At this point who would you rather have back from IR fully healthy?

[micronin127]

I laughed when I saw Aaron Dobson on the list. Thanks for that.

I was torn between Dion Lewis and Nate Solder. Given that we are down to grabbing guys off the street to play LT (LaAdrian Waddle?) whereas we have seen some positive development out of James White. I went with Solder due to the "dropoff factor" when I considered the next guy up.

I loved Dion Lewis in that Cowboys game though! I think I compared him to Barry Sanders when talking to my son... maybe I exaggerated a bit...

 

[TinhWoodhead]

The teams that kill us in the playoffs are the ones who get to Brady. I'll take Solder.

The oline wasnt that great earlier in the year but Lewis takes the pressure off of Brady

 

[Galeb]

It's unusual not to choose the starting LT on an OL that is beat up, but Lewis means more to the OL than Solder. Dion Lewis, Edelman and Amendola on the field together will enable Brady to get back to getting rid of the ball in less than 2 seconds covering most OL deficiencies.

 

[Kontradiction]

I think it's closer than that because of OL woes but still give it to Lewis.

The OL is only having those woes because Brady has no quick outlets. With Lewis, Edelman, and Amendola in the line-up, people thought the OL was otherworldly. Turns out those three were covering up for a lot of it's flaws.

 

[Nikolai]

The OL is only having those woes because Brady has no quick outlets. With Lewis, Edelman, and Amendola in the line-up, people thought the OL was otherworldly. Turns out those three were covering up for a lot of it's flaws.

That's my assessment as well. Brady could get back to his sub-2 second releases with the option of getting Lewis on a screen, quick out, or something along those lines. Lewis, Edelman, and Amendola were huge for creating those openings and covering up a problematic O-Line.

White, 70% Edelman, and 80% Amendola might be able to help a bit. Hopefully, we'll find out in a few weeks.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I would look at replacement value on the roster as the defining reason. At the beginning of the year I would have said cannon could have been a far superior replacement than what white could be at running back, but that hasn't come close to being true.

I am surprised more people aren't going with solder. This is the worst offensive line Brady has played behind in some time, and a huge weight of that is losing their anchor.

Lewis was a game breaking outlet, but the oline woes has changed our offense significantly for the worse.

 

[Deus Irae]

I am surprised more people aren't going with solder.

I'm surprised that anyone but Lewis has gotten even a single vote, because this is a 'no question' question.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

I'm surprised that anyone but Lewis has gotten even a single vote, because this is a 'no question' question.

Well, I am glad you have strong convictions on the issue.

 

[Deus Irae]

Well, I am glad you have strong convictions on the issue.

Scores back it up.

Before Lewis went down, the Patriots only scored fewer than 30 (28) in week 1, which was clearly the adjustment game for a lot of things, including Lewis' role. So, 6 of 7 games resulted in 30+ points.

Since Lewis went down, the Patriots have reached the 30 point mark only once, and that was against the Tits. So, even not counting the Redskins game (Lewis played in part of it, so the game isn't assigned in either direction), that's 1 of 7 games reaching 30 points.

Solder was lost in the Dallas game. After that, the Patriots scored 34, 30 and 36 in the next 3 games. The 4th game, against the Redskins, was the game Lewis got injured, and the team began missing the 30 point mark.

 

[Kontradiction]

Scores back it up.

Before Lewis went down, the Patriots only scored fewer than 30 (28) in week 1, which was clearly the adjustment game for a lot of things, including Lewis' role. So, 6 of 7 games resulted in 30+ points.

Since Lewis went down, the Patriots have reached the 30 point mark only once, and that was against the Tits. So, even not counting the Redskins game (Lewis played in part of it, so the game isn't assigned in either direction), that's 1 of 7 games reaching 30 points.

Solder was lost in the Dallas game. After that, the Patriots scored 34, 30 and 36 in the next 3 games. The 4th game, against the Redskins, was the game Lewis got injured, and the team began missing the 30 point mark.

Just a nitpick, since I strongly agree with your overall point: Lewis didn't play in the first Jets game and that was a 30 point output.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

Scores back it up.

Before Lewis went down, the Patriots only scored fewer than 30 (28) in week 1, which was clearly the adjustment game for a lot of things, including Lewis' role. So, 6 of 7 games resulted in 30+ points.

Since Lewis went down, the Patriots have reached the 30 point mark only once, and that was against the Tits. So, even not counting the Redskins game (Lewis played in part of it, so the game isn't assigned in either direction), that's 1 of 7 games reaching 30 points.

Solder was lost in the Dallas game. After that, the Patriots scored 34, 30 and 36 in the next 3 games. The 4th game, against the Redskins, was the game Lewis got injured, and the team began missing the 30 point mark.

There are too many moving parts to simplify it that way. You can't target Lewis as the single reason of scoring drop.

