CHFF wonders about our O-line

[SVN]

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.co..._wrong_with_NE's_O-line?_The_competition.html

 

[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]

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.

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]

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 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]

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.co..._wrong_with_NE's_O-line?_The_competition.html

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.

 

[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!

 

[jbb9s]

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.

to replace who? RT?

 

[Joker]

the Angry God is in a wrathful mood

quick...find six virgins to sacrifice..

oh...wait

 

[ATippett56]

I wonder more about the Patriots offensive play calling than the offensive line. The Patriots have become too pass happy lately and need to revert back to the balanced offensive attack as executed to perfection against the Washington Redskins.

 

[Deus Irae]

to replace who? RT?

It's not really about replacing as much as improving the competition. Neither starting tackle is Orlando Pace, after all, even though I think Light is a quality left tackle. If there's a future Pro Bowl type of tackle on the board, the Patriots should take him and let them all fight it out. It's not as if this team is famous for its lineman all playing 16 games a season every year. Furthermore, I wouldn't mind finding a monster left tackle to go next to Logan Mankins for about a decade of dominance. I just don't know who'll be coming out in the draft and if any of them are capable of reaching that sort of level in the NFL.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

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.

I know what you are saying, but I think they have been moderately overrated for a while. They were wildly inconsistent between 2005-6. This year, they have been mostly very solid in pass protection and mostly adequate to good in run blocking. The passing game has made the run blocking look better due to the lack of an extra man in the box, and everybody following Moss around the field.

I think that they will continue to find their run game as the season progresses, and who can complain about the pass protection overall? These guys know how to step it up a notch in the big games and playoffs.

I think the WRs take the blame for not performing quite as well this week, if anything, and our defensive game plan and pass rush was abysmal.

 

[PonyExpress]

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.

I had been thinking the same, until recently. But I don't like the direction the D is heading. Not this season, but going forward. There will be a talent drain coming. Colvin is out, and may be either gone or restructured, or hobbled next season depending on the extent of his injury (maybe it's a lis franc). The ILB situation is frankly a mess going forward. Samuel is gone, Harrison is old, Wilson is gone, Meriweather is an unknown, Sanders is merely adequate, Hobbs has been a bit of a disappointment, Gay may be gone. Wilfork needs a new contract, Seymour has been underwhelming thus far this season, and last, and who knows what he'll be next season. Frankly, the only defensive players I feel strongly positive about next season are Warren, Wilfork, Thomas and Vrabel. In contrast, on the offensive side there are numerous impact players from Watson to Welker, Moss (assuming he resigns), Maroney, Koppen, Mankins, Brady etc. While an OT would make the offense even more unstoppable and preclude the need to give Light an undeservedly large contract, IMO a young, impact D player may be more important for the overall health of the roster. That is why I am looking at Chris Long, Harvey, Laurinitis, Dorsey, Philips, etc.

 

[Water Boy]

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.

I agree. I think we have a good offensive line, but Brady is a a huge reason that they are ranked as the best unit in the NFL. The problem the the CHFF Offensive Hog Index is that the measurables (like % of negative pass plays and 3rd down efficiency) are highly influenced by the quality of the QB. The ranking of this Pats offensive line would be a whole lot different if say Drew Bledsoe (even in his prime) was QB.

 

[BradyManny]

I think that they will continue to find their run game as the season progresses, and who can complain about the pass protection overall?

Exactly, I said before this season that I thought the OL was good with room for improvement if necessary - of course, other needs are much higher priority. I stand by that - personnel hasn't changed at all on the OL, obviously the real factor at work here is the wideouts and Brady.

 

[ClevTrev]

I believe CHFF has restated that the Pats O-line is special and rated #1 in the league. Given the pressure they experienced against the Eagles, this was a good test to get them ready for the remainder of the season and the playoffs, as it's certain they'll be seeing this strategy deployed again.