Can Connolly play center?

[convertedpatsfan]

I know Connolly was the back-up at center and guard last season, and even filled in when Koppen got injured against Miami last season.

Koppen has really struggled this season, and Connolly has looked pretty good filling in for Mankins. Different positions, way more responsibilities involved, but do you think Connolly could handle it full-time? If he's not ready, do you think he's capable of being groomed for the position?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Can he? Yes. Will he over Koppen? Not without an injury.

 

[The Dynasty]

I think Koppen has had a very solid season. The issues on the OL this year have been Light and Connolly. Mankins coming back knocks Connolly out of the starting line up. Not really sure what games you have been watching to say that Koppen has struggled and Connolly has looked good. He's been decent filling in for Mankins but he has also received help on a lot of plays especially from Koppen

 

[billdog3484]

wasnt connelly drafted as a center?

 

[ATippett56]

wasnt connelly drafted as a center?

No.

NFL Draft Scout----Powered By: The Sports Xchange

 

[WhiteWesWelker88]

noooo



we find our C in the draft.......


Mike Pouncey who I was high on has looked awful snapping the ball under center........




this could be good b/c his stock will surely plummet after the many mistakes at -C- this year....... very big, tall and strong.

I still like him b/c he is a versatile cat that can play G....... Can he be an ok pro center w/ grooming.... (idk) he should be worth the gamble imo if he falls beyond round 2..... (could happen)

 

[DarrylS]

Have seen this a couple of times, about how poorly Koppen is playing.. however it all seems to be conjecture, rather than reality.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I think Koppen has had a very solid season. The issues on the OL this year have been Light and Connolly. Mankins coming back knocks Connolly out of the starting line up. Not really sure what games you have been watching to say that Koppen has struggled and Connolly has looked good. He's been decent filling in for Mankins but he has also received help on a lot of plays especially from Koppen

Have seen this a couple of times, about how poorly Koppen is playing.. however it all seems to be conjecture, rather than reality.

It's hard to quantify individual OL play, and whenever you see a missed block, you can't really blame one person since the entire line has to communicate, and the QB should be setting the protection as well. So there will probably be a lot of disagreement on his play. But he turned 31 at the beginning of this season, and I'm more interested in the future and whether Connolly is an option. Interior O-line was considered an area where we lacked depth before the season started and I'm wondering if we might draft a center or a guard next year.

As for Koppen, he has always struggled with larger tackles. I think that's a general consensus that Reiss and many others have mentioned when discussing the Pats. But this year, Koppen has been pushed back a bit more than I can remember.

He played a real solid game against the Vikings against some very good tackles. But he really struggled at times against San Diego and Baltimore. Of course Baltimore also features Haloti Ngata who goes between end and tackle, and that'd be a tough match-up for anyone. But there were several times Koppen got pushed back, blowing up entire running plays. But Antonio Garay blew by him easily for a sack in the San Diego game.

Again, it's a hard thing to quantify, and my eyes could definitely be lying to me since you rarely see much of a center unless they screw up and a DT or blitzer runs by them to sack the QB. Football Outsiders also shows our OL as one of the better ones in the league so far, and runs up the middle are solid across the board, so it hasn't been a major weakness.

But I do wonder if Connolly is the guy to take over at some point, or whether we'll have to draft someone.

 

[ALP]

also in this last game, on many running plays it seemed that a DT was allowed to go through EXTREMELY quick...it ended up not hurting us any of the 2-4 times it happened, but the defender was almost on top of brady before he had a chance to hand the ball to the back....

that defender always came from the center of the OL...maybe not koppen's fault, but sure seemed like it

also...pouncy is with PITT, no? drafted last yr 2nd round?

 

[reflexblue]

As of this week the Pats O-line is ranked 3rd best in the NFL as far as sacks hits and hurries. When people say that the line isn't playing well they're wrong.

 

[jaychamp]

Have seen this a couple of times, about how poorly Koppen is playing.. however it all seems to be conjecture, rather than reality.

Probably from the sight of Ngata throwing him around like a rag doll, but I think he does that to a lot of lineman. I think his overall body of work has been pretty good to this untrained eye

 

[reflexblue]

Probably from the sight of Ngata throwing him around like a rag doll, but I think he does that to a lot of lineman. I think his overall body of work has been pretty good to this untrained eye

It seems like some people see him getting beat a couple of times and thats all they remember. All of a sudden Koppen or Connaly or Light can't play any more.

