MoLewisrocks

On further review Greg seems to see some issues looming that may be corrected but whose continued existence is troubling this deep into the season. Seems us OL worrywarts weren't as silly as he seemed to want to portray us as being back in September. And there seems to be a disconnect that remains with Lloyd. Josh is still working on things, which while unfortunately it has to be done is what has cost them probably coasting to HFA even with all the injuries. And it's getting perilously close to getting Brady killed. He cites the usual suspects (Brady, Welker, Branch, Woodhead) plus Ridley as those who came to play. That is my concern going forward, can they be enough once Gronk returns and why the hell aren't the others more consistently focused this late in the season. He categorizes Hernandez as "fading fast". And it's not just the ankle. Mental mistakes and alligator arms. The OL turned in a worst of the season performance across the board. He was unrealistically tough on Brady early in the season, but he seemed to begin to realize that over the last quarter of the season and adjusted his grading curves accordingly. Everyone elses focus and execution simply has not consistently been there.

Tom Brady was right to call out the Patriots offense after Jacksonville game - Patriots - Boston.com

mayoclinic

So if Brady, Welker, Branch, Woodhead and Ridley came to play that leaves ...

- Hernandez
- Lloyd
- Hoomanawanui
- Bolden (12 snaps), Fells (8 snaps), Vereen (3 snaps) and Aiken (3 snaps)
- The OL

The thing that stands out to me is that Jacksonville - a team known for getting poor pressure all season - pressured Brady on almost 48% of his drop backs despite blitzing only 11% of the time. That can't happen.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

livinginthe past

Patriots fans have generally been spoiled with O-line play over the years.

I've lost count how many times i've read on rival forums the anguish and jealousy of an O-line that plugs JAG's in and does a great job keeping Brady clean.

The Patriots put Brady in quite alot of obvious passing situations (less so this year, thankfully) where D-linemen pin their ears back and go.

Scarnecchia remains the best at his position in the league.

Sure players, and even units, have bad games - this is the NFL - we aren't watching robots perform the samme task over and over - there is human error to be factored in.

This has been an excellent season, offensively, for the Patriots - you can only judge these things relatively and they are tops (or close to tops) in almost every significant category over the season.

You don't achieve that by having an O-line that isn't up to the job.

Less hand wringing please!

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MoLewisrocks

Patriots fans have been spoiled period. But where the OL is concerned Brady has effected their ability to play at the level Dante coaches them up to as much as anything. Unfortunately at the end of the day that level drives the unit cost artificially and that impacts the teams ability to invest elsewhere. Mankins is two years into a top of the market deal and despite what Pro Bowl voters seem to think he hasn't played at that level since 2010 when he only did so for half a season. Now they are already past protecting him and have to try to squeeze $8.5M per of production out of him... They will be facing a similar situation as they assess any offer to Vollmer - with a second deal for Solder looming after 2013 (or a hefty 5th year guaranteed rookie tag cap hit in 2015). A $25M+ OL isn't going to float here even if they were truly worth it.

Don't be surprised to see them squeeze Mankins into a pay cut restructure this off season. And a true one or at least one that requires him to earn money back via playing time incentives...and throughout the remainder of his deal unless he starts earning his pro bowl nods. Otherwise he isn't seeing that deal through to 2016.

Rob0729

So the o-line is a disaster because of one game? I'm sorry, the o-line worrywarts were very silly in September. All that insulting Waters crap was ridiculous. This o-line for the most part has played very well even with injuries to Vollmer, Mankins, and Connolly.

Yes, the o-line play is something to watch especially since Vollmer and Mankins seem to be significantly less than 100% (which is what Bedard points out as a big reason for the poor performance especially for Vollmer who had a horrible game). But if you rank the o-line units play, the Pats are still near the top for the year.

MoLewisrocks

Bedard doesn't think we see Bolden or Vereen again before camp after this week...

The OL as some of us feared is what it is at this juncture. Have to just squeeze whatever they can out of it and hope it's enough. But they are going to have some tough decisions to make heading into next season. Can't keep rolling the dice that it will somehow all come together in the end. History here doesn't back that contention up. We have enough weapons on offense to adapt and adjust to situations only as long as the OL can facilitate those adaptations or adjustment.

mayoclinic

Absolutely. I have a very hard time seeing Mankins playing out his deal, no matter what. He got his $20M signing bonus, and he hasn't consistently played up to his pre-2010 level since his holdout. I give him credit for toughness, leadership and playing through injuries, but he has a huge cap hit that is a drain on other areas, and he has to play up to it to continue justifying that kind of money.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

Rob0729

BTW, the Pats should sit Vollmer in place of Cannon this weekend. Vollmer is quickly becoming the weak link of the o-line because he clearly isn't right. Cannon has done a pretty good job filling in for him. Vollmer is a guy who could benefit for a bye (hopefully two bye with this weekend and next weekend).

KontradictioN

Definitely agree with this. Vollmer is clearly hurting and his back issues are seemingly becoming chronic. Sit him this weekend and let him rest it.

My biggest concern about the OL is the interior OL. Wendell looks overwhelmed at times and Connolly is clearly injured. The biggest concern when it comes to an opposing pass rush vs. Brady is a pass rush up the A-Gap. Alualu was getting a decent push up the middle last week. Against teams like the Bengals and Texans, that interior OL needs to be stout or Brady's going to be peeling himself up off the turf a good amount.

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CREDIT - Sicilian

QB12

As I said in another thread, sit Mankins' ass down now! SOB is nowhere near starting caliber.