JR4

Nice article. Some good basis for their evaluations of all 32 teams
and comments on each Oline.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7036746

enjoy.

SeanBruschi54

They mention Wesley Britt but not O'Callaghan?

DarrylS

I agree the central philosophy of this team, is a very good QB and lock the very good players up in the trenches.. the longer they play together the better they get, the sum is greater than the individual parts.

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

37Harrison

I have to disagree with where they rank the Colts. They have a very good O-line and it isn't just because of Manning. I think they are as good if not better than the Pats O-line. Manning may be able to call out the protections but the players still have to execute.

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Fixit

Even better, they're built up an immunity to holding penalties.

MoLewisrocks

I'd have to agree.

Not sure how valid these rankings were in 2006 let alone project in 2007. I didn't feel like we had even the 7th best OL in the league. A couple of guys from PFW were on with Felger yesterday and one thing they commented on I'd have to agree with. That this line hasn't really lived up to it's billing just yet, and it better if Brady is to continue to be a force. He avoids a lot of sacks, but he's still had the **** knocked out of him on way too many occasions over the last couple of seasons and one of these times if that persists he's liable to not get right back up. They have also had RB injuries to deal with but it's not like they've opened up gaping holes for their guys to make playing dinged up any easier. Hopefully some new blocking schemes better suited to them and our young now featured RB will help in that area and a plethora of WR talent will make pass blocking a little less of an adventure. As taken as they appear to be with Kaczur I unfortunately think the jury remains out on him, and at 28 he'd better have gotten his act together or RT is TBD.

stinkypete

I find it interesting to see that a statistical analysis of oline play ranked the Pats #2. I think we're top 5, but thought that the line had faltered a bit over the past 2 years. I guess we're our own harshest critics.

mgteich

Dante is the best position coach in the league. We have a fine set of NINE offensive linemen. The entire line is signed long-term. IMHO, the ONLY issue we have is in the health of our tackles. This has been an issues for the past three years. Dante always has a couple of Practice Squad linemen in the wings. He is even allowed to pay them as if the are on the 53 man squad. Right now the ONLY question I have is O'Callaghan's health. He may need to retire. I believe Kaycur is back at close to 100%. Light certainly is.

Don Calhoun

Forgive my ignorance, but what is wrong with O'Callaghan that he may need to retire??!!

Oswlek

You can say that again. I am amazed every time I watch Indy at just how much grabbing they get away with on the line. Every single game that NE plays them, Seymour will have an "Ole!" play where he gets by his man immediately only to have his jersey stretching out behind him as the OL holds on for dear life.

Oddly enough, I have never heard any rrumblings of the competition committee looking into the excessive holding by the OL.

Edited to add that I agree with most of the posts here that NE's OL hasn't quite earned that lofty of a ranking just yet.

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