After opening-game performances that bordered on disastrous, Patriots LT Nate Solder and RT Marcus Cannon evidently got their orders.
Forget it and move on.
“You know what? We’re moving [past] the Saints and moving on,” Solder said when asked how the tape looked the next day. “We’re here today working towards it.”
Cannon gave basically the same answer.
“You have to ask Bill,” Cannon said. “Coach is the one that does all the evaluations.”
They likely weren’t pretty.
Cannon allowed a sack, three QB hurries and two knockdowns for a team-high six QB pressures. Solder, who saw his first game action at LT after playing on the right side as a rookie, allowed three hurries.
“I think it was good to get out there and go through that full-game speed,” Solder said. “I don’t know whether it was a transition or whether it was just getting the season going again. So it’s a building process, and we’re building on it one day after another.”
LG Logan Mankins believes Solder will replace Matt Light.
“I have a lot of confidence in Nate,” Mankins said. “Nate is one of those guys that’s going to do everything in his power to get better and to work hard. Nate is going to do a great job, and we expect him to do a great job.”
Cannon struggled again, going 0-3 on Monday in one-on-one pass-rush drills against the defensive line. He also seemed to make a few mental mistakes in team drills, which drew the ire of offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia.
Asked whether he likes that kind of tough love, Cannon said: “Scar’s a good coach. ... I don’t know, I’m not answering that question.”
Solder and Cannon are looking forward to this extended week of practices.
“The more time you get to practice, the better you get,” Cannon said. “Right now I’m just looking towards the next game, trying to do what I can right now to watch film, focus on what’s coming up next.”
Follow the Patriots and Greg Bedard on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLNE.
