Last year the Patriots rush offense was ranked sixth overall. We’ll find out of if that rank is accurate.
New England had their way on the ground against the likes of Kansas City (30th-ranked run defense) Denver (27th), Oakland (31st), Buffalo (22nd), San Francisco (13th), Indianapolis (24th), and Arizona (16th).
The Pats had a much harder time getting through the New York Jets (7th), Pittsburgh (2nd), Miami (10th), and San Diego (11th).
Notice a pattern?
The starting offensive line of LT Matt Light, LG Logan Mankins, C Dan Koppen, RG Stephen Neal and RT Nick Kaczur have been together long enough to develop the continuity needed to become cohesive. And if Pro Bowl selections mean anything (Light 2006 and 2007, Mankins in 2007), then there are quality players on the line.
Behind the five are a group of ball carriers that proved to be productive in the past. If the Pats truly are as good as their ranking, they should be able to enforce their will against any defense.
Thursday’s exhibition opener was a test for the line and ball carriers. Philadelphia had the league’s 4th-ranked rush defense in ’08 but were playing without MLB Stewart Bradley, who is out for the season with an ACL tear, and are going through a change to newly appointed defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, replacing Jim Johnson who lost his battle with cancer.
The first unit played the first half. Taking away the yards gained or lost by either quarterback, Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk combined for 23 yards on seven carries, slightly better than three yards a pop.
There probably was a focus to get the passing game in sync with QB Tom Brady playing his first game since September as well as taking the first step towards restoring his confidence in his reconstructed knee. Throwing the ball plays to the Patriots’ strength, but they have to run the ball to keep defenses honest.
What the offense showed in the first half won’t cut it when the games are real.
The Pats had an easy schedule last year. It was easy enough that analysts predicted another 16-0 regular season. And even with Matt Cassell playing the season in place of Brady, New England convincingly finished 11-5 and just out of the playoffs.
The run game had a lot to do with it, as it kept the pressure off of Cassell, a starter for the first time since his senior year in high school. While Brady isn’t new to starting, having an effective rush attack will go a long way towards opening up passing lanes for Brady.
The O-line and backs will have their work cut out for them in ‘09. Besides the Dolphins and Jets, they have to bully Baltimore (4th), Tennessee (6th), and Jacksonville (13th). If the Pats can run effectively against the top defenses, then we know New England’s 6th ranking is authentic.
One thing we know for sure is if the starting five isn’t getting the job done, Bill Belichick will find someone who can. Three offensive linemen were drafted and very quickly Sebastian Vollmer is getting a lot of time playing left and right tackle. And Kaczur can’t feel comfortable with the huge Ryan O’Callahan ready to throw his weight around.
Next up in the preseason is Cincinnati, historically a bad defensive team, but they took action in free agency and the draft to fortify the front seven. But how well the Patriots run against Washington (8th) and the New York Giants (9th) might better indicate exactly how the run game will fare against the tougher defenses.
In the second meeting with the Dolphins, the Patriots plowed their way to 122 rush yards. Makes one believe the Pats have the ability to run on anyone, but New England has to do it on the field.
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