Nate Solder leads Patriots offensive line struggles
 |
| The Redskins Brian Orakpo beats the Patriots Nate Solder and sacks Ryan Mallett (photo by Keith Nordstrom of the New England Patriots) |
There were problems all over the field, but I’m going to focus on the offensive line. In their first year and game without Dante Scarnecchia, the Patriots offensive line looked ill prepared and disinterested.
On the third play of the game, facing a third and eight, Ryan Mallett hit Brandon Lafell for a fifteen yard gain and a first down, which was negated by a holding call against the cornerstone of the offensive line, Nate Solder, and led to a punt.
On the second play of the Patriot's second drive, Brian Orakpo beat Solder and sacked Mallett for a 5 yard loss. Again a punt.
As the Patriots work to find out who is going to play center and right guard between Solder at left tackle, Logan Mankins at left guard and Sebastian Vollmer at right tackle, they need those three guys to be solid. Solder was anything but last night, and no one else was particularly good, they just didn’t get beat up on by a three times Pro Bowler playing out a franchise tag year.
So the question becomes can these Patriots get better when the game plan becomes team blocking and not block the guy in front of you? In the years of Scarnecchia they always have, Dave DeGuglielmo needs to prove he can get the most out of the offensive line studs Solder, Mankins and Vollmer.
I don’t think there is any need for huge concern. Mankins didn’t play last night, and neither did Tom Brady, who is the best in the league at making sure his offensive line knows what scheme to block on every play. All that being said the center position is very important to helping make those calls.
Based on last night alone, it looks like Dan Connolly is going to be the fourth starter on the offensive line, be it at right guard or center. Ryan Wendell’s stock seems to have fallen dramatically as he didn’t see the field until the second half. Josh Kline looks to be a roster lock and could win the starting job at right guard with continued steady play. Bryan Stork was likely to win the starting center job, but is now hurt and hasn’t seen the field since the fifth training camp practice. Jon Halapio and Cameron Flemming are both late round rookie prospects who will provide depth while they learn.
My biggest question is what happened to Marcus Cannon? I thought going into camp that he was a lock to start at right guard. I was completely comfortable with a starting offensive line of Solder at LT, Mankins at LG, Connolly at C, Cannon at RG and Vollmer at RT. I was more than comfortable; I loved it. Cannon’s fall from grace seems to have left the Patriots with a need for someone to emerge. I don’t know who that will be, and it still could be Cannon, who will make the roster because of his ability to play both guard and tackle, but the first person who needs to step up is Coach DeGuglielmo.
