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Tom Brady Praises Play Of Patriots Offensive Line

BOSTON (CBS) -- A rash of injuries has caused the New England Patriots to play musical chairs along their offensive line, but that hasn't kept the unit from protecting the most important player on the team.

And as he always does, Tom Brady is making sure they get the credit they deserve.

It hasn't been an easy season for the New England offensive line. Just a few days before the season, starting center Bryan Stork was lost for half the season to a neck injury and concussion. Undrafted rookie David Andrews has filled that void well, but it was just one of the many question marks along the line. Ryan Wendell was also injured to start the year, leaving Brady with a pair of rookies in Tre Jackson and Shaq Mason to rotate at the guard positions with Josh Kline.

That rotation has worked out well over the first six games of the season, minus a brief hiccup in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys when Brady was sacked five times.

But the injuries have further piled up. On Sunday against a stout Jets' pass rush, the Pats were without both Nate Solder (on the IR with a torn biceps) and Solder's replacement at left tackle Marcus Cannon (foot injury), so there was no rotation along the line. The Patriots were lucky to have five healthy bodies to block for Brady, given they had just 18 offensive players dressed for their 30-23 win.

Brady was sacked three times in Sunday's victory, but had enough time to complete 34 of his 54 passes for 355 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also scored himself on a goal line play to tie the game at 10-10 in the second quarter.

Overall, Brady has only been sacked 16 times over the first six games of the season. As the Patriots prepare to face the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, Brady took some time to sing the praises of the big men protecting him this season.

"Our offensive line has been phenomenal this year," said Brady. "The challenges they've been up against, facing a lot of great defensive lines with a lot of scheme challenges. They've had perimeter rushers, interior rushers. We see a lot of games and twists. We've been faced with a lot of challenges and those guys have really stepped up to it."

Brady praised offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo, spoke highly of the trio of rookies that have filled in so well, and pointed out Sebastian Vollmer moving from right to left tackle once Solder was injured.

"Whatever it takes for those guys, however they can put that unit together and play cohesively. It's a great group they have," he said. "They take a lot of pride in it and have done an incredible job this year."

Brady said the Dolphins can really "tee off" on the quarterback, so a balanced attack Thursday night will be important. That is much different from New England's approach just a few days ago, when they locked in on the passing game and Brady ended up being the team's leading rusher with 15 yards.

But in watching film, Brady has seen a re-energized Miami team under interim head coach Dan Campbell. Bill Belichick noted on Monday that Campbell has simplified things on the field, and Brady says those changes have made a big difference.

"Every time we've played these guys they've been a challenge," Brady said of Miami. "They're riding high right now and really getting after the quarterback. [Cameron] Wake, [Olivier] Vernon, [Ndamukong] Suh, [Earl] Mitchell and [Derrick] Shelby, they have a whole group of pass rushers that really, the last couple of games, have been performing really well."

Brady is very familiar with what Wake can bring to the field. The defensive end sacked Brady 8.5 times in 12 career matchups with the quarterback, and has six of Miami'a 11 sacks on the season.

"We have to stay on track and execute well," said Brady. "We have to keep things under control. You can't be one dimensional against these guys. They're a really talented group."

Tune in to Patriots-Dolphins on Thursday Night Football on WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. WBZ-TV kicks off their Pats-Dolphins coverage Wednesday night with a live edition of Patriots All Access at 7pm, and a special Patriots GameDay Thursday night at 7pm. After the game, tune in to myTV38 for Patriots 5th Quarter. 98.5's coverage starts at 5:30pm on Thursday with Patriots Preview, followed by three hours of postgame coverage after the game!

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