2021 Official Highlights - Part 2
Studying, recording and spotlighting how three trench players win with a look to their expected impact in 2022 and beyond
Over the last couple of weeks I began reviewing the 2021 season in the trenches with a few deep dives into individual players. Each off-season, I create highlight tapes for various linemen across the NFL. I study every snap from their most recent season, record every positive play, spotlight them and edit it all into a single video.
I kicked off the 2022 off-season by making tapes for three players (Terron Armstead, Trai Turner and Geron Christian) and now have three more to share: Shaq Mason, Ryan Jensen and Michael Pierce.
Ryan Jensen
Fresh off of a new three-year, $39 million extension with the Buccaneers, Jensen will enter his 10th season in 2022 at 31-years old with 96 career starts, including 81 consecutive dating back to the 2017 season. Not missing a start over his last five seasons despite having arguably the most physical and aggressive playing style in the NFL is one of the most impressive streaks in the entire league.
For anyone who has studied offensive linemen across the NFL with an emphasis on centers over the course of a few seasons, it is evident that Jensen is unlike the majority of players at his position. Typically, ultra-aggressive and physical players along the line are attempting to make up for a lack of size and can be categorized as ‘try-hard’ types that get by purely on turning every rep into a borderline fight. This can usually allow lesser-talented linemen to stick in the NFL as a starter for a few years, mostly as a mid- to replacement-level player (Cody Wallace, A.Q. Shipley, Jon Feliciano, Lucas Patrick, etc.).
A rare ability to impose his will against all levels of competition while simultaneously getting in the head of opponents and instigating them into boneheaded decisions separates Jensen from other aggressive centers. He pairs these skills with ideal size at 6’4”, 320 pounds, elite-level power, good athletic ability and the technical refinement to keep defenders guessing throughout games to cement himself as a top-tier center.
Defenders despise playing against him (which Jensen takes as a compliment), and it shows when you study the film. Jensen protects the ‘A’ gaps with a vengeance, routinely delivering crushing blows to defenders that wear them down over the course of games, causing frustration that often leads to penalties, and he sometimes prevents rushers from even attempting to access interior rusher lanes.
These are some of the reasons why I have made the case for Jensen being the best center in the NFL since joining the Bucs in 2018 (before Brady signed), including the 2021 season.
Before checking out his 2021 highlight tape showcasing how he wins, you can also review every positive block from his 2020 and 2019 seasons to get an idea of how impactful his presence has been at the pivot in Tampa Bay.
2021 Official Highlight Tape
Shaq Mason
Mason is preparing to enter his eighth season and will be 29-years old Week 1 of the 2022 season. The former fourth round pick has 111 starts (98 regular season, 13 postseason) under his belt, all at right guard for the Patriots. Mason was traded this off-season to the Bucs for a fifth round selection and will be the teams new starting right guard alongside the aforementioned Ryan Jensen.
Much of what I said about Mason’s game in last year’s highlight tape article holds true today. He has the natural leverage advantage over nearly every opposing defensive linemen in the NFL. Mason possesses a tremendous center of gravity and power that allows him to be a force on downhill run concepts, and he has plenty of athletic ability to track down targets on the move.
Since coming out of Georgia Tech in 2015, Mason has refined his run-blocking prowess while using his quickness and play strength to develop into one of the most savvy pass-protectors in the NFL.
You can watch every positive block from Mason’s 2020 and 2019 seasons before seeing more of the same during the 2021 season below.
2021 Official Highlight Tape
Michael Pierce
While it is true that the value of nose tackles who specialize in defending the run has dwindled as the league becomes increasingly pass heavy, they can still carve out a role when performing at an elite level. Pierce is the perfect example and has been going back to the 2017 season when he was a dominant force against the run for the Ravens.
After spending the first four years of his career in Baltimore, including an excellent 2019 season, Pierce sat out the 2020 season due to Covid-19 and returned in 2021 for the Vikings. He was injured midway through the year, but during his eight starts after a year off of football, he flashed the same traits that made him such an impactful role player in previous years.
Pierce signed a three-year, $16.5 million deal to return to the Ravens this off-season and will once again plug the middle of the Baltimore defense so other defenders can rally to the ball and shine.
2021 Official Highlight Tape
I will have another set of players done over the next couple of weeks and have begun studying for the 2022 OL Masterminds event coming up in July. This year we will focus more heavily on offensive linemen and presenting scouting videos of them at the event rather than of defensive linemen. The idea is to facilitate conversation with the tape of guys actually in the room as the main focus.
Typically, I have scouted and broken down pass-rushers during the first four years of the event but this year will allow me to have more cut-ups and highlight tapes of some of the best OL in the NFL to share here.
Reminder: If you subscribe to this newsletter as a ‘founding member’ you will automatically be added in a raffle to gain full access to the 2022 OL Masterminds event in Dallas, Texas. I will be selecting two winners for the event that takes place this July 8-9. You will be able to sit in the room on both days surrounded by hundreds of current NFL and top-tier college offensive linemen, retired Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame level players, current and past coaches, experts in the field, and receive some free swag when you come in the door. This is an exclusive, invite-only event so if you want a chance to be there and soak up an unforgettable experience while also supporting Trench Warfare, please consider entering!