Revisiting the Marcus Cannon draft pick

[ctpatsfan77]

While many folks have thought that Cannon would be an ideal OG, the Patriots seem to feel differently.

He got his first career start at RT, and has yet to play a single down at G.

Right now, I'm thinking that the Patriots taking Cannon was a brilliant move on their part: they get a guy with first/second round talent in the fifth round.

If Vollmer leaves in FA (e.g., someone pays him $$$$ to play LT), the Pats have a replacement.

If Vollmer stays, then they've got an outstanding third tackle for $ instead of $$$$ for two more years.

Not every gamble the Pats take pays off (see: Salas, Greg), but it's nice to know that the Patriots can make smart ones like this (and Alfonzo Dennard).

 

[mayoclinic]

While many folks have thought that Cannon would be an ideal OG, the Patriots seem to feel differently. He got his first career start at RT, and has yet to play a single down at G.

Right now, I'm thinking that the Patriots taking Cannon was a brilliant move on their part: they get a guy with first/second round talent in the fifth round.

If Vollmer leaves in FA (e.g., someone pays him $$$$ to play LT), the Pats have a replacement. If Vollmer stays, then they've got an outstanding third tackle for $ instead of $$$$ for two more years.

Why do you think that just because the Pats have played Cannon at RT that they don't feel he can play guard?

As BB commented yesterday re Markus Zusevics:

"[Zusevices] played tackle in college, but also has possibly the physical attributes to play inside at guard similar to Marcus Cannon type of discussion."

Pats prepping Zusevics for duty if needed - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

That doesn't sound like BB doesn't think Cannon could play inside. Rather, it sounds like he thinks he's versatile to play both outside and inside, and he's used him where he currently has the greater need. The Pats value players with positional versatility, and can switch positoins based on need (see McCourty, Devin).

Whether Cannon stays at RT or moves inside probably depends on whether Vollmer is extended and how the draft falls. Extend Vollmer and get someone liek Kyle Long in the draft, and Cannon could move inside to guard. But if Vollmer leaves, then Cannon is likely to stay outside. But I think it's more a question of team need than of Cannon's ability to play either position.

 

[PatsFan2]

While many folks have thought that Cannon would be an ideal OG, the Patriots seem to feel differently.

He got his first career start at RT, and has yet to play a single down at G.

Right now, I'm thinking that the Patriots taking Cannon was a brilliant move on their part: they get a guy with first/second round talent in the fifth round.

If Vollmer leaves in FA (e.g., someone pays him $$$$ to play LT), the Pats have a replacement.

If Vollmer stays, then they've got an outstanding third tackle for $ instead of $$$$ for two more years.

Not every gamble the Pats take pays off (see: Salas, Greg), but it's nice to know that the Patriots can make smart ones like this (and Alfonzo Dennard).

If Vollmer leaves shouldn't even be a thought...he has been our Best Player along our OL when healthy...no knock on Nate Solder. That said the Jets is hardly a measuring stick for Marcus Cannon at Tackle...I would like to see him aganist a Cameron Wake or against DL's like the 49ers and Texans before i annoint him. I like Cannon but in the preseason and early in the year, Speed Rushers owned him. On Vollmer you just cannot Teach what he already have Great Size with Good feet to boot...i am sure his peers thinks very highly of him as should BB and Brady.

 

[resdubwhite]

5th rd pick.

low risk.

good solid player. hope he continues to get better.

He's a bit to go to be considered a Vollmer replacement yet.

 

[Sciz]

I would like to see him aganist a Cameron Wake

Week 16 last year. Cannon allowed one QB hit to Wake, plus a sack that was caused more by interior pressure.

 

[DaBruinz]

If Vollmer leaves shouldn't even be a thought...he has been our Best Player along our OL when healthy...no knock on Nate Solder. That said the Jets is hardly a measuring stick for Marcus Cannon at Tackle...I would like to see him aganist a Cameron Wake or against DL's like the 49ers and Texans before i annoint him. I like Cannon but in the preseason and early in the year, Speed Rushers owned him. On Vollmer you just cannot Teach what he already have Great Size with Good feet to boot...i am sure his peers thinks very highly of him as should BB and Brady.

Guess you didn't watch the Miami game last year when Cannon started at RT with Solder at LT and they held Wake in check.

 

[manxman2601]

Why do you think that just because the Pats have played Cannon at RT that they don't feel he can play guard?

As BB commented yesterday re Markus Zusevics:



Pats prepping Zusevics for duty if needed - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

That doesn't sound like BB doesn't think Cannon could play inside. Rather, it sounds like he thinks he's versatile to play both outside and inside, and he's used him where he currently has the greater need. The Pats value players with positional versatility, and can switch positoins based on need (see McCourty, Devin).

Whether Cannon stays at RT or moves inside probably depends on whether Vollmer is extended and how the draft falls. Extend Vollmer and get someone liek Kyle Long in the draft, and Cannon could move inside to guard. But if Vollmer leaves, then Cannon is likely to stay outside. But I think it's more a question of team need than of Cannon's ability to play either position.

Note that BB never says that he's had a "Marcus Cannon type of discussion". He just references that there has been one. Perhaps he's referencing the pundits and drafniks. Until Cannon actually plays a snap at OG, you have to think the Pats have him pegged as a tackle. Did Cannon even play at OG in pre-season at any time?

 

[mayoclinic]

Note that BB never says that he's had a "Marcus Cannon type of discussion". He just references that there has been one. Perhaps he's referencing the pundits and drafniks. Until Cannon actually plays a snap at OG, you have to think the Pats have him pegged as a tackle. Did Cannon even play at OG in pre-season at any time?

