I don't see the problem.
-- If Light is not re-signed, Vollmer or Kaczur slide in as starting LT, even if LeVoir plays at RT the downside isn't major.
---- Scar prepared by kidnapping a TE to OT conversion from Houston and developing him, there's early indications of progress which may translate into reserve depth if not more.
---- Scar & BB held onto LeVoir all last season even after Ojinnaka went ahead of him, prior planning prevents etc.
-- If Mankins is not re-signed, NE has a greater challenge. That said, they have been preparing for this for a couple seasons now:
---- I believe Orhnberger has been grooming to be Neal's heir at RG. He's developed slower than people might like, but Scar hasn't cut ties with him. The kid reminds me a little of Andruzzi.
---- Connolly and Wendell proved adequate as reserves, and Connolly a plug & play starter. We can get through a season with one or the other.
---- Levoir is primarily in the OT mix, but he was a LG for Notre Dame before being kicked out to RT.
---- Kaczur is in the mix for everything but C.
---- Austin was groomed on the PSquad, he was a solid OG in college.
The big anxiety is where is the equivalent or greater talent to replace these two players, yet time and again we see NE plugging in a Scar recycling program kid and rolling right along at the same speed. Let's take a worst case scenario, Light is signed elsewhere and Mankins wins in court to remove the franchise tag. NE's left side is kaput!
Left Tackle:
-- Kaczur started 11 games for Light as a rookie playing next to another rookie on a team which made it to the divisional round before melting down and handing the game over. For all the hand wringing over his back, I give you Gronkowski - let's not borrow trouble until it arrives.
-- Vollmer, 'nuff said.
-- Two adequate options before the draft, what me worry?
Left Guard:
-- Connolly.
-- Wendell played pretty well last season. I think he can, at minimum, get NE through a season okay.
-- LeVoir, it's one of his old college starting positions from Notre Dame.
-- Kaczur, Neal's retirement shut down the budget cut whispers, he's in the mix.
-- Ohrnberger and Austin could get a chance to step up.
-- It's a downgrade anyway you slice it before the draft, but not so much of one as some seem to think.
-- The draft, forget the Pouncey bouncy top Guards, who are the second and third tier Left Tackles? Need I remind people Logan Mankins was a projected third round pick from a mid-major school in 2005 with the expectation he was moving inside to G? Do the same thing NE did in 2005 to replace Andruzzi, draft one LT conversion early and one later, then let them compete. Scar got two starters out of those moves. There is one small school All-American and two SEC kids projected from as high as late first to early third who apparently have sufficient athleticism to play on NE's O-line. All have LT experience. Life is good in Patriot Nation.
Worst case scenario O-line, before the draft:
Kaczur - Connolly - Koppen - Ohrnberger - Vollmer
I start Big O over Wendy because the latter is a better plug & play option for all three interior slots, I also think Big O needs a little more position stability to get his best out of him.
I keep Vollmer at RT for stability, this puts three "regular" starters back on the line to smooth out any wrinkles. Connolly has more experience playing inside Kaczur from Kac's RT days. The two 2010 starters bookend the new RG.
With Wendell and LeVoir as primary reserves it may not be the strongest O-line NE has had, but it will get the job done.
