Projo Pats Blog

FOXBORO -- Rookie Sebastian Vollmer once again will start at left tackle for the Patriots in place of injured veteran Matt Light.

But, as anyone knows who watched Vollmer take on the Colts' fearsome speed rusher, Dwight Freeney, last Sunday night in Indianapolis, it's not the "blind side" that figures to be Tom Brady's biggest concern this afternoon.

The Jets love to blitz. They did it often, and successfully, in beating the Pats, 16-9, in Week Two at the Meadowlands. Look for them to bring pressure today on New England's right side, given that guard Stephen Neal will be inactive because of a concussion suffered against the Colts and right tackle Nick Kaczur may be more vulnerable than Vollmer.

Expected to start in place of Neal is Dan Connolly, who took over at center for Dan Koppen two weeks ago, when Koppen hurt a knee against the Dolphins. With Koppen back in the lineup last Sunday in Indianapolis, Connolly wound up stepping in at right guard when Neal went down, even though rookie Rich Ohrnberger, a fourth-round pick out of Penn State, is listed as Neal's backup on the depth chart.

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