Writers of Pro Football Prospectus 2008

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Innovative Statistics

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Offensive Lines 2008

Regular season totals, through Week 11

Revised as of 11/18/2008

Teams are ranked according to Adjusted Line Yards. Based on regression analysis, the Adjusted Line Yards formula takes all running back carries and assigns responsibility to the offensive line based on the following percentages:

  • Losses: 120% value
  • 0-4 Yards: 100% value
  • 5-10 Yards: 50% value
  • 11+ Yards: 0% value

These numbers are then adjusted based on down, distance, situation, and opponent, and normalized so that the league average for Adjusted Line Yards per carry is the same as the league average for RB yards per carry (current baseline: 4.08). These stats are explained further here. Opponent adjustments are currently at 80 percent strength because it is early in the season.

The following stats are not adjusted for opponent:

  • RB Yards: Yards per carry by that team's running backs, according to standard NFL numbers.
  • 10+ Yards: Percentage of a team's rushing yards more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage. Represents yardage not reflected in Adjusted Line Yards stat.
  • Power Success: Percentage of runs on third or fourth down, two yards or less to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown. Also includes runs on first-and-goal or second-and-goal from the two-yard line or closer. This is the only statistic on this page that includes quarterbacks.
  • Stuffed: Percentage of runs that result in (on first down) zero or negative gain or (on second through fourth down) less than one-fourth the yards needed for another first down. Since being stuffed is bad, teams are ranked from stuffed least often (#1) to most often (#32).

NFL averages for each stat given in red.

Why are these rankings different from the team offense DVOA ratings for rushing? Among other reasons, they don't include quarterbacks or fumbles, long runs are truncated, and a different set of adjustments is used, attempting to isolate line play rather than total team offense.

A team with a high ranking in Adjusted Line Yards but a low ranking in 10+ Yards is heavily dependent on its offensive line to make the running game work. A team with a low ranking in Adjusted Line Yards but a high ranking in 10+ Yards is heavily dependent on its running back breaking long runs to make the running game work.

However, it is important to understand that these ratings only somewhatseparate the offensive line from the running backs. A team with a very good running back will appear higher no matter how bad their line, and a team with a great line with appear lower if the running back is terrible.

Stats in blue represent pass blocking. Teams are ranked according to adjusted sack rate, which gives sacks per pass attempt adjusted for opponent, down, and distance. Pass blocking stats are explained further here. Our sack totals may differ slightly from official NFL totals depending on the league's retroactive statistical adjustments.

