Dan Koppen!

[PATSNUTme]

I was thinking the other day how Koppen does not get enough credit or appreciation.

He stepped in as a rookie in 2003 and has played well every year since then. He was starting center on 2 SB winnig teams and the 2007 team that went 16-0. He did male the Pro Bowl that year.

All he does is call the line plays, get the ball back to TFB, and oh yes take on beasts like Casey Hamton, Kris Jenkins, and the like. There has only been 2 games since 2003 that I have noticed him get beat. One was the SB againts the Giants when the entire OL was getting beat and the other was in San Diego when J. Williams knocked him back several times.

He's not mentioned as being one of the elite NFL centers, but he's having another solid year and I'd hate to replace him.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

 

[Lampshade]

I was thinking the other day how Koppen does not get enough credit or appreciation.

He stepped in as a rookie in 2003 and has played well every year since then. He was starting center on 2 SB winnig teams and the 2007 team that went 16-0. He did male the Pro Bowl that year.

All he does is call the line plays, get the ball back to TFB, and oh yes take on beasts like Casey Hamton, Kris Jenkins, and the like. There has only been 2 games since 2003 that I have noticed him get beat. One was the SB againts the Giants when the entire OL was getting beat and the other was in San Diego when J. Williams knocked him back several times.

He's not mentioned as being one of the elite NFL centers, but he's having another solid year and I'd hate to replace him.

Well said. He's having a very good year again, but usually only gets mentioned when he has a bad play. I never worry about him, never worry about his line calls, and never worry about bad snaps.

 

[JackBauer]

Koppen has been a valued contributor for some time, but calling his performance this year "very good" is a bit of an overstatement. I'd say he's been mixed, at best. Though he has looked better (the entire OL has) since Mankins returned.

 

[jmt57]

True, the only time a player like Koppen is mentioned is after a penalty or sack, a bad play or a bad game like the ones you mentioned. Similar to long snappers, the less often they are noticed, the better they are playing.

Thursday will be a big challenge for Koppen and the coaching staff, facing DT Ndomakung Suh.

 

[BTTA]

Thursday will be a big challenge for Koppen and the coaching staff, facing DT Ndomakung Suh.

This is one of the two story lines in the game (the other being Johnson vs. our D backs). The only way the Detroit D will slow down the Pats is if Suh has a monster game. And he is very capable of it.

 

[DaBruinz]

I was thinking the other day how Koppen does not get enough credit or appreciation.

He stepped in as a rookie in 2003 and has played well every year since then. He was starting center on 2 SB winnig teams and the 2007 team that went 16-0. He did male the Pro Bowl that year.

All he does is call the line plays, get the ball back to TFB, and oh yes take on beasts like Casey Hamton, Kris Jenkins, and the like. There has only been 2 games since 2003 that I have noticed him get beat. One was the SB againts the Giants when the entire OL was getting beat and the other was in San Diego when J. Williams knocked him back several times.

He's not mentioned as being one of the elite NFL centers, but he's having another solid year and I'd hate to replace him.

I've noticed Koppen getting beat numerous times since the 2007 SB. Including the play-off game against Baltimore when Koppen blew the Protection that allowed Ray Lewis in on Brady, resulting in a sack.

Koppen was horrible in the Jets game this year and was mediocre against Buffalo. He handled Casey Hamption this year, but Hamption isn't the player he used to be.

Koppen is one of the players I don't expect back next year unless it's as a reserve..

 

[Lampshade]

I've noticed Koppen getting beat numerous times since the 2007 SB. Including the play-off game against Baltimore when Koppen blew the Protection that allowed Ray Lewis in on Brady, resulting in a sack.

Koppen was horrible in the Jets game this year and was mediocre against Buffalo. He handled Casey Hamption this year, but Hamption isn't the player he used to be.

Koppen is one of the players I don't expect back next year unless it's as a reserve..

The call was fine, Maroney just got blown up by Lewis.

Buffalo was quite possibly one of the best games he's ever played. He was absolutely dominating in the run game.

Jets game I really don't fancy re-watching.

I'll be as shocked as it's possible to be if he's not starting center next year.

 

[Ilikehappyppl]

I like Dan and the whole O-line for that matter, just a great group we have this year and have had in years past.

 

[DaBruinz]

The call was fine, Maroney just got blown up by Lewis.

Wrong. The call wasn't fine. First off, it's the center's responsibility to pick up any LB who may come through the interior on a delayed blitz. Koppen didn't. Second, Koppen actually opened up the hole that Lewis came through because Koppen slid over to help Mankins even though Mankins didn't need help. Lastly, Maroney was over behind Neal and Connolly, where he was supposed to be. He was lucky to get as much of Lewis as he did. Maroney didn't do a lot of things right, but that is one of the things he did do correctly.

Buffalo was quite possibly one of the best games he's ever played. He was absolutely dominating in the run game.

Jets game I really don't fancy re-watching.

I'll be as shocked as it's possible to be if he's not starting center next year.

We'll just have to agree to disagree because Buffalo wasn't that great a game for Koppen. Not in pass protection.

Oh, go back and watch the Baltimore game as well. I'm fairly certain that Koppen was the one who blown up by Haloti Ngata for the 2 sacks of Brady.

 

[sbpatfan]

Can you really blame Koppen for getting blown up 1v1 vs Ngata?

 

[PATSNUTme]

We can all point to some games when a player has a bad day. But Koppen has been solid at center since 2003 and I do expect him to stay at that position for several years to come.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[mgteich]

Yes, the team will need to decide whether to try to extend Koppen (2011) and Light (2010). I agree with you that I expect them both to be extended if we can.

