New England Patriots: Is Fantastic Offensive Line More Important Than Tom Brady?

For years, the debate over where the true genius resides in New England has raged back and forth.

Is Bill Belichick the brains of the operation, or does Tom Brady and his clutch playmaking ability make the coaching staff look better than they really are?

I've never really understood why the answer can't be somewhere in between—surely both men are great, in part due to each other's brilliance?

In 2007, Brady proved beyond all doubt that he belongs in the conversation with the great quarterbacks in NFL history, and his three Super Bowl rings and two league MVP crowns underline the point.

Belichick won those rings, too, and his work with the Patriots without Brady in 2008 ranks among his most impressive coaching achievements.

One man often overlooked in the "great" debate is Dante Scarnecchia. Now in his 23rd year as a Patriots coach, he has been instrumental in developing one of the best offensive lines over the past decade, keeping Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady upright long enough and often enough to showcase their talents.

Therefore, I want to pose a slightly different question—is the offensive line more important than Brady? Would he have made four trips to the Super Bowl without them?

Let's take a closer look at the argument from both sides.

The Line Gives Brady His Stage to Perform

There are times when Tom Brady drops back in the pocket, scans the field, reads a newspaper, checks his stocks, calls his wife and completes to the open receiver.

At least, it can feel like that. At numerous points in any given season, you will see Brady cashing in on an embarrassment of space and time provided by his linemen. 

Offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, or "Scar" to his colleagues, is one of the most underrated coaches in the NFL.

His methods don't suit everybody's tastes, but there can be no denying the results. 

For a team that airs it out as often as the Patriots do, it is remarkable that they allow fewer sacks per season than most of the league year in, year out.

Thanks to Scarnecchia, Brady is protected by a tough and versatile line. The starters play with a snarl.

Logan Mankins is a friendly, unassuming character off the field, but when he crosses the white lines, he transforms. There is no nastier lineman in the NFL.

Giving Brady as much time as he needs produces devastating results—witness the record-breaking antics of the deep ball to Randy Moss throughout 2007.

Even in 2006, the Patriots reached the AFC Championship game with the least-talented receiving corps of the Belichick era (Troy Brown, Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney), and without the pocket protection Brady received, reaching the playoffs at all would have been a pipe dream.

This group will let you pound the rock, too—just ask Stevan Ridley.

The running lanes they opened up for him in Oakland in Week 4 this year were as big as anything he saw in his days as an LSU Tiger, making his transition to the pro ranks a simple one.

A healthy rushing game keeps your quarterback fresh, introduces play-action passing and gives your offense balance.

Brady has played with luxury protection almost his whole career—the results speak for themselves.

Brady Makes His Line Look Even Better

As great as Brady's protection has been throughout his career in New England, his own ability to avoid pressure has long been one of his strengths.

That's not to say he's an athlete, though—watching him run in the open field hardly reminds you of Steve Young in his prime. 

What impresses with Brady is his intelligence in recognizing blitz schemes, re-setting his line protection, calling audibles to check out of tough matchups and releasing the ball quickly when needed.

Much like Peyton Manning, Brady will slide in a phone booth-sized zone in the pocket to avoid the oncoming rush, buying himself more time to find the open receiver.

When Bernard Pollard's tackle ended Brady's season minutes into the 2008 campaign, the contrast at quarterback was stark. Matt Cassel ended up going 11-5 with that Patriots team, but you would never have described him as an assured pocket-passer.

With Cassel's habit of clinging onto the ball too long, he took 47 sacks through the season, six more than in Brady's first year under center in 2001, and 15 more than in any season since.

In short, Brady's experience and ability mean that more plays end in the hands of his receivers, making the line look even better than they already are.

The Patriots Are a Production Line for Talent

Nearly all teams invest heavily in pass-protection.

With so much money tied up at the quarterback position, taking out a top insurance policy is non-negotiable.

What separates the Patriots from the crowd, though, is their ability to succession-plan better than their rivals.

They have raised plenty of eyebrows over the past decade—the selections of first-rounder Logan Mankins in 2005 and second-rounder Sebastian Vollmer in 2009 spring to mind.

Like Matt Light and Dan Koppen before them, though, they quickly became key contributors in positions of uncertainty, replacing Joe Andruzzi and Nick Kaczur respectively, ensuring the line never missed a beat.

Brian Waters, a free-agent pickup in September, has slotted in seamlessly, playing to an All-Pro level at right guard. The retirement of Stephen Neal was meant to be more of a concern than this.

Waters is 34, and will provide a guiding hand for understudy Marcus Cannon, who is nearing a return to practice after recovering from chemotherapy treatment. 

With Light entering the twilight of his career, the first-round selection of Nate Solder in this year's draft keeps the wheel turning. He has played in relief of the injured Vollmer at right tackle already, shutting out Cameron Wake on his debut and controlling the running game. 

The consistency of selection along the line in the Belichick era is testament to the Patriots' ability to identify and develop talent. Nobody does it better than Scarnecchia.

Tom Brady Thinks So

Still don't believe the line is pivotal to Brady's success? Let the man himself tell you so.

Speaking on WEEI this preseason, Brady's confidence in his protection remains as strong as ever:

"

"Yeah, I have no question about it, that the offensive line, those guys, I've played behind those guys for a long time and nobody has more confidence in those guys than me. Matt Light, him being on my left side, and Logan and Kope, and Connolly and Seabass, those guys have been great players for us.

Standing back there in the pocket holding the football I have so much confidence in those guys and what they’re able to do, the way they work together, the way they communicate, their mental toughness…they’re a bunch of tough guys and they take a lot of pride in what they do, so there’s nobody more confident than me in that group."

"

The history of the NFL is littered with gun-shy quarterbacks who lost all faith in their line's ability to protect. David Carr's career never stood a chance after the continued beating he sustained in Houston. Jay Cutler may never be the same again after exposure to Mike Martz's system in Chicago.

Tom Brady rarely has to take his eyes off his downfield target.

An upright quarterback is a grateful quarterback, and they usually repay you with consistent production.

Great Lineman Are Everywhere, Great Quarterbacks Are Rare

The most important question in the entire debate remains: Who is more irreplaceable?

Brady wins this one hands down. How do you replace one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history?

Nate Solder will replace Matt Light at left tackle over the next couple of seasons, and the team's Super Bowl chances will remain the same.

If Ryan Mallet or Brian Hoyer has to play at any point in that period, you can kiss the Lombardi trophy goodbye for a lot longer than that.

Ask the Miami Dolphins how life has been after Dan Marino. You might want to ask a Colts fan the same question soon.

Aaron Rodgers may end up in the Hall of Fame one day, and the Packers handled the Brett Favre circus as well as can be expected. Ditto for the 49ers when Joe Montana's days were numbered.

But very few teams ever manage the transition from elite veteran quarterback to young hopeful without a drop-off in production.

In conclusion, a great offensive line provides a platform for success. But without a great quarterback, a franchise will never prosper. Brady, Rodgers, Manning, Brees. These are the difference-makers in the game. Protect them at all costs.