* indicates first year of eligibility
** indicates former hall of fame finalist
Quick note: I tend to agree with Dave Dameshek of NFL.com, that you can't really evaluate offensive linemen unless you've watched them on film. As such these blurbs are probably going to be a little lighter than the other ones, and I'll be going on stats I generally try not to put much emphases on normally. I'm using Pro-Football Reference as the source on player stats for these columns, and they don't really have any for offensive linemen besides games played and games started. As such, I'm putting more stock on the previously mentioned approximate value stat for the o-linemen. Anyway, on to the column.
WILLIE ANDERSON* (OT)
1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
Accomplishments: 4x Pro Bowl selection (2003-2006); 3x 1st Team All-Pro (2004-2006)
Pros: Willie Anderson was durable, which is one of the main criteria when looking at offensive linemen. He missed only two games in his first twelve seasons, with a whopping 174 games played in that time. Anderson had four straight years of double digit AV, including a career high 18 in 2005.
Cons: Anderson didn't have a lot of dominant years outside of the four year stretch from 2003 to 2006. He had one double digit AV year before then (in 1997, his second year), but in the rest of his career, he only got as high as a 7 in a given year. He also didn't make a Pro Bowl until his eighth season, which is a bit disconcerting.
Overall: Anderson was a good player, and at his peak, he was one of the better tackles in the game. But for most of his career, he simply wasn't dominant. I'm not sure he's hall of fame worthy, but he was durable and had a great streak. So who knows if he gets some support, but given the guys he's up against (really guy, see below), I don't like his shot this year.
HoF Projection: Not This Year
TONY BOSELLI (OT)
Accomplishments: 5x Pro Bowl selection (1996-2000); 3x 1st Team All-Pro (1997-1999); NFL 1990s All-Decade Team (2nd Team)
Pros: Boselli was one of the best offensive linemen in the late 90s. He had a streak of five straight double digit AV. He was one of the brightest spots on some great Jaguars teams.
Cons: Boselli's career was cut short due to injury, playing only seven seasons. Even at his peak, he struggled with staying on the field, playing in all 16 games just three times.
Overall: Like Terrell Davis and Sterling Sharpe, Boselli had a hall of fame career going for himself, but injuries ultimately derailed it. He hasn't gotten any support from hall voters, and unfortunately that's probably the way it'll always go for him. It's sad, but that's the way it goes when you don't have a lot of stats that back up your greatness.
HoF Projection: Not This Year
JOE JACOBY (OT)
Accomplishments: 4x Pro Bowl selection (1983-1986); 2x 1st Team All-Pro (1983-1984); NFL 1980s All-Decade Team (2nd Team); 3x Super Bowl champion (1982, 1987, 1991)
Pros: Jacoby was a starting offensive lineman on the most famous offensive line in football in the 80s. Jacoby was part of the Hogs in Washington D.C., one of the NFL's most physical and flamboyant o-lines. He was the blindside protector in four Super Bowls and part of three Super Bowl wins.
Cons: This goes for pretty much all of the Hogs: they were dominant as a unit, but you can't put a group into the hall of fame. Jacoby had concentrated stretches of dominance, but only put up consecutive double digit AV once, and had four double digit AV seasons overall. He also had a problem staying on the field, playing in 170 of a possible 200 games (85%), and starting 148 (74%).
Overall: The only Hog to make it to Canton is Russ Grimm, and it took a long time for him to get there. Obviously, Joe Jacoby isn't Russ Grimm, but he's having the same problems with enshrinement. Unlike Grimm, Jacoby has never been a finalist (Grimm was a finalist five straight years before he finally pushed through). Jacoby's numbers are similar to Grimm's, so it wouldn't be surprising if he gets in, but he hasn't made it past the semi-finals in his fifteen years of eligibility, so he may break through, but it might take a while.
HoF Projection: Slim Chance
WALTER JONES* (OT)
1997-2008 Seattle Seahawks
Accomplishments: 9x Pro Bowl selection (1999, 2001-2008); 4x 1st Team All-Pro (2001, 2004-2005, 2007); NFL 2000s All-Decade Team (1st Team)
Pros: Where do I start? Walter Jones simply put, was one of the best tackles of his era, if not all time. He started every game he played in (180 out of a possible 192 games, or 93.75% of possible games). From 1999 to 2007, he had double digit AV in eight of those nine seasons. The Seahawks running game was exquisite during his run, culminating in Shaun Alexander's historic 2005 season. I don't know what else to say. He's one of the strongest candidates up for induction.
Cons: I've got nothing. Really, the only con I can think to put out there is that the Seahawks line wasn't as dominant after Steve Hutchinson left after the 2005 season, but Jones himself still was. *Shrug*
Overall: If Jones doesn't make it into the hall this year, I'll be absolutely shocked.
HoF Projection: Slam Dunk
TOM NALEN (C)
Accomplishments: 5x Pro Bowl selection (1997-2000, 2003); 2x 1st Team All-Pro (2000, 2003); 2x Super Bowl champion (1997-1998)
Pros: Nalen played on some fantastic offensive lines for the Mike Shanahan era in Denver. Nalen was also one of the most under appreciated linemen of the 2000s, posting double digit AV in seven of nine years from 1997 to 2005. Nalen was durable overall, playing in all 16 games ten times in his career.
Cons: The Broncos offensive line under Mike Shanahan had a reputation for dirty play, and Nalen got it too. Nalen also played in a lot of games (194 of a possible 224 games, 86%), but not as many as some really durable lineman in the past. Nalen also didn't make it past the preliminary nominees in his first year of eligibility, though who knows what that really means.
Overall: Nalen was really good on some really good teams. Who knows how he'll fare in future ballots, but I think he belongs in the hall. He could get in this year, or wait a while, but I think he'll get in eventually.
HoF Projection: Maybe
WILL SHIELDS** (OG)
Accomplishments: 12x Pro Bowl selection (1995-2006); 2x 1st Team All-Pro (2002-2003); NFL 2000s All-Decade Team (2nd Team)
Pros: Shields was one of the most dominant guards of his era. He played in every possible game of his career (a whopping 224) and started all but one of them. The Chiefs running game was also very strong during his run, notably with Marcus Allen, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson in the backfield.
Cons: The Chiefs teams that Shields was a part of didn't do a whole lot in the postseason, winning only one playoff game in his career. That shouldn't matter to a hall honoring an individual's achievements, but the fact that Shields, who has first ballot hall of famer written all over him, hasn't made it in yet is pretty telling.
Overall: Shield's going in one day, maybe even this year. He was one of the best linemen of his era, and he'll get his due. He's also been a finalist every year he's been eligible, so he's got a good shot.
HoF Projection: Pretty Good
Three groups down, four more to go. Tomorrow we'll take a look at the first half of the defensive players.
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