FOXBORO — The Patriots clearly made it a priority to bolster their offensive line this season, and their investment paid off.
By signing right tackle Morgan Moses and center Garrett Bradbury, drafting left tackle Will Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson and pairing them with right guard Mike Onwenu, the Patriots turned one of last season’s worst offensive lines into a more than respectable unit this season.
Moses, 34, has been one of the Patriots’ most consistent offensive players this season since signing a three-year, $24 million contract in March. Starting all 17 regular seasons games, plus Sundays’ wild-card round win over the Chargers, Moses has allowed just one sack and 29 total pressures this season, per PFF’s charting.
Among 61 offensive tackles who have played more than 600 snaps this season, Moses is one of just 10 players who allow one or fewer sacks. He’s one of just four offensive tackles with more than 1,000 snaps to allow one or fewer sacks.
Beyond his play on the field, Moses, Bradbury and Onwenu have shown tremendous leadership to Campbell, Wilson and the rest of the Patriots’ young offensive linemen.
Offensive tackles Will Campbell (66) and Morgan Moses look on during Monday’s practice. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
“You have guys that aren’t afraid to try to help,” offensive line coach Doug Marrone said Thursday. “I think that’s the one thing that happens a lot of times — ‘I may have all that knowledge, I might have all that experience, but I’m not really going to give it to anyone else. Let them figure it out themselves.’ The players in our room, from what I’ve seen, have been very much more proactive of saying, ‘Hey, this is how you take care of your body. This is what’ — and not just to Jared and Will. I’m talking about to the other guys in a room.
“So I can’t say enough about those guys, enough good things of what they brought to the room from their experience as players and how they take care of their body to how they go about studying, to what their thought process is when they play. And I think they’ve shared that with multiple players, and I appreciate that.”
Moses would regularly stay after practice to work with the Patriots’ young offensive linemen. He’s a regular presence in the locker room, instilling on- and off-field knowledge with young players.
Learn more about Moses on and off the field in the latest installment of our New Patriots Q&A series.
What is your first football memory?
My first football memory would probably be me playing quarterback. Little League. I was nice.
Dual threat?
Yeah, for sure. Lefty.
What was your top high school football memory?
Top high school football memory would say, probably going to the Army All-American Game.
What was your top college football memory?
Beating Florida State on a Thursday night in Florida State.
Well, what made Virginia special for you?
The lineage of offensive linemen that they put out in the league, the school in itself. I got to know a lot of good friends that I’m still in contact with today.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a football player?
If I wasn’t a football player, I would probably be doing — probably a drummer.
How long have you been drumming?
Since I was a kid.
Well, who’s your favorite athlete growing up?
I’m from Virginia, so I would say Michael Vick.
Favorite movie
Blankman.
Favorite musical artist
That’s hard. I got so many. R&B, let’s see, I’m gonna go with the late great D’Angelo.
New England Patriots offensive lineman Morgan Moses speaks during a March 13 press conference to introduce free agent signings. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Who have you been closest with on the team so far?
I would say the offensive line.
I know those offensive line dinners are special.
We have one tonight. We’re going to Capri in Boston.
Who’s the funniest player on the team?
Gosh, I’ll say Marcus Bryant.
What do you like the most about the New England region so far?
The variety of foods. I’ve enjoyed every restaurant.
Is there a player around the league you feel like is underrated or underappreciated?
Dang. That’s a hard one. (Patriots wide receiver) Mack Hollins.
Do you have a hidden talent?
(Drumming) would be my hidden talent. That would be my hidden talent, for sure.
Do you think there’s a topic you know more about than anyone else in the locker room?
Fatherhood.