Shaq Mason – Page 7 – Syndication Server

5 quick-hit takeaways from the Patriots’ first training camp practice

What you should know about the Patriots’ first practice of 2020.

The New England Patriots hosted their first practice on Wednesday to prepare for the 2020 NFL season. Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Patriots — like the rest of the NFL — were forced to skip minicamp and offseason team activities. Instead, the Patriots have conducted the entire offseason online, with virtual meetings.

That means that this session was the team’s first time on the field together as a 2020 unit. That also meant the first look at quarterback Cam Newton along with the rookie class and free agent signings. Because the practice was closed, we were left to glean what we could from a video livestream and from the notes of pool reporters.

Here’s what we noticed in our short window.

1. Brian Hoyer took the first snaps from under center

It went Hoyer, Jarrett Stidham, Newton and Brian Lewerke. That’s, of course, not necessarily how the quarterback battle will look when Week 1 rolls around. But it makes sense in a Patriots sort of way. Hoyer has the most experience in New England’s system, so they consider him the top player at the position. Stidham was on the roster last year as Tom Brady’s understudy, so they clearly value that experience. Newton, meanwhile, is on a one-year prove-it deal. And though he’ll probably win the job, the Patriots are probably reminding him and the media that Newton has a long way to go.

Pages: 1234

The NFL’s 11 best offensive guards

Guards are no longer the anonymous guys who toil away without recognition, and here are the best in the NFL to do it right now.

If you were to ask a number of offensive skill players around the NFL just how important offensive guards are, you may get a selection of different answers. One skill position player who may have a stronger take on that than others is Tom Brady. Brady has been to nine Super Bowls in his estimable career, willing six and losing three. In the two the Patriots lost to the Giants, one player made as much of a difference as any other, and that was New York defensive lineman Justin Tuck. Tuck was able to get past New England’s interior offensive linemen and force Brady to deal with the one thing that drives him nuts — pressure up the middle that prevents him from stepping up in the pocket.

More mobile quarterbacks can benefit from great guards who can get up to the second and third levels, and running backs with top-level guards in front of them are obviously going to have a better go of it. Guards are no longer the anonymous guys who toil away without recognition, and here are the best in the NFL to do it right now.

Honorable Mentions

(Jerry Habraken-Imagn Content Services, LLC)

Brandon Brooks of the Eagles would have been in the top three on this list, and perhaps the second guard overall… because no matter what, nobody was replacing my top guy on the list. Last season, Brooks allowed just one sack and 19 total pressures on 647 pass-blocking snaps, and he was also a top-shelf run-blocker. Sadly. Brooks will miss the entire 2020 season with a torn Achilles’ tendon, which has the Eagles trying to switch Jason Peters from left tackle to guard — an interesting experiment. Also, had Baltimore’s Marshal Yanda not announced his retirement, he would have been in the top half of this list, as well.

Beyond that, there were some tough calls as to who to leave off this list. While Joe Thuney of the Patriots was an easy add. But Shaq Mason, his battery-mate, just missed the cut, as there were a few guys who were slightly better run-blockers in 2019, and Thuney’s pass pro was simply on a different level. Gabe Jackson of the Raiders had some great tape as usual, but was a bit too prone to allowing sacks. The same could be said of former Panthers guard Trai Turner, who’s been one of my favorite interior offensive linemen since he came into the league in 2014. Perhaps a change of scenery (Turner was traded to the Chargers in March in exchange for tackle Russell Okung) will put him back on the right foot. And Larry Warford, who the Saints released in May in a cap-cutting move, should find himself on a roster sooner than later.

Now, onto the top 11.

Pages: 123456789101112

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.

[vertical-gallery id=90756]

David Andrews joked that his relationship with Shaq Mason is “like a marriage”

Shaq Mason and David Andrews are really close.

Football is a sport of brotherhood. Players often talk about how their teammates become friends and a lot of them become family. Few position groups are as close as the offensive line.

In an ideal situation, the same five guys will play nearly every snap of a season together. Naturally, those guys spend a lot of time together. In New England, two of the most important players on that offensive line have been center David Andrews and right guard Shaq Mason.

While Andrews was discussing his team with NBC Sports Boston’s The Camera Guys, he joked about what their relationship is really like, especially with Andrews coming from Georgia and Mason coming from Georgia Tech.

“We had to go to a lot of counseling. So, that’s been tough,” Andrews explained. “I’m a little worried [because] we haven’t been in a while. It’s kind of like a marriage, so we might have to go back.”

