Sports
Though lacking in glitz and glamour, the tackle, guard, and center positions make up the backbone of every NFL offense. Without skilled players in those roles — and players who can work as a unit — a team’s entire strategy can fall apart. In the past few years, teams like the Rams, Chiefs, and Saints have used a punishing offensive line to ignite high-powered offenses, while the Patriots have revolutionized O-Line versatility. Even while these once anonymous units are finally getting their due, new analytics measuring offensive line performance just might prove that we’re *still* underrating these guys. In this week’s interview, ESPN's Seth Walder discusses the growing field of O-Line analytics, and just how much winning the battle of the trenches correlates with winning the battle of the scoreboard.