Held Hostage by the OT Position

[PATSYLICIOUS]

The Patriots have to keep working out ots every week if necessary.

We’ll have to invest heavily in the position next year. Im hoping we use our first on an LT and be able to get a RT via free agency or Wallace/chuks pans out there

 

[p8ryts]

We’ll have to invest heavily in the position next year. Im hoping we use our first on an LT and be able to get a RT via free agency or Wallace/chuks pans out there

The tackles were the glaring weakness last night. Very disappointing. They better give them lots of help.

 

[AQPE]

I reserve the right to change my mind, but I'd rather not mess with the Sow at LG/Onwenu at RG thing. I think both of those guys have a chance to be great options at those spot. Strange, from what I've seen will never be great. Onwenu at RT is not great like he is at RG. Let Sow and Onwenu settle in at LG/RG and strong interior OL play can be a staple of the team.

I say I reserve the right to change my mind because yeah, if the OT situation is sooooooooooooo bad then maybe you have to do it. Strange has been "meh" at LG which might be more than we get out of whoever our RT is. Especially if we're playing Maye by then and want to give him some level of respectability to work with, maybe that's worth doing. But long term, I'm really hoping for Sow at LG and Onwenu at RG so we can actually have a high level position group.

Strange will get another year, I.e., 2025 season, to prove out what he can be, if anything. He seems to me like a better fit at Center than at LG, his game is quickness and agility. I hope he regains his athleticism. but if he does, will he have the head and leadership skills for Center?

The future LT1 for this team is playing college football this year I think. However the real question for me is on the coaching side. There have been a lot more top 15 OTs that wound up like Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu than like Tristan Wirfs (the 4th OT taken in 2020). I hope they use their #1 pick next year on an OT but if they surprise us this year with decent performance and next year they have a choice between a “maybe but he’s raw” LT prospect and a “wow” guy at WR, TE, Edge, FS, or CB, I’d be pounding the table for the wow guy all the way.

 

[mgteich]

We’ll have to invest heavily in the position next year. Im hoping we use our first on an LT and be able to get a RT via free agency or Wallace/chuks pans out there

Wallace could be the 2025 starter at RT and Chucks the swing OT. That leaves the obvious hole at LT. I guess the team should have been expected to take a 3rd worst team and fill all the holes in 2024. NOT!
==================
Personally, I would keep all four OT's for 2024. The new coaching staff might take half the year to develop the OT's. And, yes, Lowe has a possible future at a backup LT. We brough him in as developmental prospect last year, and then expected him to a solid starter with very, very poor coaching. I consider Lowe as similar to an untested 5th round prospect.

 

[State]

Why did we keep drafting interior linemen when we've needed tackles lol.

Yeah. BB drafting Jake Andrews when budding all pro RT Dawand Jones was still available is sinful. He should have been beaten up and arrested.

 

[PatsFan2]

Yeah. BB drafting Jake Andrews when budding all pro RT Dawand Jones was still available is sinful. He should have been beaten up and arrested.

Tarred and feathered.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Yeah. BB drafting Jake Andrews when budding all pro RT Dawand Jones was still available is sinful. He should have been beaten up and arrested.

But he’s a RT, doesn’t solve our LT problem.

 

[Zuma]

 

[Sciz]

A good reminder that this isn’t as easy as picking the highly rated player with a high value pick.

 

[captain stone]

But he’s a RT, doesn’t solve our LT problem.

Correct; it would’ve at least helped improve the overall talent level of the OL, however, and also would’ve made the drafting of Fat Tony Mafia & Wallace unnecessary, at least where they taken anyway.

 

[captain stone]

While watching this clip now, and the game itself Thursday night (I no longer have DVR capabilities, either in Hershey or Dot unfortunately), I concentrated on the OL and #74 Michael Jordan in particular… I thought he played a dam good overall game with maybe one bad whiff, and deserves to be given a legit shot at the #5 G/C position.

 

[Salsalife]

Just so inexperienced line period. Speed rushers are gonna kill us. What a year coming up. Manhandled....

