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After watching 2007's travesty of an offense piddle down the field, the 2008 Kansas City Chiefs were a welcome relief from ineptitude.
One of the most notable improvements came on the offensive line. Branden Albert's addition at left tackle proved to be best move of the '08 draft. After only four 100+ yard rushing games in '07, the Chiefs produced nine of them in '08.
There was a big difference from 2007 to 2008 in pass protection as well. The Chiefs allowed 55 sacks two years ago and only 37 last year. Yes, I know. Tyler Thigpen's scrambling ability was a big part of that improvement but I have to say on an anecdotal level the line was much improved in the amount of time they allowed Thigpen to throw the ball.
So the line did pretty well as a unit last year combined with Tyler Thigpen. How did they do individually?
shanyes41 over at Bolts from the Blue posted a fascinating set of statistics a few days ago on individual linemen rankings in pass protection. The result is a ton of information covering virtually every offensive linemen in the NFL.
Here's how he did it:
So I found the total "Pass Plays" run by every team. This is the number of pass attempts, plus the number of total sacks for the team for the whole year. It doesn't account for pass plays that ended up in a QB scramble for positive yards. I couldn't figure out how to count those or even whether it was a positive or negative thing (since it is basically a sack, without the actual sack, if that makes sense)
I knew how many games each guy started, so I could figure out roughly how many pass plays a guy was involved in by taking games started and multiplying it by pass plays per game for the team. If you take the number of sacks given up and divide by number of pass plays a player is involved in, you get sacks per pass play for a given player.
Sounds easy enough. How did the Chiefs linemen fare? Pretty average overall with some nice surprises. And that average label is not a knock.
Branden Albert came in ranked #13 overall for left tackles in sacks per pass play.
Showing his Pro Bowl form, Brian Waters came in ranked 6th best at the left guard position.
Rudy Niswanger ranks #23 out of the centers. The Chiefs' center last year, Casey Wiegmann, finished #8 and was named to the Pro Bowl as a Denver Bronco.
Kansas grad Adrian Jones just crept into the top ten for right guards. New Chief and former Charger Mike Goff was ranked 23rd. You don't hear people talk much about Adrian Jones. He's a free agent now.
Damion McIntosh, who tied for the 5th most sacks given up by a right tackle, ranked #21.
And now that I'm looking at these again, the Chiefs are little better than average according to these numbers. I know it's been the prevailing wisdom that the addition of veteran Mike Goff will further bolster the line but there are no guarantees. I believe Thigpen's scrambling ability and just athleticism had a lot to do with the statistical improvement of the Chiefs' offensive line. With Cassel, a much more "traditional" quarterback, under center I think this could expose our offensive line as still not quite ready to consistently protect the quarterback.
Thoughts on these numbers?
Click over for the entire table.