The two offensive linemen had their college programs square off four times during their four-year careers spanning from 2011-2014. Andrews’ Bulldogs won three of the four meetings, but Mason’s Yellow Jackets took the final game in their senior year.

They both joined the Patriots in 2015, Mason as a fourth-round pick and Andrews as an undrafted free agent. Together they formed a talented, reliable duo on the interior. However, when Andrews missed all of last season due to blood clots in his lungs, Mason had his arguably his worst season in New England.

With Andrews expected to return this season, some counseling may be in order to get them back on the same page. However, without longtime offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, the task will be a little more difficult.

[vertical-gallery id=86947]

2020 draft confirms it: The Patriots focusing on the run post-Tom-Brady era

The Patriots placed a premium on offensive lineman this weekend as they prepare for a world post-Tom Brady.

When you look at the New England Patriots draft selections, it’s very evident that there was a specific focus on improving blocking on the offensive line and at the tight end position. The focus on the line might also give us a glimpse into the future of the New England Patriots offense.

By not drafting another quarterback to compete with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, and by not drafting any wide receivers, New England looks like it is going to favor the running game for the foreseeable future.

They started their offensive line approach in the fifth round, selecting Michael Onwenu from Michigan. The theme of drafting linemen continued just 13 picks later, as they selected offensive tackle Justin Herron from Wake Forest. Finally, the offensive line theme ended with the selection of Dustin Woodard from Memphis.

When it came to their selections at tight end, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, they are two of the best blockers in their draft class. That may not be saying much, with this year’s class looking lackluster. Still, it was a clear emphasis for New England.

When you take a look at the lineman that are currently on the roster, many of them are seasoned veterans. Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Joe Thuney, and David Andrews are all players that have been through the rigors of the National Football League for a couple of seasons now. Having an experienced line will certainly help whoever is under center in 2020.

Nevertheless, Cannon is about to enter his tenth season. Mason is about to enter his sixth season, while Thuney and Andrews are both about to embark on their fifth seasons. Although they are not old in actual age, they have a lot of miles on them football -wise.

New England still does not know what they’re going to get from Yodny Cajuste. The West Virginia product missed his entire rookie season with a quad injury. However, Doug Kyed reported a little more than a month ago that Cajuste should be ready to go once training camp begins. The bottom line is, the Patriots have a talented group of lineman right now. They are also stockpiling the position for the future.

Their draft strategy of focusing on the line makes sense that given that the Patriots are entering a quarterback situation where they could potentially have to start a second-year player. With that being the case, why not run the ball more? Stidham certainly has talent, and it’s important to note that he is not being undermined here. However, he is certainly going to need to adjust to the starting role. Establishing a solid running game, beginning with the line, is going to be crucial for the organization moving forward.

New England took the first steps toward a more conservative gameplan this weekend. If anything, Patriots fans may see a team like the one that won the Super Bowl in 2001. Running first with an occasional mix of passing the football may be the key ingredient to stabilized success both for the season and the future. It may be different than what some fans are used to, but it could help Stidham gain confidence and adjust to the starting role.

[lawrence-related id=85662]

NFL comparisons for Miami Dolphins guard Solomon Kindley

NFL pros that former Georgia football and now Miami Dolphins guard Solomon Kindley compares to.

The Miami dolphins selected Georgia guard Solomon Kindley with the No. 111 pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Kindley is the third offensive lineman from Georgia taken in this years draft behind Andrew Thomas to the Giants and Isaiah Wilson to the Tennessee Titans.

Kindley (6-foot-3, 327 pounds) brings incredible power and anchoring ability to the Dolphins. Something that Miami fans should be excited about as he will be tasked with protecting Dolphins’ first round pick and Alabama great Tua Tagovailoa in years to come.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote:

“Nasty guard who lives in scrap mode, looking for fights inside a relatively small phone booth where he’s most comfortable.”

Here are a couple of NFL guards that Kindley’s game most resembles:

Shaq Mason (6-1, 310) New England Patriots

Mason is known for using his leverage and strength at the point-of-attack and at 6-foot-1 it is nearly impossible to win the leverage game against him as a defender. Now, Kindley possesses the power, width and strength to move guys like Mason does, but his technique will have to be molded to be a quality NFL starter.

Larry Warford (6-3, 313) New Orleans Saints

Warford is another pro that is one of the nastiest run-blockers in the NFL. Like Kindley and Mason, Warford traps defenders in the run game and once he establishes leverage, defenders are trapped and at his mercy. Warford backs up his power in the run game with steady feet in pass-protection, another thing that Kindley will have to improve on in Miami.