Interior OL

[One-If-By-Sea]

Yes and what is the deal with sow?? Was it coaching last season or???

I dont think anyone knows. I have not seen anything. Maybe he was hurt - commonly we do not know that. Polk was seen rehabbing with a should sling on - we never knew he hurt his shoulder which could help explain the drops.

 

[Real fan 02]

I am not sure how to play it. Not even sure if we can trade down because who wants to trade with us? I think we will be stuck with Graham or Membou or another at #4. I used to think Sanders would go to the Giants at #3, but now I wonder.

Interesting.. draft experts have said that this years draft is underwhelming. Currently seems like Graham is there for the taking at 4.. but then who knows if we move down, ect. I'm chalking up this offseason and draft of what the Patriots need over what they may necessarily want. We've had a bottom roster for what at least last few seasons?

 

[Real fan 02]

I dont think anyone knows. I have not seen anything. Maybe he was hurt - commonly we do not know that. Polk was seen rehabbing with a should sling on - we never knew he hurt his shoulder which could help explain the drops.

Agreed. There are so many different types of things players deal with that we the fan have no real knowledge of. One thing that Vrabel said last week is he wants to have quality depth. One constant of patriots teams was we always had quality depth at prime positions.

 

[mgteich]

D Andrews will be 33 in July, is undersized at 6'2 300, and is coming off a shoulder injury from October. It's likely that Josh & MV will want to move on to a younger bigger player, and I think that will be Cole Strange. He'll be 27 in July, is 6'5 310, moves very well, played center the last 2 games of the year, talented player, under contract.

If so, then without adding anyone else our IOL has Onwenu at RG, Sow at LG, Robinson as backup guard, Jake Andrews as backup C/G, and Ben Brown as a backup center. That's half-decent assuming Sow regains his 2023 form - not our worst unit.

For OT we need help - the only guy with potential is Wallace who I see as a 3rd/swing tackle, so we need a starting LT and RT. Campbell would probably be OK at LT, certainly an upgrade. But Membou looks like he could be a premier RT, so if we go OT with the 1st pick I'd go for Membou, then get a 2nd tier FA for LT like Cam Robinson or Dan Moore while we continue to look for a solution, plus draft a mid-round OT. So Membou at RT, Robinson or Moore at LT, and Wallace + mid-round draft choice as depth.

So, the same 2024 players at IOL (Sow, Strange and Onwenu) will by MAGIC become a competent set of starters?

And Wallace will be the Gameday backup LT and RT? I'm down with expecting Wallace to be a backup RT, but he has shown nothing to believe that he can be our backup LT.
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To put in another way, let us say that our 2nd tier LT is injured. You are counting on Wallace to be our LT, backed up by a mid-round draft choice.

 

[Real fan 02]

So, the same 2024 players at IOL (Sow, Strange and Onwenu) will by MAGIC become a competent set of starters?

And Wallace will be the Gameday backup LT and RT? I'm down with expecting Wallace to be a backup RT, but he has shown nothing to believe that he can be our backup LT.
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To put in another way, let us say that our 2nd tier LT is injured. You are counting on Wallace to be our LT, backed up by a mid-round draft choice.

MG,

What would you say the main issue was last season with the OL. ?

A) coaching
B) health and availability
C) talent

If you were to say all of the above I won't argue. However we also never got the same set of guys for consecutive games.

I'm simply saying attain by way of drafting, singing and guys coming back healthy. Let the guys all come and compete and may the best man start. We aren't going to miraculous have this top 5 OL. We were 32nd last season. Anything is better than last.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with all of that, except Wallace could potentially kick inside to guard with Onwenu and Strange maybe leaving next year.

TO SUMMARIZE
We have a top RT for the next 5 years and hope that Wallace (or perhaps Robinson) will be our 2026 RG. And we will have signed a 2nd tier LT.

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For 2025 who is are the backup LT's? a repeat of 2024 expecting that a midround draft pick will be that player (in addition to the yet to be successful swing OT in Wallace)

 

[mgteich]

MG,

What would you say the main issue was last season with the OL. ?

A) coaching
B) health and availability
C) talent

If you were to say all of the above I won't argue. However we also never got the same set of guys for consecutive games.

I'm simply saying attain by way of drafting, singing and guys coming back healthy. Let the guys all come and compete and may the best man start. We aren't going to miraculous have this top 5 OL. We were 32nd last season. Anything is better than last.

all of the above

We have Strange and Onwenu as 2025 starters with enough talent to be starters. Perhaps, they will the start of a good OL for 2026, or perhaps one or both will be gone for 2026.

Sure, we will have competition. Are any of the current backups part of the future? Even if our 2024 draftees are at least backups going forward, we are very, very far from having an adequate OL.

Even if Wallace is part of the future at RT, we need THREE more OT's.

 

[Real fan 02]

all of the above

We have Strange and Onwenu as 2025 starters with enough talent to be starters. Perhaps, they will the start of a good OL for 2026, or perhaps one or both will be gone for 2026.

Sure, we will have competition. Are any of the current backups part of the future? Even if our 2024 draftees are at least backups going forward, we are very, very far from having an adequate OL.

Even if Wallace is part of the future at RT, we need THREE more OT's.

Good points.

