Tag Archives: guards

Offensive Lineman: Post-Cut Looks

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With the uncertainty of roster cut day behind us, we now turn towards prepping for Week 1. The Patriots are a team that believes in churning the bottom of the roster. The cuts and the signings are all about improving the team. There are several reasons for this. They have certain needs that change from week to week. Players don’t progress as expected. Injuries cause vulnerabilities at various positions. Players become available that the coaching staff views as an upgrade.

With the Texans game coming up in a few short days the coaching staff is working furiously to quickly evaluate all the names that have become available across the NFL. Taking a quick look at the New England roster I noticed one major need. The offensive line has just seven members remaining. Marcus Cannon, Trent Brown and LaAdrian Waddle are the tackles and Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, and Ted Karras fill up the interior. This is slightly thin given past history. The Patriots normally carry 8 on the roster and activate 6 or 7 for game day. An injury or two to this group will compromise the offense and endanger Tom Brady.

The Patriots will undoubtedly seek to get some of their own cuts onto their practice squad. Cole Croston, Matt Tobin and James Ferentz have provided depth in the past and I expect them to get first look at the beginning of the season. The Patriots may be turning towards veterans that are on the free agent market or waiver pickups.

Interior options

This isn’t as pressing of a need as Thuney, Mason and Andrews seem to be healthy and ready to go this season. Ted Karras has been an intriguing option for previous seasons and seems to have the trust of the coaching staff.

Zane Beadles

Zane Beadles – a 6 ft 4 inch veteran entering his 9th season. He has played for the Broncos, Jaguars, and 49ers. Primarily a guard, he has filled in at tackle and that versatility could intrigue the coaching staff. He last played in San Francisco with Trent Brown and could provide some leadership and familiarity.

 

Travis Swanson – A center/guard player who last played for the NY Jets. He would be an option to provide depth for Andrews. Being a former member of the Jets can only help as well. He is a little lighter at 6 ft 5 in and 312 pounds and has had trouble staying healthy.

 

Jeremiah Poutasi – Another guard with tackle experience. He is a little younger so they will have to claim him on waivers or sign him if he makes it through. He spent the offseason with the Denver Broncos and is 6 ft 5 and 330 pounds.

 

Nico Siragusa – One of my favorite prospects in the 2017 draft. The Ravens selected him in the 4th round and he suffered a knee injury in his rookie season. He’s worked his way back and may still need some time but has good speed and movement at 6 ft 4 in and 330 pounds

 

Tackle options

Austin Howard

Austin Howard – He should be on everyone’s radar, if only to see why he played so poorly. He was a sought after free agent when he signed with the Colts. He is a big guy at 6 ft 7 in and 330 pounds and could provide depth and competition for Waddle.

 

Antonio Garcia – Perhaps a year away with another team could have renewed the Patriot’s interest in Garcia. The team has been primarily concerned with his health and weight following his cut after his rookie season. New England could reconsider and see if he has improved with a claim.

 

Cyrus Kouandjio – Still 25 years young despite having 4 seasons under his belt. He was drafted by the Bills in the 2014 draft. He is 6 ft 7 in and 325 pounds. Cyrus could provide some size and speed behind the starters.

 

Chad Wheeler – Despite being and undrafted free agent and on the smaller side. He managed to play his way onto a bad NY Giants offensive line last season. The 6 ft 7 in Tackle prospect could get looks despite being sub 310 pounds.

 

With the Patriots coaching staff scouring the roster cuts and waiver wires they will be looking at more than just these names. Hopefully whoever they pick up will be able to help the team this season and beyond. Championship teams are built many ways, and the Patriots have mastered all of them.

 

All photos courtesy of Getty images unless noted otherwise.

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Patriots Training Camp Preview: Interior O-Line

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There are many new faces on this Patriots team this summer. The Pats acquired four guys from trade, fifteen from free agency, and nine from the NFL Draft. They also lost nine players through trade and free agency and had three players retire. Plenty of questions remain on the offensive line, wide receiver corps, and defensive backs.

In this new series, I will be looking at every player from each position leading up to training camp. For this part of the series, I will take a look at the interior offensive linemen. The Patriots have added two new interior linemen while keeping their main core intact.

Shaq Mason #69 (2015-Present):

Shaq Mason is entering his fourth season in the NFL with the Pats. Mason was drafted out of Georgia Tech in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. His college career consisted of being first-team All-ACC and Second-team All-ACC. He started 39 out of the total 41 games in his career, including every game in his junior and senior seasons. As a rookie, Mason appeared in 14 games and started 10 of them. The 2016 season saw Mason play in all 16 games while starting 15 of them. He also started in the Super Bowl 51 victory over Atlanta. The next season was the first year that Mason started every single game. This was his best season yet, as he was ranked the #9 guard according to Pro Football Focus.

https://twitter.com/ZachSDunn/status/998309693243166720

Mason has shown his ability through his first three years in the NFL as an elite blocker. Thus, it makes no sense to let him go.

