Do the Patriots have the best OT combo in the NFL?

[nabwong]

One constant through this season so far has been the protection of #12 from speed rushers on the outside.

We've seen plenty of good pass rushers so far from the likes of Baltimore, Seattle, Arizona, Denver and St Louis - and none of them have been able to really able to lay a hand on 'the Franchise'.

Solder and Vollmer, by the nature of their positions, rarely get their number called - but I can't think of a better paid of bookend currently in the NFL.

Thoughts?

Don't know who these guys, solder and vollmer are. I vaguely remember hearing their name in preseason.

 

[ATippett56]

DT would be #1 on my list.

Defensive tackle number one followed by safety number two.

 

[Joker]

they sukk and are busts...we should have taken (insert any NFL player selected just before or after)...oh...and BB can't coach either...he hurt Gronk on purpose

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I think it's obvious that our starting tackles are more critical to keeping Brady safe and upright than our starting guards are.

The team doesn't skip a beat when Mankins and Connelly are out,but a game without Vollmer AND Solder would be a death sentence for Brady.

 

[Avenger]

I think it's obvious that our starting tackles are more critical to keeping Brady safe and upright than our starting guards are.

The team doesn't skip a beat when Mankins and Connelly are out,but a game without Vollmer AND Solder would be a death sentence for Brady.

Our backup G's are good in pass pro, lacking in run blocking.

 

[VrabelJr]

Defensive tackle number one followed by safety number two.

I'm thinking a coverage Linebacker is a higher priority than a Safety at this point. Lots of middle of the field plays being given up. Spikes is below average in coverage, Mayo is average and Hightower is unknown.

 

[manxman2601]

why do you think that? the Patriots were the only ones who worked him out prior to the draft, he wasn't even sure if he would be drafted. you have to think that he will show some loyalty.

Defensive tackle number one followed by safety number two.

I'm thinking a coverage Linebacker is a higher priority than a Safety at this point. Lots of middle of the field plays being given up. Spikes is below average in coverage, Mayo is average and Hightower is unknown.

Why complicate it? Best player available at a need position.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Why complicate it? Best player available at a need position.

To be precise, BB's vision is maximum utility: what player will help the team most, given the costs required to draft that player?

 

[patsfan-1982]

Edelman, Woodhead and Cole won't cost that much. We have $35 Million in cap space next year. I want them to get Ed Reed

35 million sounds like alot but Wes Welker 8+ million, Sebastian Vollmer 7+ million, Aqib Talib 7+ million.... they may not bring back welker and Talib has only played one game we will see how that plays out the rest of the season but Vollmer is a most sign,

as for Ed Reed i dont see him leveing the ravens if Ray Lewis comes back and plays one more year

 

[SwedishPat]

The tackles and Brady help each other very well. The tackles takes speed rushers and pushes them behind Brady. Brady has very good avareness and just steps up in the pocket :rocker:

 

[fester]

35 million sounds like alot but Wes Welker 8+ million, Sebastian Vollmer 7+ million, Aqib Talib 7+ million.... they may not bring back welker and Talib has only played one game we will see how that plays out the rest of the season but Vollmer is a most sign,

as for Ed Reed i dont see him leveing the ravens if Ray Lewis comes back and plays one more year

But structure Vollmer and Talib (assuming he plays well and keeps his nose clean for the next three months) so that their first year cap hit is significantly below their average annual value but with decent guaranteed money for Vollmer, and some conditional/rolling guaranteed money for Talib, and the Pats can sign those three guys for a 2013 cap hit of $15 million without deferring too much money into the future.

I'm figuring Welker's cap hit and his AAV will be roughly the same in 2013 because he is getting up there in age/hits, and he will sooner or later go into decline, so the Pats don't want to get caught with a 10 million dollar dead cap hit when that happens.