"The ManBearTackle," Joseph F. Thomas. Deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you WANT him on that wall. You NEED him on that wall.
This is it: the final edition of the inaugural FootballSickness.com 2010 NFL Position Rankings series. It’s been a fun ride so far. We’ve argued about the merits of players and criteria, had a few laughs, the FLY has played with the boundaries of normal social conduct…good times, indeed. We’ve saved some of our favorites for last- one final batch of BIG UGLIES. Today, we present our takes on the top 5 offensive tackles in the National…Football League, 2010 edition. Agile, mobile and hostile, as I believe Coach Murphy’s old O-Line t-shirt used to say (before it stood upright and walked off on its own). That’s what we’re looking for in our offensive linemen, and in our tackles in particular. On the right side, you gotta have that road grader to lead the running game, and on the left, the athletic but huge wingman with the wingspan, protecting your quarterback’s ass…errrrr, blind side. Each of our participating bloggers have ranked their top 5 below. Register your approval (or, in the FLY’s case, otherwise) in the comments section below, and click on any author’s name for their blog. Now, as always: GET YOUR HELMET ON!
CLICK HERE for the 2010 NFL Rankings Main Page.
2010 Composite NFL OT Rankings 1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5th place votes
- Joe Thomas 3/1/1/2/1
- Ryan Clady 0/1/1/1/0
- D’Brickashaw Ferguson 0/1/1/0/0
- Matt Light 1/0/0/0/1
- Jordan Gross 0/1/0/0/0
- Damien Woody, David Diehl 0/0/0/0/1
INDIVIDUAL STAFF RANKINGS
Ryan Burns
1. JOSEPH F. THOMAS: The #3 overall pick in the 2007 draft, and one thing for which we Browns fans will always remain thankful about the Phil Savage era. The only defensible pick ahead of Adrian Peterson (though he inexplicably went 7th in that draft), Joe Thomas is the best tackle in the game for my money, and certainly for Al Lerner’s. He allowed a pressure every 38 attempts in 2009, so the Browns’ quarterback disaster cannot be attributed to their blind side protection (and, as a foreshadow of FLY’s obligatory, indefensible whiff, Jordan Gross allowed 1 per 12. No wonder FLY chose not to add comments this time). Anybody that chooses to go fishin’ instead of attending his own draft day in New York City is exactly the kind of guy I’m looking for along my offensive line, where being in the spotlight means you’re blowing it. Joseph F. Thomas, the ManBearTackle. Much like Daniel Russo, he’s the best…around!
2. D’BRICKASHAW FERGUSON: His name is D’Brickashaw. Do I need another reason? Every football fan alive told at least one “We’re debating our firstborn’s name. We’re thinking Ashley if it’s a girl…and D’Brickashaw if it’s a boy” joke somewhere during the 2006 NFL Draft season, but as a left tackle, Brick is no joke. An athletic, rangy protector, he’s been charged with keeping the Sanchize clean for the next decade. And they’re always a top rushing offense in the league, so please stop referring to this guy as a finesse player. He’s feisty enough in the run game.
3. JAKE LONG: Quicker off the ball and with more pure strength than anyone on the list, Long could challenge Thomas for the crown eventually. A true Michigan Man in the Schembechlerian sense of the phrase, the well-inked Long protects the blind side of his former Wolverine teammate, Chad Henne, and helps lead the way for Ronnie, Ricky and the Wildcat. The Tuna knows how to build winning programs, and Jake Long was his signature big ugly. That’s all you need to know.
4. RYAN CLADY: Only this low because torn Achilles Tendons can hamper a left tackle. He was in the argument for #1 a year ago this time, and as long as his body allows it he’ll be back there this time next year. Question: If Tim Tebow becomes the starting quarterback, do they make Clady the right tackle? Also, a member of the Mascot Double-Up Club (he was a Boise St. Bronco, as well).
5. JARED GAITHER/MATT LIGHT: I had Gaither here until he got carted off the first day of training camp. Let’s see how severe it is. In the meantime, Matt Light serves as a worthy alternate. As Tom Brady’s blind side protector (it’s not his fault BoneCrusher got through), he’s been an integral part of three Super Bowl wins and is still among the better tackles in the league.
Sen Sogah
1. JOE THOMAS: The game comes naturally to Thomas. he has lived up to all the hype coming out of college and is easily the best tackle in the game. Seals the edge in the run game, and is a wall in pass protection.
2. RYAN CLADY: The Broncos picked a can’t miss talent, and they didn’t. There was a little slippage in his 2nd year, only because his rookie year was spotless. He’s the most athletic tackle in the game.
3. D’BRICKASHAW FERGUSON: Love what he does, as do the Jets, based on the money they just gave him. He is a smooth run blocker, and has quick feet in the pass game. Plus, his name is D’Brickashaw! (EDITOR’S NOTE: See??)
