In his first year with Patriots, Trent Brown has delivered stability, strength at left tackle

FOXBOROUGH — Where would be the 2018 Patriots be without Trent Brown?

There are other marquee names who have played a sizable role in leading New England to an 8-3 start — Tom Brady, James White, Stephon Gilmore ... — but few have had the sort of big impact like the big fella has had at the left tackle spot. If it's possible for a 6-foot-8, 370-pound guy to operate under the radar, Brown has done it.

It’s a position that demands stability — there’s a reason the Patriots have had only a handful of consistent starters at left tackle since Brady took over at quarterback in 2001. But stepping into the spot vacated by Nate Solder, Brown has made it a seamless transition. The 6-foot-8, 380-pounder, in his first season as a full-time left tackle, has really flipped from the right side to the left side without a hitch. It hasn’t always been perfect, but making the move — in a contract year — has really worked out well for Brown and the Patriots, as he’s won the respect of his coaches and teammates

“He’s settled in nicely over there on the left side, and embraced everything we’ve asked him to do since he’s been here,” said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

The move from right to left tackle isn’t as easy as flipping your footwork. Bill Belichick has noted several times just because you play one tackle position, it doesn’t mean you’re going to succeed if you flip from one side to the other. (Belichick cites his own failed notion of having Matt Light at right tackle early in his career.)

But 11 games into his career as a full-time left tackle, Brown feels pretty optimistic about where he is at this stage of the season, giving a shout-out to his offensive line coach.



“I’m getting better every week, thanks to (Dante Scarnecchia),” he said. “Thanks to my group — we push each other. Help each other out. Coach Scar has a standard for us, and we have a standard for ourselves. We just try and go out there and excel each week and get better every day.”