Patriots, OTs & the draft

Mike i know intelligence is once aspect we consider with our OT? who in particular in the roster had the highest score in the test?

I imagine Xavier Fulton of Illinois may be on their radar as he is an athletic guy...6'4 305, 5.04/40 who handles speed rushers well. I also think they would like TJ Lang and his versatility, I think he could cut it at tackle but some think guard may be a better position...tough kid with a Mankins like disposition.

Mike. I just had to log in to say I've been reading your stuff foralmost 7 years now. I do belive you are the best blogger out there. And trust me I read a lot of them. Intresting, insightful, and diplomatic. You also keep a cool head. Thats hard to do with some of the immature posters that you can find on the internet. Keep up the good work.

"Short-term need: Minor. Every offensive tackle on the roster from last season returns."?
Did you watch the superbowl against the Giants? Picture Tom Brady in a Jason Taylor/Joey Porter sandwich (should Taylor resign with the Dolphins). Matt Light is past his prime, and a liability to our all world QB. Any team with personell that can get a pass rush without sending an extra guy will eat this OL for lunch. Maybe Light can be moved to the right side. We need an elite LT for our elite QB, or we better hope we've got another Cassel in the wings.

Mike, I seldom disagree with you but I have to this time. After Light and Kaczur, we have nothing I'd trust with the health of Tom Brady's knees. Light is a B+ LT that has had trouble with speed rushers (like half the guys in the NFL). Kazur may not start on 2/3rd of the teams in the NFL. If we were able to draft a young, athletic LT with some smarts, I'd move Light to RT once he was ready. Light is obviously much more comfortable firing out and blasting guys while run blocking and he's got a mauler, RT type body anyway. Kaczur and O'Callaghan (if he could actually stay healthy) could serve as decent fill ins.

I would hope "pulling" doesn't qualify as "athletic" for an offensive lineman in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

I completely agree with Jehlowe. The Patriots have had truble with speed-rushing defensive ends for years. There were times in 2008 when Nick Kaaczur looked like a revolving door, and he has the addiction to pain killers. A first class pass blocking OT is critical to keeping Brady healthy. Mike, you are a great poster, and I am amazed at your patience with some of the commenters on the net. On the subject of Patriots OT's, however, you have a blind spot.

Hi Nikko. Don't have exact numbers but they were all in the 20s or higher. Jaredk, I was reading the Pro Football Weekly Draft Guide on Fulton and one thing that stood out to me was that he missed time due to academics. Just from a general perspective, it raised a flag to me. Clark, thank you for those thoughts. Jehlowe, I did cover that Super Bowl and I agree, it wasn't the o-line's best day. I thought the coaching plan was part of that too -- those guys needed some help and the coaching staff wasn't quick enough to adjust. Overall, I think this line is solid. You can win a Super Bowl with them. I'd also ask: Who are the elite left tackles in the NFL? I think this vision of an elite left tackle around the NFL is a bit overblown in general. Most struggle with speed rushers or need help. Veeve, I respect your opinion and it's cool to disagree. If we agreed on everything, that would be boring. Sean, when a left tackle is pulling -- like you see on that play in the Raiders game -- you clearly see the athleticism and light feet.
--Mike

Who doesn't have trouble with speed rushers? I think Light began playing more consistently in '07 and '08, but he's still carrying his old reputation of having trouble with speed rushers. He plays at a very high level, and has for such a long time. Not only do I think he's a good LT, I think he's probably one of the best in football and will go down in Pats history as one of the great all-time Pats linemen.

Last season, Cassel had more sacks than any QB in the league, but I think we can all agree that MOST of them were due to his inability to make a decision and get the ball out quickly. Personally, I'd be all for drafting an OL high and if a top-flight tackle is sitting there at 23, you get him no questions asked. Having said that...what are the odds of a top-flight tackle sitting there at 23? (top-flight being one of the smiths or monroe)? Slim to none. Those guys will be long gone by 23 and I don't think you need to get a guy just to get a guy. Now, the Pats know scouting much better than I do, so if they feel that there is another guy (or several) who have the potential to be excellent in the league, grab him.

I think, especially at the beginning of the season, we're going to see a lot more backs staying back to protect, or an extra TE for protection until Brady gets his "sea legs" and is comfortable in the pocket. The last thing we want is Brady getting creamed a few times and starting to get happy feet or start hearing footsteps and not be able to come back from it mentally. However, I feel that after that initial period, this line will do just fine. Obviously, you always want to have a BETTER line (even the best line in the league would obviously prefer to be better...why wouldn't you want ANY portion of your team to not be better?) but I think there are other more pressing needs and unless they have a shot at a guy who they really think can be special, they should just backfill for depth or maybe grab a guy who could be good/great in a few years, but isn't ready yet.

C'mon, Mike! I've watched Light struggle for years - back to the Bledsoe days! He can be manhandled as well as speed rushed. I watched JT bowl him over during a Miami game a couple of years ago. He didn't juke or swim move past him, he ran OVER Light. Light outweighs LT by 50lbs! Look what Joey Porter did to the right side of the line last year! Look, the tackles (both sides) are both in serious need of upgrade and it is a priority. I know you are trying to be loyal, but they struggle to pass block. As far as run blocking, they can rarely move DL's to create holes.

