Only 8 OL's in the top 45; 9 between 71-100

[mgteich]

BOTTOM LINE
1) If we want a guard or center, we may have to pounce on him at 33, or perhaps even at 28. Bobby Esch has four of OT's including Carimi) and Pouncy all gone by the time we pick at 28, leaving us the choice among Hudson, Weisnewski and Love.
2) This shows how important it is to re-sign Mankins and Light.

COMMENTS
A) It is is said that this is a thin draft.
B) I have used Huddle's rankings.
C) If we want top OL's, I think that we will need to us a pick in the top 45.
Vollmer was available at 58 in a much better draft (and most under-rated Vollmer)

D) There seem to be two groups of available OL's
0 in the top 16
8 from 17 to 45
9 from 71-100
===============

GROUP OF 8
E) It seems that the OT's will be drafted higher than their value because of the scarcity.
F) Many of these don't seem to pass even the grossest initial screening test
G) Initially, I would want to pick from Carimi, Pouncey and Weisnewski.

TACKLES
17 Sherrod 6 6 305
25 Solder 6 9 305
29 Castanzo 6 7 295
30 Carimi 6 7 325
44 Love 6 5 315

CENTERS
46 Weisnewski 6 3 298

GUARDS
37 Pouncey 6 5 320
39 Hudson 6 2 290

 

[Ochmed Jones]

While I think BB resigns Light, I still think that when you examine our zone blocking scheme and watch what teams run in college, there are two players in this draft that scream future Patriot.

1.) Clint Boling of UGA. Played OT and OG for UGA, but I see him as purely an OG for us. Nasty flat back drive blocker with decent feet and the ability to sink his hips in pass protection. Knee bender and not a waist bender. Decent balance and uses his hands well.

2.) Lee Ziemba of Auburn. Same size as Vollmer and a four year SEC starter to boot. Excellent drive blocker with above average power, strong hands, decent feet and handled all those SEC Speed rushers fairly well from day one in the SEC.

If we need a center, I like the kid from TCU Fitspatrick, I think. Had a great bowl game against much bigger DT's from Wisconsin.

 

[jays52]

They only reason they zone is because they are undersized at LT, C, and RG. Nearly every defense in the NFL right now is an upfield one. Anyone with a cursory understanding of football knows that the number one rule of zone is deny penetration. Scrap that sh!t zone and back to the directional scheme to recover your toughness on O and sacrifice that agility for more linear power and footwork. The line needs an overhaul.

 

[BelichickFan]

The line needs an overhaul.

I'm assuming that Vollmer, Light and Mankins (if we can re-sign the latter two) are the only ones you want back ? I know I want a stronger, bigger Center and Neal just gets hurt way too quickly.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

While I think BB resigns Light, I still think that when you examine our zone blocking scheme and watch what teams run in college, there are two players in this draft that scream future Patriot.

1.) Clint Boling of UGA. Played OT and OG for UGA, but I see him as purely an OG for us. Nasty flat back drive blocker with decent feet and the ability to sink his hips in pass protection. Knee bender and not a waist bender. Decent balance and uses his hands well.

2.) Lee Ziemba of Auburn. Same size as Vollmer and a four year SEC starter to boot. Excellent drive blocker with above average power, strong hands, decent feet and handled all those SEC Speed rushers fairly well from day one in the SEC.

If we need a center, I like the kid from TCU Fitspatrick, I think. Had a great bowl game against much bigger DT's from Wisconsin.

Jake Kirkpatrick. He's my number one center for this draft. Good size, strong, mobile. Only played center for a couple years, but was good enough to win the Rimington award this year. Impressive learning curve.

I'd love to see us add Nate Solder as a RT, too. I think Light moves on, at long last--he gave up 10 sacks this year, even though he was mostly solid. Time to resign Mankins and see what Vollmer can do on the left side.

 

[jays52]

I'm assuming that Vollmer, Light and Mankins (if we can re-sign the latter two) are the only ones you want back ? I know I want a stronger, bigger Center and Neal just gets hurt way too quickly.

I want Vollmer, Mankins, and Koppen back. The left side of the line. I want a guy who will takeover for Koppen drafted this year but will redshirt the 2011 season. I think Kaczur will move to RG, and if he can take his tampon out should start 16 games there at a fairly high level. Never thought he had the feet for tackle, and was always soft when it came to dings and dents. The only thing I really want high is a right tackle.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Jake Kirkpatrick. He's my number one center for this draft. Good size, strong, mobile. Only played center for a couple years, but was good enough to win the Rimington award this year. Impressive learning curve.

I'd love to see us add Nate Solder as a RT, too. I think Light moves on, at long last--he gave up 10 sacks this year, even though he was mostly solid. Time to resign Mankins and see what Vollmer can do on the left side.

