For Rebuild Year One - The OL Isn't That Bad

[Water Boy]

Very interesting dynamic with the O-line this year. Lots of possibilities.

Andrews and Onwenu are obviously locks and to me its 3 players vying for 2 positions.

Sow
Wallace
Robinson

Given Onwenu's G/T versatility there maybe a competition to see if Wallace is a better RT than Robinson or Sow are at Guard. It was reported that Onwenu has been give reps at RG.

If I'm not mistaken Sow played LG in college and Robinson played RG. I'm intrigued with these combinations minus the gaping hole at LT:

LT -Sow Andrews Robinson Onwenu

LT - Sow Andrews Onwenu Wallace

LT - Robinson Andrews Onwenu Wallace

If anything we should at least have good guard depth.

 

[captain stone]

Very interesting dynamic with the O-line this year. Lots of possibilities.

Andrews and Onwenu are obviously locks and to me its 3 players vying for 2 positions.

Sow
Wallace
Robinson

Given Onwenu's G/T versatility there maybe a competition to see if Wallace is a better RT than Robinson or Sow are at Guard. It was reported that Onwenu has been give reps at RG.

If I'm not mistaken Sow played LG in college and Robinson played RG. I'm intrigued with these combinations minus the gaping hole at LT:

LT -Sow Andrews Robinson Onwenu

LT - Sow Andrews Onwenu Wallace

LT - Robinson Andrews Onwenu Wallace

If anything we should at least have good guard depth.

Sow's a near-lock to be our starting LG; it makes too much sense and I don't see anyone in the building being good enough to take it from him.... Don't be surprised to see Leverett open TC as the starting RG with Onwenu at RT while the two rookies try to earn their way up the depth chart... That leaves Chucky & Mister Anderson "competing" for the starting LT spot... Ganja Satan help us...

 

[mgteich]

Sow's a near-lock to be our starting LG; it makes too much sense and I don't see anyone in the building being good enough to take it from him.... Don't be surprised to see Leverett open TC as the starting RG with Onwenu at RT while the two rookies try to earn their way up the depth chart... That leaves Chucky & Mister Anderson "competing" for the starting LT spot... Ganja Satan help us...

fair enough

You mention the "start" of TC.

I think it quite possible that Robinson moves up the depth chart to challenge Leverett. Even if Leverett were signed with the expectation that he would start, the team did see fit to draft Robinson a month after signing Leverett.

I note that you don't mention Mafi or Jake. I expect that they will try both rookies out as our backup LG.

 

[captain stone]

fair enough

You mention the "start" of TC.

I think it quite possible that Robinson moves up the depth chart to challenge Leverett. Even if Leverett were signed with the expectation that he would start, the team did see fit to draft Robinson a month after signing Leverett.

I note that you don't mention Mafi or Jake. I expect that they will try both rookies out as our backup LG.

As of today, my preferred 9 OLmen (10 might be a luxury we can't afford but 8's way too few IMO) are:

Chucky - Sow - David Andrews - Leverett - Onwenu
Anderson - Jordan - Robinson - Wallace

Next 5 by position, not necessarily preference: Wheatley, Jake Andrews, Turner, Mafi, Lowe.

 

[mgteich]

As of today, my preferred 9 OLmen (10 might be a luxury we can't afford but 8's way too few IMO) are:

Chucky - Sow - David Andrews - Leverett - Onwenu
Anderson - Jordan - Robinson - Wallace

Next 5 by position, not necessarily preference: Wheatley, Jake Andrews, Turner, Mafi, Lowe.

I think that you need to add Jake as a backup center, especially with Leverett starting at RG. I know that you think that backup centers need to have incriminating pictures to make the roster, but we really need a backup center a 3rd emergency center.

So, I would have Jake instead of Jordan. How many games has Jordan started at center?

As an aside, I would note that Leverett may not be good enough to be a starter. He may have been signed as a veteran backup, able to backup at all the IOL spots, certainly at center and RG. Maybe a 4th round RG only player may be a better RG than Leverett. It is just possible that Robinson was drafted hoping that he would be able to be a starter. Given that they probably knew that Sow was moving to LG, that certainly seems a possibility, especially if they didn't think that either Mafi or Jake was able to be a starter.

 

[captain stone]

So, I would have Jake instead of Jordan. How many games has Jordan started at center?

