Brandon Linder Deserves Praise

Cleveland Browns guard second-round pick Joel Bitonio and Dallas Cowboys first-round choice Zack Martin were two of the most impressive rookies at any position last season, but the Jacksonville Jaguars also had an excellent rookie performance out of one of their guards in Miami Hurricanes product Brandon Linder.

A third-round pick, Linder has been one of the unsung rookies of an excellent 2014 NFL Draft class, as the Jaguars starting right guard has shown that he is already one of the team’s most valuable players. A solid pass protector who shows a real mean streak in the running game, Linder jumped on my radar as a potential draft sleeper after he did a stellar job of handling St. Louis Rams DT Aaron Donald, who is a prime Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate after being a huge impact player on an elite defensive line in his first season.

Linder’s offensive line in Jacksonville will never earn the adjective “elite”- let alone “good”- after causing rookie Blake Bortles to be the NFL’s most-sacked quarterback (55), but it’s possible that their guard duo could earn that label in the future. The Jaguars main addition to their offensive line wasn’t the drafting of Linder, as the signing of former Denver Broncos Pro Bowl guard Zane Beadles to a five-year, $30 million deal was one of Jaguars GM David Caldwell‘s biggest moves of the offseason.

Beadles and Linder were seventh and ninth in pass blocking efficiency, respectively, and they did it despite playing with a well below-average guard duo. Luke Bowanko and Jacques McClendon didn’t exactly provide any cover in between those two guards either, so the Jaguars positive play on the line was largely restricted to their two guards. Per PFF, Luke Joeckel caused Bortles to be hit 15 times last season, so left guard Beadles seemed to have the most work cut out for him.

To wit, Linder allowed five sacks last season, which is as much as Charlie Johnson and Davin Joseph, which clearly doesn’t look good at face value. But if we use pressure to evaluate him, Linder allowed Bortles to face pressure just 15 times, and that’s well below the two veterans mentioned above, who both allowed more than 30 pressure each. Just seven guards allowed less overall pressure than Linder, though he did log less than 100 snaps in pass pro than Beadles, who is likely the better pass blocker overall, especially since he’s been good for more than just one season.

Even though offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch is no longer with the team, he did bring one player with him from Miami who will have a lasting impact with the Jaguars organization. Well, maybe he’ll leave for free agency after his rookie contract, but I have a feeling he’ll be so good that the Jaguars will do what they can to keep him. Beadles is the more expensive and experienced hand at guard, but Linder is already a significantly better run blocker at 6’6″ and with a violent motor reminiscent of a stud DT lining up across from him.


(nflspinzone.com)