Ultimate Fantasy Football Strategy - Offensive Line Analysis

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New Orleans Saints

2008 Projected Starters:
Left Tackle: Jammal Brown
Left Guard: Jamar Nesbit
Center: Jonathan Goodwin
Right Guard: Jahri Evans
Right Tackle: Jon Stinchcomb

2007 Injuries:
LT Jammal Brown: Week 11
C Jeff Faine: Weeks 8 and 9

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
4.05	17	3.47	30	4.98	1	3.98	23	3.77	21	16	1

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.
� [2007] Football Outsiders, Inc. All rights reserved.

Overview:
The improved play of the New Orleans Saints offensive line was a main reason for the emergence of the offense in 2006. The Saints gave up the least sacks in the NFL in 2007 and although part of the credit goes to the offensive line, it has a lot to do with Drew Brees’s ability to get rid of the ball quickly. The offense struggled in the first four games of 2007 and even though Brees was only sacked four times, it was quite evident that the weak play by the offensive line was a big reason for those problems.

The line is led by 2005 first round pick left tackle Jammal Brown who earned his first Pro Bowl selection in his sophomore year. Last season however, Brown suffered a bone bruise to his left knee in camp which was not enough to keep him out of action but it was obvious that the knee slowed him down a step in the early goings of the season. The battle for right tackle is likely to be a good one as the 2007 starter Jon Stinchcomb will attempt to hold off the Saints seventh round pick in the 2006 draft, Zach Strief. 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 has become the weak point of the Saints offensive line because even though he has great technique, he lacks strength and gets pushed into the backfield easily. Zach Strief on the other hand is a 6’7” 350lbs monster who in his first career start in 2006 held Pro Bowler Simeon Rice without a sack. Strief filled-in for Brown once again in 2007 against the Texans but gave up a sack and a forced fumble to the 2006 first overall pick Mario Williams. Strief still has a lot to learn but his great strength certainly gives him an advantage and he could very well be the starter at right tackle over Jon Stinchcomb in 2008. 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. The Saints also added Carl Nicks in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, a player that many saw going in the first two rounds. He has limited experience but was very impressive in his only season as a starter with Nebraska. He has great potential because of his size and strength but still has a lot to learn to be an effective player in the NFL.

At guard, some would argue 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. Left guard Jamar Nesbit is another weak point in this offensive line because of his lack of strength. 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 should be able to keep his starting job in 2007 but he will have some competition in camp from Andy Alleman. Alleman struggled in camp last season and will have to make a major improvement to his footwork and strength or he is likely to be a career backup.

At center, Jonathan Goodwin will replace veteran Jeff Faine who signed a contract as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the off-season. Goodwin was a 2002 draft pick by the Jets and developed pretty slowly but seems to be ready to take over for Faine. He is not as good of a pass blocker as Faine but he is much stronger and will create many more holes in the running game than Faine could last season. The Saints also signed C Matt Lehr who was a backup with the Buccaneers in 2007 to compete for the center position but he is likely to be Goodwin's backup in 2008.

2008 Outlook:
The Saints line will be similar than it was in 2007 with only Jonathan Goodwin replacing Jeff Faine at center. In the two games where Goodwin replaced Faine at center in 2007, the Saints ran for 205 yards and only gave up one sack. The much stronger Strief could also replace Jon Stinchcomb at right tackle which would also help the rushing attack. Jammal Brown should be fully recovered from his bone bruise suffered in camp last season and his play should be much improved in 2007. The young Saints offensive line should be much better in 2008 than it was last year at opening holes for its running backs but the loss of leader Jeff Faine at center could create some confusion in the pass blocking schemes. It remains to be seen as to whether or not this line will be able to build some chemistry in camp and get off to a much better start than it did last season. Strief, Alleman and Bushrod provide decent depth but if either Brown or Evans were to be injured for an extended period of time, the line would be in big trouble. The Saints should have a much improved running game but in order to avoid the 0-4 start it had in 2007, Jammal Brown will have to remain healthy and show why he was a first round pick in 2005.