Patriots’ offensive line prepares for Aaron Donald and Rams’ defensive threats
By Sydney Kohne
ATLANTA–Allowing only one or two sacks in a few games is pretty impressive. But allowing zero sacks in ninety plays is a marvel. The Patriots’ offensive line has done just that–protected quarterback Tom Brady diligently throughout the playoffs and earned their place in the 2019 Super Bowl.
For the Patriots’ O-line, this Super Bowl is centered around two important plans: keep the Rams’ defensive tackle Aaron Donald out and keep the Pats’ quarterback Tom Brady safe. The dangerous combo that is Donald and his teammates Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers will not be easy to subdue for opposing threesome of center David Andrews and guards Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason.
Andrews knows the threat of Donald is nothing to ignore.
“Aaron Donald is the best defensive player in football right now, so I don’t know how much better he can get than that, and on top of that you have Suh and Brockers on the inside” he said. “What he’s done this year has been unbelievable but you have to rely on your technique and the scheme, and go out there and compete.”
For Georgia alum Andrews, this year’s Super Bowl will be his third in a row with the Patriots and offensive coordinator Dante Scarnecchia. His respect for “Scar” translates to his words and to his face when he talks about him, calling him “one of the hardest working men I’ve ever met”.
Guard Joe Thuney has an equally, if not more impressive record concerning Super Bowl familiarity with New England. Thuney will be the first player in the NFL to start three Super Bowls in his first three seasons since being drafted in 2016. His experience has given him a wise outlook on what the big game really is.
“At the end of the day it’s a sixty-minute football game,” he said. “The intensity’s gonna be up and it’s gonna be a battle. It’ll be a tough game but we’re looking forward to it.”
As far as Aaron Donald is concerned, Thuney will have most of the responsibility to keep the explosive young player away from Brady and keep him in check for those sixty minutes. He reiterated Andrews’ praise of Donald’s skill.
“He’s seen teams try to stop him and he still puts up huge numbers. It just speaks to his skill set, he is a combination of speed and strength and he plays really hard so it’s gonna be a challenge,” Thuney said.
Bill Belichick and Scarnecchia are preparing for the Rams’ defensive threat and keeping in mind Donald’s impressive 20.5 sacks in the regular season. Belichick is aware of the Rams’ D-line switching things up mid-game and their defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ tough rush packages.
“They move those players around a little bit and also have some blitz packages that affect your protection,” he said. “[Phillips] does a good job with his rush pack and finding matchups that create problems for the offense based on the protection. It’ll take good teamwork across the board; it’ll be a battle.”
Sydney Kohne 
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