You don’t often see passing plays in which there are seven offensive linemen in the formation. This season, per Sports Info Solutions, there have been just seven such plays, and no quarterback has thrown more than one pass out of 7OL personnel. But four of those passes have gone for touchdowns. Baker Mayfield threw one, Ryan Tannehill threw one, and Dak Prescott threw one.
And with 4:50 left in the third quarter of the Lions’ game with the Seahawks, Detroit backup quarterback Tim Boyle threw the fourth 7OL touchdown pass of the season to offensive tackle Taylor Decker.
TAYLOR DECKER BIG MAN TD#OnePride @__taylordecker
📺: #DETvsSEA on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/oyl01PDoqV— NFL (@NFL) January 2, 2022
The replay is enough to bring tears to the eyes of any big man — from left to right, it’s Decker, left guard Jonah Jackson, center Evan Brown, right guard Tommy Kraemer, right tackle Penei Sewell, auxiliary tackle Matt Nelson, and second auxiliary tackle Parker Ehinger.
That’s over a ton of fun, kids.
The Seahawks were obviously expecting some sort of power run here, because they were completely unprepared for the pass to Decker. Which may explain why the 7OL red zone passing concept has been so successful.
Or, if you follow former offensive lineman and ESPN analyst Mike Golic Jr., this is just the obvious output of putting your best athletes on the gridiron.
getting as many athletes on the field as possible remains the best football strategy.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) January 2, 2022
