Even with 10 OL's on the roster instead of the 8 or 9 we sometimes have, we still need flexibility.
Without the ability to play more than one position on the OL, the team is especially vulnerable to injuries.
Consider the obvious issue at center. IMO, we need to have three players who can play center. A starter, a backup C and a backup G/C.
When our backup center went on IR, our backup stepped up to being the backup. We didn't bother to find a replacement #3 until the starter and the backup failed.
At OT, the norm is 2 starters and two backups. Sometimes the #3 can play both LT and RT and the #4 can be an OG/OT or OT on the PS. The team believed that they had Lowe, Onwenu, Okorafor and Wallace as our four. Obviously, this was no where enough, especially with the injuries to Lowe and Wallace. As an aside, there was a Plan C for OT #5. That was Anderson or whoever we could pick up on waivers picking third. That #5 OT was Jacobs.
I posted this before but it kind of responds to what you said.
I understand the basics of OL play and the need for backups and Versatility. 2 starters and 2 backups etc. 1 backup OT who can play both sides and one who can move inside, etc.
I just don't know why the Pats want to keep moving pieces around. Let the players play their best positions and give them a chance to succeed. LG and RG ARE 2 different positions. LT and RT ARE 2 different positions. Many people on this board were wondering why the Pats chose a person who only played RT and a person who only played RG in the draft when their only "set" positions were RG Onwenu or Sow and RT Okerafor and Onwenu. Why did they thin they could move Wallace to the left side when he has only played the right side in college. Why did they choose Layden Robinson when he only had played RG and they had either Onwenu who they just paid big money to or Sow who had a pretty decent rookie year at Guard. (he was awful at RT) Sometimes it works out, but often times it doesn't. Since Strange going to be out for who knew how long, they probably wanted Sow to play LG as he did in college. But we have seen how that worked out. Maybe their plan was Sow at LG and Onwenu at RG and Okarafor at RT wit Wallace backing him up . At least that makes some sense. They just could not identify talent or lack of.
I understand they need to "fix" the OL. But I don't see how moving Onwenu to a position that he has sucked at in the past, fixes things.
Onwenu at LG and who at RG?
Layden Robinson? the guy who benched in he first quarter last week?
Sidy Sow? the guy who who looked good last year, but terrible this year? and i believe he is still hurt.
Tyrese Robinson fresh from the Vikings PS? At least he has played RG, I suppose.
Why don't they try this? Put their (maybe)best lineman, Onwenu, at his best position RG IMO and leave him there? Put your best LT,Lowe, at LT and leave him there? Put your best RT, Jacobs at RT and leave him there. Put your best C Brown at center, and your best LG probably Jordan at LG and leave him there. That way they MIGHT be able to build some continuity.
I don't see how putting Onwenu at arguably his 3rd best position and a spot which he has sucked at in the past helps. It is not like they have Brian Waters and Seb Vollmer lining up on the right side. If/when someone gets hurt/struggles/ returns swap out just that position. That way you have fewer moving parts. I.E. Strange comes back, sit Jordan if Strange is better. Strange is used to playing left guard since that is the only position he has played in the NFL. None of the patriots OL look to have the versatility to play well at multiple positions.
So far this season, Jacobs is definitely better at RT, Lowe is definitely better at LT. Onwenu is a good RG and passable at best at RT. I don't remember him at C or LT but was terrible at LG. Rant over.
