NFL Top 10 Series: OT Honorable Mentions

With the 2012 NFL season steadfast approaching, it’s time to continue an original Garden State Sports Guy production: The NFL Top 10 Series. As the Top 10 countdown approaches for each position, we’ll be looking at honorable mentions for each position as those steadfastly approach. The series continues now with the offensive tackle position. A less than glamorous position in the NFL as you would rarely hear analysis of tackles on the ESPN’s of the world (seriously, listen to how many times they say quarterback in one telecast. It’s mind boggling) but any sensible football fan will tell you that the tackle position is one of the most important positions in football. Because with no tackle there is no protection for your quarterback and with no protection from your quarterback, you have a very poor performance (unless your name is Eli Manning).

Honorable Mentions for the Offensive Tackle Position

Ryan Clady: Unlike the quarterback position, Ryan Clady is not nearly the 15th or 16th best offensive tackle in football. Clady in fact could make a case for the Top 10 but in my opinion there are just too many tackles that I think have surpassed him since he hit the scene. He has had a very good career thus far in the NFL but his play diminished a bit in 2011 as he was not even within the Top 20 in Pass Blocking Efficiency according to ProFootballFocus.com. And that is saying something for a guy who was eighth in PBE in 2010 (4.35). His play has dipped a bit and he will have to handle himself very well in 2012 given that Denver has a new quarterback. His name is Peyton Manning, you might have heard of him.  

Duane Brown: A guy who really came into his own last season is Duane Brown of the Houston Texans. Brown fit the ZBS (zone-blocking system) like a glove and performed tremendously during the 2011 NFL season allowing just 26 pressures on 497 snaps. That is an absurdly low total given that he is asked to pass block a lot in Houston’s aerial offense. While some say just about anybody could fit into the ZBS, it does take a lot of work along with just about anything in the NFL and we’ll give credit where credit is due for Brown. If he can keep up the consistency and play at a high level in 2012 and beyond he may find himself in the Top 10 of one of the most important positions on the field.

Tyron Smith: The 9th pick out of The University of Southern California had too good of a 2011 to ignore him on this honorable mentions post. Smith came into Dallas with some high expectations and at just 20 years old and as he faced some of the premier pass rushers in the NFL last season on teams such as San Francisco (Justin Smith, Aldon Smith), Philadelphia (Trent Cole, Jason Babin), New York (Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck) and Miami (Cameron Wake) Smith played amazingly. The rookie only allowed 30 pressures on 620 snaps even despite finger and shoulder injuries during the season. The Cowboys may be scrutinized often for never making the right moves and always coming up short but they got an absolute stud at right tackle for the next decade or so if they’re lucky.

Demetress Bell: The Philadelphia Eagles lost Jason Peters (who will be featured on this Top 10 when the time comes) for the 2012 NFL season during offseason workouts and subsequently picked up Demetress Bell whom they hope can replicate or at least be almost as good as Peters this season. They may well be in luck as Bell flashed a lot of great play last season in Buffalo and has the talent to be in this discussion. Bell last season according to ProFootballFocus allowed just one pressure every 28 pass plays which was up from his 13.6 in the 2010 season. While it looked like he compiled a contract season Bell has made great strides through both the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The Eagles are banking on Bell to be everything they need him to be and if the trend continues they will be more than happy with the result.

Harvey Dahl: An integral part of the Falcons’ offensive line at one point in his career, Harvey Dahl bolted for the St. Louis Rams last offseason and made the absolute most of it. How well did Dahl do last year? Nobody was more efficient at the tackle position last year than Dahl as he allowed just six, SIX pressures (three hits, three hurries) while playing the position. While he only was on the field for 200 pass blocking snaps, Dahl’s performance in 2011 was way too good to leave him without a mention, and as the Rams try to protect Sam Bradford (well, we think they’re trying to do that) his usage on the field will be something to watch.