Why are left tackles so important

Press 'Enter' to see all results. Most Recent Stories. Log In Subscribe. AFC East. AFC North. AFC South. AFC West. NFC East. NFC North. NFC South. Now we have to build that same trust with this new line. And that trust goes beyond his fellow line mates. The QB has to trust that his blind side is being protected.

Taking your eyes off the field for even a second to check the left side rush could throw off your timing. Rushers need to trust that a hole will appear where the play has been called and a fullback needs to trust the line can handle their usual men so he's free to concentrate on picking up a blitzer on a pass play. Pass plays usually work or fail because of the job done by the left tackle.

That's a lot to put on one's shoulders and that's why not every linemen is cut out to be a left tackle. Size, athletic ability and skill matter, and there's a good chance teams are going to find that in the first and second rounds, rather than in the third round and beyond. That's not to suggest that a first round tackle will be successful in the NFL, with Jason Smith being one example.

But it helps - quick feet, strength, size and skill are hugely important in the NFL. I've made the point that NFL teams still generally spend high picks on left tackles, but should teams do this to the detriment of the right tackle position, and are they? I believe it's outdated in today's pass-happy NFL to have an elite left tackle, and a mauling run-blocker on the right side. That's not to say that it doesn't still happen. Some teams still spend heavily on the left side, and almost totally neglect the right side.

Jacksonville, Carolina and Seattle are some teams that are guilty of this. However I scent that the tide is turning. Teams are starting to invest in both positions. The top two draft picks this year were Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel. As LT stated later, this was the first time anyone had used a guard to block him. All LT could do was run over defenders, and John Ayers was not a man who could be run over.

This was a pound man who trained in the off-season by harnessing himself to a tractor tire and hauling it through an open field. His stifling of Taylor would continue throughout the game and at halftime the 49ers led the Giants , and Montana was , for yards and two touchdowns. At the end of the game, the Giants saw their top-ranked defense allow 38 points and walked off in defeat.

After this game, Bill Walsh knew that in the next draft, he needed to get two pieces to his puzzle.