Why wasn't Anthony Munoz moved to right tackle? (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

You always hear how important a "franchise left tackle" is, mainly because he typically protects the QB's blind side.

Boomer Esiason was a full-time starter beginning in 1985, and he played with Munoz from that season until the end of the 1992 season. Seems like it would have been a logical move to switch him over to right tackle since Boomer was a southpaw.

 

[Native]

Going back to the 60's, I believe right tackles were considered to be the more important of the two tackle positions. The reason for this was that a team's best pass rusher would typically line up at Left end. Andy Robustelli. Deacon Jones, and others all lined up on the left side. Consequently, Forrest Gregg was a Right Tackle even though he was one of the more athletic guys at his position in the league.

Not sure when the Left Tackle became so much more important than Right tackle. I think KC Joyner even wrote an article debunking the importance of it....

Edited to add disclaimer:

Disclaimer: Could be wrong here although I distinctly remember having this conversation once before. Can anyone confirm any of this or am I making this all up?

 

[Raider Nation]

Not sure when the Left Tackle became so much more important than Right tackle.

Other than, again, protecting the blind side of a right-handed QB, how else could it possibly be more important???Unless your RBs simply feel more comfortable running left, but I can't imagine that would be a reason.

 

[ratbast]

Cool question. Joe Walter seemed to do the job. Looks like 1985 7th rounder Walter showed up after Blados was drafted with the last pick in 1st round 1984 and then Blados got injured.

Bengals had 3 1st round picks in 1984.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Munoz was already established as the Bengals LT when Boomer was drafted. They probably just didn't want to screw him up.

Also most premier pass rusher were on the offense's left at that point since most QBs are right-handed.

 

[daveR]

The most obvious answer is...

He played for the Bengals!

 

[Grigs Allmoon]

Not sure when the Left Tackle became so much more important than Right tackle. I

Probably about the same time the passing game became MUCH more prevalent in the NFL.

 

[Doug B]

My memory is that the Bengals had a pretty freakish O-Line tackle-to-tackle during the Sam Wyche years. Brian Blados was at RT when Esiason came up. Blados never made the Pro Bowl, but he was a first-round pick that started six straight seasons for the Bengals before getting hurt in 1990. Blados was both bigger and younger than Munoz (though probably not nearly the technician).

 

[Chase Stuart]

Most of the reasons I would have presumed have been hit on here.

Munoz started at LT and was dominant there long before Esiason came into the picture. It's pretty rare to position switch a HOF caliber player, although not unheard of.

The Browns' biggest rival during the late '80s was Cleveland, and the Browns had two great OLBs in Matthews and Chip Banks, so it's not like there was one way to stop those guys.

Cincinnati already mad Max Montoya on the right side and perhaps didn't see the need to overload that side.

And yes, the LT/RT distinction is a relatively new phenomenon, which it was inspired the book and movie The Blind Side. Taylor is the typical player given credit for the revolution, but the effects weren't really felt as early as 1985. It would take some years for players inspiring to be like Taylor, playing training to be like LT, and players actually [playing like him for teams to desire a stud LT, players to desire to become stud LTs, players to train to become stud LTs and then for players to play that way. Most of the great edge rushing 3-4 OLBs were in the NFC at the time -- LT, Kevin Greene, Swilling, Tim Harris -- so it's easy to see why a division like the AFC North wouldn't find the idea of the blind side or a franchise tackle protecting it as so critical.

 

[ratbast]

Walter started most of the games at RT for the Bengals from 1986-1992 with Esiason at QB.

Wilson 1985.

In 1986 8 games Blados, 8 games Walter.

1987, 1988 Walter started most games at RT for Bengals.

1989, Blados 10 games, Walter 7

1990-92 most games were started by Walter.

I think that OLine was awesome, so they probably never had to consider it.

unless this sight is misleading:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/team...1988_roster.htm