Position | Name | Team | Sacks | Games Started | Team Passing Plays | Passing plays per game | Sacks per Pass Play |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LT | Ryan Clady | Broncos | 0.5 | 16 | 632 | 39.5 | 0.0008 |
LT | Michael Roos | Titans | 1 | 16 | 465 | 29.1 | 0.0022 |
LT | Tra Thomas | Eagles | 2 | 16 | 629 | 39.3 | 0.0032 |
LT | Orlando Pace | Rams | 2 | 14 | 565 | 35.3 | 0.0040 |
LT | Jake Long | Dolphins | 2.5 | 16 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0048 |
LT | Jammal Brown | Saints | 3 | 15 | 649 | 40.6 | 0.0049 |
LT | Tony Ugoh | Colts | 3 | 12 | 599 | 37.4 | 0.0067 |
LT | Marcus McNeill | Chargers | 3 | 14 | 503 | 31.4 | 0.0068 |
LT | Jared Gaither | Ravens | 3 | 15 | 466 | 29.1 | 0.0069 |
LT | DBrickashaw Ferguson | Jets | 4 | 16 | 559 | 34.9 | 0.0072 |
LT | Chris Samuels | Redskins | 3 | 12 | 548 | 34.3 | 0.0073 |
LT | Jordan Gross | Panthers | 3 | 15 | 434 | 27.1 | 0.0074 |
LT | Branden Albert | Chiefs | 4.5 | 15 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0083 |
LT | Joe Thomas | Browns | 4.5 | 16 | 512 | 32.0 | 0.0088 |
LT | Walter Jones | Seahawks | 3.5 | 12 | 510 | 31.9 | 0.0092 |
LT | Mike Gandy | Cardinals | 6.25 | 16 | 658 | 41.1 | 0.0095 |
LT | Todd Weiner | Falcons | 3 | 11 | 451 | 28.2 | 0.0097 |
LT | Max Starks | Steelers | 4 | 11 | 555 | 34.7 | 0.0105 |
LT | Bryant McKinnie | Vikings | 4 | 12 | 495 | 30.9 | 0.0108 |
LT | David Diehl | Giants | 6.5 | 16 | 519 | 32.4 | 0.0125 |
LT | Flozell Adams | Cowboys | 7.25 | 16 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0125 |
LT | Matt Light | Patriots | 7.5 | 16 | 582 | 36.4 | 0.0129 |
LT | Khalif Barnes | Jaguars | 7.5 | 16 | 579 | 36.2 | 0.0130 |
LT | Chad Clifton | Packers | 7.5 | 15 | 575 | 35.9 | 0.0139 |
LT | Levi Brown | Bengals | 5.5 | 11 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0142 |
LT | Donald Penn | Buccaneers | 8.5 | 16 | 594 | 37.1 | 0.0143 |
LT | Joe Staley | 49ers | 8.5 | 16 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0151 |
LT | Jeff Backus | Lions | 9.25 | 16 | 561 | 35.1 | 0.0165 |
LT | John St. Clair | Bears | 9.75 | 16 | 557 | 34.8 | 0.0175 |
LT | Duane Brown | Texans | 11.5 | 16 | 587 | 36.7 | 0.0196 |
LT | Kwame Harris | Raiders | 7.5 | 11 | 460 | 28.8 | 0.0237 |
LT | Jason Peters | Bills | 11.5 | 13 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0274 |
Position | Name | Team | Sacks | Games Started | Team Passing Plays | Passing plays per game | Sacks per Pass Play |
LG | David Baas | 49ers | 0 | 9 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0000 |
LG | Kris Dielman | Chargers | 0 | 16 | 503 | 31.4 | 0.0000 |
LG | Charlie Johnson | Colts | 0 | 16 | 599 | 37.4 | 0.0000 |
LG | Carl Nicks | Saints | 0.5 | 13 | 649 | 40.6 | 0.0009 |
LG | Todd Herremans | Eagles | 0.75 | 15 | 629 | 39.3 | 0.0013 |