Under some real coaching Brown and Jacobs if they make the team could be good back ups as they have starting experience. Now please don't laugh at me lol as I'm proclaiming them to even make the roster. We need to solve LT badly we haven't had adequate play since the 2018 version of Trent Brown was there.
New LT
LG strange
C Andrews
RG ownenu
RT Wallace

???

 

[mgteich]

Good points.

Under some real coaching Brown and Jacobs if they make the team could be good back ups as they have starting experience. Now please don't laugh at me lol as I'm proclaiming them to even make the roster. We need to solve LT badly we haven't had adequate play since the 2018 version of Trent Brown was there.
New LT
LG strange
C Andrews
RG ownenu
RT Wallace

???

Yes, as of now, I would agree with your OL. I note that you get two shots at center (David and Jake).

If this were Draft Day, we would draft Campbell and a backup LT in the 2nd or 3rd (and probably keep Lowe who can backup at LT and RT).

Without other additions, we would extend Strange.

And, yes, I hope that Wallace develops enough to be at least a backup RT.

Brown and Jacobs are Practice Squad players.

Did any other team want them for the BOTTOM of their rosters? Yes, they have starting experience, primarily for the 32nd best OL in the NFL.

But, yes, I could see Brown having a future as a backup C/OG, our #10 OL. I always want us to carry a #3 center.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Where is the Wallace at Guard idea coming from? He didn't play it in college and I don't recall us trying him there last year. Some of the draft talk mentioned him potentially kicking inside but that didn't seem based on him projecting well there as much as a fall back plan because he might not project well at OT. Not saying it's impossible he could kick inside and play well, but it kind of seems baseless to suggest.

I think Sow, JAndrews, and Layden Robinson on the inside and Wallace at OT all are worth trying to develop. Strange as well if you want to throw him in, though I think he's already established to some degree so I put him in a different category. That being said, none should be penciled in for anything and if better options come available then we shouldn't be reluctant to displace them. Maybe you end up "wasting" a talented player already on the roster as one of them goes on to have success elsewhere but it is what it is.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Interesting.. draft experts have said that this years draft is underwhelming. Currently seems like Graham is there for the taking at 4.. but then who knows if we move down, ect. I'm chalking up this offseason and draft of what the Patriots need over what they may necessarily want. We've had a bottom roster for what at least last few seasons?

Every team needs All Pros. Most all teams get All Pros by drafting BPA. Let's hope we start doing that.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

TO SUMMARIZE
We have a top RT for the next 5 years and hope that Wallace (or perhaps Robinson) will be our 2026 RG. And we will have signed a 2nd tier LT.

==============
For 2025 who is are the backup LT's? a repeat of 2024 expecting that a midround draft pick will be that player (in addition to the yet to be successful swing OT in Wallace)

We don't know yet. Could be Membou or another 1st round pick at RT or LT. We have to sign a tackle in FA too. It is unclear right now what the Pats will do for starters and backups.

 

[Real fan 02]

Every team needs All Pros. Most all teams get All Pros by drafting BPA. Let's hope we start doing that.

Agreed. We've done this with Schooler and gonzo... now if we can get another 3 or 4 all pros would be great! So you're thinking Graham at 4? What does your gut say?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Agreed. We've done this with Schooler and gonzo... now if we can get another 3 or 4 all pros would be great! So you're thinking Graham at 4? What does your gut say?

I don't know. It is easy to argue DT or OT, but if Hunter falls all bets are off. Who knows?

 

[Nunchucks]

Wallace still might be able to play LT, he has long arms

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I dont think anyone knows. I have not seen anything. Maybe he was hurt - commonly we do not know that. Polk was seen rehabbing with a should sling on - we never knew he hurt his shoulder which could help explain the drops.

Maybe, but I think someone who was as brash as Polk was to say he has the best hands in the league would be the type to immediately throw out an injury as an excuse. It doesn't seem to to jive with his personality to humbly keep that under wraps and avoid making any excuses.

 

[Wozzy]

Yes and what is the deal with sow?? Was it coaching last season or???

He got injured early in the season then the new coaching staff put him on the sideline after one up and down start.

It was pretty dumb, he has more size and athleticism than anyone else they had and he played very good the year prior as a rookie.

 

[jdlboot14]

They re-signed Brown - but seems unlikely in the real mix at Center. With Andrews, Strange, J. Andrews...
But he played Guard in college. What if he ends up being tried at LG?
He has a lot of toughness and physicality, they clearly like something to keep him into TC.

 

[mgteich]

They re-signed Brown - but seems unlikely in the real mix at Center. With Andrews, Strange, J. Andrews...
But he played Guard in college. What if he ends up being tried at LG?
He has a lot of toughness and physicality, they clearly like something to keep him into TC.

Yes, we signed a player for zero, and we think that he might be our starting LG?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Maybe, but I think someone who was as brash as Polk was to say he has the best hands in the league would be the type to immediately throw out an injury as an excuse. It doesn't seem to to jive with his personality to humbly keep that under wraps and avoid making any excuses.

Agreed, but unless he was wearing an arm sling for no reason, Polk had surgery. He might have posted the picture to let everyone know he had an injury, but until a week ago I had no idea he was injured enough to have surgery.