It's time to move Onwenu back to RT.

[Zuma]

No it’s not time to move Onwenu to tackle. The 1st regular season game isn’t until about a month from now. Maybe they trade for a tackle, sign one when teams cut to get to 53 or Chuks or Anderson look like starters at LT. It’s way to early for Onwenu to RT talk.

 

[mgteich]

QUESTIONS

TACKLE
1) Is Wallace ready to start? If not, Onwenu should certainly be starting at RT, with Wallace as the swing OT. This gives us a solid set of OT's, which is the issue after all.

2) If Wallace is ready to start, we still don't have a swing OT. Anderson and Lowe are really poor. However, we could carry one or a free agent and have Onwenu move to RT if there is an injury. Lowe or Anderson would essentially be the backup only during a game.

GUARD
3) f we solidify the OT group by moving Onwenu to OT, then the issue becomes RG. We have more than one player who are much better at RG than Lowe or Anderson at OT.
4) Sow started as a rookie. Robinson can do the same. He'll have growing pains to be sure.
5) Leverett and Jordan are possibilities at LG, which would allow us to keep Sow at RG.
6) Mafi is also a possibility at RG.
==================
BOTTOM LINE
Okorafor, Sow(or Leverett or Robinson), Andrews, Robinson(or Sow), Onwenu
backups: Wallace, Leverett, Jordan, Mafi

The OL is much stronger with Onwenu at RT.

ALTERNATIVE
Have Wallace start at RT and pick up a veteran backup OT to upgrade Anderson/Lowe

 

[TheRainMaker]

When a team gives a player more money than he deserves, they should play him at the position he’s best at no matter what. The fact that he doesn’t have a set position just shows not only he’s not that great at either position, but how dysfunctional this new regime is.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

When a team gives a player more money than he deserves, they should play him at the position he’s best at no matter what. The fact that he doesn’t have a set position just shows not only he’s not that great at either position, but how dysfunctional this new regime is.

When you have a player who's been a Pro Bowl guard and a good/serviceable RT, you pay him. It's not a reflection of Onwenu that the other spots haven't been determined. His flexibility gives the team options, which they need. They're playing everyone everywhere right now to find the right combinations, and I'm glad about that.

 

[TheRainMaker]

When you have a player who's been a Pro Bowl guard and a good/serviceable RT, you pay him. It's not a reflection of Onwenu that the other spots haven't been determined. His flexibility gives the team options, which they need. They're playing everyone everywhere right now to find the right combinations, and I'm glad about that.

He's not even close to being an All Pro let alone a Pro Bowl G. Execs/analysts don't even rank him in the top 10 for G's. In fact, he's not even in the top 20 for T's.

Massive overpay.

 

[Zuma]

He's not even close to being an All Pro let alone a Pro Bowl G. Execs/analysts don't even rank him in the top 10 for G's. In fact, he's not even in the top 20 for T's.

Massive overpay.

I did a google search for top 10 nfl guards and picked the 1st one..

6. MICHAEL ONWENU, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS​

A sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2020, Onwenu has spent time at both tackle and guard spots on the Patriots' offensive line in his three-year career so far. 2022 saw him spend the full season at right guard, though, and while his 79.3 PFF grade was the lowest of his career so far, it was still the fourth-best mark at the position last season

PFF Offensive Guard Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2023 NFL season

The Dallas Cowboys' Zack Martin claims the top spot in these NFL offensive guard rankings ahead of the 2023 season.

www.pff.com

 

[Real fan 02]

No it’s not time to move Onwenu to tackle. The 1st regular season game isn’t until about a month from now. Maybe they trade for a tackle, sign one when teams cut to get to 53 or Chuks or Anderson look like starters at LT. It’s way to early for Onwenu to RT talk.

At this point unless it's someone of Trent Williams caliber I don't see any available upgrades at the tackle spots. We have alot of guys for depth on the line. Mayo just needs to stick with 5 guys and go into the season with them. I get the mixing and matching but week 1 is merely weeks away. Righ now it's Lowe at LT.. keep him there and enter the season with him see how it goes.. the offense isn't going to be dropping back every single snap. The run game will take so much pressure off the line and the QB..

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Its a good backup plan but i think we should get an extensive look at chuks/wallace and see what we have at both ot spots before kicking him back out. Ideally youd like to keep him at rg but you don’t want 2 weak ot spots come regular season. Still almost a month until the first meaningful game

 

[Real fan 02]

How

He's not even close to being an All Pro let alone a Pro Bowl G. Execs/analysts don't even rank him in the top 10 for G's. In fact, he's not even in the top 20 for T's.

Massive overpay.

He's regarded....

 

[State]

Onwenu slidding laterally eight to 10 yards every outside zone run play and he’ll be sucking wind by halftime.

