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BradyManny

I actually agree. I think our O-Line has gone from severely underrated to moderately overrated in the span of a few seasons. Having the best QB in the pocket makes a big difference, as does having Moss, Stallworth, etc. and other weapons that cause teams to commit more defenders to coverage than rushing.

Mankins is great, Light is good, Koppen is great and Neal and Kazcur are both adequate. Pass protection, they probably get an A-, and some of that is thanks to Brady, run blocking isn't as great and if you rewatch these games, you notice plenty of missed blocks. They get better as the game gets on and as the opponent tires, but I do think the rightside of the OL could be upgraded in the offseason, though it doesn't have to be.

Metaphors

From what I've seen, Neal and Mankins are dynamite run blockers. I find it hard to rate Koppen since it is hard to see him in the mass of humanity (unless he is pulling which I haven't seen in a while).

Light and Kazcur both seem to have a hard time moving the LOS (which I think contributes to Maroney's "dancing" reputation). I would imagine there is a rhythm to run blocking, so maybe they need get into a running mindset to really show what they can do.

I agree on the pass blocking. If Kaczur could eliminate the one whiff per game he seems to have (which gets Brady popped), we could bump your A- to a full A.

BradyManny

I agree Maroney's reputation has something to do with the OL. Morris & Dillon were better at getting 3 yards out of nothing. If you re-watch these games, and pause right at the onset of any given run play, a fair amount of time, you'll see a bunch of Pats OL get beat and a swarm of defenders ready to pounce - in these cases, the intended hole does not present itself. Truthfully, I'd bet this is basically the norm in the NFL, and if I watched other games as closely, I'd see the same - and ultimately, RBs have to make a few yards out of these plays anyway.

Maroney is amazing at turning any decent hole into 7-10 yards by making guys miss, once he figures out how to turn nothing into 3, he will be one of the best RBs in the league. At times this year, he already has and I think his perceived "failure" this season is more or less the result of a lack of consistent opportunity, which comes from a lack of consistent need for a running attack to begin with.

makewayhomer

whatever metric they are using to judge defensive front 7's is wrong, and is flawed b/c the DB's matter too.

Indy has an excellent defense, Dallas an excellent defense. Washington, San Diego, and Philly are all about the same.

Philly just happened to match up with us well

we might actually be better as run blocking then pass blocking. Brady - despite having great feel - has now been sacked 13 times, which is good but nor great. our running game is really excellent though

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol.php

LA Pats Fan

CHFF says we haven't played against any good Defenses..

For one the defensive ranking of a team takes a huge hit AFTER we play them.

Wasn't Washington #3 or something before we "ran up the score"

ALSO Why does it matter if we play against the number 1 Defense - obviously they are not going to the play-offs and we will not see.

With the exception of Jacksonville we will have beat the remaining 4 potential playoff teams. In the NFC we will have played Dallas and NY Giants - the only other NFC potential opponent is Green Bay...

doesn't CHFF realize BB built this team to beat the playoff contenders - not the one dimensional teams with the BIG BEEF index.

Deus Irae

CHFF or no CHFF, I've been saying that I want that top pick to go for an offensive tackle, and nothing has happened to change my mind about that so far.

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"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

ClevTrev

Usually I like what CHFF has to offer. I'm fascinated at the amount of media attention a 3-point win has garnered over the last few days. Don't these talking heads have anything better to do? You've got to be kidding me questioning an O-Line having been as effective as the Pats' line this season. The defense is crumbling and the O-Line is in shambles? Right. Let's reload and watch the action with Baltimore on Monday night. Something tells me that common sense prevails and the rest of the world is in an oscillation state due to el Nino scrambling all media contributors and removing all semblance of common sense.

The world has dun gone crazy!

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jbb9s

to replace who? RT?

Joker

the Angry God is in a wrathful mood

quick...find six virgins to sacrifice..

oh...wait