Can the Line hold up?

[Wozzy]

OK, let me sum it up in a nutshell. We are not going to know ANYTHING about what this offense is going to be UNTIL Strange and Ownu return.....PERIOD. And is frustrating the HELL out of me is not seeing ANYTHING about when their possible return will be. I am hoping they both dress today and at least do SOME work.

Man if I were a reporter THAT is the story I would be digging to dredge out, not this same old, Mac and WR talk that seems to go on endlessly. It's not so much their out but for HOW long. No one seems to be interested in trying to find out. Any news today about seeing either of them or did they have a ANOTHER day off?

Until Strange, Onwenu, Anderson and Russey return... we have four guys who could really help us who are not playing or practicing... and we just got Trent back.

We need these four back before the regular season, or not long after. Otherwise our depth behind the starters is crap.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Yeah, someone over on the Sidy Sow thread was posting some of his past gems.

"At what feckin position exactly is this FECKIN FAT FECK going to play?!?" - Captain Stone on Mike Onwenu

I think there are people who casually watch the draft and know all the first round players names, then there are people that do a deep dive on players who could also go late or undrafted. Again... telling us who we could have had years later when you have the results is as worthless as a wet paper bag holding a wet fart in a rainstorm.

Sure, I never said I agree with everything. But I don't see you in the draft forum throughout the year, digging into prospects and discussing games. I've seen @captain stone stone (and others I don't always agree with, but appreciate anyway) for close two decades (I lurked for years before I made an account; I've been reading this board since the mid 2000s).

 

[Wozzy]

Sure, I never said I agree with everything. But I don't see you in the draft forum throughout the year, digging into prospects and discussing games. I've seen @captain stone stone (and others I don't always agree with, but appreciate anyway) for close two decades (I lurked for years before I made an account; I've been reading this board since the mid 2000s).

It doesn't change the fact that he consistently tells us our players, even our good to great players suck.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

It doesn't change the fact that he consistently tells us our players, even our good to great players suck.

Actually, it does, because this is your claim:

They’re hindsight experts in the draft, they’ll tell you who all the best players are years down the road. But back during draft week, they’re nowhere to be found and have no opinions.

That's patently untrue. He has wild reactions and gets overly cynical and critical. I'll happily argue with him on that. I actually agree with most of your takes--I'm not trying to attack you or anything. I'm just saying let's stick to facts instead of unfounded accusations.

 

[rkarp1]

bottom line, no more "it's getting late"
it is now late.
does anyone think Onwenu ready week 1?
Does anyone think Anderson ready week 1?

assuming no on both, how do you feel about Brown-Strange-Andrews-Reiff-Sow
or
Brown-Strange-Andrews-Mafi-McDermott

 

[mgteich]

bottom line, no more "it's getting late"
it is now late.
does anyone think Onwenu ready week 1?
Does anyone think Anderson ready week 1?

assuming no on both, how do you feel about Brown-Strange-Andrews-Reiff-Sow
or
Brown-Strange-Andrews-Mafi-McDermott

how do you feel about Brown-Strange-Andrews-Reiff-Sow
or
Brown-Strange-Andrews-Mafi-McDermott

I much prefer the OL with Reiff and Sow

 

[Wozzy]

bottom line, no more "it's getting late"
it is now late.
does anyone think Onwenu ready week 1?
Does anyone think Anderson ready week 1?

assuming no on both, how do you feel about Brown-Strange-Andrews-Reiff-Sow
or
Brown-Strange-Andrews-Mafi-McDermott

They’re either active this week or they’re not ready.

I’m fine with Brown, Strange, Andrews, Mafi/Russey/Reiff and Sow.

As long as that group stays healthy they can hold down the fort until Onwenu and Anderson return.

 

[WinstonSmith]

For what it's worth, on the Next Pats Podcast, Phil Perry reported that Calvin Anderson was not only hanging out at practice, but he was also wearing the sports bra thing that tracks movement/exercise, which would indicate that he's at least not dead. Hopefully he pulls off the sports bra look better than Kyler Murray.

 

[PScottman]

to stay healthy and motivated

You can say one or the other (or both) aspects of that sentence fragment about every single team in the league for one or more of their key position players as well. It is not unique to the Patriots.

