Tackle Cannon takes steps forward
FOXBORO — One of the noticeable improvements for the Patriots has been the play of Marcus Cannon. After seeing time at both tackle spots and at guard a year ago, Cannon has locked down the right tackle position in place of the injured Sebastian Vollmer.
Cannon has started seven of the eight games this season, missing the Cleveland contest with a calf injury, and in Sunday’s 41-25 win in Buffalo, he did not allow a sack, hurry or hit on quarterback Tom Brady while contending with linebacker Jerry Hughes, a college teammate at TCU.
On the Pats’ opening drive, Cannon forced Hughes wide, which gave Brady room to step to his right for a touchdown pass to Danny Amendola.
This season has been much better for Cannon and the rest of an offensive line that struggled mightily in the AFC Championship Game loss in Denver. Brady spent much of that game under duress, and Cannon was flagged for a critical false start late in the fourth quarter inside the Broncos 10-yard line on thirdand-short on a potential game-tying drive.
Yesterday, offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia detailed the adjustments the staff asked the six-year veteran to make.
“He’s a big man that moves very well. He uses his hands much better in pass protection,” Scarnecchia said. “He can be a real force in the run game, so I’m pleased with where he is. Neither one of us is satisfied, so we just keep moving forward.”
Those who also man the offensive line noticed the improvement.
“That guy has been working incredibly hard since April. It’s a long process, and probably before that honestly,” left tackle Nate Solder said. “I think he’s gotten in great shape, he’s really focused on his assignments, he’s really focused on his techniques, and he’s got a great coach to help him with those techniques and to improve and look at each film and take things that he needs to improve, and I think he’s done that. He’s worked at it every week, and I think that’s kind of been his attitude.”
Getting his arms out in front of him is one of the big things the Pats are trying to get the 6-foot-5, 335-pounder to focus on.
“He hasn’t used his length. His arms are really long, but he doesn’t use them like a guy that has long arms needs to use them,” Scarnecchia said. “The more you keep the defenders out and away from you instead of letting them get in here into your body and grab things, the better off you are going to be at tackle. He has seemed to grasp that very well and embrace it, and if he’ll just continue to play that way, he’ll be fine, and he has been fine.”