THE OL REBUILD - IS STRANGE HEALTHY?

[Brotherblues]

My dream OL for the Patriots:

Okorafor-Sow-Strange-Onwenu-Wallace.

A lot of potential there.

It could work. Everything is on the table at this point.

I've never seen an OL roster built as positionless as what we have. Nobody is nailed to any spot on the line other than David Andrews. Flexibility is good but this is almost chaotic.

 

[Wozzy]

It could work. Everything is on the table at this point.

I've never seen an OL roster built as positionless as what we have. Nobody is nailed to any spot on the line other than David Andrews. Flexibility is good but this is almost chaotic.

If Okorafor was going to work out, he would have worked out for the Steelers. Bad players don’t suddenly become good players just by changing their uniforms.

Wallace isn’t taking Onwenu’s job at right tackle, he likely isn’t taking Sow’s job at right guard. So he is competing with Okorafor and Calvin Anderson at left tackle… which means they likely don’t have a good left tackle.

Anderson if healthy is their best bet, but the collaboration station will have to justify all their free agent signings and draft picks (our guys) so there will likely be some favoritism involved… which will be detrimental to the team and for us as fans.

The guard they drafted in the 4th weighs nothing, is an average/good athlete and didn’t bench, so they just took that pick and threw it in the incinerator. Jake Andrews is a far superior prospect if they planned on moving this kid to center so it was a wasted pick

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Not sure about health, but feels like Strange might be getting schemed out. There's been lots of chatter about them wanting to go to the zone blocking scheme, but they keep drafting guys on the interior who fit a gap/power scheme.

Sow projects best as a gap/power scheme guy. He played RG for us last year (after failed experiment at RT) but was a LG in college. They just took Layden Robinson at RG in the 4th round, who the scouts say will fit better in a gap/power scheme. Last year we took Antonio Mafi in the 4th round, who played zone scheme in college but the scouts say profiles better as a gap/power guy in the next level.

I did some research on Jake Andrews and here's a scouting report on him from last year talking about how he fits best in a gap scheme: Jake Andrews Would Bring Depth and Flexibility to the Commanders Offensive Line

The Commanders have been busy remaking their offensive line in free agency. By no means are they done with the position group for the offseason. They may have their starters along the line set, but they could use more depth. It looks like Trai Turner, Nick Martin, and Wes Martin will not be retained. Saahdiq Charles is still on a rookie deal, but has made little impact thus far. Andrews versatility to play each interior offensive line spot would make him a valuable depth player. I think he is limited to playing in a gap scheme and that might not make him a fit for Eric Bieniemy’s offense. If the team still plans to be gap-scheme heavy in the run game, Andrews would be a nice Day 3 target for the Commanders if they do not address interior offensive line earlier in the draft.

Onwenu was re-signed with the reported intention of playing RT. But most believe his best position is RG and he's another power/gap scheme player at either position.

And for the new coach we brought in...

Film Review: How Will the Patriots Offense Look Under New Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt?

Although they started as an outside zone-based offense, Stefanski and Van Pelt recently took things in a different direction. Stefanski's offense mimics his mentor, Norv Turner, who was also a wide zone-bootleg action believer. With the top offenses around the league trending toward Shanahan/Turner schemes, defenses began adjusting to the outside zone system.

All the successful outside zone-play-action offenses are leading to more split-safety coverage structures, five-man fronts, and faster defenders at the second level who can fast-flow to the perimeter and recover to passing landmarks off play-action. As defenses have gotten lighter and better equipped to combat outside zone, offenses are adjusting, with even Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay majoring in more duo/gap schemes to run downhill into lighter boxes against stretched-out defenses.
Former head coach Bill Belichick had a hand in this shift in philosophy. In Super Bowl 53, Belichick shut down the Rams high-powered offense by unveiling a 6-1 tilt front to set the edge against McVay's outside zone schemes. With six defenders across the line of scrimmage, the Patriots defense funneled the ball back inside toward their big DTs and run-stuffing linebackers. In the secondary, the Pats played both quarters and cover-three buzz to limit big plays off play-action. Eventually, it put the game in a young Jared Goff's hands in obvious passing situations, and the Patriots won the duel.
McVay and others from the West Coast/outside zone family had to adjust to stay relevant. The answer was to call more gap schemes and add blockers to flip the formation's strength on the fly with motion. For Cleveland, they became a gap-based run scheme. Over the last two seasons, the Browns lead the league in how often they use man-blocking and heavily feature schemes with pulling linemen.

