Solder excited about his recovery, return of Scarnecchia

One of the key cogs on the New England Patriots' offense is on a positive road to recovery.

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, Solder has "relayed that the team’s medical and athletic training staff is pleased with his progress from the torn biceps that ended his 2015 season in Week 5."

"Everything is going as well as they hoped it would go; just great," he said.

Solder is also excited about the return of Dante Scarnecchia, who has returned to coach the offensive line after two years of retirement.

"I don’t want to overstate it, but he’s been an excellent coach for me the whole time I’ve been here. I’m personally very excited," Solder said. "As a team, it will be a really good thing to have him because he just brings so many things to the table."

READ MORE >> 

Belichick optimistic about Cannon filling in for Solder

Since being drafted 17th overall in the 2011 draft, Nate Solder has missed only one game for the New England Patriots, with much of that time spent protecting Tom Brady’s blindside.

With news that the 27-year-old was placed on IR Wednesday following a torn bicep, however, that job will now be relegated to Marcus Cannon, the team’s versatile backup.

It’s that versatility that has coach Bill Belichick confident the team’s fifth-round pick from that same 2011 draft can be successful and, most importantly, keep Brady upright for the remainder of the season.

"Marcus has always played well for us," Belichick said via the Boston Globe. "Two years ago when he was in for Vollmer, last year the opportunities that he had early in the year, particularly at tackle, and then this year he’s played in every game, played a number of snaps in all of our games, so he’s always done a good job for us when he’s been in there.

"I’m glad we have him."

READ MORE

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Patriots lock up OT Solder on two-year extension

On the eve of their home opener, the New England Patriots shored up a key part of their offensive line Wednesday, extending the contract of 27-year-old Nate Solder.

The deal, according to NFL.com, is worth $20 million guaranteed over the 2016-17 seasons, with an additional $7.4 million coming from the final year of his initial five-year contract.

Solder is one of the few Patriots lineman to survive an expiring contract, and the team will be looking for some improved play this season to go along with that new-found job security.

READ MORE

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Deflated? Patriots' Solder just glad he caught it

The big news immediately following the New England Patriots' blowout victory over the Indianapolis Colts Sunday night was that they had secured their ticket to the Super Bowl.

The big news the next morning was a report that the Patriots allegedly provided some deflated balls for the game.

In speaking with the media Monday, players dismissed the notion, including offensive tackle Nate Solder, who caught his first NFL pass--a 16-yarder that went for a touchdown--in the rout. After the game, he said he blacked out during the play, and the next day, he said he was equally oblivious to how much air was in the football.

“I don’t know anything about that. I’m glad I caught it,” he said, via WEEI. “[But] I don’t anything about that. Nothing.”

As a left tackle, Solder would hardly know. And judging by the way both teams played, a deflated football would hardly make a difference.

READ MORE

Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily

Patriots O-line still working to get back to 100 percent

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

As OTAs hit the halfway point for the New England Patriots, there have been some sizeable absences thus far among the masses. About 1,000 combined pounds worth, to be precise.

Finishing up Day 6 of the team’s 10-day workout schedule, three big bodies have yet to enter into full-speed team activities – starting left tackle Nate Solder, starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer and rookie fourth-rounder Cameron Fleming.

According to Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, Vollmer has practiced but not been able to move into 11-on-11 drills, while Solder has been with the rehabilitation crowd. Fleming, though healthy, is still waiting for Stanford’s graduation to take place before he can participate.

RPT: Patriots exercise fifth-year option on Solder

BY SCOTT BAINES

Nate Solder has started 44 of the 47 regular season games he’s played in for the New England Patriots over his first three NFL seasons.

That, and his ever-improving play, gave the Patriots enough reason to exercise the fifth-year option on the left tackle's contract. The move, which was expected, was first reported by CBS Sports Wednesday and confirmed by multiple media outlets.

Tom Brady’s blindside is now worth a little over $7 million in salary, and the added year allows the Patriots ample time to work out a long-term extension with Solder.

Pats should explore Solder's contract in near future

BY NICK ST. DENIS

When you find a good left tackle, you keep him. And to do that, it's ideal to re-work his contract well before he gets a sniff of free agency.

The New England Patriots are now getting to that point with Nate Solder, who is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract -- a deal the Patriots would be best-served extending.

Under the tutelage of All-World offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, Solder has gotten better each year.

Patriots' left tackle a good Solder on and off field

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Offensive lineman Nate Solder isn’t one of the most recognizable face on the New England Patriots.

So while introducing himself to a group of Eliot Elementary School kids in Boston Wednesday, he gave the youngsters some helpful advice on how to easily identify him during a game.

