The turning point (downward) for the offensive line was the 2nd Bills game

sarge · Jan 7, 2016

Last year, it seemed like the turning point for the offensive line was the "we're on to Cincinnati game". Granted that was for the better.

This year it seemed as though the line got exposed in the 2nd bills game, and has not recovered since.

the bills may not have won that game but I remember the line never seemed to figure out who was coming. And it seems that has persisted since that game.

And I don't know if it is the plays they are calling that take long to develop, or that the quick pass isn't open, but the ball is not coming out of Brady's hand quick enough for the (lack) of protection he is getting. It seems we don't play our offense anymore. What happened to the quick passes 5 yards downfield? Everything is either behind the line of scrimmage or 15 to 20 yards downfield. The behind the line plays are getting stuffed and the 20 yarders Brady is getting creamed as he releases.

Regardless what happens this post season we have been blessed for the ride we have been on. Been a fan since the 70's. Wish my dad had lived to see this.

jah · Jan 7, 2016

I've also thought of that game as the transition from some of the best Patriots football we've seen to some of the worst.

DaBruinz · Jan 7, 2016

Please keep in mind that you have 3 Rookies in Andrews, Mason and Jackson who have never played more than 12 games in a season. They've now played 16..

Furthermore, the "quick passes" you mentioned went by the wayside because Edelman wasn't there. The times they tried with Gronk, either he was held or the defender made a play.. Amendola has also been hurt..

A healthy and rested O-line and healthy receivers will do wonders..

Sciz · Jan 7, 2016

That's the game everybody is talking about, just not as explicitly. It's the first game that Edelman missed.

SHOWTIME15 · Jan 7, 2016

DaBruinz said:
Please keep in mind that you have 3 Rookies in Andrews, Mason and Jackson who have never played more than 12 games in a season. They've now played 16..

Furthermore, the "quick passes" you mentioned went by the wayside because Edelman wasn't there. The times they tried with Gronk, either he was held or the defender made a play.. Amendola has also been hurt..

A healthy and rested O-line and healthy receivers will do wonders..

I take it you are confident in the o-line for the divisional?

DaBruinz · Jan 7, 2016

TommyBrady12 said:
I take it you are confident in the o-line for the divisional?

An O-line of Vollmer - Kline - Stork - Jackson - Cannon should be solid, though not spectacular.

Having a Healthy Amendola, Edelman, Gronkowsi and James White should give the Patriots a damn good set of receivers to work with and help take pressure off the O-line.

I think the extra week of rest will help the rookies and allow them to be fresher than they have been since the BYE week..

SHOWTIME15 · Jan 7, 2016

DaBruinz said:
An O-line of Vollmer - Kline - Stork - Jackson - Cannon should be solid, though not spectacular.

Having a Healthy Amendola, Edelman, Gronkowsi and James White should give the Patriots a damn good set of receivers to work with and help take pressure off the O-line.

I think the extra week of rest will help the rookies and allow them to be fresher than they have been since the BYE week..

I would drop cannon and put waddle at LT and vollmer at RT. Sure hope you're right about the line playing solid, whatever the combination Gug and Belichick decide.

Silver Blue&Red · Jan 7, 2016

TommyBrady12 said:
I would drop cannon and put waddle at LT and vollmer at RT. Sure hope you're right about the line playing solid, whatever the combination Gug and Belichick decide.

I'm probably a little over optimistic, but I think BB may be putting the team ,the Oline in particular, through stressful situations. Have them in unfamiliar positions to be prepared for what's ahead. A crash course of sorts. And I'm sure he didn't have much choice. We saw him do similar things earlier in the season. And it seemed to have helped then. I know BB would never purposely lose to make a point, but I could see him putting them in tougher situations to build mental toughness. I feel pretty good going into the playoffs. IDK, maybe just some wishful thinking on my part.

p8ryts · Jan 7, 2016

That was when Andrews was pulled for Stork. Not sure of the significance of that.

captain stone · Jan 7, 2016

DaBruinz said:
An O-line of Vollmer - Kline - Stork - Jackson - Cannon should be solid, though not spectacular...

Kline, Jackson & Cannonfodder are garbage.

supafly · Jan 7, 2016

TommyBrady12 said:
I would drop cannon and put waddle at LT and vollmer at RT.

If we're really going to consider dropping Cannon for Waddle, I'd much rather see him on the right side--not protecting the franchise player.

Don't get me wrong, I've been complaining about Cannon for awhile now, but I don't know what some of you guys see with Waddle as a viable replacement, let alone for playing LT. Hell, I'd rather have Bryan Stork play LT.

