Some folks consider the NFC South to be the best division in the NFL heading into 2017. We’ll be taking a look at each position group for each team in the division and ranking them leading up to the season, hoping to give you a better feel for the teams the Panthers will be facing twice on the schedule, as well as the hometown team itself. Check out our previous editions in which we rank the head coaches, pass catchers, linebackers, and defensive line units. One of the more underrated positions in the sport of pro football is the offensive line. Without these “hog mollies”, quarterbacks, running backs, even offenses in general, simply cannot perform, and while the NFC South doesn’t boast the best offensive lines in the league, there are still some players that perform at the top of their game. Below are the rankings for the offensive lines in the NFC South.
4) Buccaneers
Top Player: Ali Marpet
Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a season of improvement for the Buccaneers in 2016, the offensive line was one of the weak spots, as the Bucs ranked in the lower half of the league (21st) when it came to run blocking according to Pro Football Focus, and not much better at pass protection (15th) while allowing 35 sacks. Tampa Bay’s best player in 2016 was center Ali Marpet, who had the 5th best run blocking grade in the league. While Marpet is the best player on the Bucs offensive line, there aren’t too many other players that stand out. J.R. Sweezy and Kevin Pamphile are slated to start at both the guard positions, while Sweezy spent last year on IR and Pamphile spent much of the season trying to keep up with the speed of NFL defensive tackles and ends. Donovan Smith and Damar Dotson are the Bucs starting tackles, and both are in the lower half of the league when it comes to pass protection. While the Bucs are helping out their face of the franchise in Jameis Winston by adding in new weapons such as Desean Jackson, they failed to add more depth and quality up front to a team that had the most blown blocks in the league in 2016. If the Bucs want to see Winston continue to grow, they need to first set him up for protection.
3) Saints
Top Player: Zach Strief
Photo Credit: The Times-Picayune
Last year, the Saints offensive line did exceptionally well, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ best unit in rushing and the 5th best in pass protection. So, why are the Saints ranked so low on this list? Well for starters, Max Unger is moving past his prime, and outside of right tackle Zach Strief, Terron Armstead and the rest of the Saints offensive line remain a mystery. Strief is without a doubt one of the better offensive tackles in the league, but Armstead has injury concerns, and despite the Saints’ effort in the draft to address their depth, it’s still a cause for concern. If one of the Saints starting offensive lineman fall, the Saints must call upon either Jack Allen, Senio Kelemete, John Fullington, Landon Turner, Ryan Ramczyk or Avery Young. Not a good looking list if we are being honest. If the Saints can stay healthy up front, Drew Brees will produce numbers, and the running game can be successful, however I expect a decline in the Saints offensive line play this season – even without any injuries.
2) Panthers
Top Player: Trai Turner
The Panthers went from the best offense in the league in 2015 to one of the worst in 2016. A huge reason for this were the injuries to the offensive line and the subsequent poor play of recently released tackle Mike Remmers. Remmers was exposed in Super Bowl 50 by Von Miller, and was unable to recover; right tackle Michael Oher was concussed throughout the entire season; Ryan Kalil missed a significant amount of time; and All-Pro guard Trai Turner was forced into the role of Mr. Everything, playing guard, center, and tackle throughout the second half of the season. After seeing the Panthers give up over 40 sacks in 2016, their ranking in the bottom half of the league in 2016 was no shock. However, when healthy, and with the addition of Matt Kalil (All Pro center’s Ryan Kalil’s brother), and the best Guard tandem in the league in Turner and Norwell, the Panthers have one of the best interiors in the league. The only true question that remains is how the play of right tackle will be with the recent release of Michael Oher. The Panthers have a young and improving player in Daryl Williams slated to start, but also have an option in another young buck in Taylor Moton if needed. With all of the injuries last season, many of the backups that don’t often get playing time, did – and proved they can step in when needed. If the Panthers offense finds it’s groove and stays healthy like it did in 2015, this unit can be among the best in the league.
1) Falcons
Top Player: Alex Mack
Photo Credit: USA Today
Fresh off of a Super Bowl appearance and boasting one of the best offenses in the league in 2016, it should come to no surprise to anyone that the Falcons offensive line ranks as the best in the NFC South entering the 2017 season. After acquiring All Pro center Alex Mack from Free Agency in the 2016 offseason, the Falcons offensive line began to mold well together and Mack lived up to his contract, ranking as the best run blocker in the league in 2016; and right next to him left guard Andy Levitre found much success as well, ranking as a top ten pass blocker. Jake Matthews also found a late-career revival in 2016, similar to Michael Oher with the Panthers in 2015, and Ryan Schrader is proving to be a nice addition as a right tackle. All around, the Falcons have one of the best offensive lines in the league, and the talent around them in Matt Ryan, Devonta Freeman, and Julio Jones makes them look even better. The Falcons depth is the only true concern that appears, and in football, injuries are bound to happen. Unfortunately for the Falcons, many of their backups have little to no experience and because of this, there are plenty of questions that may someday need to be answered.
Previous Results:
Head Coach: New Orleans Saints
Defensive Line: Carolina Panthers
Pass Catchers: Atlanta Falcons
Linebackers: Carolina Panthers
Offensive Line: Atlanta Falcons
Running Backs: ??????
Secondary: ??????
Quarterbacks: ??????
