I think the implied rule is that since the game is played in the trenches, you have to get a dominant line to set the tone for the team. The Niners, under ShanaLynch, focused on the DLine: their first year they had Buckner, Armstead and they drafted Solomon Thomas—not a good pick, but it shows the emphasis.
The Cowboys, since the days of Jimmy J., have focused on OLine. That seems to carry over till today.
The Eagles seem to focus on both.
But I think if you have to choose due to scarcity of resources, develop the OLine to set the tone for your team.
Sure, it’s a tough slog to deal with a bunch of animals along the front seven—like the 85 Bears. But if you have a bass&#$ five that thrives on punishing, mauling and pancaking, that wins out in a game of attrition.
I’ve been critical of McVay’s newness to the game where he was blind to the fact that OLinemen don’t want to back pedal and pass block 40-50 times per game. Give them some red meat! Go out there and let them slobberknock some LBs and DEs!
But I’ve seen and I know of a lot of OLinemen that are the Baby Huweys. All they have is size and perhaps some mobility. But those guys are not going to win a game of attrition.
So, to me—especially with the hiring of Coach Wendell—I think McVay is changing up his philosophy. They’ve not only drafted bigger guys, but guys that seem to have a football attitude.
We Not Me