His scheme in CLE seemed to be more towards power/gap scheme, which also holds true for most of our recently added personnel.

Strange's physical profile really fits in a zone scheme, not so much in gap/power. He sticks out like a sore thumb in that regard. I do think Strange can be a quality starter in a zone scheme. Probably won't ever measure up to his draft status but can't hold it against
him where he got picked. It seems like he's in the process of being phased out here though. The scheme that he projects best in doesn't jive with the rest of the line.

 

[mgteich]

It could work. Everything is on the table at this point.

I've never seen an OL roster built as positionless as what we have. Nobody is nailed to any spot on the line other than David Andrews. Flexibility is good but this is almost chaotic.

It is quite possible that the extreme flexibility is in the eye of the beholder.

IMO, this is more likely.
starters: Anderson, Strange, Andrews, Sow, Onwenu
main OT backup: Okorafor (swing tackle, or could start with Anderson as the swing OT)
IOL backups: Andrews (backs up LG and C), Robinson (RG)
utility backup: Wallace (we'll see, could fit in anywhere)

 

[AQPE]

OK so I’m over the disappointment about them not drafting who I thought they should take at OT, and about spending a high 4th on a RG only. Sorry @Wozzy I generally agree with your takes or at least see where you’re coming from but I’m going to give the new coaching staff the benefit of the doubt. They spent a high 3rd on Wallace which I take to mean they think he can compete for LT1 this year and a high 4th on Robinson which tells me they think he can compete with Mafi, Leverett, and Sow for RG1 this season.

I like what I saw of Sow last season and think he is already right there with a healthy Strange for LG1. If Strange is healthy at the beginning of the season I expect him to start but expect to see a lot of Sow at guard on either side. Regarding Mafi, I think he has a ways to go to be a starter at OG but he’s in his first offseason in the NFL with a ton more experience than I think anyone would have expected, and if you look at his progression through college and last year it has been in the right direction. I’m not all thst optimistic but I will say that I’ve seen more to like about Mafi than I ever did about Chasen Hines or, obviously, James Ferentz.

I’m in the camp thst looks at Strange as a good candidate for the center position. Regarding Jake Andrews, I have no opinion yet, but the fact that in a good class of centers they didn’t pick one is also a sign that they’re comfortable with him.

They are in good shape IMHO regarding the IOL.

 

[mgteich]

OK so I’m over the disappointment about them not drafting who I thought they should take at OT, and about spending a high 4th on a RG only. Sorry @Wozzy I generally agree with your takes or at least see where you’re coming from but I’m going to give the new coaching staff the benefit of the doubt. They spent a high 3rd on Wallace which I take to mean they think he can compete for LT1 this year and a high 4th on Robinson which tells me they think he can compete with Mafi, Leverett, and Sow for RG1 this season.

I like what I saw of Sow last season and think he is already right there with a healthy Strange for LG1. If Strange is healthy at the beginning of the season I expect him to start but expect to see a lot of Sow at guard on either side. Regarding Mafi, I think he has a ways to go to be a starter at OG but he’s in his first offseason in the NFL with a ton more experience than I think anyone would have expected, and if you look at his progression through college and last year it has been in the right direction. I’m not all thst optimistic but I will say that I’ve seen more to like about Mafi than I ever did about Chasen Hines or, obviously, James Ferentz.

