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.
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