On ESPN.com Bill Barnwell of Football Outsiders fame writes about the best and worst pass-blocking linemen and guess who makes the list from the Jets?
Left Guard
Worst: Alan Faneca, New York Jets (7 sacks/3 hurries/10 total blown blocks)
Best: Kris Dielman, San Diego Chargers (0 sacks/0 hurries/0 blown blocks)Seemingly the only Chargers lineman that could stay healthy all year, Dielman did a fantastic job of keeping Philip Rivers upright in a very difficult offense to block for. Meanwhile, while Faneca remains a very good run-blocker, Jets observers tend to agree that his pass blocking is below average. His Pro Bowl nod was based mostly on reputation this year.
This assessment matches up with our new friends at Pro Football Focus. Faneca ranked 76th (consider there’s at most 64 starters in any week) among Guards during the 2009 season at pass-blocking on their site. Interestingly enough, Faneca’s presence has allowed D’Brickashaw to emerge as a top Left Tackle, while his play has flagged. The Jets brought in Faneca, knowing that his presense would increase the team’s ability to run the ball, and anything was an upgrade on Adrien Jones’s play at the position, that much was clear.
With that said, Faneca’s numbers might move back towards the mean a bit in 2010, simply because Mark Sanchez is more comfortable in the offense, and he’s bound to take less sacks because of it. Still, the team should consider their options at LG in the next season or two.
Our thanks to Steiny for the link!
alittle surpised here i knew he was by no means a great or even good pass blocker but alittle surprised he is ranked this low
I’ve thought for a couple of years now that our line in general – not just Faneca – while great at run-blocking, is a little overrated in pass protection.
I dont care what the numbers show….Faneca has been a huge mentor for both Mangold and Brick…His presence makes both of them better and he was well worth the money we paid for him…..in saying that a young LG should be developed for next season….lol
I know everyone is clamoring for help on the d-line or a wr, and perhaps in the 1st round, one of those two positions is the best to address. However, at some point early in the draft, I think the Jets need to add some o-line depth. This post supports my position.
Don’t forget we have two guys in Turner and Slauson who could be potential starters.
Also, what AKA Drew said is true. D-Brick and Mangold improved drastically once Fanny was added. Certainly, experience in the league also plays a part in their improved play, but Fanny also had an influence.
Knowing this, Iupati is looking that much better.
I was saying this two years ago guys.
Faneca is a liability in pass protection. We should have been looking for his replacement after his first year with us.
No surprise whatsoever. Even going back to his Pittsburgh days, Faneca was always dominant in the running game and poor in pass protection.
Last season, in the running game, he was not dominant in the first half, but absolutely was at the end of the season (which can hopefully be attributed to the chemistry of the zone blocking system of which he is the crucial cog getting better over the second half).
If he can have a full season like the way he finished the season, the Jets will have the best OL in the league next year, provided everyone remains healthy again. I’m excited about that possibility and these numbers mean nothing to me. A strong running game slows down the edge rushing, which is the paramount threat, because those guys have to stay on their heels. Also, Brick does a solid job protecting the blindside, even when facing some of the league’s elite pass rushers, so I think the pass protection unit as a whole is sound.
Faneca did cause some sacks with badly missed blocks during the season, but again, if he can play like he did at the end of the year, hopefully that will also bring up the level of his pass protection.
But that is what Faneca does. He plays hard at the end of the season, and dogs it the first few games. EVERY year.
Kyle I don’t feel that is true at all. In 2008 when they weren’t instituting a new scheme Faneca was one of the better lineman on the team from the start. I definitely believe the transition to zone blocking slowed him down in the running game. But that can be said for all the linemen.
First eight games for Faneca in 2008 -
4 Penalties, 3 QB Sacks, 6 QB Hits, 9 QB Pressures. and his run-blocking was just above average for a lineman.
Last eight games of 2008 -
2 Penalties, 4 QB Sacks, 4 QB Hits, 5 QB Pressures. Run Blocking improved over the last 8 games sharply.
Same thing this season, but he had a worse first half of football.
And now the good news…
“…if he can play like he did at the end of the year, hopefully that will also bring up the level of his pass protection.”
By my (rough) maths, if he plays like he did over the last 3 games of the regular season and the 3 games of the playoffs (note: six tough opponents), then using PFF’s numbers he would grade out as the 2nd best guard in pass protection and third best overall.
I thought he was good at the end of the year, but he was actually playing at an ELITE level, even in pass protection! (According to PFF’s numbers, anyway).
Where did you find those stats? Just curious because I always have trouble finding lineman stats.
It seems to me that he is consistently below average in pass blocking. Last year he took a few games to hit his stride, but that’s something all lineman do. It takes time to gel together and become a unit, but now the Jets have done that, have the same players, have the same scheme, coaches, etc. I believe we’ll see Faneca plowing ahead from day one.
But his pass blocking has been and always will be the weakness in his game.
The worst pass blocking guard in the league, goes to the Pro Bowl on reputation.
Wonder if Sanchez would have thrown as many interceptions if the middle of the pocket did not collapse as often.
Better than see John Lynch there year after year.
The guy retired 2 years ago and is still getting voted into the Pro Bowl.
Brendan- I used the link in Bassett’s post to determine the top rankings overall and for pass protection. Then I clicked on Faneca’s name to see a breakdown of his season, which shows how strongly he finished. I then extrapolated the last 6 games over 16 and compared to the top rankings.
Like Brendan said- we have two young guys in Turner- C, OG; and Slauson- T, OG. Turner i believe is going onto his 3rd year with the Jets and Slauson his second year. Dont know if we must go after a Replacement for Faneca or Woody when we have two guys waiting for their opportunity.
