Status of the Offensive Line

[supafly]

It was a joke.

It wasn't a very good one, then. You asked if we could afford to keep that many safeties, and I listed them and who may stay/go.

 

[maineman209]

I'm making him an eligible safety. Don't need a guy with one catch in nine years at backup WR. It just confuses people trying to make depth charts.

Now the question is, can we carry that many safeties?

It's highly likely that Slater receives a lot of snaps, targets and catches playing WR on the offensive scout team that the defense practices against. Giving him a number that allows him to be an eligible receiver in real games, rather than a number that doesn't allow for that, certainly doesn't alter his real-world role or harm the team in any way.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I really find it hard to be concerned with the O-Line as long as Scar is at the helm. He proved his worth in the most major way last season . . . for those that maybe still needed some convincing.

How old is Scar anyway? Anybody take him to Tom's sports nutrition store yet? Screw TB's retirement date, how do we Keep Scar healthy?

 

[JarOfMayo51]

How old is Scar anyway? Anybody take him to Tom's sports nutrition store yet? Screw TB's retirement date, how do we Keep Scar healthy?

We beat Denver and probably win the SB in 2015 if Scar hadn't retired... he's that important to this offense

 

[Tony2046]

I hear you. I'm going to stick to my initial fear : that injuries to LT or RT will be hard to overcome. I'm not saying it can be rectified. With the $ they give Ts, it's impossible to have three or four top notch players "just in case" while trying to build a team with 'whatever is left'.

But, just like I would be concerned if something stopped Brady from suiting up, I'd feel less than confident if Waddle or Flemming play significant snaps in key games this year. "Should be as good as last year" is fun in 2014 & 2016 (healthy seasons) but much less fun in 2015.

2015 was an abnormal injury laden year and they were still a few defense keying head bobs away from getting to the Super Bowl.

IIRC, Matt Light was livid that no one coached up Stork during the game to get him to stop tipping off the snap.

 

[BobDigital]

Hopefully Thuney and Andrews improve. I am not counting on Mason to improve much at this point as he is what i think he is mostly.

If the OL is to get better it will be those 2 doing it. Garcia should be good depth but is not ready yet. If those 2 players don't improve I don't love the OL all that much.

 

[Brick27]

If Mason can grow 3 or 4 inches, that would be great.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Hopefully Thuney and Andrews improve. I am not counting on Mason to improve much at this point as he is what i think he is mostly.

If the OL is to get better it will be those 2 doing it. Garcia should be good depth but is not ready yet. If those 2 players don't improve I don't love the OL all that much.

This young line is improving dramatically. Unlike previous Offensive lines there is talent from tackle to tackle, and in between too. Andrews is growing into his job as is both Shaq and Tunney. This line will not reach its peak until the 2018 season, because it is so young. Only Solder is at full maturity now. It was good enough to produce a Super Bowl championship, so how bad can it be?

The rumors that Garcia was not the target seems wrong to me,as it counters BBs mo about Olines and the need. I would and Isuspect BB would have drafted a LOT candidate needing polishing, over a Guard any day of the week unless Hawg Hannah was the the player; and Freeney is not in that class.

If I needed an IOL replacement, and I'd use Karras, or Douglas or move Fleming. They are assuming that Fleming would not suffice as a Tackle replacement and that is not at all clear; but the reserves seem a lot better with Garcia and McDermott as well as Fleming, at tackle; and Karras, Douglas or Fleming on the interior along with Barker.

Douglas filled in for the injured star Center at Miami, and actually started a few NFL games there. So my opinion of the IOL reserves improved a great deal.

 

[maineman209]

If Mason can grow 3 or 4 inches, that would be great.

Mason (6016/310) is a little short, even by Pats' standards - about the average size of a DT (which he played in HS) . OTOH, he put up really good test numbers at his pro day and had 39 starts his last three seasons at Georgia Tech, and even played some at Center for them.

 

[RobertWeathers]

If Mason can grow 3 or 4 inches, that would be great.

He's fine the way he is. You don't need that kind of length to be a top guard. Shaq is human cannonball

 

[RayClay]

It wasn't a very good one, then. You asked if we could afford to keep that many safeties, and I listed them and who may stay/go.

As you said yourself, Slater is ST only. I was responding to the irritating practice of listing "one catch" Slater in the WR depth chart. Guessing he has played more snaps at safety and he was awful at it.

 

[AzPatsFan]

He's fine the way he is. You don't need that kind of length to be a top guard. Shaq is human cannonball

It may interest you to know that allthree of the 4th quarter run scores in Superbowl LI came on holes opened by Shaq Mason. (Both running TDs and a 2 p0int conversion.) His ability in the running game is very good in both drive blocking and pulling.

His weakness or rather the area in which he can improve is in pass protection. He is lots better than he was as a raw running Guard at Georgia Tech. But further improvement would be highly welcomed.