Tag: Dante Scarnecchia

PFF: Despite Dante Scarnecchia’s retirement, Patriots boast top 10 offensive line

New England’s offensive line will be fundamental in the team’s success in 2020.

One of the most underrated, least-spoken of units for the New England Patriots entering 2020 is the offensive line.

The secondary, special teams and running back corps have earned well-deserved praise. New England’s linebacker, tight end and wide receiver groups have drawn criticism based off the lack of depth. The quarterback position has been in a flux after Tom Brady’s departure and these factors have left little talk on the offensive line.

Brady’s absence will leave a heavy emphasis on the defense and running backs to keep the team afloat. The offensive line will be the foundation for everything the Patriots plan on doing this season and they won’t have the league’s greatest quarterback to cover up mistakes. Fortunately, if healthy, the Patriots will carry one of the league’s best groups.

Long-time offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia retired this offseason, leaving skepticism heading into 2020. Cole Popovich and Carmen Bricillo will join up and hold down Scarnecchia’s role the best they can.

Pro Football Focus’ Steve Palazzalo ranked the offensive line groups of all 32 NFL teams and put New England at No. 7.

The Patriots finished 10th in our 2019 rankings, and they should have a unit capable of cracking the top 10 once again. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn has played just 563 snaps after being drafted in the first round in 2018 and graded out at 70.7 overall last year, good for 34th among 89 tackles. Wynn got off to a good start in what was essentially his rookie season and showed he was capable in pass protection with a 75.0 grade. Right tackle Marcus Cannon has graded at 70.0-plus over the past four years, though last season’s 70.1 mark is his lowest during that span. He has developed into one of the more dependable right tackles in the league after turning his career around in 2016 with an 86.6 grade that tied for sixth among all tackles.

On the inside, left guard Joe Thuney has improved his grade in every season since entering the league in 2016. He finished with a 79.2 overall mark in 2019, good for fifth among guards. Thuney graded out at 88.0 as a pass protector, allowing just 17 pressures on 732 attempts after improving his ability to handle power players. Right guard Shaq Mason is one of the better run blockers in the league, capable of collapsing defenders at the line of scrimmage or locating them on the move. Mason’s 86.9 overall grade since 2016 ranks fifth among guards.

At center, David Andrews returns after missing all of 2019 due to injury. Andrews has graded at 67.0 or better in each year as a starter from 2015 to 2018, including a career-high 82.1 mark in 2017. While the starting five has plenty of experience, New England has an intriguing group of first- and second-year players — including tackles Yodny Cajuste and Justin Herron and guards Hjalte Froholdt and Michael Onwenu. That group gives the Patriots excellent depth and flexibility when building for the future.

If Cam Newton earns the starting role, he’ll have one of the best lines in his NFL career. It’ll keep him in the pocket and minimize the amount of times he has to scramble and risk injury. Everything starts with the trenches and the Patriots have a top-notch foundation to work with next season.

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Dante Scarnecchia believes Patriots are in good hands with OL coaches

Replacing Dante Scarnecchia is nearly impossible, but the Patriots should still be in good hands.

Dante Scarnecchia’s impact for the New England Patriots can’t be put into words.

The legendary coach joined the team in 1982 and spent nearly two decades coaching numerous positions, before taking over the offensive line in 1999 and holding that role for most of the following two decades. Scarnecchia, 72, officially retired at the end of the 2019 season and walked away with five Super Bowl championships.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss caught up with him and talked about life after retirement — while discussing the Patriots’ current coaching situation on the offensive line. The Patriots have Cole Popovich and Carmen Bricillo sharing responsibilities for the 2020 season.

“They’re both really good coaches and both really good people. Very, very smart guys,” Scarnecchia said. “I know no one has been named, and there are reasons for that, but clearly those are the two guys that are going to do it, and I think they’ll do an outstanding job. The other thing is they know the players. It’s not like they’re new, coming in from the outside. They’ve both been around there — especially Cole, who has been in the system for five years. Carm for one.”

