There is no single metric or statistic that guarantees success in the NFL, but one of the best is that cohesive offensive lines lead to efficient production.
The offensive line may be the unit on a football team that is most dependent on familiarity. Each play, whether running or passing, requires all five linemen to function as a unit. The failure of any one of them can lead to disaster.
The Washington Commanders entered this season with a totally reshuffled front five. Center Tyler Biadasz was the only holdover from 2024. Both tackles were new. Brandon Coleman opened at left guard, while Nick Allegretti flipped over to the right side of the interior.
Within a few weeks, the Commanders had replaced both guards. Turn the clock ahead a few more weeks, and Sam Cosmi returned from injury to become the club’s third starting right guard.
All that turnover was not especially conducive to quality line play. But things may be about to improve.
Commanders' offensive line familiarity should improve production down the stretch
This has been most obvious in the play of rookie right tackle Josh Conerly. The Oregon product has struggled in his first season, and his coaches have not done him any favors. He had a very rough start, going up against elite pass rushers in each of his first two starts. Taking on Brian Burns and Micah Parsons in back-to-back games is hard enough for a 10-year vet, let alone a 21-year-old making his NFL debut.
After those first two games, the Commanders’ coaches seemed to feel that Allegretti was part of the problem, so they replaced one veteran guard with another, Andrew Wylie. Conerly’s play didn’t improve immediately, but over the four games he played next to Wylie, the rookie did get better.
Then Cosmi returned. Of course, this was a positive development, but for Conerly, it meant learning the rhythms and tendencies of his third right guard in just seven weeks. He had arguably his worst game of the year in the returning guard's season debut against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7.
But then, as happened with Wylie, the rookie’s play began to improve. He has now had four games playing alongside a Pro Bowl-caliber guard, and things are trending up.
Cosmi, too, is improving. He returned earlier than expected from a torn ACL, and it was apparent he needed to shake off some rust. He was playing next to a rookie tackle for the second straight season, and there was a learning curve, even for the veteran.
With four games and a bye week under their belts, the right side of Washington’s offensive line should be significantly better than it has been at any point this season.
The left side of the line has gone through a similar transition. Tackle Laremy Tunsil and guard Chris Paul have been playing next to each other since Week 3. Paul’s run blocking leaves something to be desired, but it would not be wise to make any other changes at this point. That cohesiveness is worth maintaining.
The Commanders should be getting some offensive weapons back soon. Having a cohesive line will allow those weapons to shine.