I’m in the camp thst looks at Strange as a good candidate for the center position. Regarding Jake Andrews, I have no opinion yet, but the fact that in a good class of centers they didn’t pick one is also a sign that they’re comfortable with him.

They are in good shape IMHO regarding the IOL.

I have Mafi as our 10th OL, presuming that Andrews stays which seems likely.

Who do you have making the roster?

 

[AQPE]

Agree with the 10 OL spots, so my current guesses are:

OC (2): D. Andrews, J. Andrews
OG (4): Strange, Sow, Robinson, Mafi
OT(4): Onwenu, Okarafor, Wallace, Anderson

Final cuts include Wheatley and Leverett, either of whom I wouldn’t be surprised to see make it over Anderson or Mafi.

After reading the great post above by @Hugepatsfan I should probably hesitate to even put my guesses out there because their information about scheme and fits go way beyond my knowledge level, but I wanted to be responsive to your question @mgteich

 

[slash83]

Not healthy and just isn’t a good guard.

 

[yukon cornelius]

Agree on strange moving to C....he could be the long term solution there

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

My dream OL for the Patriots:

Okorafor-Sow-Strange-Onwenu-Wallace.

A lot of potential there.

That is your dream line? Why did we pay Onwenu like a tackle? Wasn't Okorafor benched last year by Pittsburgh? Strange as a center?

We have to hope Anderson is healthy and Wallace and Robinson can train for a year. Still looks like a mess. Maybe J Andrews can play center? It has been 2 years and we still need a LT.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Not sure about health, but feels like Strange might be getting schemed out. There's been lots of chatter about them wanting to go to the zone blocking scheme, but they keep drafting guys on the interior who fit a gap/power scheme.

Sow projects best as a gap/power scheme guy. He played RG for us last year (after failed experiment at RT) but was a LG in college. They just took Layden Robinson at RG in the 4th round, who the scouts say will fit better in a gap/power scheme. Last year we took Antonio Mafi in the 4th round, who played zone scheme in college but the scouts say profiles better as a gap/power guy in the next level.

I did some research on Jake Andrews and here's a scouting report on him from last year talking about how he fits best in a gap scheme: Jake Andrews Would Bring Depth and Flexibility to the Commanders Offensive Line



Onwenu was re-signed with the reported intention of playing RT. But most believe his best position is RG and he's another power/gap scheme player at either position.

And for the new coach we brought in...

Film Review: How Will the Patriots Offense Look Under New Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt?

His scheme in CLE seemed to be more towards power/gap scheme, which also holds true for most of our recently added personnel.

Strange's physical profile really fits in a zone scheme, not so much in gap/power. He sticks out like a sore thumb in that regard. I do think Strange can be a quality starter in a zone scheme. Probably won't ever measure up to his draft status but can't hold it against
him where he got picked. It seems like he's in the process of being phased out here though. The scheme that he projects best in doesn't jive with the rest of the line.

Great post. Thanks a million.

Agreed it makes sense with Sow at LG, Robinson (if he pans out) at RG, and J Andrews at center starting next year. That might be a decent group.

Onwenu can stay at RT, Wallace as the swing guy, and we draft a LT next year. This year is chaos like last year. As you stated, it appears as though Strange is being schemed out or is seriously injured.

 

[JohnJH]

Even when Strange was healthy he was a disappointment.

I'm now torn as to who was the worst BB 1st Round Pick; Easley, Harry, or Strange?

 

[JohnJH]

Agree with the 10 OL spots, so my current guesses are:

OC (2): D. Andrews, J. Andrews
OG (4): Strange, Sow, Robinson, Mafi
OT(4): Onwenu, Okarafor, Wallace, Anderson

Final cuts include Wheatley and Leverett, either of whom I wouldn’t be surprised to see make it over Anderson or Mafi.

