Offensive Line thoughts

Ross12 · Sep 10, 2015

IMO they wouldn't have kept Andrews on the roster if they didn't intend to play him. I think Wendell will start the year at LG and Andrews at C. Hopefully by the time Stork is back, Mason will be ready to start at LG, Andrews can get stashed on the PS and Wendell can become depth for any of the interior OL spots.

I also think we need to remember that Stork's concussion situation may have less to do with the severity of the concussion and more to do with the league's new concussion protocols. I think that can become a real issue for games this year, @Sticky Caulk pointed this out to me last night.

mgteich · Sep 10, 2015

Andrews might very well start.

However, I don't understand the position that Andrews is either a starter or doesn't belong on the team.

With Stork out indefinitely and Wendell coming off injuries, backup center is certainly a good use of a roster position, a good use of the 9th OL roster position.

mgteich · Sep 10, 2015

patriot1136 said:
I would expect to see Cannon work his way in there and throw in Michael Williams as an extra blocker. That may take some pressure off of Mason/Andrews/Jackson.

Cannon will work his way in where?

mgteich · Sep 10, 2015

I agree.

If Wendell is healthy, this is the "best" that we have.
Solder-Kline-Wendell-Jackson-Vollmer

Most of us thought that we had a weakness at LG, with it being OK since the LG (probably Wendell) would be between Solder and Stork. Now, the left side is a serious weakness.

After all, Wendell was replaced at center, and Kline has never been a particularly good starter at LG.

Perhaps we will see something new from Belichick, a rookie free agent starting at center, being the leader of the OL. Yuch!

supafly said:
So do I, and I think it's a complete no brainer.

Solder-Kline-Wendell-Jackson-Vollmer

I just have a lot of reservations as to Mason being ready in pass protection tomorrow night, although he's clearly the player there for the future.

Ross12 · Sep 10, 2015

mgteich said:
Andrews might very well start.

However, I don't understand the position that Andrews is either a starter or doesn't belong on the team.

With Stork out indefinitely and Wendell coming off injuries, backup center is certainly a good use of a roster position, a good use of the 9th OL roster position.

Yeah it's certainly possible, was just my opinion.

Tuck · Sep 10, 2015

I love Mason's skills but the idea of starting him next to Wendell and playing every down would not be my first choice.

As a pulling guard he is exceptional. I can remember seeing a guy get around the corner and seal it off faster than this kid BUT watching him pass block is nerve wracking. He just doesn't seem to have the length to win a hand fight with taller D Tackles which is problematic because most of these guys are. 6'3" and up now.

Hopefully Bill can do what he does best and use the kid situationally and get the most out of him until his pass blocking improves.

SalemPats · Sep 10, 2015

We know TB makes the O-Line so much better. All we need are guys that can't get pushed down the middle and for the tackles to hold the guys for 2 seconds from the outside, because TB is the best at stepping up in the pocket. We should be fine.

mgteich · Sep 10, 2015

I guess we'll see where the OL is after five games, as in 2014.

To feel better, I guess we could look at our 2014 Super Bowl team's OL for Game 1.

JackBauer · Sep 10, 2015

Jeff Howe thinks Mason is ready to start tonight:

Every one of Mason's preseason snaps has been under the microscope here, and my belief is he is more than ready to start tomorrow against the Steelers. Mason is inconsistent, for sure, but every lineman has made a few mistakes this preseason. The difference between Mason, Kline and David Andrews is Mason has made enough key blocks to spring running backs for intermediate and long gains. He was the integral contributor for Jonas Gray’s 55-yard touchdown against the Packers.

And for all the grief Mason gets for his pass blocking, which is based more about his college reputation than his NFL tape, he only allowed one preseason sack and two pressures.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...haq_mason_is_ready_right_now_to_start_for_the

BobDigital · Sep 10, 2015

DAMN YOU JACK BAUER... you beat me to it

patsfan13 · Sep 10, 2015

Well we know we have the right guys making the decisions.

In BB we Trust

AzPatsFan · Sep 10, 2015

Geez, we'll have to play our Super bowl 2014 line...

captain stone · Sep 10, 2015

mgteich said:
Cannon will work his way in where?

RG, where he should've been the whole time.
Why should Jackson's name be etched in stone at RG? I don't think he looked good during
the pre-season, at all.

IllegalContact · Sep 10, 2015

by this time next year, the experience of mason and jackson will not be an issue

maybe stork can wear a giant wes welker helmet

supafly · Sep 10, 2015

mgteich said:
I agree.

If Wendell is healthy, this is the "best" that we have.
Solder-Kline-Wendell-Jackson-Vollmer

Most of us thought that we had a weakness at LG, with it being OK since the LG (probably Wendell) would be between Solder and Stork. Now, the left side is a serious weakness.

After all, Wendell was replaced at center, and Kline has never been a particularly good starter at LG.

Perhaps we will see something new from Belichick, a rookie free agent starting at center, being the leader of the OL. Yuch!

Yes, the possibility of Andrews at C and Wendell at LG is another option, as you mention.

The real question is if Belichick thinks he's actually ready to start an NFL game, where at least Kline has proven to be adequate or average. As you said, he's more of a RG than a LG, but he looked alright at LG when Mankins moved to LT at the end of 2013.

JackBauer · Sep 10, 2015

captain stone said:
RG, where he should've been the whole time.
Why should Jackson's name be etched in stone at RG? I don't think he looked good during
the pre-season, at all.

Who if not Jackson?

supafly · Sep 10, 2015

AzPatsFan said:
Geez, we'll have to play our Super bowl 2014 line...

Divisional round and AFCCG.

I'm almost positive Stork returned for the SB, with the two week cushion, and the early postseason bye week.

QB12 · Sep 10, 2015

Yes Stork started and played the entire Super Bowl. Who can forget his reaction after TB12 drew Bennett offsides in the closing moments to seal the victory?

His starting was deemed so important by NBC that it was the subject of a sideline report by Michelle Tafoya just before kickoff.

mgteich · Sep 10, 2015

captain stone said:
RG, where he should've been the whole time.
Why should Jackson's name be etched in stone at RG? I don't think he looked good during
the pre-season, at all.

Cannon at RG is a speck in the imagination of posters on this board. He hasn't looked good when he was tried out there. He was bad enough that the patriots used a high draft choice to draft a RG.

Cannon is our backup OT, as he has been since he arrived. Given that both OT's have been injured, Belichick is willing to pay a lot for a backup OT with almost no position flexibility, other than as an emergency RG if there is an injury during a game.

mgteich · Sep 11, 2015

The offensive line was really, really good in pass protection. I like the way Josh took the pressure of them and started the game in shotgun.

For those who doubted, Jackson IS our RG. Andrews is our center or backup center. I suspect that we are still unsettled at LG.

Offensive Line thoughts

Moderator

PatsFans.com Veteran

PatsFans.com Veteran

PatsFans.com Veteran

Moderator

Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

PatsFans.com Veteran

Hall of Fame Poster

Pro Bowl Player

Hall of Fame Poster

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

PatsFans.com Retired Jersey Club

Eff you, Shula

Hall of Fame Poster

Eff you, Shula

In the Starting Line-Up

PatsFans.com Veteran

PatsFans.com Veteran

Similar threads