After reading this, I am even MORE concerned about our OL

[DefenseRules]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/08/06/issue_holes_in_that_line/?page=2

Issue: Holes in that line
Depth, durability are question marks

FOXBOROUGH - The way the Patriots' 2007 season and quest for perfection unexpectedly ended - with their blockers overtaken by a Giant surge at the line of scrimmage - was a powerful reminder.
In this game, if you can't block them, you can't beat them.

Super Bowl XLII was stunning in many respects, but at its core, it proved that when an offensive line crumbles, so too can an entire offense.

It's a point worthy of revisiting, because if there is one trouble spot standing out on the current Patriots roster, it's the big guys up front. Eighteen practices into training camp, the offensive line has been in flux. The tackle spot, in particular, has been pulverized.

Starting left tackle Matt Light has missed the last 13 practices with an undisclosed ailment, while Oliver Ross, a free agent signed in June to add depth at right tackle, remains on the physically unable to perform list, presumably because of the collarbone injury he sustained earlier in the offseason while stepping out of his camper.

Meanwhile, top backup right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan has been shelved for the last five sessions with an undisclosed ailment. Veteran Anthony Clement, a depth player signed on the eve of camp, already has been placed on season-ending injured reserve after hurting his knee.

On top of all that, starting right guard Stephen Neal - knocked out of the Super Bowl with a right knee injury, and having experienced shoulder problems in the past - remains on the physically unable to perform list. Reserve center/guard Gene Mruczkowski, a bubble player to make the roster, unexpectedly retired early in camp.

It would seemingly be reason for concern, although at this point, coach Bill Belichick is chalking it up to standard training camp roster issues. Every year, he said, certain areas of the team must be managed for a variety of reasons, injuries among them. This year, it's the offensive line.

"I don't think it is much different, as a team, than where we have been in the past," Belichick said.

Still, it's not the best of times when the team is signing players such as first-year man Pete McMahon (July 27) and veteran free agents Barry Stokes (Saturday) and John Welbourn (Monday) after camp starts.

McMahon has not appeared in an NFL game, and while Stokes (34) and Welbourn (32) have considerable experience, they are also the type of players who are available for a reason - their best days have passed them by. They also come with some risk, because older players on the line, especially those who didn't participate in a team's offseason workout program, are generally more prone to injuries - as was seen with the 32-year-old Clement.

Mike is so right that it's not a good sign that we are still signing journey man free agents to fill holes on the line. I am going to pay extra attention to the line play tomorrow night. If this continues to be an issue, will anyone in here be surprised to see the Pats trade for an OL if it's necessary? I won't. They have made trades before during training camp when they have needed to.
Thank the Football Gods that it appears that Brady will not be playing tomorrow night. I would fear for his health.

This is your CURRENT starting OL
Left Tackle: Nick Kaczur
Left Guard: Logan Mankins
Center: Dan Koppen
Right Guard: Billy Yates
Right Tackle: Wesley Britt.

Lord help us.

For those who have been at camp, how has the OL looked? Do you have any words of encouragement?

 

[BelichickFan]

Do you have any words of encouragement?

My words of encouragement are that if we just get Light back then we have all the usual starters other than Neal who's out half the time anyway.

 

[Yorkshire Patriot]

Agreed - this must be our primary concern heading into the preseason considering the number of teams which will try and recreate the Giants pass rush from the Superbowl.

 

[14thDragon]

For those who have been at camp, ...sed if Welbourne makes it in that role. :eek:

 

[Patjew]

Big trades are so rare in the NFL that while I would welcome some OL help, I'd also find it extremely surprising.

But you're right, this is a point of concern. But I'm concerned about it anyway, with Light being my anti-binky. Maybe he's the best we have, but I've always found him overrated and unreliable vs speed.

 

[BPF]

Not overly concerned, as BB said seems a group is hit hard every yr and all they do is work through it. Another reason not to be concerned is Dante, he will have this group ready.

 

[JoePats]

My words of encouragement are that if we just get Light back then we have all the usual starters other than Neal who's out half the time anyway.

Agree...And I'm not overly concerned about Light (since we have no idea what he is out with and won't be finding out anytime soon) unless he is still not practicing by about the 3rd preseason game.

 

[BelichickFan]

Agree...And I'm not overly concerned about Light (since we have no idea what he is out with and won't be finding out anytime soon) unless he is still not practicing by about the 3rd preseason game.

Injuries are always scary with the Patriots as they don't talk about them but until yesterday we were looking at possibly having Pierre Woods as a starting OLB. Like you, until we get a lot closer to 7/7, I'm not too concerned about Light.

 

[stephens44]

Did Moss practice/play in the preseason last year?

Anyway, as far as teams trying to do what the Giants in the SB is concerned: You have to have the Giants personnel to do that. They led the league in sacks last year for a reason. If there are teams out there looking to copy the Giants game plan, I sincerely hope they try it (all year). The Giants had the personnel, we're fired up and the Pats weren't ready for their gameplan. None of these factors will likely coincide for any Patriots opponent this year.

 

[Metaphors]

I'm not concerned about the play of the first team (Britt, Kaczur, Mankins, Yates, Koppen). They have all been in the program for multiple years and the Pats know what they can/can't do. My concern is that some of the first team will have to play longer than optimal in pre-season games because of the overall depth chart at this point in time (possibly only 11 viable OL candidates).

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Not overly concerned, as BB said seems a group is hit hard every yr and all they do is work through it. Another reason not to be concerned is Dante, he will have this group ready.

That's what we all thought prior to kickoff last February, too...

