Left defensive ends are back in style. New Bear Adewale Ogunleye should feel at home in the NFC, where the left side has become the right place to rush the passer.
The New York Giants’ Michael Strahan, reigning pass-rusher supreme, lines up on the left side. So does Leonard Little of the St. Louis Rams, thanks to Bears coach Lovie Smith. Charles Grant of the New Orleans Saints, Greg Ellis of the Dallas Cowboys and Julius Peppers of the Carolina Panthers all registered between seven and 10 sacks as starting left ends last season.
Ogunleye was a left-side rusher in Miami, where he had 15 sacks. Shaun Ellis of the New York Jets got 12.5 from the left side, so the trend is not restricted to the NFC, although it is more prevalent.
The right side used to be the position of choice for the quicker, smaller pass rushers. Most teams run to the right, requiring sturdy left defensive ends to stop the run. Most quarterbacks are right-handed, enabling right-side pass rushers to sneak up on them from the blind side.
But times have changed. Defenses always manage to stay a step ahead of offenses. As offenses put their best pass blockers at left tackle and bigger run blockers on the right side, defenses are seeking mismatches by putting their best pass rushers against less mobile right tackles.
Here are Ogunleye’s opponents:
Stockar McDougle, Lions
Quarterback Joey Harrington has been especially adept at avoiding sacks by throwing the ball away, but it is easier to pass rush against the 6-foot-6-inch, 335-pound McDougle than it is against quicker 6-5, 305-pound left tackle Jeff Backus.
The Lions gave up only 11 sacks last season, by far the best in the NFL, so Bears pass rushers face a formidable challenge in the season opener.
Mark Tauscher, Packers
Right tackle Tauscher and left tackle Chad Clifton form the best tackle tandem in the NFC North and one of the best in the league. Had Clifton not been re-signed last year, Tauscher would have been tried at left tackle.
The Packers gave up only 19 sacks last season, tied for second with Indianapolis behind Detroit. According to the Packers, Tauscher was responsible for only four pressures and 1 1/2 sacks last year. Clifton was charged with two pressures and a half-sack.
Mike Rosenthal, Vikings
The 6-7, 330-pound Rosenthal was considered the weak link of the offensive line last season, but he has become stronger, gaining 20 pounds, and has enjoyed a good camp. Still, a pass rusher would rather face Rosenthal than 6-8, 335-pound left tackle Bryant McKinnie.
The Vikings and Packers were two of only five offensive lines in the NFL that started all 16 games last season.
Ogunleye never has lined up against McDougle, Tauscher or Rosenthal, the three right tackles he will face twice this season in the NFC North. In his only game against the Bears in 2002, he made three tackles and a sack, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble while helping end the career of right tackle James “Big Cat” Williams.
Jon Runyan, Eagles
The 6-7, 330-pound Runyan is not considered as good a pass blocker as 6-7, 350-pound left tackle Tra Thomas, but Runyan is coming off a better year and he shut out Ogunleye last season. Strahan has enjoyed good games against Runyan, although it should be noted that Runyan wins more than his share of battles and made the Pro Bowl in 2002.
Kenyatta Jones, Redskins
After losing starter Jon Jansen for the season, the Redskins are experimenting. Jones, a former New England Patriot, started against Peppers last week. The Redskins brought in journeyman Marcus Spriggs and also could switch left guard Derrick Dockery to right tackle.
Right tackle is especially important because quarterback Mark Brunell is left-handed. Jansen shut out Ogunleye in their meeting last season.
Todd Steussie or Kenyatta Walker, Bucs
Veteran left tackle Steussie was acquired and asked to switch to the right side in the twilight of his career to battle Walker, coming off a poor season. But the Bucs gave up only 23 sacks last season, thanks to veteran quarterback Brad Johnson.
Scott Gragg, 49ers
The 6-8, 315-pound Gragg is an effective pass blocker despite his height. He’s better than new left tackle Kwame Harris, so maybe the 49ers have caught onto the trend.
Ian Allen or Barry Stokes, Giants.
After starting three right tackles last year, the Giants are searching.
Fred Miller, Titans
The veteran is a power tackle compared with Brad Hopkins, a better pass blocker. But Miller shut out Ogunleye last year.
Ryan Diem, Colts
The former guard was starting his fourth game at right tackle when Ogunleye sacked Peyton Manning twice last season.
Torrin Tucker, Javiar Collins or Jacob Rogers, Cowboys
Tucker was making his only start as a rookie last season when Ogunleye got two sacks. The established left tackle is Flozell Adams.
Maurice Williams, Jaguars
Although the Jags allowed only 28 sacks last season, Ogunleye got three of them in the third start for rookie quarterback Byron Leftwich.
Todd Wade, Texans
The Texans paid former Ogunleye teammate Wade $10 million to jump from the Dolphins in the off-season and replace journeyman Greg Randall. This will be the battle of $10 million acquisitions from Miami and a chance by Dec. 19 to see whether either was worth the stiff price.
