Ultimate Fantasy Football Strategy - Offensive Line Analysis

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Arizona Cardinals

2008 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Mike Gandy
Left Guard: Reggie Wells
Center: Al Johnson
Right Guard: Deuce Lutui
Right Tackle: Levi Brown

2007 Injuries:
T Levi Brown: Weeks 4 to 6
C Al Johnson: Weeks 2 and 3
G Deuce Lutui: Week 17

2007 Statistics:

LEFT END		LEFT TACKLE		MID/GUARD		RIGHT TACKLE		RIGHT END		Passing
ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	ALY	Rank	Sacks	Rank
3.8	22	4.4	13	4.29	10	4.72	4	4.27	13	24	8

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 2007 season was the first for new Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, formerly the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator. In his first season, the Arizona Cardinals ranked seventh in the NFL in points scored by the offense, the first top ten ranking for the franchise since 1993 when they were known as the Phoenix Cardinals. His impact was also important on the offensive line as the number of sacks allowed dropped from 35 to 24 and the yards per carry average increased from 3.2 to 3.6. Some of that success can also be attributed to the new offensive line coach Russ Grimm, also from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Cardinals added two new tackles in the 2007 off-season, both of whom will return as starters this year. On the left side is Mike Gandy, a 6’4” 310 lbs tackle who can also play guard and was signed as a free agent from the Buffalo Bills. He is not particularly strong or quick on his feet but is very intelligent and has an excellent technique. Gandy remains a better pass protector than a run blocker. Although he will never be a Pro Bowl caliber tackle, Gandy is someone the Cardinals can count on to make very few mistakes. On the right side is 2007 fifth overall pick Levi Brown and expected to protect Matt Leinart’s blind side for a number of years. Brown is extremely strong at 6’5” and 325 lbs and was an excellent run blocker from day one. He is however not very quick on his feet and has a lot of improvement to make before he can be relied on in pass protection. Brown will continue to develop and improve his technique but it remains to be seen if he can be effective at protecting the quarterback’s blindside. Providing depth at tackle is 6’5” and 330 lbs Elton Brown. Brown was selected in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cardinals as a guard. He started nine games at right guard in his rookie season but played at tackle last season when Levi Brown went down with an injury. Brown has poor technique but his strength and intensity make him a force as a run blocker. He has the versatility to play most positions on the line but he is a much better fit at guard because of his size and slower feet. The Cardinals also selected Brandon Keith in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Keith is very strong and is agile for a 6’5” and 345 lbs lineman but will need to improve his technique and work ethic to have a career in the NFL.

At left guard, the Cardinals will once again be able to count on Reggie Wells. Wells was a sixth round pick by the Cardinals in 2003 and will start for the fifth consecutive season. Wells is the most athletic lineman on the line and also has the ability to play the tackle position because of his quick feet. For a guard, Wells is not very big at only 305 lbs but the coaching staff likes to have him pull to the outside to run block. He has great technique which makes him a very good pass protector but unfortunately it will remain difficult for the Cardinals to run behind him because of his lack of strength. At right guard is 2006 second round pick Deuce Lutui out of USC. He is a big lineman at 6’4” and 330 lbs and a very good run blocker. The Cardinals had a lot of success running to the right side in 2007 and he is one of the reasons for that success. Lutui also played at the tackle position in college and showed good mobility for a man his size but he would likely struggle at that position in the NFL. Lutui struggled last season in pass protection and will have to improve his technique in order to become a better lineman.

The Cardinals also signed Al Johnson in the 2007 off-season to become the starting center. Johnson was the second round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 and started 31 regular season games in 2004 and 2005 for them but lost his starting job to Andre Gurode in 2006. Johnson did a pretty good job last season and his experience certainly helps him but he will have some competition from 2007 undrafted free agent Lyle Sendlein in training camp. The Cardinals averaged 4.8 yards per carry and only gave up one sack in the two games that Sendlein played in replacement for Johnson. It is a small sample size and it is hard to determine if Sendlein was the reason for that success but it is certainly a battle to watch for in training camp this season.

2008 Outlook:
The Cardinals struggled with running the ball last season even with Ken Whisenhunt as the new Head Coach. The right side of the line with Brown and Lutui is excellent at run blocking while the left side of Gandy and Well is much better at pass blocking. This could create some problems for the left-handed Matt Leinart with the pressure coming from his blindside and may create some changes along the line if he starts over Warner this season. This line should improve as it continues to build chemistry which it did not have time to do last year with the injuries. In 2007, the Cardinals never missed more than one starter at the same time but the five starters only played seven full games together. In those seven games the Cardinals averaged only 3.5 yards per carry and gave up 16 sacks so there is evidently a lot of work still left to do. This line has decent depth with Elton Brown and Lyle Sendlein on the inside but there may be some issues if Levi Brown or Mike Gandy were to be injured. Overall this line is better at pass blocking than run blocking but the running game should improve as this group of five gains more experience in the NFL.

Updates:
August 4, 2008 - C Al Johnson once again underwent knee surgery and may not be ready in time for the season. His replacement would be Lyle Sendlein who started two games last season.