Finding the Best Offensive Line In NFL History

[nicefellow31]

Not my work. Saw this on reddit. Poster may actually be part of our organization. Thought is was good work and discussion topic.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/8 ... history_a/

[JeffreyMiller]

Not my work. Saw this on reddit. Poster may actually be part of our organization. Thought is was good work and discussion topic.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/8 ... history_a/

Did I miss something? The Bears of the 1940s ... four HOFers, three championships ... this is why people should do their homework.

[ChrisBabcock]

Did I miss something? The Bears of the 1940s ... four HOFers, three championships ... this is why people should do their homework.

He’s “crunching numbers” to come up with this list... which would exclude everything before a certain point. I would think the late 20s Packers would be pretty high on a greatest lines list too. The article was an interesting read. I think his methodology even shocked himself in that he had to “come to grips” with the fact that his #1 was actually #1. haha. Which makes me think his system is a bit flawed. But I’m a sucker for lists so whatever.

A bit shocking to me was having current Cowboys number 3 all time??? I’d listen to the argument their top 10 all time aleady but 3 might be a bit much. (so far)

And no love for Joe Ferguson!!!...
“He managed one good year in 1975 and was either the definition of a game manager or total hot garbage every other year.”

Granted, I don’t think he was ever a top 5 QB but “hot garbage”? I think I have him somewhere in the 70-80 range in my top 100 QBs of all time list. (that I update at the end of every season)

[Bryan]

The article was an interesting read. I think his methodology even shocked himself in that he had to “come to grips” with the fact that his #1 was actually #1. haha. Which makes me think his system is a bit flawed.

I liked the article. It was interesting to see the 1960's Browns and 2000's Chiefs OLs ranked so high, but they both had some great players. I always liked the Rams OLs of the 70's and 80's, because it seemed like no matter who they had at the skill positions, their offense would always score points. France/Hill/Saul/Harrah/Slater is a pretty good set of individuals.

I never would have considered the current Cowboys, 90's Broncos, or recent Saints OLs to be "best in history" stuff. Best OL of all-time is a tricky question. I would vote for the 70's Dolphins, because so much of the team's offense and defense seemingly revolved around the offensive line. The Dolphins would have all of these long, sustained scoring drives and the No-Name defense would only need a couple stops to pitch a shutout.

[7DnBrnc53]

Don't know if the late-90's Broncos (actually, I would make it the 1995-00 Broncos. In 2000, they still had Schlereth and T. Jones. They retired the next year) would be #1, but they would be in my top five or six. Also, the 2004-09? Chargers should be talked about on that list as well (Marcus McNeill, Hardwick, Dielman, Goff, Olivea, etc...).

[Rupert Patrick]

I would rather err on the side of caution about putting the current Dallas O-Line among the best ever. Historically speaking, I would rather wait until the trip is over before I try to evaluate it. An example is the Seahawks defense of the past 7-8 seasons. With the probable retirement of Kam Chancellor today, the window is pretty much closed on that defense, but I think it was over when Sherman left. Now it sits alongside the Steel Curtain and the Fearsome Foursome and the great defenses of all time. I would hate to make a premature judgment and be wrong, unless it is clear the team has already peaked and several members of line have already passed the HOF Bus Test, for example. Ask me in five years about the current Dallas offensive line.

[JohnTurney]

Whoever did it used kind of refined the formula that was used in The Hidden Game...this way, using percentiles, you can add them together, sack% and running stats...and that is as good as any...he left out 1982...I get it, but he could "adjust" for that season...would help the Hogs, I think

anyway, seems like a good effort and if used as a guide does identify lines that run blocked well and pass blocked well, year to year, relative to their peers.

Then using the numbers folks can 'adjust' for Qb release, having a superstar back as opposed to a good one... etc.