Many believe that games are won in the trenches by the big men. These offensive lines are what keep QBs upright and holes opened for running backs. The NFC East is known for having 3 of the best left tackles in football when healthy. This year there have been many additions to each line which we’ll go through.
With that being said, we’ll be continuing our series with the same scoring system as the previous articles. Let’s go through and see how these beasts hold up against each other.
Dallas Cowboys – 10 points
After losing Ronald Leary and Doug Free to either retirement or free agency, many thought the Cowboys would fall off. The Cowboys were unable to replace them which reflected on their depth. This past season they lost Tyron Smith to injury which left them vulnerable. However, even with the “off” year they still managed to finish 2nd in rushing. Added bonus this season they’ve added Cameron Fleming and Connor Williams to bolster the wall. Zack Martin, and Travis Fredrick have played All-pro football since entering the league. To the right of them, La’el Collins, will enter his second straight year at tackle. Fleming will be this team’s swing tackle in case there is still a problem with Tyron’s back. It’s looking like the Cowboys are better prepared for injuries, as well as better established push the pile for Elliott. The Great Wall of Dallas has been upgraded and it’s ready for battle.
Philadelphia Eagles – 8 Points
Much like the Cowboys, the Eagles, also lost their starting left tackle Jason Peters. However, Halapoulivaati Vaitai did an amazing job filling in for Peters. Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson didn’t allow that to stop them from being top 3 in the rushing department. The leadership provided by Johnson really carried this team during the absence of Peters. Both of their guards were also very crucial to their rushing attack. After spending most of his career in Houston, Brandon Brooks, came to Philly to open holes as the right guard. Stefen Wisniewski missed some games, but while he was healthy he made sure to pave the way for the running backs. A guy that also gets left behind is left guard, Chance Warmack. Having a former 1st round pick as a backup helps the team feel secure in case of suspensions or injuries. Look for this offensive line to continue being a force in the upcoming season.
New York Giants – 6 Points
Nobody has had more activity on the offensive line than the Giants. After the destructive 2017 campaign, the Giants made it a point to help out Eli. They started by taking tackle, Nate Solder, to secure the blind side. Solder is a proven veteran that has shown he can protect his quarterback from the best defenders this league has to offer. Next the team picked up guard, Patrick Omameh, who won the starting job in Jacksonville in 2017. After seeing what he did for Fournette, there’s no reason he shouldn’t do the same for Saquon. The last big pickup was Will Hernandez out of UTEP. He was a steal in the 2nd round of the draft, giving the Giants a true brawler to battle with players like Fletcher Cox. Playing the right tackle position will be Ereck Flowers who is looking to show why he was a 1st rounder in 2015. This offensive line had a Giant makeover this off-season; now let’s sit back and watch them take over the division.
Washington Redskins – 4 points
One thing Alex Smith can count on is that his blind side will be greatly protected. Trent Williams has been an immovable object since his 1st NFL start vs legendary Demarcus Ware. His ability to fight anyone at any time is what makes him a top 3 left tackle in the league. Although Williams is a phenomenal player, the offensive line needs everyone to carry their own weight. Brandon Scherff has been a solid guard, only missing 2 games in his first 3 seasons. His athletic skills allow him to mirror defenders, and also allow him to get up field to erase linebackers from plays. Their right tackle, Morgan Moses, is entering his 5th year and hasn’t missed any games over the last 3 years. He’s given the team stability at the position, but he’s also had many rough games. While Alex Smith isn’t the most mobile QB, he’ll still be able to help Moses by climbing the pocket and allowing him to push defenders further out. During the 2017 season many players were playing through injuries. While no big names were added to this group, they should be in for a better year if health doesn’t become in issue.
Next week we’ll be checking out the this group’s counterparts. The defensive lines inside the NFC East are known for giving opposing teams trouble. Until then check out how these teams are doing below.
