Rapoport: Connolly receives extension through 2011

[pats1]

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: Rap Sheet Blog Archive Patriots OL Dan Connolly receives a contract extension through 2011

After earning close to the minimum in 2008, Connolly (63 in the picture) will make $600,000 in 2010 and $725,000 in 2011. His salary in 2009 will now be $743,333, indicating he likely received a signing bonus of several hundred thousand dollars to go along with his new deal. He earned $460,000 in 2009.

He follows Kaczur (2012), LeVoir (2011), Banta-Cain (2011), Ninkovich (2011), Aiken (2011), and Alexander (2010) to receive an extension since the summer.

Connolly was set to be an RFA under no new CBA, or a UFA under a new CBA.

 

[Kontradiction]

For the love of God, why?

 

[pats1]

For the love of God, why?

Why not? He's Russ Hochstein 2.0. He can play both G and C and backup both at an adequate level, and make spot starts. In fact, I thought he played very well against the Dolphins and Panthers. Breer, who also breaks down tape, agrees. I think ProFootballFocus.com also rated him highly for those games. Haven't seen the Bills game rating yet.

 

[Deus Irae]

After earning close to the minimum in 2008, Connolly (63 in the picture) will make $600,000 in 2010 and $725,000 in 2011. His salary in 2009 will now be $743,333, indicating he likely received a signing bonus of several hundred thousand dollars to go along with his new deal. He earned $460,000 in 2009.

It looks like it's a Christmas bonus for this year, and it will still be an easy financial cut if they get rid of him next year.

 

[Kontradiction]

Why not? He's Russ Hochstein 2.0. He can play both G and C and backup both at an adequate level, and make spot starts. In fact, I thought he played very well against the Dolphins and Panthers. Breer, who also breaks down tape, agrees. I think ProFootballFocus.com also rated him highly for those games. Haven't seen the Bills game rating yet.

I know he's versatile, but I'm not sure what ProFootballFocus.com is watching. I won't disagree with Breer since he watched the coaches tape and might see something different, but I saw him get blown off the ball more than a few times against the Dolphins, Panthers, and the Bills. Same as Koppen as well. I guess the signing is good for depth, though.

 

[pats1]

I know he's versatile, but I'm not sure what ProFootballFocus.com is watching. I won't disagree with Breer since he watched the coaches tape and might see something different, but I saw him get blown off the ball more than a few times against the Dolphins, Panthers, and the Bills. Same as Koppen as well. I guess the signing is good for depth, though.

As far as I know, Breer doesn't watch the coaches tape.

Connolly had a solid game against the Dolphins. If you want to talk about getting blown off the ball, Koppen and Kaczur were doing plenty of that.

 

[mayoclinic]

Wrapping up a versatile OL at a cheap price for the long term is a good thing. If we end up with better options, if will be a small price to pay for long term security. He'll end up being our #5 OG/C.

Koppen/Ohrnberger/Connolly are locked up. Resign one of Mankins/Neal (preferably Mankins because of age and injury issues with Neal) and draft a replacement, and the position should be set. Koppen should be more effective if we can get a quality RG playing next to him.

 

[Kontradiction]

As far as I know, Breer doesn't watch the coaches tape.

Connolly had a solid game against the Dolphins. If you want to talk about getting blown off the ball, Koppen and Kaczur were doing plenty of that.

The whole right side of the offensive line was. Koppen especially, though. He had Starks one on one in the second half and managed to make Starks look like an all-pro NT. Both Koppen and Kaczur stand to see their play elevated when Stephen "Beast" Neal comes back healthy.

 

[pats1]

The whole right side of the offensive line was. Koppen especially, though. He had Starks one on one in the second half and managed to make Starks look like an all-pro NT. Both Koppen and Kaczur stand to see their play elevated when Stephen "Beast" Neal comes back healthy.

I'm not doubting that, although I'm not sure Neal has much of a future with this team, given his age and injury history (it should also be noted that Kaczur is 30). Connolly, as a versatile and dependable backup, does.

It's a cheap money deal, low-risk. Nothing to fret about.

 

[Kontradiction]

Wrapping up a versatile OL at a cheap price for the long term is a good thing. If we end up with better options, if will be a small price to pay for long term security. He'll end up being our #5 OG/C.

Koppen/Ohrnberger/Connolly are locked up. Resign one of Mankins/Neal (preferably Mankins because of age and injury issues with Neal) and draft a replacement, and the position should be set. Koppen should be more effective if we can get a quality RG playing next to him.

Agreed on re-signing Mankins instead of Neal. Neal is a beast but injury issues have directly led to more hits on Brady. On top of that, the injuries have been an issue for the past two years.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm not doubting that, although I'm not sure Neal has much of a future with this team, given his age and injury history (it should also be noted that Kaczur is 30). Connolly, as a versatile and dependable backup, does.

