Eliot Wolf appears to view the New England Patriots offensive line extra favorably than these outdoors the confines of Gillette Stadium.
Or no less than that is how he is expressing himself publicly.
The Patriots first-year govt vice chairman of soccer operations met with the media earlier than coaching camp observe at Gillette Stadium on Sunday morning.
Wolf confronted quite a few questions in regards to the offensive line, together with a direct query in regards to the troublesome second group and whether or not that was an indictment on the Patriots roster-building this offseason. Wolf beforehand stated Chukwuma Okorafor and Caedan Wallace would play left deal with and Mike Onwenu function New England’s proper deal with.
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“Which a kind of hasn’t occurred?” Wolf replied, per a team-provided video.
Vederian Lowe has served as the beginning left deal with over the last 10 or so practices and two preseason video games. Okorafor and Wallace noticed two and 4 practices because the beginning left deal with, respectively, initially of camp. Okorafor since has performed proper deal with whereas Wallace has rotated with the primary and second-stringers. Onwenu served as the fitting guard in each observe and preseason recreation earlier than Saturday.
“Okorafor is taking reps on either side. Onwenu took some reps at deal with yesterday,” Wolf stated. “Once more, I feel we’re simply looking for the fitting mixture. We really feel assured in all these gamers and we’re simply seeking to discover the most effective group quite than the most effective 5 people.”
Wolf doubled and tripled down concerning his confidence of the offensive line.
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When requested if he believes the Patriots are in place to help the quarterback, given the place the offensive line stands, he stated he does.
“We’re enthusiastic about out offensive line group,” Wolf stated. “We’re nonetheless in search of the proper mixture in there. I feel we’ve the items in place to have the ability to compete.”
Wolf pointed to how the Patriots allowed just one sack throughout their preseason recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Wolf tried to spin that in a constructive mild whereas acknowledging it got here in opposition to Philadelphia’s second-stringers. The Eagles starters completely tormented New England’s offensive line models in joint observe two days prior.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has been a bit extra forthcoming in his evaluation of the offensive line. Mayo stated rookie quarterback Drake Maye was restricted to 6 snaps in New England’s first preseason recreation as a result of he did not need Maye enjoying behind the second-stringers.
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Mayo adopted up per week later and stated there’s a “dramatic” drop-off between the beginning unit and the twos and threes.
“I feel simply creating competitors,” Wolf stated when requested about Mayo’s feedback. “Our second offensive line, they’re shifting round loads, there’s quite a lot of items. We had a pair guys out yesterday so these items are shifting much more. So, once more, I simply suppose it is about creating that consistency. It is much less about a person not understanding what to do, however it’s extra about having belief within the man subsequent to you. For those who belief the man subsequent to you, it is simpler so that you can do your job.”
Wolf stated the Patriots really feel “fairly comfy” with the group because it presently stands, however left the door open on probably including free brokers or those that turn into accessible on the waiver wire. New England, coming off a 4-13 season, owns the third declare spot on the waiver wire.