The OL remains my primary concern because as they go so potentially goes The Franchise. This is when losing that 31st pick really bites. They needed to address the linebackers and corners, but they might have been well served to address the trenches as well. Ultimately that is where games are won or lost irrespective of how much talent you possess behind them.

This OL back at full strength was still something of a concern - was that last game an abboration or a precursor of things to come... That OLine back in dissaray due to injuries limiting the LT and RG is a potential nightmare. Signing Jordan leads me to believe BB's default approach is to try to insure we have a running game come hell or high water because irrespective of the talent at QB and WR the Giants proved once again that disciplined defense wins championships - particularly when facing an unbalanced and frankly one dimentional offense (however prolific).

 

[Rob0729]

Although the o-line is a concern, I am not ready to press the panic button. Seasoned veterans like Light missing an extended amount of practices isn't a big deal unless it spills late into preseason.

I think the Pats are going to go into the season with extra o-linemen. I am expecting them to add a cut player when the cutdowns come or make a trade with a team that is loaded with o-linemen. It won't be a blockbuster trade, but similiar to ones that we have been on the other side of in the past when we traded guys like Grant Williams or Gregg Randall.

 

[BPF]

That's what we all thought prior to kickoff last February, too...

You're talking about one game and we all know anything can happen on any given Sunday in the NFL. I am talking about Dante's entire body of work as an OL coach and I am talking the season in general. They will be ready, they may not be firing on all cylinders in week 1 of the pre-season but they will do a stellar job once the season starts.

Dante's primary responsibility will be the OL for the ninth season in a row. He has been a member of all five Pats Super Bowl teams. He has been on the Pats coaching staff during 12 of the franchise's 15 playoff seasons and has coached in 27 of the 31 playoff games in team history. The OL has allowed fewer than 30 sacks in each of the last three seasons while making a record # of pass attempts. I would venture to guess that the total # of pass attempts is close to 1,500 in those seasons, pretty impressive.

The guy is a winner, we will be fine.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Every team has a weakest attribute and I think that OL health and depth is ours. We can rationalize away the Giants' trashing of our OL and nearly killing The Franchise in the process as an abberation, but to do so we must forget how well the Colts with a certain DE healthy manage to cause us problems. We'll need a cohesive, experienced OL with its players accustomed to knowing precisely how their neighboring hog will move in all circumstances. At this moment prior to any notable injuries to come elswhere in the lineup, this looks like the most vulnerable spot. I like the Jordan signing because we're gonna bang it more this year than last.

 

[14thDragon]

This OL back at full strength was still something of a concern - was that last game an abboration or a precursor of things to come... That OLine back in dissaray due to injuries limiting the LT and RG is a potential nightmare.

I think they are two seperate issues.

To slow down the intense pass rush you need to have more fast plays that take advantage of the aggressive defense and have a stronger running game to force them to stop and diagnose. That will also force them to "tip thier hand" on where the pass rush will come from. I think some of the empasis on improving the screen game is part of that.

That does not neccisarly mean you need a major upgrade on an o-line with three probowlers that allowed a franchise record low in sacks. (IIRC)

Having that talent gone is a problem. I think that there is enough depth to overcome Neal being out for an extended period of time. Espcially since he can stay on the PUP and keep a roster spot open. Light is much more troubling. Espcially combined with top back-up O'Callaghan also out.

But as others have said, not nearly the time to hit the panic button. But until that line is solidified with either some guys stepping up or guys coming back or a combination there of, keep the franchise safely on the sideline in meaningless games. I think Brady needs as much preseason action as Moss did last year, or this year if I had my druthers, and is best kept safe.

 

[NEPatriot]

After reading above article, I'm worried about our O this season.

We lost SB because our OL were hurt bad. We didn't know much about their injury.

I had bad feeling about it because BB suddenly signed more OL and RB recently and have 3 backup QBs. He will use them to play for TB until TB is 'safe' out there and our 'air attack' will not be the same.

I hope that our players are getting better.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

All the more reason why whoever shows the BEST as a blocking tight end should be the STARTER for this team,If he can block better than the others and not so good at receiving its fine with me,We have enough talented receivers to take care of business.

I think Watson and Thomas are two that are not known to be great blockers so maybe Pollard is the best of all 3?

 

[PatsFan37]

What matters is not how healthy the line is now, but how healthy it is in December. In the SB years when they fought through injuries, one of the advantages of all those injuries was developing depth during the season and resting the injured players, so when the playoffs came, guys were relatively fresh. The starters have already played together, so assuming Light and Neal do come back at some point, their absence now may not hurt in the long run and may even help with practicing the depth players in the first few games.

It's not like this team, with a half-decent o-line, can't win the AFC East.

That said, the oline is the weakest link right now in a team that is talented everywhere else.

 

[BelichickFan]

I think Watson and Thomas are two that are not known to be great blockers so maybe Pollard is the best of all 3?

You're going to be disappointed if you expect Pollard to be a strong blocking TE. Once Light returns we'll realize the world, and the OL, isn't coming to an end.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

You're going to be disappointed if you expect Pollard to be a strong blocking TE. Once Light returns we'll realize the world, and the OL, isn't coming to an end.

No,I don't think Pollard is a strong blocking tight end,but is he any less than Thomas and Watson right now?

I have seen Watson in blocking action during certain plays and I don't think that is his forte,He is MUCH better down the field than hanging on the line.

Although I must say Thomas has not been on the field long enough to show anything to say he sucks at blocking,but in Texas I never saw him as a blocker but more of a solid clutch receiving TE which is what he was drafted for.