Break it down -- offensive line

The offensive line took a hit this offseason when Matt Light decided to retire after 11 years with the Patriots. He did a great job doing the most important job on the field ... protecting the quarterback's blind side. And when that quarterback is Tom Brady, well you can't have a more important job.

The line has been a strength of the Pats for years. A lot of the credit for that goes to coach Dante Scarnecchia. He's been on the coaching staff since what seems like the first day the franchise was created. He's done just about every job except for head coach. As long as he is in charge of the line you get the feeling that things will be just fine.

STARTERS
As we say in the caption business... from left to right: Nate Solder (tackle), Logan Mankins (guard), Dan Koppen (center), Brian Waters (guard), and Sebastian Vollmer (tackle). The key guy here is Waters. As of the moment he has not re-signed but I think he will skip the first few weeks of training camp and then join the team when the games begin. A 13-year All Pro veteran can do that. He was a rock last year and looked like a guy who wanted to keep playing for a contender. If he doesn't come back then jack-of-all-trades Dan Connolly will step in. Youngsters Solder and Vollmer (two of the best Belichick picks of the last few years) will anchor the ends of the line. Koppen, a former Pro Bowler, broke his leg in Week 1 last year and never came back. He and Brady have a great rapport and I'm sure #12 is glad to have him back in the middle. Then there is Mankins. The Paul Bunyan of the offensive line. He has not quite played at the level that was expected of him after signing his big contract, but turns out he had a torn ACL so that probably had something to do with it. The Pats need him to get mean and nasty again and set the tone.

BACK-UPS
Connolly is that offensive lineman that every team needs. A veteran who can slide from center to guard and back again and never miss a beat. Second-year player Marcus Cannon has a lot of potential and looked good in a limited role last year after recovering from cancer treatments. Robert Gallery, a former high draft pick of the Raiders, comes to New England with a chance of rejuvenating his career. Ryan Wendell, Donald Thomas, and Nick McDonald all made contributions last year and provide solid depth ... something that is key to any offensive line.

IN THE MIX
Young guys who are taking Offensive Line 101 from professor Scarnecchia include second-year guys Matt Kopa and Kyle Hix and rookies Markus Zusevics and Jeremiah Warren. We'll see if any of them are A students.

The offensive line won't be nearly as entertaining without Matt Light. But it should be just as good. That's what counts.

Man the line

As the first round of the NFL Draft unfolded last night, Mark repeatedly texted me "This is breaking our way."

Well, sort of.

Mark wanted DE Cameron Jordan from Cal to finally give the Pats a pass rush and make life miserable for opposing QBs. When the Pats came up to bat for the first of two picks on the night, the man who could be the next Willie McGinnest was right there for the taking. Belichick, stop me if you've heard this before, went in another direction.

SOLDER: Think you can get by him?

The Pats drafted offensive tackle Nate Solder out of Colorado. He won't help the pass rush, but he'll do something that's actually much more important. Keep the opposing pass rush from killing the league's MVP. That really was the biggest need Belichick had to address. At 6-foot-8 and 319 pounds, Solder sure fills that biggest need and then some.

Solder can step in for Matt Light protecting Brady's blindside. Light, one of the all-time great Patriot linemen, is a free agent. Hopefully he stays with the team and maybe moves next to the center and provides veteran leadership. The offensive line, a strength almost every year, was in serious transition with the retirement of Stephen Neal and the uncertainty of Light, Mankins, and Kaczur. By adding Solder (and probably another rookie over the next few days) to Vollmer, Koppen, and Connolly, the offensive line should continue to keep Brady healthy. And after all, isn't that the most important thing you can do?

Cameron Jordan went off the board to the Saints at the 24th pick. (So close to a perfect night!) The Pats came back up with the 28th pick a little after 11 p.m. Do they take 'Bama running back Mark Ingram? Pass rusher Da'Quan Bowers of Clemson?

I texted Mark "Who do you want here?" Then added "Or are we going to trade this one because it's physically impossible for Belichick to use two first-round picks on the same day?" Before Mark could respond Chris "Boomer" Berman bellowed ... "The Patriots have traded away their pick to the Saints who will most likely pick Mark Ingram. A great move by the Saints." In exchange for the pick the Saints sent the Pats their second rounder tomorrow (giving the Pats three second rounders and two thirds) and their first round pick next year. The Pats have two first-round picks. Again.

Two first-round picks in one night. I knew it was a long shot. Ingram would look good putting up 1,500 yards in a Pats uniform. The Saints came away with the two guys Mark and I (and Pete and Shep and ...) wanted. Jordan and Ingram. A good night for the Saints.

But a good night for the Pats, too. They fortified the wall around Tom Brady and now have five -- five! -- picks tomorrow. Night two (second and third rounds) starts at 6 p.m. Friday. Don't be late turning on the TV, the Pats have the first pick. I think Belichick will use it. Maybe on a pass rusher.