FOXBORO — The Patriots poured resources into improving their offensive line this offseason, and through two weeks, their work has paid off.
In Pro Football Focus’ pass-blocking efficiency metric, which “measures pressure allowed on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks allowed”, the Patriots rank seventh through two weeks. The line has allowed just one sack, five QB hits and 14 hurries for 20 total pressures to the Raiders and Dolphins. They also showed dramatic improvement in Week 2. After one week, the Patriots ranked 22nd in pass-blocking efficiency. They were tied for first in Week 2.
“Obviously, very, very happy about what happened Week 2,” rookie left guard Jared Wilson said Thursday. “Just keep building on it. Don’t dwell on it. Got a new challenge this week with Pittsburgh, so it’s gonna be fun and exciting. Just keep getting better.”
The Patriots’ 2024 offensive line, which primarily aligned Vederian Lowe at left tackle, Michael Jordan at left guard, Ben Brown at center, Mike Onwenu at right guard and Demontrey Jacobs at right tackle, and also saw a heavy dose of Layden Robinson, ranked 31st in pass-blocking efficiency, allowing 33 sacks, 37 QB hits and 152 hurries for 222 pressures.
They were nearly as bad in 2023, so it was clear something needed to be done to address the positional group.
So, the Patriots’ personnel department, led by head coach Mike Vrabel, executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden, selected left tackle Will Campbell fourth overall and Wilson in the third round of the NFL Draft, signed right tackle Morgan Moses in free agency and center Garrett Bradbury after he was released by the Vikings to join Onwenu on the starting offensive line.
There were some bumpy moments throughout the summer that crept up into Week 2, but offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has seen steady improvement from his two rookies, Campbell and Wilson.
“I think they learn every day,” McDaniels said. “Honestly, we just got done learning on the field in a walkthrough. I think we just continue the same process. I think we’re focused on the process more than the results, and those guys are really working hard to improve and get better every day and every week. So, we either do something well and we’re happy about it, or we don’t do it exactly the way we wanted, and then those guys gain experience and learn from it.
“So, as long as you have the right mindset, I think you have a great opportunity to get better. And I’d say all of the young players, when they make a mistake, they have a great approach, and they should be commended for the way they’re working, because they really care about doing things the right way and helping their teammates win. So, put those two guys at the top of the list.”
Campbell’s approach to correcting mistakes is to get in the facility, identify what needs to be corrected and to work on them.
Wilson has a similar approach.
“Coming in the film room, being coachable, I think, is the most important thing,” Wilson said. “You got two ears and one mouth for a reason. So listen more than you talk, and take in all the information, be a sponge and just get better.”
Campbell and Wilson certainly showed growth in Week 2. Campbell allowed one sack and four total pressures in Week 1 and had a clean slate in Week 2. Wilson allowed two QB hits and four hurries in Week 1 and also didn’t allow any pressures in Week 2.
Campbell was more happy about the Patriots’ victory than the performance of the offensive line in Week 2.
“Just glad we won the game,” Campbell said. “That’s all I really care about is winning the game.”
The group has three offensive line coaches in Doug Marrone and assistants Robert Kugler and Jason Houghtaling. Marrone said Thursday that he’s focusing on small daily improvements from Campbell, Wilson and the rest of the line and to focus on things that need to be corrected quickly.
The line faces another challenge this week with T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward and the rest of the Steelers’ front seven coming to Foxboro.