RUN BLOCKING PASS PROTECTION
TEAM Adj. Line
Yards 		 RB
Yards		 Power
Success		 Power
Rank		 10+
Yards		 10+
Rank		 Stuffed Stuffed
Rank		 TEAM Sack
Rank		 Sacks Adj.
Sack Rate
1 DEN 5.01 4.66 63% 21 13% 26 22% 9 IND 1 11 2.9%
2 NYG 4.93 5.55 61% 23 27% 1 21% 4 TEN 2 6 3.0%
3 NYJ 4.84 4.47 59% 25 16% 22 24% 18 NO 3 8 3.3%
4 WAS 4.75 4.67 78% 5 17% 20 21% 3 DEN 4 8 3.5%
5 SF 4.64 4.41 50% 32 18% 18 21% 5 ATL 5 12 3.7%
6 NE 4.58 4.27 71% 12 13% 27 22% 8 CLE 6 13 3.9%
7 MIN 4.49 4.63 65% 19 21% 11 23% 13 NYG 7 12 4.1%
8 HOU 4.49 4.67 74% 8 23% 3 21% 7 PHI 8 15 4.1%
9 BAL 4.48 3.87 79% 4 11% 29 20% 2 TB 9 11 4.4%
10 DAL 4.44 4.67 79% 3 22% 8 23% 14 SD 10 14 4.7%
11 NO 4.39 3.81 66% 18 9% 31 23% 12 CAR 11 13 5.0%
12 ATL 4.29 4.60 76% 7 23% 4 28% 28 ARI 12 18 5.1%
13 CLE 4.20 4.17 52% 30 19% 13 24% 16 CHI 13 18 5.5%
14 BUF 4.20 3.90 53% 29 12% 28 26% 25 MIA 14 19 5.6%
15 MIA 4.19 4.21 77% 6 19% 14 19% 1 DAL 15 17 5.6%
16 CAR 4.19 4.60 81% 1 24% 2 25% 22 BAL 16 19 6.3%
RUN BLOCKING PASS PROTECTION
TEAM Adj. Line
Yards 		 RB
Yards		 Power
Success		 Power
Rank		 10+
Yards		 10+
Rank		 Stuffed Stuffed
Rank		 TEAM Sack
Rank		 Sacks Adj.
Sack Rate
17 TB 4.18 4.26 61% 24 22% 10 23% 15 NYJ 17 19 6.5%
18 JAC 4.17 4.00 70% 15 17% 19 25% 23 GB 18 21 6.6%
19 GB 4.12 4.08 74% 9 18% 17 23% 11 HOU 19 24 6.7%
20 CHI 4.11 3.76 67% 16 14% 25 24% 19 WAS 20 26 6.7%
21 PHI 4.02 3.91 52% 31 19% 15 31% 32 SEA 21 22 6.8%
22 KC 4.02 4.28 63% 20 22% 7 25% 21 BUF 22 25 7.2%
23 TEN 4.02 4.18 67% 17 23% 6 24% 20 KC 23 28 7.6%
24 PIT 4.00 3.79 61% 22 14% 24 30% 31 JAC 24 26 8.1%
25 SD 3.92 3.84 72% 11 16% 21 24% 17 CIN 25 38 8.5%
26 ARI 3.90 3.58 55% 27 15% 23 22% 10 STL 26 32 8.8%
27 IND 3.89 3.59 72% 10 9% 32 25% 24 MIN 27 28 9.1%
28 OAK 3.73 4.08 70% 14 19% 12 21% 6 NE 28 33 9.5%
29 STL 3.70 3.97 58% 26 18% 16 29% 30 SF 29 36 10.0%
30 SEA 3.70 4.10 71% 13 23% 5 26% 26 PIT 30 36 11.0%
31 DET 3.45 3.89 81% 2 22% 9 28% 29 OAK 31 33 11.0%
32 CIN 3.16 2.97 54% 28 10% 30 26% 27 DET 32 37 11.3%
x NFL x 4.20 67% x 18% x 24% x NFL x 21 6.4%

The second table lists each team's Adjusted Line Yards in each direction listed in official NFL play-by-play, along with rank among the 32 teams. Only five directions are listed because research so far shows no statistically significant difference between how well a team performs on runs listed middle, left guard, and right guard. It's early in the season, so take these numbers with a grain of salt.

