The true miracle of last night... the O-line...

[oldrover]

Andrews, Mason and Jackson up the middle... three rookies... and they truly held their own.

Brady only got sacked twice that I can recall. And he was very complimentary of them as well in the postgame interviews he did for everyone except NBC. : - )

Belichick's been quoted as saying this group was more talented than last year's. Well, last night was pretty darn good evidence of that.

 

[Joey007]

I was very pleasantly surprised about David Andrews. Why has no one talked about him? Played well last night.

 

[Ross12]

I was very pleasantly surprised about David Andrews. Why has no one talked about him? Played well last night.

He was really up and down in the preseason, you had to figure once he was playing starting-caliber players in a real game, it would be more down than up. Surprisingly, it was pretty much all up.

 

[manxman2601]

Doug Ked chartered how the OL fared against the pass rush:

PASS PROTECTION
Nate Solder: two hurries
Marcus Cannon: sack
Dion Lewis: sack
David Andrews: QB hit
Tre’ Jackson: QB hit
Sebastian Vollmer: hurry

http://nesn.com/2015/09/patriots-advanced-passing-stats-malcolm-butler-struggles-in-tough-matchup/

Nothing from either Kline or Mason.

Offensive Line Snaps

OFFENSIVE LINE

C David Andrews -- 61 of 61

LT Nate Solder -- 57 of 61

G Josh Kline -- 54 of 61

RT Sebastian Vollmer -- 52 of 61

G Shaq Mason -- 36 of 61

G Tre' Jackson -- 35 of 61

OT Marcus Cannon -- 13 of 61

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...h-snap-count-clarifies-patriots-picture-at-rb

Note that Mason ended up with one more snap than Tre Jackson despite not starting. Of course he did have a couple of snaps at FB.

 

[makoute]

Lewis gave up a sack?

 

[sevengables_2207]

They looked solid last night. Definitely optimistic going forward. Next week will be a massive test for the young interior for sure against Sweaty Feet's Bills Defense.

 

[ViperGTS]

He was really up and down in the preseason, you had to figure once he was playing starting-caliber players in a real game, it would be more down than up. Surprisingly, it was pretty much all up.

What I don't understand is how the UGA starting center, team captain in the SEC goes undrafted? I can see the Pats passing him up due to Stork, but really?

 

[Sticky Caulk]

Lewis gave up a sack?

He missed his block before he ran his route and let his man sack Brady almost instantly. He's been out of football for two years and is very small (for an NFLer), so I would assume that's going to happen every once in a while.

 

[Brandon_Cox]

The Atlanta Falcons are getting killed on sports talk radio here in Atlanta. Most callers are drooling, cretinous rednecks (also known as University of Georgia fans) and they are royally pissed that David Andrews was not signed by the team with the worst O-line in the league. Why, oh why, couldn't the Falcons, who are 60 miles from Athens, sign a three year starter and team captain at UGA? All day it's how smart Belichick and the evil Patriots are and how stupid the Falcons are. It's high comedy.

 

[Ross12]

Doug Ked chartered how the OL fared against the pass rush:

PASS PROTECTION
Nate Solder: two hurries
Marcus Cannon: sack
Dion Lewis: sack
David Andrews: QB hit
Tre’ Jackson: QB hit
Sebastian Vollmer: hurry

http://nesn.com/2015/09/patriots-advanced-passing-stats-malcolm-butler-struggles-in-tough-matchup/

Nothing from either Kline or Mason.

Offensive Line Snaps

OFFENSIVE LINE

C David Andrews -- 61 of 61

LT Nate Solder -- 57 of 61

G Josh Kline -- 54 of 61

RT Sebastian Vollmer -- 52 of 61

G Shaq Mason -- 36 of 61

G Tre' Jackson -- 35 of 61

OT Marcus Cannon -- 13 of 61

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...h-snap-count-clarifies-patriots-picture-at-rb

Note that Mason ended up with one more snap than Tre Jackson despite not starting. Of course he did have a couple of snaps at FB.

Who got FB snaps? Mason? I missed that.

 

[TomPatriot]

Not really a miracle. They are extremely well coached. DeGuglielmo is an excellent OL teacher and coach and that's why 3 rookies can get a lot of playing time successfully on opening night.

 

[Ross12]

The Atlanta Falcons are getting killed on sports talk radio here in Atlanta. Most callers are drooling, cretinous rednecks (also known as University of Georgia fans) and they are royally pissed that David Andrews was not signed by the team with the worst O-line in the league. Why, oh why, couldn't the Falcons, who are 60 miles from Athens, sign a three year starter and team captain at UGA? All day it's how smart Belichick and the evil Patriots are and how stupid the Falcons are. It's high comedy.

IIRC Belichick ponied up the big bucks (for a UDFA anyway) to get Andrews.

 

[Ross12]

Not really a miracle. They are extremely well coached. DeGuglielmo is an excellent OL teacher and coach and that's why 3 rookies can get a lot of playing time successfully on opening night.

Lol and to think, all I read last year was about how the team was doomed because Scar retired and Gugs was an idiot

 

[TomPatriot]

Lol and to think, all I read last year was about how the team was doomed because Scar retired and Gugs was an idiot

You're right! But you never read that from me!

 

[Ross12]

What I don't understand is how the UGA starting center, team captain in the SEC goes undrafted? I can see the Pats passing him up due to Stork, but really?

He is small for his position I would say. NFL teams are often averse to small-ish guys unless they show some crazy good talent. Position has to be considered too. If Russell Wilson was 6'3" he would've been picked in the top 5, but he's tiny so he fell to the 3rd round. Considering an excellent center like Stork is only worth a 4th rounder, a small less-talented center easily falls all the way out of the draft. But those are the kinds of guys that BB excels at identifying and snatching up.

 

[nabwong]

Who got FB snaps? Mason? I missed that.

I saw Chandler at FB mostly.

 

[TomPatriot]

Lewis gave up a sack?

He didn't pick up the Will Allen safety blitz.

 

[Ross12]

If Andrews keeps it up and can learn to play a little Guard, they can probably trade Wendell by mid season when Stork returns.

If I had posted a week ago that Stork would be placed on IR-DTR, and Wendell would be inactive, but the O-line would cruise regardless, I would've been showered with disagrees.

 

[turkeyneck]

Lewis gave up a sack?

I'm pretty sure that was on Cannon who went inside to double with the guard on that blitz, leaving Lewis to handle the edge rusher and the blitzer by himself.

 

[PatsFan2]

David Andrews playing the ENTIRE Game at Center is what I most appreciated. I don't EVER...ever what to see Ryan Wendell playing Center for us again. Wendell is a very good Guard but a below average Center.