There is no perfect team - they don't exist under the salary cap and a set roster limit and even didn't before said expenditure limiting factor with maybe single digit exceptions from the past where a team could lose their starting LT (mentally or physically) and not miss a beat.

Is the OL the most risk-heavy aspect of this Patriots team? Agree, but it's also not the only one. If both Jones' (J and J) are not available for the first few weeks of the season for injury and legal reasons...the Myles Bryant movie is one we've seen again and again and it is much more horror show than "feel good movie of the year". Losing Godchaux, Barmore, or both to injury or motivation will ruin their run defense up the middle. Same for the pass rush without Judon.

But take away Diggs in Buffalo for a contract dispute or other diva actions. Kielce gets hurt. Tua gets another concussion. Lamar gets injured again and Huntley has to pick up the slack. The NFL isn't a league of massive depth and no question marks - in fact the opposite is true. One of the most key factors of any Super Bowl run (and this is NOT saying the Patriots are aligned for one this year - quite the opposite) is health and availability of its players across the entire season. The variables are legion with most outside any teams' control (if that one blade of fake grass had been bent left instead of right his ACL would still be whole...)

 

[State]

Brown-Strange-Andrews-Reiff-Sow
That looks like week one’s lineup.

Reiff is not a tackle anymore. McDermott is physically limited in pass blocking.

Sow has the physical tools to make it work much more than the soontobe35 yearold and the former Jets PS.

I’m guessing Onwenu won’t be rushed back. Ankles can be tricky.

 

[mike_usagisan]

Brown-Strange-Andrews-Reiff-Sow
That looks like week one’s lineup.

Reiff is not a tackle anymore. McDermott is physically limited in pass blocking.

Sow has the physical tools to make it work much more than the soontobe35 yearold and the former Jets PS.

I’m guessing Onwenu won’t be rushed back. Ankles can be tricky.

Didn't Onwenu suit up at the last practice? He's off PUP, which I think means he's getting close.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Strange hasn't practiced. I don't see him playing week 1. Conditioning with Onwenu would also be an issue. Maybe he plays? Probably not a full game. Reif is a tackle. He will play tackle. They are giving him reps pre-season at guard.

 

[Zuma]

Strange hasn't practiced. I don't see him playing week 1. Conditioning with Onwenu would also be an issue. Maybe he plays? Probably not a full game. Reif is a tackle. He will play tackle. They are giving him reps pre-season

Reiff has played ok at RG. They could have had rooks play RG in the last preseason game but went with Reiff when Mac was in and later. I think they like him at there with Sow at T…however Sow might not be ready to start. Will be interesting to see how the right side shakes out when Onwenu is ready to start.

 

[jdlboot14]

With Onwenu off PUP and starting to rehab in practice, I think he could be ready to play week 1. If not,
Then it seems it will be Reiff at RG. And I bet they start with McDermott at RT over Sow, because BB always leans to vets.
Mafi & Sow seem like top rookie backups. If Strange doesn't lock it down from the whistle, Mafi could be on his heels.
This is my prediction for 9 OL on the 53:
Brown - Strange - Andrews - Onwenu - Reiff/McD
McD - Mafi - Andrews - Reiff - Sow

 

[PatsFan2]

With Onwenu off PUP and starting to rehab in practice, I think he could be ready to play week 1. If not,
Then it seems it will be Reiff at RG. And I bet they start with McDermott at RT over Sow, because BB always leans to vets.
Mafi & Sow seem like top rookie backups. If Strange doesn't lock it down from the whistle, Mafi could be on his heels.
This is my prediction for 9 OL on the 53:
Brown - Strange - Andrews - Onwenu - Reiff/McD
McD - Mafi - Andrews - Reiff - Sow

And the Eagles will set the single game Sack Record if that's the case McDermott sucks!!

 

[jdlboot14]

And the Eagles will set the single game Sack Record if that's the case McDermott sucks!!

He sucks at LT, but he was the best RT we had last year.
Either way, the best option would be to have Onwenu at RG, and Reiff at RT - at least until Sow can prove he's ready.