Many last year were stating we need a NT incase Jenkins goes down, he went down and Pouha Stepped up big time. Need to see what these guys can do, dont need to panic and draft someone high when the OL has been great and able to stay healthy. I can see us drafting a top OL-men next year, cause this might be Faneca’s last season with the Jets due to salary cap restrictions – need to resign our other top players. This also gives the Jets another year to assess Turner and Slauson- decide if either can fill Faneca’s slot in the starting rotation!
Playing the offensive line is about attitude. Each player has certain talents and weaknesses. In my opinion to much is made of all the stats. Sacks could have come in garbage time or on 3rd and longs…. Hard to judge. Faneca has never been great ay pass pro but his attitude and aggressive run blocking has created an identity. He is worth his weight in gold, just shift your pass pro to help him and we will be successful..
I find it hard to reconcile the stats with the perception – The entire line looked like it played at an incredibly high level most of the season – particularly in December.
I remember people were saying that if you rushed Sanchez early in the season, it would show him up, but that didn’t happen. His worst game (against the Bills) was more weather related than anything.
Still, at some time, the o-line is going to break down, and depth becomes a concern. Not really sure when that will happen, and what the depth is like. We really haven’t seen the need for depth the past two years.
Brad
Good points about our 2nd teamers. We have a great position coaches who will “coach up” our players. Parcells teams always did, and they do the same thing in New England..
I think Faneca is a key piece upfront and Ill take the good with the bad…
Remember Cinncy 1 at home when he pulled and should have been put in jail for vehicular homicide after running over Bengals like a Mack truck…
I would like to see him improve some of the pass blocking issues, but I believe it is much more of an issue for a LTackle to struggle like that, than for a guard to… and I think in general its easier to scheme up help for a guard in pass protection if Faneca faced a matchup that the Jets thought he was at a disadvantage
Did the Leon link disappear?
Hah yeah it did starz.
Regardless, it’s never a bad idea to develope offensive linemen.
Davo,
Hard to truly evaluate this team in December, 2 of the games were laydowns (Bengals, and Colts). Also we did not have many garbage time games, so that argument is not really valid.
Btw, The Bills game was about play calling and execution, more so than the weather.
I don’t think it’s surprising that just as Sanchez started to play in his words like a quarterback instead of a thrower Faneca’s pass blocking “improved”. Starting with the Falcons game, the game which many consider the turning point in Sanchez’s performance, Faneca turned in solid pass blocking numbers through the rest of the season.
http://www.profootballfocus.com/by_player.php?tab=by_player&season=2009&lastname=Faneca&surn=Faneca&playerid=346
Pass blocking has always been the weakest part of Faneca’s game but better play at the QB position makes him less of a liability.
cabras
Laydowns? You know Freeney sacked Sanchez twice in the first Colts game right? Basically, the Jets played against the Colts starting D until the game was decided late in the 4th
You know Faneca was supposed to fan out as Brick went inside in the 5 wide set when the Colts stunted?
My point is, while Manning was out and the Bengals didnt have Benson, the defenses the O Line was up against while the games were still in doubt were not in any way, shape or form- laying down
If you think that, you were busy reading the national media and not watching the games
AKA Jack
How amazing is PFF?!
I’m not too concerned that Faneca is faltering – as others have pointed out, he has pretty much the same strengths and weaknesses he’s had for years, and overall, he’s an asset to the line. I’m much more concerned that our string of good health on the o-line is bound to run out at some point. Having the same five guys in the lineup every week for 30+ games requires a lot of luck as well as skill, and that luck is going to end at some point. That’s exactly what happened to San Diego (#1 OL by Football Outsiders in 2006, fell to 18th each of the past two years) as well as the Giants (top-5 in 2007 and 2008, fell to 13th this year).
Injuries and age eventually take a toll on every good line, and I’d rather prepare for it a year early than a year late. As far as Turner and Slauson, I hope that they can fill in well if need be, but I’d love to give Callahan one blue-chip prospect that he can turn into the next Faneca in a year or two.
Faneca is a jet and should be for 2 more seasons, unless he doesn’t want that pay cut.
Lay off the man guys.
Eddie D-
A really good site. I like being able to see game by game trends and how changes in game plans or the play of the team as a whole can influence individual stats.
Sanchez was guilty early in the season of holding the ball too long (remember the Will Smith strip sack TD against the Saints) and he got much better the last part of the season. Not coincidentally, so did the pass blocking.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody. Faneca’s been a terrible pass blocker since his last days in Pittsburgh, and he was a terrible pass blocker his first year in the Jets as well. He’s still a great leader, brought the nastiness to the line the Jets were lacking, and can still run block well. That’s why he’s valuable.
the thing about faneca is he lines up in the middle of 2 of the best passblockers in the league in dbrick and mangold. so, his poor pass blocking is somewhat mitigated. he is still a force in run blocking, which is the team’s identity.
So some of you guys really want iuputa over Faneca? Thats just purpostrous you dont mess with a Great thing… Our O-Line has been dominant for the past two years. Faneca was in a slump early and i think it was because as a proven veteran maybe he wasn’t buying in that this rookie could lead them to where he wants to be. I expect Faneca to come back with a vengence this year.
And why is everyone in a rush to get rid of Faneca before Woody if anything we need a backup RT before we fill the guard spot. But we can fill all these holes next year via draft and free agency.
I don’t think anyone wants Iupati to replace Faneca this season, but to learn under one of the best guards ever and eventually step in. Iupati could also be a right tackle so they could pick him to play there as well.
It’s funny, PFF has Dielman down for 4 sacks, 9 QB hits, and 12 QB hurries allowed while FO has him down for nothing.