Reactions were mixed when New England Patriots selected Cole Strange in April’s draft, but the team’s former offensive line coach, Dante Scarnecchia, suggested he trusted Bill Belichick’s decision-making when it came to drafting Strange.
Scarnecchia was a fixture on the Patriots coaching staff for decades. He joined the Patriots staff in 1982 as a special teams and tight ends coach. He then took on his primary role of offensive line coach beginning in 1999. He retired following the 2019 season.
With decades of experience under his belt, he has seen his share of lineman over the course of his coaching career. This includes Logan Mankins, whom the Patriots drafted in 2005. With these things in mind, Scarnecchia trusts the Patriots draft evaluation.
Here’s what Scar told NBCSportsBoston’s Phil A. Perry.
“Everybody has high expectations when you go into the draft, especially in fandom where we are,” he said. “But inside the building, they know what their needs are and what they’re looking for. The rest of us don’t really know the whole story.
“I know anytime you take a lineman in the first round, it’s not a glamorous pick for fans. I don’t know what they thought of Logan Mankins, but he was one of the best that’s ever played and certainly one of the best two to ever do it for the Patriots.”
With the Patriots rebuilding their offensive line, Strange could be a key piece for the Patriots in the near future, as they look to fill holes along the line.
Leave a Reply