NFL	Overall	Run	Pass				Change
Rank	Team	Grade	Block	Block	Depth	Cohesion	Exp	from '04	Comments
1	Kansas City Chiefs	A+	A+	A	B	A+	A+	same	Best offensive line in football
2	Jacksonville Jaguars	A	A-	B	A	A	B+	better	Young and improving
3	Baltimore Ravens	A	A	B	B	B	A	better	Awesome run blocking production
4	Pittsburgh Steelers	A-	A	B	C	B	B+	same	Starters great, depth lacking
5	Cincinnati Bengals	A-	B	A	B	B	B+	same	Much better than most realize
6	San Diego Chargers	B+	B+	B	A	B	B	same	Young and talented
7	New York Jets	B	B+	B	C	B	C+	worse	Good group, may miss McKenzie
8	Dallas Cowboys	B+	A	B-	A	B	B+	better	Adding talented G Rivera is huge
9	Denver Broncos	B	B	B	B	B+	B+	same	Always strong
10	Washington Redskins	B	B	B	B	B	B	better	Could be top-five unit if healthy
11	San Francisco 49ers	B	B	C	B+	B	B	better	Youth, talent and depth
12	Philadelphia Eagles	B	B+	B	C	B	B	same	Could be great if G Andrews is productive
13	Seattle Seahawks	B	B+	C+	A	B	B	same	Good talent but new starter at RT
14	St. Louis Rams	B	B	C+	B	B	B+	same	Solid line with great left tackle
15	Carolina Panthers	B	B	B	B	C+	B	better	Adding guard Wahle is big boost
16	Houston Texans	B	B+	C	A	C+	C+	better	Texans OL is becoming a force
17	Chicago Bears	B	B	C+	A	C+	A	better	Added two solid lineman
18	Minnesota Vikings	B	B	C+	B	B	B	same	Talented C Birk hindered with hernia
19	New York Giants	C+	B	C	C+	B	B	same	Play ok as a unit
20	Cleveland Browns	C+	B	C	B	C-	B	better	Not there yet but improving
21	New England Patriots	C+	C+	B	B	C+	C+	worse	Continue to lose valuable depth
22	New Orleans Saints	C+	A	C-	B-	C	B	better	Should be amongst best run blockers
23	Buffalo Bills	C+	B	C	B	C	B	same	Solid, but unspectacular
24	Oakland Raiders	C+	B	B	B-	C	C+	same	Young line could make noise by '06
25	Miami Dolphins	C+	C+	C+	A-	C-	C+	better	Great depth, improved coaching may help
26	Detroit Lions	C+	B	C	C	C+	C+	same	Could get better as season wears on
27	Arizona Cardinals	C+	B	C	D	C	B	same	Talent is there, need better production
28	Atlanta Falcons	C	B	C-	C+	C+	C+	worse	Overachieved last season
29	Indianapolis Colts	C	C+	C	D	C	C+	worse	Lots of question marks
30	Tennessee Titans	C	C+	D	C	C+	B	worse	Entire team is falling apart
31	Green Bay Packers	C	C	C+	C	C	B	worse	Lost both starting guards
32	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	D	D	C-	C-	D	C+	worse	Already poor line lost quality depth

Arizona Cardinals
Overall Grade: C+

New Additions: T/G Oliver Ross (Pittsburgh)

Key Losses: Anthony Clement

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Alex Stepanovich; G-Reggie Wells; G-Elton Brown [r] T-Oliver Ross; T-Leonard Davis

