Dante Scarnecchia Has Tall Task Developing Patriots’ Young Offensive Line

In 2016, we may literally find out if New England Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia can roll out of bed and coach a raw offensive line into a group of starters.

The Patriots have several pieces locked in on the offensive line for the upcoming season. Left tackle Nate Solder and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer are incumbent starters and among the best at their positions, and one interior spot was stable with Bryan Stork and David Andrews sharing the load at center.

Between the three interior offensive line positions, though, the Patriots could have as few as three combined years of experience if they choose to go with Andrews at center along with Shaq Mason and Tre’ Jackson at guard.

Granted, the scales could tip the other way, as well: If Stork is the center and Josh Kline and Jonathan Cooper are the guards, the Patriots will have a combined eight years of experience at the three interior positions.

Getting everyone on the same page and developing the young talent on the interior of the Patriots offensive line will be a huge key to the offense’s ability to jell in 2016.

At the same time, the task and benefit of developing young talent is not restricted to 2016. The Patriots must also begin to build their depth at tackle, where they have problems with health, age, talent and other factors.

If either Solder or Vollmer were to be injured again in 2016, the Patriots offensive line would once again be thrown into disarray with Marcus Cannon stepping back in as a starting tackle. Cannon struggled in 2015 and finished as the league’s 52nd-ranked tackle in pass protection out of 75 …

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