Some OL chatter

[mgteich]

I'd still rather have a healthy Strange69 at LG than a less-experienced & still-working-into-shape Tony Mafi... for now.

I agree.

Yes, we picked Strange early. However. he is now an important solid OL for us. The interior line seems solid. And yes, we need to try to extend Onwenu. Of course, Mafi is an option along with whoever is drafted if Onwenu isn't signed.

 

[Wozzy]

Yeah I also thought that Lowe too often allowed his defender to collapse his corner of the pocket; and while Mac wasn't officially sacked, he certainly had some throws that were obviously rushed because of the pressure.

If Sow is recovered from his concussion he might take over that right tackle spot. He’s a better athlete and stronger than Lowe.

 

[p8ryts]

Bedard? Is he an offensive line assistant?

Rochrist--just joking, not putting stock in his evaluation over coaches.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

If Sow is recovered from his concussion he might take over that right tackle spot. He’s a better athlete and stronger than Lowe.

I agree but I bet they wait for a few weeks before inserting Sow to work with the rookie.

 

[State]

The OL continues to be a weak spot. But I had such a low expectation at what we would see at RT that VLowe’s only negative critique was his susceptibility to speed rushers off the edge still made me pleasantly surprised. Calvin Anderson’s such poor performance the week before made it seem the upland valley was suddenly dappled by sunshine.

Obviously, the Cowboys are going to attack RT with speed and LG with everything.

Mac is going to need an ice bath after this game. The Patriots OL can deal with the Jets’ power better than the Cowboys’ speed and stunts.

 

[PatsFan2]

The OL continues to be a weak spot. But I had such a low expectation at what we would see at RT that VLowe’s only negative critique was his susceptibility to speed rushers off the edge still made me pleasantly surprised. Calvin Anderson’s such poor performance the week before made it seem the upland valley was suddenly dappled by sunshine.

Obviously, the Cowboys are going to attack RT with speed and LG with everything.

Mac is going to need an ice bath after this game. The Patriots OL can deal with the Jets’ power better than the Cowboys’ speed and stunts.

Speed can be worn down using the right technique need a Big game from Zeke and our OL.

 

[long distance]

Didn’t Strange have a nice start to his rookie season? Not sure what happened there.

Also, are Andrews and O just banged up, or not good anymore?

He was up and down throughout last season. This year they obviously rushed him in since they dont have real depth again. He is in no shape atm to compete with top DL in the league and the result seems to be aggravated injury. Hopefully they give him time to heal properly and prepares fully physically but OL is hanging by the thread and i expect they'll just rush him back again. Ironically the only position that has some viable backup is LG..

Thinking here about Anderson, who was absolutely brutal against the Dolphins. He wasn’t good against the Eagles but much worse in game #2
What do we suppose happened to him? He missed the preseason, could it be just that he is not really in game shape yet?

Of course he's not in shape. He missed entire TC and had quite a scare of an illness.
But since Bill decided to not address OL accordingly they rushed him in to an expected disaster.

Last year in Denver, his starts were at LT, so as @captain stone points out maybe he is a passable LT but not a RT at the NFL level - in Denver he was apparently 3rd on the RT and LT depth charts before injuries to Bolles and Fleming led them to start him at LT. Obviously the Pats preferred Lowe over him at LT this past week, it’s not like he had done so well for so long at RT that they wanted continuity there, so clearly he is 3rd on the LT depth chart here too.

He filled in on both sides.
He was brought in as a swing tackle anyway so people expecting a solid starter esp on the right side are just koolaid addicts.

 

[rochrist]

He was up and down throughout last season. This year they obviously rushed him in since they dont have real depth again. He is in no shape atm to compete with top DL in the league and the result seems to be aggravated injury. Hopefully they give him time to heal properly and prepares fully physically but OL is hanging by the thread and i expect they'll just rush him back again. Ironically the only position that has some viable backup is LG..



Of course he's not in shape. He missed entire TC and had quite a scare of an illness.
But since Bill decided to not address OL accordingly they rushed him in to an expected disaster.



He filled in on both sides.
He was brought in as a swing tackle anyway so people expecting a solid starter esp on the right side are just koolaid addicts.

He missed TC with an injury but he wasn't the one with the illness. That was Anderson.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Here's the Bedard piece on Strange

 

[Wozzy]

The OL continues to be a weak spot. But I had such a low expectation at what we would see at RT that VLowe’s only negative critique was his susceptibility to speed rushers off the edge still made me pleasantly surprised. Calvin Anderson’s such poor performance the week before made it seem the upland valley was suddenly dappled by sunshine.

