mgteich

I have seen many posts that have indicated that our OT's are aweful (apparently including Vollmer) that we should have given up Mayo and Butler in order to upgrade the position in the last two drafts by drafting Clady and Oher. We also would have to have given up a 2nd rounder, but we used a second on Vollmer so that is a wash. We also would have to have lost Edelman and Tate, but that isn't a big deal.
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We spend literally years discussing the necessity of rebuilding the defense and making it younger and and faster. HOWEVER, even when we get studs like Mayo and Butler, this board wishes that Belichick had decided NOT to upgrade the defense and instead upgraded our OT's. Over the past two years, Belichick has picked up Vollmer and LeVoir. The consensus seems to be that we should have brought in Oher and Clady instead of Mayo and Butler. Then, of course, we would have no need for Vollmer. Besides, we would have given up up the equivalent of the 2nd we used for Vollmer.

OF COURSE, these same posters would then have been criticizing Belichick's failure to upgrade the defense.
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I am quite satisfied that Belichick brought in Mayo and Butler. I was also glad that he tried to upgrade the secondary with Wilhite and Wheatley. In fact, I would have preferred one more high pick ILB in 2009. It is great to have James Sanders as our #4 safety. That's great depth. Somehow, I would rather have Sanders as our #3 safety and also have Guyton as our #3 ILB and spot player at OLB.
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We are building a fine young fast defense. I know that it is early, but I hope that Belichick uses all our top draft choices for defense, except for filling our need at OG if Mankins and Neal both don't come back.
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Nikolai

I haven't seen anyone say Vollmer is awful, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that anyone who says that is being an idiot. Is he all-pro? Not yet, but he has that potential.

JackBauer

I don't think there is any such consensus.

Patspsycho

More than anything else, I'd like to see a serious draft pick or serious money invested in a bona-fide RB to play alongside Maroney (e.g., no more hunting the scrap pile).

This more than anything else will take pressure off our OL.

supafly

My guess is that mg was being somewhat sarcastic about Vollmer, as most of us can agree that he has looked pretty good--at least so far. I agree that he has a very good upside, and look forward to seeing it happen.

There have been a lot of people that have complained about the O-line, and at times they have looked mediocre and have had some issues. I think part of that is some injury problems, and some could even be blamed at the apparent lack of a #3 WR option, as it has taken longer time to find a target at times.

I do think many of us were hoping to upgrade at the O-line positions (one or two), but realized that defense was probably more of a priority. At the same time many were complaining about our recent lack of speed, etc on the defensive side. A lot felt that was our bigger problem, and the reason we couldn't hold on for a 4th ring (06 AFCCG/07 SB). I think as a whole, many were more worried about the age and slowness on defense, than they were about the O-line depth/issues.

Bottom line is that people will complain no matter what, but I think defense was a bigger priority in the off-season/draft. I think our O-line when fully healthy is decent, with the seeming exception being the apparent downfall of the center position. If there's a position BB values more on the O-line than any other it's center, IMO. We all saw how concerned he was when Koppen went down, as he actually was going out on the field to check on him, something I don't see him do too often. I think it's obviously the most important on the line, and I have a feeling BB does too. It's the position he played, so he is very aware of what it takes to be a good center. I have a feeling we draft a center decently high next year, just a hunch.

IcyPatriot

Going back to the offseason ... what would anyone here have done differently? The offense looked good heading into the season. Galloway was a bust and Fred Taylor got injured but both were solid decisions at the time. Short of a really decent blocking TE I think we went into the season fine - just hasn't been our year so far in terms of catching a few breaks in the health and/or calls department.

eagle eye

Personally I'd like to see big money spent on a hyrid runner/receiver in the Kevin Faulk mould. Faulk is 34 now so he won't be around too much longer.

On the OP, yeah there are some people saying that stuff and it is ridiculous. We have a D that will improve year after year. A lot of guys seem to fancy themselves as a head coach just sitting here and doing numbers and picking out players we could have got.

But then you go back and look at the chatter from before previous drafts and you see the amount of busts that some of these guys wanted us to take. They never bring them up though.

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KontradictioN

I wouldn't mind seeing Clady here. On the same token, I do like Mayo and I think that Light can get it done in the mean time and also think that Vollmer will be capable of taking over at the LT position in the future. However, I have made it pretty well known that I would have loved to see Oher here. I think Butler has a bright future, but I would take Oher in a second over Butler. The right side of our offensive line would have been virtually impenetrable with Oher and Neal holding down the fort over there. On top of that, he would be a pretty clear cut upgrade over Kaczur.

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supafly

If Oher were drafted by himself, do you still think he'd be moved over to the right side?

If Oher and Vollmer were both drafted, I still wouldn't see Oher being moved. I would think Vollmer would've been groomed for the right side.

Thoughts?

KontradictioN

With Matt Light still on the team, and being the starter, Oher would have started the year on the right side. If he looked as good in our system as he does in the Ravens', they probably would have kept him there. It is an interesting question though, as Vollmer and Oher are capable of playing on either side. Personally? I think Oher would have stayed at RT and Vollmer would have been groomed to be the future LT.

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