It appears the Patriots lastly discovered an offensive line mixture able to retaining Mac Jones upright and permitting him time to make performs.
It took shifting Mike Onwenu from his pure place of proper guard over to sort out in Sunday’s win over the Bills, and head coach Bill Belichick supplied extra element on the choice Monday morning.
“There were a number of things involved but had a good conversation with Mike after the Raider game and ultimately I think everyone thought that was the best thing for us to do at this time,” Belichick mentioned. “Went with it, had a good week. I thought he did a good job for us.”
The Patriots have had one thing of a revolving door at proper sort out because the spring. Free-agent addition Riley Reiff was the primary choice to play at proper sort out, however he moved to protect through the spring earlier than a knee damage landed him on injured reserve earlier than the season. He performed one sport in Week 5 earlier than being positioned again on injured reserve.
Conor McDermott was subsequent in line for proper sort out snaps, however he additionally suffered an damage through the summer season. He was launched with an damage settlement however is again with the crew on the observe squad now. Rookie Sidy Sow then acquired snaps at proper sort out this summer season, however he’s been moved again to his faculty place of guard, the place he began at Onwenu’s previous put up on the correct aspect Sunday. The Patriots started the season with Calvin Anderson at proper sort out, however he was benched after two video games. Then Vederian Lowe, who was acquired by way of commerce earlier than the season, began the subsequent 4 video games at proper sort out however struggled.
Prior to Sunday’s win over the Bills, Onwenu had solely performed proper guard for the Patriots this season. He had beforehand thrived at proper sort out however hadn’t lined up on the place in a daily season sport since 2021, when he performed left guard, proper guard and proper sort out. He additionally performed all three positions as a rookie in 2020.
“Smart kid that understands all the different positions on the offensive line,” Belichick mentioned Monday. “Pretty good fundamental player and obviously has good strength.”
Now the most important query is whether or not Onwenu will begin at proper sort out or if the crew will transfer him again to proper guard and have McDermott play proper sort out.
The Patriots’ offensive line held up higher in Sunday’s sport than they’d all season, so it appears price sticking with Trent Brown at left sort out, Cole Strange at left guard, David Andrews at heart, Sow at proper guard and Onwenu at proper sort out.
Strange, who seems to have bulked up whereas recovering from a knee damage, returned and performed effectively Sunday.
Source: www.bostonherald.com