Kazcur at Left Guard?; Possibility and outlook

[Brady2Welker]

As evident by OTA, the Patriots have decided to see how Kazcur would fair as our left guard. I've heard mixed thoughts about this, one thing is that it may be able to optimize our tackle situation by having both our best tackles on the field. Anyway; I was wondering if we could consolidate our information and theories on how he'd perform in this new position. I've read that Kazcur likely has the power necessary, and the lower need for athleticism would meet his talent allowing him to succeed. What do you guys think?

 

[SanAngeloState]

I said this before the draft, that we should trade mankins and move kaczur to LG.

I was asked by someone "Have you actually played football, i mean actually played? Really? Really? To ask such a question"?

I would love to see them put him there or Light, whatever.

Mankins is gone, 7M a year is an insult, lol, OK, good luck with that.

Don't know what happens when we can't get any picks for this guy cause no one wants to pay his huge salary demands.

 

[Kontradiction]

I said this before the draft, that we should trade mankins and move kaczur to LG.

I was asked by someone "Have you actually played football, i mean actually played? Really? Really? To ask such a question"?

I would love to see them put him there or Light, whatever.

Mankins is gone, 7M a year is an insult, lol, OK, good luck with that.

Don't know what happens when we can't get any picks for this guy cause no one wants to pay his huge salary demands.

There's always someone out there in need of a good guard in his prime that will pay his salary demands. It's just a matter of whether or not the Patriots want to move him and what they'll get in return.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

As evident by OTA, the Patriots have decided to see how Kazcur would fair as our left guard. I've heard mixed thoughts about this, one thing is that it may be able to optimize our tackle situation by having both our best tackles on the field. Anyway; I was wondering if we could consolidate our information and theories on how he'd perform in this new position. I've read that Kazcur likely has the power necessary, and the lower need for athleticism would meet his talent allowing him to succeed. What do you guys think?

I think Kazcur can play OG. He comes off the ball with a fairly flat back and does generate push. Moving form the right side to the left side means learning new combo blocking assignments, but that is not a deal breaker. As far as run blocking goes, I think he is better suited for OG than OT.

As for the pass however, the key is can he sink his hips against giant mostly bull rushers that are going to get on his shoulder real quickly. There is a big difference between pass blocking 240-270 pound outside speed rushers and pass blocking against 330 pound DT's.

Bottom line is Kazcur's technique will be critical to his survival inside. I would love to have Mankins back, but since BB passed on drafted Alabama OG Mike Johnson, Kazcur is the best remaining option we have.

 

[JackBauer]

I think Kazcur can play OG. He comes off the ball with a fairly flat back and does generate push. Moving form the right side to the left side means learning new combo blocking assignments, but that is not a deal breaker. As far as run blocking goes, I think he is better suited for OG than OT.

As for the pass however, the key is can he sink his hips against giant mostly bull rushers that are going to get on his shoulder real quickly. There is a big difference between pass blocking 240-270 pound outside speed rushers and pass blocking against 330 pound DT's.

Bottom line is Kazcur's technique will be critical to his survival inside. I would love to have Mankins back, but since BB passed on drafted Alabama OG Mike Johnson, Kazcur is the best remaining option we have.

Ochmed is upset BB didn't draft an Alabama player.

In other news, the sun rose in the east this morning.

 

[jeffbiologist]

I cant argue with the OTAs, but it makes the most sense to shift only 1 lineman not the whole line. Is Vollmer the LT? If so, it makes more sense to use Light there as he cant play the right side for beans. Whow knows, maybe Kazcur is more fliexible...

 

[BradyManny]

I think Kazcur can play OG. He comes off the ball with a fairly flat back and does generate push. Moving form the right side to the left side means learning new combo blocking assignments, but that is not a deal breaker. As far as run blocking goes, I think he is better suited for OG than OT.

As for the pass however, the key is can he sink his hips against giant mostly bull rushers that are going to get on his shoulder real quickly. There is a big difference between pass blocking 240-270 pound outside speed rushers and pass blocking against 330 pound DT's.

Good post. Its one thing for us to talk about Kaczur at OG, its another how he projects, and its good to see some real analysis on the subject.

 

[Rob0729]

I think Kazcur is better suited at guard than tackle. Him moving to LG is a significant downgrade from Mankins, but it might not be an Armeggedon type of deal.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Good that Mankins wants out. I don't want his over hyped butt on the Pats if he's going to be payed an absurd amount of cash that he thinks he deserves.

 

[captain stone]

I think Kazcur can play OG. He comes off the ball with a fairly flat back and does generate push. Moving form the right side to the left side means learning new combo blocking assignments, but that is not a deal breaker. As far as run blocking goes, I think he is better suited for OG than OT.

As for the pass however, the key is can he sink his hips against giant mostly bull rushers that are going to get on his shoulder real quickly. There is a big difference between pass blocking 240-270 pound outside speed rushers and pass blocking against 330 pound DT's.

