Patriots OL study at Pro Football Focus

[Nonentity]

If you look at the individual players, you can see that we have wide variation in the abilities of our OL.

Vollmer: 20.6 (9.2 pass block, 3.5 screen block, 11.9 run block, -4.0 penalties)
Light: -1.1 (0.4 pass block, 0.5 screen block, 0.8 run block, -2.0 penalties)
Mankins: 17.0 (8.6 pass block, 5.0 screen block, 11.4 run block, -8.0 penalties)
Koppen: 3.5 (0.5 pass block, 1.0 screen block, 7.0 run block, -5.0 penalties)
Neal: 24.3 (9.7 pass block, 3.5 screen block, 15.1 run block, -4.0 penalties)
Connolly: 3.6 (2.5 pass block, 0.0 screen block, 1.1 run block, 0.0 penalties)
Kazcur: 1.5 (-0.5 pass block, 0.5 screen block, 1.5 run block, 0.0 penalties)

Solving that will make our whole line more effective. Right now our elite players (Mankins, Neal) are covering for the others, which is a dangerous thing to rely on.

 

[xmarkd400x]

An interesting take-away is that the AFCE seems to be pretty good at pass protection (by this measure). The Pats, Jets, and Fins are 2, 3, and 4 in this ranking.

Although, perhaps these teams were elevated by the lack of pressure by the other teams in the division...

who knows!?

 

[BradyManny]

ProFootballFocus.com - Articles

Great study including attempts, sacks and pressures. Patriots O-line ranked #2 in NFL just a "hair" below Colts.

This site doesn't watch any film. I don't see how it differs than Football Outsiders other than it sometimes tries to throw in a contrarian POV just to differentiate itself. If you're going to blindly look at stats, Football Outsiders is a much better site for it.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Patriots O-Line Study Pro Football Focus

and there is no way the colts offensive line is ranked 1. THey are too small and can't run block very well.

Something I believe a rather frustrated Mr. Polian pointed out as well in his post season wrap up... And even that guy Belichick was uncharacteristically talking about his OL needing to block a lot more consistently down the stretch last season... So it's not like fans just see things where nothing exists...

 

[crowell33]

If you look at the individual players, you can see that we have wide variation in the abilities of our OL.

Vollmer: 20.6 (9.2 pass block, 3.5 screen block, 11.9 run block, -4.0 penalties)
Light: -1.1 (0.4 pass block, 0.5 screen block, 0.8 run block, -2.0 penalties)
Mankins: 17.0 (8.6 pass block, 5.0 screen block, 11.4 run block, -8.0 penalties)
Koppen: 3.5 (0.5 pass block, 1.0 screen block, 7.0 run block, -5.0 penalties)
Neal: 24.3 (9.7 pass block, 3.5 screen block, 15.1 run block, -4.0 penalties)
Connolly: 3.6 (2.5 pass block, 0.0 screen block, 1.1 run block, 0.0 penalties)
Kazcur: 1.5 (-0.5 pass block, 0.5 screen block, 1.5 run block, 0.0 penalties)

Solving that will make our whole line more effective. Right now our elite players (Mankins, Neal) are covering for the others, which is a dangerous thing to rely on.

Not only did Volmer rate as the Patriots best Offensive tackle (by far), but Kaczur rated higher overall than Matt Light. Although, it should be noted that Light rated higher than Kaczur in pass protection. It was Kaczur's superior run blocking and fewer penalties that gave him the nod over Light.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Patriots O-Line Study Pro Football Focus

Colts fans say the same things about their Offensive Line.

Which brings up the question, do these stats really indicate the best OL or do forum fans find a problem with everything?

Neither. This ranking is based upon a formula from a site that uses lousy formulas. Use PFF for raw data and you're generally ok. Use it for the formulas and rankings, and you're making a huge mistake.

 

[State]

Steve Neal ranks second among the guards. Vollmer is up there. Mankins is way up there. Light is declining, but still reliable. Kaczur is a proven player backing up. Young guys are in the wings.

Our weak link, such as it is, is the center position. Dan Koppen has become a liability in the run game, esp.

More monster NTs will be found in the division, licking their chops for a chance to push him around.

 

[eom]

This site doesn't watch any film. .

they don't?

I was under the impression they did.

I'm sure we can get one of them to post over here if there's interest.

 

[Nonentity]

Re: Patriots O-Line Study Pro Football Focus

Not only did Volmer rate as the Patriots best Offensive tackle (by far), but Kaczur rated higher overall than Matt Light. Although, it should be noted that Light rated higher than Kaczur in pass protection. It was Kaczur's superior run blocking and fewer penalties that gave him the nod over Light.

Neither. This ranking is based upon a formula from a site that uses lousy formulas. Use PFF for raw data and you're generally ok. Use it for the formulas and rankings, and you're making a huge mistake.

I may as well respond to both at once, since they represent the absolute two opposites of thinking about PFF.

In comparison, I sit on the fence. I think there's some value to their formulas, but there's big error margins to what they do, say +-4 points on the overall score. I don't disagree that Mankins, Vollmer and Neal had good years and that Light and Kazcur were weaker. When it comes to comparing similar-scoring players to each other, I'd be wary of using PFF as the foundation of my argument.

You can work out more with your own eyes than some numbers will tell you - but it's a start.

 

[Nonentity]

Our weak link, such as it is, is the center position. Dan Koppen has become a liability in the run game, esp.

Actually, I agree with PFF in saying that it's pass protection that's his weakness. He can't hold his ground. He's fine in run blocking though, but when you have Brady at QB...pass protection becomes just that little more important

 

[Bostonian1962]

Re: Patriots O-Line Study Pro Football Focus

Nice read. Kind makes all those who think the Pats O-line is "horrible" look silly.

It sure does! They'll keep saying it though.

 

[Fencer]

If the stats say the OL was that good against the pass rush, it wasn't necessarily THAT good. But it surely wasn't all that bad against the pass rush either.

Welker is arguably the best short-route receiver in the league. That helps.