 

[Zuma]

At this point unless it's someone of Trent Williams caliber I don't see any available upgrades at the tackle spots. We have alot of guys for depth on the line. Mayo just needs to stick with 5 guys and go into the season with them. I get the mixing and matching but week 1 is merely weeks away. Righ now it's Lowe at LT.. keep him there and enter the season with him see how it goes.. the offense isn't going to be dropping back every single snap. The run game will take so much pressure off the line and the QB..

Actually I think there will be a T available for trade or released that is better than Lowe.

They have been playing Lowe at LT because they want to verify that he totally sucks before they release him…IMO.

 

[Zuma]

Onwenu slidding laterally eight to 10 yards every outside zone run play and he’ll be sucking wind by halftime.

The dude is not built for outside zone RT.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I did a google search for top 10 nfl guards and picked the 1st one..

6. MICHAEL ONWENU, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS​

A sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2020, Onwenu has spent time at both tackle and guard spots on the Patriots' offensive line in his three-year career so far. 2022 saw him spend the full season at right guard, though, and while his 79.3 PFF grade was the lowest of his career so far, it was still the fourth-best mark at the position last season

PFF Offensive Guard Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2023 NFL season

The Dallas Cowboys' Zack Martin claims the top spot in these NFL offensive guard rankings ahead of the 2023 season.

www.pff.com

That's from a year ago. They grade him as a T now and he's not even in the top 20. That's bad. NFL execs don't have him in the top 10 for G mostly because he switches between G and T too often. By the way for Cole Strange fans, he's ranked last at 32.

PFF Offensive Tackle Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2024 NFL season

Continuing our series of player rankings, here are the top 32 offensive tackles in the league, starting with San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams.

www.pff.com

NFL Execs & Coaches Stack Up Patriots' Mike Onwenu Against Top IOLs

The New England Patriots will have a heavy hitter protecting up front next season.

www.si.com

How
He's regarded....

That's a Pats media article. What does it say within the article? Any quotes from league execs?

 

[Real fan 02]

Actually I think there will be a T available for trade or released that is better than Lowe.

They have been playing Lowe at LT because they want to verify that he totally sucks before they release him…IMO.

LOL.. he sucked last season and we still kept him around. To your point I hope o e is available by way of trade or cap casualty.. all the good tackles are signed.

If we can go into the season with 5 guys who identify as NFL players that can play soundly and develop some cohesion then it will be good for the offense.

 

[mgteich]

When a team gives a player more money than he deserves, they should play him at the position he’s best at no matter what. The fact that he doesn’t have a set position just shows not only he’s not that great at either position, but how dysfunctional this new regime is.

Yup, it is definitely

LOL.. he sucked last season and we still kept him around. To your point I hope o e is available by way of trade or cap casualty.. all the good tackles are signed.

If we can go into the season with 5 guys who identify as NFL players that can play soundly and develop some cohesion then it will be good for the offense.

"all the good tackles are signed"

While I agree, I'm not sure that it takes a good tackle to upgrade Lowe as a backup LT.

 

[JohnJH]

In my humble opinion, at least regarding this season, we should put Wallace at RT (as that was where he played the majority of his collegiate snaps). If he's the answer at RT, then having him at RT next to Onwenu at RG stabilizes that side of the line for awhile. Next year, we absolutely draft a hopefully "Stud" Day 1 starter at LT. A solid young Day 1 starter at Center wouldn't hurt (even if Andrews can play and at a high level for one more season after this season while his replacement stands ready). And of course, we need to find another solid RB and whatever other positions that we can obtain via FA and the rest of the 2025 Draft. To state the obvious, they need to give Maye a solid OL and all the skill position players that they can to help him be what we hope that he can be. Additionally, add talent to the Defense and try to build a balanced Team in all 3 Phases of the game. If they play their cards right, next season could see them show a serious leap in improvement. Essentially, this was Year 1 of the rebuild, it'll take some time, but can be turned around.

 

[Mack Herron]

Good discussion of OL possibilities. But if they have only 4 NFL OLs, the ship is going down. They need to trade for an OT or the hostage situation continues.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I am going to beat my drum: best OL coach we could have hired is the assistant with the Texans.

Cole Popovich.

Best OL coach not named Dante.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

???

Okorafor is very likely to start at LT.

Agreed, but I still think it is going to be painful.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Reiss this morning - "And the depth of the second unit, which was led by a solid performance from rookie right guard Layden Robinson"

Bedard after the game "The lineman who stood out the most in this game was fourth-round pick Layden Robinson, who played both guard spots well. His technique was sharp and he played physically. Had a standout run and pass block, and only allowed one hurry in 46 snaps. ..."

I agree and that is encouraging, but it was against the Panthers 2nd and 3rd string, lots of guys that will not be in the NFL this year.