Patriots guard Sidy Sow named to 2024 PFF All-Breakout Team
Patriots guard Sidy Sow named to 2024 PFF All-Breakout Team
After being selected in the fourth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft, guard Sidy Sow was one of the lone bright spots on a New England Patriots offensive line that struggled last season.
His performance has resulted in him entering Year 2 as a starter up front, where Pro Football Focus expects his game to reach a new level as he was named the right guard on their 2024 All-Breakout Team.
RG SIDY SOW, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Sow was the only rookie interior offensive lineman to earn a higher PFF run-blocking grade than Joe Tippmann in 2023, coming in at 71.3 and ranking 15th among all guards. He earned a PFF grade above 80.0 in four of his 13 starts.
While Sow primarily played right guard his rookie season, he has opened spring practices as the team’s top option on the left side with regular starter Cole Strange sidelined. Repping on the left side is nothing new to Sow, however, as that is where he played for the majority of his collegiate career at Eastern Michigan.
“I played left guard like my whole career in college,” Sow said during minicamp. “It’s been fun just switching back over there, getting to work with Chuks [Okorafor]. Something different. It’s fun.”
Now back at his old position, Sow is hoping for that breakout for himself as he enters his second NFL season.
“It’s going well. I’m trying to get that big jump from Year 1 to Year 2,” he explained. “Obviously switching positions, you got to work on that. But, it’s been a little bit more relaxed I can say. It’s not all crazy, I don’t know what’s happening. I know what to expect now.”
Beyond adjusting to a new position, Sow will also adjust to New England’s new offense under coordinator Alex Van Pelt and line coach Scott Peters. The biggest change up front will be in the run game, where a wide-zone heavy scheme has been installed in place of the typical gap-style approach.
“It’s just a different philosophy, honestly, because it’s geared towards different plays,” said Sow. “So our techniques are reminding us what’s our identity and what do we do. Last year it was a lot of duo so it was surrounded around that. This year it’s a little different.”