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2009 Offensive Line Analysis - New Orleans Saints

2009 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Jammal Brown
Left Guard: Carl Nicks
Center: Jonathan Goodwin
Right Guard: Jahri Evans
Right Tackle: Jon Stinchcomb

2008 Injuries:
T Jammal Brown: Week 15
C Jonathan Goodwin: Weeks 8-11

2008 Statistics:

ALY (Adjusted Line Yards): It is an alternate measure for yards per carry developed by Football Outsiders that takes into account various factors including down, distance, situation and opponent.
Source: www.footballoutsiders.com

Overview:
The New Orleans Saints have a young offensive line that is playing very well together and seems to improve every year. Drew Brees was sacked only 13 times last season, only 29 times in the past two seasons. The encouraging number for the Saints is that they averaged 4.0 yards per carry for the first time since 2005 and they’re hoping to build on that in 2009.   

The line is led by 2005 first round pick left tackle Jammal Brown who earned his first Pro Bowl selection in his sophomore year. In the past two seasons Brown has been somewhat disappointing but he still remains a very good left tackle. Brown has good strength and decent athleticism but he needs to improve his technique in order to return to the Pro Bowl. His holding penalties frustrated Saints fans week in and week out but then again, it’s better than seeing your star quarterback take a hit. Jon Stnchcomb signed a five-year deal with the Saints in the off-season and will be back for a seventh season with the Saints. Stinchcomb was a second round pick in the 2003 draft but his progression has slowed down after suffering a knee injury that kept him out for the entire 2005 season. Stinchcomb was probably the weak point of the Saints offensive line in 2007 but he was very impressive in 2008. He is still below average in run blocking but his great technique makes him a solid pass protector. Zach Strief is a 6’7” 350 lbs monster who still has a lot to learn but his great strength makes him a very serviceable backup. Jermon Bushrod is the other backup tackle and still has a lot to learn but he is a natural athlete and his combination of strength and speed could help him become a starter sooner rather than later.

At guard, most would agree that 2006 fourth round pick Jahri Evans is the best player on the Saints offensive line. He has excellent strength and footwork and should improve even more over the next few years as he continues to work on his technique. Evans has started every game since being drafted three years ago and will start receiving consideration for the Pro Bowl sooner rather than later. Last year the Saints added Carl Nicks in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, a player that many saw going in the first two rounds. Nicks stepped into the starting line-up in week four when Nesbit had to serve a suspension and Nicks never gave up the job. He is very strong at 6’5” and 345 lbs but he impressed many with his technique and athleticism in 2008. Nicks still has a lot to learn but he has great potential and should be an important piece on this offensive line for years to come. Left guard Jamar Nesbit has great technique which makes him a good pass blocker but does not have the strength to create holes in the running game. Nesbit is unlikely to regain his job with Nicks in front of him but he is a good backup at both guard positions.

At center, the Saints let go of Jeff Faine in the 2007 off-season because Jonathan Goodwin seemed ready to replace him. Overall he did not have a bad season but he did not surprise anyone either. Goodwin was a 2002 draft pick by the Jets and developed pretty slowly. He is decent both in pass protection and run blocking but with his 6’3” and 320 lbs frame he should be able to open more holes in the running game. The Saints also signed C Nick Leckey, a six-year veteran who started ten games with the Rams last season, to compete for the center position but he is likely to be Goodwin's backup in 2009.

2009 Outlook:
The New Orleans Saints are considered by many to be one of the best offensive lines in the NFL but they probably wouldn’t look as good if they were protecting someone other than Drew Brees. The positive sign for the Saints is that they averaged 4.3 yards per carry and allowed only seven sacks in the nine games that all five starters played together in 2008. The even better news is that Nicks and Evans will only continue to improve and Goodwin should also be better in his second season as a starter. Overall the Saints don’t have the most talented starters but they should improve and they have three good backups with NFL experience.

See all of our 2009 Offensive Line Analysis Articles