 

[Uptown]

“Having already missed on Cardinals swing tackle Josh Jones (traded Thursday to Houston), the Pats should call about Browns swing tackle James Hudson III. The former fourth-round pick has drawn rave reviews in his third season, but if Cleveland says no, they settle for Wheatley. Hudson and Wheatley have impressed in the preseason and been schooled by the league’s best O-line coach in Bill Callahan. Capable offensive tackles are like pitching in baseball: even the best teams can’t have enough.”

“Except if you're facing a serious numbers crunch. In Cleveland, Wheatley is stuck behind starters Jedrick Willis, Jack Conklin, fourth-round rookie Dawand Jones and Hudson. Through two preseason games, he's played 61 snaps at left tackle and 37 at right tackle, per Pro Football Focus. He staved off two of the best defensive lines in the league, Washington and Philadelphia, posting an elite 95.6 run-blocking grade and 97.6 pass-blocking efficiency, both metrics scored out of 100.”

“At worst, Wheatley would provide solid, ascending depth at positions of viral importance need for the Patriots. Mac Jones was pressured on more than 40% of his dropbacks - 40! - in last week's exhibition at Green Bay. If the offensive line can't trust fourth-round rookie Sidy Sow, a career college guard now playing right tackle, it's in serious trouble.”

“The Patriots should patch their O-line by sending Cleveland their 2024 seventh-round pick that converts into one of the two sixth-rounders they own if Wheatley plays eight or more games.”

NFL notes: 4 potential Patriots trades before cutdown day, including a blockbuster

If the Patriots want to make the playoffs, they should do more than release players on cutdown day — they should trade for some. Here are 4 fake trades to help the Pats make a postseason push.

www.bostonherald.com

 

[Real fan 02]

Until Strange, Onwenu, Anderson and Russey return... we have four guys who could really help us who are not playing or practicing... and we just got Trent back.

We need these four back before the regular season, or not long after. Otherwise our depth behind the starters is crap.

As we all can agree in unison.. this line is such a worry to me. The health, performance and cohesion is everything to what we want to dictate on offense. My concern is at a 6 personally for the line. The offensive line has to have cohesion, and be in sync to execute the offense. Who knows who will be out there come week 1. We are tested right out the gate. Will Mac be running for his life all game? Will rham and zeke have running lanes? What will Onwenu look like? Is Trent Brown all in this season? Will Reiff hold up this season? Questions upon questions, upon questions..

 

[Wozzy]

As we all can agree in unison.. this line is such a worry to me. The health, performance and cohesion is everything to what we want to dictate on offense. My concern is at a 6 personally for the line. The offensive line has to have cohesion, and be in sync to execute the offense. Who knows who will be out there come week 1. We are tested right out the gate. Will Mac be running for his life all game? Will rham and zeke have running lanes? What will Onwenu look like? Is Trent Brown all in this season? Will Reiff hold up this season? Questions upon questions, upon questions..

I watched the game last night, watched the first half again on YouTube. Sow played well in the first half, he had Harold Landry across from him most of the time, that guy led the Titans in sacks in 2021 before missing last season with injury... he's a pro bowler.

Stueber, Ferentz and Hines shouldn't make the team never mind play in 2023, they looked terrible.... why would I worry about players who won't even be here?

They have to get healthy, the young guys have to continue to improve and develop. If that happens the offensive line will be a strength. There are questions entering every season.

 

[Real fan 02]

I watched the game last night, watched the first half again on YouTube. Sow played well in the first half, he had Harold Landry across from him most of the time, that guy led the Titans in sacks in 2021 before missing last season with injury... he's a pro bowler.

Stueber, Ferentz and Hines shouldn't make the team never mind play in 2023, they looked terrible.... why would I worry about players who won't even be here?

They have to get healthy, the young guys have to continue to improve and develop. If that happens the offensive line will be a strength. There are questions entering every season.

It's not an issue about why would you worry about players that won't be here. It's a concern because, as you perfectly said they haven't been healthy. Went and signed reiff and Anderson in the off season to fill a void and play important roles. Anderson had been on NFI. Reiff IMO just looks old. So I agree the young guys must step up, take the coaching and adapt quickly. Owenu was on PUP. We've had a patchwork O line all pre season and they have not even looked like and XFL O line just my opinion. However the hope is we put the healthiest 5 out there and try to hold up. Going against teams best rushers is what they'll be faced with it's part of being an O linemen .they face it everyday in practice Going against our own pass rushers!