Four reasons why New England Patriots offensive line building and rebuilding is the most important part of their team building after quarterback.
A common reaction to several of my posts might be – why the heck is this guy spending so much time talking about the New England Patriots offensive line? It’s a legitimate question. Here’s why I think it’s so important and worthy of in-depth reporting.
There are four major reasons why offensive line construction is so important to the success of the New England Patriots – and every other football team. It’s not just important – but after the quarterback – it’s THE most important aspect of football foundation building. This ain’t rocket science – it just is.
First Reason: Passing offense
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First, is the most obvious.
The New England Patriots quarterback, in this case (at least for about 10 days at least, hopefully for more years – 3 would be great) is the greatest quarterback of all time. Quarterbacks pass the ball. Great quarterbacks pass it really well. To do that at that level of excellence, you have to pass block – really well.
Tom Brady has a lightning release of the ball on a passing play. Lightning. But other factors enter into whether or not he’ll be as successful as he should be in any given season, e.g. is anyone open? This season we saw key injuries on the offensive line and not many receiver types open – at all. Those are big problems.
But the basic fact is, the quarterback needs time, the Patriots passing offense needs time and the offensive line has to deliver that time. And, if he needs more time because of a paucity of receiving talent – the offensive line (and other blockers too, of course, like tight ends, fullbacks, etc. help) – must deliver that time. The lion’s share of the pass blocking rests on the shoulders of the offensive linemen.
Second Reason: Running offense
The second reason the New England Patriots offensive is so important is the running game. They have the primary responsibility to open the holes that make running backs successful – especially in the Patriots case.
The Patriots don’t really have running backs who can create their own yards. That attribute is just not there. So the offensive line is central to the running game, as well. Of course, other participants like their great fullback James Develin, whose loss is immediately felt whenever he’s out of the lineup, tight ends, and receivers all contribute. But the offensive line is key to the running game.
So, the offensive line of the Patriots is key to allowing the quarterback to execute the passing game and key to making the running game work.
OK, simple enough. There’s no real Patriots success on offense without a well-functioning offensive line. Again, not rocket science. But something’s beginning to add up here.
Third Reason: Keeping the opponent’s offense off the field
The third major reason why the offensive line is so important is really predicated on the first two: time-of-possession, and what that means on the scoreboard.
When the New England Patriots keep possession of the ball by passing well and running well – they effectively control the game.
Predominance on offense by definition effectively keeps the opponent’s offense sitting on the bench. When their opponent’s offense sits – they ain’t scoring.
So the offensive line’s impact is defensive, in a manner of speaking. When they dominate time-of-possession, they keep the opponent’s offense off field – and they keep the opponent’s offense from scoring.
Good defense – by default!
Fourth Reason: Keeping your own defense fresh
Fourth and finally, the New England Patriots offensive line also serves up another benefit on the defensive side of the ball? What? How is that happening?
Again, it’s sort of by default. What they do provides a distinct benefit because of what it prevents happening. In this case, it’s not the opponent that is thwarted directly, but the Patriots’ own teammates who benefit indirectly.
Who and how?
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By dominating time-of-possession (and hopefully scoring, of course, as a result), the Patriots offensive line keeps their own defense off the field. That keeps them fresh. That makes them more able to punish the opposing offense when their opponent actually does get an opportunity to possess the ball. They aren’t worn down because they haven’t been worn out by being on the field too long.
A classic example of that is the Atlanta defense being as their coach noted, “gassed” in the fourth quarter and overtime of their loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
So there they are.
Four reasons why the New England Patriots offensive line is key – not only to the offense, but central to the success of the entire team – in every quarter, every half, every game. That’s why to build or rebuild that particular unit, above all others, should be the key job (after having the best quarterback possible) of every off-season in free agency, the draft and undrafted free agency. All of it.
To help in this area, the Patriots have been blessed with a Hall of Fame to-be offensive line coach, Dante Scarnecchia, for decades. He helped “create” solid offensive lineman from unheralded ones. He’s retired now.
But the mandate to build or rebuild the offensive line remains – again, second only to having the best quarterback possible. The New England Patriots have not had to worry about that aspect for two decades.
They have had The Best quarterback. An amazing and unparalleled success story. My hope is that they won’t have that worry for a few more years.
But, no matter who is under center, the offensive line and its success will have a major impact and for the reasons noted will really dictate the success of the Patriots.
That’s why building or rebuilding the offensive line must be an important priority of every off-season. And that begins now.