The Brandon Five · Jan 8, 2016

That was when Tom started getting pummeled.

sarge · Jan 8, 2016

The Brandon Five said:
That was when Tom started getting pummeled.

WINNER!

50-yard-line · Jan 8, 2016

sarge said:
Last year, it seemed like the turning point for the offensive line was the "we're on to Cincinnati game". Granted that was for the better.

This year it seemed as though the line got exposed in the 2nd bills game, and has not recovered since.

the bills may not have won that game but I remember the line never seemed to figure out who was coming. And it seems that has persisted since that game.

And I don't know if it is the plays they are calling that take long to develop, or that the quick pass isn't open, but the ball is not coming out of Brady's hand quick enough for the (lack) of protection he is getting. It seems we don't play our offense anymore. What happened to the quick passes 5 yards downfield? Everything is either behind the line of scrimmage or 15 to 20 yards downfield. The behind the line plays are getting stuffed and the 20 yarders Brady is getting creamed as he releases.

Regardless what happens this post season we have been blessed for the ride we have been on. Been a fan since the 70's. Wish my dad had lived to see this.

The Bills confused Brady by adjusting their defensive scheme after brady made his call. Can't stand Rexy, but that was brilliant coaching.

Other teams aren't doing that. They're just blowing up a line of tired rookies.

FCB02062 · Jan 8, 2016

I agree with the OP - line play has been downhill starting with that game. In consecutive weeks they lost Dion Lewis and Edelman. I'm not going back to look at the game sheets, but how many times did Brady face pressure on third down, dump it off to Lewis, he'd make a guy or 2 miss and get a first down on 3d and 7?

Lewis was incredible and it's a shame we only got to see him for about 6 1/2 games. His loss cannot be understated and consequently, its impact on the offensive line. When he went down Lewis was averaging THIRTEEN touches a game! he played 6 1/2 games and had 49 rushing attempts and 36 receptions that has to be more than any player on the team. Also, Brady targeted him FIFTY times in those 6 1/2 games. He was a huge part of the offense that lots of people, especially in the media, are forgetting.

AzorianPats · Jan 8, 2016

FCB02062 said:
I agree with the OP - line play has been downhill starting with that game. In consecutive weeks they lost Dion Lewis and Edelman. I'm not going back to look at the game sheets, but how many times did Brady face pressure on third down, dump it off to Lewis, he'd make a guy or 2 miss and get a first down on 3d and 7?

Lewis was incredible and it's a shame we only got to see him for about 6 1/2 games. His loss cannot be understated and consequently, its impact on the offensive line. When he went down Lewis was averaging THIRTEEN touches a game! he played 6 1/2 games and had 49 rushing attempts and 36 receptions that has to be more than any player on the team. Also, Brady targeted him FIFTY times in those 6 1/2 games. He was a huge part of the offense that lots of people, especially in the media, are forgetting.

I think the combination of losing both Lewis and Edelman stalled this offense.

Before Edelman got hurt, we were moving the ball at will on the Giants.

varjao · Jan 8, 2016

captain stone said:
Kline, Jackson & Cannonfodder are garbage.

I would give more time to Jackson since he is a rookie that was supposed to be under development and was thrown into fire, but the other 2 are really trash.

Foxyboro · Jan 8, 2016

2 things regarding the oline

1. While as a collective unit, they've all been terrible, stork in particular has been brutal. I'm a big fan after what he did as a rookie, but idk what is going on This year.

2. The overall blocking scheme, especially on the interior, seems to be way too complex. As others have noticed, there has been numerous times in the last 6 weeks where two lineman are double teaming one guy, while letting another defender get a free run at Brady. Especially when the rookies are in, seems to be lots of confusion

Kontradiction · Jan 8, 2016

Yeah... no ****. It was the first game Edelman missed. As DB said, the interior also has three rookies playing a high amount of snaps and they may have hit the rookie wall. Getting the bye week did wonders and was far more important than risking more bodies for the Dolphins game just so we can watch more cheap shots take place. The rookies get another much needed bye week to rest and Edelman gets a couple of weeks to recover. This is why I'm expecting to see a massive difference in pass protection come the divisional game.

But yes, that Buffalo game was ugly. I kept expecting to see Brady get helped off the field after the shots he was taking. A 38 year old can't keep absorbing hits like that. I don't care how cutting edge his diet, nutrition, and exercise plans are.

IllegalContact · Jan 8, 2016

p8ryts said:
That was when Andrews was pulled for Stork. Not sure of the significance of that.

this.......they were at least mediocre before that....seemed awfully quick to pull the guy....ya, I know you have stork, but things were going ok......first bump in the road and they're still picking up all the pieces that fell out the back

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