ESPN NFL Playoffs 2006

It has been said many times that games are won and lost in the trenches. That has never been more evident than in these playoffs.

In looking at the divisional playoff matchups, Indianapolis won in large part because it was able to control the versatility of Baltimore's front seven. The Saints won because their offensive line dominated the Eagles up front, allowing Deuce McAllister to run wild. The Seahawks emptied the blitz package out of the playbook, and the Bears' offensive line responded well. The Chargers have one of the most imposing front sevens in the NFL, but the Patriots held their ground.

The center might be the least recognizable player on the offensive line, but he is also the most important. He has the toughest job of any player up front. He often has a 300-plus-pound defensive tackle breathing over the top of him. After the snap, he has to be the quickest player to move, because of the proximity of the defensive tackle. On most teams, the center is the player who calls out the defensive line shifts and movement. In most instances, he is the most intelligent player up front. The more he can control the interior, the easier it becomes for the guards and tackles to get their respective jobs done.

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