Key Backups:  C Nick Leckey

As usual, this unit has loads of potential and as usual only time will tell whether they can measure up to that potential.  Last year as a rookie, center Alex Stepanovich started all sixteen games and did a good job while learning on the fly.  He is an aggressive, hard-nosed player who has great football savvy and will only get better with experience.  His technique is already strong but it will get better and his footwork is good for his age.  His athletic ability isn’t tremendous but he has enough to get by and his power/bulk is marginal at best.  He will anchor this unit for a long time to come.  Leonard Davis is entering his fifth year with the Cardinals and he has bee a starter in each of his prior four seasons.  He has unbelievable size at 6’6 and 380+ pounds but he could stand to lose 20 pounds and improve his quickness. His strength is exceptional and once he gets his hands on an opponent while run blocking, it is over for that defender.  Ideally, he would slot in at the guard position but may have to use him at the tackle position. Newcomer Oliver Ross was brought in via free agent from the Steelers and he’ll immediately slot in as a starting tackle for the team.  He has great size and is an absolute bull when it comes to run blocking.  Rookie guard Elton Brown, the Cardinals 4^th round pick will likely get a chance to start right out of the gate.  The Cardinals absolutely stole him in the fourth round as he should have gone no later than early in the 2^nd round.  He has awesome size and athleticism and should be able to step in and play at a high level right away. Reggie Wells will likely start at the other guard position.  He is athletic, strong and started all 16 games last season.  With improved technique he could develop into a very good starter.  Former 1^st round pick, LJ Shelton fell out of favor with the Cardinals and was released.

Bottom Line: The Cardinals have looked poised to have a top offensive line for years now but it never materialized.  The line is in a state of flux this season but it could be much better for it as the season wears on.  Oliver Ross appears to be a huge upgrade at the one tackle position and rookie guard Elton Brown should help to open holes for the running game.  Leonard Davis has been a solid lineman throughout his career although he never became the elite player he was supposed to be.  Overall, this has the making of a decent group out of the gate with the potential to grow significantly as the season wears on.  If this group can gel, the running attack will thrive.

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Atlanta Falcons
Overall Grade: C

New Additions: T Barry Stokes

Key Losses: G Roberto Garza; OL Coach Alex Gibbs

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Todd McClure; G-Martin Bibla; G-Kynan Forney; T-Todd Weiner; T-Kevin Shaffer

Key Backups: G Mookie Moore; G Matt Lehr; G/C/TE Eric Beverly; G Barry Stokes

The Falcons running attack was awesome a year ago despite only average talent at the position.  The reason for the success was the presence of offensive line guru Alex Gibbs who helped turned this unit into one of the finest in the game.  Gibbs has semi-retired this season and is simply a consultant for the team and he will be replaced by last season’s tight end coach, Jeff Jagodzinski who will almost certainly be a big step down from the genius of Gibbs.  The team will also feel the loss of Roberto Garza who started in fifteen of the games last season for the Falcons.  At center, Todd McClure is entering his fifth season as the starter and he hasn’t missed a start.  He has good technique and football smarts but is undersized at only 286 pounds and struggles to move opponents off of the ball.  He is a good player but will never be considered an elite one.  Guard Kynan Forney has started games in each of his first four seasons in the league and hasn’t missed a start in the past two seasons.  He has nice size at 307 pounds and is very athletic.  He is a better lineman than most folks realize and continues to get better each season.  He doesn’t have terrific power and isn’t able to control the line of scrimmage on a consistent basis.  He is probably the best lineman the Falcons have though and he is getting better with experience.  He is as good of a 7^th round pick as you can find.  Guard Martin Bibla will get every chance to win the starting job this season, in this his fourth year with the club.  He is an aggressive run blocker who has nice power but is limited athletically and doesn’t play well in space.  He will be in a battle with Matt Lehr, Mookie Moore and Eric Beverly for the right to be the starter but he is the most talented of those four.  At tackle, another 7^th round pick has found his way to the starting unit of the Falcons.  Kevin Shaffer is undersized at only 290 pounds but goes hard on every play, is aggressive and has more power than his size indicates.  He is very limited in pass blocking due to poor foot work and athleticism and he will never be more than a serviceable starter.  T Todd Weiner has started all but one game over the past three seasons for the Falcons and has become a dependable bookend on this offensive line.  He has good footwork and nice athleticism but doesn’t have a lot of power and is only a decent run blocker.  He has made improvements in each of the past three seasons though and will have another solid season in 2005.  Newcomer Barry Stokes was brought over from the Giants to compete for a job on the starting unit at the tackle position.  He brings both experience and tenacity to the field.

Bottom Line: This is an offensive line where the sum of its parts is much greater than the individual worth of each player. Still, you have to wonder how much of the success could be attributed to terrific coaching by retired guru Alex Gibbs.  If Mookie Moore starts at guard over Martin Bibla, the starting unit will have three former 7^th round picks starting which is almost unheard of.  None of the players have Pro Bowl ability but get by with hard work and sound technique.  Expect a dip from the awesome production from a year ago due to the loss of both Gibbs and guard Roberto Garza.