Out of his 29 NFL starts? None that I can find; he did however start all 14 games there during his junior, and final, season at Ohio State... Leverett's taken pre-season snaps at Center while he was in Tampa, so it's not like we'd be completely bereft of experience there if FakefromStateFarm happened to be waived on Cutdown Day along with the the other over-drafted stiff from that year Fat Tony Mafia. Let 'em try to improve on the practice squad, a place more befitting their "talent."

 

[mgteich]

Out of his 29 NFL starts? None that I can find; he did however start all 14 games there during his junior, and final, season at Ohio State... Leverett's taken pre-season snaps at Center while he was in Tampa, so it's not like we'd be completely bereft of experience there if FakefromStateFarm happened to be waived on Cutdown Day along with the the other over-drafted stiff from that year Fat Tony Mafia. Let 'em try to improve on the practice squad, a place more befitting their "talent."

OK

 

[Water Boy]

It is just possible that Robinson was drafted hoping that he would be able to be a starter. Given that they probably knew that Sow was moving to LG, that certainly seems a possibility, especially if they didn't think that either Mafi or Jake was able to be a starter.

That's what Phil Perry and Jim Nagy speculated. He's a pure guard with no Tackle or Center potential.

 

[Wozzy]

As of today, my preferred 9 OLmen (10 might be a luxury we can't afford but 8's way too few IMO) are:

Chucky - Sow - David Andrews - Leverett - Onwenu
Anderson - Jordan - Robinson - Wallace

Next 5 by position, not necessarily preference: Wheatley, Jake Andrews, Turner, Mafi, Lowe.

If Chuka is starting at left tackle and Leverett is starting at guard the line is going to suck royally.

Cutting the few talented potential starters or even backups like Jake, Mafi or even long shot Wheatley seems silly to me.

Chuka could be a warm body but Leverett and Michael Jordan are career backups who are one more cut away from retirement.

Anderson, Wallace, Jake, Mafi are all potentially better starters at guard.

 

[Thunderhead]

This is year five of the rebuild post Brady and the Pats are happy to sit on the most available cap space in the entire NFL. This franchise has become a punchline.

 

[captain stone]

If Chuka is starting at left tackle and Leverett is starting at guard the line is going to suck royally.

I knew that already; but maybe Robinson beats out Leverett and Anderson beats out Chucky...

Cutting the few talented potential starters or even backups like Jake, Mafi or even long shot Wheatley seems silly to me.

Not exactly sure what "talent" any of Jake, Mafi or Wheatley have shown...

Chuka could be a warm body but Leverett and Michael Jordan are career backups who are one more cut away from retirement.

Perhaps... But this FO signed Leverett early in the free agency process for a reason; and I've always liked Jordan's size, athleticism & versatility.

Anderson, Wallace, Jake, Mafi are all potentially better starters at guard.

Anderson's a Left-side-Only lineman while Mafi's a Right-side-Only one, so that limits their options... Wallace needs to concentrate All his forces on attempting to switch to LT this year; he therefore shouldn't have any time to learn either of the Guard positions... And I see Jake as a late 6th-early 7th-round talent comically over-drafted by the previous administration and as somebody who should be in a fight just for his NFL employment.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Today we saw Onwenu at Guard and Wallace at RT.

Any Anderson sightings? He did at one point make 7 starts for the Broncos at LT.

 

[Wozzy]

I knew that already; but maybe Robinson beats out Leverett and Anderson beats out Chucky...

Total guess on my part, something like:

LT (3) – Caedan Wallace, Chukwuma Okorafor, Calvin Anderson, Zuri Henry (PS),
LG (2) – Antonio Mafi, Layden Robinson, Cole Strange (I),
C (2) – David Andrews, Jake Andrews, Charles Turner (PS),
RG (1) – Sidy Sow,
RT (1) – Michael Onwenu, Tyrone Wheatley (PS),

Not exactly sure what "talent" any of Jake, Mafi or Wheatley have shown...

What talent have Leverett or Jordan shown having played in the league for years. At least the guys I’ve mentioned have been here five minutes. Both Mafi and Jake put some good plays on tape by the end of last season… maybe you stopped watching.

Perhaps... But this FO signed Leverett early in the free agency process for a reason; and I've always liked Jordan's size, athleticism & versatility.

They’re both poor athletes, bench players previously and are paid peanuts. Teams bring in warm bodies for camp, even guys they know aren’t great but who understand the system to show the other guys.

