Welcome to the Pro Football Focus Page of Fame for Offensive Tackles, where only the best one-off performances during our time grading are mentioned.
If this is your first visit to a “PFF PoF” then the rules are pretty simple. Each game is it’s own island, and only the highest grades make it onto the list.
Anything at or above a +7.0 grade for this position will get the recognition it deserves!
1. Andrew Whitworth, 2010 – WK15, CLV @ CIN: +10.3
Pass Blocking: +1.4, Screen Blocking: +1.0, Run Blocking: +7.6, Penalties: +0.3
This wasn’t the only big performance from Whitworth in 2010, but it was certainly the most memorable. The Bengals went run heavy here and as a result Whitworth was required to pass block on only 23 occasions. He didn’t give up any pressures. However, it was his run blocking that wowed us as the left side of the line (Whitworth with Nate Livings and Evan Mathis) averaged 6.2 yards per carry.
2. Damien Woody, 2009 – WK17, CIN @ NYJ: +8.4
Pass Blocking: +1.0, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +7.1, Penalties: +0.3
Woody saved the best tackle performance of 2009 for the final week of the regular season against a Bengals team with one eye (or was it two) already on the playoffs. He wasn’t required to do much in pass protection (just 16 snaps), but his run blocking was something to behold. The team averaged 14.8 yards per carry off his right tackle.
3. Duane Brown, 2012 – WK12, HST @ DET: +8.3
Pass Blocking: +2.1, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +5.9, Penalties: +0.3
In a controversial Thanksgiving Day shootout, Brown put forth the top rated tackle performance for the whole of 2012. Displaying all of his athleticism with an array of blocks any lineman would be proud of, he helped his team to 8.8 yards per carry off left tackle. He wasn’t too shabby in pass protection either, giving up just one hurry in 51 pass blocking situations.
4. Vernon Carey, 2008 – WK5, SD @ MIA: +8.2
Pass Blocking: +1.9, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +6.0, Penalties: +0.3
A move to the right side of the line proved to be the making of Carey, which was evident against the Chargers in Week 5. In 72 snaps he put forth a complete display, allowing no pressure in 32 pass blocking snaps while helping the team to 5.6 yards per carry off right tackle.
5. Damien Woody, 2008 – WK12, NYJ @ TEN: +7.7
Pass Blocking: +2.4, Screen Blocking: +0.5, Run Blocking: +4.5, Penalties: +0.3
Another fine performance from Woody, who didn’t take long to make a name for himself at the right tackle spot in New York. Against the Titans the team averaged 5.8 yards per carry off the right side of the line, while Woody would allow just one quarterback hit in 39 pass blocking snaps.
6. Jared Gaither, 2009 – Wildcard, BAL @ NE: +7.6
Pass Blocking: +0.7, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +6.6, Penalties: +0.3
At his best there were few tackles like Gaither. When the Ravens stunned the Patriots in the 2009 playoffs it’s safe to say Gaither was very much at his best. Perfect in pass protection, he bullied the Patriots' linebackers on the edge and at the second level.
7. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, 2008 – WK4, ARZ @ NYJ: +7.5
Pass Blocking: +1.9, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +5.3, Penalties: +0.3
Ferguson looked like the real deal in a dominant performance against the Cardinals at the quarter mark of the 2008 season. Perfect in 39 pass protection snaps and dominant in the run game, this is what elite left tackle play should look like.
=8. Duane Brown, 2010 – WK9, SD @ HST: +7.4
Pass Blocking: +1.2, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +5.9, Penalties: +0.3
This was the game where Brown finally started to look like a first-round pick. Coming back from a league enforced suspension, the Texan would give up only one hurry on his 37 pass blocks, while runs off left tackle produced a rather impressive 8.5 yards per carry. The team average was 4.1.
=8. Damien Woody, 2010 – WK4, NYJ @ BUF: +7.4
Pass Blocking: +1.6, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +5.5, Penalties: +0.3
No right tackle got a higher grade in 2010 than the one Woody managed in his 66 Week 4 snaps. In a dominant day for the Jets' offensive line they picked up a healthy 139 yards off the right side of the line, while Woody himself gave up no pressure on his 26 pass blocks.
=10. Jeff Backus, 2009 – WK8, SL @ DET: +7.1
Pass Blocking: +1.9, Screen Blocking: +0.5, Run Blocking: +4.4, Penalties: +0.3
Backus would give up a sack and nothing else in his 39 pass blocking snaps, while his run blocking was at another level. The team’s 3.8 yards per carry average doesn’t do justice to just how good the longtime Lion looked here.
=10. Cornell Green, 2007 – WK7, KC @ OAK: +7.1
Pass Blocking: +2.1, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +4.8, Penalties: +0.2
Making mince meat out of Tamba Hali, Green had himself a career day as he gave up no pressure in 34 pass blocking snaps — while doing his best to get the Raiders running game off the ground. He wasn’t able to, as the team averaged 2.4 yards per carry, but it shouldn’t stop him being recognized for executing his blocks impressively.
=10. Tyson Clabo, 2008 – WK9, ATL @ OAK: +7.1
Pass Blocking: +1.6, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +5.2, Penalties: +0.3
This was a game where Clabo made a name for himself with a combination of some nasty and athletic blocking. It proved to be more than a limp and lackluster Raiders team were able to handle. Factor in that he was perfect in pass protection on his 27 snaps and you’ve got a fine performance.
13. Marcus McNeil, 2007 – WK15, DET @ SD: +7.0
Pass Blocking: +1.5, Screen Blocking: 0.0, Run Blocking: +5.2, Penalties: +0.3
The Chargers routed a poor Lions team with the running game proving particularly successful. McNeil was a big part of that as he landed his highest ever score during the PFF era, with a perfect day in pass protection a perfect complement to an excellent day at the office.
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