You can't lock people up unilaterally.

I understand this statement but it is not totally accurate. No we don't see LT's out there making big plays, but if your LT is shutting down the other teams best Passrusher, removing one of the other teams best players he is "taking over a game".
Derrick Thomas was a game changer because of what he could do to the QB. Any LT that can shut down a player like Derrick are game changers as well. We just don't see it like that because they are not in a "playmaker" position and or there is not a stats category to show their importance in the same manner.

This seems so obvious.

I guarantee you that the Chiefs were waiting to see what someone like Jake Long got in FA. That pretty much sets the value for Albert.....and now if they want....they could offer him a little more money. Somewhere between Long's deal and Brown's deal is fine with me.

How many times per year does a team face a Derrick Thomas caliber pass rusher?

The number of times in the season a team needs an elite LT instead of just an adequate one are few.

That's great....until you factor in that a team can just move their best pass rusher to the other side and negate your LT.

OMG! Now we need a #1 RT too!

And I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they're doing.

Alex Smith takes a TON of sacks...and that was with the offensive line that the 49ers had (3 1st round picks).

I think that's why LT money hasn't gone up as much as some LTs had hoped it would, while RT money is closing the gap. With the way TEs are more involved as receivers and moving from side to side these days, as opposed to usually being in tight on the right side where they can help the RT, pass protection is becoming a more important RT skill.

But what if they move their pass rusher between your guard and center!!

Fixed your question.

Thank you. It's about beating playoff teams in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, this also begs the question "How often does a team with two elite tackles and a mediocre QB beat an elite pass rusher in the playoffs?"

Ge-no! Ge-no!

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb...uh2bo1_400.gif

All picks to OLine!!

The reason tackles, especially LTs, have to be so good at what they do is because they're on the end where all they have outside of them is open space. Guards and Centers just have to be a brick in the wall. RTs have typically been able to get away with lesser pass blocking skills because they have an extra guy, the TE, on their outside who can help solidify that edge. You probably already know this, but just in case you didn't, there it is.

Diesnt make any sense.

Dorsey would say they are listening to trade offers BECAUSE THEY ARE. I don't like Peter Pioli any more than the rest of us, but I doubt he would outright lie about something like this.