The Patriots are rotating their O line this year in a way that has been called a stroke of genius. Could this be something Grimes could do? Maybe not this year in the middle of the season but next year Bill Belichick made a simple change to his offensive line that could revolutionize the NFL The New England Patriots' offense is off to a ferocious start. New England has scored 119 points through the first three games of the season, second in the NFL and the most points through three games in Patriots history. But beyond Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Julian Edelman — not to mention Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels at the helm — there is a less obvious reason to explain New England's fast start: the fact they are revolutionizing their offensive line. The Boston Herald took a deep dive on the frequency with which New England has been rotating its offensive line, and it's unlike anything else you'll find in football. Through their first 30 offensive possessions this year, the Patriots have rolled out nine offensive-line combinations (not including kneels to end halves), and they deployed a 10th unique combination on goal-line packages against the Jaguars that resulted in three LeGarrette Blount rushing touchdowns. Against the Steelers in Week 1, they didn't begin consecutive possessions with the same offensive-line combination until the sixth and seventh possessions. Most of these rotations have come at the guard position. Three linemen have taken a lot of snaps on both sides of the line, which — again — is quite unlike what other teams do. Josh Kline has played 10 series at left guard and 14 at right; Shaq Mason has played 20 at left guard; and Tre' Jackson has played 16 at right guard. Only David Andrew, the team's center, has played all snaps. Here's the combination on the goal line against the Jaguars: the Herald noted, this rotation is inevitably causing opposing defenses to prepare not just for different packages, but also for different combinations of linemen within one individual package and within different packages. Dave DeGuglielmo, New England's offensive-line coach, told the Herald there were specific strategic reasons to explain the frequency of these rotations — though don't expect him to elaborate. "It's not done just randomly," DeGuglielmo said. "There's a specific reason why we rotate guys when we do, where we rotate them. There’s a rhyme and reason to everything." Because it's Belichick and the Patriots we're talking about, this is probably true. But the rotations can also be explained by two more practical reasons: youth and injuries. Both Jackson and Mason are rookies, so rotating them out allows for them to receive more in-game coaching than if they were expected to play entire games in front of Brady. It also puts less pressure on them to maintain a high level of play all game long. The same holds true for Kline, who is in just his third season and saw limited time in his first two. Both Bryan Stork and Ryan Wendell, mainstays on the Patriots' line, have missed time this season with injuries, which can also explain why more linemen are seeing more time. As the Herald notes, it's not implausible that Belichick is simply extending the tryout period into the regular season because of the youth at the position, and once the best combination of the offensive line becomes clear, he'll stick with it. But again, this is Belichick we're talking about, so it's not crazy to think we'll soon see teams copying this rotation strategy. This could mean that the offensive line will eventually be treated a lot more like the defensive line: Certain offensive linemen with specific skill sets will be brought in exclusively for rushing plays, or goal-line plays, and so forth, just as certain defensive linemen are used for pass-rushing or crowding the box. If what the Patriots are doing holds on, the whole position could be changed. Or, Belichick will make up his mind on his players and stop the rotations all together. Either, or.
He is the first to rotate them in his own specific schematic. There is a rhyme and a reason for every move and Belichick ain't saying what it is.
Rotating them just to build up depth and keep starers fresh is good enough sense. If he can use that for tactical advantage as well, then its great.
It's because he is playing to their strengths. For instance. If say Pocic is the best pulling lineman for a sweep right, Pocic lines up at left guard and pulls. Then Pocic lines up at center normally. What he is doing is subbing his line by play, and it is quite smart. Someone will eventually call it cheating in the NFL though.
You mean like putting in your best run blockers in running situations and your best pass blockers in for passing situations? How is this new?
No, doing that but at the same time shifting them around. Different combinations in different formations, most teams will sub guys in and out, but not change them on virtually every play.
So you move a player out of his normal position to perform a particular pass on a particular play. You mean like when LSU put Derrius Guice in the backfield in the first game, and all the minions immediately screamed "We all know he's in there to run the screen pass! Miles is telegraphing his plays! What an idiot!"
Belichick makes a move. Places an aura of mystery around it and refuses to reveal his "secret recipe" and the hoards cry "Hail the genius".
You don't think it's a tad bit different when you are doing this with skill players as opposed to linemen? Eventually defensive coordinators in the NFL are going to figure out the patterns, and Belichick will have to ditch it, but it's pretty smart until that time comes.
