BB on the OT situation

[mayoclinic]

This from the Globe yesterday:

Belichick hints (again) at tackle situation's future - Extra Points - Boston.com

Belichick called out Vollmer for his rare ability to apparently play both LT and RT equally comfotable. I've been one of those suggesting we move Matt Light to RT and keep Vollmer at LT, where he's clearly our future. Sound's like BB doesn't like that idea:

"'In my brilliance,' Belichick said with a smile, 'I put [Light] at right tackle as a rookie. It didn’t really work out at all. He has the physical skills to play over there. But, then, he just … Matt’s just a left tackle. When you look at his skills, I don’t think you look at him and say, ‘Well, I don’t think he has the skills to play right tackle.’ But he’s just much more comfortable on the left side and he’s a much better left tackle than he was a right tackle, when we tried to play him there his rookie year. Once we got him back to left tackle, he was a much better football player. That was his rookie year, so maybe if it was his third year, he would’ve adjusted to it better. I don’t know, we just left him at left because he’s done a good job for us over there.'"

Sounds like we'll be seeing Light at LT and Vollmer at RT for much of the remainder of the season. I have nothing against Light, but I feel that Vollmer is our future at LT, so I would like to get him anchored there as soon as possible.

 

[BelichickFan]

Playing future LT at RT as rookies isn't that uncommon, this is a good situation and I never thought they'd move Light to RT at this point in the season at this point in his career.

The interesting thing is what they do this offseason :

Keep Light, Vollmer and Kaczer and have Kaczer as a good swing backup.
Keep Light, Vollmer and Kaczer and move Kaczer to Guard as many think he can play.
Cut/trade Light, save $4M or so and have Vollmer and Kaczer at LT/RT.
Cut/trade Kaczer and have Light and Vollmer at LT/RT.

Kaczur's new contract is a little tricky with an option bonus. He looks cuttable WRT the cap but I doubt that's the plan. A lot of draft people thought he'd be a Guard when drafted, putting him at Neal's spot (unless Neal is re-signed) could work well. They may be ready to move on from Light and save the money, though.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Playing future LT at RT as rookies isn't that uncommon, this is a good situation and I never thought they'd move Light to RT at this point in the season at this point in his career.

The interesting thing is what they do this offseason :

Keep Light, Vollmer and Kaczer and have Kaczer as a good swing backup.
Keep Light, Vollmer and Kaczer and move Kaczer to Guard as many think he can play.
Cut/trade Light, save $4M or so and have Vollmer and Kaczer at LT/RT.
Cut/trade Kaczer and have Light and Vollmer at LT/RT.

Kaczur's new contract is a little tricky with an option bonus. He looks cuttable WRT the cap but I doubt that's the plan. A lot of draft people thought he'd be a Guard when drafted, putting him at Neal's spot (unless Neal is re-signed) could work well. They may be ready to move on from Light and save the money, though.

According to Miguel (emphasis mine):

"The deal includes an option bonus of $3.5 million. It is not known when the option bonus is due, but there is a clause in the contract that says if the option is not exercised, Kaczur's base salary would jump to $2.72 million in 2009. That seems to mean that Kaczur's option bonus is due at some point this year. Kaczur also has workout bonuses of $100,000 in 2010, 2011, and 2012."

 

[102 Pat]

He might of been saying that to also try to keep the Bills guessing if he might line up at RT on sunday. You never know with BB!

 

[Bill B.]

I would keep Levoir over Kaczur as a swing backup. The times tht he has stepped in and played, I thought he did well. Better tan Kaczur anyway.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

This from the Globe yesterday:

Belichick hints (again) at tackle situation's future - Extra Points - Boston.com

Belichick called out Vollmer for his rare ability to apparently play both LT and RT equally comfotable. I've been one of those suggesting we move Matt Light to RT and keep Vollmer at LT, where he's clearly our future. Sound's like BB doesn't like that idea:

"'In my brilliance,' Belichick said with a smile, 'I put [Light] at right tackle as a rookie. It didn’t really work out at all. He has the physical skills to play over there. But, then, he just … Matt’s just a left tackle. When you look at his skills, I don’t think you look at him and say, ‘Well, I don’t think he has the skills to play right tackle.’ But he’s just much more comfortable on the left side and he’s a much better left tackle than he was a right tackle, when we tried to play him there his rookie year. Once we got him back to left tackle, he was a much better football player. That was his rookie year, so maybe if it was his third year, he would’ve adjusted to it better. I don’t know, we just left him at left because he’s done a good job for us over there.'"

