For Rebuild Year One - The OL Isn't That Bad

[TomPatriot]

Assuming health everywhere else they can get by with just an average left tackle... it will be hard if they can't find even average. The biggest problem with the line last year...



It doesn't matter if you have five All Pro's... if you can't stay healthy blocking will be difficult.

Ok, injuries were a factor. Browns OL had a lot of injuries and yet they pulled it together last year. Pats also basically had no OL coach. It’s hard to tell how much talent they have outside of Andrews and Onwenu.

 

[Wozzy]

Very fair.

What if Wallace is just 'ok' and Polk is a stud? How would you feel then?

Depends if Patrick Paul or Kingsley Sumiata become studs... I'd rather have secured a stud left tackle in the 2nd and tried to climb back up for Polk if they were so desperate to get him. I place a larger premium on offensive line than weapons... so do the Chiefs which is why they're successful.

My bigger question is if Javon Baker in the 4th becomes better than Polk, and those two tackles KC and Miami took become studs how foolish will it look?

 

[Wozzy]

Ok, injuries were a factor. Browns OL had a lot of injuries and yet they pulled it together last year. Pats also basically had no OL coach. It’s hard to tell how much talent they have outside of Andrews and Onwenu.

They had some tackle injuries... but when you're comparing the Pats to one of the best and deepest O-Lines in the NFL perspective is necessary.

The Browns injuries were not as sever, they also had competent QB play and the coaches were all on the same page.

 

[mgteich]

I actually love Mafi. size, strength, nastiness. he needs coaching. never got it last year, and it showed. played little OL as he was a DL player to start. can the team get him to the PS? or will they keep him to develop?

I suspect that the choice is between Mafi and Leverett, with Leverett being able to play center

 

[Ross12]

The Pats QB play or lack thereof did the OL no favors either.

In my personal opinion - there was a point in time where the OL was in a good place after a few weeks. Right around when they finally moved Onwenu to RT and he got comfortable. Sow established himself at RG. I can't recall offhand if Strange was still healthy at LG or if Mafi or someone else was there, but it was manageable, and Trent Brown was still giving a **** at LT. The OL was at least average and giving enough effort to function offensively, but Mac was still playing scared anyway and running away from non-existent pressure.

After that, the injuries came and the OL degraded pretty badly. Then Brown stopped caring, etc. But for a time, the line was at least fine. So if you can get back to that place at RT/RG/C/LG, that's a good start. Then add on better OL coaching from Peters & Kugler, seemingly better depth, and QBs making better decisions, and you are in a better place. LT, of course, is the question mark.

 

[BTTA]

Time will show whether they should have taken the left tackle in the second round, if the kids Miami and Kansas selected there become studs and Wallace doesn't we'll have our answer.

This kind of retrospective obsession just leads to misery. Being a sports fan is supposed to bring a happy distraction from life's real problems.

 

[Real fan 02]

They still don't have anyone that's going to keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night.

Let's see what polk & baker become. The hope is for Drake to become that guy himself.

 

[Triumph]

In my personal opinion - there was a point in time where the OL was in a good place after a few weeks. Right around when they finally moved Onwenu to RT and he got comfortable. Sow established himself at RG. I can't recall offhand if Strange was still healthy at LG or if Mafi or someone else was there,

IIRC, Strange showed some promise and had a few good games. I recall reading his grades on PFF after a game or two and it was good news.

but it was manageable, and Trent Brown was still giving a **** at LT. The OL was at least average and giving enough effort to function offensively, but Mac was still playing scared anyway and running away from non-existent pressure.

Yup and passing plays were open, but Corky waited too long to throw.

After that, the injuries came and the OL degraded pretty badly. Then Brown stopped caring, etc. But for a time, the line was at least fine. So if you can get back to that place at RT/RG/C/LG, that's a good start. Then add on better OL coaching from Peters & Kugler, seemingly better depth, and QBs making better decisions, and you are in a better place. LT, of course, is the question mark.

Installing a new offense will cause growing pains, but still the PATS should increase wins by 75% - 100% over last season.

