So what do we do with our OL now?

[Snarf]

Surely they can't be seriously thinking about keeping the OL exactly the same as last year after it COLLAPSED in the SB?

 

[pats1]

Surely they can't be seriously thinking about keeping the OL exactly the same as last year after it COLLAPSED in the SB?

What is there to do? You have 3 Pro Bowlers and two otherwise solid players who all had one bad game last season.

 

[PatsDeb]

I chalk up the Superbowl horrendous performance to Brady being injured and the whole offense being "off" because of it. The team obviously doesn't think major changes are needed.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

18 good days.
1 bad day.

Hmm....yes, let's change it.

 

[BostonBullit]

the O-line that kept everything in the NFL away from TFB for 17 games? that o-line? they turned into turnstyles for one game, given it was the most important game but still it was one game out of the season and all of the sudden everyone wants to scrap em?

they could use an upgrade on the right side because Neal can't seem to stay healthy but it wasn't worth a first day pick with the current state of the D.

 

[Rob0729]

I do agree that since the o-line basically gave Brady all the time in the world for most of the season, we should all overreact and blow up the whole o-line based on one really bad game. I mean for most of the season, people were talking how the Pats might have the best pass protection in the league. How do you not make upgrading a unit like that your top priority?

As constituted right now, this is still the best o-line Brady has ever had assuming Neal is healthy. I wouldn't have minded upgrading the RT position, but it wasn't a huge priority.

 

[Deus Irae]

Surely they can't be seriously thinking about keeping the OL exactly the same as last year after it COLLAPSED in the SB?

I wanted them to take a tackle in round 1. Having said that, this is still one of the best lines in football, and helped the team get to within 3 minutes of the first 19-0 season in NFL history. Let's not panic just because of one bad game against a great defensive line when Neal went down to injury early on and changed the dynamics of the game.

 

[FootballFanetic]

You guys have one of (if not, the) best O-line in the League and you're nervous about it because it played poorly in one game against the best D-line in the League, amped up for the biggest game of their lives? I wouldn't sweat it too much, fellas. Your O-line (which also happens to be relatively young) will be fine as is.....

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Surely they can't be seriously thinking about keeping the OL exactly the same as last year after it COLLAPSED in the SB?

Surely you can't be serious about revamping an that gave up the 5th least sacks in the regular season, because they had a bad game against the super bowl champions.

 

[BostonBullit]

I'm going to say this in addition - it's going to PAINFULL seing gholston run by Matt Light for two games a year. I like Matt, seems like a nice guy and all but facts is facts and the fact is he gets lit up by speed rushers :bricks:. he best be doing something in the offseason to figure that issue out or things could get ugly

 

[Fencer]

Nothing. They're upgrading backup QB instead.

Seriously, OL are about as strong as their weakest link these days, which makes them hard to upgrade.

 

[BradyManny]

As constituted right now, this is still the best o-line Brady has ever had assuming Neal is healthy. I wouldn't have minded upgrading the RT position, but it wasn't a huge priority.

You need to phrase it another way - Brady makes this one of the better lines in the league. If this OL were protecting for a mediocre quarterback, it'd be a mediocre line. I really think that, and I thought Aaron Schatz's breakdown further proved this given the number of times and high percentage Brady was hit. As it is, I think the OL went from underrated to overrated b/c of Brady.

I wouldn't mind adding a guy like Shane Olivea for depth purposes at this point, as Kazcur, O'Cal and Neal have all battled injuries at times on that right side. He's still an FA right?

 

[unoriginal]

You need to phrase it another way - Brady makes this one of the better lines in the league. If this OL were protecting for a mediocre quarterback, it'd be a mediocre line. I really think that, and I thought Aaron Schatz's breakdown further proved this given the number of times and high percentage Brady was hit. As it is, I think the OL went from underrated to overrated b/c of Brady.

I wouldn't mind adding a guy like Shane Olivea for depth purposes at this point, as Kazcur, O'Cal and Neal have all battled injuries at times on that right side. He's still an FA right?

Shane Olivea is Ryan O'Callaghan quality with a bigger salary and an attitude, so the Chargers fans tell me.

 

[Rob0729]

You need to phrase it another way - Brady makes this one of the better lines in the league. If this OL were protecting for a mediocre quarterback, it'd be a mediocre line. I really think that, and I thought Aaron Schatz's breakdown further proved this given the number of times and high percentage Brady was hit. As it is, I think the OL went from underrated to overrated b/c of Brady.

I wouldn't mind adding a guy like Shane Olivea for depth purposes at this point, as Kazcur, O'Cal and Neal have all battled injuries at times on that right side. He's still an FA right?

No matter if they were overrated because of Brady or not, it is still the best line Brady ever had. Past o-lines with journeymen like Andruzzi, Compton, Klemm, Gorin, Ashworth, Woody, etc. all benefitted from Brady and his quick release. It doesn't change that this group as constituted is the best of the bunch.

Besides, being a season ticket holder, I can attest to that Brady historically has always been hit a lot after he releases the ball. Brady will hold onto the ball until the last second to allow the receiver extra time to get open. That is one of his strength of know just when to let go of the ball. Eventhough he did get a bit after he got rid of the ball, I bet you that percentagewise of the number of passes he made, it was down a lot compared to previous years. Brady got hit far more in 2006.

 

[hwc]

There is no way in heck the Pats were going to pay top-10 money to any of the o-linemen available to them in the first round.

The failure of the Pats o-line in the Superbowl was so comprehensive (after a very good season of pass protection) that you really have to chalk it up to being outcoached and out game-planned.

The Patriots offense should provide sufficient flexibility to make a defense pay for aggressive upfield pursuit. The Pats were obviously not prepared to do so in their game plan. Hurts me to think about, but it is what it is. That was a good old-fashioned butt-kicking and replacing one guy on the o-line with rookie draft pick wouldn't have made a dimes worth of difference.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Nobody had any huge complaints about the OL when the Pats beat the Giants 38-35 in week 17. Nobody looked at the Mankins/Tuck matchup that week and said fixing was needed.

Regards,
Chris

 

[blackglass3]

You guys have one of (if not, the) best O-line in the League and you're nervous about it because it played poorly in one game against the best D-line in the League, amped up for the biggest game of their lives? I wouldn't sweat it too much, fellas. Your O-line (which also happens to be relatively young) will be fine as is.....

Exactly. The Cowboys O-line from the 90's would have had trouble playing that Giants DL. One bad game, yes, let's blow the whole thing up. We should also trade that injury magnet Tom Brady.

See, FF, I knew we could agree on some things. Peace.

 

[PatsFan24]

OL was great most of the season, only games I remember them having problems were the Sb, the ravens and the eagles games. Otherwise they were fantastic. Brady had more time to throw than anyone I have ever seen, esp early in the year

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

playcalling and committing legitimately to the run was the SB problem. Sammy morris will be a huge return.

 

[unoriginal]

Nobody had any huge complaints about the OL when the Pats beat the Giants 38-35 in week 17. Nobody looked at the Mankins/Tuck matchup that week and said fixing was needed.

Regards,
Chris

True in that there weren't the kind of complaints we saw after the Super Bowl, but a few posters had a good idea what to watch for...

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