Mission: Protect Brady
By Kevin Saleeba
When asked what the key was in
stopping the Patriots offense in Super Bowl XLVI, Giants defensive
lineman Jason Tuck had a very simple answer. “Tom Brady!”
“That guy is an awesome
quarterback and as he goes, the offense goes,” Tuck said during a
Thursday Super Bowl press conference. “He is definitely the leader of
that football team, and for us personally (the Giants defensive line)
it has to come down to making him uncomfortable.”
Uncomfortable is just a nice way of saying the Giants want to hit Brady
constantly and put him repeatedly on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf. It’s
going to be up to the Patriots offensive line to stop the Giants potent
pass rush, which is tied for second in the NFL in team sacks this
season. Four years ago in Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots O-line was not
up to the task as the Giants made the pocket very “uncomfortable” for
Brady, sacking him five times and hitting him several times more to
help end the Patriots perfect season.
Patriots’ assistant head
coach/offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia feels this year’s O-line
is up for the challenge in stopping the Giants formidable pass rush.
“We have two sayings: work
together and see the game through one set of eyes,” said Scarnecchia
this week. “All five guys have to see the game through one set of eyes.
If they see it differently then you have chaos; anarchy reigns and it
never work.”
Attempting to cause anarchy in
the Patriots offensive backfield are primary pass rushers Jason
Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Tuck. Looking to stop them are veteran
pro bowl left tackle Matt Light and pro bowl left guard Logan Mankins,
who were the only two linemen leftover from the Super Bowl XLII debacle
.
Mankins said the line needs to
just stay on their blocks. “If they’re blitzing, picking those up and
just blocking those guys for as long as it takes,” he said. “For as
long as (Brady) needs, that’s how long we’re supposed to block.”
“I think (the Giants) pick and
choose when they want to blitz,” said Light. “I think that whoever they
have doing it, they usually have a pretty good idea of what you do
offensively and they try to time it up with maybe some of your
protections ... I think primarily their front four do a
pretty good job on their own of applying up-the-field pressure … they
make it pretty difficult for you up front.”
Joining them are pro bowl
right guard Brian Waters from Kansas City, first-round draft pick Nate
Solder, and the often injured, but talented right tackle Sebastian
Vollmer, who has been out since November. Vollmer is expected to play
Sunday.
Solder had to step in to play
for Vollmer and he’s also played tight end to help sure up protection.
“He’s gone through the usual rookie tough times … he’s a gifted
athlete, a very smart guy and very tough. Thank God we took him when
you think about it. We didn’t have Light at the time. All of the sudden
we get some injuries at tackle with Sebastian and here’s this guy you
have to start and play against really good players. The fact that he’s
playing tight end and tackle on either side, to his credit how could
you want any more out of a young kid than we have this year?”
The Patriots also played
musical chairs at the center position since pro bowl center Dan Koppen
sustained a season ending ankle injury in Week One. Dan Connolly, Ryan
Wendell, and Nick McDonald have all shared duties at the position.
Connolly is expected to get the start on Sunday.
“(Connolly’s) a very talented
guy though,” said Scarnecchia. “He’s a really gifted athlete. He just
came from a very small school … he came in here and spent his time on
the practice field, did everything he was supposed to do. He improved
himself as a player and he’s a very good center. The first thing I
noticed was his athleticism. ”
Waters said the offensive line
has become a tight-knit group throughout the season. “I’ve had an
opportunity to know a couple of these guys before I got here. I had a
lot of respect for Matt Light and Logan and the way they played the
game before I got here and then just working with Nate and
Sebastian – those are two of the most talented football
players, especially young players, that I have ever been around. So, it
has been a really good group.
“Even the young guys like
Donald Thomas (at right guard) and Nick McDonald, Ryan Wendell, those
guys have really stepped up when asked,” said Waters. “Whether it’s
been for a handful of plays to start a game or when they had never
started a game in their careers. It just shows that these guys are
professional and they love the game and they have a lot of respect for
each other that they stay accountable to each other. It’s a good group;
it’s definitely a good group.”
Good group or not, Scarnecchia
said they better do their job protecting Brady on Sunday.
“If we do a great job on our
mental assignments and don’t screw many things up, in particular in
pass protection, we usually do ok,” he said. “But if we’re a little out
here or if one guy, God forbid, is (too much) to the right, then all
hell is going to break loose.”
# # #
Kevin Saleeba is a frequent contributor and columnist
to Patriots
Insider. A former beat writer for local media, Kevin has extensive
knowledge of
the team and experience covering the Patriots. Share
your
thoughts on this article, or send your
questions to Kevin ( on Facebook ).
For more Patriots news follow us via Twitter:
|