KCSLC2008 606 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Yes, I'm posting a rehash thread, but there are so many threads not about the oline that turns into being about the oline. I have an article to share in the next post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCSLC2008 606 Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 Patriots break the mold with offensive line rotation http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000547575/article/patriots-break-the-mold-with-offensive-line-rotation The Patriots can't settle on an offensive line. And that's by design. The team has been rotating their line on the interior to a rare degree in professional football, and it's working out quite well. The Boston Herald broke down the rotation, primarily at guard, in an intriguing article this week. The Patriots didn't use the same offensive line for two consecutive drives in their entire 50-point game against the Jaguars. They didn't use the same offensive line for the first seven drives of the season opener. In Buffalo, they used the same group for three straight series for the only time all season. This flies in the face of conventional wisdom for offensive line play, where continuity is prized above all. The Patriots have three rookies on the interior of their offensive line, and they feel like it's advantageous to give them rest and have coaching sessions during the game on the sideline. "It's not done just randomly. There's a specific reason why we rotate guys when we do, where we rotate them," Patriots offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo told the Boston Herald. "There's a rhyme and reason to everything." Florida State offensive line coach Rick Trickett, who coached Patriots' Bryan Stork and Tre Jackson at Florida State, said it's "one of the smartest things" he's ever seen. But it's not necessarily a new development for the Patriots. They rotated the offensive line significantly early last season until they found a group that worked. It's part of an ethos in New England that other teams surprisingly don't copy. Coach Bill Belichick annually tinkers with his lineup on both sides of the ball early in the season. He spends the first four to six games figuring out what type of team he has, and then starts focusing more on what they do well. Perhaps, other teams don't have the luxury (Tom Brady) to experiment, but it's not like Belichick isn't trying to win each game. He's just got another eye on the long term. He knows that titles aren't won in September. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCSLC2008 606 Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 I'd like to have seen them face Houston and Denver in the first few games. Not saying that they would struggle, just saying that they might have had to settle on one line for a few series a little earlier. It's amazing that they can do this and maybe it says a little bit about Andy Heck here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhataLerror 370 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 The team has been rotating their line on the interior to a rare degree in professional football, and it's working out quite well. The Boston Herald broke down the rotation, primarily at guard, in an intriguing article this week. ... The Patriots have three rookies on the interior of their offensive line, and they feel like it's advantageous to give them rest and have coaching sessions during the game on the sideline. Notice that it's not offensive tackles Nate Solder (drafted 17th-overall in 2011, 63 career starts) or Sebastian Vollmer (drafted 58th-overall in 2009, 70 career starts) that are frequently being rotated out. Also, the phrase "three rookies on the interior" is misleading, as third-year guard Josh Kline is getting the starting nod at left guard (the center on the other hand was an 2015 undrafted free agent, while the right guard starts have been split between rookies Tre Jackson (2015 undrafted free agent) and Shaq Mason (drafted 131st-overall in 2015). While experience makes a big difference, where the experience is is far more important. Having a good defense and competent ball-handlers on offense really helps too: Over the first three games, the Patriots' defense has allowed 19 points in the first half, making it much easier for Brady in the pocket, while Brady's offensive complement has accounted for only one turnover in three games, making things easier on the defense. Quietly, wide receiver Danny Amendola has had a healthy start to his season, and having him along with Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, and a mostly healthy Aaron Dobson has been huge for Brady. It's not as simple as, 'The Patriots are running a rookie offensive line, but Brady is passing quickly to avoid the sack'. Brady was strip-sacked near the end of the game against the Bills, and the Bills scored a touchdown two plays later to bring the score to within an 5-point margin. When the Bills' offense took to the field again after Brady's offense failed to put the game out of reach with a touchdown, cornerback Logan Ryan came down with a big interception off of a downfield pass by Tyrod Taylor, and Brady kneeled out of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefensiveMan 758 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Alex Smith, had an All-Pro offensive line in SF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhataLerror 370 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Alex Smith, had an All-Pro offensive line in SF. No, he did not. He broke in that line. Prior to 2011, only left tackle Joe Staley was any good, and he struggled with bull rushing defensive ends. Mike Iupati, drafted in 2010, was a great run blocking offensive guard, but was not very good in pass protection. The 49ers signed Jonathan Goodwin from the Saints in 2011, and he was OK. Between 2010 and 2011, the right guard was switched out repeatedly between Adam Snyder (not good) and Chilo Rachal (much, much worse). In 2012, Alex Boone got his first starts at right guard, and it took some time for him to get up to speed at the position. Right tackle Anthony Davis was a turnstile until the beginning of 2012, and he really didn't come on as a good right tackle until 2013. So basically, Alex Smith had a poor pass-protecting offensive line, and when the line was finally getting to be good, Alex Smith was concussed, Colin Kaepernick was inserted, and that was the end of Smith's having anything to do with the 49ers' offensive line. I watched that offensive line repeatedly give up quick B-gap and even A-gap pressures, and I remember vividly the Ravens game in 2011 where Smith was sacked 9 times. Smith's mobility and the 49ers' reliance on the running game and a strong defense were the primary reasons Smith wasn't sacked more times in 2011. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidfriend 1,151 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 You simply just can't maintain an Oline with the amount of people they let walk. Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah (Not good but prob would start at RG here), Geoff Schwartz, Eric Winston (Playing decent in Cincinnati), Rodney Hudson. They've pretty much let an entire Offensive Line that's better and more experienced than ours walk out. Dorsey fucked up by not keeping guys and Reid fucked up by trying to change the blocking scheme and hiring a moron to coach his line. Both Reid and Dorsey should fall on the sword for this one IMO. If they just left things the fuck alone and upgraded at LG, this team would be in better shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCSLC2008 606 Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 You simply just can't maintain an Oline with the amount of people they let walk. Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah (Not good but prob would start at RG here), Geoff Schwartz, Eric Winston (Playing decent in Cincinnati), Rodney Hudson. They've pretty much let an entire Offensive Line that's better and more experienced than ours walk out. Dorsey fucked up by not keeping guys and Reid fucked up by trying to change the blocking scheme and hiring a moron to coach his line. Both Reid and Dorsey should fall on the sword for this one IMO. If they just left things the fuck alone and upgraded at LG, this team would be in better shape. I don't know much about oline, but every time someone left, I first thought, well, we can't pay everyone... but then everyone left. There was no way that all of them were priced out. And even if they were, we needed to keep someone. Argh! It's like they view this time as growth time for others before they make their real effort (rebuilding hybrid where you rebuild some parts while going out to get others). Make it the best you can, upgrade whenever you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquidfriend 1,151 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 They pretty much blew their wad on terrible players that are already gone for FA in 2014. They should have given that wasted money to Schwartz. If they did, they wouldn't be gambling with a super raw Canadian at RG...who clearly isn't ready to start. If they made any attempt to retain Hudson early, he never makes it to UFA and the Chiefs could plug Morse at LG and they don't have to piss a 5th rounder and several million on Grubbs. A declining player. Stephenson-Morse-Hudson-Schwartz-Dog Shit Looks a lot better than Stephenson-Last Leg Player Grubbs-Morse-FML-Dog Shit If they kept thickening Winston at RT, that first lineup is actually pretty respectable. They botched this line, real bad. The only respectable part is a huge gamble with Morse going back to Center didn't flop. The MU footage of him at Center showed bust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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