Offensive lineman often go unnoticed until they have a bad game but today I’d like to take a second to throw some love at Matt Light. Since becoming the regular starter in 2001 Light has only missed 18 total games. That’s 13 in 2005 and 5 in 2009. Pretty impressive when you consider he’s often facing the other teams best pass rusher and he’s always right in the trenches.
You also have to love Light’s good nature off the field. He’s funny and has that hillbilly charm that makes him seem like the Patriot you’d most want to split a few pitchers with.
When you look around the rest of the league you can find many teams struggling to find that all-important left tackle piece. Some fans love to get on Light’s case if gives up a sack, or say that Sebastian Vollmer should take his job, but they ignore the fact that Light has been protecting Tom Brady’s blindside his entire career and has been a huge part of all the games won and touchdowns thrown. Show me a left tackle that plays ten seasons and never gives up a sack.
Not to mention how well he’s able to move in space and block on the screen passes that the Patriots love to run. He’s been an essential part of the Patriots success both on the field and off it, and never gets any of the credit he deserves.
So this post is for you, Matt Light. Thanks for the decade of work!