Dante Scarnecchia on OL: 'We’re eight games into this deal, and no one is satisfied'

FOXBOROUGH — Dante Scarnecchia never disappoints.

Before practice on Wednesday, the veteran offensive line coach, who is as straightforward as they come, was asked about some of the “unevenness” along the line this season.

He smiled.

“You’re kind,” he replied, knowing full well that Tom Brady is on pace to be sacked more this season than any other year in his career. “Say what you want to say.”

Scarnecchia then proceeded to take responsibility for the occasionally, well, uneven offensive line play over the first eight games of the 2017 season. While you can make all sorts of arguments to the contrary, the coach said it’s on him, specifically when it comes to pass protection.


“I think I have to do a better job of coaching them and getting more out of them, because we should protect our quarterback better than what we have been doing,” he said. “I think we’re trending in that direction over the last two weeks — we’ve seen some good rushers out there, and guys have done a much better job. Tommy seems to be a little bit more upright than he was for the first six games. Hopefully, we are trending in that direction where we can really throw up a wall in front of this guy and help him.”

Asked if it was more technique or approach or overall stye, Scarnecchia said it was simple.

“We just have to do better at what we’re (supposed) to be doing and understand what certain things mean,” he explained. “If a guy is going to blitz from the outside, it means the guy you’re going to block is going to go inside. Those things happen, where we’re not responding the way we should be. But it’s not for a lack of effort. We’re trying to do it right. We just have to get it done better than what we’re doing.

“Look it, we’re eight games into this deal, and no one is satisfied. They’re not, I’m not. Certainly the head coach isn’t. We’re going to continue to work at it.”

That includes blocking when it comes to the short-yard run game, something he said "wasn't very good" at the start of the year, but has improved as of late.

"It has gotten better. It has gotten better and it needs to continue to be better," he said. 'We were terrible the first two games, and have gotten better since then."

Scarnecchia said that, in addition to the work of the running game, the quarterback’s ability to get the ball out quickly has been a help.

“I think that’s really key,” Scarnecchia said of Brady’s quick release. “And it’s always been that way. I think we’re all connected and I think that Tommy is the best in the league at sitting in there when he needs to sit in there and getting the ball out when he needs to get the ball out. I’ll say that about him. That’s why it’s been such a pleasure to be around him.”