THE OL REBUILD - IS STRANGE HEALTHY?

[203Pat]

I already qualified that Strange had hiccups in his development and improved mightily in the second half of his rookie season.

I actually posted an in-depth video with a lot of footage showing his second half resurgence above… you clearly didn’t watch it, like most dogmatic biased thinkers your mind is already made up.

I had both AJ Brown and Deebo Samuel on my fantasy team their rookie year, they mostly sucked the first half of the season, Deebo actually got benched like Strange did for a stretch. Like an idiot I cut both from my fantasy roster and regretted it when they played well the second half of the season.

You pretending rookies leave college fully developed and turnkey ready to play in the NFL is typical silly behavior by 203.

This was from the 2023 season:


The first play against Miami there seems to be some miscommunication to the point Strange just turns around trying to figure out who to block. Maybe that's on him maybe it isn't.

The fourth play against New Orleans he gets beat inside almost instantly.

Also 2023:

He gets bullied by a bull rush and ruins the play.



Colts game last year:

Buckner beats him multiple times in various ways. Strange also looks confused on multiple plays.




The tape is out there. You just want to ignore it. And once again I don’t think Strange is a terrible player. I think he is an average guard. My issues are:

Getting an "average" player in the first round.

Taking a guard in the first round when every other guard that we ever had other than one was taken in the mid to late rounds and those guys were all fine.

Taking a guard on a team with so many holes. At least when they took Mankins the team was coming off its third Super Bowl in four years. The 2022 roster had glaring holes and we used a premium resource on a position traditionally taken three rounds later.

 

[Wozzy]

Baker and Polk say hold our Beers.

There are rookies who come into the league and play great immediately…. they are the exception not the rule.

I doubt Polk and Baker both arrive like gangbusters and take every veteran’s job like some here assume… but could be wrong… at least about one of them.

 

[PatsFan2]

There are rookies who come into the league and play great immediately…. they are the exception not the rule.

I doubt Polk and Baker both arrive like gangbusters and take every veteran’s job like some here assume… but could be wrong… at least about one of them.

I think Baker will be the IMPACT One but won't sleep on Polk loved him at Washington.

 

[Wozzy]

This was from the 2023 season:

You mean the season where the line coach quit on the team midseason and just left?

Or the season where Strange was playing with a torn ligament in his knee?

The same season where seasoned vets like David Andrews and Onwenu looked just as lost as everybody else?

You should look at how bad the line looked when Strange wasn’t in there, or listen to Andrews when he stated Strange was playing the best ball of his young career before re-injuring his already injured knee.

You’re a biased poster, agenda driven… anything with BB taint on it is “bad” by default. It’s the though process of a spiteful child… but you do you.

BB is gone, you can let it go, seek help. Show us on this doll where BB touched you…

 

[203Pat]

You mean the season where the line coach quit on the team midseason and just left?

Or the season where Strange was playing with a torn ligament in his knee?

The same season where seasoned vets like David Andrews and Onwenu looked just as lost as everybody else?

You should look at how bad the line looked when Strange wasn’t in there, or listen to Andrews when he stated Strange was playing the best ball of his young career before re-injuring his already injured knee.

You’re a biased poster, agenda driven… anything with BB taint on it is “bad” by default. It’s the though process of a spiteful child… but you do you.

BB is gone, you can let it go, seek help. Show us on this doll where BB touched you…

Yes. It is me with the agenda. Not the guy who has now came up with excuses for our average guard such as:

"He's hurt"
"His coach quit"
"Other guys suck too!"
"Buckner is an all-pro!"

You're embarrassing yourself even more than usual.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Yes. It is me with the agenda. Not the guy who has now came up with excuses for our average guard such as:

"He's hurt"
"His coach quit"
"Other guys suck too!"
"Buckner is an all-pro!"

You're embarrassing yourself even more than usual.

 

[Wozzy]

Yes. It is me with the agenda. Not the guy who has now came up with excuses for our average guard such as:

"He's hurt"
"His coach quit"
"Other guys suck too!"
"Buckner is an all-pro!"

You're embarrassing yourself even more than usual.