LG | Brian Waters | Chiefs | 1 | 16 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0017 |
LG | Josh Beekman | Bears | 1.25 | 16 | 557 | 34.8 | 0.0022 |
LG | Reggie Wells | Cardinals | 1.75 | 16 | 658 | 41.1 | 0.0027 |
LG | Robert Gallery | Raiders | 1.75 | 16 | 460 | 28.8 | 0.0038 |
LG | Ben Hamilton | Broncos | 2.5 | 16 | 632 | 39.5 | 0.0040 |
LG | Chester Pitts | Texans | 2.5 | 16 | 587 | 36.7 | 0.0043 |
LG | Eugene Amano | Titans | 2 | 16 | 465 | 29.1 | 0.0043 |
LG | Jacob Bell | Rams | 2.5 | 13 | 565 | 35.3 | 0.0054 |
LG | Pete Kendall | Redskins | 3 | 16 | 548 | 34.3 | 0.0055 |
LG | Rich Seubert | Giants | 3 | 16 | 519 | 32.4 | 0.0058 |
LG | Chris Chester | Ravens | 2 | 11 | 466 | 29.1 | 0.0062 |
LG | Jeff Smiley | Dolphins | 2.5 | 12 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0064 |
LG | Travelle Wharton | Panthers | 2.5 | 14 | 434 | 27.1 | 0.0066 |
LG | Justin Blalock | Falcons | 3 | 16 | 451 | 28.2 | 0.0067 |
LG | Eric Steinbach | Browns | 3 | 14 | 512 | 32.0 | 0.0067 |
LG | Floyd Womack | Seahawks | 3.5 | 14 | 510 | 31.9 | 0.0078 |
LG | Arron Sears | Buccaneers | 4.5 | 15 | 594 | 37.1 | 0.0081 |
LG | Uche Nwaneri | Jaguars | 4.5 | 15 | 579 | 36.2 | 0.0083 |
LG | Logan Mankins | Patriots | 5 | 16 | 582 | 36.4 | 0.0086 |
LG | Daryn Colledge | Packers | 6 | 16 | 575 | 35.9 | 0.0104 |
LG | Edwin Mulitalo | Lions | 4.25 | 11 | 561 | 35.1 | 0.0110 |
LG | Cory Procter | Cowboys | 4.5 | 11 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0113 |
LG | Alan Faneca | Jets | 7 | 16 | 559 | 34.9 | 0.0125 |
LG | Chris Kemoeatu | Steelers | 7.5 | 16 | 555 | 34.7 | 0.0135 |
LG | Steve Hutchinson | Vikings | 7 | 16 | 495 | 30.9 | 0.0141 |
LG | Andrew Whitworth | Bengals | 5 | 10 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0142 |
LG | Derrick Dockery | Bills | 8.25 | 16 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0160 |
Position | Name | Team | Sacks | Games Started | Team Passing Plays | Passing plays per game | Sacks per Pass Play |
C | Olin Kreutz | Bears | 0 | 16 | 557 | 34.8 | 0.0000 |
C | Todd McClure | Falcons | 0 | 16 | 451 | 28.2 | 0.0000 |
C | Ryan Kalil | Panthers | 0 | 12 | 434 | 27.1 | 0.0000 |
C | Chris Myers | Texans | 0 | 16 | 587 | 36.7 | 0.0000 |
C | Kevin Mawae | Titans | 0 | 15 | 465 | 29.1 | 0.0000 |
C | Brad Meester | Jaguars | 0.25 | 10 | 579 | 36.2 | 0.0007 |
C | Lyle Sendlein | Cardinals | 0.5 | 16 | 658 | 41.1 | 0.0008 |
C | Casey Wiegmann | Broncos | 1 | 16 | 632 | 39.5 | 0.0016 |
C | Jeff Faine | Buccaneers | 1 | 16 | 594 | 37.1 | 0.0017 |
C | Jonathan Goodwin | Saints | 1 | 13 | 649 | 40.6 | 0.0019 |
C | Duke Preston | Bills | 0.75 | 11 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0021 |
C | Andre Gurode | Cowboys | 2 | 16 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0035 |
C | Jamaal Jackson | Eagles | 2.25 | 16 | 629 | 39.3 | 0.0036 |
