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I would start Koppen, even if Connolly is a bit better. IObviously if Koppen doesn't look good at all, he would be benched, perhaps for Wendell or MacDonald.
Koppen will likely already started several games, with Connolly starting for Mankins. If Connolly starts at center, the Game Day backup for the interior linemen is Koppen.
If Mankins or Waters is injured, Connolly starting at center this requires TWO changes. Connolly moves to guard, Koppen to center. If Gallery is the Game Day backup, there is no backup center.
Belichick prefers to make only one change if there is one injury. This is discussing in-game changes. If a player is out the next week, there are more options.
Why would the actives change if Conolly or Koppen started?
You can just as easily use Koppen as the 4th interior OL by moving Connolly to G as by inserting Connolly at G. The better player will start, its not rocket science to move Connolly to G if a backup is needed, and that backup is Koppen.
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I apologize if I gave the wrong impression. I think that the actives would BE THE SAME whether Koppen or Connolly started. The other would be the Game Day backup interior lineman.
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One plan would be to start Connolly, and to make TWO changes if a guard is injured (Connolly to guard and Koppen to center).
If Connolly and Koppen are close to even at center, I would start Koppen, and have ONE change. This is especially true if Koppen has started several games at center while Connolly started at guard instead of an injured Mankins.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyJohnson
Why would the actives change if Conolly or Koppen started?
You can just as easily use Koppen as the 4th interior OL by moving Connolly to G as by inserting Connolly at G. The better player will start, its not rocket science to move Connolly to G if a backup is needed, and that backup is Koppen.
I apologize if I gave the wrong impression. I think that the actives would BE THE SAME whether Koppen or Connolly started. The other would be the Game Day backup interior lineman.
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One plan would be to start Connolly, and to make TWO changes if a guard is injured (Connolly to guard and Koppen to center).
If Connolly and Koppen are close to even at center, I would start Koppen, and have ONE change. This is especially true if Koppen has started several games at center while Connolly started at guard instead of an injured Mankins.
Thats what I mena though. He won't start a lesser play just so if there is an injury he doesnt have to move someone. He has never done that. If Connolly is better he isn't going to sit on the bench because if someone gets hurt no shifting of players is needed. Thats silly.
Cannon will be active, and be our backup at LT and RT. Cannon is our #3 OT, and Vollmer has had injuries. For 2012, Cannon is an OT. I suspect that he will remain so.
Given the players that we have, I believe that Cannon is expected to be able to play LT, unless we are counting on Gallery.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mgteich
I have Gallery as #8 at the moment, although until Mankins is back, that matters little.
I expect to see Gallery inactive if Mankins is healthy.
It's going to be a very tough numbers crunch for the likely 7 active OL spots, though I expect injuries will make it somewhat easier. Gallery has started 104 out of 105 games, so I kind of doubt the Pats brought him on board to be a game day inactive, but the math is brutal, and he could be the odd man out as you project.
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To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid
"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi
Yes. And so is Nick McDonald, who will likely make the team, even though I don't see that in some of the prognostications.
And don't think Deion Branch won't make the cut, despite the intense competition. I'm not even sure he has lost a step, judging from the SB when he was flying around like he was on high octane fuel. Only Brady didn't look for him enough for the first three quarters.
Yes. And so is Nick McDonald, who will likely make the team, even though I don't see that in some of the prognostications.
McDonald is basically a younger version of Connolly with a higher ceiling. He is only 24, and he is a potential future starting center or guard for the team. Rumors are that the Pats are very high on him, and he was widely praised for his performance in starting 2 games at center last year.
Reiss has speculated that Koppen's signing was to some degree an insurance move while the team sorted out the status of Waters and Mankins. But if Koppen ends up being a backup center with no positional versatility, Reiss has suggested that his roster spot may not be guaranteed. I'm sure that's controversial, but it will be interesting to see how things play out.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid
"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi
McDonald is really the guy I am keeping an eye out for. If he continues to impress he could claim the starting C position. A fully healthy lineup of:
Solder, Mankins, McDonald, Waters, Vollmer might be the most talented OL the Pats have fielded in a long time. If McDonald doesn't step up and claim a spot, Connolly or Koppen at C is still a very strong OL. And as some suggest, Connolly might start out at LG if Mankins needs more time to heal at the beginning of the season. We also have quality insurance at G/T with Gallery and Cannon waiting in the wings.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mayoclinic
McDonald is basically a younger version of Connolly with a higher ceiling. He is only 24, and he is a potential future starting center or guard for the team. Rumors are that the Pats are very high on him, and he was widely praised for his performance in starting 2 games at center last year.
Reiss has speculated that Koppen's signing was to some degree an insurance move while the team sorted out the status of Waters and Mankins. But if Koppen ends up being a backup center with no positional versatility, Reiss has suggested that his roster spot may not be guaranteed. I'm sure that's controversial, but it will be interesting to see how things play out.
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Last edited by VJCPatriot; 06-03-2012 at 04:51 PM..
McDonald is really the guy I am keeping an eye out for. If he continues to impress he could claim the starting C position. A fully healthy lineup of:
Solder, Mankins, McDonald, Waters, Vollmer might be the most talented OL the Pats have fielded in a long time. If McDonald doesn't step up and claim a spot, Connolly or Koppen at C is still a very strong OL. And as some suggest, Connolly might start out at LG if Mankins needs more time to heal at the beginning of the season. We also have quality insurance at G/T with Gallery and Cannon waiting in the wings.
I agree with you, though I suspect we are in the minority. I believe DaBruinz is also very high on McDonald. McDonald had never played center prior to being signed by Green Bay as a UDFA in 2010, and he seems to be a particularly quick study with a great combination of size, athleticism, processing speed and work ethic. I'm not sure he'll be ready to step up to a startin role this year, but I think he could bump Koppen off the roster and that he could be a starter by 2013 (with Connolly or Gallery taking over from Waters at RG). If he exceeds that, I'll be thrilled.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid
"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi
McDonald is basically a younger version of Connolly with a higher ceiling. He is only 24, and he is a potential future starting center or guard for the team. Rumors are that the Pats are very high on him, and he was widely praised for his performance in starting 2 games at center last year.
Reiss has speculated that Koppen's signing was to some degree an insurance move while the team sorted out the status of Waters and Mankins. But if Koppen ends up being a backup center with no positional versatility,Reiss has suggested that his roster spot may not be guaranteed. I'm sure that's controversial, but it will be interesting to see how things play out.
I don't think it'd be too controversial for reasons stated. We're paying both Koppen and Connolly starters money. If they feel like they're really happy with McDonald and Connolly wins over the starting job, then Koppen becomes very expendable.
Koppen won't play anything but Center...on his wage, he's going to ahve to get cut loose if beaten out...and I'd feel confident in McDonald backing up Connolly at Center.
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Re: Connolly - The Perfect Patriot OL
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