Box_O_Rocks

Barring injury, I'm not ready to predict much movement along the D-line. As things stand you have three veterans who also happen to be the preseason first string in the 30 front. You have two second year men and two rookies. Pryor is more of a passing down specialist who can sub at NT or play DT in a 40 front. Brace, Love, and Deadrick are a natural second string 30 front, the fun comes from projecting alternative formations:

40 - standard - would likely use 3-4 OLBs as DEs with Wilfork and Warren inside. You could also line Wright up at LDE with a 3-4 OLB at RDE and still have a fairly "standard" 40 front.

40 - heavy - last season Warren and Green were DEs with two of Wilfork/Wright/Pryor inside.

40 - nickel/dime - Pryor and Wright with two 3-4 OLBs would be first call, but Wilfork and Warren could both play inside too.

10 - Linebacker flex - Pryor was the middle man for the milling Linebacker formation last season, but Wright or Wilfork would do quite well too.

30 - nickel/dime - Again Pryor was the middle man between two 3-4 OLBs playing as 3-4 DEs.

Obviously the primary question is 'how ready are the kids to play?'
-- Brace looked competitive to bump Warren over to RDE and free Wright up for passing downs with Pryor.
-- Deadrick and Love are both adequate to sub in for a series or to take developmental reps behind big leads. There is also a good chance Love will platoon a bit with Wilfork much as he did with Keith Traylor in 2004.

No, from my perspective, there just doesn't seem to be any pressing need to make a roster move along the D-line.

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mgteich

There is always a captain. However, players are not hired to be captain. This position is chosen by the players.

RayClay

Well, I believe Izzo and Aiken were, though obviously the players could choose someone else.

Kind of an interesting situation. Tremendous coincidence, otherwise. Can't say I know the inner workings enough to know if the coaches "suggested" them for captains.

My bad Aikens played 1 with Izzo.

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Box_O_Rocks

Any O-line moves seem to revolve around Kaczur's return. At present there are the usual suspects: Light, Connolly, Koppen, Neal, Vollmer. Heading into game one LeVoir (OT) and Wendell (OL) are the on-deck duo. Which leaves Maneri and Kaczur inactive. Pretty standard line-up for the last decade, the offensive coaches all know what they've got there, and I doubt their concern level would even make a blip on the scale of the perpetual panic producers amongst NEP fans. Prior to game two Ojinnaka may be called off the reserve/suspended list forcing some roster move, but predicting that move to occur along the O-line is blind optimism from the anti-fans who've marked out a particular OL as their target. The O-line seems workable for the neat future with:
- four capable OT (counting Kaczur);
- five capable interior OL (plus conversion project Kaczur),
- Maneri, who gets a minimum three weeks to demonstrate he can play OT at this level;
- and Ojinnaka, a reported five position player who can be called up from reserve/suspended;
- Ohrnberger developing on the PSquad;
- and whomever NE decides to sign/re-sign to develop with Big O.

I don't see the need for a lot of movement, barring injury of course.

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Pats726

OR you are dead wrong in your assessments.. By the way it was Coach B that gave THOSE words about Green-Ellis...so MAYBE YOU should be the one sitting on the bench.

Pats726

Let's see...a Captain after less than a year with the team and little more ST experience?? Nahhhhhh...maybe one with two year's experience but who makes terrible decisions on the field???? That certainly makes sense....
I think Slater COULD develop into a pretty good ST captain..BUT not now!

DarrylS

Fred Taylor was on WEEI last week and he spoke highly of BJGE, felt that he was a hard worker and was developing.. otoh he spoke no where as near as high about Lawrence... thought it was interesting.

He did not throw Maroney completely under the bus, but did not give him many props either..

here is the link..

Fred Taylor, Patriots RB on WEEI

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Box_O_Rocks

B-Jeepers is who he is, a throwback to Antowain "pokey" Smith, with a better early season work ethic. I'm happy to have him on the 53, he's certainly earned it with his work and his 2008 starts when all the others were injured. Considering the age and innjury history of NE's RBs, Green-Ellis is excellent insurance who plays ST.

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AndyJohnson

Wow, talk about misrepresentation.

AndyJohnson

What are "THOSE words".
I'm not sure what is being argued here anyway.
Green made the team but as we saw last year will only play in emergency situations. Why is that so hard to understand?