Sounds like we'll be seeing Light at LT and Vollmer at RT for much of the remainder of the season. I have nothing against Light, but I feel that Vollmer is our future at LT, so I would like to get him anchored there as soon as possible.

That's the lineup I'd like to see as well. Vollmer shouldn't have a problem switching to LT when Matt's time is done here, Kaczur was an LT his rookie season and was able to switch. Will be interesting to see what the teams plans are for Matt next year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I would keep Levoir over Kaczur as a swing backup. The times tht he has stepped in and played, I thought he did well. Better tan Kaczur anyway.

I've supported Kazur in the past but his ankle injuries are impeading his ablity to handle the speed rushers on the outside.

Vollmer has a ways to go but he seemed to do pretty well vs Peppers on Sun.

 

[mayoclinic]

I would keep Levoir over Kaczur as a swing backup. The times tht he has stepped in and played, I thought he did well. Better tan Kaczur anyway.

I would, too, especially if I could get something for Kaczur in a trade.

 

[mgteich]

I indicated yesterday that I thought that Vollmer's play at RT was solid and important. It seems that I agree with coach.

Now, Belichick has three options open with Light: trade, extend (best option for me), starting LT and starting LG (if Mankins goes). AS belichick stated, Light is NOT a RT. We are much better off trading Light than moving him to RT for a year.

Belichick also has options for Kaczur: starting RT, starting RG, backup OT, and backup OG.

This is a solid position to be in for 2010. With Light and Vollmer as starters (and LeVoir and Kaczur as backups), there is no pressure at all to draft a tackle.

The "problem" on the offensive line is that we have ZERO starting guards signed for 2009 and we have weak depth. Personally, I think that we are solid at OT for 2010 although I would be fine with drafting a developmental OT and keeping Kaczur as a backup or starting OG and OT.

 

[mayoclinic]

I indicated yesterday that I thought that Vollmer's play at RT was solid and important. It seems that I agree with coach.

Now, Belichick has three options open with Light: trade, extend (best option for me), starting LT and starting LG (if Mankins goes). AS belichick stated, Light is NOT a RT. We are much better off trading Light than moving him to RT for a year.

Belichick also has options for Kaczur: starting RT, starting RG, backup OT, and backup OG.

This is a solid position to be in for 2010. With Light and Vollmer as starters (and LeVoir and Kaczur as backups), there is no pressure at all to draft a tackle.

The "problem" on the offensive line is that we have ZERO starting guards signed for 2009 and we have weak depth. Personally, I think that we are solid at OT for 2010 although I would be fine with drafting a developmental OT and keeping Kaczur as a backup or starting OG and OT.

It's possible we could trade Kaczur, if someone was willing to offer anything. I have no idea what his value would be.

As you say, we're in a solid position for 2010, and there is no pressure to draft a tackle. That doesn't mean that we couldn't draft a RT if the value was there, as the long term future should clearly have Vollmer at LT.

My 3 favorite OG prospects for the Pats are all guys with the athleticism to possibly play RT as well: Seniors Mike Iupati (who has exception feet for his size, and who some teams are rumored to be considering as a potential OT) and Vladimir Ducasse (who has played LT and has good feet), and junior Gabe Carimi of Wisconsin. Any of these guys could be drafted to succeed Neal at RG, but could potentially be moved to RT long term if the need/opportunity arose.

 

[oldskool138]

I thought this thread was about "Over Time" when I saw it up on the board.

 

[Kontradiction]

Nothing against you, mayoclinic, but I never really understood why people would want Light at RT considering he's been playing LT for the better part of the decade now. Playing RT would be extremely awkward for him.

 

[mayoclinic]

Nothing against you, mayoclinic, but I never really understood why people would want Light at RT considering he's been playing LT for the better part of the decade now. Playing RT would be extremely awkward for him.

It seems BB agrees with you.