 

[BradyManny]

Can he? Yes. Will he over Koppen? Not without an injury.

Belichick did say Connolly was pushing for starting playing time last season - the question is, whose spot was he pushing? Was it a healthy Neal? Very doubtful. A healthy Mankins? Also, very doubtful. That leaves Koppen, who to my eyes, has struggled worse than any offensive lineman on our team dating back to preseason.

I don't think its far fetched that Connolly usurps starting C from Koppen at some point in the near or distant (next season) future. Koppen has had mighty struggles in both pass and run blocking, and his only asset - and granted its a huge one - is his smarts. If Connolly can pick up those smarts, then - no pun intended - its a no brainer he takes over the job.

I'm not sure what games people are watching who think Koppen hasn't had problems. Keep these games on the DVR and re-watch, folks, the guy has truly been a matador at times. At this point, I've seen every one of these games twice (save for the last), and it's clear he is the weakest link on the line. Doesn't mean he's brutal, but he's their weakest lineman. And in the run blocking game, he is frankly, at times useless for his inability to get to the second level when they ask him to.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

It seems like some people see him getting beat a couple of times and thats all they remember. All of a sudden Koppen or Connaly or Light can't play any more.

Do you have a spy cam in my house Sundays? Watching fast pass rushers almost get around Light to Brady I curse Light, whom I like both as a player and a funny character. Days after the game sanity returns and I appreciate how on most every play Light keeps his man away from The Franchise, most often single handedly.

 

[borg]

Brady's accuracy is dependent on his form...being able to step into his throws. When the push comes up and through the middle, his technique gets disrupted and the completion % drops. He can't scramble like Brees and tacklers don't bounce off him like Big Ben. I've been waiting for BB to address Koppen's weakness...slowing down big NTs....With 6 picks in the first 3 rounds, I'm hoping the 2011 draft will be the year to reinforce the C position

 

[Kontradiction]

Have seen this a couple of times, about how poorly Koppen is playing.. however it all seems to be conjecture, rather than reality.

Koppen was abused by the venerable Mike DeVito on top of Haloti Ngata. He also struggled (along with the entire left side of the line) in the Chargers game. In the Minnesota game, I didn't notice him as much. But, to be honest, I was kind of indisposed and was only watching the game in quick glances. I've been someone who has traditionally defended Koppen, because he traditionally hasn't been as bad as people have made him out to be. This year hasn't been the case so far.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

also in this last game, on many running plays it seemed that a DT was allowed to go through EXTREMELY quick...it ended up not hurting us any of the 2-4 times it happened, but the defender was almost on top of brady before he had a chance to hand the ball to the back....

that defender always came from the center of the OL...maybe not koppen's fault, but sure seemed like it

also...pouncy is with PITT, no? drafted last yr 2nd round?

Maurkice Pouncey was drafted in the 1st round by Pittsburgh this year. His twin brother Mike is still at Florida.

 

[WhiteWesWelker88]

also in this last game, on many running plays it seemed that a DT was allowed to go through EXTREMELY quick...it ended up not hurting us any of the 2-4 times it happened, but the defender was almost on top of brady before he had a chance to hand the ball to the back....

that defender always came from the center of the OL...maybe not koppen's fault, but sure seemed like it

also...pouncy is with PITT, no? drafted last yr 2nd round?

dude they are Twins.... Maurquice was a Pitt 1st rounder btw. ( Maurquice and Mike) Brothers and twins.

edit- did not see the other post

 

[Kontradiction]

Maurkice Pouncey was drafted in the 1st round by Pittsburgh this year. His twin brother Mike is still at Florida.

Believe me, you don't want Mike as your center. You want him as your guard.

 

[captain stone]

I thought that Connolly was our full-time short-yardage FB? Just shows how irrelevent on offense
Sometimes Sammy is now, I guess. Damn, we need a real FB badly.

When Connolly was on the field the previous 2 yrs, I thought he did a better job at Center than at Guard.
I see no reason why he cannot take some snaps at Center for a series or 2, esp. in running situations when a little more bulk is required, or when facing a 3-4 defense with a larger NT.

If Bill doesn't believe that Connolly is a viable long-term replacement for Koppen, then Bill must find that replacement during this off-season. Too bad that Tampa claimed Ted Larsen during the final cuts; I think that Bill would've re-signed him to the PS with the expectation that he could develop into at least a better backup than either of the 2 untalented midgets Wendell & OBurger.