FOXBOROUGH – Last season, there were plenty of signs during training camp that the offensive line was going to be a significant problem.
Once the pads came on and the 1-on-1s commenced during the workouts, and once the Patriots engaged in joint practices with the Philadelphia Eagles, the evidence was overwhelming.
Trouble lurked ahead.
Jacoby Brissett ran for his life during games. So did Drake Maye. Together, they were sacked 52 times.
Will it be different this year?
Will rookie Will Campbell be able to succeed at left tackle with short arms that severely hinder his chances? Can someone emerge at left guard? Will Morgan Moses defy his age? And, will Garrett Bradbury prove the Minnesota Vikings were wrong to let him go?
Thus far in the non-padded practices, the line hasn’t exactly assuaged fears. But those practices weren’t the fairest test.
With pads on, and players going full throttle, that will tell the story.
“I’ll feel better when we’re in pads,” Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers said earlier in the week. “Once the pads come on, that’ll be the real telltale.”
Patriots linemen on both sides of the ball have been itching to suit up. And Peppers is right, padded practices are a much better litmus test to judge players on both sides of the ball.
Moses, who has already played a dozen seasons, said he was looking forward to Monday’s first padded event.
“Hell yeah,” Moses said. “It’s hard to block when they just have jerseys on. We need something to grab.”
That was a bit tongue-and-cheek. But the point was taken. This is a better reality check. Add in the August 6th joint practice with the Washington Commanders, and the two joints with the Minnesota Vikings (Aug. 13-14) and a clearer picture should develop.
On Saturday, Mike Vrabel did have one period of one-on-ones between the defensive and offensive lines, but the “real football” as Bradbury said, won’t happen until Monday.
Since last year’s debacle, the Patriots did make moves to try and bolster the line signing right tackle Moses and center Bradbury in free agency while drafting Campbell with the fourth overall pick.
They also drafted Jared Wilson, a star at Georgia, in the third round. He’s competing with Bradbury for the starting center job, and might find a home at left guard in the interim.
Moses, speaking with the media on Thursday, said the group isn’t worried about what happened in the past. They’re just focused on keeping Maye upright going forward.
“We’re not going to dwell on the past. It’s a new year,” he said. “We’ve got an unbelievable talented room. We’re growing every day.
“Football is won in the trenches. When it’s 4th-and-one, and two minute drills, you count on the offensive line and D-line to go out there and eat.
“We look forward to the battle. it’s our job to keep our star quarterback upright, and we’re going to do those things.”
In theory, the first four days of training camp practices didn’t tell us much.
But both rookies say they’re improving. Wilson said Saturday he’s learned a lot going up against Christian Barmore and Milton Williams.
“Those guys are real strong. They’re great guys and great defensive linemen,” Wilson said. “They also have chemistry, so they work really well together. They do well on twists and stunts. They’re just good guys to go against. It’s a great way to get better.”
Campbell, who was looking forward to the next phase, also said he’s learned a lot going up against the Patriots outside pass rushers even during the non-padded practices.
“I’m just super fortunate to have a guy like Keion (White), not only him, guys like B-More (Christian Barmore), Milt (Milton Williams), KC (K’Lavon Chaisson), Harold (Landry), a lot of those guys have played a lot more football than me, so anything that they can help me with, give me tips on things they see that I’m doing that can help my game, just help me get better in any way. That’s what a rookie can ask for. So I’m super fortunate to have that.”
The pressure will be on Campbell in particular to hold up at left tackle. He has to prove he can be successful as Maye’s blindside protector. Tackles with short arms don’t have the best track record.
Campbell would be the exception, not the rule. So we’ll see soon enough.
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