First and foremost is availability: Due to health and inefficient play, the Patriots have used eight starting offensive line combinations in nine games. That includes four left tackles in Chukwuma Okorafor, Vederian Lowe, Demontrey Jacobs and Caedan Wallace.

“Whether it’s injury or performance, it’s just a bunch of different things,” head coach Jerod Mayo said. “It’s part of football and it’s part of my learning as a head coach.

“These things are going to happen. Some years it’s worse than others. This year it was difficult to get the same group together every week.

In total, the Patriots used 10 different starters along the line. Since 1999, the most in a single NFL season has been 14, by the 2022 Rams.

“It would be optimal to say that we had continuity, because we are improving from week to week and the guys are getting used to playing in the same position or together and that’s all that,” admitted Peters. “It’s certainly a goal.

“The benefit of having a lot of moving parts is that guys get experience and exposure. At some level you develop some versatility, which is important, as you know, because of the nature of the NFL with all the injuries that come up. So on some level you’re building something there.

“But on another level, you’d really like to say, ‘Hey, let’s dig in and try to see some continuity throughout the weeks.’ Because that’s where you see your gains.

Over the past month, Peters and his group have also spent a lot of time trying to figure out what happened to run blocking. The Patriots began the season as a physical, run-first team; they racked up 355 rushing yards through the first two games. Over the past three weeks, they have averaged 87 rushing yards per game.

While it’s important to note that there are many factors behind this decline, particularly situational football, the line bears a significant portion of the burden.

“There’s a combination of things that haven’t been up to par,” Peters said. “The first thing we don’t accept is mental errors. So we’ve had a few at key moments, and I think in some areas it hasn’t been as physical as we would like. But it was an important point for us. So the guys know what they have to do and what their expectations are.

One way Peters and the Patriots have tried to find solutions? Staff reshuffle. Versatile big man Mike Onwenu has been used as a stopgap at multiple positions, working as a right guard and right tackle.

Earlier in the week, during the brief period when practice was open to the media, Onwenu was seen taking snaps at left guard, a position he hasn’t played regularly since 2021. However, during practice on Friday, Onwenu was spotted taking shots. reps at right guard, with young Michael Jordan at left guard (where he started eight games this season).

“Mike has been great as an all-around player for us,” Peters said. “I mean, Mike is our best player. So it was kind of a stopgap for us. He’s played tackle and guard so he’s ready to fill in anywhere.

In 2021, Onwenu moved from right guard to left guard but was ultimately benched in favor of veteran Ted Karras. Although Onwenu’s versatility is unmatched on New England’s offensive line, Peters acknowledges that switching from one side to the other can be difficult.

“It’s very difficult,” he said. “Especially when you have years of experience on one side. But I think we need to call on the representatives to make this work. If you write with your right hand then switch to your left hand, it’s obviously different. I would not claim that it is that difficult, but there are difficulties there.

“It’s more about how comfortable you are with turning things over in your mind. It’s the opposite. You have the movement patterns, but (there is the) mind. If you can turn it over in your mind, that’s one thing. But movement patterns take time.

Regardless of where Onwenu ends up Sunday when the Patriots take on the Bears in Chicago, his versatility has been the best thing about the offensive line this season.

“I really appreciate Big Mike and his willingness – above anything else – to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Mayo said.

As Peters and the coaching staff continue to look for solutions, the Patriots enter Sunday’s game with a renewed commitment to run blocking. If it comes to fruition, it will go a long way towards victory.

“I’m really excited for our group this week,” Lowe said. “As far as the O-line goes, we weren’t up to par last week. It’s clear. It’s on tape. We know we would be better, especially on the ground. This is the central point for us this week.

Christopher Price can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him @cpriceglobe.