There aren’t many tackles who have played better than Tunsil in the run game. He has only been defeated on 7.9% of run plays, which ranks second best among NFC offensive tackles with at least 250 run block snaps behind only Trent Williams. His run block grade from PFF is the highest of his career, while his overall grade of 87.5 is fourth best for NFC OTs with at least 250 total snaps.
And the Commanders have benefited from Tunsil’s improvements as a run blocker. They average 4.9 yards per carry — tied for the third best number in the league — and rank fourth in yards per game (136.5). They rank eighth in rushing EPA, according to FTN, and fifth in yards per carry on outside zone runs.
Those stats are a result of how the offensive line as a whole has performed this season, but Tunsil’s teammates know just how big of a role he’s had in elevating the position.
“I feel like the biggest thing is his ability just to grab hold of somebody in the run game and just completely run them off the ball,” rookie Josh Conerly said of Tunsil.
There’s nothing special about what Tunsil did to improve as a run blocker. “It’s really just a mentality,” he said, and attention to detail. That started during his years with the Houston Texans, when then offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and current Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans taught him the proper way to practice. Slowik had a run scheme that revolved around outside zone runs, so Tunsil had to emphasize running off the ball. That work was put on display in 2023, he said, but the results were noticeable for him in 2024, when the Texans jumped in rushing offense from 22nd to 15th.
Although Tunsil views the success the Commanders have had at running the ball is credited to the entire offense, his own improvements have been more prevalent. The first two steps, he said, are the most important thing about being a run blocker. Getting that right allows him to effectively react to defensive linemen and put his hands in the right spot to “drive them off the ball.”