Leading the way for any good offense is a good offensive line. There’s always a huge value put on good left tackles in the league, but you can’t underestimate how important solid guard and center play are to a team as well.
Unfortunately, this year’s draft is lacking in elite offensive line talent. There are many teams looking for upgrades all along their offensive lines, and we may see some trades by teams trying to leapfrog each other in order to secure what elite offensive line talent there is in this draft. Will your team be one of them?
NEED: OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Buffalo Bills
Tackles currently on roster: Chris Hairston (2nd year), Sam Young (3rd year), Erik Pears (6th year), Colin Brown (3rd year)
For Buffalo, the need here is quite simple. Left tackle is one of the most important positions on the field, and currently they don’t have one of a starting caliber. They had one in Demetress Bell, but they decided not to resign him and he’s now a Philadelphia Eagle.
It’s one of the Bills’ biggest needs, and one they should address very early in the draft. For all of his faults, Ryan Fitzpatrick can win games if he has a good supporting cast. Adding a left tackle to that mix is crucial if Buffalo wants to be competitive.
Houston Texans
Tackles currently on roster: Wade Smith (9th year), Duane Brown (5th year), Rashad Butler (7th year), Andrew Garner (3rd year), Derek Newton (2nd year)
In possibly the strangest move of the offseason, the Texans elected to release arguably the best right tackle in the league, Eric Winston. That move created a huge hole on an otherwise pretty solid offensive line, and it’s doubtful anyone they add will play at the same level Winston did.
For Houston to find someone to even come close, they’ll need to address right tackle sooner than later in the draft. With their other needs, it seems doubtful that they will, and it’s certain Winston will be missed in 2012.
Miami Dolphins
Tackles currently on roster: Jake Long (5th year), Marc Colombo (10th year), Nate Garner (5th year), Will Barker (3rd year), Artis Hicks (11th year), Ryan Cook (7th year)
The right side of Miami’s offensive line was a disaster in 2011, and the problems started with tackle Marc Colombo. He’s not athletic and tends to take bad angles, and his tendency to find himself out of position led to his giving up 11 sacks last season.
The eighth pick of the first round is a bit early to draft a right tackle, but look for the Dolphins to address the position any time after that. If Jonathon Martin or Mike Adams were to start to slide a bit, the Dolphins could consider snagging one of them.
Minnesota Vikings
Tackles currently on roster: Phil Loadholt (4th year), DeMarcus Love (2nd year),Charlie Johnson (7th year), Patrick Brown (3rd year), Geoff Schwartz (4th year), Jose Valdez (2nd year)
The Vikings’ right tackle, Phil Loadholt, isn’t an elite player, but he does more than a good job and is still a young player who should only get better. The same can’t be said for the Vikings’ other starting tackle. In fact, it’s hard to find a need more urgent in Minnesota than at left tackle. Charlie Johnson just isn’t a guy you want protecting your young franchise quarterback’s blindside.
It’s widely been assumed that stud left tackle Matt Kalil will be the third player chosen in the draft and become a Viking. As Eric Galko pointed out, however, that may be a hasty assumption. Kalil certainly is a top ten talent, but he’s a smaller offensive lineman that doesn’t really fit the mold of the larger tackles Minnesota historically has preferred. Kalil may very likely start his career in Minnesota, but it’s far from a guarantee that he’ll be a good fit.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tackles currently on roster: Max Starks (9th year) (injured), Willie Colon (7th year), Marcus Gilbert (2nd year), Chris Scott (3rd year), Jonathon Scott (6th year)
Left tackle Max Starks, who’s dealt with weight issues throughout his career, tore his ACL in the Steelers’ playoff loss to end the 2011 season. It’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to play by the start of the season, and he may never return to his previous form. To keep Ben Roethlisberger healthy, Pittsburg will need to add a left tackle.
Adding a left tackle will allow for some flexibility when Starks is healthy again. He could move to guard even if he’s not quite the same player he was in the past, and he’d still be an improvement over Chris Kemoeatu.
St. Louis Rams
Tackles currently on roster: Rodger Saffold (3rd year), Jason Smith (4th year), Harvey Dahl (6th year), Thomas Welch (2nd year), Ryan McKee (2nd year), Quinn Ojinnaka (7th year)
The situation at offensive tackle in St. Louis is a difficult one to figure out. Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith are the two starters, are both young and high draft picks that have flashed potential. However, for the most part 2011 was a terribly disappointing season for both. One side of the argument attributes their poor seasons to injuries and growing pains; the other says the tackles have had their chance to contribute and it’s time to move on.
