Bedard: Koppen, Stallworth, and Bulman among vets who could be cut

[Triumph]

Hypothetically, If one players job was safe and two others were very close for the last spot, wouldn't the players fighting for a spot see more action?

Exactly.

Players who've had a strong camp would see less time than players on the bubble.

 

[ATippett56]

Yates has his list out, as well. Of the three titular players, he has one getting cut in this first round:

Predicting cuts to 75-man limit - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

I would cut Ross Ventrone before Will Allen.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I also don't get all the hate towards Stallworth. He's been on the field more (it seems to me) than Gaffney. I'd honestly think that Gaffney would be gone before Stallworth.

But then, I'm just a fan and not linked into the inner Belichick Sanctum Sanctorum

I've oscilated about Stallworth. Now I think we keep him. Dump the phony ST and coverage un-linebackers.

 

[BananaRepublican]

Of the three titular players,

There's nothing like a nice pair of titulars. I'm not sure about three, but with the way Fukushima is going ...

 

[QB12]

BB said after the Tampa age there's been no explosive plays in the passing game. Isn't that what Stallworth was supposed to bring?

 

[BananaRepublican]

Just read this from Bedard:

I liked his observation that Koppen won't be going anywhere if Waters is expected back.

Koppen is playing better though. This makes me think he is just recovering his game and could be what he was last year. If true, how do you just dump a starter? Wouldn't it make more sense to rotate Connolly with Mankins and Waters? And besides, somebody gotta get hurt and need that break. If we're going the full 19 games then I would think this depth is a good idea. I also think rotating Koppen out for particular matchups would be a good idea.

I see win-win if Koppen is getting back to form.

 

[AzPatsFan]

BB said after the Tampa age there's been no explosive plays in the passing game. Isn't that what Stallworth was supposed to bring?

But Stallworth was making deep catches with Mallett. What was Stallworth's YPC? I think BB was talking about TB and the 1st string...

 

[goheels22002]

Koppens not going anywhere. He could be your week one starter at center.

I agree. If Waters does not show up, it could be Vollmer, Mankins, Koppen, Connolly and Solder. Even if Waters shows up, depth with Koppen is more experienced. The OL is the toughest call on the team besides WR.

 

[BananaRepublican]

the way people here are being rather quick to think he's gone.

I used to think he was hopeless. Not now. If he continues to improve I see some good rotations to keep people fresh. Connolly can still get on the field.

 

[PATSNUTme]

The center is the QB, and most important position of the OL. Not only does a center call all the line signals but has to prevent a jail break in the face of the QB.

Koppen has improved and I don't see him being in the first wave of cuts.

 

[ATippett56]

The center is the QB, and most important position of the OL. Not only does a center call all the line signals but has to prevent a jail break in the face of the QB.

Koppen has improved and I don't see him being in the first wave of cuts.

I would personally start with the over thirty crowd who can't even get on the practice field:

Visanthe Shiancoe
Tracy White

 

[captain stone]

BB said after the Tampa age there's been no explosive plays in the passing game. Isn't that what Stallworth was supposed to bring?

While re-watching the game on the NFLN today, I noticed that Stallworth was getting open better
than he did v. Philly (v. the Bucs 2/3s), but he still dropped another ball or 2 that he needs to catch.
Hard to keep a WR who won't have the trust of Brady; then again, Edelman's still here, too.

 

[lamafist]

Koppen might not be as versatile as some of the other linemen himself, but his presence gives the team as a whole more offensive line versatility, as it frees them up to move Connolly to where they need him most.

If Waters doesn't come back, I think Solder, Mankins, Koppen, Connolly and Volmer is the best starting o-line. I think the drop-off from Connolly at RG to any of the other 2nd/3rd string OGs is steeper than drop-off from Connolly to Koppen at center.

If Waters does come back, than Koppen goes to the bench and Connolly moves to center, and if there's an injury to either of the guards, having Koppen allows the team to move Connolly over to guard.

And of course, if Connolly himself gets hurt, Koppen's experience and familiarity with Brady makes him clearly a head-and-shoulders better option at center than any of the other backup guards.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Koppen might not be as versatile as some of the other linemen himself, but his presence gives the team as a whole more offensive line versatility, as it frees them up to move Connolly to where they need him most.

If Waters doesn't come back, I think Solder, Mankins, Koppen, Connolly and Volmer is the best starting o-line. I think the drop-off from Connolly at RG to any of the other 2nd/3rd string OGs is steeper than drop-off from Connolly to Koppen at center.

If Waters does come back, than Koppen goes to the bench and Connolly moves to center, and if there's an injury to either of the guards, having Koppen allows the team to move Connolly over to guard.

And of course, if Connolly himself gets hurt, Koppen's experience and familiarity with Brady makes him clearly a head-and-shoulders better option at center than any of the other backup guards.

So Koppen's value lies in Connolly's versatility? Interesting theory.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Barrett and Ventrone axed.

https://twitter.com/shalisemyoung/status/239841745620303872

 

[doesntmatter1]

Ventrone will be back. They are going to need him so they can cut him again to get down to 53 lol.

 

[PP2]

Ventrone will be back. They are going to need him so they can cut him again to get down to 53 lol.

He may be the only player I know of that's Turk-proof.

 

[ATippett56]

Barrett and Ventrone axed.

https://twitter.com/shalisemyoung/status/239841745620303872

One Stooge down, two more to go!

 

[Metaphors]

I don't think anybody's slamming Koppen particularly, it's simply a numbers game -- IF Waters returns. One of these players presumably has to go:

Connolly
Koppen
McDonald
Thomas
Wendell

Connolly is experienced and reliable at multiple positions, and given the structure of his contract would cost as much to cut as to keep. Wendell is undersized but keeps improving year to year and is probably a better pure center than Connolly. Both McDonald and Thomas are young, athletic, dirt cheap, and zipping up the learning curve after starting out extremely raw.

Koppen is a savvy veteran who manages the line calls, snaps beautifully, and has a great rapport with Brady. But he's also about to turn 33, is coming off a major injury, was a bit undersized and underpowered even in his prime, and cutting him would save $1 million+ off the cap. Put it all together and he's far from a lock.

I have a little different take regarding Koppen. Assuming Waters is back and the starting interior line is Mankins, Connolly and Waters...I can see Koppen sticking as a gameday active backup along with Cannon. If Connolly is hurt, Koppen subs for him. If Mankins/Waters are hurt, Connolly slides to guard with Koppen at center. As long as Koppen is one of the top 4 options for interior line, I don't see lack of position flexibility as an issue.

I can see Wendell fighting 2 roster battles...with Koppen for a spot with the gameday actives and (if he loses) with McDonald for a place on the 53. If Wendell wins the gameday active battle, I can't see Koppen sticking as a gameday inactive.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

I have a little different take regarding Koppen. Assuming Waters is back and the starting interior line is Mankins, Connolly and Waters...I can see Koppen sticking as a gameday active backup along with Cannon. If Connolly is hurt, Koppen subs for him. If Mankins/Waters are hurt, Connolly slides to guard with Koppen at center. As long as Koppen is one of the top 4 options for interior line, I don't see lack of position flexibility as an issue.

I can see Wendell fighting 2 roster battles...with Koppen for a spot with the gameday actives and (if he loses) with McDonald for a place on the 53. If Wendell wins the gameday active battle, I can't see Koppen sticking as a gameday inactive.

Having only 7 active lineman is an argument for not keeping a player who can back up at only one, especially when you have a player who could back up at all five.