The Buffalo Bills offensive line is far from a perfect unit, but their bread-and-butter was recently recognized.
Pro Football Focus is a go-to for offensive line rankings. It’s a hard task to do since offensive lineman have few, if any, hard stats to base their play off of such as touchdowns, interceptions, or sacks. PFF recently ranked NFL O-lines in one category in particular, pass blocking.
In terms of their ability to keep quarterback Josh Allen off his butt, the Bills O-line ranked as the 10th best pass-blocking offensive line in the NFL via PFF recently.
Here’s the breakdown:
10. BUFFALO BILLS
2019 ranking on long plays: 12th
2019 ranking on intended long developing plays: 14th
Starters lost: NoneThe Buffalo Bills have built one of the best offensive supporting casts in the league. While the receiving weapons might get more attention with the signing of Stefon Diggs, the offensive line was already good in 2019 and goes into 2020 with the same starting lineup. Josh Allen shouldn’t worry about his pass protection, even on longer developing plays.
Between Allen’s ability to move and the prowess of the Bills’ pass-blockers, Buffalo does have a solid offensive line. But where their unit lacks a lot is as a run-blocking group. Their inability to create holes helped lead to LeSean McCoy’s departure from the team, but there’s reason for optimism that the Bills will improve here. Overall just at the end of last season, Buffalo’s overall offensive line play ranked as just the 21st best in the NFL via PFF.
As mentioned, the Bills return all of their starters from just last season. From left to right, those are Dion Dawkins, Quinton Spain, Mitch Morse, Jon Feliciano, an a mix of Cody Ford and Ty Nsekhe at right tackle. That chemistry that continues to grow will help, as this group was only forged together just prior to the 2019 season.
But Spain did provide a good sign recently. He won the “Iron Bills Games” this offseason, handed out to a top-performer in the weight room yearly. He dropped near 20 pounds. Yes, the continuity can help the Bills O-line overall, but it’s good to see Spain taking matters into his own hands. Dropping this weight could certainly help Spain as a run blocker, especially when he’s trying to get to the second-level of the defense.
If this eagerness to potentially improve as a run-blocking group is shared amongst the Bills O-line, it might become one of the NFL’s best overall units.
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