The New England Patriots’ offensive line has been led by their two tackles Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer for many seasons.
However, Vollmer, who played two seasons at the University of Houston, was unable to play a snap this season because of a knee injury. Vollmer’s replacement at right tackle was Marcus Cannon (Odessa).
Cannon was in the same NFL Draft as Solder in 2011 and he played seven games as a rookie. He’s been with the Patriots for six seasons and he has appeared in 65 career games despite making only 19 starts in his first five seasons. He’s made the most of his opportunities and improved each year.
According to Pro Football Reference, he started in 16 games with an approximate value of two in 2012, four in six starts and 14 games in 2013, four in four starts and 16 games in 2014 and five in eight starts and 12 games in 2015. He set career highs in 2016 with an approximate value of 13 in 15 starts. Cannon’s value was the same as Tom Brady and Malcolm Butler.
Cannon has been versatile and productive in his ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line, including right tackle, left tackle, left guard and center and filling in periodically for Solder and Vollmer.
In his career with the Patriots, Cannon has never missed the postseason and he has never missed the AFC Championship game. The Patriots have made the AFC title game in six consecutive seasons, losing three times and winning twice and winning the Super Bowl once in 2014. The Patriots will try to reach their third Super Bowl in six seasons against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
As an injury replacement for Vollmer, Cannon got awarded a spot on the Associated Press’ All-Pro second team along with Mitchell Schwartz of the Kansas City Chiefs and behind first team All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin of the Tennessee Titans.
And whether it was Tom Brady at quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo or Jacoby Brissett, the Patriots’ offense did not miss a beat thanks to Cannon and the rest of the offensive line. The offensive line stabilized the pocket for three quarterbacks with three different styles. Brady, Garoppolo and Brissett had some of the best pass protection in the league. The Patriots’ quarterbacks were sacked just 24 times, which were the fifth fewest in the league and they were tied for second with the fewest sack yards allowed. That’s with Cannon himself going up against the likes of Cameron Wake, Carlos Dunlap, Michael Bennett, Sheldon Richardson and Von Miller.
That pass protection translated to the Patriots’ quarterbacks completing 67 percent of their passes, which was sixth in the league, along with eight yards per pass attempt, which was third. They also finished fourth in passing yards, and threw 32 touchdown passes compared to a mere two interceptions, which was easily the best ratio.
Even with the premiere tight end in the game Rob Gronkowski missing eight games and being on injured reserve for the rest of the season, the Patriots’ offense remained one of the most prolific in the NFL. It led the Patriots to a 14-2 record, the number one seed and home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
The Patriots’ offensive line has a compelling matchup against the Steelers’ front seven, which runs a 3-4 scheme and whose strength is the linebackers. Cannon’s key matchup in that game will be against Ryan Shazier and Bud Dupree. It will be a more challenging game this time compared to the previous game in week seven when the Patriots prevailed over the Steelers 27-16 at Heinz Field.
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