New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels views the competition to replace right guard Mike Onwenu as being an important test of the team's offensive line depth, with the next matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars being right around the corner.
According to the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, McDaniels stated before practice on Thursday that the staff values having several candidates, including Greg Van Roten, Ben Brown and Walter Rouse, as capable of entering the lineup in place of Onwenu.
“I love the fact that you have multiple guys that are competing for the opportunity to get in there and perform,” McDaniels said. “That’s what you want on your football team whenever something happens and you have to have the next man step up.”
Van Roten offers experience at guard, having started in 105 of the 146 career games that he’s played to date, while Brown is trusted by the team as one of its top backup interior offensive linemen. And Rouse provides experience in his own right as a versatile option. The three will be evaluated throughout the rest of the week leading up to the team’s clash against the Jaguars.
A preferred player to start in place of Onwenu has not emerged as of yet, leaving the competition open as practice reps will determine the next lineup that McDaniels puts forth on the field in Week 3 at Jacksonville.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Josh McDaniels' true thoughts on OL competition behind Mike Onwenu
