The Patriots’ offensive line has made headlines (well, offseason headlines) the past few days; some positive, some negative. While I try to make it a point not to think about the recent Super Bowl, anything about the offensive line usually brings back memories of their horrendous performance versus the Giants’ defensive line. This unit will probably get the most attention from Pats fans this year in training camp and preseason games, as far as the offensive side of the ball goes. Keeping Tom “The Franchise” Brady upright and throwing touchdowns is key to the Pats being competitive again this season. Now, onto the latest on the offensive line.
The Pats signed tackle Oliver Ross to contract earlier this week. Ross is a 33-year-old veteran who did not play at all last season and last played for the Arizona Cardinals. His signing is likely to provide veteran depth at right tackle, which is generally considered the team’s weak point on the line. Right tackle is usually manned by Nick Kaczur (more on him in a bit). Unless depth is a concern due to training camp/preseason injuries, I don’t see Ross making the final roster.
Back to Mr. Kaczur. Kaczur was arrested in Aprilfor being in possession of a painkiller, OxyContin, without a prescription. This news did not see the newspapers because Kaczur agreed to help authorities in a sting operation to nab the dealer. Kaczur has denied involvement, but reports from the dealer’s lawyer and two other anonymous informants tab Nick Kaczur as the unidentified witness in legal documents. According the Globe’s story, Kaczur started buying OxyContin this past November in batches of 100. As of the present time, Nick Kaczur is still a Patriot, and the Pats have deferred questions to the authorities. One has to wonder if the Ross signing has anything to do with Kaczur’s position with the Patriots moving forward.
Finally, on a positive note, CBS’s Pete Prisco ranks the Pats’ offensive lineas the 3rd best unit in the NFL, with only the Cowboys (#1) and Chargers (#2) ranked higher. He cites guard Logan Mankins as the line’s best player and the aforementioned RT Nick Kaczur as its weakest. Here is what Prisco had to say about the Pats’ offensive line:
“This is a unit that took a beating for the way it played in the Super Bowl loss. They struggled in pass protection. But Dante Scarnecchia, the best line coach in football, should get this unit back on track. Mankins is one of the game’s best and center Dan Koppen went to the Pro Bowl last season. Left tackle Matt Light needs to play better. Right guard is a concern.”
Hopefully Prisco’s right about Scarnecchia’s ability to fix what went wrong with the line in the Super Bowl. Ouch, there it is again.
Go Pats!
Eli?
this is Brady’s year to go down, someone’s gonna change his name to Thiesman, by,by Brady there can be only one and that’s MANNING
i’d say either one, both Mannings have beaten him in big playoff games one year after the other. But due to scheduling i’d probably think he means Peyton.
Either way, both Mannings need two more Super Bowls just to tie Brady, let alone better him.