Anderson's a Left-side-Only lineman while Mafi's a Right-side-Only one, so that limits their options... Wallace needs to concentrate All his forces on attempting to switch to LT this year; he therefore shouldn't have any time to learn either of the Guard positions... And I see Jake as a late 6th-early 7th-round talent comically over-drafted by the previous administration and as somebody who should be in a fight just for his NFL employment.

Anderson played both sides in Denver, he was their right tackle before Garrett Bolles got hurt and they moved him to the left side.

Mafi played both guard positions last year. I don’t get some posters here, they say things like they’re factual when it’s often made up. Can we stop making stuff up?

 

[mgteich]

Not exactly sure what "talent" any of Jake, Mafi or Wheatley have shown...

Agree

 

[mgteich]

Perhaps... But this FO signed Leverett early in the free agency process for a reason;

The team was having trouble getting anyone to come here, so they overpaid for a versatile OL.

That doesn't make Leverett starting material. I believe that he was signed as a veteran backup C and a backup OG. As we know, such a position could keep him on the patriots for years. Having a veteran backup C who start at OG if necessary is a major plus on Game Day. As a Game Day backup, he provides a lot of flexibility.

But more directly to the point at issue. Apparently, the team is not sold on the talent of Jake or of Mafi. One or both could make the team, but they have been potentially replaced by Leverett and Robinson. For me, the team wanted this option.
====================

 

[PatsFan2]

If Chuka is starting at left tackle and Leverett is starting at guard the line is going to suck royally.

Cutting the few talented potential starters or even backups like Jake, Mafi or even long shot Wheatley seems silly to me.

Chuka could be a warm body but Leverett and Michael Jordan are career backups who are one more cut away from retirement.

Anderson, Wallace, Jake, Mafi are all potentially better starters at guard.

What if the OL Coaching is better this time around.

 

[mgteich]

As of today, my preferred 9 OLmen (10 might be a luxury we can't afford but 8's way too few IMO) are:

Chucky - Sow - David Andrews - Leverett - Onwenu
Anderson - Jordan - Robinson - Wallace

Next 5 by position, not necessarily preference: Wheatley, Jake Andrews, Turner, Mafi, Lowe.

1) We agree on 8 players, all but Jordan.

2) I expect Robinson to start at RG. That what SHOULD happen when we use a 4th for a right side only RG.

3) Wallace is a wild card. He should be good enough to be always active as one of the 8 active OL's. I think that what he shows in camp will determine where and if there the need for a 9th and/or 10th OL.

================
FOR ME (9)
starters: Okorafor-Sow-D. Andrews-Robinson-Onwenu
key Game Day backups: Leverett, Wallace
backup C/OG: Jake or Jordan or Mafi or free agent
#9 OL if backup OT: Anderson
=====================
WE COULD CARRY TEN OL's IF ROOKIES AREN'T READY
#10 OL: IOL TBD if rookies are ready (could be free agent IOL or even OT)

 

[Wozzy]

What if the OL Coaching is better this time around.

Just having a line coach who was hired by the same head coach or offensive coordinator and running the same system will be better. Last year was a collaborative mess.

But at the end of the day it's a player's league and you need the talent. With Andrews, Sow and Onwenu they have the right side set up nicely, they're missing about half the line on the left side. They might be able to cobble together the left side with the young pieces they have but it's not a given. IMO the offensive line could have been handled better this offseason.

 

[State]

Sow's a near-lock to be our starting LG; it makes too much sense and I don't see anyone in the building being good enough to take it from him.... Don't be surprised to see Leverett open TC as the starting RG with Onwenu at RT while the two rookies try to earn their way up the depth chart... That leaves Chucky & Mister Anderson "competing" for the starting LT spot... Ganja Satan help us...

It’s not if, but when…

Bakhtiari-Sow-Andrews-Onwenu-Wallace or Okorafor.

That’ll do, Pig. That’ll do.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Want to see what hopefully the “Callahan” protege brings from Cleveland. It should be a better group but nowhere next to perfect. Another top 10 pick should solidify LT position if they choose the right one. I’d trade our first for Wirfs today if the Bucs were that stupid. NO chance in hell.

What are we looking for? Progress? Solid? Serviceable? Normally I would assume the coaches have a pretty good idea about who they have in my mind for LT. As fans without access to the nitty gritty I don’t think we’ve seen anyone that has stood out as that guy as of yet. Few months left to find out.