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Baltimore Ravens
Overall Grade: A-

2004: 7^th in rushing (2,063 yards), 7^th in YPC (4.2), 10^th in sacks allowed (35), 19^th in PA / Sack (13.3 PA / Sack)

New Additions: G Keydrick Vincent (Pittsburgh)

Key Losses: C Casey Rabach

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Mike Flynn; G-Edwin Mulitalo; G-Keydrick Vincent; T-Jonathon Ogden; T-Orlando Brown

Key Backups: T Tony Pashos; G Brian Rimph; C Jason Brown [r]; T Adam Terry [r]

The Ravens have a very strong offensive line.  The strength of the line is clearly on the outside where one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL, Jonathon Ogden resides.  He is a future resident of the Hall of Fame and could go down as one of the best players at his position in the history of the game.  All success for this unit goes through him.  On the other side is Orlando Brown who is very talented in his own right and has great size at 6’7 and 360 pounds and is still capable of dominating a game despite his age.  His play has slipped somewhat though and he isn’t as consistent as he once was.  Having a huge pair of bookends such as the Ravens are blessed with is a tremendous luxury.  Another huge positive in this unit is guard Edwin Mulitalo who is a monster of a man who destroys the players across from him with both his power and his aggression.  He is one of the top guards in the game.  The Ravens signed guard Keydrick Vincent from the Steelers during this offseason and he’ll be a nice addition to this group.  He is still learning his craft but is another player that is aggressive and will open holes for the running game. He is a great drive blocker. Finally Mike Flynn is a wonderful anchor to this group and adds both tenacity and experience to the middle of the line.  The Ravens added two rookie linemen with the potential to be great via the draft.  Both center Jason Brown and tackle Adam Terry have good size and in time should be valuable members of this starting unit.  Expect Terry to step in and start as early as 2006 and Brown will offer great depth at both the center and guard position.

Bottom Line: The Ravens have one of the top offensive lines in football.  Great size, aggressive players who explode off the ball to dominate their opponents and good experience are balanced throughout the starting five.  Not only is the starting unit outstanding but with adding two talented rookies to the mix, the future is also very bright for the club.  Jonathon Ogden and company will have a strong 2005 season and should pave the way for RB Jamal Lewis to reclaim his spot as one of the top running backs in the game.

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Buffalo Bills
Overall Grade: C+

New Additions: G/T Mike Gandy (Bears); G Bennie Anderson

Key Losses: T Jonas Jennings

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Trey Teague; G-Bennie Anderson; G-Chris Villarrial; T-Mike Gandy; T-Mike Williams

Key Backups: T Dylan McFarland; G Ben Sobieski; G Ross Tucker; C Raymond Preston [r]; G Justin Geisinger [r]

The Bills offensive line suffered a loss this offseason when tackle Jonas Jennings was stolen away by the San Francisco 49ers.  The Bills didn’t believe he was worth the $36 million, 7-year contract he was signed for but his departure is a big blow to an offensive line that was already average at best over the past couple of seasons.  Huge tackle, Mike Williams needs to come into his own and become the elite player he was supposed to be coming out of college a few seasons ago.  He has the size and ability to be dominant but has yet to put it all together on the field.  The other starters have experience and should prove serviceable but it is clear that the catalyst of this group will be Williams.  Mike Gandy, picked up in free agency from the Bears, will be in a dogfight with Dylan McFarland for the right to be the starting tackle opposite of Williams and offers depth in the interior of the line.  This will be a battle to watch in training camp.  Villarrial is an aggressive run blocker who will open holes for the running game to exploit and gives the group a mean streak.  Ross Tucker is the classic overachiever with a lot of heart and hustle without a ton of natural ability.  He will compete with newcomer Bennie Anderson, a free agent signing formerly of the Baltimore Ravens for the one guard position.  Anderson is a huge presence in the middle of a line and should get the nod to start.  He will help open gaping holes for the running game to exploit.  Finally Trey Teague is a solid center anchoring the line.  He isn’t a top-tier player but he does a good job for the Bills.

