Tough to emerge without a ‘scar=?UTF-8?B?4oCZ?=
Tough to emerge without a 'scar'
On the surface, the situation at center appeared pretty grim for the Patriots [team stats] last week. Due to injuries, they were forced to dip into their practice squad, elevate Nick McDonald, and have him start against the Colts.
In terms of where McDonald fits on the depth chart, it’s somewhere between emergency and desperation. Technically, he was fourth man on the totem poll, as there were at least three players ahead of him, all of whom had varying degrees of experience snapping the ball to Tom Brady [stats].
Nine-year starter Dan Koppen had been placed on injured reserve shortly after the regular-season opener against the Dolphins. His backup, Dan Connolly, was filling in admirably, but couldn’t play against the Eagles and Colts because he’s been hobbled by a nagging groin injury. Next in line was Ryan Wendell. He was fine, until a calf injury derailed him leading up to the Colts game.
That left McDonald, a 6-foot-4, 316-pounder who had been on the practice squad for the bulk of the 2011 season. The 24-year-old was an undrafted free agent out of Grand Valley State originally signed by the Packers in 2010. He was on the roster all season and got a Super Bowl ring although he never played in a game.
So how is it possible for a kid from a Division 2 school, who had never before started in an NFL game, to step in, go wire-to-wire against the Colts, and look like a pro in the no-huddle with Brady?
One name: Dante Scarnecchia.
Now, McDonald deserves a ton of credit for getting his chance and running with it. There’s no question about that. He looked the part, and played extremely well under the circumstances. But let’s not overlook the man who spent all those hours getting McDonald primed, ready and up to speed.
Scarnecchia, the Patriots offensive line coach, is one of the best in the business, and this is just one more example reinforcing that fact.
Ross Tucker, a one-time Pats offensive lineman-turned broadcaster, was in Foxboro at the game last week and couldn’t have been more wowed by what he saw from the newcomer.
“I thought it was extremely impressive,” Tucker said. “I think you give a ton of credit to the kid himself, but I think you also have to give a lot of credit to Scarnecchia because center is really a tough position. For (McDonald) to do all that stuff, even though Brady does a lot of the (protection calls) work for him, between the no-huddle, the different cadences, everything, that was awfully impressive. It was one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in a while because this kid was with the Packers last year, but he never played.”
McDonald didn’t allow any pressures up the middle. In fact, he was barely noticeable, which is the best compliment you can give an offensive lineman.
“He seemed poised,” Tucker said. “It didn’t seem like the moment was too big for him. And you have to remember, he’s not just a second year guy they signed on the practice squad. He went to Grand Valley State. … So you really have to look at the job Scarnecchia did.”
When asked about Scarnecchia’s tutelage and guidance skills with McDonald, Patriots coach Bill Belichick lauded his longtime assistant head coach, and not just with McDonald, but with the line as a whole. Scarnecchia has also had a hand in rookie Nate Solder’s development and is bringing along rookie Marcus Cannon.
“Dante does a great job of getting the starters ready, but also developing the other players for whenever their opportunity comes,” Belichick told the Herald Friday. “With Nick, it didn’t just start last week, it started at the beginning of the season when he came here. Nick’s improved every week. He had an opportunity to play, and Dante did a great job getting him ready for the Colts.”
McDonald, who practiced at guard last year while in Green Bay, started the transition to center once he arrived in Foxboro the first week of September. So Scarnecchia, the only coach in franchise history to be a member of all six Super Bowl teams, has been in the kid’s ear for a while.
“Coach Scarnecchia has been an amazing help,” McDonald said. “He’s definitely one of the best coaches I’ve ever been around. He knows the game; he knows how to develop an offensive lineman. That’s what they like to do here. He’s been a great help. He’s going to be hard on you. He’s going to tell you when you’re doing it wrong, he’s going to tell you when you’re doing it right. That’s what guys like us need.”
Source