I didn’t create excuses for one player, I pointed out exact reasons why the entire line was bad last season.

Suggesting a knee injury requiring surgery is “an excuse.” Next level stupidity.

BB is gone, you can move on with your life.

 

[203Pat]

I didn’t create excuses for one player, I pointed out exact reasons why the entire line was bad last season.

Suggesting a knee injury requiring surgery is “an excuse.” Next level stupidity.

BB is gone, you can move on with your life.

You're the only one talking about Bill.

 

[rkarp1]

Strange may have a future at OC. when he returns, I think he gets some practice time there to see what he looks like.
I like Leverette more than many. I thought I read he brings a nasty streak with him, something this group needs.
I feel Mafi is a PS player for now until he better learns the position.
I am ok with Onwenu/Sow/D Andrews at RT/RG/OC. Seems we get Okorfur/Wallace at LT, with maybe Anderson as a swing guy.
the new staff obviously feels a complete overhaul of the OL is needed other than Onwenu and maybe Sow (D Andrews aging out soon).
I assume this will be a work in progress all season, and again heavily addressed in free agency and the draft in 2025

 

[mgteich]

Strange may have a future at OC. when he returns, I think he gets some practice time there to see what he looks like.
I like Leverette more than many. I thought I read he brings a nasty streak with him, something this group needs.
I feel Mafi is a PS player for now until he better learns the position.
I am ok with Onwenu/Sow/D Andrews at RT/RG/OC. Seems we get Okorfur/Wallace at LT, with maybe Anderson as a swing guy.
the new staff obviously feels a complete overhaul of the OL is needed other than Onwenu and maybe Sow (D Andrews aging out soon).
I assume this will be a work in progress all season, and again heavily addressed in free agency and the draft in 2025

Strange is a veteran starting LG, not a rookie. It is very, very unlikely that he transforms into a starting center anytime soon.

If Strange is healthy and the team doesn't think that he is good enough to be our starter at LG, then he will be traded. He has 2 years left on his rookie contract. If the patriots aren't in need of a starter at LG, so be it. I get it that posters want to move almost every player to a new position as if transitions often work out.
===
Before the objections come, yes Onwenu can indeed play 2 positions.

 

[rkarp1]

Strange is a veteran starting LG, not a rookie. It is very, very unlikely that he transforms into a starting center anytime soon.

If Strange is healthy and the team doesn't think that he is good enough to be our starter at LG, then he will be traded. He has 2 years left on his rookie contract. If the patriots aren't in need of a starter at LG, so be it. I get it that posters want to move almost every player to a new position as if transitions often work out.
===
Before the objections come, yes Onwenu can indeed play 2 positions.

I would think Strange has zero value on the market without showing he is healthy.

 

[Wozzy]

You're the only one talking about Bill.

You only hate Strange because BB picked him. Give us a break, we know you by now.

 

[Wozzy]

I would think Strange has zero value on the market without showing he is healthy.

You just described every player coming off injury.

 

[Wozzy]

Strange may have a future at OC. when he returns, I think he gets some practice time there to see what he looks like.
I like Leverette more than many. I thought I read he brings a nasty streak with him, something this group needs.
I feel Mafi is a PS player for now until he better learns the position.
I am ok with Onwenu/Sow/D Andrews at RT/RG/OC. Seems we get Okorfur/Wallace at LT, with maybe Anderson as a swing guy.
the new staff obviously feels a complete overhaul of the OL is needed other than Onwenu and maybe Sow (D Andrews aging out soon).
I assume this will be a work in progress all season, and again heavily addressed in free agency and the draft in 2025

Jake Andrews is there, we’ll see if he keeps developing and improving.

 

[203Pat]

You only hate Strange because BB picked him. Give us a break, we know you by now.

I don't know why you're getting so emotional over this. No one hates him. I just think he's average and wasn't a great draft pick considering where he was taken. Bill had plenty of bad picks the last few years not sure why you have made Cole Strange your hill to die on.

 

[mgteich]

I don't know why you're getting so emotional over this. No one hates him. I just think he's average and wasn't a great draft pick considering where he was taken. Bill had plenty of bad picks the last few years not sure why you have made Cole Strange your hill to die on.

