Patriots Mailbag: O-Line Still Team’s Biggest Weakness Heading Into OTAs

The New England Patriots are officially allowed to practice again in three short days.

Organized team activities begin Monday after weeks of offseason workouts, and though there’s no pads, no contact and the Patriots likely won’t even be wearing numbers, it signals football is drawing nigh.

Let’s dive into this week’s mailbag.

@DougKyed What’s a weak spot on the Patriots roster? And what’s your starting o-line projection?
— @HoughtonJustin
I ran through the rest of the AFC East teams’ biggest weaknesses Thursday, so it’s only fair to highlight the biggest weak spot on the Patriots.

I think it’s still their offensive line, though there’s certainly hope they’ll improve in 2016. Nate Solder struggled even before being placed on injured reserve, Sebastian Vollmer is an injury risk, their guards, outside of Josh Kline, are unproven, and Bryan Stork didn’t take the expected next step forward in 2015, likely because of a concussion that forced him to begin the year on short-term IR.

That being said, Solder should be better and stay healthier in 2016, Shaq Mason and Tre’ Jackson should improve, Jonathan Cooper could see a career resurgence under Dante Scarnecchia, and Joe Thuney has higher upside than many of the Patriots’ interior offensive linemen.

My starting offensive line projection is Solder, Mason, Stork, Kline and Vollmer.

@DougKyed Collins and Von Miller are athletically so similar, why isn’t Collins also used more often as an edge rusher on passing downs?
— @RiedoMischa
Here’s their combine testing numbers:

Jamie Collins: 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, 4.64-second 40-yard dash, 1.64-second 10-yard split, 19 bench press reps of 225 pounds, 41.5-inch vertical leap, 11-foot, 7-inch broad jump, 4.32-second short shuttle, 7.10-second three-cone drill

Von Miller: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds, 4.53-second 40-yard dash, 1.62-second 10-yard split, 21 bench press reps of 225 pounds, 37-inch vertical leap, 10-foot, 6-inch broad jump, 4.06-second short shuttle, 6.70-second three-cone drill

Big linebackers in the Patriots’ mold are hard to find, and the Patriots already had Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich as edge rushers when Collins was drafted. It’s even harder to find 250-pound linebackers who can run and cover as well as Collins.

The Patriots obviously value Collins more as a stand-up linebacker than as an edge rusher. He’s fantastic as a blitzer, but he’s also their best coverage linebacker. In an alternate universe, Collins probably could have been a double-digit sack defensive end, but in this universe, he’s one of the best linebackers in the NFL.

I wouldn’t say it’s likely, but if a player like Kamu Grugier-Hill, who’s athletic enough to cover at linebacker, steps up, Collins could see his pass-rushing opportunities rise.

@DougKyed will the patriots?
— @nbsmith100
Possibly.

@DougKyed do you think we ever will have quality sportstalk on the radio again?
— @jpc19671
Do you know who has an aux input in his car and never listens to sports talk radio? This guy.

Just listen to podcasts, man.

@DougKyed what do you think are the chances of Hibernian FC winning the Scottish Cup on Saturday? #mailbag
— @JamieA1992
I think they could make some noise.

@DougKyed Sup?
— @June__NYC
I’m, as usual, writing this way too late on Thursday night. Not much, though. Looking forward to WWE Extreme Rules on Sunday.

@DougKyed Favorite patriot to interview?
— @HoughtonJustin
Julian Edelman. I’m looking forward to talking to Terrance Knighton and Chris Long this year, though.

@DougKyed why weren’t you considered for the GQ or madden cover??? #mailbag
— @TrevorVPetrillo
This might be the best mailbag question I’ve ever received. I have no answer. I’m not sure. There’s no excuse for GQ or EA Sports. There’s no guarantee I’ll say yes at this point if they offer in the future.

@DougKyed am I the only one that thinks Kamu Grugier-Hill sounds like a Star Wars character’s name?
— @junkfishjordan
Not anymore. You are 100 percent correct.

@DougKyed seems like Titans have a plethora of RBs. Adding Robinson’s tie with BB, how realistic it is to target their reserves via a trade?
— @socoolsoco
I could potentially see them having interest in Bishop Sankey if he was released or traded. He fits their typical testing numbers and has proven to be a solid pass catcher. Antonio Andrews and David Cobb are big backs, but their testing numbers were far below average based on the Patriots’ typical standards.

@DougKyed name 1 UDFA who you think has the best shot to make the 53
— @avery_patsfan
Jonathan Jones. The Nos. 4 and 5 cornerback roles are likely up for grabs this offseason.

@DougKyed is Arian Foster now the guy Patriots fans on Twitter will NEED to sign and then deem the season a failure if he doesn’t
— @TrenchWFB
Yes.

Now that Foster was spotted in Boston, Patriots fans have all but inducted him into the Patriots Hall of Fame. If he doesn’t sign then run for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, they’ll be gutted.

@DougKyed Do you see yourself reporting another sport?
— @jpac_96
Not unless football goes the way of jousting.

@DougKyed Who do you expect to have a bigger impact on the D-Line this year? Grissom, Flowers or Valentine?
— @TherealFTown
I’ll go with Vincent Valentine, simply because his path to significant snaps in the Patriots’ rotational interior defensive line is the clearest. However, I think Trey Flowers has the highest upside. If there’s an injury at defensive end, I think he could be a dangerous pass rusher. Geneo Grissom could make an impact as an interior pass rusher on third down.

@DougKyed would The Rock make the @Patriots roster as a walk on?
— @JP_Shanahan
Is he allowed to do steroids? If so, then yes. If no, then no.

@DougKyed if the pats were deciding whether or not to relocate, would you rather they stay in the middle of nowhere or move to boston?
— @monacelli_matt
I’d prefer they stay in Foxboro. I’m not looking to deal with Boston traffic every day.

@DougKyed Why is it even a thought that either Collins or Hightower could leave in FA? Haven’t the pats been saving up for them both??
— @monacelli_matt
I think some fans are just panicking because they haven’t been re-signed yet. I think they both will get locked up, but I also think it would be in their best interest to test the open market. NFL free agents are being paid crazy money these days, and the Patriots aren’t likely to put that kind of money before next offseason.

@DougKyed will @AJStylesOrg win the title on Sunday?
— @mikechims
I wish, but no. If he does, Reigns will have it back in the next month.

@DougKyed When Seth Rollins returns, who do you want him to do a feud with: Triple H or Roman Reigns?
— @AirLarsen
I’d like to see him feud with Roman Reigns, setting up a Shield triple threat match at Summerslam or Royal Rumble. I’m really looking forward to Rollins’ return. I’m also really looking forward to Money In The Bank, as long as someone crappy like Sheamus doesn’t win again.

Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images