Bottom Line: The Bills offensive line will be decent but has the potential to be much better if they can come together as a unit.  This is the make or break year for Mike Williams and he will need to develop into the elite player he was supposed to be for this group to become a top unit.  Look for the Bills to have some success running the ball but will need to make big improvements when it comes to protecting the quarterback.

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Carolina Panthers
Overall Grade: B

New Additions: G Mike Wahle (Packers)

Key Losses: None

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Jeff Mitchell; G-Mike Wahle; G-Tutan Reyes; T-Travelle Wharton; T-Jordan Gross

Key Backups: T Todd Fordham; C Bruce Nelson; G Bill Ferrario; G Evan Mathis [r]; G Tupe Peko

The Panthers offensive line made giant strides in this offseason with the acquisition of guard Mike Wahle, formerly of the Green Bay Packers.  He is one of the best guards in the game thanks to his solid athletic ability; good football smarts and above-average strength.  He gets off the ball well and finishes his blocks to the whistle. Just his presence will make the team much stronger.  Jeff Mitchell is an outstanding center who brings both experience and talent to the mix.  He is an aggressive run-blocker who will finish all of his blocks to the whistle.   He has sound technique, great athleticism and is in the prime of his career.  Expect another outstanding campaign in 2005 as it doesn’t appear he will be suspended due to his part in a steroid scandal. At left tackle, is the 3^rd-year pro, Jordan Gross who has started every game in his first two NFL seasons.  He has tremendous athletic ability, plays aggressive, smart football and has outstanding technique.  He hasn't made the Pro Bowl as of yet but his time is coming.  The right tackle slot will likely go to 2^nd year player, Travelle Wharton who played in eleven games as a rookie and did a good job.  He has good athleticism and decent size although he doesn't have the ideal tackle body.    He could use more power and aggressiveness but he has a good upside and should get better with playing time.  Finally at the guard position, it appears it is Tutan Reyes job to lose but he'll face competition from Bruce Nelson and Bill Ferrario.  Reyes became a starter for the first time in 2004, starting in 12 games.  He has good size but his power isn't quite where it needs to be and neither is his athletic ability.  His upside is only as a serviceable starter and the team would love to find a better option.  Draft pick Evan Mathis, from Alabama has good technique and is a tough lineman but needs to add bulk and power before he’ll get the chance to start.  He does have a nice upside though and will make the team.  Look for him to battle for the starting guard position by 2006.

Bottom Line: Without newcomer guard Mike Wahle, this was a decent unit but with him they should have a strong season.  There are three all-star caliber players among this group now in Wahle, center Jeff Mitchell and tackle Jordan Gross and the Panthers are in good hands going forward. Gross is becoming one of the top left tackles in all of football and he is still getting better.  Expect nice production from this unit in 2005.

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Chicago Bears
Overall Grade: B

2004: 13^th in rushing (1,874 yards), 22^nd in YPC (3.9), 32^nd in sacks allowed (366), 32^nd in PA / Sack (7.1 PA / Sack)

New Additions: G Roberto Garza (Atlanta); T Fred Miller (Tennessee)

Key Losses: T Mike Gandy

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Olin Kreutz; G-Terrence Metcalf; G-Roberto Garza; T-John Tait; T-Fred Miller

Key Backups: T Marc Colombo; G Reuben Brown

Center Olin Kreutz is the best center in the NFL.  He has awesome athleticism, great technique and has great footwork.  His only weakness and it is only a minor ailment is that he doesn’t have great bulk at only 292 pounds.  However he plays bigger than his size would indicate and he is a great anchor to this line. On the outside, John Tait had a solid first season with the Bears in 2004 but didn’t have the impact that he had enjoyed during his career with the Chiefs.  Still, he is a talented player who has great size, nice football and good technique.  He is capable of getting down the field to make a block and is also good in space.  He should have a great season in 2005 as he grows more comfortable within the offense.  The Bears brought over tackle Fred Miller to be a stabilizing influence on the outside.  He has had a nice career and is a great run blocker thanks to his exceptional leg drive.  He is a great effort guy and plays with a chip on his shoulder.  He is only mediocre in the pass blocking department but has made improvements over the years.  The Bears have four players capable of starting at the guard position and it will be a fierce training camp battle to see who emerges from the competition.  The frontrunners are probably guard Terrence Metcalf who is a great run blocker and Roberto Garza who was brought over from the Falcons.  Garza has great quickness and a nasty streak but lacks ideal size (under 300 lbs) and has had problems staying healthy.  Don’t be surprised to see either Reuben Brown find a way into the starting unit as he has both experience and natural ability.  He has lost a step over the years but could still push to be the starter one last season.  A player to watch is Marc Colombo who has the talent to be a top-tier player but hasn’t been able to both stay healthy and put it all together on the field.  He has great size and nice athleticism but needs to show better durability to get a sniff of the starting lineup.  Expect to see him make a push to start by 2006.

