Quick Pats Fact

Dante Scarnecchia, New England Patriots offensive line coach. Four of Bill Belichick's assistants have been plucked to be head coaches since 2005. None have been the one who's arguably Belichick's most prized lieutenant: Scarnecchia, the Pats' assistant head coach. New England loves to scat protect -- that is, to deploy five receivers and protect Tom Brady with only the offensive line -- and Scarnecchia's coaching has helped enable New England's success. This year, the Patriots rank fourth league-wide in empty sets (37), but Brady has been sacked only four times and the Patriots are converting 52.4 percent of their third downs, all with an offensive line including a rookie (right tackle Nate Solder), a undrafted sub (center Dan Connolly) and a late-August signing (right guard Brian Waters).