My take wasn't that RT would be "easy" for Light, though I think he could make the adjustment. It was more a case of Vollmer being the future at LT for us, so why keep him parked at RT for the next couple of years?

 

[Kontradiction]

It seems BB agrees with you.

My take wasn't that RT would be "easy" for Light, though I think he could make the adjustment. It was more a case of Vollmer being the future at LT for us, so why keep him parked at RT for the next couple of years?

I've always said "let him cut his teeth at RT for the season". The logic behind this is that Light is not a Patriot in 2010 (which I could very well be wrong on) and an experienced Vollmer takes his place at LT.

 

[mayoclinic]

I've always said "let him cut his teeth at RT for the season". The logic behind this is that Light is not a Patriot in 2010 (which I could very well be wrong on) and an experienced Vollmer takes his place at LT.

Light is under contract for 2010. I don't mind Vollmer cutting his teeth this year, but I'd hate to prolong establishing him at LT, where I see him as a future pro bowler, for any longer than this year. That's part of why I've suggested that Light might be traded in the offseason, and an RT drafted.

 

[Kontradiction]

Light is under contract for 2010. I don't mind Vollmer cutting his teeth this year, but I'd hate to prolong establishing him at LT, where I see him as a future pro bowler, for any longer than this year. That's part of why I've suggested that Light might be traded in the offseason, and an RT drafted.

Agreed. That's really what I meant by saying "Light is not a Patriot in 2010". It really wouldn't suprise me if he is traded.

 

[mgteich]

I agree that RG/RT prospects (I call them roadgraders) are what we need in the next offseason.

It's possible we could trade Kaczur, if someone was willing to offer anything. I have no idea what his value would be.

As you say, we're in a solid position for 2010, and there is no pressure to draft a tackle. That doesn't mean that we couldn't draft a RT if the value was there, as the long term future should clearly have Vollmer at LT.

My 3 favorite OG prospects for the Pats are all guys with the athleticism to possibly play RT as well: Seniors Mike Iupati (who has exception feet for his size, and who some teams are rumored to be considering as a potential OT) and Vladimir Ducasse (who has played LT and has good feet), and junior Gabe Carimi of Wisconsin. Any of these guys could be drafted to succeed Neal at RG, but could potentially be moved to RT long term if the need/opportunity arose.

 

[mgteich]

I suspect that Belichick and dante evaluate Light more highly than almost anyone on this board. I don't see the great advantage of trading him for a 2010 2nd or 3rd and create a hole at OT compared to waiting and letting whatever new OT play fof a year before being counted on the fulltime starter. This has worked with Vollmer.

If no one here really wants Kaczur or LeVoir as 2010 starters, there is absolutely no reason to trade Light in order to start the season with a rookie at RT.

I would not be surprised to see Light extended. In any case, 2010 is fine with him there.

 

[mayoclinic]

I suspect that Belichick and dante evaluate Light more highly than almost anyone on this board. I don't see the great advantage of trading him for a 2010 2nd or 3rd and create a hole at OT compared to waiting and letting whatever new OT play fof a year before being counted on the fulltime starter. This has worked with Vollmer.

If no one here really wants Kaczur or LeVoir as 2010 starters, there is absolutely no reason to trade Light in order to start the season with a rookie at RT.

I would not be surprised to see Light extended. In any case, 2010 is fine with him there.

I suspect you are correct in your assessment. What I don't like about it is that it delays Vollmer's move to LT, where he is the future. But I agree with you that BB and Scar probably value Light more than we do, and that with the OG situation being up in the air they are not likely to tinker with the OT position as well if Light/Vollmer proves to work well.

As I previously said, I could see us drafting a roadgrader who can play RG or RT, with some flexibility to eventually move to RT once Light is done and Vollmer moves to LT. Or, they could leave that guy at RG and bring in a new tackle.

I expect we'll see Light at LT and Vollmer at RT for the rest of the year, and will have to see how it works out before re-evaluating the situation. But at this point, your analysis seems sound.

 

[jbb9s]

i hope they keep Kaz around.

if he rolls on the pats as fast as he did on his dealer, the 2009 patriots playbook will a league-wide coffee table book as soon as he leaves the team.