Bottom Line: A couple of years ago, the Bears offensive line was considered one of the best in football and it appears inevitable that they will climb back up that ladder in 2005, at least when it comes to running the football.  The Bears have veteran leadership in center Olin Kreutz, guard Reuben Brown, tackle John Tait and tackle Fred Miller; young talent in guard Terrence Metcalf and T Marc Colombo and have nice depth to call upon.  If Terrence Metcalf can continue to grow as a player and cement his spot in the starting lineup and Miller can quickly feel comfortable within this scheme, the sky is the limit for the Bears running attack in 2005.

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Cincinnati Bengals
Overall Grade: A-

New Additions: None

Key Losses: None

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Larry Moore; G-Bobby Williams; G-Eric Steinbach; T-Levi Jones; T-Willie Anderson

Key Backups: T-Stacy Andrews; G Alex Sulfsted; G Eric Ghiaciuc [r]; T Adam Kieft [r]

Left tackle Willie Anderson has been the rock of this entire organization over the past nine seasons and the two consecutive 8-8 seasons has given him a taste of what it means to win at the professional level.  He is a tremendous run blocker who always plays with a chip on his shoulder.  He sets the pace for the entire running game and continues to play at a high level.  As good as Anderson has been throughout his career, his teammate Levi Jones on the other side of the line has really come into his own and is probably the best lineman on the team now.  He has a great blend of size, talent and athleticism and can dominate his opposition at times throughout a game.  He and Anderson are one of the best tackle combinations in the NFL today.  The interior of the line features guard Eric Steinbach who probably played well enough last season to make the Pro Bowl but just missed out behind three great guards.  He has excellent athletic ability and is great out in space.  One of the best guards in the NFL when it comes to pulling and trapping and his presence within this unit allows a lot of freedom to put together different blocking schemes.  He is very skilled at pass protection due to his quick feet and rarely gets beat.  He will never be a dominant drive blocker but can hold his own at the point of attack. The other guard is Bobby Williams who was signed away from the Philadelphia Eagles last season and started all sixteen games for the Bengals.  He has great size, decent athleticism and is an aggressive player on the field.  His downfall has always appeared to be technique and he is still young enough to become a great player if he can improve it.  Finally the center position looks to be manned by Larry Moore, who was a reserve guard/center for the team last season.  He brings experience and great effort to the table but has limited mobility and talent and is clearly the weak link of the starting unit.  Still he does a serviceable job and will hold his own with his determined, hard-nosed play.  Stacy Andrews is a large offensive tackle who only played two seasons of college football.  He is 6’7 and 345 pounds and could develop into a great lineman in another season or two.  For now he will continue to learn behind two great tackles and will wait to replace Anderson down the road.

Bottom Line: This is a much better unit than most people are aware of.  Three of the five linemen are Pro-Bowl caliber players (Anderson, Jones and Steinbach) and Williams has the ability to develop into one if he can improve his technique shortcomings.  Overall, this is a unit that should continue to get better and better over the next couple of years and should help the offense become very strong this season and beyond.

