The Eagles have had a simple game plan for the entirety of this century. Build through the trenches. Get a QB, an O-Line, and a D-Line, then fill out the team from there. Yes, they now have crazy good-skill players too, which obviously helps a ton. But the success of this team can still be traced back to what they do along the Offensive and Defensive Line.
This year is no different. The O-Line is still stacked. They have All-Pros in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. They have Pro Bowlers in Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson. Not to mention Mekhi Becton who has thrived in his first season at RG. But just how good is that group? Let’s break it down by the numbers.
These 4 Numbers Show The Greatness Of The Eagles O-Line
3.8
During the season, Saquon Barkley averaged 3.8 yards before contact. Before contact. An average back averages about 4 yards, period. He nearly matches that before he is even touched. Obviously, Barkley’s speed and vision play a part in that, but it is also just the O-Line opening up massive holes for him and blocking in the second level. The next best guy averaged 3.3 yards before contact. It is the highest mark any RB has reached since 2016.
By the way, they accomplish that while hardly ever getting called for penalties on those run plays. The Eagles starting 5 O-Linemen have 5 combined penalties on run plays.
Related: Win Or Lose, SB 59 Will Not Be Lane Johnson’s Swan Song
18
The Eagles starting Linemen have given up 18 combined sacks. That is in 20 games. Mailata has given up only 2, and Lane Johnson hasn’t given up any. Mailata and Lane have both given up under 20 pressure. Less than a pressure per game. Dickerson has given up just 11 sacks in the last 13 games, including the playoffs.
Now obviously Hurts has been sacked more than that. Sometimes Hurts holds the ball too long and gets credited for allowing a sack. Several guys like Kenny Gainwell or Grant Calcaterra have missed a block and been charged with a sack. But the O-Line themselves have mostly done their job. Hurts on average has the most time in the pocket before he is pressured (2.7).
338
We have talked about how good they are, but not about why they are so good. On average the Eagles O Line is 6ft6 and 338 Lbs. By far the largest O-Line in the league, and one of the biggest ever. Nearly 30 pounds heavier than the average Chiefs Lineman. Mailata is 6ft8 and over 360 lbs. Becton is 6ft7 and over 360. Dickerson is 6ft6 and over 330. Lane is 6ft6 and just under 330. Jurgens at 6ft 3 and under 320lbs is the lone guy on that line who could not be qualified as a giant.
The size is one thing, but they can move too. They are also among the most athletic Linemen in the league. The only thing scarier than a 360 lb man coming at you is if is doing so with the grace of a RB. But we have seen some of these linemen keep pace downfield with Barkley for a bit until he kicks it into 5th gear. Their size and physicality play into the next number.
6.7
This team can wear you down. The slow starts are mostly a thing of the past. But even when they were getting off to slow starts, we saw what they did in the second half. And the O-Line plays a huge part in that. You can only get manhandled by the Eagles’ behemoths for so long until you lose the will to fight, and that is when they strike.
Saquon averaged 6.7 yards in the second half of games. That is what this O-Line, in combo with Barkley, does to teams.
They play old-school, smash-mouth football. And in the age where teams have tried to get smaller and quicker to keep up with the modern pass-heavy offense, the Eagles have leaned into being big and punching the other team in the face. It has them a win away from hosting a parade down Broad Street. And this O-Line is perhaps the biggest reason why. They are one of the best O-Line units we, or the league, have ever seen.