The OL is the weakness of the worst Offense in the NFL.

And you want to get rid of an "average' starter at LG. Instead, let's consider the roster spot as filled for 2024 and possibly for 2025 with an average starter and focus on improving the rest of the OL. Yes, Leverett was signed to the starting LG to start if Strange is on IR. That's OK for a rebuilding OL. Everyone would know that the starter will be back.

We NEED to solve the future at OC, at LT and at swing OT. Is Jake the answer? Leverett is the #3 OC for now.

AS AN ASIDE
If Strange has a career ending injury, then of course he is gone, to IR and then cut. In this circumstance, we would need to move Sow over to LG in 2024. If Strange is healthy, we should give Robinson a year to develop before considering the future at LG.

 

[203Pat]

The OL is the weakness of the worst Offense in the NFL.

And you want to get rid of an "average' starter at LG. Instead, let's consider the roster spot as filled for 2024 and possibly for 2025 with an average starter and focus on improving the rest of the OL. Yes, Leverett was signed to the starting LG to start if Strange is on IR. That's OK for a rebuilding OL. Everyone would know that the starter will be back.

We NEED to solve the future at OC, at LT and at swing OT. Is Jake the answer? Leverett is the #3 OC for now.

AS AN ASIDE
If Strange has a career ending injury, then of course he is gone, to IR and then cut. In this circumstance, we would need to move Sow over to LG in 2024. If Strange is healthy, we should give Robinson a year to develop before considering the future at LG.

I don't know how this is getting so twisted. Where did I say I wanted to get rid of Strange? I said I think there's a chance the team does due to all the IOL they have drafted the last two years but even then I would be surprised if they try to move on this summer.

 

[mgteich]

I don't know how this is getting so twisted. Where did I say I wanted to get rid of Strange? I said I think there's a chance the team does due to all the IOL they have drafted the last two years but even then I would be surprised if they try to move on this summer.

thanks for clarifying

 

[AQPE]

This was from the 2023 season:


The first play against Miami there seems to be some miscommunication to the point Strange just turns around trying to figure out who to block. Maybe that's on him maybe it isn't.

The fourth play against New Orleans he gets beat inside almost instantly.

Also 2023:

He gets bullied by a bull rush and ruins the play.



Colts game last year:

Buckner beats him multiple times in various ways. Strange also looks confused on multiple plays.




The tape is out there. You just want to ignore it. And once again I don’t think Strange is a terrible player. I think he is an average guard. My issues are:

Getting an "average" player in the first round.

Taking a guard in the first round when every other guard that we ever had other than one was taken in the mid to late rounds and those guys were all fine.

Taking a guard on a team with so many holes. At least when they took Mankins the team was coming off its third Super Bowl in four years. The 2022 roster had glaring holes and we used a premium resource on a position traditionally taken three rounds later.

I am confused by some of what is presented in this post, as it shows some poor play by Mafi (#68) subbing in for Strange (#69). Certainly it shows a few plays where Strange did poorly agains DeForest Buckner, another one play against the Jets (a game they won IIRC) and one against Miami where he did poorly then another in that same game (the miss on the long throw) where Strange did his job well.

 

[203Pat]

I am confused by some of what is presented in this post, as it shows some poor play by Mafi (#68) subbing in for Strange (#69). Certainly it shows a few plays where Strange did poorly agains DeForest Buckner, another one play against the Jets (a game they won IIRC) and one against Miami where he did poorly then another in that same game (the miss on the long throw) where Strange did his job well.

That is the thing, he isn't terrible, he just isn't good. He's average and that is what I have been saying. Some great players dominate him and then against average players sometimes he holds his own and sometimes he gets beat. When you argue with people like Wozzy it ends up having to be some binary argument when that wasn't really the intent. Just because I said Strange isn't "good" doesn't mean he's bad. I think the origin of the back and forth was Wozzy stating Strange would automatically be the starter when healthy and I questioned that and I still do. I just try and read into the teams actions and two separate drafters have now taken interior offensive linemen relatively early in back to back drafts which makes me thing they know Strange is not the long term answer healthy or not.