"I'm the one your dad is yelling at when Tom Brady gets sacked," Solder joked, via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. (photo: Beth Hart, Flickr)

Patriots get blocking boost with Vollmer, Fells back

Photo: Beth Hart, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The New England Patriots needed a boost to the exterior of their offensive line, which has been subpar through two preseason games.

They got a little help over the weekend with starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer being activated off the PUP list. Marcus Cannon, who will be Vollmer's game day replacement until he's ready, struggled Monday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Vollmer, who practiced in front of the media for the first time Wednesday, had already begun working on the field with the team sometime between Saturday and Wednesday, according to Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

The fourth-year veteran played in just seven games last season due to multiple injuries and isn't sure if he'll be good to go for the team's Week 1 opener against the Tennessee Titans.

"I have no idea. I'm obviously making progress, working as hard as I can, and if i'm ready, I'm ready. If I'm not, I'm not," Vollmer told ESPN Boston. "I'm obviously hoping so and doing whatever I can to do it."

Tight end Daniel Fells also came off the PUP list last weekend and began practicing Wednesday. While he's projected to be the third tight end behind Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, Fells is a stout blocker and certainly can be used to help New England's struggling offensive tackles, namely left tackle Nate Solder.

Solder, Pats' OL to face good test in Eagles' Wide-9

Photo: Beth Hart, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Nate Solder had a less-than-impressive showing in the New England Patriots' preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints.

The new starting left tackle, who is taking over for quarterback Tom Brady's longtime blindside protector in Matt Light, was called for two holding penalties early on and consistently struggled to stand his ground against the right edge of New Orleans' defensive rush.

New England's offensive line as a whole, which has been hampered with injuries, veteran departures and shifting, didn't allow Brady and the rest of the Patriots' quarterbacks to get into their normal comfort zone.

Solder and the rest of the Patriots' front line will have an opportunity to redeem themselves Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive front.

Philly uses the Wide-9 technique on the defensive line, which has the four-man front spread out so the defensive ends are well outside the opposing offensive tackles. This forces the offensive tackles to get up and into position quicker to compensate for the speed and outside angle the defensive ends are coming at.

Solder, Pats' O-line struggles in 1st preseason game

Photo: Beth Hart, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

The New England Patriots' offensive line struggled Thursday night. Left tackle Nate Solder didn't help.

Solder, a second-year tackle replacing quarterback Tom Brady's longtime blindside protector Matt Light, had a rough evening in the Patriots' 7-6 preseason victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Solder was called for two holding penalties early on and consistently struggled to stand his ground against the right edge of New Orleans' defensive rush.

New England's offensive line as a whole, which has been hampered with injuries, veteran departures and shifting, didn't allow Brady and the rest of the Patriots' quarterbacks to get into their normal comfort zone.

Brady completed four of seven pass attempts for 30 yards and was strip-sacked once, and New England's three signal-callers combined to complete less than 50 percent of their passes.

"We've played a lot of people at each position," Patriots coach Bill Belichick told the media of New England's offensive line. "I don't think there was any position we didn't play a lot of people. That's what these games are for: to evaluate the players."

Patriots' second-year tackle Solder poised to step up

Photo: Beth Hart, Flickr 

BY SAM HOLLINGSWORTH

Despite the departure of now-retired offensive tackle Matt Light, a five-time Pro Bowler, the Patriots are going on as business as usual.

Insert second-year tackle Nate Solder.

Solder, who played in all 19 games in the 2011 season (including postseason), proved himself in more ways than one throughout his rookie year. When starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer was unable to go, Solder filled in for him — and impressively. He let up only three sacks and four quarterback pressures throughout his first regular season, and he’s gravely committed to improving. And when Vollmer and Light were both healthy, Solder was often used as an eligible tackle/tight end.

The 6-foot-8 Solder is also committed to gaining weight.

“I’d like to get bigger, stronger, maybe taller," Solder told ESPNBoston.com, joking about his height. “I've been trying to gain weight since I was a freshman in college. I can tell you that has been a struggle for me. So, I continue to try to gain weight.”

Currently, Solder weighs in at 310 pounds — 80 more than he was listed at during his redshirt-freshman season at Colorado. And he’s eating five meals a day in hopes to increase that number by another 20 pounds this offseason.

Patriots tackle Vollmer may play again this year

BY SAM HOLLINGSWORTH

If there’s even a sliver of hope that a player may be able to contribute for the Patriots before season’s end, head coach Bill Belichick will be patient.

And that’s probably why New England hasn’t placed Sebastian Vollmer, one of the team’s second-round draft picks in 2009, on IR yet. He’s been out since Week 12 and getting treatment, hoping to return before the end of the season, although there’s still no true timetable for his return.