The Buffalo Bills' offensive line stunk in 2008.
We pretty much knew that already.
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But KC Joyner presents that notion in measurable terms. The Football Scientist used Buffalo's offensive line as an example to explore the possibility a great running back can overcome inferior blocking.
In "The Fifth Down" blog for the New York Times, Joyner writes Buffalo's run blockers "were abysmal" last year and notes only two linemen had a point-of-attack blocking percentage greater than 80 percent, which he explains is the low-end acceptable success rate.
Left guard Derrick Dockery, since released, barely hit the mark at 81.4 percent.
Joyner then breaks down running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson carries when point-of-attack blocks were successful or not.
When the blocking worked: Jackson averaged 6.0 yards, and Lynch averaged 5.2 yards.
When the blocking failed: Lynch averaged 2.1 yards, and Jackson averaged 1.7 yards.
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Tim Graham
Graham joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Miami Dolphins for the Palm Beach Post. He previously spent eight years at the Buffalo News, where he was an award-winning NHL and boxing writer. The Baldwin-Wallace College grad also has worked for the Las Vegas Sun and Boston Herald.
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