Joe Thuney #62 (2016-Present):

Joe Thuney is entering his third season in the NFL, all of which with New England. He was drafted in the third-round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of NC State. Thuney has started every single game for New England since he got drafted. These games also include the six playoff games and the Super Bowl win in 2016. In his rookie season, Thuney got the honors of being voted to the PFWA all-rookie team. In 2017, after starting all 16 games, he was ranked the #14 guard according to Pro Football Focus.

Thuney has had a successful career for New England thus far. He does need to work on his strength though, as he did get pushed around on occasion by bigger, stronger d-linemen. Overall, with Thuney starting every game for the Pats the past two years, they will likely not get rid of him.

David Andrews #60 (2015-Present):

David Andrews is the leader of the Patriots offensive-line. He is entering his fourth year in the NFL, all for the Patriots. Andrews was picked up by New England after the 2015 draft. After injuries to Bryan Stork and Ryan Wendell, Andrews was pushed into the starting center role in his first game. He started 11 games in his rookie season while appearing in 14. His 2016 season was his best season to date, starting every single game including the Super Bowl win over Atlanta. Andrews’ great season pushed him to second in fan-voting for the 2016 Pro Bowl.

Before the 2017 season, Andrews signed a three-year contract extension with the Pats. He was named captain for the first time in his career. Andrews then started 17 of the 19 total games for New England that year. He was ranked the #5 center by Pro Football Focus.

Overall, Andrews is one of the best centers in the NFL. Being a captain, don’t look for the Patriots to cut him this summer.

James Ferentz #66 (2017-Present):

James Ferentz is entering his fifth season in the NFL and second for New England. Ferentz started his career in Houston as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa. He did not play a snap for the Texans in his one year with the team and was promptly cut. The Denver Broncos picked up Ferentz for their 2016 season. He appeared in 13 total games, including the 2015 AFC Championship against New England. After getting a ring with Denver, he was released in May. Ferentz was picked up off waivers a week later by New England. He was on the practice squad for the entire 2017 season.

Ferentz has been in the league for a few seasons now, but has still not started in one game. He will have a lot of work to do if he wants to make the team, but competition is not scarce. He is certainly a long-shot to make this 53-man roster.

Ted Karras #75 (2016-Present):

Ted Karras is entering his third year in the NFL, all for the Patriots. Karras was a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Illinois University. He started his first game in the NFL after injuries sustained by Shaq Mason. That would be Karras’ only start in his rookie season. Before the 2017 season, Karras was cut by the Patriots. He was then added to the practice squad and later activated by the team. He played in all 16 games that year, and started two due to an illness to David Andrews.

https://twitter.com/ezlazar/status/933148715883335681

Karras was very solid in his three games started. His versatility as both a guard and center may make him a more valuable piece and likely earn him a spot on this roster.

Matt Tobin #64 (2018-Present):

Matt Tobin is entering his first year in New England and his sixth year in the NFL. Tobin was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played four seasons with them and started twenty-one games. His best season was in 2015, in which he started 13 games and appeared in 16. Tobin was traded to Seattle before the 2017 season. He played in 15 games that year, but did not earn a start. Tobin was acquired by New England via free agency in the 2018 offseason.

Tobin has shown throughout his career that he can play every position on the offensive line. At 6’6″, he fits best as a tackle, but if he makes the roster I believe he earns some work in the interior. Overall, it is going to be very tough for Tobin to make the team, and I do not believe he will.

Luke Bowanko #72 (2018-Present):

Luke Bowanko is entering his fifth NFL season and first for the Patriots. He was the 205th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft for the Jacksonville Jagurs. Bowanko started 14 games his rookie season and played in 16. Over the next two seasons, he played in 7 games while not starting in any. He was then traded to Baltimore before the 2017 season. He started one game while appearing in all 16. Bowanko was acquired by New England via free agency in the 2018 offseason.

Bowanko is known primarily as a center/guard. He has a lot of experience in the interior, but I don’t believe he will make the cut for New England due to the crowded field.

Jason King #65 (2017-Present):

Jason King has had a rollercoaster of a career so far. He is entering his 2nd year in the NFL and for the Pats. King was signed by New England as an undrafted free agent in May of 2017. He was then cut in September before being added to the practice squad two weeks later. King was cut from the team in October, and got picked up to Baltimore’s practice squad. He was then removed from the Ravens practice squad two weeks later. Two weeks after getting cut by Baltimore, he signed with New England and got cut two times that December. He was signed to a future/reserves contract in February, but was then waived again in May. King was then signed back to New England a week later.

Did you follow all of that?

King’s best chance of staying with New England is by making the practice squad, but I believe he will be cut and finally cap his career with the Patriots.

Overall Impressions

The Patriots have one of the best interior offensive lines in all of football. Guys like Shaq Mason and David Andrews open up holes for running backs while also protecting Tom Brady. The interior offensive line is going to have to play a big part in another Patriots Super Bowl run.