After reading the great post above by @Hugepatsfan I should probably hesitate to even put my guesses out there because their information about scheme and fits go way beyond my knowledge level, but I wanted to be responsive to your question @mgteich

I could see Leverett sticking over Mafi, as Leverett can play Center, and I suspect that they're not exactly confident in Mafi.

 

[Toofy]

I'm now torn as to who was the worst BB 1st Round Pick; Easley, Harry, or Strange?

Considering strange is a guard and he was drafted high, the possibilities of really screwing up is less than all other positions . Still harry is in a different league because he singlehandedly killed the dynasty and hastened the exit of Brady. So harry followed by Easley followed by strange.

Wynn being better than Harry tells us something..

 

[203Pat]

Even if he is he’s not really that good.

 

[Wozzy]

I'm now torn as to who was the worst BB 1st Round Pick; Easley, Harry, or Strange?

Easley, he wasn't even a great athlete on top of having bad knees leaving college... he was a dual threat. Harry was at least a great athlete, he's just mentally soft and has no competitive fire.

Strange is a very good guard when healthy, suggesting he's a bust is absurd. If he becomes a consistent injury problem, that's another story, but as long as he's healthy you have a near pro bowl level guard.

 

[Wozzy]

Depth chart. I've crossed out the guys I think won't make the cut by default.

LT – Calvin Anderson, Chukwuma Okorafor, Caedan Wallace, Conor McDermott, Zuri Henry,
LG – Cole Strange, Michael Jordan, Nick Leverett,
C – David Andrews, Jake Andrews, Layden Robinson, Charles Turner,
RG – Sidy Sow, Antonio Mafi,
RT – Michael Onwenu, Tyrone Wheatley, Vederian Lowe, Andrew Stueber, Tairiq Stewart,

It amazes me we can have some many average/good options at left tackle after the draft and free agency.

The only reason Okorafor isn't crossed off is his contract, he will make the team by default or might even end up being the best of the worst options simply because Anderson never returns to form from his injury and Wallace can't play LT.

 

[203Pat]

If Strange wasn’t a first round pick no one would pretend he’s any good the way people like to now. He’s average at best and gets manhandled by some of the better interior defensive linemen in the league. He is also injury prone and doesn’t seem to be a scheme fit anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets traded for a bag of balls this summer.

 

[PWRxWLF]

Right now my guess is McDermott. He’s serviceable on both sides. But probably not starter material.

LT starter? Many names. VLowe actually did compete decently there after his awful RT performance. So did McDermott. And he saved us two seasons ago from the disaster at RT. Isaiah Wynn should have been LG not RT.

Calvin Anderson was penciled in as a potential starter at LT. But then he almost died last year from an illness we know nothing about. Never seen anything like the secrecy in 48 years following the nfl. I’m guessing it’s a heart malady brought on by the experimental jab. No info has been released so it’s just speculation.

Obviously, the best two candidates are the Pittsburgh castoff. Chuks Okorafor, the most likely starter at LT. But rookie Caedan Wallace, playing a new position, may or may not adapt. But he has serious potential.

The new guard from Texas a&m is strictly a RG. I’m leery of those guys being moved to LG. The team in the Patricia year tried that with Chasen Hines. Freakin disaster.

I would still like to move Onwenu back inside where he excels and has stated he wants to play.

Cole Strange is a wildcard. Superb athlete. But he was drafted under the Patricia impulse to emphasize a blocking,the outside zone, that hasn’t featured prominently in NE.

He feels like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Can he become the next center? LT? Who knows?

Ian has already clarified his injury had nothing to do with the jab. You’re a good poster, keep it on the football.

 

[Wozzy]

If Strange wasn’t a first round pick no one would pretend he’s any good the way people like to now. He’s average at best and gets manhandled by some of the better interior defensive linemen in the league. He is also injury prone and doesn’t seem to be a scheme fit anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets traded for a bag of balls this summer.

Against a 3X All Pro and 6X Pro Bowler as a rookie... Laughable