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Cleveland Browns
Overall Grade: C+

New Additions: G Joe Andruzzi (New England); G Cosey Coleman (Tampa Bay)

Key Losses: T Damian Cook

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Jeff Faine; G-Joe Andruzzi; G-Cosey Coleman; T-Ross Verba; T-Ryan Tucker

Key Backups: C/G- Melvin Fowler; G Kelvin Garmon; T Kirk Chambers

There is a changing of the guard in Cleveland in more ways than one.  A new head coach in Romeo Crennel, a new, much needed philosophy and two new proven offensive guards in Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman, both of whom will have a major impact on the Browns’ offensive production this season.  Coleman came over from the Buccaneers and is a very good drive-blocking offensive lineman who thrives if used in the right way.  However his athletic ability is very limited and he isn’t nearly as effective if asked to be mobile.  Joe Andruzzi became a very good player over his career with the Patriots and plays with a lot of aggression.  He is a very good run blocker who rarely loses a battle when exploding off of the ball.  His pass protection skills however are limited at best and he’ll never be considered a good pass protector.  Both of the new players are both big upgrades over what the Browns have used in the guard positions over the past several years.  Center Jeff Faine is a former 1^st round pick who has displayed strong skills in each of his first two seasons when he was healthy.  He has battled some injury woes and he’ll need to become more durable to become the elite player he is growing into.  He plays with both intelligence and has nice agility on the field.  He should be the leader of this unit for a long time to come.  Tackle Ryan Tucker is the type of player that every offensive line needs to thrive.  He plays with a reckless abandon and is one of the most tenacious players at his position.  He goes hard at his opponents for all sixty minutes and is a much better run blocker than a pass blocker.  He doesn’t have a lot of athleticism and it is his heart and aggressive play that have helped him become a solid lineman.  The bookend on the other side is almost a mirror-image of Tucker.  Ross Verba doesn’t have much natural skill or athleticism but plays hard and brings tenacity to the table.  He will never be confused as a top offensive tackle, but does a sound enough job to not hurt the team.  He has done a good job with both the Green Bay Packers and the Browns. 

Bottom Line: With two new starting guards, it may take away for this unit to come together, but once they do you can expect this unit to be much better than they have in the past.  Centered by a future All-Pro in Jeff Faine, the players surrounding him are role players who have over-achieved but do it with aggressive play and the Browns running game should flourish in 2005.  The depth is now solid with both Melvin Fowler and Kelvin Garmon having plenty of game experience.  Both can fill in and do the job if called upon.

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Dallas Cowboys
Overall Grade: B+

New Additions: G Marko Rivera (Green Bay)

Key Losses: C Gennaro DiNapoli (cut)

Projected Starting Lineup: C-Al Johnson; G-Larry Allen; G-Marko Rivera; T-Flozell Adams; T-Kurt Vollers

Key Backups: T Jacob Rogers; C/G Andre Gurode; G Stephen Peterman; G Tyson Walter; T Rob Petitti [r]

The Cowboys have a lot of depth at the offensive lineman position.  They have four young linemen in center Al Johnson; tackle Jacob Rogers and guards Andre Gurode, Stephen Peterman and Tyson Walter who will all be starters down the road. For now though, only Johnson looks to start at the beginning of the 2005 campaign.  He has excellent strength, great technique and plays with a serious mean-streak.  Even though last season was his first as a starter, he has already made a good impression and has a good career ahead of him. At the guard position, the Cowboys are set for both the present and the future.  The starters this year will be perennial Pro Bowler Larry Allen who should be a first ballet Hall of Famer.  He has definitely lost a lot of his skills over the years but he can still drive an opponent off of the ball.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see him replaced by 2006 though with Andre Gurode or Stephen Peterman who both have lots of talent and will need to play to get better.  At the other guard position will be free agent acquisition Marko Rivera, whom the Cowboys picked up from the Packers.  Rivera has been a great player over the years thanks to a tireless work ethic and his very aggressive play.  He goes full out on every single play and makes life miserable for the defensive player lining up across from him.  He isn’t the most athletic guard in the league but makes up for it with sheer tenacity.  His presence will make this unit much better.  At the one tackle position is Flozell Adams who has really come into his own as one of the top few tackles in the entire NFL.  He is ruthless in the running game, destroying his opponent across from him with superior size and strength.  His weakness had always been pass protection due to his limited quickness but he has really turned the corner in that facet of his game and he is now considered a great all-around player.  At the other tackle position, it should be Kurt Vollers again this season.  He will never be a top tackle but has good size, plays hard on every snap and won’t make mistakes.  He is a good fit when it comes to this unit and he should continue to get better with experience. 

Bottom Line: The Cowboys have a great mix of proven veterans and you