The Patriots offensively line in context

[lancerman]

 

[lancerman]

And no that isn't a typo. The line is offensively bad.

 

[dliverey44]

If there is not a lot of money spent on the OL this off season then we should all stop going to games and not buy any of their ****.

 

[IcyPatriot]

If there is not a lot of money spent on the OL this off season then we should all stop going to games and not buy any of their ****.

Each team received $400 million from the league in 2023... so.

 

[NashuaPats]

That looks about right. lol. It’s really impressive what Maye is doing with this line and receivers.

 

[captain stone]

The LT & LG are Backup-caliber; the Center & RT are Practice Squad-caliber; and the RG's a Thief.

Other than that, we're in great shape.

 

[p8ryts]

If there is not a lot of money spent on the OL this off season then we should all stop going to games and not buy any of their ****.

It needs to be the major investment. The interior is particularly offensive. I'm afraid Onwenu hasn't been worth the investment, Jordan and Brown are not the answer, and I don't think Andrews returning will improve much except for cerebral. As bad as pass blocking is, the run blocking seems to be worse. Good lines win the first two yards, ours loses two on the snap.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Remember when Eliot Wolf approved this OL?

 

[Pape]

thats some ****ing context...

 

[jmt57]

This is why the top offseason priority should be LT/OL, not WR.

I'm not saying a quality outside WR is not needed (it is). It's just that the primary focus should be on the OL.


Thanks for that eye-opening chart, it speaks volumes.

 

[Patsfan1645]

Remember when Eliot Wolf approved this OL?

This guy?

 

[PatsFan2]

That looks like Slow Polk's production against his peers...bringing up the rear.

 

[upstater1]

At some point, we have to STOP talking about the Patriots neglecting the OL. We have to START talking about bad scouting.

You can't bring in 30 players at these positions over 5 years (I didn't include practice squad guys, but only guys who played) and have every single one of those 30 players fail (with the exception of 2 in Onwenu and Strange). A lot of resources have been wasted to buff up that O-Line.

Now, I'm still of the belief that the QB makes all the difference, and to a degree the coaching. We have seen these players pass protect well for a competent QB like Maye. We also saw them run block well last year when they strung together several 150+ running yard games. If only they could do both at the same time, and with the confidence of coaches.

But overall it is a failure. A failure of scouting and a failure of coaches.

What it isn't is a failure of expending resources. I mean, good god, we've spent a ton in draft picks!

2018
1st Isaiah Wynn

2019
3rd Yodney Cajuste
4th Hjalte Froholdt

2020
6th Mike Onwenu
6th Justin Herron
7th Dustin Woodward

2021
6th William Sherman

2022
1st Cole Strange
6th Chasen Hines
7th Andrew Steuber

2023
4th Jake Andrews
4th Sidy Sow
5th Atonio Mafi

2024
3rd Caden Wallace
4th Layden Robinson

Free Agent signings over the period:
LaAdrian Waddle
Trent Brown
Jermaine Eluemenor
Ted Karras (Return from Dolphins)
Marcus Cannon (Return from Texans)
Riley Reiff
Calvin Anderson
Vederian Lowe
Tyrone Wheatley
Connor McDermott
Chuk Okorafor
Nick Leverett
Demontrey Jacobs
Michael Jordan
Ben Brown

 

[captain stone]

Remember when Eliot Wolf approved this OL?

Let's hope ownership does.

 

[jmt57]

At some point, we have to STOP talking about the Patriots neglecting the OL. We have to START talking about bad scouting.

You can't bring in 30 players at these positions over 5 years (I didn't include practice squad guys, but only guys who played) and have every single one of those 30 players fail (with the exception of 2 in Onwenu and Strange). A lot of resources have been wasted to buff up that O-Line.

Now, I'm still of the belief that the QB makes all the difference, and to a degree the coaching. We have seen these players pass protect well for a competent QB like Maye. We also saw them run block well last year when they strung together several 150+ running yard games. If only they could do both at the same time, and with the confidence of coaches.

But overall it is a failure. A failure of scouting and a failure of coaches.

What it isn't is a failure of expending resources. I mean, good god, we've spent a ton in draft picks!