4. JAKE LONG: I think he is the strongest lineman at his position, and fires out of his stance quicker than anyone. Must suck to be an outside ‘backer or corner and see him coming at you with Ronnie Brown in tow.
5. DAMIEN WOODY: It took awhile for him to find his niche, but his versatility has been shown throughout his career. He came out as the best center in college, and has developed into a top notch right tackle. It’s no wonder the Jets had the best run game in the league with their two tackles showing up on this list.
Jason Anderson
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The FLY has no comments this week. He must be busy, though by the looks of the below he’s NOT watching any recent NFL football…)
1. MATT LIGHT
2. JORDAN GROSS
3. RYAN CLADY
4. JOE THOMAS (This time, honestly, the FLY may have gone too far. We’re reconsidering his ballot power for 2011. Fortunately for him, I was relieved of the short-term duty by our dutiful Commish, whose entry below I assume will suffice for a verbal bludgeoning. Stay tuned.)
5. DAVID DIEHL
Cabeza De Vaca
You want the TOP 5 Offensive Tackles in the NFL? Well, let me tell you, I know a guy who had this friend who is from Cleveland who knows this dude whose brother went to Wisconsin University and he also is from Cleveland and he is living there now and his uncle was Al Lerner’s carpet cleaner and he writes this BLOG called “Take the Browns to the SUPERBOWL,” so he is well regarded in all things Brown and he tells me that without a doubt the best Offensive Tackle in the NFL is CLEVELAND LEFT TACKLE JOE THOMAS, which is why I have him at the top of my list, because this guy’s dad’s sister’s uncle was the brother of a guy who started the DAWG POUND. Hell, this guy I know is so spot on, he told me that JOE THOMAS is so good that his 5th-worst game of the season is better than the next best Offensive Tackle. So then, that’s why JOSEPH F. THOMAS is the only guy that makes my list!!!
[...] TACKLE [...]
While I haven’t had the opportunity to check out the site in some time, in fact not since I ranked the centers, I thought I should check it out. And what do I find but the rankings of the left tackles. I cannot resist, I must throw in my two cents. For obvious reasons I feel left tackles are easier to rank then centers but I still find that I cannot agree with everything that I’ve read (especially the fact that Matt Light is in some people’s top five). But to each their own. Here is my list:
1. Joe Thomas – while I do not always agree with the editor-in-chief of this fine site I will on this occassion. I’ve like Thomas since he was at Wisconsin. Not only does he have the necessary requirements to play the position but I think he has something even more meaningful – he is NASTY. He wants to take you and put you on your back as much as humanly possible. And from what I’ve seen he does it often. He is as good a protector as their is and he is also one of the best run blockers in the league. The combination of both is why he is atop the list.
2. Ryan Clady – I understand he tore his achilles but when you can start from day one of your career and do it as well as he has I’ve got to place him second. I don’t believe he is as good as a run blocker as he is a pass blocker but he is still very good. Most importantly he is the best left tackle in open space and because he plays for a team that loves to throw screens he is vital. He is the most athletic of all the linemen on my list and his arm length is ridiculous. I believe he can regain his form from the injury and continue to dominate those he goes against.
3. Jake Long – talk about nasty, I’m pretty sure that is Jake’s middle name. I think the two most important things I can say about him are: 1. He loves to win and will do whatever is necessary to achieve that and 2. He’ll do whatever he can to embarrass the guys he is playing against. And quite frankly I’m not sure it will be in the order I’ve written. He wants DE’s to HATE playing against him. Not just because they can’t get to the quaterback or get off his run blocks but because he wants them to suffer. And quite frankly that just makes me happy. I believe he still needs a some work at pass blocking but I know he’ll work at that and you just can’t teach the other stuff. Others might be more gifted but know one is old school like him.
4. D’Brickashaw Ferguson – Clearly atheltic. He might just have the longest arms to ever play in the NFL. Can clearly run and pass block but for me the three guys above him are just better at it and those above him also show me the nastiness I am looking for in my lineman. There is no doubt that he is one of the best but just not mean enough for me to to put ahead of Thomas or Long and Clady is more athletic. But don’t get me wrong he is very good and plays on one of the best lines in the NFL if not the best and he is a major reason why.
5. Micheal Oher – Now this is probably going to be the most contraversial of the guys I selected. I know he has played right tackle but he is being moved to left tackle and I don’t care that he hasn’t played reguarly on that side, if he stays he is a top five left tackle, period. He has the ability, athleticism and nastiness that is needed and he has shown it on the right side and now he gets to prove he can do it on the left. There is no doubt in my mind that he belongs on this list. He is better than Gross, Dihel and Light.
So there you go, a lineman’s prespective on the top five left tackles in the NFL. And while you might not agree with the list, which is your right, take solace in the fact that I am right and you are wrong.
Coach MURPH! Dropping knowledge with scope and heft. Nicely done, sir. I’ve got no problem with the Oher pick except I love Gaither’s game and he’s enormous. Can’t wait for more regular Murphy features to stop popping up.