"As far as run blocking, they can rarely move DL's to create holes. "

Frank,

If this is true, why are so many people down on Maroney then? I believe the O-Line is a top 5 line. They're like a jack of all trades and a master of none type of line. They do everything well overall but aren't great at some things and at some positions.

Frank, to be fair, Brady was sacked 21 times in '07 with 578 attempts (so if you include those 21 sacks as dropbacks, that's 21 sacks out 599 dropbacks), or about 3.5% of the time. That's not bad. Compare that to....say Ben Roethlisberger. Now, don't get me wrong, Roethlisberger isn't a great QB (or even a particularly good one), but the team did well enough to win a superbowl, so you'd figure he had a line that was good ENOUGH (obviously).

Roethlisberger was sacked 46 times last year on 515 dropbacks, or 8.9% of the time in '08. In '07, he was sacked 47 times on 451 dropbacks (10.4% of the time). In '06, it was 46 times on 515 dropbacks (same as '08), so 8.9% of the time. Etc etc etc. Brady has decent protection, as well as great pocket awareness and a quick release. Brady's skills (assuming they're still up to par) more than make up for any lack of skill along the line and I expect him to have another great year, even if they go forward with the personnel they currently have.

Fact is, the Patriots have the best O-line coach in the NFL in Coach Scharnecchia. And it is a top 5 line - Light is very good (along with being a great teammate).

It's funny to see people whining about them. Guys, eventually our run will be over, appreciate them while they're here. If you don't know they're good then it's you who need to improve your understanding of the game.

Kraig Urbik is not a tackle in the NFL or any other pro league. The guy you should have on that list, that I think the Patriots are looking at closely, is Jamon Meredith. He has the same potential exhibited by the top prospects at the OT position, but will need more development, and as a result will be available in the late second or third round. Regardless of who the Pats do or don't pick, though, they definitely need to start developing a tackle, and soon.

Mike,
I really don't understand how we can have such differing opinions here; IMO Nick Kaczur is the worst player on the roster, how can you put him in the top 10 resigning concerns? Pats need a quality replacement at RT to protect the QB!!

By the way, the line that "rarely moves DL's" moved enough people for the backs to gain 2,300 yards on the ground last year. How about "come on,. Frank!"

Scott, are you trying to bring facts and logic to these comment postings? WHAT IS THE REASONING FOR THIS???

It amazes me how numerous posters on this forum have an attitude like, "We should have elite players at every position on the field, never lose a quality player to free agency, and pay talented free agents from other teams whatever they want to come play for us!" Keep pecking away at those keyboards, because that's as close as you'll ever get to running an NFL team!!

Hi Mike, don't you think the Patriots could get a guy like Jason Watkins from Florida. He is still raw but played in a wide open offense at school but I know the kid could be had in probably the 4th or 5th round. I watched every Florida game for the last 3 years and I have impressed by his athleticism and ability to play multiple positions (LT, RT, TE). I know they had him in for a visit but I think with Belichick and Urban Myer being friends Bill might get a better idea as to what this kid could offer to the team. He is a monster at 6' 6", 318lbs. I think he could come in and learn the ropes from Matt Light and possibly push Kazcur at RT in a year or two. Any thoughts?

Frank, that seems a bit harsh. I think Light only played three games during the Bledsoe starting days. Anne, I'm not as down on Kaczur. I think he's a solid starting tackle -- not elite, but solid. His ability to fill in on the left side is an added plus. Tough guy. Denehy1, we know Dante Scarnecchia was on campus for a private workout with Watkins, so he'd be a good one to keep on the radar.
--Mike

I agree that Light is pretty average at best. Kaczur is below average. The Pats need to protect Brady. It's a must

People want an upgraded O-Line so very badly because it is the only thing limiting the Patriots from scoring 48 points per game - every game.

Consider the WRs, RBs, and QB.

Addressing the only weakness on offense, OL, is like "giving a chainsaw to a shark".

See what Brady does with an extra 1.5 seconds in the pocket.

"Average" is a relative measure. If Light is average, does that mean there are roughly 10 left tackles that are better than him? If Kaczur is below average, does that mean there are 20 or so right tackles that are better than him? I think if some of you looked around the league, your opinion of those two players might be quite a bit different. The tackle position in the NFL is TOUGH. There isn't a single tackle in the NFL that starts 16 games and doesn't allow a sack.

In my opinion, if any of the five starting linemen are weak, it's Koppen. Yeah, I know Belichick and Brady regularly sing his praises, but he gets pushed around in the running game more than the other guys and seems to let people slip through more than a center should. I'm sure he's a smart center, but I'm not convinced he has the physical tools.

Also guys, keep in mind that if the Pats do pick up another tackle, that means they'll have to cut either O'Callaghan or Levoir -- both guys who have shown they can play in this league (and for cheap), IMO. The Pats really have very good depth at the position. Look around the league.