Quick Fix for the Patriots Offensive Line

The Patriots offensive line will not become great overnight. It will take hard work, it will take growth, it will take players finding their historically solid level of play, and it will require better coaching (even if the players aren't happy with "Goog").

But there's a pretty simple band-aid that will help until they figure it out.

Let's say that the current starting line-up doesn't include Jordan Devey, because that unit has not been able to find its ground this year. Let's say the current line-up is what finished last week's game:

Left tackle Nate Solder, left guard Marcus Cannon, center Bryan Stork, right guard Dan Connolly, and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer.

Of these players, Vollmer has been the most solid, having rebounded from his deplorable opening week against Cameron Wake and the Dolphins. He's settling in after returning from his 2013 leg injury. Vollmer hasn't been great, but his ability to generally handle both speed and strength rushers is a shining point on a muddy line.

Stork, the rookie, has come onto the field to finish out the last couple of games and is looking more-and-more ready to take on a full time starting role at center, allowing the team to push Devey back to the super-sub role, as well as Connolly out to guard.

Those two players should be considered entrenched as starters moving forward; it's the remaining three positions that are up in the air.

To figure out the best grouping, it's not a difficult puzzle to complete. If the team wants to put forth the most balanced offensive line, they don't want any glaring weaknesses.

Nate Solder is good enough at handling the power rushers, but he's greatly struggled against the quicker pass rushers who have been able to get under his arms on both the inside and outside.

Marcus Cannon, like Solder, can handle power rushers, but he also struggles against speed rushers, lacking the quickness to adjust in the pocket.

Dan Connolly is adequate at both speed and power rushers, and no one should confuse that with him being great at either. But Connolly is the ultimate band-aid lineman, with the ability to fill any interior role and do it well enough.

Simple solution: Leave Solder at left tackle. Flip Connolly and Cannon.

This would prevent the left side of the pocket from crumbling so easily against speed rushers, while balancing out the strength along the line. Cannon should be better suited for the right side of the line, next to Vollmer, a player with ability enough to help against speed rushers.

Solder, Connolly, Stork, Cannon, Vollmer.

This line won't instill fear in any opponent, but it's definitely a start and it will absolutely help neutralize some of the unit's most glaring weaknesses.