The unsung Week 1 hero for the New England Patriots
As the Patriots look towards their week two matchup with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday night football, there is someone who should be dubbed a hero for week one. Yes, the Patriots did lose to the Philadelphia Eagles, but, the offense was already in trouble on paper before the game even happened.
When the injury report came out, there were two very notable names, Cole Strange and Mike Onwenu. With both starting guards being out, rookies Atonio Mafi and Sidy Sow had to step up. Considering throughout the preseason the offensive line struggled, it was expected that the same would happen against one of the best projected pass rushes for the 2023 season.
The offensive line surprised everyone. With the leadership of David Andrews, the offensive line held their own for the most part. There were plays where Mac Jones was having to escape the pocket, but, he didn't get sacked until the fourth quarter. Even with David Andrews leading the way for the offensive line, there's someone else who deserves praise for how the offensive line played on Sunday.
Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm really is the hero for the Patriots in week one. Not Mac Jones or Kendrick Bourne or the defense as a whole. Klemm had everyone ready, even Mafi and Sow. If it weren't for the coaching of Klemm, the offensive line would've been dismantled by the likes of Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Fletcher Cox.
Mac Jones was only sacked twice, both during the fourth quarter. The pass blocking was far superior than the run blocking. In a game where it looked like it was going to end early, Mac Jones was able to keep the game afloat because of how the offensive line protected him.
Now, there is one area the Patriots offensive line needs to improve on, run blocking. The Patriots only averaged 3.5 yards per carry. That will need to improve throughout the season. Considering how the game could have gone, the debut of Adrian Klemm as the Patriots offensive line coach went better than expected. The offensive line gets a grade of B- because of how Klemm prepared them and made adjustments throughout Sunday's game.