McClain: Texans need to follow Patriots, Rams examples on offensive line
John McClain , Houston Chronicle Jan. 28, 2019 Updated: Jan. 28, 2019 7:45 p.m.
Patriots assistant Dante Scarnecchia, who has 33 years with the team, has put together an outstanding offensive line.
ATLANTA — When the Texans are working to improve their offensive line in the offseason, they can look at New England and the Los Angeles Rams as examples of how it can be done.
The Patriots and Rams play in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday without a starting offensive lineman who was drafted in the first round. They have used free agency and trades to build two of the NFL’s best offensive lines.
It’s no secret what the Texans’ first priority is. They’ll target the line, specifically both tackle positions.
General manager Brian Gaine has a first-round pick, two in the second and one in the third as well as plenty of cap room to address the team’s most pressing need.
There are different ways to build a line, of course.
The Indianapolis Colts, who eliminated the Texans from the playoffs in the wild-card round, went from worst to first in sacks allowed this season. The Colts devoted three first-round draft choices and one-second round pick to their offensive line.
The Patriots and Rams have taken different routes to strengthen lines that have excelled in run blocking as well as pass protection. Both are coached by longtime NFL position coaches who are among the best in the league.
The Patriots’ Dante Scarnecchia is one of the premier offensive line coaches in history. This is his 33rd season with the Patriots. He came out of a two-year retirement in 2016 to coach a line that was undergoing a rebuild. His coaching has helped the Patriots reach a third consecutive Super Bowl.
Scarnechia has done an amazing job. Tom Brady wasn’t sacked in two playoff games. He was knocked down three times. He was sacked 21 times in the regular season.
When coach Bill Belichick allowed left tackle Nate Solder, a former first-round pick, to leave in free agency after the 2017 season, the Patriots traded for San Francisco left tackle Trent Brown. They shipped a third-round selection to the 49ers for Brown and a fifth-round pick.
Belichick also used a first-round pick on offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, who suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. That put a lot of pressure on Brown, who was the 49ers’ seventh-round pick in 2015. He’s done a terrific of replacing Solder, who signed with the New York Giants.
Playing next to Brown is left guard Joe Thuney, drafted in the third round in 2016. The Patriots signed center David Andrews as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Right guard Shaq Mason was a fourth-round pick in 2015. They got right tackle Marcus Cannon in the fifth round in 2011.
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