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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/15/0815lefttackle.html

Money shows left tackle is critical position in NFL

By CRAIG DOLCH
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, August 15, 2008

NFL quarterbacks get the money and the fame. But move over, Mr. Brady. Out of the way, Peyton. And watch your back, Romo.

The next-sexiest position is manned by 300-plus-pounders who are hogging huge contracts and keeping the glamour boys healthy.

You can look it up.

Michael Lewis, whose book, Moneyball, threw a wicked curve into baseball's salary structure, is at it again with The Blind Side, which makes the case that left tackle is the second-most important spot on any NFL roster.

Skeptics wonder if Lewis has taken a blindside hit or two himself.

"I have talked to many NFL coordinators and coaches and when I said left tackle is the second-best-paid position, their response was, "No way!''' Lewis said.

The Dolphins certainly are buying into the theory, investing $57.75 million in Jake Long, the first overall pick in last April's draft who's getting $30 mil guaranteed.

Long makes his second start of the pre-season tonight at Jacksonville, and coach Tony Sparano plans to take a closer look at his prized rookie, using him for the entire first half. Long will be protecting newly acquired quarterback Chad Pennington, and Sparano wants more running plays going to the left side tonight.

Bill Parcells, who's rebuilding the Dolphins, has a reputation for starting reconstruction along the offensive and defensive lines, and nobody has to convince former O-line coach Sparano of the importance of identifying a solid left tackle.

"I think it's really hard and I think if you can find one, you've got to find one," Sparano said. "That position is so valuable because there are some outstanding players playing on the other side of the ball, against the left tackle.

"We have a guy we think is going to be a good player."

Lewis rocked the economics of baseball with Moneyball, elevating an obscure stat, on-base percentage, and making his case through the Oakland Athletics, a team that remained competitive despite a low payroll.

His left tackle argument, however, has a lot to do with big chunks of the payroll.

Only quarterbacks earn a higher average salary than the starting left tackles, according to a recent survey. The two highest-paid players in the league last season were quarterbacks Michael Vick ($23.1 million) of Atlanta and Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck ($19 million). But the next two highest-paid players were left tackles: Orlando Pace ($18 million) in St. Louis and Walter Jones ($17.7 million) of Seattle.

Ron Wolf, a longtime general manager with the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers, knows the importance of making the correct decision about a left tackle. He got the Packers' job after former GM Tom Braatz took Tony Mandarich with the second overall pick in 1989 - just ahead of future Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders. Mandarich is considered one of the major busts in draft history.

"I agree that left tackle is one of the most important positions on the field," Wolf said, "but I disagree this is anything new. Left tackle has always been an important position, going back to Jim Parker and the Colts in the 1960s and when the Raiders took Art Shell in the '70s.''

By selecting Long in the first round, the Dolphins might have some history on their side. Few teams have been lucky enough to stumble upon the rock of their offensive line. The three dominant left tackles of this era - Pace, former Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden and former Florida State star Jones - were taken among the first eight picks (Pace was first, Ogden fourth and Jones eighth).

"The left tackle is a huge part of what your offense does because of the role in pass protection," Ogden said. "If your left tackle can win his battles, you have a good chance to win."

For his part, Long realizes the challenge ahead.

"I think it's a very important position," Long said. "You're not only going against the fastest and strongest guys that rush the quarterback, you know you're protecting the quarterback's blind side."

Amen...and amen!!

Looking forward to checking out the new Michael Lewis book as well. Moneyball was a great read.

  With the money that's being paid to LT's nowadays, I believe those days of LT's "can't be the face of a franchise" are over.  More and more casual fans are recognizing the importance of not just LT's, but the offensive line in general.  That's why I believe you could market a guy like Jake Long for this type of team.  Tough, hard-nosed, ground and pound type of offense.  That mold fits Big Jake.

Case in point : Orlando Pace for the Rams.  I am not saying he is the face of the franchise, but all Rams fans know who he is and how important to the team he is.

I think you might be able to, but it'd be an uphill battle. There's no GLAMOR in left tackle. No ESPN Highlight plays. When a left tackle has a great play, he's standing a man up or maybe even pushing him down - sometimes two guys. It just doesn't have the glamor of a big touchdown throw, a thrilling sideline catch, a great bull-dozing run or a game-changing pick.

There is always the pancake block