Nick McDonald

[RobertWeathers]

**Actually it's McDonald**. I'd change the OP title but I don't know how.

Thoughts on his play yesterday? Seemed to hold his own. I like his size.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: Nick MacDonald

Was not aware that Wendell was hurt, something has to be said about a 4th string practice player playing center with all of its responsibilities, he did not appear to make any mistakes. Thank you Dante Scarnecchia..

OTOH may have been a factor as to why our running game had difficulty gaining traction..

 

[resdubwhite]

Re: Nick MacDonald

Was not aware that Wendell was hurt, something has to be said about a 4th string practice player playing center with all of its responsibilities, he did not appear to make any mistakes. Thank you Dante Scarnecchia..

OTOH may have been a factor as to why our running game had difficulty gaining traction..

HOpefully thats the case.

Lack of a running game yesterday was a real concern.

THere are still some weeks to fix it.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Nick MacDonald

Was Wendall hurt enough that he couldn't play or did the Pats use this opportunity to audition McDonald and use Wendall in an emergency if he failed?Belichick auditioned a lot players yesterday from Matthew Slater at S, Niko Koutouvides at OLB, and Nate Jones at S.

 

[RayClay]

**Actually it's McDonald**. I'd change the OP title but I don't know how.

Thoughts on his play yesterday? Seemed to hold his own. I like his size.

You're obviously not a knowledgeable fan. Don't you know BB was just toying with the Colts? He picked that guy up in the Home depot parking lot just for laughs and made him the center. Didn't you see McDonald get up and give the defense the raspberry after he snapped the ball and do the Colts horseshoe dance?

I can't believe you were fooled by your eyes into thinking he played a fine game, keeping in rhythm with Brady during all those no huddles.

You need to read some of the fine sports writers who know this game was all a joke and BB put him in there just for laughs because the Colts didn't really want to win.

 

[patsfan-1982]

he did a realy good job vs the colts small DT's but i dont want him starting in the playoffs vs the big NT's in the AFC

 

[RayClay]

By the way, for those who think BB would throw a center into an NFL game to experiment...

Have you ever seen a game where an unprepared center was thrown in? I have. It's pretty damn funny. It's not a position where you can hide. The wheels on the bus pretty much all come off.

 

[mgteich]

This was not an experiment. Center is the last position where one would experiment.

 

[Rob0729]

By the way, for those who think BB would throw a center into an NFL game to experiment...

Have you ever seen a game where an unprepared center was thrown in? I have. It's pretty damn funny. It's not a position where you can hide. The wheels on the bus pretty much all come off.

I don't know if it was an experiment per sea, but that Wendell might have been able to play if he had to. I am say that Belichick may have felt that he would try to go with someone healthy and give him a shot than go with the guy not 100%.

BTW, Scarnnechia has been masterful throwing any lineman on the line and hiding them. it's tougher with a center because he has to handle the snap, but they can still be hidden to a certain extent. The Pats started their 4th center this year yesterday and the there has been little drop off all year than what Koppen could give them. That kinda counters the "you can't just throw a center in there and hide them". I think Scar can.

 

[Mark Morse]

I thought McDonald's play was remarkable considering he had zero snaps (or playing time ) in a regular season NFL game. He did not look out of place and held his own against a good pass rushing team. He played at DII level Grand Valley St which also meant that he didn't face top competition in college.

He may have been part of the problem we had running the ball yesterday, but for his 1st game at a critical position, he did great!

PS I now wonder if Taylor Price's release was for his lack of production/ personal performance issues or the fact that the Patriots needed the roster spot for McDonald because they knew that Wendell couldn't go?

 

[mgteich]

Obviously, Belichick needed the roster spot. You need to ask yourself why Price was cut instead of Underwood.

.

PS I now wonder if Taylor Price's release was for his lack of production/ personal performance issues or the fact that the Patriots needed the roster spot for McDonald because they knew that Wendell couldn't go?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

By the way, for those who think BB would throw a center into an NFL game to experiment...

Have you ever seen a game where an unprepared center was thrown in? I have. It's pretty damn funny. It's not a position where you can hide. The wheels on the bus pretty much all come off.

Unprepared or unskilled. The Bills downfall coincided with losing their center and Fitz chasing and losing shotgun snaps all game. Then there was the Mangold less Jets, an offense with total sand in the gears. The wheels really DO come off. Kudos to the 3 backup OCs and to Dante, by FAR the best position coach on the staff.

 

[mgteich]

Given the injuries, I would like to see him stay on the 53 through the end of the year. That will give us Wendell and McDonald signed for 2012. Koppen and Connolly are free agents.

 

[RobertWeathers]

You're obviously not a knowledgeable fan. Don't you know BB was just toying with the Colts? He picked that guy up in the Home depot parking lot just for laughs and made him the center. Didn't you see McDonald get up and give the defense the raspberry after he snapped the ball and do the Colts horseshoe dance?

I can't believe you were fooled by your eyes into thinking he played a fine game, keeping in rhythm with Brady during all those no huddles.

You need to read some of the fine sports writers who know this game was all a joke and BB put him in there just for laughs because the Colts didn't really want to win.

Yep. Thats why I come to this board- To gitz edjacadid.

 

[jmt57]

McDonald planned on being at this game long ago.

Nick McDonald Thought He'd Watch Colts Game With Friends in Stands, Wound Up Starting at Center for Patriots - NESN.com

About a month ago, Patriots offensive lineman Nick McDonald got four extra tickets for his friends to visit from out of town and attend Sunday's game against the Colts at Gillette Stadium.

"They thought I was going to be sitting with them in the stands," McDonald said Sunday with a laugh.

As it turned out, McDonald had a better view of the action, and his friends had someone to root for. McDonald, who was promoted from the team's practice squad Saturday, made his first career start and played in his first NFL game during Sunday's 31-24 victory. It seemed to come together in the most unpredictable fashion.

McDonald had a chance to call some of his family, and he told his girlfriend and four of his friends that he'd be sitting elsewhere during the game.

"The view downstairs is awesome," McDonald said. "It's great."

"Nick did really well," right guard Brian Waters said. "He really did. He stepped up big time this week. He didn't truly know what was going to happen or not, but he did really well. He stepped up big time, and you know what, who knows what the future is going to hold? But he's done a great job all season of making sure he knows what's going on."

It's too early to know if McDonald will wrestle the starting job away from Connolly, but the immediate impression was that McDonald played well enough to open some eyes. Not a bad way to make an NFL debut, especially with his friends there to see it happen.

"It's great," McDonald said. "It's every kid's dream to start in the NFL. I got to do that. Obviously, there's a lot of things I've got to do better to help this team be successful."

 

[Horace's Ivories]

His image on patriots.com connected with his postgame interview
has him wearing his Packer's jersey - classic!