Jeff Howe: Is Bill Belichick revolutionizing the way teams view offensive line rotations?

[PP2]

Talk about tipping your hand on what to expect as far as the play call. As described this would seem ripe to show tendencies that would help the defense diagnose plays pre-snap.

Diagnosing whether the next play is a run or pass along with $8 will just buy you a cup of coffee at Starbucks if you don't know where the ball is going, or where the POA is going to be.

Conversely, subbing in a pass-rusher doesn't always mean there is going to be extra pressure on the next snap. The pass-rusher can always contain or drop back.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

There's an essay on PatsPulpit.com that gives another perspective on this rotational line

http://www.patspulpit.com/2015/10/1...nd-rotating-offensive-linemen-during-the-game

There are benefits to rotating offensive linemen if you have the talent and depth that the Patriots bolster right now. Those are:

1. Ease rookies Into game action
2. Best way to get into football shape is to play football games
3. Depth players get in-season repetitions they normally wouldn't and would allow for the coaching staff to deal with an absence
4. Gives the coaching staff game tape to figure out the best combination for when the most difficult portion of the season begins in November
5. Opposing teams don't have their defenses 100% figured out right now

 

[n6249c]

from Mort & Schefter: (http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13780754/steve-smith-sr-patriots-johnny-manziel-padres)

3. O-line crisis?
[...] "There's a legitimate crisis going on," one general manager said last week, before Roethlisberger was injured. "I'm just blown away by the shortage of quality offensive linemen."

Stark contrast with the Pats' depth and ability to field a quality rotation. Suggests that other teams simply won't have the depth of talent to rotate their O line the way the Pats have been doing. Makes what Scar and now Googe have been doing even more impressive.

 

[SVN]

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/10/01/blanket-coverage-nfl-week-4-offensive-lines

3. ThePatriots' O-line strategy: A lot is being made in New Englandof Bill Belichick’s strategy to use multiple offensive linemen early in the season. Most of it has to do with getting the two rookie guards, Shaq Mason and Tre’ Jackson, some much-needed reps. Actually, coaches have been crazier in their NFL rotations. With the Buccaneers, starting in 1992, line coach Bob Wylie used two totally different line shifts to keep his players fresh in the Florida heat. “We actually used a platoon back at Holy Cross,” says Wylie, who coached there in the 1980s and was in the NFL for 15 years before landing in the CFL with Winnipeg. “With Tampa, the other teams would be struggling with the heat, and our guys would be fresh in the fourth quarter. Good to see somebody brought it back.”