 

[mgteich]

In my personal opinion - there was a point in time where the OL was in a good place after a few weeks. Right around when they finally moved Onwenu to RT and he got comfortable. Sow established himself at RG. I can't recall offhand if Strange was still healthy at LG or if Mafi or someone else was there, but it was manageable, and Trent Brown was still giving a **** at LT. The OL was at least average and giving enough effort to function offensively, but Mac was still playing scared anyway and running away from non-existent pressure.

After that, the injuries came and the OL degraded pretty badly. Then Brown stopped caring, etc. But for a time, the line was at least fine. So if you can get back to that place at RT/RG/C/LG, that's a good start. Then add on better OL coaching from Peters & Kugler, seemingly better depth, and QBs making better decisions, and you are in a better place. LT, of course, is the question mark.

Is it reasonable to believe that the four returning starters will be where they were last year when healthy? I would think so, with improvement expected from Sow. So, a plus for 4/5 of the line.

Let us turn to LT. If we are equal to mid to late 2023, we are improved overall.

We were starting Lowe. Was the backup Wheatly?

Even with Lowe starting, we are better with Okorafor as a backup at LT and RT. With Anderson or Wallace able to replace Lowe as a starter or backup LT, I submit that we could be much better.

 

[Wozzy]

This kind of retrospective obsession just leads to misery. Being a sports fan is supposed to bring a happy distraction from life's real problems.

I don't get too high or low based on sports. Looking back at past decisions is how a GM can improve at his job.

 

[captain stone]

This kind of retrospective obsession just leads to misery. Being a sports fan is supposed to bring a happy distraction from life's real problems.

It's a message board.

And he's 100% right.

 

[VrabelJr]

Most OLs look good on paper but turn out to be bad on grass. I expect the OL to be anywhere from slightly worse to slightly better. The run game is probably going to suffer the most.

 

[Wozzy]

Most OLs look good on paper but turn out to be bad on grass. I expect the OL to be anywhere from slightly worse to slightly better. The run game is probably going to suffer the most.

I suspect the depth chart will look something like this...

LT – Caedan Wallace, Chukwuma Okorafor, Calvin Anderson, Zuri Henry (PS),
LG – Antonio Mafi, Cole Strange (I),
C – David Andrews, Jake Andrews, Charles Turner (PS),
RG – Sidy Sow, Layden Robinson,
RT – Michael Onwenu, Tyrone Wheatley (PS),

Left tackle you can slot whomever you want in there, whoever you think will win the battle. You can swap Sow for Mafi or keep them there, either way if all the youngsters did what they were supposed to and worked their tails off this offseason, they should get the start with Strange on the PUP to begin the season.

But let's say this ^ group stays healthy, Strange comes back after 4 games, the rookies pick up the pro game and it translates to the field, one of the left tackle candidates hopefully Wallace stuns us all and takes that job decisively... this offensive line could be great. They're not short on talent.

 

[mgteich]

8

I suspect the depth chart will look something like this...

LT – Caedan Wallace, Chukwuma Okorafor, Calvin Anderson, Zuri Henry (PS),
LG – Antonio Mafi, Cole Strange (I),
C – David Andrews, Jake Andrews, Charles Turner (PS),
RG – Sidy Sow, Layden Robinson,
RT – Michael Onwenu, Tyrone Wheatley (PS),

Left tackle you can slot whomever you want in there, whoever you think will win the battle. You can swap Sow for Mafi or keep them there, either way if all the youngsters did what they were supposed to and worked their tails off this offseason, they should get the start with Strange on the PUP to begin the season.

But let's say this ^ group stays healthy, Strange comes back after 4 games, the rookies pick up the pro game and it translates to the field, one of the left tackle candidates hopefully Wallace stuns us all and takes that job decisively... this offensive line could be great. They're not short on talent.

If Strange is on PUP, I would start the following at LG before using Mafi
Jake Andrews (my choice)
Leverett
Sow
Wallace
Robinson

 

[dliverey44]

They're not in a rebuild...

And when you had one position to fill on the offensive line, left tackle, to presumably come away from this offseason without one was some bad team building. If Wallace succeeds they did a great job, otherwise they screwed up.