It's a cheap money deal, low-risk. Nothing to fret about.

If Connolly must come in for starting reps, I would personally like to see him at center over RG. I think he can be far more effective as a center.

 

[pats1]

Wrapping up a versatile OL at a cheap price for the long term is a good thing. If we end up with better options, if will be a small price to pay for long term security. He'll end up being our #5 OG/C.

Koppen/Ohrnberger/Connolly are locked up. Resign one of Mankins/Neal (preferably Mankins because of age and injury issues with Neal) and draft a replacement, and the position should be set. Koppen should be more effective if we can get a quality RG playing next to him.

Agreed on re-signing Mankins instead of Neal. Neal is a beast but injury issues have directly led to more hits on Brady. On top of that, the injuries have been an issue for the past two years.

Exactly. I would also throw Wendell into the mix; I think he is to Connolly what Yates was to Hochstein (on and off the PS).

I don't see Neal re-signing next season. However, whether the Pats go to Connolly or Ohrnberger to replace him, that still is a downgrade, at least in the short term. The Pats may want to draft another body there.

 

[pats1]

If Connolly must come in for starting reps, I would personally like to see him at center over RG. I think he can be far more effective as a center.

I don't think Koppen has played poorly enough to be supplanted, though. BB has said he's the best center he's ever coached at making line calls. Those are critical when dealing with complex blitz pickup schemes against teams like the Steelers, Ravens, and Jets.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't think Koppen has played poorly enough to be supplanted, though. BB has said he's the best center he's ever coached at making line calls. Those are critical when dealing with complex blitz pickup schemes against teams like the Steelers, Ravens, and Jets.

Yeah, I agree he shouldn't be supplanted. I was more or less talking about a scenario in which injuries effect both the RG and C spots. Sorry about that as I should have specified.

 

[mayoclinic]

I don't see Neal re-signing next season. However, whether the Pats go to Connolly or Ohrnberger to replace him, that still is a downgrade, at least in the short term. The Pats may want to draft another body there.

I don't see either Connolly or Ohrnberger being an acceptable replacement for Neal. I think we take an OG in the first 75 picks. Mike Iupati, Gabe Carimi (if he declares), Vlad Ducasse, Mike Johnson, Mike Pouncey (reportedly declaring), Rodger Saffold, Shawn Lauvao, Jon Asamoah and Zane Beadles are all possibilities, in approximately that order of preference.

 

[Deus Irae]

Agreed on re-signing Mankins instead of Neal. Neal is a beast but injury issues have directly led to more hits on Brady. On top of that, the injuries have been an issue for the past two years.

I wouldn't be shocked if the team had Neal graded higher than Mankins for 2008 and 2009.

Also, in looking at Football Outsiders for info on O-line play, I found something very interesting. I'm sure you can recall some of the Maroney threads where people were pissing and moaning about LoMo getting caught in the backfield. Well, check out the stuffed percentage and ranking, and then look at the "longer runs" data. I think you'll find it very interesting.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2009 OFFENSIVE LINES

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don't see Neal re-signing next season.

I agree. Maybe they can figure something out with him. Hes as tough as they come but often-hurt and getting up there in age.

 

[mayoclinic]

I don't think Koppen has played poorly enough to be supplanted, though. BB has said he's the best center he's ever coached at making line calls. Those are critical when dealing with complex blitz pickup schemes against teams like the Steelers, Ravens, and Jets.

I think Koppen's poor play is due mainly to weakness on the right side of the line. Koppen is smart and a great line signal caller, but he's not particularly powerful at either run blocking or at holding off the big NTs. He needs help from LG and RG. Kaczur has also needed help from RG, and with Neal out we've been weak at RG. Having Vollmer at RT should free up the RG to help Koppen out. Having a strong, healthy RG should help Koppen out a lot. Neal is fine when he's healthy and in the lineup, but we just can't count on that any more.

 

[mayoclinic]

I wouldn't be shocked if the team had Neal graded higher than Mankins for 2008 and 2009.

I wouldn't be surprised either. But the issue for me is Neal's age and health. He just can't stay on the field. His absence arguably cost us the 2008 SB, and it has hurt us badly the past 2 seasons. I'll take a healthy Mankins over an injured Neal any day.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I wouldn't be shocked if the team had Neal graded higher than Mankins for 2008 and 2009.

Also, in looking at Football Outsiders for info on O-line play, I found something very interesting. I'm sure you can recall some of the Maroney threads where people were pissing and moaning about LoMo getting caught in the backfield. Well, check out the stuffed percentage and ranking, and then look at the "longer runs" data. I think you'll find it very interesting.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2009 OFFENSIVE LINES

.......but for the folks that complain that LoMo doesn't hit the home runs, they have something to back that up.