Word of Muth on NE OL vs. SF

[QuantumMechanic]

Muth covered the NE OL this time. Sadly (and expectedly from what we saw watching the game), not as much good news for the NE OL as usual...

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Word of Muth: Don't Underset Aldon Smith

 

[Rob0729]

As usual? Are you saying Ben Muth usually trashes the Pats' o-line or are you implying that the Pats' o-line usually plays like crap. If you are talking the latter, I couldn't disagree more. For what has been a makeshift o-line all year, the o-line has been pretty good for most of it.

 

[PP2]

This is excellent analysis. Muth isn't trashing the O-line. He actually recognizes Solder's oblique injury has disrupted his game. He just singles out ONE occasion where the 49ers defense played very well to what they recognized which is another way of saying, look, this was an excellent, top-rated defense the Patriots have just played.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

As usual? Are you saying Ben Muth usually trashes the Pats' o-line or are you implying that the Pats' o-line usually plays like crap. If you are talking the latter, I couldn't disagree more. For what has been a makeshift o-line all year, the o-line has been pretty good for most of it.

He usually sings the praises of the NE OL.

 

[Shockt327]

Yeah. It's a great write-up. He thinks Solder played well (after some early struggles). But was left alone vs. Smith too often.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Interesting bit of trivia from the comment thread on that post:

Ben,
Could you explain why on the field goal protection / XP team, Vollmer and Solder switch sides? Solder plays on the right, Vollmer on the left. Any particular reason for this?

Because you put your outside hand down on offensive snaps and your inside hand down on FGs. So you flip sides so you don't have to change your stance from what you're used to. Solder always has his left hand on the ground for instance.

 

[Welkerstache]

See you in the Big Easy, SF.

Just. Bring. It.

 

[patsfan13]

During the early parts of the game the Pats OL wasn't able to cope with the Speed of the SF DL (and and were caught on a couple of stuns when DT Smith held the Pats G allowing DE Smith to get to Brady.

Later in the game the Pats adjusted and negated the SF DL for the most part.