I agree to an extent, I think they did an overall good job bringing in competition on the OL and should help the strength of the overall unit. There really wasn't any LT worth bringing in during FA, my opinion. During the draft, I felt like they made the decision to upgrade WR rather than LT.

I did not think that any of the LT's in the 2nd round were more than projects, so at that point it felt like one project at LT was as good as another. A LT can be covered up by scheme at times. I don't feel like they screwed up especially since it is a multi season rebuild and they can use their 1st round in 2025.

 

[Wozzy]

8

If Strange is on PUP, I would start the following at LG before using Mafi
Jake Andrews (my choice)
Leverett
Sow
Wallace
Robinson

Jake Andrews I project as the backup center, could be wrong but if not I don’t want the backup center starting. I want him backing up one of the oldest players on our offense.

Sow is already starting at guard so you’re looking for one. The only way this isn’t happening is malaria.

Wallace maybe by default or if Mafi spent the entire offseason eating doughnuts, but if he did the opposite… he has about 15 pounds on Wallace, double that on Robinson and a year of experience.

Better linemen, first round picks have struggled early their rookie season… expecting a 3rd or 4th round rookie who didn't bench to start is a big ask.

I think both players will presumably be better served spending a year in the weight room, but circumstances don’t always work that way and I could be wrong as they didn’t lift.

Mafi had fundamentals he had to improve upon this offseason, especially as a pass blocker. But by the end of last season both he and Jake Andrews were showing flashes. Jake struggled early also what little he played, by the end of the season both looked a little better. Time for a year two leap, we’ll see how committed they were this offseason.

Leverett is a jag, if he makes the team something went terribly wrong or the 30 coaches are too lazy to develop young talent.

 

[sb1]

Teams install new offenses or variations every season. These guys are football players and the system is only getting easier than the previous that was notorious for its difficulty.

Health is necessary for all 32 teams, there’s nothing unique about the Patriots situation. They had an undue amount of injuries last season at OL and WR. They need to stay healthy, theres no predicting injury.

Most of the coaches have worked together, as most of the players have. They’re returning a majority of both. They’re not launching a satellite to space, it’s football.

After the OL, the WR’s dealt the next most injuries. They needed to get younger and deeper at WR, easy enough, they have some vets who can play now and some rookies behind them.

Not a rebuild, mostly just a new QB and a better offensive environment and attitude. Positivity is a good thing. Rebuild is what they had to do after 2019. Fix the offense.

Too bad that didn't happen. The season without fans in the building was the time to blow it up and tank. Bill decided otherwise because coaching wins record or something I guess. And now after that complete failure we have to start again and Bill will likely never get another chance to get closer to that record. I call that a lose-lose.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Coaching is a huge factor. Ive noticed alot of these teams that had decent success with backup qbs and OL injuries had offensive minded hc’s and guessing they had actual offensive staffs. At least part of that has been addressed now.

Last year much like 22 at oc/qb coach was a recipe for disaster. Essentially had no true OL coach (again) once klemm had to step away and who knows if he had any positive impact anyway while he was there. Injuries are pretty forgotten on the OL too with the rash of injuries everywhere else, but i remember week 1 there were 3 or 4 starters missing iirc. We still do need one of Anderson/chuks/wallace to work out at LT but hopefully it won’t be another total disaster.

 

[Pats1971]

I'm not saying the Oline was great, but a bad indecisive Qb who struggles reading defeneses is an Oline's worst Nightmare. QB's at least the good ones, do so much to help an oline, and some do just the opposite of that.

 

[Wozzy]

Too bad that didn't happen. The season without fans in the building was the time to blow it up and tank. Bill decided otherwise because coaching wins record or something I guess. And now after that complete failure we have to start again and Bill will likely never get another chance to get closer to that record. I call that a lose-lose.

They had a very good team in 2021, they missed on the QB position... then Thunder insisted Mac keep starting even though the entire world knew he sucked.

If Mac was Burrow, Herbert or Stroud we're not even having this conversation and BB is still the coach.