We continue our training camp positional preview series by looking at the offensive line room. Are they good enough?
Signed: David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Sidy Sow, Chukwuma Okorafor, Nick Leverett, Calvin Anderson, Vederian Lowe, Caedan Wallace, Layden Robinson, Atonio Mafi, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Michael Jordan, Liam Fornadel, Charles Turner III, and Zuri Henry.
I'm not pressing the panic button yet. Yes, I saw some things on the back practice fields at Foxborough that I wasn't all that excited about, but no one suffers more from being in shorts and t-shirts than the OL. The big fellas want to step forward and deliver the blow, not retreat, especially when the defensive front knows you can't stick a helmet into their chest. You might as well tell them the play and be over with it. With all these recent CBA adjustments over the last decade or so, the power part of run-game execution doesn't exist in the springtime. How can it?
What's evident, especially after the mandatory mini-camp, is that the Pats seem to be embracing the concept of the best five, regardless of what position these pieces were penciled in to play before, you know, they actually got on a field and saw how it looked. The lineup went from one place in the early spring to a different place during the final two days of workouts, featuring Mike Onwenu back at right guard and Caedan Wallace at right tackle. Perhaps it was simply to look at that lineup and build depth. Or the brain trust recognizes this might be their best path toward success. That remains to be seen.
Now, I've heard some whining about paying Onwenu what they are is too much for a guard, but a) did you see the money that got dished out to that position during free agency? and b) I don't care. He's been a good player. They need him. They kept him. In fact, he was their most crucial retention. If that's where Onwenu performs at his best, and Wallace can develop next to him, it shouldn't make a damn bit of difference.
But if I may argue with myself for a minute, I do have some concerns that Onwenu might not be an ideal fit for Alex Van Pelt's system. AVP's guards have to be good in space. Onwenu is not that, nor has he ever been. And if Bedard's right, and Onwenu is heavier, that won't help him to improve in that facet. I'll be curious to see how the Pats work around that if, in fact, he remains inside.
For all our concerns about how good this group is and can be, four of the five linemen for week one are set (barring injury or disaster). Onwenu, center David Andrews, left guard Sidy Sow, and, gulp, left tackle Chukwuma Okorafor.
Why Okorafor, considering he hasn't played that side since college (for all intents and purposes)? The staff believes he's capable and has enough athleticism, length (34.5-inch arms), and lower body strength to allow him to be at least league average. Generally, that's not something to get excited about, but that will suffice for where this rebuild is at.
If Okorafor can't do it, and Wallace isn't ready for that side (if ever), then that spot will be a black hole of despair, a turnstile capable of handcuffing an offense that isn't expected to be all that good anyway. I take no joy in writing that sentence, but I'm not here to blow sunshine in your, um, earholes either. You might have to watch it, but Greg and I have to watch, re-watch, and write about it—a lot. I need a drink.
Anywho...
Andrews remains one of the least heralded players at his position despite doing it at a high level, almost from jump. You won't find much tougher than him, and go back and watch the tape of some of his battles against Quinnen Williams. Andrews is physically overmatched, yet he's so technically sound, strong, and relentless that he plays Williams to at least a draw, which only a few do.
My only question is how much longer Andrews can sustain at this level. He slowed a bit at the end of the year, no doubt battling various physical issues, yet stayed in the fight, as you would expect. The Pats gave him a one-year extension (he earned it), but it's not so prohibitive that if the bottom fell out, he couldn't be cut. However, though he is closer to the end than the beginning, I suspect the 31-year-old will go out on his terms, whenever that time comes.
Sow was a PFF darling last season; some of you have taken that as gospel. I'm not sold on him as a pass blocker, and we'll see how he adapts to the new scheme, but a return to his collegiate spot should be beneficial. I can also say, without question, that the organization thinks he's got another level to go to. He'll get that chance, especially with Cole Strange out until at least midseason.
Beyond that, draft pick Layden Robinson could make a push, but he first needs to get better in pass protection. As a reminder, he wasn't great at the Senior Bowl or the Combine. Veteran Nick Leverett has experience and some positional versatility.
Those six feel like locks, leaving Atonio Mafi, Jake Andrews, Vederian Lowe, Calvin Anderson, and UDFA center Charles Turner competing for two spots. Andrews was MIA for most of the spring, and Mafi scuffled trying to handle some work at center. Anderson looks thin. It is no surprise after dealing with a life-threatening illness last year. But while that's a feel-good story, it will only carry him so far. At his best, he's a swing tackle. Lowe is also cross-trained. I imagine that if it comes down to any of these guys starting for a considerable period, the Pats will be in a world of hurt, but we'll cross that bridge if we get there, and not a moment sooner