Belichick's Faith In Our Interior OL - New England Patriots Forums

***mgteich*** · 05-09-2011, 01:25 PM

It is clear that Belichick and Dante have considerable faith in our interior line.

After all, Belichick went though four rounds without drafting an interior lineman. There were many available at 73: Cannon, Rackley, Moffitt and Boling. Rackley and Moffitt were picked immediately after the patriots picked at 73 and 74, so this seemed a reasonable match of quality and draft position.

We have Cannon. That's great. But it is clear that Belichick was willing to go without a top interior line addition. He passed on OG/OC at #73 and #74, and then immediately traded away our #92 and #125, not even waiting to see who was available at #92.

Personally, I think that this means that Belichick sees a future somewhere among Koppen, Connolly, Wendell, Orhnberger and Austin. This seems to be true no matter how long Mankins stays.

Sicilian · 05-09-2011, 01:47 PM

I think part of it too is his faith in Dante. When you have one of the best O-Line coaches in the game, it gives you some leeway in finding players and plugging them in quickly. If Mankins leaves next year, I'm willing to bet we can find a G in the first two rounds who Dante can coach up to play well as a rookie.

eom · 05-09-2011, 01:48 PM

I think it's possible if he had picked OL over RB you'd be starting a thread about his faith in our RB corps.

I think it's also possible he thought the second rounders next year will trump what was on the board in the 4th this year.

One thing I can say about belichick is he doesn't panic about fillinng a position, and this is the end result of planning ahead, good coaching, and building the team with players he likes that give him flexibility.

***Deus Irae*** · 05-09-2011, 01:52 PM

If you're really willing to buy that argument, can we assume that we'll hear no more from you about the WR, OLB and DE positions, since the same argument would apply?

VJCPatriot · 05-09-2011, 01:57 PM

OR it means he didn't see any signfiicant upgrades available at #73. We don't know the grades they had on the players available at #73. Ridley was probably the highest player left on their board for all we know.

Metaphors · 05-09-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgteich

Personally, I think that this means that Belichick sees a future somewhere among Koppen, Connolly, Wendell, Orhnberger and Austin. This seems to be true no matter how long Mankins stays.

A combination of that and seeing better OG/C candidates in 2012. Similar to why the Pats didn't take a WR. The team is set at the position in 2011 and the likely prospects in 2012 are superior to anyone the Pats had available to them this year.

With Koppen and Branch at the end of their deals with declining skills, the Pats could have taken eventual (or immediate) replacements in this draft. But they have to evaluate both the "who" and the "when". Sometimes that means now (McCourty and Dowling) and sometimes that means pushing picks into the next year and going with what you have for another year.

Looking ahead, at first blush this looks like a good call for OC and WR. Brewster (OSU) and Jones (Georgia) are better than anyone in 2011...add Konz (Wisconsin) to that list if he declares. WR is stacked enough that a top guy is bound to slip to the end of round 1 or the Raider pick in round 2.

So while I agree this draft was a show of faith in the interior line, that faith gets renewed year-to-year.

Patspsycho · 05-09-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eom

I think it's possible if he had picked OL over RB you'd be starting a thread about his faith in our RB corps.

I think it's also possible he thought the second rounders next year will trump what was on the board in the 4th this year.

One thing I can say about belichick is he doesn't panic about fillinng a position, and this is the end result of planning ahead, good coaching, and building the team with players he likes that give him flexibility.

It isn't quite the end result yet- there's FA, UDFA, and two roster cuts. But you are correct in that he doesn't panic. He sees things through right down to the wire.

RayClay · 05-09-2011, 03:54 PM

Guards aren't hard to come by and they can be trained. Maybe not road graders, but we've hardly spent a nickel on a guard besides Mankins in the whole Belichick era. (I'm not looking it up, maybe we did).

We've got two 7 foot tall graceful tackles and aren't going to spend a lot on c-g. They'll keep stocking the pond and maybe get a bullmoose in Cannon.

signbabybrady · 05-09-2011, 03:56 PM

Hmmm wonder if this means maybe they are going to cave to Mankins demands and he will be here long term. I know this a large leap but we dont have much in the pipeline and Koppen isnt getting younger. I would not be all that concerned with interior oline if I knew Mankins was going to be here longterm. Or maybe he is just planning on signing a vet or two when FA opens and feels he has enough youth with Solder and Vollmer that he wants Vets.

AzPatsFan · 05-09-2011, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by signbabybrady

Hmmm wonder if this means maybe they are going to cave to Mankins demands and he will be here long term. I know this a large leap but we dont have much in the pipeline and Koppen isnt getting younger. I would not be all that concerned with interior oline if I knew Mankins was going to be here longterm. Or maybe he is just planning on signing a vet or two when FA opens and feels he has enough youth with Solder and Vollmer that he wants Vets.

Well, letting Light and Kaczur go, leaves a whole lot of money in the pot budgeted to the the Offensive line, for someone like Mankins...