Yep, if I recall correctly the two of us already talked about this at length, and that is the crux of the issue. O-lines have never been in a worse shape in the NFL, and the big reasons for that are both lack of development of good O-linemen at the collegiate level and the fact that everyone that has a combination of strength and speed is pushed towards playing D because $ there is better and because teams today are so focused on having elite D-lines, at both the NCAA and pro levels.
It's grossly imbalanced, and I wonder if the NFL will tweak a rule or two to balance it out.
Good edge rushers have always been able to outflank most OTs. But today, even OGs/OTs can't run block one-on-one against the DEs/DTs across the line. The Dline is universally more athletic than the Oline now. Much more so. So not only can't QBs throw deep due to lack of time, teams can't run much anymore either. So we end up with these 3 yard passes all game long.
One thing that could balance the scales, would be a "limited blitz rule". For example, the defense can't rush more than 5 guys past the line of scrimmage on a pass play while the QB is still in the pocket (that 5 number could be some other number, it's just an example). If it's a run play or the QB leaves the pocket, all bets are off - release the dogs. A rule like this would allow QBs a bit of time to find the one or two 220+lb star athletes on offense downfield, and would still allow defenses to be creative and aggressive with pass rushing.
I don't like gimmicks, and this seems a bit like one. But there are a lot of other rules in place to make NFL offenses more effective, why not one more?
