When the Left Side is Right

You can almost hear the head-slapping down in Tennessee as Jeff Fisher and his coaches exclaim, "why didn't we think of that!" upon hearing the news that defensive genius Jim Johnson was moving DE Jevon Kearse to the left side of the defensive line.

Ostensibly, the move is about trying to minimize the stress on Kearse's surgically repaired left foot which is the most prudent and wise course of action to protect the investment in your new free agent. But it is also about maximizing your talent, and the Eagles' decision raises a league-wide question of whether putting your best pass rusher on the QB's blindside (the right side of the d-line) is an outdated or overrated strategy.

Because of the defensive emphasis on the blindside, the left tackle position has developed in response as the premier pass blocking position. But is this situation a chicken or the egg phenomenon? That is, which came first--- the refinement of the left tackle as a pass blocker to protect the backside which then forced defenses to match up their best pass rusher? Or did the best pass rushers get placed on the blindside and it was offenses that responded by matching with their best pass blocking linemen.

Any Eagles' fans who has seen Michael Strahan blow past Jon Runyan can appreciate the havoc a defense can create by counterintuitively placing their best pass rusher head up against the offense's right tackle. In many ways, the Strahan-Runyan example is illustrative of the benefits of ignoring the league's conventional wisdom.

Jon Runyan is a pure drive blocker. It's been almost unfair to have Strahan pinning his ears back to attack the QB and not really playing or respecting the run (have you ever noticed how much Runyan has neutralized him when the Eagles actually have the lead and Strahan can't presume pass on every play? I've also wondered why they didn't run at Strahan more and play to Runyan's strength, but that's a different story).

Runyan's physical rofile is the standard across the league for right tackles. Imagine how Kearse will excel, like Strahan, in going against tackles who may be stronger, but are not as quick or agile as the "Freak" (as opposed to the dancing bears posing as left tackles.) And Strahan was going against one of the most mobile and athletic QB's in the league. Being able to see him coming didn't seem to help McNabb out too much. Do you think it will matter much to the statutesque Vinny Testaverde that he will see Kearse an instant before he gets hit?

Sure there is the whole theory that the TE lines up most times next to the right tackle and who, theoretically, is available to help block Kearse, but that takes a whole receiver out of the pass play. It also means, in theory, less opportunities for Kearse to cause a fumble from the blindside. But turnovers are just an added bonus. His primary responsibility is to get to the QB. And it will be easier to do it from the left side of the d-line than the right side.