New England Patriots: Six Stars from Week 2 vs. Bills

Interior Offensive Line

Aug 13, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots center Shaq Mason (69) and teammates warm up before the start of the game against the Green Bay Packers in a preseason NFL football game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

For the second straight week, the Patriots have had impressive play on their offensive line. Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer are rock solid on the outside, but the Patriots’ interior offensive line has been a major question mark.

Well, I think it is time to consider those questions to be answered. For the second straight week, the Patriots were without star center Bryan Stork and veteran guard Ryan Wendell. For the second straight week, their young interior offensive line replacements were impressive.

Center David Andrews is an un-drafted rookie who looks like a 10-year veteran out there. He easily makes the offensive line calls, and has not been an issue in pass protection or in the run game. Andrews’ impressive play early on has been a huge reason for the Patriots’ offensive success.

The Patriots’ young guard have been equally as impressive. Rookies Tre Jackson and Shaq Mason have quickly acclimated to the NFL game, and look like future stars at the guard position. Their rotation with last year’s whipping boy Josh Kline has been incredibly impressive through two games, and Brady and the Patriots’ offense have been major beneficiaries to that.

Against, the Bills’ defensive line that is widely considered to be the best in the entire NFL, the Patriots offensive line led an impressive rushing attack and was able to keep Brady mostly clean. Brady attempted 59 passes in the game, was sacked only twice (only one of those sacks was credited to the offensive lineman) and was hit only five times.

Brady had a clean pocket to work with all afternoon in an impressive showing for the Patriots’ offensive line against an incredible pass rush.

Next: The GOAT