PonyExpress

Another top notch article by former Pat Ross Tucker, now working for SI. I have to say, we need more Ross Tuckers in the football media and fewer gossip mavens.

If somehow Nolan Nawrocki, Mike Reiss, Bert Breer and Ross Tucker could join forces and start a newsletter, I would be in football heaven.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...x.html?eref=T1

slash83

Damn Colvin looks like hes about to get punked in that pic lol

The Great Fork

I wonder if he would change this opinion somewhat for a team like the Cardinals who have Matt Leinart (well, Leinart and warner), who throws lefty. For example, how do the protection schemes change, etc.

SammyBlueCat

Good article but I partially disagree. A successful offense needs to be pretty decent at all 5 positions.

unoriginal

The very interesting part of the article is Tucker's differentiation between right guard (tougher) and left guard (easier).

As to how this relates to the Pats specifically, from what I saw of the offensive line this year, the right guard was getting just as much help as the left guard from Koppen on pass plays. And I believe I saw a tendency from Tom Brady to slide left in the pocket.

Based on Tucker's general analysis, this means Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are much more comfortable with the left side of the line than are most teams. Or they like their whole line, and block right often because they feel an unconstrained throwing motion (right side) is just as/more important than backside pressure (left side).

Bertil

Can you say "at number 7, the New England Patriots select....Brandon Albert, Guard, University of Virginia".

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PonyExpress

No I can't and I don't want to. Reading Tucker's article, unless Albert can play tackle at an elite level, it would be folly to give him a 40 million dollar contract.

MoLewisrocks

I think some of what he had to say was instructive as to what transpired in the Superbowl. Too many linemen faced one on one or less and lost the physical battle. Our more highly touted center and left guard and tackle got out physicaled, though to be fair so did the RG and RT...and the C may have been out smarted too. I know we led the league in scoring and sometimes Brady seemed to have all day and he wasn't sacked much in the regular season, but a lot of that is Brady being Brady. He got hit and knocked down at above average rates, and still delivered, and that's been happening for a couple of years now and the lack of actual sacks is just testament to his fearless pocket presence and deft mobility.

This is why we should not sit pat and point to ill conceived OL pro bowl nods in Brady's limited lifetime and draft to upgrade OL talent whenever possible. He will make it worth your while. Upgrade OL/DL talent across the board any time you can because that is the way to create the most bang for your buck and draft pick. Look at Jarvis - he'd start on most teams. We can coach up average talent and reasonably acquire proven veteran FA talent elsewhere on the roster. In some cases, like LB, that is the preferred approach since college players don't transition as well in our scheme. Physicality sets the tone, and that starts or ends with line play. The dermination to impose your will on an opponent eminates from your LOS play on either side of the ball. When they excel they create opportunities for others to shine. When they don't, everyone and everything suffers. My dream is to one day have an OLine that allows for receiving TE's...as opposed to 6th OL blocking TE's who are always playing injured.

FootballFanetic

From Rochester, New York, baby, so he can't be bad

Way too high for him even in my homeboy opinion, but if you could move out of 7 and into the 20s (taking your usual 1st rd pick next year, too, for your troubles) he may be worth it.

On Tucker's articles in general, I've become a big fan of his writing. His Moneyball article last week was very interesting, as was his one a month or so ago on why marginal players may want to take 'roids or HGH. He brings a pretty unique perspective to his writing, being a former player with a brain (he went to Princeton), and I hope he keeps up the good work.

Gainzo

I agree. Tucker is telling it like it is. He was basically a JAG in the NFL but was smart enough to see what goes on in regards to line play.

His moneyball, or as I call it; "Alan Faneca was overpaid by the Jets," article was spot on.

The Pats have gone through many O-linemen over the years but still get it done at the line of scrimmage.