Our OL ahs been solid and consistent for years.

We now have added Vollmer. Connolly shares a roster spot with Neal.

The team has to consdier what to do on the left side in 2010 since both Light and Mankins have no contract for 2011.

Koppen is the least of their worries at the moment, although upgrading the backups who could potentially be starters is always a reasonable thing to do. I don't expect any of the follwoing to be quality starters anytime soon: Ohrnberger, Wendell, LeVoir and Ojinnaka. I would note that Ojinnaka seems to have a role as a backup at both OT and OG.

We can all point to some games when a player has a bad day. But Koppen has been solid at center since 2003 and I do expect him to stay at that position for several years to come.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Lampshade]

Wrong. The call wasn't fine. First off, it's the center's responsibility to pick up any LB who may come through the interior on a delayed blitz. Koppen didn't. Second, Koppen actually opened up the hole that Lewis came through because Koppen slid over to help Mankins even though Mankins didn't need help. Lastly, Maroney was over behind Neal and Connolly, where he was supposed to be. He was lucky to get as much of Lewis as he did. Maroney didn't do a lot of things right, but that is one of the things he did do correctly.

We'll just have to agree to disagree because Buffalo wasn't that great a game for Koppen. Not in pass protection.

Oh, go back and watch the Baltimore game as well. I'm fairly certain that Koppen was the one who blown up by Haloti Ngata for the 2 sacks of Brady.

It's certainly not always the center's responsibility. On that particular play Baltimore brought three LBs up the middle on a zone blitz. Koppen picked up one, Neal had the 3rd, and Maroney got run over by the 2nd. Wasn't a perfect protection call, but had Maroney slowed down Lewis even slightly there were easy completions there. Brady also clearly didn't recognise it.

I honestly don't know how you can disagree on the Buffalo game. He was outstanding in every facet. Maybe you're thinking of one of the games last year.

Yep, Ngata abused him twice. I'm sure every center in the league has a similar story to tell.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yes, the team will need to decide whether to try to extend Koppen (2011) and Light (2010). I agree with you that I expect them both to be extended if we can.

Our OL ahs been solid and consistent for years.

We now have added Vollmer. Connolly shares a roster spot with Neal.

The team has to consdier what to do on the left side in 2010 since both Light and Mankins have no contract for 2011.

Koppen is the least of their worries at the moment, although upgrading the backups who could potentially be starters is always a reasonable thing to do. I don't expect any of the follwoing to be quality starters anytime soon: Ohrnberger, Wendell, LeVoir and Ojinnaka. I would note that Ojinnaka seems to have a role as a backup at both OT and OG.

Hmm. Koppen will be 32 at the start of the 2011 season. I don't expect BB to do anything about his contract until the current one has expired.

Same with Light.

 

[DaBruinz]

It's certainly not always the center's responsibility. On that particular play Baltimore brought three LBs up the middle on a zone blitz. Koppen picked up one, Neal had the 3rd, and Maroney got run over by the 2nd. Wasn't a perfect protection call, but had Maroney slowed down Lewis even slightly there were easy completions there. Brady also clearly didn't recognise it.

I don't know what play you are talking about, but that isn't what happened. On the play, Lewis came in on a delayed blitz after Koppen moved over to help Mankins. Koppen had not been engaged otherwise. Mankins was tied up with Ngata towards the B-Gap. Suggs was on Light. Gregg (I think) was on Neal and the other D-lineman was on Kaczur with the LOLB tied up by our TE... Maroney was shifted that way by Brady to pick up the anything. Maroney did chip Lewis, but it happened to be in the same direction Brady had shifted over towards as well..

I honestly don't know how you can disagree on the Buffalo game. He was outstanding in every facet. Maybe you're thinking of one of the games last year.

I can disagree very easily with you because Kyle Williams is the one that toasted Koppen to get to Brady for the sack. Williams was putting pressure up the middle all day long. To say that Koppen was outstanding in every facet is just BS..

Yep, Ngata abused him twice. I'm sure every center in the league has a similar story to tell.

Ngata has abused Koppen every time they've played against one another.

 

[DaBruinz]

Hmm. Koppen will be 32 at the start of the 2011 season. I don't expect BB to do anything about his contract until the current one has expired.

Same with Light.

Koppen's deal runs through the 2011 season.. For some reason, I thought it only ran through 2010. Light's contract, on the other hand, expires at the end of this season. He'll be 33 in June. I can't see the Pats giving him more than a 2 year deal.. And that is only if he doesn't decide to hang them up.

 

[Kontradiction]

Koppen has looked much better since Mankins has returned. However, that still doesn't mean that we can't afford to upgrade the center position with a bigger body early on in the draft. Furthermore, he made Mike DeVito look like the best NT in the NFL in the first Jets game.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Koppen's deal runs through the 2011 season.. For some reason, I thought it only ran through 2010. Light's contract, on the other hand, expires at the end of this season. He'll be 33 in June. I can't see the Pats giving him more than a 2 year deal.. And that is only if he doesn't decide to hang them up.

I'm with ya. Hes "only" making $2.9m in 2011 so I don't forsee one of those suprise veteran trades/cuts that BB is famous for.

 

[UofApatsfan]

Ngata has abused Koppen every time they've played against one another.

I actually agree that Koppen has been inconsistent and unreliable since the 07 season, but you can't fault him for not being able to block Ngata 1 on 1. There isn't a center in the NFL who can.