    LEFT END LEFT TACKLE MID/GUARD RIGHT TACKLE RIGHT END
  TEAM ALY Rank ALY Rank ALY Rank ALY Rank ALY Rank
1 DEN 5.51 7 5.54 3 4.81 4 3.67 27 5.69 2
2 NYG 6.01 2 5.38 6 4.86 1 4.50 10 3.80 21
3 NYJ 5.32 10 3.57 23 4.84 2 4.72 4 5.71 1
4 WAS 5.34 9 5.51 4 3.98 22 4.83 2 4.61 7
5 SF 5.82 3 3.79 20 4.84 3 3.80 23 4.25 15
6 NE 4.51 16 5.46 5 4.59 7 4.46 12 1.49 32
7 MIN 4.45 18 5.67 2 4.31 13 3.72 26 5.24 4
8 HOU 5.02 13 3.19 27 4.78 5 4.38 13 3.87 19
9 BAL 5.45 8 4.51 11 4.52 9 3.81 22 4.80 5
10 DAL 5.60 5 3.52 25 4.71 6 4.47 11 3.17 26
11 NO 4.66 15 5.80 1 4.35 12 3.98 20 3.59 22
12 ATL 3.97 21 5.33 7 3.91 24 4.54 8 4.33 13
13 CLE 5.53 6 3.13 28 4.15 18 4.63 6 4.71 6
14 BUF 6.15 1 4.11 16 3.87 27 4.30 15 4.35 12
15 MIA 4.44 19 3.78 21 4.04 20 4.62 7 4.53 11
16 CAR 4.19 20 3.70 22 4.42 11 4.28 16 3.19 25
    LEFT END LEFT TACKLE MID/GUARD RIGHT TACKLE RIGHT END
  TEAM ALY Rank ALY Rank ALY Rank ALY Rank ALY Rank
17 TB 1.91 29 1.71 32 4.58 8 4.53 9 3.86 20
18 JAC 3.87 22 4.84 8 3.88 26 4.64 5 5.53 3
19 GB 5.19 12 4.32 13 4.22 15 3.23 32 3.42 24
20 CHI 3.25 26 4.02 19 4.47 10 3.79 24 3.99 18
21 PHI 3.65 23 2.80 31 4.27 14 4.72 3 4.11 17
22 KC 4.94 14 4.08 18 3.95 23 3.48 30 4.25 14
23 TEN 3.29 25 4.10 17 4.21 16 3.65 28 4.12 16
24 PIT 5.65 4 4.77 9 3.91 25 3.36 31 3.53 23
25 SD 2.67 28 2.98 30 4.17 17 4.35 14 4.59 9
26 ARI 3.54 24 4.30 14 3.50 30 4.16 17 4.56 10
27 IND 4.46 17 3.54 24 4.15 19 4.03 19 2.75 29
28 OAK 5.21 11 4.73 10 3.57 29 3.51 29 1.67 31
29 STL 1.31 31 3.06 29 4.01 21 4.95 1 3.17 27
30 SEA 3.04 27 4.43 12 3.48 31 4.05 18 3.10 28
31 DET 1.40 30 4.24 15 2.83 32 3.86 21 4.61 8
32 CIN 0.46 32 3.23 26 3.63 28 3.73 25 1.99 30
x NFL 4.39 x 4.32 x 4.23 x 4.13 x 3.97 x

The third table lists how often each team runs in each direction. Numbers may not add up to 100% due to carries listed without direction.

Team RB
Carries		 LEFT
END		 LEFT
TACKLE		 MID/
GUARD		 RIGHT
TACKLE		 RIGHT
END
1 BAL 323 9% 20% 52% 14% 5%
2 NYG 309 12% 17% 43% 18% 9%
3 TEN 308 9% 13% 50% 15% 12%
4 ATL 306 13% 18% 46% 8% 15%
5 CAR 288 13% 9% 53% 13% 11%
6 MIN 286 14% 12% 54% 11% 9%
7 WAS 270 21% 18% 29% 14% 18%
8 CHI 262 11% 14% 47% 15% 12%
9 NE 260 9% 14% 63% 10% 4%
10 MIA 258 12% 12% 52% 13% 12%
11 OAK 258 12% 20% 40% 17% 11%
12 TB 256 7% 5% 70% 11% 6%
13 PIT 250 9% 8% 56% 17% 10%
14 NYJ 247 7% 8% 58% 16% 10%
15 SEA 242 11% 24% 43% 14% 7%
16 BUF 241 9% 20% 53% 12% 7%
Team RB
Carries		 LEFT
END		 LEFT
TACKLE		 MID/
GUARD		 RIGHT
TACKLE		 RIGHT
END
17 DAL 240 14% 12% 43% 18% 13%
18 GB 234 20% 19% 26% 16% 18%
19 JAC 232 13% 7% 61% 12% 8%
20 NO 231 12% 11% 46% 18% 13%
21 SD 231 9% 14% 58% 10% 9%
22 ARI 226 8% 23% 43% 15% 11%
23 CLE 224 8% 15% 60% 10% 7%
24 HOU 223 11% 11% 52% 17% 9%
25 KC 215 11% 13% 53% 13% 9%
26 STL 213 9% 14% 53% 15% 9%
27 IND 211 14% 16% 46% 10% 14%
28 SF 208 9% 8% 59% 12% 13%
29 DEN 206 16% 17% 51% 9% 8%
30 CIN 203 9% 13% 49% 20% 9%
31 PHI 200 17% 13% 43% 14% 15%
32 DET 188 11% 23% 32% 21% 13%
x NFL x 11% 14% 50% 14% 10%