2018
1st Isaiah Wynn

2019
3rd Yodney Cajuste
4th Hjalte Froholdt

2020
6th Mike Onwenu
6th Justin Herron
7th Dustin Woodward

2021
6th William Sherman

2022
1st Cole Strange
6th Chasen Hines
7th Andrew Steuber

2023
4th Jake Andrews
4th Sidy Sow
5th Atonio Mafi

2024
3rd Caden Wallace
4th Layden Robinson

Free Agent signings over the period:
LaAdrian Waddle
Trent Brown
Jermaine Eluemenor
Ted Karras (Return from Dolphins)
Marcus Cannon (Return from Texans)
Riley Reiff
Calvin Anderson
Vederian Lowe
Tyrone Wheatley
Connor McDermott
Chuk Okorafor
Nick Leverett
Demontrey Jacobs
Michael Jordan
Ben Brown

Interesting list.

To be fair, there are only two players drafted in the first two rounds, and four total drafted in the top 100. Wynn and Cajuste were constantly injured. The story of drafting Cole Strange that early has been rehashed many times. The only other top 100 pick was Caeden Wallace. Another selection that is easily second guessed (RT), and another that has been derailed by injury - although it is too soon to come to a conclusion on him.

Trent Brown did contribute to one championship, though the return was a disappointment. Riley Reiff was an over the hill swing and a miss. Okorafor should have never been counted on to be a starter, much less switching positions. Going into the season with him as their plan to start at LT is inexcusable. The others were mostly a bunch of crapshoots, perhaps rising to the level of decent backups.

Dante Scarnecchia's contribution to the efficacy of the offensive line can never be overstated. His loss has a negative effect on not just the coaching, but the scouting as well. The current regime needs to do a much better job in both pro scouting (free agents) and college scouting (draft). Even Dante would struggle with the combination of lack of talent and lack of depth with this offensive line.

Unfortunately the team will still have to expend resources on the offensive line. Standing pat and hoping that the current group will suddenly collectively improve in 2025 is not an option.

 

[Toofy]

Now defense stinks too. We will unfortunately waste Maye rookie years. Let's hope we get the pick 1 so that we can trade back unless everyone comes back to life in last part of the season and we win 4 of next 6 games.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Okorafor should have never been counted on to be a starter, much less switching positions. Going into the season with him as their plan to start at LT is inexcusable.

This was the most troublesome thing for me. They really thought Chuks was the answer at LT and the backup plan was Wallace, Lowe and Anderson.

 

[archstanton543]

Now defense stinks too. We will unfortunately waste Maye rookie years. Let's hope we get the pick 1 so that we can trade back unless everyone comes back to life in last part of the season and we win 4 of next 6 games.

This is Year 1 of his rookie contract. He's got another 4 years on it (providing they pick up his 5th year option which is extremely likely). If they can't get their **** together by then, then, yeah, they wasted his rookie deal.

 

[JohnJH]

It needs to be the major investment. The interior is particularly offensive. I'm afraid Onwenu hasn't been worth the investment, Jordan and Brown are not the answer, and I don't think Andrews returning will improve much except for cerebral. As bad as pass blocking is, the run blocking seems to be worse. Good lines win the first two yards, ours loses two on the snap.

I suspect the reason Onwenu got the money that he did, is because of poor drafting and general talent acquisition, Onwenu was the best that they had on the OL (therein lies the problem) and thought that they had no choice but to overpay for him (essentially giving him RT money when he's not really a RT and only a mostly Gap Scheme RG).

Man, does next off season (Year 2 of the rebuild) going to be a true make or break off season for everyone from ownership to front office, to coaching staff. So long as Maye is and stays healthy and uninjured (a long with Gonzo, Barmore, and to a certain extent White), they have a baseline of "These are the players that any team should want to have", which is better than nothing. I'm done with Wolf/Groh Jr./Mayo (who I didn't want as HC because he's not earned it)/Covington/AVP as an OC but doing well working with Maye on basics.

 

[Toofy]

We wasted 2024 draft outside of Maye.. that's criminal. I donno how Kraft can entrust one more season to wolf.

Polk ,baker , Wallace look like GM killers.

We got brutally lucky with Maye and squandered the chance to build one got too cute and drafted Polk. Should have got mcconkey. He is tearing it away with chargers.