New England Patriots: Analyzing the offensive line for 2018

The 2018 preseason is upon us, the New England Patriots wrapped up their training camp with many positive takeaways. However, the roster still has question marks in terms of how the reshaped offensive line will perform.

Every successful NFL offense must have an excellent offensive line to protect their quarterback. Often the unsung heroes of football teams, the offensive line is indispensable to the success of a team.

The New England Patriots have a mix of young talented linemen protecting Tom Brady. However, the loss of Nate Solder will leave a noticeable gap of experience, veteran leadership and most of all; a battle tested left tackle.

Protecting Brady’s blindside is imperative to the success of the offense and Brady’s long term health. Quarterbacks that are not protected or given time to operate inside the pocket usually suffer numerous injuries during the grind of an NFL season.

The latter is not what the Patriots envision for their 41-year-old quarterback playing in his 19th season.

Here we take a look at the starting five linemen, some of their reserves and what strengths and weaknesses they possess: