6 things we’ve learned about the Patriots so far in the legal tampering period
By Rhys Knott
3. They’re going to line up in 12 personnel a lot
Austin Hooper is a better tight end than Mike Gesicki. But Gesicki is really just a tall pass catcher; it’s insane that he doesn’t just line up in the slot. Hooper can block, and alongside Hunter Henry, he should form the basis of an offense that lines up to run and occasionally passes. So that’ll be entertaining. Actually, it won’t.
4. Mike Onwenu is going to play at guard
One of the problems with the Patriots' offensive line in 2023 was that they had two guys over 350 lbs trying to defend on the edge against dynamic pass rushers. Another issue was that Bill O’Brien felt that calling screen passes repeatedly (and again and again) would help his quarterbacks.
But screen passes require blockers to get out in front of the pass catcher, with one tackle weighing 350 lbs and another 370 lbs.
They couldn’t consistently leak out to the next level and block linebackers or safeties, so screen passes rarely worked. That didn’t stop old Billy Boy from calling them, though.
The best tackles in the league, like Lane Johnson and Terron Armstead, weigh under 330 lbs. New Patriots tackle Chukwuma Okorafor weighs 320 lbs. Hopefully, Onwenu will settle into the interior of the offensive line, and they’ll draft another more mobile right tackle.