Week 5: lafell and Dobson out
Week 6: Dobson only skilled player missing
Week 7: bolden, k Martin and Lewis himself is injured and missing.
Week 8: k. Martin is the only skill guy missing.
Week 10-15 the team missed between 3-5 skilled players each week.

I think you can make a pretty good argument that the scoring drop had more to do with the critical mass of injuries than what you can put on a single player. I love Lewis and have been about his biggest supporter, but I can't fathom anyone taking any back outside of AD over a top 5 LT.

 

[Deus Irae]

There are too many moving parts to simplify it that way. You can't target Lewis as the single reason of scoring drop.

Week 5: lafell and Dobson out
Week 6: Dobson only skilled player missing
Week 7: bolden, k Martin and Lewis himself is injured and missing.
Week 8: k. Martin is the only skill guy missing.
Week 10-15 the team missed between 3-5 skilled players each week.

I think you can make a pretty good argument that the scoring drop had more to do with the critical mass of injuries than what you can put on a single player. I love Lewis and have been about his biggest supporter, but I can't fathom anyone taking any back outside of AD over a top 5 LT.

So you can point to one player on the OL that's been in flux all season, but I can't point to one player?

C'mon. That's not even close to a legit argument.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

I'll take Solder (over Easley) because Nate's return would improve 2 positions.

 

[I.M. Fletcher]

So you can point to one player on the OL, but I can't point to one player?

C'mon. That's not even close to a legit argument.

There is plenty to debate in regards to solders role on the oline and how important he is comparatively to other guys who have missed time.

I don't think there is enough statistical evidence to Lewis loss because the offensive slide coincided with other injuries.

Solder we can at least compare year to year to see how the oline has performed, and specifically the tackle positions.

 

[Deus Irae]

There is plenty to debate in regards to solders role on the oline and how important he is comparatively to other guys who have missed time.

I don't think there is enough statistical evidence to Lewis loss because the offensive slide coincided with other injuries.

Solder we can at least compare year to year to see how the oline has performed, and specifically the tackle positions.

Year to year is irrelevant. It's not really helpful to your argument, either. Solder was terrible last year, until Stork came in and the line got shuffled. Solder was much less than stellar this year, too.

In the meantime, Brady had Edelman, Amendola and Lewis to help him get rid of the ball quickly, which made the OL look much better than it's been, and allowed the team to still dominate its opponents. And the team had Lewis to waterbug through a line that was struggling to open up holes, and even struggling to hold the line at all, far too often.

 

[Zeus]

There have been numerous injuries other than Lewis that have contributed to the drop in offensive production. I agree that Lewis really fit the scheme particularly well. And the OL, never great to begin with, was at least adequate when Brady could get the ball out as fast as he was doing.

Having said all that, the OL is now a shambles (in case no one noticed what happened in NY Sunday). I'd have to take Solder in the hopes that it would help stabilize what increasingly looks like a dire situation. The drop off from Solder to this week's version of Mr. How Do You Do - What's your Name Again seems a bit bigger that from Lewis to White et al.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE Lewis as a player and I'm not really arguing with anyone who made that choice. I'm hopeful that White will continue to grow to fill some of that void, although it's clear the he is not the player Lewis is. I'm also anxious to see what Lewis brings to the table next year although durability has not been his strong point.

By the way, can you name another player who went from unheard of to indispensable as fast as Dion Lewis?

 

[BradyFTW!]

Lewis, definitely. The offense was doing fine even post-Solder as long as we could keep defenses guessing and Brady was able to get the ball out quickly. Put Edelman and Lewis back on this offense and I think we're just fine with Vollmer and Cannon at tackle.

 

[AzorianPats]

Scores back it up.

Before Lewis went down, the Patriots only scored fewer than 30 (28) in week 1, which was clearly the adjustment game for a lot of things, including Lewis' role. So, 6 of 7 games resulted in 30+ points.

Since Lewis went down, the Patriots have reached the 30 point mark only once, and that was against the Tits. So, even not counting the Redskins game (Lewis played in part of it, so the game isn't assigned in either direction), that's 1 of 7 games reaching 30 points.

Solder was lost in the Dallas game. After that, the Patriots scored 34, 30 and 36 in the next 3 games. The 4th game, against the Redskins, was the game Lewis got injured, and the team began missing the 30 point mark.

I agree about Lewis Deus, but just remember he went out in the Redskins game, and the very next week, in the first half vs the Giants is when Edelman went down.

 

[jah]

We don't need an offensive line when Edelman and Lewis are healthy. I don't think the OL was as good as we thought it was early on.

 

[AzorianPats]

Id go with either Lewis or Solder myself, based on need, but the fan boy in me would love Easley back. It really doesnt show on the stat sheet, but Easley was really blowing up plays.

Right after our stud LB's Easley is my favorite on defense.