As we careen toward the 2022 NFL season, all of the focus is on the QBs and skill players. But the game is won and lost in the trenches, and no position group in football is more impactful than the five men on the offensive line.
Think about it: five of the 11 men on offense play on the line — almost half the offense! They may never touch the ball, but the line makes everything else go.
A good line can elevate an average supporting cast, but even the most talented players can’t do much if the defense is in the backfield every play. Offensive lines are more multiplicative than additive; a great line multiplies an offense’s greatness, while a bad one can stymie it entirely.
Offensive lines are also a team effort. It’s less one or two stars elevating the unit and more of a weakest-link game. Like an NBA defense, an offensive line needs all five guys working together in sync to be at its peak. Stars help, but sometimes it’s even better just having five quality players and no weak links. And in a long grueling season, depth is a huge value add, while continuity is extremely valuable since the players are working together.