Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for seventh-round draft pick [merged]

[patchick]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

I think we all knew we would have some tradable guys that could end up as cuts, it's still weird in the NFL to actually see the trades happening though. Excellent to get a little value for some bubble guys though.

Totally agree. We always say "everybody will be circling to pick up the Pats' cuts!" but here's solid proof of it.

I'm struck by the number of player trades this team is working in general. IIRC since Pioli left in January they've:

TRADED AWAY
Cassel
Vrabel
L. Smith
Hochstein

TRADED FOR
Lewis
A. Smith
Burgess

That seems like an unusual amount of wheeling-dealing for the NFL.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Re: Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for late-round draft pick [merged]

Wish Russ well, he did pretty good for the Pats, especially since he couldn't block Sapp's grandmother

 

[tombonneau]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

True. But you have personnel depts out there ( KC, CLE and ATL) with similar philosophies on players. In theory, there would have been competition for him. Lord knows KC and CLE need the help on the o-line.

However, one has to assume that Caserio or Reese called those clubs, did their due dilligence and there wasn't any interest and did the best they could in finding a taker.

Exactly. Obviously if a guy is going to get cut and there are no other suitors, a 7 is worth more than nothing; however, I'd think there would be at a minimum a two-team market for Hochstein and they'd be able to parlay that interest into more than a 7th. Doesn't sound like it's confirmed yet, so maybe they got more.

And agree with those that say hopefully this isn't a vote of confidence for Yates. Rather some of the rooks are coming along.

 

[Synovia]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

This deal surprises me, since Russ was not only the primary back up G, but the back up C, GL FB and significant vet OLman. This also makes me shudder to think that Billy Yates might now make the team.

The thing about Hochstein, is that while he could play all these things, he wasn't very good at any of them. Having a guy who can play multiple positions too a not-abysmal level is valuable, but I think the idea with him was that he was versatile and had some upside.

he's 30+ now, and the upside is gone. If this means some young player with upside makes the team, great.

I also think this means that Ohrenberger or whatever the hell his name is has shown enough at Center to grab the backup job.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

Whoa! Who's gonna play Fullback on those goal line situations now?

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

Whoa! Who's gonna play Fullback on those goal line situations now?

Wendy is very happy right now.

 

[Reckedtrek]

Re: Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for late-round draft pick [merged]

I can't help but feel another deal is in the works and this was a piece of the puzzle... what's our biggest area of need right now? Meh- I'm probably just overthinking it- they were going to cut him anyway, so they took what they could get for him.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for late-round draft pick [merged]

I'm surprised the Pats traded Hochstein because he was so good as the short-yardage FB last year. In fact, Hochstein, besides doing that, was also a back-up long snapper, back up center and back-up guard. I seem to remember that he even played OT for part of a game when the Pats were without Light and then lost Ashworth during the game (2004 against Pittsburgh?)

 

[patchick]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

I also think this means that Ohrenberger or whatever the hell his name is has shown enough at Center to grab the backup job.

FWIW, I think Ohrnberger was at guard last week...Connolly was 2nd string center, Wendell 3rd?

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

FWIW, I think Ohrnberger was at guard last week...Connolly was 2nd string center, Wendell 3rd?

Neither Wendell nor Connolly has been impressive at Center, in my honest opinion. But, clearly BB thinks that they are better than Hochstein.

And yes, Ohrnberger was at guard last week. And it showed that he's been missing practices.. He didn't do a great job..

 

[spacecrime]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

I disagree. Obviously he was a bubble guy if he was being offered.....

????

Being offered for trade does not mean he was obviously a bubble guy.

Lots of guys are traded who would have made the team if not traded. Hochstein is one of them. Cassel is another.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Re: Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for late-round draft pick [merged]

i am a little bit surprised about it; he was a very solid OL back up

thanks Russ : good luck

 

[Urgent]

Re: Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for late-round draft pick [merged]

This also might mean that Wendell has made the team. He could be the driving force behind this move.

The team might be pleased with his development. I thought he would make it to the Practice Squad, but if he is in that 'improving profile' that Belichick talks about, his improvement could have driven the trade of Hochstein.

Otherwise, the spot could go to one extra LB or TE.

 

[spacecrime]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

Whoa! Who's gonna play Fullback on those goal line situations now?

Dave Thomas has been playing fullback the first two preseason games.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

????

Being offered for trade does not mean he was obviously a bubble guy.

Lots of guys are traded who would have made the team if not traded. Hochstein is one of them. Cassel is another.

Being traded for a #7 pick makes him a bubble guy. Cassel was a different beast for multiple reasons and we got a lot more back. If Hochstein were a lock to make the roster if not traded, we wouldn't have traded him for little.

 

[lamafist]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

????

Being offered for trade does not mean he was obviously a bubble guy.

Lots of guys are traded who would have made the team if not traded. Hochstein is one of them. Cassel is another.

What? That's a ridiculous comparison.

There's a huge difference between a QB with a one year cap charge of $12 million whom you've been offered the 36th overall pick for, and a guy who earns you a 7th round pick and only $50,000 of extra cap space.

 

[Urgent]

Re: Hochstein traded to Denver for a 7th round pick.

Dave Thomas has been playing fullback the first two preseason games.

Completely different question.
Even when the Patriots carried a traditional fullback, Dan Klecko or Richard Seymour or someone like that played goal line fullback.
Hochstein did it last year.

Thomas is sort of in the Heath Evans role, not quite the Russ Hochstein role.
Presumably Ohrnberger or Wendell or someone would take that.

 

[jmt57]

Re: Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for late-round draft pick [merged]

This also might mean that Wendell has made the team. He could be the driving force behind this move.

The team might be pleased with his development. I thought he would make it to the Practice Squad, but if he is in that 'improving profile' that Belichick talks about, his improvement could have driven the trade of Hochstein.

Otherwise, the spot could go to one extra LB or TE.

Wouldn't whomever replaces Hochstein need to be able to play center to backup up Koppen? I'm guessing Dan Connolly might end up making the roster.


Edit: I forgot about Wendell being able to fill in at center also.

 

[Urgent]

Re: Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for late-round draft pick [merged]

The big question right now is back-up center.

At the start of training camp, the team had Al Johnson and Russ Hochstein.
Both gone.

More evidence, I think, that Wendell is making the team.
He's the next back-up center.
He has been playing in rotation with the one's occasionally, and quite a bit with the two's.
He was picked up last year at the end of the season, and spent the entire off-season in their development program.

If not Wendell, I'm not sure who the back-up center is.
He is also versatile enough to play center-guard.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Re: Pats trade Hochstein to Broncos for late-round draft pick [merged]

The big question right now is back-up center.

At the start of training camp, the team had Al Johnson and Russ Hochstein.
Both gone.

More evidence, I think, that Wendell is making the team.
He's the next back-up center.
He has been playing in rotation with the one's occasionally, and quite a bit with the two's.
He was picked up last year at the end of the season, and spent the entire off-season in their development program.

If not Wendell, I'm not sure who the back-up center is.
He is also versatile enough to play center-guard.

I think you are spot-on.