Eliot Wolf praises Vederian Lowe, defends Patriots’ offensive line performance
FOXBORO — The Patriots don’t seem overly concerned about their offensive line.
Even though the Patriots, three weeks away from their Week 1 game against the Bengals, still have not settled on a starting combination, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf fought back against some narratives about the offensive line.
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Wolf was asked pointedly if rookie QB Drake Maye playing sparingly in the Patriots’ first preseason game, and head coach Jerod Mayo saying the offensive line played a factor in that decision, was an indictment on what the team did over the offseason to address the offensive tackle position when Wolf and Mayo said Chukwuma Okorafor and Caedan Wallace would play left tackle and that Mike Onwenu would be the team’s right tackle.
“Which one of those hasn’t happened?” Wolf responded.
Onwenu exclusively played right guard in training camp and preseason games until Saturday’s practice, and Okorafor, who started out the summer at left tackle, has only played right tackle in preseason games. Wallace is playing with backups as a left and right tackle.
“So, yeah, Okorafor has taken reps on both sides. Onwenu took some reps at right tackle yesterday. I think we’re just trying to find the right combination,” Wolf said. “We feel confident in all of these players, and we’re just working to find the best group, rather than the best five individuals.”
Head coach Jerod Mayo has said throughout training camp that the Patriots are looking for the best five offensive linemen.
The Patriots’ top offensive line for weeks has now been Vederian Lowe at left tackle, Sidy Sow at left guard, David Andrews at center, Onwenu at right guard and Okorafor at right tackle. The Patriots did rotate their offensive line during Saturday’s practice, with rookie Layden Robinson getting snaps at left guard, Onwenu at right tackle and Okorafor at left tackle. Onwenu said after practice it was practicing emergency situations because of injuries on the line.
Wolf, who said he was “excited” about the offensive line group, was asked about current free-agent options at left tackle, including David Bakhtiari, Charles Leno Jr. and Donovan Smith. The Patriots have yet to show interest in any of those players.
“We’re pretty comfortable with our group right now,” Wolf said. “Obviously, we’re going to look to upgrade on the offensive line or at any position, if we feel like we can. But I think we gave up one sack the other night. Again, it was Philly’s twos, but it was an improvement to the practice on Tuesday. So again, we’re just looking to see how these guys respond to adverse situations.”
The Patriots’ offensive line was in shambles during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Eagles. Maye took three sacks on his last four 11-on-11 snaps. The line gave up 11 sacks on 44 dropbacks. The top unit gave up just one sack in Thursday’s preseason game, but as Wolf said. the Eagles benched their starters.
The Patriots could elect to find more depth on waivers after roster cutdowns. The Patriots hold the third waiver wire claim spot, and offensive line and defensive line are two positions that they’re scouting, per a source.
“Our scouting department right now is, all they’re doing is just grinding through the preseason film, watching players, talking to other teams, seeing who might become available,” Wolf said. “Having the third claim spot is a good advantage. And we’ll be aggressive.”
Mayo said after Thursday’s game that there’s a dramatic dropoff between the starting offensive line and the backups. Wolf was asked if he agrees with that assessment and what the Patriots could do to remedy that.
“Again, I think just creating competition. I think our second offensive line, again, they’re moving around a lot,” Wolf said. “There’s a lot of pieces. We had a couple guys out yesterday, so the pieces were moving even more. So again, I just think it’s about developing that consistency, and it’s less about an individual not knowing what to do, but it’s more about having trust in the guy next to you. It just kind of like if you trust the guy next to you, it’s easier for you to do your job.”
The Patriots made two trades at the end of training camp, adding Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. before Week 1. Lowe wound up playing but struggling, while Wheatley didn’t get any run before getting cut this summer.
Wolf still believes Lowe has starting upside.
“Vederian’s done a really nice job. He’s steadily improved,” Wolf said. “We said it last year, like, if he could just learn to — he has really good length to get his hands out, he would have a chance to ascend to that starter level. And he’s really started to do that this year, and it’s been, it’s been impressive to watch him progress. And we’re excited to continue working with him.”