{"id":53291,"date":"2020-05-28T08:39:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T13:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=53291"},"modified":"2021-08-29T06:48:33","modified_gmt":"2021-08-29T06:48:33","slug":"patriots-roster-reset-pats-have-one-of-leagues-best-offensive-lines-in-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=53291","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Roster Reset: Pats Have One of League’s Best Offensive Lines in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Patriots have one of the best offensive line situations in the league entering the 2020 season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New England boasts a top-tier starting five with David Andrews back at center, one of the best guard tandems in football, and returners at both tackle positions to protect Jarrett Stidham.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And they’re deep too. After drafting five offensive linemen in the last two years, the Pats have solid backups and future starters on the roster developing behind their veterans, making up for a lack of experienced depth with upside.<\/p>\n

In a time where reliable offensive line play is scarce around the league, the Patriots go nearly two deep at all five positions.<\/p>\n

The only setback this offseason was the retirement of legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, which is a massive loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scarnecchia’s fingerprints were all over the OL room from talent evaluation, game planning, in-game adjustments, and maybe most importantly, player development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scar is infamous for taking talented players and re-working their technique to get the most out of them with Shaq Mason serving as a recent example.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mason was a fourth-round pick from a triple-option offense in college with minimal experience in traditional pass protection. Scarnecchia worked with the Pats right guard on his pass sets while perfecting his run blocking, and now Mason is one of the NFL\u2019s highest-paid guards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots have a sixth-rounder starting at right tackle (Cannon), a third-round pick at left guard (Thuney), and an undrafted center (Andrews) along with Mason, a testament to Scarnecchia’s ability to develop talent. Only starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn was selected in the top 75 picks of the draft.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Scar won\u2019t be there to work with young talents Yodny Cajuste, Hjalte Froholdt, and the trio of day three picks from April\u2019s draft that would all benefit greatly from his guidance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, Cole Popovich and Carmen Bercilo will split offensive line coach duties after learning under Scarnecchia and will run the same system that Scar built over the last two decades that won a Super Bowl without him in 2014 during his first retirement.<\/p>\n

New England is preparing for life without the 72-year-old Scarnecchia by spending the fifth-most cap dollars on offensive linemen this season and loading up in the trenches in the last three drafts.<\/p>\n

Here are scouting reports on every offensive lineman currently on the Patriots\u2019 roster with updates on a few of New England\u2019s players returning from injury:<\/p>\n

OFFENSIVE TACKLES<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Isaiah Wynn<\/em><\/h4>\n
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#Patriots<\/a> film: great pass blocking by the left side of the Pats OL. Quinn got Wynn a few times early with the cross chop and speed off the edge, so Wynn adjusts to cut off the angle and let's Quinn come to him. Check out Thuney stone Michael Bennett on the T\/T stunt as well. pic.twitter.com\/TnC9OMWUMG<\/a><\/p>\n

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) November 26, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n