It appears that the Rams front office feels they have enough potential to get at least one more year to show what they’ve got. They traded away their chance to draft Matt Kalil, so they didn’t feel it necessary to grab an elite left tackle. However there’s still a chance they draft someone like Riley Reiff or Cordy Glenn to play tackle with the sixth overall pick.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tackles currently on roster: Donald Penn (7th year), Jeremy Trueblood (7th year), Demar Dotson (4th year), Derek Hardman (3rd year), Jamon Meredith (3rd year)
Tampa Bay made a huge addition to their offensive line by signing standout guard Carl Nicks. In wake of that move, guard Jeremy Zuttah will move to center, leaving only right tackle as the only weak spot on the offensive line. Jeremy Trueblood somehow got a contract extension last year from Tampa Bay, but his play on the field clearly wasn’t deserving of it this past season.
Fortunately, Donald Penn is an outstanding and underappreciated left tackle, so the Buccaneers need only to focus on finding a replacement for Trueblood. If that void is filled, Josh Freeman should feel much more comfortable in the pocket this season.
NEED: OFFENSIVE GUARD Arizona Cardinals
Guards currently on roster: Rex Hadnot (9th year), Daryn Colledge (7th year), Adam Snyder (8th year), D’Anthony Batiste (7th year)
Rex Hadnot started 2011 on a good note, but by the end of the season there were some serious doubts about his long term ability as a right guard. The Cardinals signed Adam Snyder in an attempt to solidify their interior offensive line, but his actual impact remains to be seen. He’s a jack of all trades but a master of none, and isn’t likely to really improve the offensive line.
The Cardinals are one of the several teams who will take a long, hard look at David Decastro. He’d be an instant starter at either left or right guard and he’d go a long way in helping the offensive line get to where it needs to be.
Indianapolis Colts
Guards currently on roster: Matt Murphy (2nd year), Seth Olson (3rd year), Mike Tepper (2nd year) (listed as tackle), Joe Reitz (3rd year) (listed as tackle)
As the Colts begin their rebuilding process, the interior of their offensive line has taken a huge hit. Jeff Saturday elected to sign with Green Bay, Panthers signed Mike
Pollak, and Ryan Diem retired. They addressed the vacancy at center by signing Oakland’s former starting center Samson Satele.
Indianapolis added tackle Winston Justice via trade, and he’s likely to play right tackle. This will free up Ben Ijalana to move inside and play where he’s likely to be more successful. Still, Ijalana is unproven and guard, and at left guard are Mike Tepper and Joe Reitz, whom are both actually listed as tackles. The Colts’ offensive line needs some remodeling on the interior, and they’ll need to add a guard to do it.
New York Giants
Guards currently on roster: Chris Snee (9th year), Kevin Boothe (7th year), Mitch Petrus (4th year), Chris White (8th year)
The Giants tied numerous players at left guard in 2011, including tackle David Diehl, but in the end nothing really worked. On the bright side there is plenty of experience at this position, so depth isn’t a concern.
They do need to find a true starter here, however. It will be interesting to see just how much they value the need. With real value at guard not coming until the 4th round, will the Giants wait that long?
NEED: CENTER
Chicago Bears
Centers currently on roster: Chris Spencer (8th year), Chris Massey (9th year), Edwin Williams (4th year), Reggie Stevens (3rd year)
The entirety of the Bears’ interior offensive line is a disaster, but the problem starts at center. They have no less than four centers on the roster, yet they started a guard, Roberto Garza, at center in 2011. Garza didn’t play well out of position, and neither did his replacements.
Adding a center that can start will solve much of Chicago’s problems here. It will improve the center position obviously, and will also allow Garza to return to guard where he will be much more effective.
Dallas Cowboys
Centers currently on roster: Phil Costa (3rd year), Kevin Kowalski (2nd year)
Offensive guard has been heralded as one of the Cowboys’ primary needs this offseason, and a guy like David Decastro would certainly be a draft pick fans and analysts alike would applaud. Dallas has added a couple of offensive guards during free agency, however, and center may be the bigger need.
Phil Costa looked far from a starting caliber center in 2011. There were countless botched snaps that killed the Cowboys throughout the year, and while he’s young and has some potential, Dallas is a team that can win now and can’t afford to wait. They’ll need to add a new starter in 2012.