C | Nick Mangold | Jets | 2 | 16 | 559 | 34.9 | 0.0036 |
C | Shaun OHara | Giants | 2 | 16 | 519 | 32.4 | 0.0039 |
C | Matt Birk | Vikings | 2 | 16 | 495 | 30.9 | 0.0040 |
C | Jeff Saturday | Colts | 2 | 12 | 599 | 37.4 | 0.0045 |
C | Dominic Raiola | Lions | 2 | 12 | 561 | 35.1 | 0.0048 |
C | Jason Brown | Ravens | 2.25 | 16 | 466 | 29.1 | 0.0048 |
C | Hank Fraley | Browns | 2.5 | 16 | 512 | 32.0 | 0.0049 |
C | Nick Leckey | Rams | 2 | 10 | 565 | 35.3 | 0.0057 |
C | Nick Hardwick | Chargers | 2.5 | 13 | 503 | 31.4 | 0.0061 |
C | Rudy Niswanger | Chiefs | 3.5 | 15 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0065 |
C | Eric Heitmann | 49ers | 4 | 16 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0071 |
C | Eric Ghaiciuc | Bengals | 4 | 16 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0071 |
C | Chris Spencer | Seahawks | 2.5 | 11 | 510 | 31.9 | 0.0071 |
C | Jake Grove | Raiders | 2.5 | 12 | 460 | 28.8 | 0.0072 |
C | Scott Wells | Packers | 3.5 | 13 | 575 | 35.9 | 0.0075 |
C | Dan Koppen | Patriots | 4.5 | 16 | 582 | 36.4 | 0.0077 |
C | Samson Satele | Dolphins | 4.5 | 16 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0087 |
C | Casey Rabach | Redskins | 5.5 | 16 | 548 | 34.3 | 0.0100 |
C | Justin Harwig | Steelers | 6.5 | 16 | 555 | 34.7 | 0.0117 |
Position | Name | Team | Sacks | Games Started | Team Passing Plays | Passing plays per game | Sacks per Pass Play |
RG | Chris Kuper | Broncos | 0 | 16 | 632 | 39.5 | 0.0000 |
RG | Jake Scott | Titans | 0.5 | 16 | 465 | 29.1 | 0.0011 |
RG | Max Jean-Gilles | Eagles | 0.5 | 10 | 629 | 39.3 | 0.0013 |
RG | Jason Spitz | Packers | 1 | 16 | 575 | 35.9 | 0.0017 |
RG | Chris Snee | Giants | 1 | 16 | 519 | 32.4 | 0.0019 |
RG | Ikechuku Ndukwe | Dolphins | 1 | 15 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0021 |
RG | Harvey Dahl | Falcons | 1 | 16 | 451 | 28.2 | 0.0022 |
RG | Davin Joseph | Buccaneers | 1 | 12 | 594 | 37.1 | 0.0022 |
RG | Brad Butler | Bills | 1 | 13 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0024 |
RG | Adrian Jones | Chiefs | 1 | 10 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0028 |
RG | Deuce Lutui | Cardinals | 2 | 16 | 658 | 41.1 | 0.0030 |
RG | Jahri Evans | Saints | 2 | 16 | 649 | 40.6 | 0.0031 |
RG | Rex Hadnot | Browns | 1.5 | 15 | 512 | 32.0 | 0.0031 |
RG | Mike Brisiel | Texans | 2 | 16 | 587 | 36.7 | 0.0034 |
RG | Brandon Moore | Jets | 2 | 16 | 559 | 34.9 | 0.0036 |
RG | Mike Pollak | Colts | 2 | 13 | 599 | 37.4 | 0.0041 |
RG | Roberto Garza | Bears | 2.5 | 16 | 557 | 34.8 | 0.0045 |
RG | Stephen Neal | Patriots | 2 | 9 | 582 | 36.4 | 0.0061 |
RG | Robbie Williams | Bengals | 4 | 16 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0071 |
RG | Randy Thomas | Redskins | 4 | 16 | 548 | 34.3 | 0.0073 |
RG | Leonard Davis | Cowboys | 4.5 | 16 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0078 |