Obviously, the Cowboys are going to attack RT with speed and LG with everything.

Mac is going to need an ice bath after this game. The Patriots OL can deal with the Jets’ power better than the Cowboys’ speed and stunts.

The OL was an overwhelming strength against the Jets.

 

[PatsFan2]

Here's the Bedard piece on Strange

IF Cole Strange is hobbled just sit him 3/4 of our Starting OL should be good enough to compete. The Key to success along our OL are the Two Tackles and Center. Vederian Lowe is a Great find he might be our LT next year when Brown moves on.

 

[PatsFan2]

Nice write up on Vederian Lowe his positives are coming to fruition talent is there.

Vederian Lowe Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

 

[upstater1]

This team has more depth at OL than the vast majority of OLs in the league.

Seriously: backups like Anderson, Wheatley, Andrews, Russey, Mafi and Sow? That's more than most teams have.

But they've spent an enormous amount of resources on the OL. So many that they were able to cut a guy like Hines who would've been a backup on 90% of the teams in the NFL.

 

[State]

I’m almost fixated on LG play for this game. Can Sow play? And at that position?

Cole Strange is the starter there. But we think he is hobbled with a nagging injury.

Tony Mafi is likely a liability—big time— in pass protection against the Boys.

 

[upstater1]

I’m almost fixated on LG play for this game. Can Sow play? And at that position?

Cole Strange is the starter there. But we think he is hobbled with a nagging injury.

Tony Mafi is likely a liability—big time— in pass protection against the Boys.

I've been watching Mafi and he's not as good as Strange but certainly better than Sow in pass protection. He tends to lock on and get set much better than Sow does, but Mafi is limited right now in recognition.

 

[mgteich]

This team has more depth at OL than the vast majority of OLs in the league.

Seriously: backups like Anderson, Wheatley, Andrews, Russey, Mafi and Sow? That's more than most teams have.

But they've spent an enormous amount of resources on the OL. So many that they were able to cut a guy like Hines who would've been a backup on 90% of the teams in the NFL.

Yes, we have as good backups as do "most teams".

We have no interest in having the OL quality of "most teams". Our path to the playoffs (and deeper in 2024) requires us to be a top 5 to top 10 OL.
================
1) I do indeed believe that our 5 starters are a top 10 OL. That included Lowe at RT. We would be even better if we had someone better at RT, making Lowe the swing OT. And yes, that it is still possible that we have that RT is Reiff, Anderson, or Sow.

2) IMO, Sow, Mafi and Andrews are not YET quality backups. They are very solid developing rookies. Lowe is quality backup, showing that he can start.
==========
BOTTOM LINE
This is a top 10 OL if they stay healthy and continue to have reps playing together. IMO, we need a player better than Lowe at RT to move us to be a top 5 OL.

 

[Thelonious]

Most stabs at a mathematical take on the Pats' Dynasty years come a cropper and fail because of that unquantifiable outlier, Tom Brady. He may not have needed superior players around him, OL included, to succeed, but most - Mac certainly included - do. In this as in so many things, a mathematical take is useful but insufficient. Consider, for example, how many times the "social scientists" have promised to solve various social problems "by the latest, most empirically sound methods." We see their level of success in the news every day, do we not?

As teachers, we were offered all sorts of scientifically-vetted ways of doing our jobs. I spent much of my time as department head protecting my teachers from all such bright ideas, with the result that our school ranked highest in the state in our discipline.

The solution to our problems is clear: hire geniuses, and let them work. Easy enough, eh?

 

[captain stone]

If Strange69's still hobbled, then he's not doing himself nor his team any good by continuing to play.

I noticed that Siddy the Sow's been removed from the injury report... I hope he remembers how to play Left Guard; I'm very interested in seeing if his athleticism there in college can translate to success at the same position here in the NFL.

 

[long distance]

Mount Brown - stands like a mountain . moves like James Brown

 

[Wozzy]

If Strange69's still hobbled, then he's not doing himself nor his team any good by continuing to play.

I noticed that Siddy the Sow's been removed from the injury report... I hope he remembers how to play Left Guard; I'm very interested in seeing if his athleticism there in college can translate to success at the same position here in the NFL.

Play Sow at right tackle, play Mafi at left guard.