Things We Knew About Iron Clady

by Doc Bear on Feb 11, 2009 10:40 PM MST

Early this season, I published a story about Ryan Clady, comparing him to Joe Thomas (find it here). No one from the MHR was unkind enough to disabuse me of that notion, but I tried not to suggest that he would be as good as quickly. That was a very good thing, since for his first year, he wasn't. Clady was better. Greatly better.

To show just how much, I just caught a link in Walter Football, listing the number of sacks that each LT gave us. We all knew that Clady was the best over the 1st 16 games with 0.5 sacks. Seeing it again in print brought it back to me. Remarkable that one of the Pro Bowl players, Jason Peters had 11.5 sacks in 13 games. The near legendary Joe Thomas? 3.5 sacks, the same as another Pro Bowler, Walter Jones. At least Michael Roos came close with a single sack.

I appreciate what McD was saying this week about making the Broncos very different and very consistent, but it’s nice to know that there’s one thing he won’t have to bother himself about. Iron Clady is going to be it at LT.

1. Ryan Clady, Denver, 0.5 sacks
2. Michael Roos, Tennessee, 1 sack PRO BOWLER
3-T. Tony Ugoh, Indianapolis, 2 sacks* (Started 11)
3-T. Tra Thomas, Philadelphia, 2 sacks
3-T. Jared Gaither, Baltimore, 2 sacks* (He missed first quarter of Philadelphia game because of a shoulder injury)
7. Jake Long, Miami, 2.5 sacks
8-T. Marcus McNeill, San Diego, 3 sacks* (13 games)
8-T. Chris Samuels, Washington, 3 sacks* (Only appeared in 12 games)
8-T. Jordan Gross, Carolina, 3 sacks* (Missed 1 game) PRO BOWLER
8-T. Jammal Brown, New Orleans, 3 sacks* (Missed 1 game)
8-T. Todd Weiner, Atlanta, 3 sacks* (Started 10 games and appeared in 15)
13-T. Joe Thomas, Cleveland, 3.5 sacks PRO BOWLER
13-T. Walter Jones, Seattle, 3.5 sacks* (12 games) PRO BOWLER
15-T. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, NY Jets, 4 sacks
15-T. Bryant McKinnie, Minnesota, 4 sacks* (11 games)
15-T. Max Starks, Pittsburgh, 4 sacks* (10 starts)
18. Brandon Albert, Kansas City, 4.5 sacks* (Missed 1 game)
19. Levi Jones, Cincinnati, 5.5 sacks* (10 games)
20. Mike Gandy, Arizona, 6.25 sacks
21-T. Chad Clifton, Green Bay, 6.5 sacks* (missed 1 game)
21-T. David Diehl, NY Giants, 6.5 sacks
23. Flozell Adams, Dallas, 7.25 PRO BOWLER
24-T. Khalif Barnes, Jacksonville, 7.5 sacks
24-T. Matt Light, New England, 7.5 sacks
24-T. Kwame Harris, 7.5 sacks* (Started 11, appeared in 13)
27. Donald Penn, Tampa Bay, 8 sacks
28. Joe Staley, San Francisco, 8.5 sacks
29. Jeff Backus, Detroit, 9.25 sacks
30. John St. Clair, Chicago, 9.75 sacks
T-31. Duane Brown, Houston, 11.5 sacks
T-31. Jason Peters, Buffalo, 11.5 sacks* PRO BOWLER (13 games)

It may just tell us what we already know, but it’s nice to see just how well our 2008 draft worked out. Iron Clady is a man among men.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Comments

Beautiful!

I just love seeing that young wall at the top of the list. Don’t forget about Ryan Harris too. I remember last season when it looked like he might be a backup at best, then he comes out with a chip on his shoulder and dominates too.

By the way: where did you get those stats from?

by ten_fiver on Feb 12, 2009 2:50 AM MST reply actions

I think pro-bowl votes...

….should go to coaches. I read an interview where players admitted they didn’t often keep up with stats of other players for the pro bowl, and fans can often go by who has the most known name. Journalists have made a mess out of the hall of shame. So (with my bias on my sleeve), I recommend letting coaches select the teams (allowing them to lobby for, but not vote for their own palyers).

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Feb 12, 2009 6:49 AM MST reply actions

+1 Total Agreement

I see said the Blind man to the Deaf man who was near.
What is it you hear when I speak in your ear.

by UB3 on Feb 12, 2009 10:05 AM MST up reply actions

I couldn't agree more

Let’s give the right to choose, especially with the ‘six player’ limits that will haunt coming classes, to those who know the most about how the players affect the other teams. Does anyone doubt the effect that Clady is having among opposing DCs? When you have to scheme for a rookie LT and he still stymies you, it’s time to make him a Pro Bowler.

In Goodman We Trust

by Doc Bear on Feb 12, 2009 11:17 AM MST up reply actions

Goes to show...

The Pro Bowl is a sham. But so is every other All-Star Game in every other sport. I certainly agree with HT that journalists have been irresponsible with regards to the HOF, yet somehow the AP All-Pro Teams seem much more representative of the true “best players in the game” – so maybe the AP voters need to handle the HOF (perhaps there are more of them across a wider geographic divide?)

by Douglas A. Lee on Feb 12, 2009 7:40 AM MST reply actions

Just as an example, the AP voters had Clady listed only behind Michael Roos and Jordan Gross. Frankly, I’m quite okay with that, as the Titans and Panthers had absolutely dominant running games.

Thanks for putting these numbers in front of us, Doc.

by Douglas A. Lee on Feb 12, 2009 7:43 AM MST up reply actions

It can't be more clear than that.

rec’d

by jwkcsu on Feb 12, 2009 12:03 PM MST reply actions

Nice post Doc!

Wasn’t that Half Sack charged to Clady from a Cutler fumble?

He sure is a great young left tackle! Thanks for the post.

"I am not trying to start anything I am just saying that i think if you take Knowshon and draft D later you guys will be hella good next year" ...IamtheGreatest - The smartest Chiefs fan I ever had the priviledge of reading!

by Steve O' on Feb 12, 2009 1:32 PM MST reply actions

Yes.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Feb 13, 2009 8:59 AM MST up reply actions

Nice

Man, I am guessing the DE voted Peters and Adams in so they could have a good day in Hawaii.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Feb 12, 2009 2:04 PM MST reply actions

No, but still

Clady’s man was the second to get to Cutler and Jay might have had time to dump it off (a skill he should practice) if that player hadn’t gotten there before Clady’s man. Still – .5 sacks over an NFL season? What happened to “Wait until he plays against (insert player of the week)?” Clady was iron. Chrome steel. Titanium matrix. Impossibly good. I approach the comments that he will get his time in the Pro Bowl the way I do those same about the hof. Maybe, maybe not – It was still a travesty, and he earned his slot. Just my 2 cents…

In Goodman We Trust

by Doc Bear on Feb 12, 2009 2:44 PM MST reply actions

The only argument I can imagine

against Clady as pro bowler is that others might be much more dominant as run blockers, but how dominant would you have to be to compensate for the disparity of 11.5 sacks vs .5? Eye-opening stats, broncobear. Another outstanding contribution.

"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen

by spock on Feb 12, 2009 8:13 PM MST reply actions