Minnesota Sports Forum

bleedspeed177 wrote:I was listening to KFAN. I heard Fran Tarkenton saying that O-Line is not that big of deal because the difference between the best line and the worst is not that different in the NFL. He used the Packers as an example of a team that never has that great of line. Honestly I don't agree with him. The game is just much easier when you have a good O-Line.

Ha, I was listening to that segment too, and agree with you...Tarkenton is full of crap on this one. I actually thought it was self-serving on his part...sort of like saying if you are a great scrambler with eyes in the back of your head like Tarkenton, an offensive line isn't as important. But typically a team is going to struggle if they don't at least have a middle of the pack offensive line.

longstrangetrip wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:I was listening to KFAN. I heard Fran Tarkenton saying that O-Line is not that big of deal because the difference between the best line and the worst is not that different in the NFL. He used the Packers as an example of a team that never has that great of line. Honestly I don't agree with him. The game is just much easier when you have a good O-Line.

Ha, I was listening to that segment too, and agree with you...Tarkenton is full of crap on this one. I actually thought it was self-serving on his part...sort of like saying if you are a great scrambler with eyes in the back of your head like Tarkenton, an offensive line isn't as important. But typically a team is going to struggle if they don't at least have a middle of the pack offensive line.

In general I think Fran is a crazy old man. Lol He does make some good points though every once in a while.

bleedspeed177 wrote:I was listening to KFAN. I heard Fran Tarkenton saying that O-Line is not that big of deal because the difference between the best line and the worst is not that different in the NFL. He used the Packers as an example of a team that never has that great of line. Honestly I don't agree with him. The game is just much easier when you have a good O-Line.

Ya, that's a load of bull. Jacksonville gave up 71 sacks and 117 hits last year. Denver gave up 17 sacks and 42 hits. My math says that's a big difference, but what do I know.

I think the number of sacks and hits are not 100% fair measure to the O-Line. Manning gets rid of it really quick. I think the average time from nap to sack/hit/pass is the key number.

As for Fran I would rather hear what someone like Wade WIlson or Brad Johnson has to say.