After reading this, I am even MORE concerned about our OL - Page 3 - New England Patriots Forums

***BelichickFan*** · 08-06-2008, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PATRIOTSFANINPA

No,I don't think Pollard is a strong blocking tight end,but is he any less than Thomas and Watson right now?

From what I've seen over the years, Pollard may be our weakest blocking TE. But even if he were pretty good he's have to be really good to offset the younger legs of Watson/Thomas who are average blockers IMO.

***NEPatriot*** · 08-06-2008, 09:31 AM

4 preseason games will tell us how OL perform.

The Boston Patriot · 08-06-2008, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patjew

overrated and unreliable vs speed.

PJ, don't watch the SB DVD again as you will see an entire OL that fits that
description. I keep wondering if that game is that watershed moment that
every team finds itself in and the cracks, that always appear, start to become
more serious than simply sticking a finger in them to stop the deterioration.
Or, maybe I am just so bummed after watching the SB game the other night
and trying to understand how that OL could possibly play that poorly.

PonyExpress · 08-06-2008, 09:38 AM

For some reason the only thing I'm worried about is the team's state of mind after last season.

If Light is healthy the O-line will be adequate. Kaczur can move to RG and o'Callahan can handle RT. The team will use Dave Thomas and the rbs in the passing game more to control the pass rush.

Depthwise that still leaves you Hochstein and Yates, with kaczur having the ability to flex to LT if Light goes down. He did it well as a rookie.

Dfresh429 · 08-06-2008, 09:44 AM

It is easy to panic, but don't forget. The season is over a month away. I have no doubt that neal and light will be in the starting line-up. In the meantime, this gives the backups a chance to get some playing time.

spacecrime · 08-06-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoLewisrocks

That's what we all thought prior to kickoff last February, too...

The OL remains my primary concern because as they go so potentially goes The Franchise. This is when losing that 31st pick really bites. They needed to address the linebackers and corners, but they might have been well served to address the trenches as well. Ultimately that is where games are won or lost irrespective of how much talent you possess behind them.

This OL back at full strength was still something of a concern - was that last game an abboration or a precursor of things to come... That OLine back in dissaray due to injuries limiting the LT and RG is a potential nightmare. Signing Jordan leads me to believe BB's default approach is to try to insure we have a running game come hell or high water because irrespective of the talent at QB and WR the Giants proved once again that disciplined defense wins championships - particularly when facing an unbalanced and frankly one dimentional offense (however prolific).

We're doomed.

We ain't winning more'n five-six games this year, anyway, so might as well tank as many as we can and then use a top-three pick next year to snag the top Olinesman in the draft. Maybe they'll be another Robert Gallery or something.

OTOH, our Oline was so bad in 2001, that our starting LG was signed after the cutdown to 53, picking up a guy who Green Bay cut at the end of training camp.

Time will tell.

spacecrime · 08-06-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Boston Patriot

PJ, don't watch the SB DVD again as you will see an entire OL that fits that
description. I keep wondering if that game is that watershed moment that
every team finds itself in and the cracks, that always appear, start to become
more serious than simply sticking a finger in them to stop the deterioration.
Or, maybe I am just so bummed after watching the SB game the other night
and trying to understand how that OL could possibly play that poorly.

Every team has a bad week or two during the season. The 2001 Rams and 2007 Patriots picked the wrong week. Likewise, sometimes a team gets hot and peaks at exactly the right moment, like the 2001 Patriots and 2007 Giants.

Why would anyone take one game out of 19 and say, "This is the real team, the other 18 games were aberrations."

Isn't it more likely that the ONE different game was an aberration?

How people can be so depressed with a team that won every regular season game last year, went 18-1 overall and returned 90% of its core is beyond me.

Even Chicken Little would lilke the 2008 Patriots.

***Deus Irae*** · 08-06-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacecrime

Every team has a bad week or two during the season. The 2001 Rams and 2007 Patriots picked the wrong week. Likewise, sometimes a team gets hot and peaks at exactly the right moment, like the 2001 Patriots and 2007 Giants.

Why would anyone take one game out of 19 and say, "This is the real team, the other 18 games were aberrations."

Isn't it more likely that the ONE different game was an aberration?

How people can be so depressed with a team that won every regular season game last year, went 18-1 overall and returned 90% of its core is beyond me.

Even Chicken Little would lilke the 2008 Patriots.

Chicken Little had nothing on New England fans who were forged in the fire of over 80 years following the Red Sox. A New England team could have the GOAT at every position on the team and some people would still cry about team depth.

BradyManny · 08-06-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoLewisrocks

That's what we all thought prior to kickoff last February, too...

The OL remains my primary concern because as they go so potentially goes The Franchise. This is when losing that 31st pick really bites. They needed to address the linebackers and corners, but they might have been well served to address the trenches as well. Ultimately that is where games are won or lost irrespective of how much talent you possess behind them.

This OL back at full strength was still something of a concern - was that last game an abboration or a precursor of things to come... That OLine back in dissaray due to injuries limiting the LT and RG is a potential nightmare. Signing Jordan leads me to believe BB's default approach is to try to insure we have a running game come hell or high water because irrespective of the talent at QB and WR the Giants proved once again that disciplined defense wins championships - particularly when facing an unbalanced and frankly one dimentional offense (however prolific).

To be honest, and maybe I'm just telling myself this so I feel better, I don't think the 31 pick could've been used to help the OL that much. Tackles were going like crazy in the first round, and I think everybody we'd be interested was gone by then - and then the guards that seemed like good fits didn't start going until round 3. We could've taken one of those guys and they didn't, so that means they must have faith in Britt and or Yates and or O'Cal.

As for the OL - I was reading a season preview the other day, and they had a brief scouting report from an opposing coach for each team. For the Pats, the main point was that "Brady makes the offensive line look better than it is". I and some others echoed these thoughts in a thread recently to some criticism, but coming from an NFL coach, it has to be taken seriously.

I think its accurate - as long as Brady is there, and now especially w Moss and Welker, he can take a fairly solid line and make it great. Bottom line, the OL will probably be OK no matter who they plug in.

***Deus Irae*** · 08-06-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradyManny2344

To be honest, and maybe I'm just telling myself this so I feel better, I don't think the 31 pick could've been used to help the OL that much. Tackles were going like crazy in the first round, and I think everybody we'd be interested was gone by then - and then the guards that seemed like good fits didn't start going until round 3. We could've taken one of those guys and they didn't, so that means they must have faith in Britt and or Yates and or O'Cal.

As for the OL - I was reading a season preview the other day, and they had a brief scouting report from an opposing coach for each team. For the Pats, the main point was that "Brady makes the offensive line look better than it is". I and some others echoed these thoughts in a thread recently to some criticism, but coming from an NFL coach, it has to be taken seriously.

I think its accurate - as long as Brady is there, and now especially w Moss and Welker, he can take a fairly solid line and make it great. Bottom line, the OL will probably be OK no matter who they plug in.

Well, they could have packaged pick #31 with other picks and moved up. In an ideal scenario, they could have gotten Clady (or whichever OT they rated highest) and still moved up to get Mayo. Without pick #31, there was no chance of that happening.