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Thanks for linking the tape. Wallace looked better than I expected. He was playing against the 2nd and 3rd team Panthers' DL, so maybe that is a consideration. But Wallace is a big guy and he was moving and anchoring well. Missed a few blocks but that simply inexperince. Need to see how Wallace looks against D1 to see if his feet are still fast enough. Even if Wallace is only a RT, that is OK, at least that is one more hole filled.

 

[mgteich]

Thanks for linking the tape. Wallace looked better than I expected. He was playing against the 2nd and 3rd team Panthers' DL, so maybe that is a consideration. But Wallace is a big guy and he was moving and anchoring well. Missed a few blocks but that simply inexperince. Need to see how Wallace looks against D1 to see if his feet are still fast enough. Even if Wallace is only a RT, that is OK, at least that is one more hole filled.

It seems that we have done OK with Wallace. He should be able to fill one of the three OT's spots going forward.

 

[Zuma]

Thanks for linking the tape. Wallace looked better than I expected. He was playing against the 2nd and 3rd team Panthers' DL, so maybe that is a consideration. But Wallace is a big guy and he was moving and anchoring well. Missed a few blocks but that simply inexperince. Need to see how Wallace looks against D1 to see if his feet are still fast enough. Even if Wallace is only a RT, that is OK, at least that is one more hole filled.

I think he “might” be ok at starting RT but maybe not LT in 2024 or perhaps never. I’d like Diesch to get lots of reps at LT to see if there is a chance with him there. Otherwise it’s Chuks or Anderson starting if we don’t sign anyone. Lowe has to be gone. At least at RT he will have strong support with Onwenu next to him.

 

[State]

Lowe has to be gone.

We’ll find out this week if Lowe at LT is worth keeping. He’s a good character guy. But limited physical skills.

Wallace has good physical skills but is a questionable character. He sleep walked through his Penn State years—until his last when he started showing up early to meetings and putting in a good effort.

That led to his being a third round pick. But there was never any question about his having the size and athleticism to get into the league.

Wallace very easily could have been a sixth round pick like Lowe. I don’t trust either at LT right now. But I’d go with Lowe as the starter.

Call me crazy. It’s all about eliminating mental miscues.

Wallace is going to drive you nuts…for years to come. Especially if we keep him on the left side.

But Sow at LG and Onwenu at RG are solid as heck. Who needs Cole Stange?

 

[State]

Correct; it [drafting Dawand Jones at RT] would’ve at least helped improve the overall talent level of the OL, however, and also would’ve made the drafting of Fat Tony Mafia & Wallace unnecessary, at least where they taken anyway.

Playing chess. Not checkers.

Hey, Ron Wolf’s son, time to make a move to bring in OT talent. Eliot has done a nearly flawless job.

But this tackle thing is now obvious to all. Okorafor is mediocre. Lowe is a backup. Wallace could get there.

Anyone have a suggestion? Mine is to trade with the Saints for Landon Young, their backup RT.

Then throw Lowe, Wallace, and Okorafor at LT and let it become Who wants it more.

 

[Wozzy]

Playing chess. Not checkers.

Hey, Ron Wolf’s son, time to make a move to bring in OT talent. Eliot has done a nearly flawless job.

But this tackle thing is now obvious to all. Okorafor is mediocre. Lowe is a backup. Wallace could get there.

Anyone have a suggestion? Mine is to trade with the Saints for Landon Young, their backup RT.

Then throw Lowe, Wallace, and Okorafor at LT and let it become Who wants it more.

Throw Lowe in the trash where he belongs. How much more of his terrible play do we have to watch?

Get Anderson, Wallace, Henry, Diesch all the reps... fade Okorafor, he was a poor free agent signing.

If the coaches don't recognize how bad their two starters are, there's a problem with the coaches.

 

[State]

Okorafor…was a poor free agent signing

That is looking unfortunately true. And Wolf announced before TC that he would be LT1. How’s that working out?

 

[Wozzy]

That is looking unfortunately true. And Wolf announced before TC that he would be LT1. How’s that working out?

Bad, especially since he was one of the first free agents signed by any team this off-season. They clearly targeted him… which is a condemnation of their evaluation process at the position. But he fits their type, if Lowe is any sign. Poor athlete but really long arms.