Trench Warfare

It is a long held belief that games in the NFL are won and lost in the trenches. You can say what you want about quarterbacks, and don't get me wrong, it is the most important position in all of team sports, but the guys up front I call The Big Uglies are going to rule the 2011 NFL Draft.

Looking at the mock drafts I have been gathering information from for my DSA Player Rankings, there could very easily be up to 20 offensive and defensive lineman selected in the first round. The skill players get the press, but the coaches and general managers know what side their bread is buttered on. And it's never buttered when their own quarterback is on his backside and when the opponent's is not on his.

Protect the quarterback. You hear it all the time. You can't win if your quarterback is getting hit and does not have time to throw the ball. Offensive lineman, and particularly tackles, are always in high demand. All I've been hearing is how there isn't a franchise left tackle in the draft. There may not be, but there are six offensive lineman who appear to be solidly in the first round. Anthony Castonzo, Tyron Smith, Derek Sherrod, Nate Solder, Gabe Carimi, and Mike Pouncey look to be safe bets to have their names called on Day One. Danny Watkins is moving up a lot of draft boards and has an excellent chance to be a first rounder. Solder is the biggest project of the bunch but may have the most upside with his size and athletic ability. The others could start right away, and with the lockout still in effect teams will be drafting for need, they most likely will line up from the start.

The defensive line is as deep as it ever has been. The tackles that are almost certain to go in the first round include Marcell Dareus, Nick Fairley, and Corey Liuget, with Marvin Austin and Phil Taylor strong possibilities as well. As much as teams rely on the pass, if you can't stop the run you are in a world of trouble. All five tackles can clog up the middle, with Dareus and Fairley the best at putting pressure up the middle and getting to the quarterback.

The defensive ends are the reason the 2011 NFL Draft is as deep as it is. There are nine ends that teams are looking at to rush the quarterback and put him down. Da'Quan Bowers was long considered the best of the class until injury concerns started to creep up. Even so, he is still considered a top 25 pick, and it is possible that he will be the last of the nine selected. Robert Quinn, J.J. Watt, Aldon Smith, Ryan Kerrigan, Adrian Clayborn, Cameron Jordan, Cameron Heyward, Muhammad Wilkerson and Da'Quan Bowers. Quarterbacks are going to be watching the draft and cringing with the thought that a division rival has taken a pass rusher and that he will have to face him twice a year. Now all the defensive lineman have to figure out is how to get by the offensive lineman selected in the first round as well. The chess match is about to begin. Chess played on a gridiron with The Big Uglies.