Patriots Line holding up just fine apparently...

[Froob]

Though you fellas might get a kick out of this article if you hadn't already seen it. It's one of the articles Ian (no offense) links up at the top.
http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2014/09/new_england_patriots_ol_nate_s.html
Claims Patriots line is doing jut fine, so I guess just about anybody can write an article this days?

In his absence, the line was expected to crumble. His lack of leadership and experience would create huge voids on a young line.

All of those has happened.

 

[Deus Irae]

Entering their fourth game of the season on Monday night, the Patriots have largely weathered the first quarter of the season without Mankins.

Comedy writer, obviously

 

[Froob]

It's not like Mankins would suddenly fix all our problems and we'd have Denvers line but I'd feel a lot better with him in there. Not good when your QB is the team's best blocker.

 

[BelizePats]

Wow! That article was really quite incredible. I guess she is watching a different New England Patriots team than I am. I wonder where that team plays and whose coaching them?

 

[Froob]

Wow! That article was really quite incredible. I guess she is watching a different New England Patriots team than I am. I wonder where that team plays and whose coaching them?

I hear Devan Jordey is having a breakout year for them. Perhaps we should be making a move?

 

[Joker]

Bob Kraft: "hey kid, wanna make a grand the easy way?"

writer: "yeah, sure Uncle Bob.."

Bob Kraft: "OK,sonny, you just write nothing but good things about our offensive line this Friday...oh, and I'll give you $250 more if you fit in a "Thank God for Goodell" paragraph.."

writer: "It's a DEAL, Uncle Robert! I'll have them all in Canton ...just give me an hour.."

 

[patsfan-1982]

the OL has given up 7 sacks 14 hits and is 26th in NFL at 3.5 yards per rush att I don't know what she means by holding up ?

 

[Jackson 2]

She writes for The Onion. I think...

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I thought this was going to be a story where the OL was holding up...something
A bank, a weight, spiritually, pretty much anything that can be held up except opposing defenses.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Holding up? More like holding on by a thread.

I think it will get better. It has nowhere to go but up.

 

[PP2]

Bob Kraft: "hey kid, wanna make a grand the easy way?"

writer: "yeah, sure Uncle Bob.."

Bob Kraft: "OK, lady, you just write nothing but good things about our offensive line this Friday...oh, and I'll give you $250 more if you fit in a "Thank God for Goodell" paragraph.."

writer: "It's a DEAL, Uncle Robert! I'll have them all in Canton ...just give me an hour.."

Fixed it for ya.. note the gender of the writer.

 

[PP2]

Comedy writer, obviously

Or prescient, since we actually haven't gotten to the 1/4 mark just yet, but if we come out ahead on Monday night, we'll be 3-1, and that would be a good definition of "largely weathering the first quarter."

 

[AzPatsFan]

I have been a Cassandra for the Offensive line problems since early last season in 2013. I was encouraged that BB saw, and drafted help for the Offensive line in the 2014 draft. This Fan still worried and was even more concerned when our best, but aging Guard was traded just before the season began. Too late, and after the TC, so there was not a lot of time to affect necessary adaptation.

Still a story like this forces a pause, and re-think, like a slap in the face; and awareness that the situation is NOT utterly Hopeless.

There are still lots of problems, but putting two of our three biggest and best pass blockers on the blindside, probably will pay off, sooner or later.

Replacing Wendell with Stork will also probably help sooner or later. He certainly is bigger by 25 lbs and as a Rimington Trophy winner, likely more talented, if less experienced then undersized but tough guy, RW.

Moving Connolly back to his RG spot, next to his longtime partner Vollmer; and ending the Levey experimentation will hopefully re-solidify the Right side now. Provided of course, If his injuries don't prevent him from playing well.

Maybe the World is NOT coming to an end...

 

[woolster22]

I have been a Cassandra for the Offensive line problems since early last season in 2013. I was encouraged that BB saw, and drafted help for the Offensive line in the 2014 draft. This Fan still worried and was even more concerned when our best, but aging Guard was traded just before the season began. Too late, and after the TC, so there was not a lot of time to affect necessary adaptation.

Still a story like this forces a pause, and re-think, like a slap in the face; and awareness that the situation is NOT utterly Hopeless.

There are still lots of problems, but putting two of our three biggest and best pass blockers on the blindside, probably will pay off, sooner or later.

Replacing Wendell with Stork will also probably help sooner or later. He certainly is bigger by 25 lbs and as a Rimington Trophy winner, likely more talented, if less experienced then undersized but tough guy, RW.

Moving Connolly back to his RG spot, next to his longtime partner Vollmer; and ending the Levey experimentation will hopefully re-solidify the Right side now. Provided of course, If his injuries don't prevent him from playing well.

Maybe the World is NOT coming to an end...

I wouldn't say Stork is a slouch based off last week's fourth quarter. You know who was shoving a raider off Edelman on the challenged and over turned catch?



That's right, they don't just deliver babies...

Stork starts and devey sits, pats win handily. Wendell or devey (or both?) start and Tom Brady doesn't start week five.

 

[Deus Irae]

Or prescient, since we actually haven't gotten to the 1/4 mark just yet, but if we come out ahead on Monday night, we'll be 3-1, and that would be a good definition of "largely weathering the first quarter."

Since the writer's topic is how the OL is holding up, the team's record is irrelevant.

 

[Deus Irae]

I have been a Cassandra for the Offensive line problems since early last season in 2013.

People here have been talking about the OL issues since Wendel/Connolly first became the C/RIOL. You haven't been any kind of Cassandra, at all. You weren't a voice doomed to tell the truth and be ignored. You were late to the party.

 

[PP2]

Since the writer's topic is how the OL is holding up, the team's record is irrelevant.

The sentence you were specifically referring to that made you diagnose her as a "comedy writer" was this:

the Patriots have largely weathered the first quarter of the season without Mankins.

which is clearly a reference to the team as a whole, and not just the linemen- and so in that regard if they end up 3-1 after four games, they have "weathered" the first quarter of the season.

 

[mayoclinic]

Or prescient, since we actually haven't gotten to the 1/4 mark just yet, but if we come out ahead on Monday night, we'll be 3-1, and that would be a good definition of "largely weathering the first quarter."

Any time you go through a significant transition growing pains should be expected. The line wasn't good last year, and change was needed. Changing the OL coach, dumping the LG (and team captain and leader of the OL) and dealing with multiple position changes with young players is a lot to deal with at one time. It would be shocking if the OL performed well under such circumstances.

While the article isn't particularly well written, I do think that the only way things get better is to find a combination and stick with it, letting them go through some growing pains. There will be bad plays. Obviously, too many is an issue, but just like the WRs last year, the offense is going through a painful transition period. There's no guarantee that the end result will be successful. Personally, I trust that the guys being paid to do this know more about how to do it than I do.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

To be fair, the writer took the initial measurement from the Miami game, then compared two subsequent games. Well, we do know that the Miami game was a mega-stinker. The Raiders and Vikings were not elite defensive fronts by which to measure progress.

But yes, the glass is half full. Let's see whether Hali sends us all running for the ledge next week. Good game to gauge progress.

The O has problems this year, and by comparison with previous years, it looks like it will continue to have problems -- full stop. And it starts with the O-line (though you can't ignore declines, from their respective peaks, at the skill positions.)

This has to be an O that wins games that this D keeps in reach - yes, "the balance thing" we have talked into the ground.

 

[Kontradiction]

This is why you shouldn't take acid.