Is Mankins worth 8 plus million per season? I can;t answer that, but I do know that once he returned our offense seemed to take off. Could be a coincidence, or maybe not.

Solder improved after a very rough start to the season. Maybe Dante could work with him on technique and Woicik work with him on quickness.

 

[Sciz]

Would Connolly be an upgrade over Koppen at center?

 

[DaBruinz]

The number of O-linemen in the top 100 will vary depending on which site you look at. NFLDraftScout.com has 14 in the top 100.. Not a lot when you consider that there are 3 positions on the O-line.

It's going to be interesting to see what the Pats do..

 

[Boston Boxer]

While I think BB resigns Light, I still think that when you examine our zone blocking scheme and watch what teams run in college, there are two players in this draft that scream future Patriot.

1.) Clint Boling of UGA. Played OT and OG for UGA, but I see him as purely an OG for us. Nasty flat back drive blocker with decent feet and the ability to sink his hips in pass protection. Knee bender and not a waist bender. Decent balance and uses his hands well.

2.) Lee Ziemba of Auburn. Same size as Vollmer and a four year SEC starter to boot. Excellent drive blocker with above average power, strong hands, decent feet and handled all those SEC Speed rushers fairly well from day one in the SEC.

If we need a center, I like the kid from TCU Fitspatrick, I think. Had a great bowl game against much bigger DT's from Wisconsin.

I agree...good post

 

[mgteich]

Yes, there are differences. However whether the total is 14 or 17, the total is small. Also, ther may be a number different than 8 in the first 50, but that is about right, very small since we would LIKE to be able to consider 2011 or 2012 starters at all three positions (depending on re-signings at any of the 5 OL positions).

It will indeed intersting to see what happens early. I expect a bit of reaching considering that if a team misses this early opportunity at te arly 6-9, there is a major drop before the second 6-9, with no guarantees that they will get their player then.

If only 1/2 the teams get ONE offensive lineman in the first 3 rounds, then the other half will get none. There just aren't many available.

The number of O-linemen in the top 100 will vary depending on which site you look at. NFLDraftScout.com has 14 in the top 100.. Not a lot when you consider that there are 3 positions on the O-line.

It's going to be interesting to see what the Pats do..

 

[Fencer]

If you look at the current batch of Pro Bowl OL (2011 Pro Bowl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is a useful link):

The tackles were taken high, including three in the top four picks. Exception: UDFA Jason Peters.

The guards were often taken low, including multiple UDFAs.

The centers were taken all over the place. And that's without former Pro Bowlers Birk (UDFA), Saturday (UDFA), or Koppen (5th).

 

[Warren94]

I like Costanzo from BC as a LT needs to get stronger and Barksdale from LSU... do like Boling from Georgia...Ben Ijalana for a Guard/Center position.

 

[Warren94]

little snippet on Barksdale: 49 knockdown blocks in 779 snaps. He leads the team with 38 straight starts

 

[everlong]

I don't claim to understand all the nuances of O-line play but on the topic of Koppen it seems to me he's still an average pass blocker. They do scheme protections to help him out. Where he fails is as a run blocker. He simply cannot win a one on one matchup and always requires help. Against big NTs he gets dominated. I really don't see us being able to run up the middle on 3rd and just over a yard while he's the starter.

I agree on Fitspatrick of TCU and scrapping the zone blocking. Hat on a hat.

 

[UofApatsfan]

Is Mankins worth 8 plus million per season?

Yes. It's not even a question anymore. Our interior offensive line was bad enough with him.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Yes. It's not even a question anymore. Our interior offensive line was bad enough with him.

The whole interior or just Koppen?

 

[UofApatsfan]

WOW.. Such intelligent comments.

Koppen is under contract for next year, but he was only an average O-lineman this year. much of the interior O-line problems were the result of his miscalls.

Kaczur will be 32 before the season starts and he's perpetually injured.. Not to mention he's got a history of back injuries.

The Pats need an OT and OC to develop and an OG who can start.

I agree with all of this except that I think you're too kind calling Koppen an average O-lineman. So basically IMO they need a C and RG who can start ASAP and a LT who can takeover for Light in 1-2 years, I'd still resign Light because you don't want too many new faces on the line at once. With the uncertainty at C and RG, we need Vollmer, Light and Mankins back so there is at least some continuity.

I guess the one good thing about losing to the Jets is that now our first round pick is in front of Chicago's and Pittsburgh's, two teams that also need major help up front.

 

[UofApatsfan]

The whole interior or just Koppen?

Koppen and Connolly.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Koppen and Connolly.

I still think we draft Kirkpatrick in round three, Orhsberger packing and give Kirkpatrick a red shirt year while Koppen plays out his contract.

At OG, we need to draft Bolings this year and then Barrett Jones of Alabama next year regardless of whether we resign Mankins or not.