Patriots assistants talk offensive line, health, and rookie cornerbacks

FOXBOROUGH — It sounds like Dante Scarnecchia isn’t too worried.

The Patriots’ offensive line coach was asked Sunday if he had ever started a season with just seven offensive linemen, and he spoke like someone who knows reinforcements will be on the way sooner rather than later.


“We’re going to end up with — at least — probably eight on the roster. We don’t have eight on the roster right now. A couple of guys will be on the practice squad,” he said. “I think most everybody that we’re planning on playing (this week) will be out there. Maybe one guy (will be) late. We’ll see how it goes. I shouldn’t say names — and I won’t say names. But by (Monday), they’ll all be done and we’ll be fine.”

One thing that could help create some stabilization along the offensive line is having right tackle Marcus Cannon back to something approximating 100 percent. The veteran has been on and off the practice field the last few weeks (more on than off, frankly) as he works through an injury, but Scarnecchia sounded an optimistic note on Cannon Sunday.

“We’ve got to see how it goes, quite honestly. He’s going to practice again (Sunday), through the individual periods,” Scarnecchia said of Cannon. “(We’ll) just see how this thing is coming along. We feel like he’s very, very close to it being good. Whether or not that continues, we’ll have to see. But he’s in that process.”

There are also questions about health on the other side of the ball. Slot corner Jonathan Jones was injured in the postseason last year, and has been working his way back this past offseason, finally getting back on the field for the third preseason game. Defensive signal caller Brian Flores lauded Jones’ toughness on Sunday, saying if there’s a guy who will be capable of answering the bell against the Texans after sustaining that sort of injury late last year, it’s Jones.

“I think (he’s) probably one of the most mentally tough and physically tough guys on this team,” Flores said of Jones. “(If) there’s a guy on this team who will fight through an injury or fight through some adversity, it’s him. I always have confidence in him, as well as all the guys on our team. Him in particular. He’s done a great job for us. He’s worked as hard as anyone to try to get back. Hopefully, it works out for him.”

Jones is part of a secondary now that includes a pair of rookie corners in Keion Crossen and J.C. Jackson. Flores said he’s “excited” for them to show what they’re capable of this coming season.

“Those two guys, J.C. and Keion, have obviously worked extremely hard. They’ve done a great job for us,” Flores said. “When they make mistakes, they correct them. They go back out there and work a little bit harder. They just improve on a daily basis in every area — meetings, on the field. Those two, I can’t say enough good things about them. We’re very excited for them this year.”

While Jackson has proved his mettle throughout the preseason with a series of impressive performances that culminated in a two-interception game against the Giants in the preseason finale, Flores said Crossen’s bounce-back performance in the last two preseason games (after struggling against the Eagles earlier this summer) tells you everything you need to know about him.

“I think in this game, there’s never been a perfect game. Everybody goes out there and makes mistakes,” explained Flores. “The big thing is, you learn from them. We spend a lot of time with (Crossen) — as well as all the players — no one played a perfect game in that game. No one coached a perfect game. It’s a learning process for everyone. The big thing he’s done is he’s taken the coaching, tried to improve on it, and we’ve seen a lot of improvement. It’s a testament to his work ethic.”