Are any potential Tom Brady owners scared of the Patriots O Line? (1 Viewer)

[Louisville Slugger]

Going into my draft (which is heavily weighted in favor of qb's) I thought Tom Brady would be a slam dunk choice at #3, but as my draft approaches I'm not so sure.

If anyone has seen the Patriots offense in preseason they will have seen an offense than was pedestrian at best(compared to their usual standards) and an offensive line that was an absolute mess. Tom Brady took some serious blind side hits because of the offensive line's poor pass blocking.

It is rumored that Brian Waters will sign with the Patriots, but it is a week before the season opens and he has yet to arrive. Matt Light has retired. Sebastian Volmer has been banged up. Marcus Cannon looks lost to this point. The only rock solid presence on the Pat's O line to this point is Logan Mankins.

I understand that the line is a work in progress, but when one considers the degree of problems they have endured this pre season combined with Tom Brady's ridiculous playoff schedule I'm starting to wonder if their are better options out there...Perhaps Drew Brees?

 

[Zeff]

The line has been missing guys who aren't going to be missing in a week or so. Don't panic. Or if you feel you must panic, do it for some other reason.

 

[Monsters of the Midway]

There were good thoughts from Itchy Amos in the Brady vs. Brees thread

I think that the Patriots pre-season offensive line struggles dont (wont) really be representative of what they are going to roll out in the regular season. They are missing 3/5ths of their desired starters. Mankins just came back from knee surgery and looked ok in limited action. Sebastian Volmer is back from injury and Brian Waters is in "retirement", but a local beat writer tweeted today that his equipment is now in his locker - where his locker was empty earlier in the week. Speculation is that they cleared some money to pay him what he wants. If you put those guys back onto the line, then it goes from horrible to a good pass blocking unit. It may take them a few weeks to gel, but beyond that I think their line play will be comparable to recent years.

 

[David Yudkin]

I have commented on this at length in a half dozen other threads. The Pats OL will be fine. Mankins and Vollmer were activated days the week before the TB game. With the new safety rules, they had to wait 3 days before they could practice. Waters will be coming back . . . and he didn't participate until 9/4 last year and still had a great season.

The only difference in the line will be Matt Light retiring. Solder is obviously less experienced, but he played well last year and I don't expect him to get worse.

People are overreacting based on one half of a preseason game. Last year, Brady got crushed in the 3rd preseason game against the Lions and some of the same questions were asked then, too. Worst case scenario, the Pats leave in Gronk or a RB as insurance to cover pass rushers early in the season. Pass on Brady and the Pats skilled position players at your own peril.

 

[Da Man]

NO!!

 

[ponchsox]

How many threads to we need on this topic?

 

[SoBeDad]

They should have a better run game this year. BJG's longest run in 2011 was 18 yards. Ridley had 5 runs over 20 yards in far fewer carries. In the preseason, Ridley looked very good. This could reduce Brady's passing yards, but not his TD total. It will also expose Brady to fewer hits.

 

[chiefs2929]

Geez. Brady will be fine

 

[12punch]

How many threads to we need on this topic?

n+1

 

[12punch]

Tom E. Curran ‏@tomecurran

Some gear is there but he hasn't been as yet RT "@MattyCat24: Saw Tweets that Brian Waters gear is in his locker. This true?