link
Offensive Line
Chad Clifton LT: Began the season feeling good after four offseason surgeries (both knees and shoulders) but played his fewest games (12) since the 2002 season when he was hit by Warren Sapp. Sprained ankle in Week 2 began the string of injuries. Missed four of the next five games and didnt finish two others because of a hamstring injury. Pass protection was mostly solid, allowing 3 sacks. The worst run blocker and was charged with five negative runs. Also has a team-high 10 penalties. An unrestricted free agent this offseason that has a chance to be re-signed if only because the future left tackle isnt on the roster.
Daryn Colledge LG: Yielded a team-high 8 sacks and a team-high 6 negative runs but some of those came when he was filling in for Clifton, an experiment that ended after the Vikings Jared Allen abused him in the Metrodome. Took him a while to readjust to left guard. Had only three regular-season penalties (including only one hold) but had a costly holding penalty in overtime in the playoff loss. A restricted free agent this offseason, its not a given he will return and if he does, he might not have a starting job.
Scott Wells C: Lost his starting job to Jason Spitz in training camp but started the final 14 games plus the playoff game and had the best season of his six-year NFL career. Yielded four sacks, which was one-half more than last season, but he played in two more games this year. Was charged with six negative runs and four penalties (all holds). Excelled at making line calls and adjustments.
Josh Sitton RG: First-year starter was the most consistent of the group. Started all 16 games and allowed four sacks and 4 negative runs. The best run blocker of the group. Looks like a solid starter for years to come. Had four penalties (two holds, two false starts).
Mark Tauscher RT: Signed off the street on Oct. 12 after completing the rehab from his torn ACL in 2008 and started the final eight games plus the playoffs. Helped stabilize the pass protection unit, which gave up only 14 of its 51 sacks after Tauscher entered the lineup. Allowed just two sacks and 1 negative runs in his half season. Committed three penalties (one hold, two false starts) and played well enough to consider bringing him back for another year.
Allen Barbre T: Opened the season as the starting right tackle but couldnt block a tackling dummy. Gave up seven sacks and one negative run in just 10 appearances (seven starts), and by the end of the season he was inactive. In two years, has lost a starting guard job in training camp and a starting tackle spot less than halfway through the season. Committed three penalties (one false start, two holds).
T.J. Lang T: Rookie fourth-round pick looks like a future starter after playing in all 16 games (including two starts at left tackle and one at right tackle). Still to be determined is his best spot but probably could play both tackles and both guard spots. Allowed 5 sacks and 1 negative runs and committed three penalties (one hold, two false starts).
Evan Dietrich-Smith C/G: Made the team as a rookie free agent and played in 13 regular-season games plus the playoffs, mostly on special teams. A tough mauler, got a lot of snaps in practice because of injuries on the line and looks like a potential starting center some day.
Breno Giacomini T: Lost the starting right tackle job to Barbre in camp and for the second straight season was active for only one game. After a two-year free pass will have to show he can play in camp next summer.
Jason Spitz C: Beat out Wells for a starting spot in training camp in part because they wanted a bigger body in the middle but struggled, giving up two sacks and negative run in four starts before a back injury ended his season. Could be a candidate to move back to guard next season if Wells remains the center.