Patriots could have major issues along offensive line in 2020

The New England Patriots’ offensive line — a source of frustration for the team in 2019 — might have even bigger problems in 2020.

It’s hard to fault anyone for retiring from work at 72 years of age. That’s how old Dante Scarnecchia, the former offensive line coach of the New England Patriots, is today.

He announced his retirement from the NFL for the second time after the conclusion of the 2019 season, and he now walks away from the game after more than 34 years of service to this franchise — and almost 50 years of coaching at the collegiate and pro levels in general.

Granted, “walks away” might not be the best term to use when it comes to Coach Scar. The legendary instructor was spotted on the plane from Boston to Indianapolis along with the rest of New England’s combine contingent. Even after “retiring,” Scarnecchia is continuing to help Bill Belichick and the Patriots from a talent scouting position, it would appear.

But if indeed his retirement sticks this time — and there’s no reason to be believe it wouldn’t — he won’t be out there during training camp, the preseason, and throughout the regular season and beyond, working with the Patriots’ O-linemen like he has for decades now in the past. That role and responsibility will fall to someone else, and that’s just the way it’s going to have to be.

If you’re a Pats fan, this is definitely a noteworthy development from a staffing and personnel standpoint.

Yes, it was a real coup de grace for New England to somehow retain offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and director of player personnel Nick Caserio this offseason, considering both were widely expected to move up the totem pole with other franchises this spring.

It will be even more impressive if the Patriots can find a way to keep Tom Brady around for another year or two, potentially ensuring he retires with the only team he’s ever known in the NFL.

But make no mistake, the loss of Scarnecchia should have a major impact on the Patriots’ fortunes in 2020 — and not in any kind of good way.

Even if he and Belichick have gone to great lengths to ensure a proper succession plan is in place (and they surely have), there’s no denying the sheer absence of Scar from the sidelines is going to have an effect on his former players.

What’s more, any new players who the team decides to draft — perhaps on the explicit recommendation of Scarnecchia even — won’t have the luxury of getting trained up on a day-to-day basis by Coach Scar while making the transition from college to the pros.

Some of the team’s vets, like David Andrews, Shaq Mason, and Marcus Cannon, will undoubtedly do their best to carry on Scarnecchia’s legacy by guiding and helping the new additions, but it won’t be the same as having Scar there himself every day.

As a result, it’s certainly not just a pessimistic belief fueling the notion that the Patriots offensive line might take a step back in 2020.

Similarly frightening, a couple of the team’s very best offensive linemen increasingly look unlikely to return to the fold this summer. Joe Thuney is expected to re-set the market for guards in free agency, and backup center Ted Karras — who played the majority of the 2019 season as New England’s starting center — is also probably getting a big deal to sign elsewhere this spring as well.

If both Thuney and Karras leave, that will force the Patriots to reshuffle their starting O-line configuration in 2020.

David Andrews hopefully will be ready and cleared to return to action for this season, as he missed last season with blood clots in his lungs. His return could help offset the loss of Karras at the least.

Thuney, on the other hand, is a more difficult player to replace. The veteran out of NC State has had the left guard position locked down for four years now in New England. His backups last season, Jermaine Eluemunor and Najee Toran, leave a whole lot to be desired where pedigree and proven ability is concerned.

There are other issues looming at the other positions on the line, too.

Isaiah Wynn has shown promise throughout his football-playing career, and the expectations are still high around New England that he could be the Patriots’ longterm answer at left tackle. That said, Wynn has also battled a litany of injuries since arriving via the draft two seasons ago. He’s no guarantee to make it through a full season at this point.

On the right end of the line, guard Shaq Mason and tackle Marcus Cannon represent one of the better tandems in the league. Both are relatively healthy players when you look at the bulk of their playing careers, though both did occasionally show up on the injury report for various reasons in 2019 (only Cannon missed any real amount of time).

A quick look at the depth chart behind all these players though is illustrates the real cause for concern in 2020.

Marshall Newhouse, who played stretches of the season last year at left tackle, was a human turnstile and lightning rod for criticism from Pats fans. Korey Cunningham was acquired via trade during the summer and then spent the entire season on Belichick’s healthy scratch list. Hjalte Froholdt and Yodny Cajuste were both taken via last season’s draft, and yet neither one saw any action because of injuries.

That leaves only James Ferentz, the former undrafted free agent out of Iowa. Ferentz is actually a solid option who’s seen playing time with the Pats over the past couple seasons when either Andrews or Karras went down at center. He’s really the only backup on New England’s current chart for linemen with any kind of starting experience and proven know-how.

All in all, the offensive line is certainly an area that bears careful observation this offseason. Watch what the team decides to do in free agency, the 2020 NFL Draft, and throughout the summer before the regular season rolls back around.

Hopefully, enough positive developments occur that some of these rational fears and concerns around the O-line’s fortunes this year can get put to bed. Otherwise, whoever ends up playing quarterback for the Patriots in 2020 — plus the entire run game — could have major issues gaining traction this season.