FOXBOROUGH — Basically the key to everything Patriots in 2024 - their ability to win games, have a chance to win games on defense, control the ball and when Drake Maye can play - comes down to what happens on the offensive line.
Everyone knows what happened in the joint practice with the Eagles. It was a trainwreck, thanks to an inability to block the Eagles' starters. Not surprisingly, things looked better (with pass pro, the running game still stunk) when the Patriots' starters went against the Eagles' backups, and the Patriots' backups went against the Eagles' third-stringers. Don't ever, positive or negative, read too much into preseason games. It's the land of vanilla, and a lot of players who won't be playing much on Sundays.
Patriots GM Eliot Wolf was unfazed when he spoke to the media.
"We're excited about our offensive line group," Wolf said. "We're still working to find the correct combination in there, and I think we have the pieces in place to be able to compete.
"I think we're just trying to find the right combination. We feel confident in all these players, and we're just working to find the best group, rather than the best five individuals."
Do I think Wolf was being a little disingenuous?
About being "excited" about their offensive line group ... yes.
About having the pieces in place to compete ... no.
I do think the pieces are there for the unit to compete. Right now they have three players of at least starter level: Mike Onwenu, David Andrews and Sidy Sow. There's the potential for more and for that to be good enough, but it's going to take fitting the pieces to the puzzle.
And it just might start with fourth-round pick Layden Robinson.
Let's reset the puzzle pieces:
CHUKS OKORAFOR
Probably the biggest disappointment to date simply because, as of today, he has been no factor at left tackle. That was not the plan. The plan was for Okorafor to be the left tackle, where he has/had a shot to be a representative starter on film. That hasn't happened. Why? According to league sources, Okorafor has voiced his lack of comfort on the left side and prefers the right. This is not a surprise to people in Pittsburgh, where he did the same thing and that led to Dan Moore playing LT for the Steelers last year instead of Okorafor, who was benched midway through the season for mouthing off about OC Matt Canada (Okorafor wasn't wrong). There have also been some questions about Okorafor's mental and physical toughness, especially after he was awful in the Eagles joint practice. Basically, it sounds like the Patriots signed a smaller Trent Brown. This is why you avoid free agency at all costs. You can analyze the film and analytics all you want, but you never really know what you're going to get in totality until the player is in your building. Let's just say, this hasn't gone well.
Right now he's the starter at right tackle, but that might not hold. He could be the top swing tackle, especially if the Patriots move on from Calvin Anderson, who has been a non-factor.
VEDERIAN LOWE
One of the big surprises of camp who is on the upswing and has probably benefitted from the Patriots finally having stable and capable line coaches in Scott Peters and Robert Kugler. He's given up 3.5 pressures in two games and 56 snaps, which is solid. He was better in the Eagles game than in the Panthers game. He's 7-2-3 in 1-on-1s.
He's going to need help, but if he continues on the upswing, he could give them C-level LT play, which is fine if the other four spots are solid.
SIDY SOW
Started out really strong and has been solid ever since. Started off 7-0-3 in 1-on-1s, is 4-3 since. Played well against the Eagles. Has a chance to be a solid starter. He struggles more against big, starter-level DTs. Much better pass blocker than run blocker.
DAVID ANDREWS
Rock-solid like always. Pray he stays healthy, although I think Nick Leverett is an underrated backup.
MIKE ONWENU
Reported to camp a little overweight (Mike Lombardi said on his podcast it was 80 pounds ... I don't know about that). The puzzle includes him, big-time.
Onwenu can be an All-Pro guard, and a good right tackle, maybe Pro Bowl level. What do you do with that? It's the question we ask every year.
CAEDEN WALLACE
Has shown well of late, but not sure he's ready for a starting role - but it could come in time. Like most of this group, has struggled with blocking the outside zone scheme. Solid in pass pro.
LAYDEN ROBINSON
He's been tremendous the past couple of weeks to the point that you could make the argument he's the third-best lineman on the team behind Onwenu and Andrews. It's close between Robinson and Sow, and they seem to be in a competition at left guard, but that might not hold. Robinson played most of his snaps in college at right guard.
NOW WHAT?
The Patriots are trying to fit the puzzle pieces, and I would not be surprised if this doesn't continue into the first month of the season. The bummer is that I don't think Okorafor is an option at left tackle, but I guess that could change.
(One bit of good news: I'm hearing Cole Strange will not be out for the season, and is likely to returning this year at some point.)
Here are the options and the puzzle pieces the Patriots are trying to fit right now and probably into the season (which is why you DO NOT play Drake Maye until this is settled):
DEFENSE VS. EAGLES
Sorry for not posting this earlier, but I have zero grand thoughts on the defense off the game film. Can't even really tell much about the CB position since it sure seems like Jonathan and Marcus Jones will be 2 and 3. Marco Wilson and Alex Austin are still fighting for 4 and 5. Shaun Wade, Isaiah Bolden and Marcellas Dial duking it out for final spots.
THREE UP
DE Keion White: Bullied the Eagles backups with 3.5 pressures in 21 snaps, as he should.
LB Raekwon McMillan: Just about a perfect game from him with a half hit and two run stuffs, let alone what he's going on kick coverage.
DE Joshua Uche: Good to see him get back out there and show off his speed around the end.
ONE DOWN
CB Marcellas Dial: The rookie gave up 8 catches for 106 yards. Some of it wasn't his fault - just good throws and catches - but it was rough.
