eight yards down field.
There aren’t many speed rushers that can blow past him, and once he gets them
big meat hooks in ya, it’s all over! Moses is becoming one of the better right tackles
in the league. He isn’t overly athletic like Williams but he plays with good
technique and has good power at the point of attack. Scheriff is the converted
tackle to guard. He was drafted to play right tackle for the Skins but didn’t perfume
was well as Moses. The Skins still get a good right guard out the deal. The
other spots on the Skins line are up in the air but these three guys should put
up a good fight against that Philly front.
The Eagles have one of the best front fours in football. The
Eagles front four is anchored with Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham. Cox is a
beast in the middle and can get after the quarterback. Interior defensive line
have to deal with double team blocks so his sack totals aren’ the most
important thing. His ability to cause disruption to the flow of the offense is
what makes Cox special. Pairing him inside with Timmy Jernigan is going to make
running the ball on the Eagles very hard this season. It’s also going to be
exetremly difficult for opposing quarterbacks step up in the pocket to evade
those outside pass rushers.
Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry are the two starting
defensive ends for the Eagles. Both of them have shown the ability to put
pressure on the quarterback. Graham is a speed rusher and Curry plays with a
little more power. They work well together to set the edge in the run game and
after the passer. Throw in off-season additions Chris Long and Derek Bennette
and the Eagles have one hell of a defensive front. The battle up front between
these two teams is going to be good one.
The trenches are won by the Eagles in this matchup. The
Skins have two very good tackels on the outside but speed rushers can give
Moses problems. Scheriff is good in run blocking but can be beat one on one in
passing blocking situation. He also struggles with holding penalties, which
could hurt the Skins against the eagles. The Center and Left guard positions
worry me with the Skins and I think they will struggle to keep Cousins up right
all game.
Cowboys vs Giants
I have feeling that these two teams will find their way
on this blog a lot. The Cowboys have one of the better offensive lines in
football and the Giants have one of the better defensive fronts in football.
This is really a strength on strength matchup and one that I can’t wait to see.
The Cowboys have three all pro players along their front
line. Tyrone Smith is arguably the best left tackle in football. The same can
be said for Zack Martin and Travis Frederick at the right guard and center
positions. Smith has all the attributes for an excellent football player. He is
big 6’5 320, he has long arms, good speed, strong, and he plays left tackle.
Martin and Fredrick bring the nasty to the Cowboys offensive line. Since these
three have been playing together the Cowboys have had a top 5 rushing attack
every year. That shouldn’t change in 2017.
The
New York Giants put together one the best front fours when they signed Oliver
Vernon, and Damon “Snacks” Harris last offseason. They already had Jason Pierre
Paul brining in those two gave them a vicious front four. The Cowboys found out
the hard way last season how tough this Giants front four is. Snacks Harris is
mountain of a man. He isn’t easy to move and does a great job of putting his
big body in the rushing lanes. A guy that big shouldn’t be able move as well as
Harris does. His ability to control the middle is what allows Vernon and Paul
to make life difficult on the outside.
JPP has
been a thone in the Cowboys side since the Giants acquired him. All his has
done is block field goals, sack their quarterbacks, intercepted passes, and tip
passes. Paul is one of those long, lean, quick, fast, powerful defensive ends.
He does a great job of setting the edge in run support. He gets great jump off the
ball and blows past most tackles and he has the knack for making the timely
play. Vernon is the Giants wildcard up front and the Giants did some creative
things with him last season.
Oliver
Vernon was asked to spy quarterbacks, pickup running backs out the backfield,
drop into coverage, and rush the passer. He did an excellent job at all of
those things, throw in he was stout against the run. His contribution to the
defense is priceless because they don’t have to commit a linebacker or safety
to doing the job he does. Vernon is able to perform all those task from the
defensive end spot.
This
matchup will be a dog fight, as it was last year. The winner of this game will
be deciding by which one of these great units is able to establish control of
the line of scrimmage. The difference this year is that the Cowboys have La’el
Collins at right tackle and not Doug Free. While I will agree that Free had the
experience at the position, but Collins has the power and athleticism to keep
these defensive ends in check. I’m going with the Cowboys o line in this
matchup.
Green Bay Packers Vs Seattle
Seahawks
Pro Football Focus has the Packers offensive line ranked
#8 in the league and the Seahawks defensive line ranked #2. This is why I’m blogging
about the trenches. Strength on strength and everybody wants to talk about
these two quarterbacks, miss me with that!
The Packers have two good tackles in David Bakhtiari and
Bryan Bulaga. They do a great job of allowing Rodger to move around within the
pocket. These two tackles are able to disengage and reengage on defenders so
that they aren’t getting holding penalties when Rodgers is scrambling. People like
to highlight how the receivers have the ability to break off their route when
they see Rodgers scrambling, what about ability of the linemen to make the
adjustment to keep the play alive. The Packers have concerns on the interior
but these two tackles are the truth.
The Seahawks already had one of the most dangerous front
fours in the football. They then when and picked Sheldon Richardson off the bottomless
pit, the New York Jets. Now they have an unstoppable unit. Michael Bennett
makes this unit go, he is used similar to the way the Giants use Vernon. He plays
inside, outside, in space, picks up running backs, you name it Bennett does it
for this defense. Frank Clark and Cliff Avril are two very good edge rusher.
They also drafted Malik McDowell in the draft. The Seahawks front defensive
line is insane and they will give the Packers offensive line hell. Seahawks win
this matchup and Rodgers will be under pressure the entire game.
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