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It's obviously a major part of the offense and one of our main concerns heading into TC. What would be the "ideal" OL if it were up to you? What players do you see making the 53 man roster? Let's throw some ideas out there. I'll get it started by listing three pluses and minuses.
PROS
1) Another year for vets like Solder, Vollmer, etc. Stork of course, is no longer a rookie. These are obvious positives.
2) The position was addressed in the past two drafts, particularly in the interior spots. Youth and eventual talent were added to a position that is always changing.
3) Last year's first year OL coach did a fine job, as they allowed a very reasonable total of sacks that hovered around 20 (prior to garbage time in the second half of week #17). The number "20" is notable to me, because that is where we need to have it, particularly as Brady gets older. Obviously, it's not set in stone, but "20" would be a nice goal to have moving forward.
CONS
1) Solder can be concerning, specifically due to the unknown player lining up next to him. His play naturally seems to go hand in hand with the talent at LG, so if it's a rookie it may take them longer to gel. As we saw last year, Solder certainly settled down when Connelly stepped in and calmed things down. If Solder is in line for the kind of franchise LT payday that he's likely expecting, then this line has got to be his. He has to be the experienced, veteran leader that we're all hoping him to be.
2) Cannon to me is still a right side player, specifically limited to the right side of Stork. He has primarily been used and paid as a tackle, despite our continued theories that he can play inside. If he's a tackle, it had damn well better be on the right side and not the left. If he's able to switch between RT and RG (at times), all the better. I personally don't wish to see him anywhere other than those two spots.
3) It's pretty much automatic that we're going to have a rookie day one starter, if not two. That is certainly something that warrants concern, although we all expect the area to gel as the season wears on.
PROS
1) Another year for vets like Solder, Vollmer, etc. Stork of course, is no longer a rookie. These are obvious positives.
2) The position was addressed in the past two drafts, particularly in the interior spots. Youth and eventual talent were added to a position that is always changing.
3) Last year's first year OL coach did a fine job, as they allowed a very reasonable total of sacks that hovered around 20 (prior to garbage time in the second half of week #17). The number "20" is notable to me, because that is where we need to have it, particularly as Brady gets older. Obviously, it's not set in stone, but "20" would be a nice goal to have moving forward.
CONS
1) Solder can be concerning, specifically due to the unknown player lining up next to him. His play naturally seems to go hand in hand with the talent at LG, so if it's a rookie it may take them longer to gel. As we saw last year, Solder certainly settled down when Connelly stepped in and calmed things down. If Solder is in line for the kind of franchise LT payday that he's likely expecting, then this line has got to be his. He has to be the experienced, veteran leader that we're all hoping him to be.
2) Cannon to me is still a right side player, specifically limited to the right side of Stork. He has primarily been used and paid as a tackle, despite our continued theories that he can play inside. If he's a tackle, it had damn well better be on the right side and not the left. If he's able to switch between RT and RG (at times), all the better. I personally don't wish to see him anywhere other than those two spots.
3) It's pretty much automatic that we're going to have a rookie day one starter, if not two. That is certainly something that warrants concern, although we all expect the area to gel as the season wears on.
