Content Post WEEK 17 FILM BREAKDOWN: Offensive Line

[dliverey44]

FWIW, picking a center in the first round isn’t that unusual, and IOLs are picked in the first round most years. Tyler Linderbaum was the 25th pick in 2022, 4 picks before Strange. Also picked in thst first round were OGs Kenyon Green (15), Zion Johnson (17j, and Tyler Smith (24). In 2023 OG Skowronski went #11, this year OG Fautanu went #20 and C Barton went #26.

With that said I would hate to see the Pats use a top 5 or even top 15 pick on an OG or C, even a guy I like a lot (Campbell or Banks, if as rumored their arm length is substandard), when they are so devoid of talent in so many places. I’d use that pick only on a guy who is a cinch to be a plug and play at LT (e.g., Paris Johnson or Joe Alt), otherwise give me a guy who can demand double coverage as a WR1, or who must be double teamed as a pass rusher, or who needs to be avoided as a CB.

I’m 100% on the trade down train, I’d do it twice if possible to stack up talent in the next two drafts. My only fear then is the ability of The Sons to make the right acquisitions and The CEO Coach to make smart decisions.

As much as I would love to see Hunter play WR here, I am in favor of trading down twice to about 15-18 and get Josh Simmons.

 

[Zuma]

The OL is not just for Maye, we need to have a competent running game and right now the OL cannot run block very well.

Onwenu and Robinson…possibly Strange can run block…but on the outside…nope.

 

[dliverey44]

Onwenu and Robinson…possibly Strange can run block…but on the outside…nope.

Owenu has been a very poor run blocker this year.

 

[Zuma]

Owenu has been a very poor run blocker this year.

He got fat and had garbage on both sides of him.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Owenu has been a very poor run blocker this year.

Very poor is a bit strong, but not great for sure. Robinson and Strange can run block well and need to iron out their pass protection hiccups.

The biggest issue run blocking has been the tackles. Did you see Wallace body slam a DB while run blocking yesterday? Too funny. Maybe Wallace works out. We desperately need a FA LT.

 

[mgteich]

As much as I would love to see Hunter play WR here, I am in favor of trading down twice to about 15-18 and get Josh Simmons.

a lot depends on his medical status

In any case, OT in the teens or early 20's is possible.

But first things first: get that 2026 1st with the first trade down.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I thought strange looked pretty good, except for a bad snap and a couple wobbly snaps!
David Andrews is past his expiration date! If strange’s knee is fine, he could be our center next year!!!
We need to sign the best free agent tackle we can!
The scouts need to tell us if Campbell has the arm length to play left tackle! Campbell has everything else needed for success as a left tackle!!!

 

[PScottman]

I'd hope they bring in a Sweat or Reddick to improve their currently non-existing pass rush, and I like the idea of Nick Bolton at LB. he's a playmaker and its always a plus to **** with KC.

I'd like to know the all-22 on the DL as well. It appeared via broadcast view they doubled White many/most plays and erased everyone else one on one including any additional rushers easily with either a TE or RB. As poor as the OL is (and it is) the DL is just as bad (as are the LBs frankly). Can't stop either the run or the pass with any consistency and being asked to fulfill roles beyond their abilities.

 

[KCSVEN]

I'd like to know the all-22 on the DL as well. It appeared via broadcast view they doubled White many/most plays and erased everyone else one on one including any additional rushers easily with either a TE or RB. As poor as the OL is (and it is) the DL is just as bad (as are the LBs frankly). Can't stop either the run or the pass with any consistency and being asked to fulfill roles beyond their abilities.

Pretty good breakdown below:

Interesting tidbit:
-Herbert was pressured on 19.5% of drop backs, Pats had 1 pressure in 13 blitzes
-Maye, after the head injury, was pressured at 48.4% the rest of the game.
Teams are starting to just blitz and send pressure every play, need to coach up beating that.

After Further Review: Breaking Down QB Drake Maye and the Patriots Defense in Saturday's Loss to the Chargers

 

[PatsFan2]

On RT Caedan Wallace he Needs work but we need a Real OL Coach to get him up to speed.

 

[PScottman]

Pretty good breakdown below:

Interesting tidbit:
-Herbert was pressured on 19.5% of drop backs, Pats had 1 pressure in 13 blitzes
-Maye, after the head injury, was pressured at 48.4% the rest of the game.
Teams are starting to just blitz and send pressure every play, need to coach up beating that.

After Further Review: Breaking Down QB Drake Maye and the Patriots Defense in Saturday's Loss to the Chargers

Thank you.

Two of those three clips show White getting a double team (or an initial double to a shift to pick up a blitzing or stunt game rusher) while in the first one he drops out in coverage which is what I thought I saw on TV overall.

I'm not saying he's an all-pro DL which he isn't , but I'm also debunking the story line that he's terrible.

The NFL is very good at exploitation. If there's something a player does well, but not with variety, it's going to be mitigated. That's the coaching aspect in a nutshell. Being able to help your players adjust to the adjustment.

I think that and the rookie wall are contributors to Maye's last couple games as well. This coaching staff has proven they cannot make in-game adjustments and are now starting to show that they are poor at mitigating trending season-long adjustments as well.