New England Patriots
Centers currently on roster: Dan Connelly (6th year)
With Dan Koppen seemingly headed elsewhere, the Patriots’ starting center spot currently belongs to Dan Connelly, who started 14 games there for New England this past season. Connelly was serviceable at center, but there is plenty of room for improvement.
At the very least, the Patriots need to add another center to the roster solely for depth purposes. In an ideal situation, they’d acquire a starting caliber center, which would allow Connelly to return to a back up role, which he excels at. 
Tennessee Titans
Centers currently on roster: Eugene Amano (9th year), Kevin Matthews (2nd year)
Chris Johnson’s performance in 2011 was a huge let down following his big pay raise, and it made him the focal point of many fans’ frustrations in a disappointing season. There’s no question that Johnson had a poor season, but not all of the blame for the Titans poor rushing attack rests on his shoulders. Tennessee’s interior offensive line was atrocious, and there weren’t too many holes for Johnson to run through.
The Titans addressed one hole on the line by replacing left guard Jake Scott with Steve Hutchenson. Next on the list is finding someone to take over for Eugene Amano. Widely regarded as one of the worst centers in the league, Tennessee hasn’t been shy in bringing in free agents in an attempt to replace him. They haven’t been able to sign one yet, which may force them to look to the draft. Peter Konz would be a solid first round pick that could instantly start, and he might just be what Johnson needs to get his career back on track.
OFFENSIVE LINE DEPTH
Chicago Bears
Tackles currently on roster: J’Marcus Webb (3rd year), Gabe Carimi (2nd year), Chris Williams (5th year), Levi Horn (2nd year), Patrick Cannely (15th year)
The Bears seem to be in denial in regards to J’Marcus Webb’s playing ability at tackle. They insist they’re happy with his progression in spite of an awful 2011 campaign. It doesn’t seem too likely they’ll move to find a replacement for him, at least in the early rounds of the draft.
They do need to at least consider finding someone to push him later on in the draft. At some point they’re going to have to face the fact that he’s not cutting it, and they’ll need a suitable replacement then.
Jacksonville Jaguars 
Tackles currently on roster: Eugene Monroe (4th year), Eben Britton (4th year), Guy Whimper (7th year), Cameron Bradfield (2nd year), Will Rakley (2nd year)
If Eben Britton could stay healthy, he and Eugene Monroe would make a very good tandem at offensive tackle. Unfortunately though he can’t, and that leaves Jacksonville without a reliable right tackle. Guy Whimper started over a dozen games there last year, but he simply just isn’t very good.
Rookie Cameron Bradfield is a tackle that looked promising in limited action, but he still needs time to develop. Until he’s ready to slide in as a starter, the Jaguars need to find another right tackle as insurance for Britton.
Minnesota Vikings
Guards currently on roster: Geoff Schwartz (4th year), Chris DeGeare (3rd year), Butch Lewis (2nd year)
In a tumultuous decade, Steve Hutchison has been a solid rock of consistency for the Vikings. That’s all over now, as both he and fellow starting guard Anthony Herrera were released by Minnesota. The result is a hole at offensive guard for the first time in quite a while.
The Vikings signed Geoff Schwartz to presumably start at right guard in 2012. That fills one spot, and there is the potential that left tackle Charlie Johnson could slide over and play left guard if they Vikings draft Matt Kalil. However, Johnson isn’t proven at guard and Schwartz missed the entire 2011 season due to injury. Neither players are sure things, and the Vikings should make sure they have adequate depth at the position.
Washington Redskins
Offensive guards currently on roster: Kory Lichtensteiger (4th year), Maurice Hurt (2nd year)
Offensive tackles currently on roster: Trent Williams (3rd year), Jamaal Brown (8th year), Willie Smith (2nd year), Tyler Polumbus, (5th year), Nevin McCaskill (2nd year)
If they could only stay on the field, the Redskins actually have some pretty good pieces along the offensive line. Unfortunately, Kory Kichtensteiger (LG) tore his ACL and MCL in 2011, Jamall Brown (RT) has dealt with numerous injuries, and Trent Williams(LT) could be suspended for an entire season if he fails another drug test.
Washington may look to add a starter at any of those positions. If they were to do so, you’d expect them to look first at right tackle. Based on their draft position however, it may suit them better to focus on adding some reliable depth across the offensive line, and hope that their current starters can be reliable in 2012.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