RG | Stephen Peterman | Lions | 4 | 14 | 561 | 35.1 | 0.0081 |
RG | Mike Goff | Chargers | 4.5 | 16 | 503 | 31.4 | 0.0089 |
RG | Cooper Carlisle | Raiders | 4 | 15 | 460 | 28.8 | 0.0093 |
RG | Tony Wragge | 49ers | 4 | 10 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0113 |
RG | Darnell Stapleton | Steelers | 5 | 12 | 555 | 34.7 | 0.0120 |
RG | Richie Incognito | Rams | 6.5 | 15 | 565 | 35.3 | 0.0123 |
RG | Ben Grubbs | Ravens | 6.5 | 16 | 466 | 29.1 | 0.0139 |
RG | Dennis Norman | Jaguars | 7.25 | 14 | 579 | 36.2 | 0.0143 |
RG | Anthony Herrera | Vikings | 7.5 | 16 | 495 | 30.9 | 0.0152 |
Position | Name | Team | Sacks | Games Started | Team Passing Plays | Passing plays per game | Sacks per Pass Play |
RT | Jon Stinchcomb | Saints | 1.5 | 16 | 649 | 40.6 | 0.0023 |
RT | Ryan Diem | Colts | 1.5 | 16 | 599 | 37.4 | 0.0025 |
RT | Ryan Harris | Broncos | 2.5 | 16 | 632 | 39.5 | 0.0040 |
RT | Mark Tauscher | Packers | 2 | 13 | 575 | 35.9 | 0.0043 |
RT | David Stewart | Titans | 2 | 16 | 465 | 29.1 | 0.0043 |
RT | Ray Willis | Seahawks | 1.5 | 10 | 510 | 31.9 | 0.0047 |
RT | Tyson Clabo | Falcons | 2.5 | 16 | 451 | 28.2 | 0.0055 |
RT | Langston Walker | Bills | 3 | 16 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0058 |
RT | Nick Kaczur | Patriots | 3 | 14 | 582 | 36.4 | 0.0059 |
RT | Kareem McKenzie | Giants | 4.5 | 16 | 519 | 32.4 | 0.0087 |
RT | Vernon Carey | Dolphins | 4.5 | 16 | 517 | 32.3 | 0.0087 |
RT | Kevin Shaffer | Browns | 4.5 | 15 | 512 | 32.0 | 0.0094 |
RT | Tony Pashos | Jaguars | 5.5 | 16 | 579 | 36.2 | 0.0095 |
RT | Marc Colombo | Cowboys | 5.5 | 16 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0095 |
RT | Jeremy Trueblood | Buccaneers | 6 | 16 | 594 | 37.1 | 0.0101 |
RT | Willie Colon | Steelers | 5.75 | 16 | 555 | 34.7 | 0.0104 |
RT | John Tait | Bears | 6 | 16 | 557 | 34.8 | 0.0108 |
RT | Willie Anderson | Ravens | 3.5 | 11 | 466 | 29.1 | 0.0109 |
RT | Jon Runyan | Eagles | 7 | 16 | 629 | 39.3 | 0.0111 |
RT | Damien Woody | Jets | 6.5 | 16 | 559 | 34.9 | 0.0116 |
RT | Damion McIntosh | Chiefs | 7 | 16 | 578 | 36.1 | 0.0121 |
RT | Jeromey Clary | Chargers | 6.5 | 16 | 503 | 31.4 | 0.0129 |
RT | Gosder Cherilus | Lions | 6 | 13 | 561 | 35.1 | 0.0132 |
RT | Eric Winston | Texans | 8 | 16 | 587 | 36.7 | 0.0136 |
RT | Ryan Cook | Vikings | 6 | 14 | 495 | 30.9 | 0.0139 |
RT | Alex Barron | Rams | 7.5 | 15 | 565 | 35.3 | 0.0142 |
RT | Jeff Otah | Panthers | 5 | 12 | 434 | 27.1 | 0.0154 |
RT | Cornell Green | Raiders | 7.5 | 16 | 460 | 28.8 | 0.0163 |
RT | Levi Brown | Cardinals | 11 | 16 | 658 | 41.1 | 0.0167 |
RT | Jon Jansen | Redskins | 6.5 | 11 | 548 | 34.3 | 0.0173 |
RT | Stacy Andrews | Bengals | 9.5 | 15 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0180 |
RT | Adam Snyder | 49ers | 9.5 | 13 | 564 | 35.3 | 0.0207 |