#Number of Interior linemen (IOL) pass blocking 75+
2018: 41
2019: 28
2020: 16
2021: 16
2022: 19
2023: 8
#Number of Tackles pass blocking 75+
2018: 37
2019: 30
2020: 35
2021: 30
2022: 33
2023: 22
#Number of Edge/DI pass rushing 75+
2018: 33
2019: 42
2020: 46
2021: 42
2022: 43
2023: 44
This is the first year there’s more 75+ pass rushers than 75+ pass blockers.
So after looking into the rules changes before the 2019 season, I’m convinced the elimination of blindside blocks within the pocket was what spurred the large drop from 2018 to 2019. I think IOL still probably got away with it a bit in 2019, but by 2020, no one was doing it anymore, and the pass blocking of IOL dropped as a result. This also explains why pass blocking by tackles was stable and consistent from 2018 to 2019 as tackles rarely had the opportunity/need to execute blindside blocks. I am not sure what has caused the further deterioration of interior line pass blocking from 2022 to this season, but by percentage, it is the biggest single year drop in the years I looked at. I’m inclined to believe that the drop-off in tackle pass blocking this year is due to the severe drop off in IOL pass blocking.
Does anyone have any theories on what is behind the drop in IOL pass blocking this year? I don’t think there were any significant changes in rules this off-season that would impact pass blocking, but maybe I missed something.
I included the amount of pass rushers with a rating of 75+ in pass rushing to show that there was a gap up in 2019 likely due to the blindside block rule, but besides that, it has remained stable and is not up this year despite offensive lines being lower rated this year.
TL:DR trying to figure out why offensive lines are so shitty nowadays and dug through PFF data and found out that it’s specifically IOL pass blocking that’s in the gutter and the decline started in 2019 due to the elimination of blindside blocks.
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Curious if run blocking saw a similar across the board decline or if it was just pass blocking?
A few concepts to consider. The NFL runs on star QBs. Every star needs a foil. The two highest paid positions are QB and Edge. There is a dramatic scene the NFL has been playing up since Peyton Manning retired where he went from best QB in the league to needing Von Miller having one of the best seasons ever to keeping Manning in the story.
I will need help on the finite details of the grading, but these are some variables that come to mind that for me might account for decline in OL scores. The factor that comes to my mind initially is the role of the officials in altering the line of scrimmage contact and how OL may adjust to that.
How many games were played indoors (done, acoustics manipulation) in those years? Is it increasing?
Has the rate of Ol penalties increased, stayed the same, decreased?
Oline penalties are trending up this year vs the last 2/3 years.
https://youtu.be/adtruA-WU10?si=wjsjatjtFoZry6eY
If you go to the 10:05 mark of this QB school video for Bryce young this week, jto says something about how there’s never been a worse time to be a center in this league, and in context he’s referring to how good DTs have gotten.
Another piece to consider. They use an algorithm to aid in grading. Algorithms get better over time with more data points. Because of that if you look around the league, some positions trend up, others down and some stagnant.