Nick Canepa: Offensive linemen are big, really big, parts of success

Sez Me …

Since the first football player — all hairy and slumped over and naked — climbed out of the primeval swamp and tried to block an animal that hasn’t been seen since that giant asteroid smashed into Earth, it‘s been obvious.

You cannot win without an offensive line.

That’s it.

So it can’t go on this way.

No matter how good the rest of your team may be, no matter how good your quarterback, no matter how skilled at the skill positions, no matter how good your defense, no matter how vaunted your head coach and his staff, you’re not lining up at the jewelry store with a decrepit offensive line.

And that’s why the NFL Team That Used To Be Here — you know, the Judases/L.A. Lodgers — are at once terribly charmed and incredibly unlucky.

At what point is charmed swallowed whole by unlucky?

It could happen Sunday night, when the Judases (6-3) play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) on national television’s most watched program with their 15th different O-line combination. The home team is a three-point favorite, which is a Rocky Marciano “Suzie Q” right cross to the Steelers organization and its history.

The J’s are unlucky with the loss of their two starting Pro Bowl-caliber tackles. And charmed to have Justin Herbert, who is elite with his arm, legs, mind and toughness.

No QB has been more harassed than Herbert. He’s been pressured on 21.9 percent of his dropbacks, the highest rate in The League. And yet, he leads the NFL in rushing yards among QBs and is second in completions, passing yards and passing TDs. Normally, MVP numbers.

The deadline trade with the Saints giving up a sixth round pick for guard/tackle Trevor Penning — with tackle now so bleak, that’s where Penning figures to land — may help some. But enough? Doubtful.

It all comes down to protecting quarterback Herbert, who has been pressured 165 times, 30 more than any other QB. He was sacked six times by the Titans last week and won anyway because Tennessee stinks.

Pittsburgh is not a great team, but its defensive line may be the best in the sport. The Colts have a terrific O-line, and yet Pittsburgh sacked Indy’s QB five times last week. Something to remember, though, is that the Steelers’ secondary is very vulnerable and the J’s defense is fairly healthy.

Since Oct. 19’s 38-24 Colts debacle, the Judases’ D has allowed just 17 points. They will ride the defense for at least a mile.

But the playoff race is a mile and a quarter, the classic American distance. J’s get passed in the stretch run. …

The Padres have hired Craig Stammen as manager. Their biggest surprise since Jerry Coleman. Craig never had managed or coached baseball at any octave. Good, because it really isn’t managed correctly by anyone who has managed before. …

After a 9 ½-hour interview, Albert Pujols didn’t get the San Diego job. Asking to go to the bathroom for the fourth time probably cost him. …

The Pads will have their 200th hitting coach since the opening of Petco. Word is A.J. Preller has contacted Rasputin. …

We have no way of knowing how good a manager Stammen will be, although even saints agree the man is a saint. But did you know Pujols would be a great manager? Don’t lie. You did not. …

A good thing. The Pads have picked up Ramón Laureano’s $6.5 million option for 2026. Good player. One of their few clutch guys, and they lost him for the playoffs. …

Bad enough the Dodgers got incredibly lucky and won the Series. Do San Diego news outlets have to show their victory parade? We hate these guys. …

I’m tired of watching teams I can’t stand. Dodgers, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders. Somebody help me. …

I keep hearing it was a great World Series? It was poorly played and probably the most mismanaged Series I can recall. Close games don’t mean great games. Or didn’t you watch Raiders-Broncos? …

Why do coaches leave their stars in either-way blowouts? The Jayden Daniels injury — with the Commanders hopelessly out of it against the Seahawks with half the fourth quarter remaining — was totally preventable. Daniels has one knock: He’s frail. And he’s missed games with injuries. …

Know what a fleecing is? What the Jets did to the Colts, even cutting off their manes, sending cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts for two No. 1s. Sauce is fine, but The Jets are 17-38 with him, and no corner who ever lived is worth two ones. …

The Jets picked up another first, trading fine defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to Dallas. Hard to say who won this. One DT isn’t helping the Cowboys’ hopeless defense — especially its secondary — and the Jets may not stop somebody if they become school crossing guards. …

The SEC, the unbreakable football conference, now has fired 25 percent of its coaches. As the Chambers Brothers sang: “The rules have changed today. I have no place to stay.” …

Nebraska has zero wins in its last 30 games vs. ranked opponents. Where’s George Costanza? Was that wrong? …

The Padres may miss Robert Suarez, but I won’t. Never had a shred of confidence he was going to get the job done. …

RIP, Woody Lowe. Terrific player. Good guy. Unfortunately, his near-should-have-been-a-sack of Ken Stabler started the Holy Roller.  He also made the play that ended the great Dan Fouts-Joe Montana battle in San Francisco. …

Boise State men’s basketball, picked to finish third in the Mountain West, lost 79-78 at home to Hawaii Pacific, which is Division II. HP plays in a gym that would be small for junior highs here, and the school literally is in an old strip mall. …

No school in America had a worse week than Boise. Its football team lost 30-7 at Fresno State. …

Clemson’s Dabo Swinney says that, if coaches and players are being investigated for gambling, officials should be, too. Couldn’t agree more. …

Antonio Brown. The classic case of a Hall of Fame talent going bad. …

Brian Kelly says his vision for LSU didn’t go as he hoped. He had a vision? So did Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. …

Tom Brady has a new dog, one he cloned from his pooch who passed away. Now half of the NFL general managers are offering Tom untold millions to clone himself. …

Mike Vrabel, when asked if his Pats were close to making a trade: “Deals are like being pregnant. You either are or you aren’t. So I don’t know how close you can be.” …

The NBA’s minimum salary is $1.37 million. It’s a bad league. Unwatchable. How does it survive? I’m afraid to know. …

Hey, what’s with these short shorts kickers are wearing? They have to be outlawed. What’s next, Speedos? Kickers. …

Donald Trump wants the Commanders’ new D.C. stadium named for himself. At least there will be a new record for naming rights: $0.00. …

Peter Seidler Way has a nice ring to it. Way to go. …

There’s a new term for Black Friday: November.