Philadelphia Eagles: Debating if the O-Line is good, or on the downtrend
By David Esser
In a recent Pro Football Focus article (subscription required), the popular NFL grading site labeled the Philadelphia Eagles as having the 17th best offensive line in football.
A shocking number to some who still hold the Eagles’ protection unit in high esteem, but also not that surprising considering just how injured and inconsistent the group was this past season. The Eagles finished with 65 sacks allowed in 2020 – the highest number in the NFL by a considerable margin (Washington ranked second with 50).
So the question emerges, which one is it? Are the Eagles set to endure another season filled with sloppy protection and high-sack numbers, or are they going to bounce back on the shoulders of a few seemingly healthy vets?
Is the Philadelphia Eagles O-Line still good, or are they on the downtrend?
There’s an argument to be made for both angles:
The Argument Against: Why the Eagles 2021 O-Line is in bad shape
First and foremost, you can’t even begin talking about the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line unit without mentioning the injuries.
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Brandon Brooks missed all off 2020 due to a second ruptured Achilles, Lane Johnson was playing on one leg due to a reoccurring ankle injury, Isaac Seumalo spent time on the injured list, Andre Dillard tore his biceps, Jack Driscoll missed time, Jason Kelce began to show signs of wear and tear, new addition Landon Dickerson had injury problems all throughout college.
You get the point.
Additionally, some of the team’s key pieces across the line didn’t play all that great, even when healthy. Seumalo was the 68th best run-blocker in football last year, Kelce recorded his worst PFF grade since his rookie season, and Johnson outright recorded the lowest PFF grade of his career.
Even if everyone comes back healthy and 100% in shape (unlikely!), the Eagles are still dealing with an aging O-Line that has begun to show serious signs of regression, which is just something that simply happens as players get older.