Bottom line is Kazcur's technique will be critical to his survival inside. I would love to have Mankins back, but since BB passed on drafted Alabama OG Mike Johnson, Kazcur is the best remaining option we have.

I agree. OxyKaczur is not only the best remaining option we have, he is the only remaining option we have. I think he'll do OK there, for the reasons Ochmed stated.

OL has now become a very, very high priority in next year's draft, as in: 2 of the top 4 picks high.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

A big test I guess will be if he has quick enough feet to get out and block on screen passes

 

[mgteich]

It seems rather obvious to try to start our top five offensive linemen. It is also seems right to move only one player if possible. Starting Kaczur at LG fills the bill best if it works. An alternate much discussed is Light at LG and Vollmer at LT. I presume that both of these combinations will be tried. In addition, one presumes that Connolly and Orhnberger will also be tried at LG if the top five starters aren't the best combination.

 

[Simkin]

kazcur at LG??? going to tank or what

 

[captain stone]

kazcur at LG??? going to tank or what

You have a better idea?

 

[Kontradiction]

kazcur at LG??? going to tank or what

Hopefully not as badly as he did at RT. We night as well have put a swinging door in there during some games, especially the ones where Stephen Neal was not in the line-up.

 

[ausbacker]

Hopefully not as badly as he did at RT. We night as well have put a swinging door in there during some games, especially the ones where Stephen Neal was not in the line-up.

Whilst I'm not exactly high on Kaczur he was playing through blown up knees or ankles last season wasn't he?

Which ever way we look at it, this is going to force changes to the Pats o-line long term. That may not necessarily be a bad thing.

 

[patfanken]

Hopefully not as badly as he did at RT. We night as well have put a swinging door in there during some games, especially the ones where Stephen Neal was not in the line-up.

Kazcur was NOT a disaster at RT, just not an all pro. I'm OK with trying him there, but I'm also on record wanting to see Light move down. He has the power and the pass blocking skills to play there. He also wouldn't have the moving from right to left issue, which as more to do with footwork and stance, than play recognition. Then we'd have a super side with Light and Volmer and a right side of Neal and Kazcur. Lavoir would back up the tackles and the best of the youngsters would back up the Gs and C.

Personally I think they will work out some kind of one year deal for Mankins giving him a raise (double) what he was due, and promise NOT to franchise him, and get him in camp with the idea that he will move on in 2011.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with all your comments.

I would note that a 2011 franchise is not much of an issue since he would be getting top LT money as a franchisee.

Kazcur was NOT a disaster at RT, just not an all pro. I'm OK with trying him there, but I'm also on record wanting to see Light move down. He has the power and the pass blocking skills to play there. He also wouldn't have the moving from right to left issue, which as more to do with footwork and stance, than play recognition. Then we'd have a super side with Light and Volmer and a right side of Neal and Kazcur. Lavoir would back up the tackles and the best of the youngsters would back up the Gs and C.

Personally I think they will work out some kind of one year deal for Mankins giving him a raise (double) what he was due, and promise NOT to franchise him, and get him in camp with the idea that he will move on in 2011.

 

[stinkypete]

Mankins has delusions of grandeur. He is not the best guard in the game, but he wants to be paid like the best guard in the game. $7 million a year is too much money to be dedicating to a interior lineman unless you have Hannah 2.0 on your hands.

I think a team will give up some kind of compensation for Mankins. If you look at the money thrown at Leonard Davis and that guy Buffalo signed a few years back (his name escapes me), somebody will be willing to give that up for Mankins.

As for Kaczur, I thought he played some guard in college, didn't he? I don't see him having too much trouble sliding into that spot.

 

[mgteich]

1) Light has to be at least an OPTION at left guard.

2) I agree that Kaczur will likely be our starting LG if Mankins isn't signed to a one-year deal. After all, Kaczur played reasonably well at LT in his rookie year. He can indeed play on the left side. He is not an all-pro guard, but he certainly is serviceable. The patriots have played in the playoffs and Superbowls with street free agents and lowlevel free agents. Kaczur projects to be as good as many guards we have played in the Kraft ewra.

3) I have more concerns at RIGHT GAURD when Neal is injured this year. Playing Kaczur at LG is fine, but then we are might thin when Neal is injured, unless you a believer in Connolly.

4) Why didn't we draft a guard? One must believe that either the team is fine with our five starters without Mankins or the team thinks that they can sign him to a one-year contract and get hiom to play well for 2010 (ala Samuel who they got to sign a franchise tender after a holdout).

I agree. OxyKaczur is not only the best remaining option we have, he is the only remaining option we have. I think he'll do OK there, for the reasons Ochmed stated.

OL has now become a very, very high priority in next year's draft, as in: 2 of the top 4 picks high.