Patriots Not Projecting Confidence In Potential Offensive Change
The Patriots are tired of being at the bottom, which is why they might make a huge offensive change.
It’s no secret New England has one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. There might be individual pieces and promising signs for the future, but the short-term outlook continues to be bleak.
Mike Onwenu earned himself a hefty contract extension because he’s arguably the best offensive lineman on the team. The coaching staff appeared to take advantage of that when Onwenu practiced Wednesday at left guard.
The 26-year-old hadn’t played the position or on the left side since 2021. But desperate times call for desperate measures.
“Sure, there is a concern on that,” Alex Van Pelt told reporters Thursday on Onwenu moving around so much this season, per Tom Caroll of WEEI. “Continuity would be great, we’re just not — we don’t have that luxury right now.”
Onwenu primarily played on the right side, switching between tackle and guard, in the first nine games of the season. The fifth-year offensive lineman has experience at left guard, but the last time he played the position, he was benched. But Onwenu’s never been one to complain about his status.
“It’s hard to say,” Onwenu told reporters on if he’s switched around too often, per Dakota Randall of Pro Football Network. “We’re making it work.”
Onwenu also admitted he didn’t play up to his standards in the first half of the season — not playing at a consistent spot might have a hand in that. Onwenu and Van Pelt didn’t confirm whether or not there would be a change to the offensive line. Their comments about it show how desperate the Patriots are and how the team is operating in the hope that things will work out.