The Cleveland Browns offensive line has been banged up all season. From tackle Jack Conklin’s season-ending knee injury in Week 1 to tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.’s MCL injury and tackle Dawand Jones’ knee ailment, the Browns haven’t had a lot of continuity in the trenches.
But the center position hasn’t been an issue for Cleveland. Starter Ethan Pocic has a 98.6 pass-blocking efficiency rating, according to Pro Football Focus. That grade is tied for fourth among all centers this season. Pocic’s 96 percent pass-block win rate is tied for eighth among all interior offensive linemen, according to ESPN. Browns guard Joel Bitonio is also tied for third with a 97 percent pass-block win rate.
With some much turmoil on offense between tackle, quarterback and running back changes, the competency of Pocic has been a huge reason why the Browns have stayed competitive in games and put themselves in positions to put up points.
This will be even more important with 38-year-old Joe Flacco now under center for the first time this season. Flacco is unlike any of the other three Browns starting quarterbacks this season. He isn’t a mobile passer and will stay in the pocket to deliver his throws. That changes the way linemen block, but Pocic has proven adept enough in pass protection to at least give Flacco a shot.
But Pocic’s season won’t get any easier. He’ll face arguably the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL this week: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. It’s been a relatively down season for the three-time defensive player of the year, but Donald still has 5.5 sacks and 18 quarterback hits on the year.
Pocic will have his work cut out for him in Week 13.
