Sidy Sow

[40yrpatsfan]

Let's hope somebody can play a good enough Center to keep Brown on the PS, who was probably the worst pass blocking center I've ever seen.

We don't know what direction this will take. Strange could end up at C and Sow at LG for all we know. One would think that Bradbury at C and Strange at LG is where things will start out. But regardless, Brown can't be part of the solution.

 

[rkarp1]

What positions are you keeping on the 53? I have
LT 2
LG 2
OC 2
RG 2
RT 2

Even that is a lot. In the past, we have kept 8 or 9 or 10.

For me, that doesn't leave room for Brown. Strange is likely the backup OC until Wilson is ready.

OT-4
IOL-5. maybe 6
Campbell/Strange/Bradbury/Onwenu/Moses
Lowe, Wallace, L Rob, Wilson, Sow
PS-Brown, Conley, Bryant, Jacobs

 

[Water Boy]

In that case, Vrabel made a HUGE mistake in signing Bradbury.

HUGE is a little hyperbolic. Wouldn't be all that impactful from a cap standpoint. Not sure what the other starting caliber veteran OC options there were in FA. Obviously we needed a more steadying presence than Brown, Strange and Wilson alone. Brown did pretty well last year under ****ty coaching and I think there is room for improvement with him under Marrone and more playing time. Our line suffered immensly from not knowing how to recognize and block stunts.

Under JMCD it will be up to Maye to call out protections so if Brown is more stout in the middle might not be the worst thing to cut our losses with Bradbury.

Here's from ChatGTP

Garrett Bradbury's Pro Football Focus blocking grades for the 2024 season were 48.2 in pass blocking, ranking 55th out of 64 centers, and 70.7 in run blocking, ranking 14th out of 64 centers.

Ben Brown's Pro Football Focus blocking grades for the 2024 season are 47.3 in pass blocking, ranking 56th out of 64 centers, and 52.8 overall.

Ben Brown's run-blocking grade for the 2024 season was 58.5.

 

[Wozzy]

This is what's untrue. Calvin Anderson was out all training camp with malaria, and never was ready to play that year.

Reiff was so banged up he barely played the entire year (one game). I think I remember your posting how he was done.

There was literally no one else.

Why if Sow truly won a starting tackle job as a rookie was he never ever again tried there with the shortage of the team's tackles? Even when he's a bubble candidate at guard???

They had more tackles than guards, they needed a guard when Strange went down. Onwenu had position flexibility and putting the rookie between two vets seemed like the smartest move.

 

[Wozzy]

Brown is the teams back up OC until Wilson is able to beat him out. might be game 1 or might be game 8.
Brown would be relegated to the PS once Wilson does beat him out.

Brown was getting slaughtered by better opponents by the end of last season. The Pats aren’t exposing Wilson to the waiver wire, don’t be silly. Brown was on the Raiders practice squad until the Pat’s poached him and their line stunk.

You people shine every turd into a diamond… that’s not how pro football works.

 

[rkarp1]

Brown was getting slaughtered by better opponents by the end of last season. The Pats aren’t exposing Wilson to the waiver wire, don’t be silly. Brown was on the Raiders practice squad until the Pat’s poached him and their line stunk.

You people shine every turd into a diamond… that’s not how pro football works.

no where did I say Wilson to the PS.
but he has been injured and is a bit behind. until he is ready, Brown is the back up OC

 

[Family]

They had more tackles than guards.

They literally had ZERO tackles. They had to move a top guard to tackle who wasn't very good at tackle.

In fact, on a team with weaknesses everywhere, tackle would be considered the weakest position over the past two years.

And again.... the team has never considered Sow at tackle in training camp last year despite a huge void at that position.

But say that he won a starting right tackle job enough times and it becomes true.................................

 

[State]

Will Strange remain healthy?

That’s a dicey proposition.

The other question is what weight Big Mike will show up at to TC. Fat Mike who gets top shelf money but provides no leadership on the OL? The past two years he has obviously been overweight and out of shape. If he does it again, does he continue to be coddled?

 

[Real fan 02]

That’s a dicey proposition.

The other question is what weight Big Mike will show up at to TC. Fat Mike who gets top shelf money but provides no leadership on the OL? The past two years he has obviously been overweight and out of shape. If he does it again, does he continue to be coddled?

Great points. If Mike Ownenu isn't taking it seriously then he'll likely be a trade candidate he won't be cut he just got a new deal last season. Also Vrabel isn't going to bench him either. So next week will be telling is Mike Ownenu committed and in football shape? Can strange stay healthy enough to tap into his potential and remain a starter?.. furthermore I don't believe Vrabel is coddling anyone. He's already set the Standard Vrabel is just what these guys needed to recommit themselves to the game they say they love.

 

[Wozzy]

no where did I say Wilson to the PS.
but he has been injured and is a bit behind. until he is ready, Brown is the back up OC

Bradbury and Strange have first dibs at the center job, if Brown makes the 53 something went terribly wrong.

 

[Wozzy]

They literally had ZERO tackles. They had to move a top guard to tackle who wasn't very good at tackle.

In fact, on a team with weaknesses everywhere, tackle would be considered the weakest position over the past two years.

And again.... the team has never considered Sow at tackle in training camp last year despite a huge void at that position.

But say that he won a starting right tackle job enough times and it becomes true.................................

Calvin Anderson started game one at right tackle, Sow started at left guard… that was better than any other lineup they had. If Strange was healthy Sow was starting at RT… we know this because he was running with the #1’s there in practice.

Sow played well as a rookie in a very dysfunctional offense. If he’s healthy he has a lot of promise and versatility.

 

[Wozzy]

That’s a dicey proposition.

The other question is what weight Big Mike will show up at to TC. Fat Mike who gets top shelf money but provides no leadership on the OL? The past two years he has obviously been overweight and out of shape. If he does it again, does he continue to be coddled?

Onwenu wasn’t overweight last year, that was a media creation.

Also if Strange’s repaired knee holds, he is a tough sturdy player.

 

[State]

Evan Lazar makes an interesting point:

On paper, the most straightforward starting five for the Patriots along the offensive is LT Will Campbell, LG Cole Strange, C Garrett Bradbury, RG Mike Onwenu, and RT Mike Onwenu. However, Strange is only penciled in. One element to consider at left guard is that Campbell (77 ⅜" wingspan) and Bradbury (76.5" wingspan) are both narrower body types at their respective positions. Thus, having a larger left guard who takes up more space, such as Sow, Wallace, or Wilson, could make sense.

 

[State]

Onwenu wasn’t overweight last year, that was a media creation.

No. He was fat as butter. Year before, too. And we quarrel about it. Every year.

 

[State]

Also if Strange’s repaired knee holds he is a tough sturdy player.

You do realize he will have to face Quinnen Williams of the Jets twice a year? Football is about matchups. And Strange69 doesn’t match up well at all with him on gap or inside zones. Outside zones Strange69 can handle anyone with his elite athleticism.

 

[Wozzy]

No. He was fat as butter. Year before, too. And we quarrel about it. Every year.

You or Felger measured him? He weighed 350 pounds when he had his breakout season. He’s a big guy.

Onwenu played the most snaps on the entire offense last season. Overweight was garbage. Fat overweight guys don’t lead the entire offense in snaps.

 

[State]

Onwenu played the most snaps on the entire offense last season.

Lackadaisically.

 

[Wozzy]

You do realize he will have to face Quinnen Williams of the Jets twice a year? Football is about matchups. And Strange69 doesn’t match up well at all with him on gap or inside zones. Outside zones Strange69 can handle anyone with his elite athleticism.

Strange played perennial All Pro Cam Heyward to a standstill as a rookie. There’s nobody he can’t matchup with if healthy.

 

[State]

Strange played perennial All Pro Cam Heyward to a standstill as a rookie. There’s nobody he can’t matchup with if healthy.

Quinnen Williams. Twice a year.

Just like Will Campbell has to contend with his nemesis last year in Landon Jackson, the Bills’ second-rounder.

 

[mgteich]

Great points. If Mike Ownenu isn't taking it seriously then he'll likely be a trade candidate he won't be cut he just got a new deal last season. Also Vrabel isn't going to bench him either. So next week will be telling is Mike Ownenu committed and in football shape? Can strange stay healthy enough to tap into his potential and remain a starter?.. furthermore I don't believe Vrabel is coddling anyone. He's already set the Standard Vrabel is just what these guys needed to recommit themselves to the game they say they love.

Onwenu will NOT be a trade candidate. No one wants his contract.
========
In any case, the fiction of Onwenu being overweight and playing poorly is just that.

Playing RG between Brown and Jacobs would make even an all-pro look like a poor lineman.

Onwenu will be much, much better this season, and probably next.

Bradbury, Onwenu and Moses will not be the problem on this Offense.