Eagles’ RT Lane Johnson responds strongly on Twitter to NFL offensive line rankings
Fee-fi-fo-fum f*#% your rankings here we come! 😤 #FlyEaglesFly #PaveTheLane pic.twitter.com/FntMZHkAgZ
— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) June 10, 2021
Jason Kelce may be the heart and soul of the Eagles offensive line, but Lane Johnson is the big dog that offers the biggest bite when disrespected.
Recently Pro Football Focus released their annual positional rankings and the Eagles landed at No. 17 on the list, after previously falling inside the top-5 over the past three seasons.
17. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles have generally fielded a top offensive line in recent years, but they dropped to 19th in 2020 as injuries took their toll.It’s a pivotal year for 2019 first-round left tackle Andre Dillard, who struggled on 337 snaps as a rookie before missing all of last season due to injury. Dillard was an outstanding pass protector in college, and Philadelphia needs him to find that form early in 2021.
Right tackle Lane Johnson consistently ranks among the best at his position, though his 71.9 grade in 2020 was the lowest of his career. Johnson is normally a dominant run blocker and a solid pass protector, and he’s graded out at 80.0-plus in five of his eight NFL seasons.
Right guard Brandon Brooks returns after missing all of 2020, an unfortunate injury after he was the highest-graded guard in the league in 2019 (92.8). If he’s back to form, the Eagles get one of the best pass-protecting guards to shore up the middle of their line.
Isaac Seumalo returns to left guard after an odd season that saw him rank eighth as a pass blocker but just 68th as a run blocker. Center Jason Kelce has been the highest-graded center over the past few years, but his 69.6 overall grade in 2020 ranked 11th. It was his lowest grade since his rookie 2011 season. But perhaps the Eagles are looking to the future with second-round pick Landon Dickerson. He has injury concerns, but he topped all college centers in run-blocking grade last season and earned the top grade among centers in the draft class.
The other intriguing player is Jordan Mailata, a 2018 seventh-rounder who played rugby and is still a baby in football years. Mailata was forced into action and held his own with a 70.3 overall grade last season, including the 13th-highest percentage of positively graded run blocks among tackles.
The Eagles could rank anywhere by the end of the season, but if their veterans stay healthy and avoid declines, this has the potential to be one of the best offensive lines in the league once again.
Johnson acknowledges all perceived disrespect, and Wednesday night was no different, as the Eagles’ right tackle let it be known in an NSFW response to those rankings.
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