The Washington Post’s story about the offensive line http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/27/AR2010102707928.html made some interesting points, but I don’t think they really looked into the issue enough. Particularly looking at the decision to swap Dockery for Lichtensteiger, and why they haven’t used Brown at LT when Williams is out, with Heyer at RT. I’m no Heyer fan, but it is obvious he has played far superior at RT (not just this year but over his career, its not exactly a high water mark, but improved) than LT, yet he is always the one moving over.

The other thing the paper seems to fail to address is this idea almost that their sack totals are blamed on their competition and the sack masters they have faced. Some of that holds true, but this is the NFL and just about every team has one very good-great pass rusher. And the Redskins haven’t played teams like the Steelers, Jets, or Ravens who can get after the quarterback. And finally why are you now saying we are done facing top pass rushers, I see Osi and Tuck playing us twice, Trent Cole (and the emerging Brandon Graham) in Philly, Ware in Dallas, Jared Allen in Minnesota (not to mention Kevin Williams). The Titans seem to be bringing pressure from everywhere and are 2nd in the league in sacks, And Tampa, Detroit, and Jacksonville all have a rookie DT who can get after the quarterback. McNabb and the Redskins are far from being out of the woods just yet. It might not always fall on the OT’s to handle the pressure, but that doesn’t exactly bode well since our tackles are our strongest group. Suh could have a huge game this week if the Redskins don’t gameplan properly.

Your right, week in and week out they’re always going to face a great pass rusher. And while I do think they are much improved unit from last year (last year was awful), I agree I don’t understand Heyer as back-up Left Guard and pulling Dockery!

I was pretty suprised at Dockery being benched..and now he’s usually on the inactive list. We have to keep in mind though that Shanahan prefers athletic linemen. His zone blocking scheme requires quicker more agile linemen that can get to the outside and make plays side to side and up the field. Dockery was decent on a bad line last year, but that was then. He is more of a straight ahead blocker…and doesn’t seem to fit Shanahan’s mold. Shanahan is doing the best he can with what he’s got. I expect to see more offensive line remodeling next year though.

I hope so Joe, Dockery isn’t a great fit, but he can handle the bigger D-linemen better. I’m particularly worried about this today against Suh, I don’t know if Kory can get the job done. I hope they at least have Dockery active today as a backup plan.

Steve-O…there is a reason why you run this show! Man, our O-line was awful. I didn’t get to watch the much of the game (being in the Big D…until I found it online)…but I didn’t like what I saw that’s for sure.

You might be lucky for not having to watch all 60 minutes (not to mention you could watch the Boys get DESTROYED by the Jags). I really don’t know how it could have been any worse than what I saw on Sunday. Sunday’s line was almost as bad as it was last year….it was just pathetic. And I mean the Lions are good upfront but they shouldn’t have dominated like they did.

Let’s go ahead and say what needs to be said aloud. There is one positional player on the O-line that has survived way too long past the point of his effectiveness… Casey Rabach. If I hear one more person describe him as an intelligent player or a serviceable option, I might lose my mind. Undersized against a Suh, Ratliff, or any number of other DTs in the league, he can’t get a push off the snap, or even hold the line. Why do you think we all saw him step on McNabb twice in the early going? Even on run plays, his first instinct is to back peddle so as not to be blown off of his feet. Game in, game out, where do the sacks come from, an inability of our QBs to step up in the pocket as one is never created. Trent can only wheel a speed rush so far outside before it turns back in.

This point may be EXTREMELY moot, but how in the world can you blame Rex Grossman for losing the game, or even judge his effectiveness based on the sack/fumble that Suh turned into a TD. The two minute drill is predicated on a 3 step drop and a quick release of the ball to a hot read (primarily outside). Rex had barely planted his back foot when right through the A-gap came a big blue jersey just aching to say hello. Yes, Shanahan’s run schemes work best off guard/tackle, but does anyone honestly believe that an inside handoff could net better than 4 yards with the group we’ve got in the middle?

I agree…we NEED to draft a Center…preferbly a draft pick that actually makes the team and is active most weeks! Because Rabach is old and tired!