 

[Vindicate]

While this was a breakdown for the OL, your post briefly mentioned the huge atrocity of this game: absolutely no pressure generated at all by our defensive front, giving time to Herbert. I said it at the beginning of the year but this is really where we miss BB.

I remember maybe at the beginning of 2022? 2023? Romo was commentating a game where he said "Belichick is still rolling out defensive schemes and lineups I've never seen in my life."

It seems that creativity is what generated pressure with a less-than-stellar cast. If I actually had the knowledge, it'd be interesting to see the different alignments from previous years to this and see where some of the changes lie.

 

[Vindicate]

Thank you.

Two of those three clips show White getting a double team (or an initial double to a shift to pick up a blitzing or stunt game rusher) while in the first one he drops out in coverage which is what I thought I saw on TV overall.

I'm not saying he's an all-pro DL which he isn't , but I'm also debunking the story line that he's terrible.

The NFL is very good at exploitation. If there's something a player does well, but not with variety, it's going to be mitigated. That's the coaching aspect in a nutshell. Being able to help your players adjust to the adjustment.

I think that and the rookie wall are contributors to Maye's last couple games as well. This coaching staff has proven they cannot make in-game adjustments and are now starting to show that they are poor at mitigating trending season-long adjustments as well.

And furthermore to your exploitation point, it's easier to neutralize the better talent when it is singular and you can afford to double team without much effect elsewhere.

It then becomes incumbent on coaching to generate pressure through scheme, I would imagine.

 

[PatsFan2]

Very poor is a bit strong, but not great for sure. Robinson and Strange can run block well and need to iron out their pass protection hiccups.

The biggest issue run blocking has been the tackles. Did you see Wallace body slam a DB while run blocking yesterday? Too funny. Maybe Wallace works out. We desperately need a FA LT.

Pics please.

 

[Zuma]

On RT Caedan Wallace he Needs work but we need a Real OL Coach to get him up to speed.

So Peters is a bad coach because the draft was ****ty, free agency sucked and they had a boatload of injuries?

 

[h0c2000]

Pics please.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Thanks. Wallace is not shy which is nice. Big guy. Lots hope he moves well enough to be a RT. Our scouts are usually OK at picking tackles, not perfect, but the hit rate on tackles is better than WRs. LOL.

 

[AQPE]

So Peters is a bad coach because the draft was ****ty, free agency sucked and they had a boatload of injuries?

Me personally I’m undecided about whether Peters is a good coach or bad coach. Other than Lowe, to a limited extent only with him, who has improved this year under Peters’ tutelage? They are still committing penalties and mental errors by the bushel, seems like every single possession there is an OL penalty. Whatever Peters is doing to fix that is not working.

We all understand that the Pats failed miserably last offseason to address the absolute debacle they had last year at OT. I get that the OT FAs last offseason sucked, but the guys they did bring in - Chuks, Leverett, and Jordan, were all lousy. I think Peters has some culpability there, certainly the position coaches like him have input on the roster construction. At a minimum it is clear that he didn’t do enough to convince his superiors that they were on their way to another OL fiasco this year.

In particular I am aggrieved by what has transpired with Sow. Sow is a high 4th round pick and has talent, I don’t see him as more than a good player (not very good or elite but slightly more than simply decent) but I know what I saw from him last year and it was more than fine. He has regressed this year to the point where is essentially does not play, after being a starter his entire rookie year. WTF happened and why can’t Peters get Sow back to the post he was at last season?

Peters hasn’t done well enough and this needs to improve, especially if they pour even more money into fixing the OL, something I strongly advocate for them to do.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Me personally I’m undecided about whether Peters is a good coach or bad coach. Other than Lowe, to a limited extent only with him, who has improved this year under Peters’ tutelage? They are still committing penalties and mental errors by the bushel, seems like every single possession there is an OL penalty. Whatever Peters is doing to fix that is not working.

We all understand that the Pats failed miserably last offseason to address the absolute debacle they had last year at OT. I get that the OT FAs last offseason sucked, but the guys they did bring in - Chuks, Leverett, and Jordan, were all lousy. I think Peters has some culpability there, certainly the position coaches like him have input on the roster construction. At a minimum it is clear that he didn’t do enough to convince his superiors that they were on their way to another OL fiasco this year.

In particular I am aggrieved by what has transpired with Sow. Sow is a high 4th round pick and has talent, I don’t see him as more than a good player (not very good or elite but slightly more than simply decent) but I know what I saw from him last year and it was more than fine. He has regressed this year to the point where is essentially does not play, after being a starter his entire rookie year. WTF happened and why can’t Peters get Sow back to the post he was at last season?

Peters hasn’t done well enough and this needs to improve, especially if they pour even more money into fixing the OL, something I strongly advocate for them to do.

The thing that concerns me about Peters is that his claim to fame hand fighting techniques seem to generate holding calls. Mayo's stock response of 'you can't control what the refs call' does not seem like any adjustments are in the cards.

 

[p8ryts]

I don't know anything about pff grades, but I think they were watching a different game. Patriots' best and worst PFF grades from Week 17 vs. Chargers | Sporting News