When Patriots left tackle Nate Solder went down with his second diagnosed concussion in eight days, it forced Logan Mankins to have to step up and be the guy to protect Tom Brady's blind side for the remainder of the game.
 Patriots guard Logan Mankins may be called upon to play tackle again this weekend. (USA TODAY Images) |
Mankins did a respectable job, although it's not a complete surprise. He actually played left tackle at Fresno State before the team selected him 32nd overall in 2005, but at the time Matt Light was here so the team instead moved him inside at guard next to Light. Since then he's excelled in that role and has been a key component of New England's offensive line, and fortunately his versatility ended up helping them immensely following Solder's exit from the game in Miami.
Mankins admitted that the position is definitely different, and requires him to be a little quicker on his feet.
"Scheme-wise, it's not that hard," Mankins told Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe. "I know all the plays at every position so that's not too tough, but just the overall different angles, different footwork, that kind of thing. I have to process that pretty fast."
"You're running around a lot more," said Mankins. "Those guys are faster, you're not always just getting someone slammed into you. Your feet have to be a little quicker, move them a little faster."
We'll see if he'll have to do it again this week in Baltimore. Solder didn't practice again on Wednesday and it remains to be seen whether or not he'd be able to play coming off of two concussions in such a short span.
Either way, it sounds like Mankins is comfortable enough to be able to do it again if he's asked to fill in there again against the Ravens.
"It was something I had to get used to and learn on the fly there Sunday," Mankins said. "It went pretty well though, so we'll see."
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