BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — There is an art to teaching, as there is to offensive line play, and Dante Scarnecchia has long been a master of both. But when he came out of a two-year retirement last season to reclaim command of the Patriots offensive line he found himself not feeling quite right.
Like one of his players coming off a long absence, his timing wasn’t there and his reactions had been slowed by 24 months of woodworking, playing with the grandkids and civilian life. The lesson plan was still good and the knowledge was still there, but something was slightly off kilter.