The Patriots will have a solid unit together if healthy. David Andrews is returning after missing 2019 with blood clots and Isaiah Wynn showed he’s the real deal while on the field. Popovich and Bricillo both spent time with Scarnecchia, giving them a leg up on the difficult roles they’ll have.

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Report: Dante Scarnecchia staying involved at NFL combine, even in retirement

Scar isn’t completely retired.

Former New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia is lending a hand at the 2020 NFL combine in Indianapolis this week. He announced his retirement earlier this offseason, but apparently won’t stray too far from the team. He will help out with scouting, according to NFL Network’s Mike Giardi.

The Patriots haven’t named Scarnecchia’s replacement at the offensive line position. This is his second attempt at retirement, as he left his role in 2013 only to return in 2016. But during that first retirement, he was also helping the Patriots on a limited scouting capacity as a scout, per Giardi.

Giardi also spotted a few other Patriots’ staffers heading to Indianapolis: assistant running backs coach Cole Popovich and coaching assistant Carmen Bricillo.

No doubt, the Patriots will be glad to have help from their veteran offensive lineman.

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What Patriots are saying about Dante Scarnecchia’s retirement

The definition of the Patriot Way

After 34 seasons with the New England Patriots, offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia is calling it quits.

The Patriots will have a tremendous void to fill, but they have time to figure out a replacement. Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady made sure pay respects to man that kept the offense’s foundation strong. New England doesn’t typically carry the most talented offensive line, but Scarnecchia always found a way to make it work.

Kraft released a statement shortly after Scarnecchia announced his retirement.

“Dante Scarnecchia has been unbelievable in every way. As a coach, he was extraordinarily talented at teaching his players and bringing the most out of each of them,” Kraft said. “Dante put everything he had into helping his players achieve their maximum potential — the mark of a great coach. His contributions to our team and to the game of football are unprecedented over the last four decades. Yet even more remarkable is the impact Dante has had on countless players, coaches and staff members who have walked through our doors.

“He modeled the principles he believed in through his hard work, diligence and integrity. He held himself accountable. He trained alongside his players. He treated everyone with respect. There truly is no way to sum up the incredible career he’s had, the positive impact he’s made on our franchise or how much he will be missed. We are forever grateful for Dante and wish him the absolutely best in his next chapter, along with his lovely wife Susan and his family. The New England Patriots are better because of Dante Scarnecchia, and he will always have a home with us.”

Belichick followed up with a thoughtful comment.

“It was a privilege to coach with Dante for so long,” Belichick said. “I knew that long before his initial retirement and throughout a second act of continued excellence. Dante is among the very best assistant coaches ever.”

Brady commented on the Patriots’ Instagram post, showing his respect for the pivotal assistant coach.

Scarnecchia, 71, was the longest-tenured coach in 2019 and he’s spent the most time as a coach in New England’s history. He’ll go down as one of the greatest assistant coaches ever.

The Patriots have lost Scarnecchia, Joe Judge and Bret Bielema from the coaching staff so far this offseason.

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Report: Patriots OL coach Dante Scarnecchia to retire

An absolutely brutal departure for New England.

New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia will retire following the 2019 season, according to multiple reports.

Scarnecchia has already retired once — he missed the 2014 and 2015 seasons during his first stint in retirement. However, this decision may be final. Scarnecchia has been with the Patriots from 1982 to 1988 and 1991 to present (with the exception of those two retired seasons). He is among the most-respected offensive line coaches in the NFL — the Patriots have won five Super Bowls with him serving in that position. He was also the assistant head coach from 2000 to 2013.

“Dante does an excellent job of developing younger players and getting older players and the playing group to play cohesively, and with good communication, and trust and accountability for each other,” Belichick said this season. “He’s an excellent game-planning coach, and an excellent in-game coach in terms of making adjustments and recognizing what the problems are and fixing them. Very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach with him for, going all the way back to ’96, for so many years.”

The Patriots have a few candidates to replace Scar, with the most obvious being Carmen Bricillo, who worked closely with Scar this season on the offensive line. Bricillo was in his first season with the Patriots after spending nine years coaching the offensive line at Youngstown State.

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