Asked if it’s a tough chore going from not playing to suiting up in the Super Bowl, Scarnecchia didn’t flinch.
“It doesn’t matter,’’ Scarnecchia said. “Anytime you step across the line and you’ve got [Giants end] Justin Tuck on the other side, that’s always a tough proposition.’’
WEEI.com reported Scarnecchia said Vollmer would “play in the game at some point.’’
Having Vollmer back against Tuck and the rest of the Giants line would be a big boost. Vollmer is better able to handle Tuck’s power game. Rookie Nate Solder’s forté is against speed rushers, and having Vollmer in the lineup would allow the Patriots to use Solder as a third tight end.
Whoever plays, Scarnecchia knows his group must continue to play its best, something he acknowledged his line failed to do in the three consecutive playoff losses before this season, starting with the Super Bowl XLII loss to the Giants.
“Quite honestly, we hadn’t played very good football on the offensive line in three playoff games. That’s the truth,’’ Scarnecchia said. “And we felt like if we wanted to be successful and get to where we wanted to go, we had to play our best football each week in these playoffs. Whether anyone thinks that or not, I don’t particularly care.
“But I just know this: that’s our challenge and it’s again our challenge this week. We have to play our best football on Sunday afternoon against a very good defense and see where it goes from there.’’
Scarnecchia, who is in his 28th season with the Patriots and doesn’t speak to the media outside of the Super Bowl, knows the Giants vaunted defensive line can cause problems. But he’s comfortable with his group, which includes left tackle Matt Light, left guard Logan Mankins, center Dan Connolly, and right guard Brian Waters.
“We’re not devoid of talent,’’ Scarnecchia said. “We’ve got pretty good guys, and guys that have experience. They’re good guys, tough guys.’’
Scarnecchia praised the players on his line.
“We’re all glad that [Light] did come back to us and he’s had a nice year,’’ Scarnecchia said of Light, who was an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. “He really truly has had a nice year.’’
