Team Pass Protection Rankings

by Fox5alpha on Apr 13, 2010 9:13 PM EDT

Thought this was pretty neat. Good old Buffalo scored 29 out of 32 teams. I didn't realize Fred Jackson was so bad at pass protection. I guess that could be partly behind the "big back" signings. Here's the full article.

http://www.profootballfocus.com/articles.php?tab=articles&arc=&id=151

If you just want the Buffalo section here's the read:

No. 29 -- Buffalo Bills One of the first things we look for in training camp and preseason is how a team's line is shaping up and more often than not, first impressions are accurate. Case in point was when Buffalo opened their first preseason game with two rookies at guard (Andy Levitre and Eric Wood), a key UFA pickup who'd spent most of his time as a guard at center (Geoff Hangartner) and last year's awful right tackle (Langston Walker) at left tackle. The car crash that ensued could have been worse but it was never likely to be much better; injuries and poor performance led to multiple changes and in total 13 players spent time on the offensive line.

Worst of the bunch was probably Hangartner, who played every snap and ended up as the worst center in the NFL for pass protection after giving up three sacks, two hits and 16 hurries. This is a huge amount for a guy with little one-on-one responsibility. Demetrius Bell was forced into action when Walker was released and Brad Butler went down with injury and -- to no one's surprise -- struggled enormously. Bell owns the dubious distinction of logging the lowest ever single-game grade we have given on ProFootballFocus.com, against Cleveland in Week 5. The icing on the cake was the pass protection of Fred Jackson. In every other facet he was superb but when left in to block (as he was a lot, as the Bills tried to give their QBs time), it didn't have the desired effect. He gave up a massive five sacks, two hits and six pressures, worst among all running backs.

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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Comments

wow

I had heard that Jackson was ranked low but didn’t realize he gave up that many sacks himself. Yikes….
I’m curious how bad Gailey thought Bell was originally. Do you remember that he said after reviewing tape that he was surprised and that Bell was further along in his deverlopment than he thought?

by TexasBillsFanatic on Apr 13, 2010 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

Hang will get one more shot unless

we get a rookie who can fill RT and Wood goes to C

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Apr 13, 2010 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

Then what about RG?

Who do you see filling the void? I was really hoping they would keep Richie Incognito for that kind of situation, but now, I just don’t know who could fill that spot. You think Hangartner could do guard?

by Fox5alpha on Apr 13, 2010 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

same here about Cogs

no maybe a rookie?

just thinkin

"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-

by billsoferie on Apr 14, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Pathetic.... and hopeful at the same time

Hopeful because the rookies didn’t play that poorly given the complete LACK of support.

Thou shall not drinketh thy KoolAid...

by kgun201 on Apr 13, 2010 9:42 PM EDT reply actions

That about captures it.

It can always get worse. Let me tell you how.

by Ron From NM on Apr 13, 2010 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Good Point Ron

Good old Buffalo scored 29 out of 32 teams.

Which is in the SAME vicinity of where our offense performed in scoring points. I get so sick of people saying we need a franchise QB, when we don’t have a line that can protect him and give him the chance to develop properly. Until the OL is fixed, I can’t see any QB coming to Buffalo who will make a difference besides Jake Locker, FIX THE OL! SHOULD BE #1 PRIORITY IF YOU WANT THE BILLS SCORING MORE.

There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.

by The Buffalo Kid on Apr 14, 2010 2:26 AM EDT reply actions

Totally Agree

I am completely convinced we need to draft tackle at #9. Jason Peters made Edwards a good QB, Bell made Edwards a backup. I mean I still don’t understand the thinking of: “Two time Pro Bowler? Better trade that s.o.b.” Like the point of being a pro football team is to have the best players possible, isn’t it? Or is it, once we develop players, to get rid of them. I guess I’m so upset over our tackle situation because it seems like such a no brainer to keep that good of a player. I remember when they started Bell and I was thinking “well they must know something that I don’t, he must be good” and in the first game on Monday night at New England he is flagged not once but twice for not being on the line of scrimmage! Really?!? You spend your whole life training to be on the OL and you can’t even find the line of scrimmage?

by Fox5alpha on Apr 14, 2010 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

In Demetrius' Defense...

Bell actually didnt play Football until later in life….He was a basketball player for the most part. From his WIkipedia page…

As a young teenager, Bell played more softball than he did Malone’s sport of basketball.3 He did not play organized football at all during that time.4 Eventually, during high school, he took up basketball and played well enough to receive a scholarship to Northwestern State University, where he played in 88 games over the course of the 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons.2 Bell was one of only four NCAA athletes to play both basketball and football in Division I in 2007.5 After the 2006-07 season, he decided to give up basketball to concentrate on his development in football.6

by NHBillzFan on Apr 14, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions