I think the depth expectations for OL seem unrealistic.

[rkarp1]

 

[BennyBledsoe]

All young OL are going to have growing pains. You just got to hope they get smoothed out sooner rather than later.

 

[Ross12]

How many teams have more than 2 reserve IOL and 2 reserve OT capable of spot-starting on their roster? Seems like the Pats have that in Van Roten/Brown/Bryant/Lomu, which I have to imagine is as good as most other teams in the league. Crownover might even be one more dude capable of throwing in there.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Reports on him are all over the place. One day he looks "stronger". The next day he's getting "walked back" by Jacas. Another day is that his technique is "night and day" from his rookie season. Then he struggles again.

The media can’t pick a side. Opening night will tell us a lot.

It's not always on the media to "pick a side". There's a place for analysis and opinion/projections but there's also a place for just reporting what happened in practice that day as it went. Sounds like he's just been inconsistent.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

How many teams have more than 2 reserve IOL and 2 reserve OT capable of spot-starting on their roster? Seems like the Pats have that in Van Roten/Brown/Bryant/Lomu, which I have to imagine is as good as most other teams in the league. Crownover might even be one more dude capable of throwing in there.

Calling Bryant a capable spot starter seems like projection but otherwise agree. You always want to churn the roster over and ideally you have a starter-capable backup at every spot but that's not super realistic. A 1st round pick, 2 guys who have starting experience in the NFL without being unplayable and an intriguing developmental guy is a pretty solid reserve OL group.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Real talk?

Pre season and training camp are ********. You learn nothing about what a team will become until generally at least 6 games in.

 

[Zuma]

Real talk?

Pre season and training camp are ********. You learn nothing about what a team will become until generally at least 6 games in.

Pre season is immensely important for rookies to get a feel how regular season games are. A lot of it is...where to be and when and I'm not talking about the field. It's total mayhem for rookies and stressful to get ready before the game actually starts. You can get burned out dealing with everything including tickets for family. For Vets...yes I agree.

 

[TommyD4207]

Real talk?

Pre season and training camp are ********. You learn nothing about what a team will become until generally at least 6 games in.

They should really just do camp and joint practices. The preseason games are becoming more and more ******** with each passing year, nearing pro bowl-levels of ********.

 

[farn]

Really hope the OL impresses - it’s crucial. When I think of what Maye was able to accomplish last season, I need to think that he’d excel with a good OL.

 

[mgteich]

Real talk?

Pre season and training camp are ********. You learn nothing about what a team will become until generally at least 6 games in.

"nothing"?
sigh

 

[mgteich]

Calling Bryant a capable spot starter seems like projection but otherwise agree. You always want to churn the roster over and ideally you have a starter-capable backup at every spot but that's not super realistic. A 1st round pick, 2 guys who have starting experience in the NFL without being unplayable and an intriguing developmental guy is a pretty solid reserve OL group.

Yes, Bryant is a stretch, but we have 3 quality backups in Van Roten, Brown and Lomu.

And the 9th is Bryant or Crownover (over the 9th AND 10th).

This is an incredible improvement in 2 years.

 

[Ring 6]

I have no idea how this is even a topic among media and posters when the starting 5 are mediocre at best.

Starting 5 will be a top 10 OL this year

 

[n1997y]

Yes, Bryant is a stretch, but we have 3 quality backups in Van Roten, Brown and Lomu.

And the 9th is Bryant or Crownover (over the 9th AND 10th).

This is an incredible improvement in 2 years.

Bryant is a stretch, but Lomu isn’t?

Really?

Can I have a hit of whatever you’re on, please?

 

[Joey007]

How many teams have more than 2 reserve IOL and 2 reserve OT capable of spot-starting on their roster? Seems like the Pats have that in Van Roten/Brown/Bryant/Lomu, which I have to imagine is as good as most other teams in the league. Crownover might even be one more dude capable of throwing in there.

There are people who are in much worse situations out there. Try not having viable starters to begin with? Let alone a lack of depth.

 

[Joey007]

Starting 5 will be a top 10 OL this year

I mean, it just depends what we get from Campbell and Wilson. I haven’t seen enough yet to know what they are.

The other pieces are there. AVT healthy paired with Onwenu is having two top 15 guards in the league. And Moses is still an above average starting right tackle. You’ll gladly take that.

 

[Ring 6]

Bryant is a stretch, but Lomu isn’t?

Really?

Can I have a hit of whatever you’re on, please?

Bryant can’t hold Lomus jockstrap

 

[Ring 6]

Really hope the OL impresses - it’s crucial. When I think of what Maye was able to accomplish last season, I need to think that he’d excel with a good OL.

He excelled with a bad one

 

[n1997y]

Bryant can’t hold Lomus jockstrap

That must be why patriots.com has him ahead on the depth chart:



As usual your reality is unrelated to the rest of the world.

lol.

 

[BTTA]

Bryant can’t hold Lomus jockstrap

That's not what's being reported this far.

 

[Ross12]

Calling Bryant a capable spot starter seems like projection but otherwise agree. You always want to churn the roster over and ideally you have a starter-capable backup at every spot but that's not super realistic. A 1st round pick, 2 guys who have starting experience in the NFL without being unplayable and an intriguing developmental guy is a pretty solid reserve OL group.

It’s certainly projection for Bryant based on reporting and limited preseason snaps. Have to see it for real. Of course, if all goes according to plan, you’ll never see him play because Campbell and Moses will be playing good football and never get hurt and so Bryant will never need to see the field except for perhaps in some 6OL package or something - and that’s only if they don’t use Lomu for that instead.