Ok, I'm doing this one more or less by popular request now that I have seen requests for it, the OL position evaluation. Really, all the positions on the O-line are NOT the same, but I will explain the differences throughout. Basically, a guard has to be quicker than a tackle, and a tackle has to be stronger and bigger than a guard, while a center has to be everything.

Height: I don't see it making too much of a difference really. I would think there would be some type of effect considering the leverage added with height, but it doesn't seem to matter too much. A good OL of any type should be at least 6'3", ideal size is about 6'5".

Weight: Pretty darn important. A guy with more weight is a more solid blocker, who doesn't get knocked down NEARLY as much. A guy who is 300 lb. or under tends to spend a lot of time lying flat on his back, whereas a guy at 330+ you will never see like that. Personally, I have noted better results with bigger linemen. Guys who are only 75 OVR but weigh 330 tend to beat out guys who are 85 OVR and only 295. Occasionally you can get a monster out of the draft who will improve a bunch. You can find guys in the later rounds who are like 360+, and they tend to play decently. Weight is important, and on the line, more is better.

STR: Also important in keeping your players on their feet. A guy with low STR will end up being pushed back or out of the way, or knocked flat. A guy with high STR and lots of weight will never be knocked down. High STR also allows a guy to stay effective for the duration of a 15 play, 9 minute drive, when you'll need him to finish strong. STR also makes up for a little guy's lack of size sometimes, although he still fairs worse than the big guy.

AGI: Important mainly in pass blocking. If your guy has 50+ AGI, that is good, 60+, excellent. More AGI allows for a player who is being beat or missed his block to recover and make the block that he needs to, or just save the play ffrom completely failing. Important attribute for a center.

SPD: Not all that important. Guys playing G with high SPD can help you on sweeps or plays where they have to pull block. Other than at guard, it doesn't really matter.

ACC: Same as SPD above. Also keeps the guy from being blown by first thing off the line.

AWR: Very important. High AWR means the guy will make the right block, which is all-important. In pass protection, a guy with low AWR will often let a DL or LB fly through straight at the QB. In run blocking, it means that the blocker may not follow the play's design, and try to create the wrong hole by blocking the wrong guy.

CTH: No effect, the tackle eligible play is missing from the Madden playbook.

CAR: No effect.

THP: No effect.

THA: No effect.

KPW: No effect.

KAC: No effect.

BTK: No effect, Refrigerator Perry excluded.

TAK: Nil

IMP: Who knows or cares.

PBK: Pass blocking skill. Obviously this will help the guy in pass protection, and it helps if your guy is really big for this, too. A 320+ guy with high PBK is invaluable for pass protection. Personally, I roll back and to the left for most of my passes, so I put my highest PBK guys at LT and LG. PBK is probably more important at the tackle position than at guard.

RBK: Run blocking skill. Does not require a huge guy. I have a rookie who is OVR 71 with 87 PBK, and only 291 lbs., and he rocks the house. This shows the guy's ability to block guys back and to one side for running plays. High RBK is probably more important at the guard position than at the tackle position.

INJ: These guys don't tend to go down much in my experience, so I don't see much significance other than the usual elementary higher is better formula.

This one I am very curious about to see what other people think of my conclusions, cause I want to see if anything different has worked for others. O-line talent is oft-debated on this board, so maybe we can reach a few conclusions from this post and the feedback hopefully. Thanx for reading.

Destroyer