Cleveland Browns: Gil Brandt’s offensive tackle rankings skewed

The Cleveland Browns were well represented in Gil Brandt’s ranking of offensive tackles. But the failure to define how players are judged skews the rankings.

The Cleveland Browns have three offensive tackles in Gil Brandt’s top 22 tackles of all-time. Recently, NFL.com retweeted Brandt’s list which was compiled as a photo essay.

The Browns had three players that made the list. The highest player was Joe Thomas at No. 7. Hall of Famer Mike McCormack ranked No. 8. Perhaps one of the greatest football players to ever play the game, Lou Groza, turned in at No. 21.

As a photo essay, there was not much explanation of the use of criteria for ranking the players. One is left wondering if these are simply the musing of a very intelligent and well respected football mind. If so, great! Let’s enjoy it! But the reader is left wondering why the players were ranked as they were.

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Each photo was accompanied by a short list of accomplishments. For example, here is the list for Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Forrest Gregg.

"6. Forrest GreggGreen Bay Packers, 1956-1970; Dallas Cowboys, 1971» Started on eight NFL championship teams» Voted to nine Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro seven times» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame"

These are great accomplishments. But one is left wondering why he was ranked above Thomas, who was voted into ten Pro Bowls and six All-Pro selections. Thomas will eventually be in the Hall of Fame. So was it the eight NFL Championship teams that tilted the discussion in Gregg’s favor?

Even that criteria is shaky given that use of “championship team” is used to be inclusive of championships that occurred before the Super Bowl era. But one is left wondering if that includes any championship team, including those from the AAFC. The term “championship team” is shaky because that criteria is not universally applied to all types of football championship or applied to all members on the list equally.

For example, Groza is ranked 21^st on the list. His accomplishments are listed as follows:

"21. Lou GrozaCleveland Browns, 1946-1967» Voted to nine Pro Bowls; First Team All-Pro four times» Four-time NFL champion» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame"

His nine Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections as an offensive tackle should rank him higher than others on the list. But the most interesting piece of that quote is his “Four-time NFL champion” criteria. Notice the language of “championship teams” is gone.

Had they stuck to “championship team”, Groza would have been listed as having played on eight championship teams and in 13 championship games. Most amazing is the fact he was a part of seven championship teams in a ten year period, spanning two leagues. One can argue he did not accomplish that alone. But the Browns would not have been won without him.

Which leaves the reader with the question of criteria. How does Gregg get above Thomas if the criteria did not includes championship teams? But how does anyone get above Groza if championship teams are included as a criteria? The question of what makes one better than another is a serious concern for the photo essay.

Maybe in the future one could cluster offensive tackles by skill set like Pro Football Focus is starting to do with quarterbacks. Such a rubric would allow for the differences in these players style of play to shine through without subjecting the “ranking” to personal preference.

Either way, the piece by Gil Brandt was a lot of fun to read and view. Browns fans should be pleased that three offensive tackles made the list. It speaks to the pride of a franchise with a rich and powerful history.

Next: Ranking the Browns 2018 schedule from easiest to hardest

But now it is time to make new memories. Go Browns!

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