I don't see the need to think that at all. The Pats have had a surplus of guards compared to tackles. Logan Mankins had to play LT at times last season. Nick McDonald had to play tackle at times this pre-season. Robert Gallery played both tackle and guard at times in the pre-season. They've had to move guys who were pegged as guards to fill in at tackle because of depth - not the other way around. I think that the Pats have played Cannon at tackle because of the need for depth at that position, not because they don't think he can play guard.

 

[shmessy]

If Vollmer leaves shouldn't even be a thought...he has been our Best Player along our OL when healthy...no knock on Nate Solder. That said the Jets is hardly a measuring stick for Marcus Cannon at Tackle...I would like to see him aganist a Cameron Wake or against DL's like the 49ers and Texans before i annoint him. I like Cannon but in the preseason and early in the year, Speed Rushers owned him......

Regarding those preseason games and practices........

They owned Solder too and Vollmer was in bed.

 

[PatsFan2]

Regarding those preseason games and practices........

They owned Solder too and Vollmer was in bed.

Knowing he going to start again this Sunday...didn't i say i love Marcus Cannon at RT?

 

[Mark Morse]

I loved Cannon coming out of college, I thought he was a late 1st round talent before the cancer diagnosis. I had him listed as our 2nd round pick in our draft contest. Fortunately for Marcus and the Patriots they discovered the cancer at the Combine. This dropped Cannon off a lot of NFL Teams draft boards and others dropped him very low. The Patriots could afford to take the gamble on Cannon and now they are seeing the fruits of that gamble. In a way Alfonzo Dennard, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Ryan Mallett and Brandon Tate were similar Risk / Reward situations. It appears that Tate is the only one that didn't work out.

 

[IllegalContact]

with the elevation of the pats running game, a guy like cannon at RT gives opponents something to think about and it becomes about alot more than just pass pro. the notion of the running game forces the defense to hesitate on the pass rush......

cannon is a fantastic player and can literally play 4 spots on the line.

but it all comes back to one guy.......scar

the OL coach is more important than any 1 or 2 OL players

 

[cstjohn17]

Not a home run but most 5th rounders washout so I grade a C+ or B-

 

[unoriginal]

I don't see the need to think that at all. The Pats have had a surplus of guards compared to tackles. Logan Mankins had to play LT at times last season. Nick McDonald had to play tackle at times this pre-season. Robert Gallery played both tackle and guard at times in the pre-season. They've had to move guys who were pegged as guards to fill in at tackle because of depth - not the other way around. I think that the Pats have played Cannon at tackle because of the need for depth at that position, not because they don't think he can play guard.

Interestingly all those players played tackle at the college level. I would expect most NFL linemen played tackle at the college level. What I'm trying to say here is that what you're saying is that the Pats have a surplus of offensive tackles who can't play tackle at an NFL level. As BB might say, that's true of a lot of teams.

I think the Pats have played Cannon at tackle because if you have a guy who can play tackle you play him there, unless you have a logjam at that position and/or a loose screen door elsewhere on the line.

but it all comes back to one guy.......scar

the OL coach is more important than any 1 or 2 OL players

Might be as important than the whole line together. Consider who the Pats just used to steamroll the Jets:

Solder - Thomas - Wendell - Connolly/McDonald - Cannon

Here's the would-be starting offensive line from 2011:

Light - Mankins - Koppen - Waters - Vollmer*

*Solder started @Miami due to injury

 

[DarthHoodie]

The value The Pats have gotten out of this year's line is incredible. I digged to see a few team's lines and where they were found, here are the results:

Current O-lines:
position/name/round selected

Pats
LT Solder 1st
LG Thomas 6th
C Wendell UFA
RG Connolly UFA
RT Cannon 5th

Texans
LT Brown 1st
LG Smith 3rd
C Myers 6th
RG Jones 4th
RT Newton 7th

49ers
LT Staley 1st
LG Iupati 1st
C Goodwin 5th
RG Boone UFA
RT Davis 1st

Jaguars
LT Monroe 1st
LG Britton 2nd
C Meester 2nd
RG Nwaneri 5th
RT Bradfield UFA

Chiefs
LT Albert 1st
LG Allen 2nd
C Mattison UFA
RG Hochstein 5th
RT Winston 3rd

Dolphins
LT Long 1st
LG Incognito 3rd
C Pouncey 1st
RG Jerry 3rd
RT Martin 2nd

 

[ivanvamp]

While many folks have thought that Cannon would be an ideal OG, the Patriots seem to feel differently.

He got his first career start at RT, and has yet to play a single down at G.

Right now, I'm thinking that the Patriots taking Cannon was a brilliant move on their part: they get a guy with first/second round talent in the fifth round.

If Vollmer leaves in FA (e.g., someone pays him $$$$ to play LT), the Pats have a replacement.

If Vollmer stays, then they've got an outstanding third tackle for $ instead of $$$$ for two more years.

Not every gamble the Pats take pays off (see: Salas, Greg), but it's nice to know that the Patriots can make smart ones like this (and Alfonzo Dennard).

I think the Pats should try to lock Vollmer up for several more years. Dude is playing great football and is still young.

 

[VrabelJr]

People thinking Cannon is a guard are just out thinking themselves. Most guards in the NFL were tackles in college. Look no further than our own Logan Mankins. Of course Cannon could play Guard as well. But he has the ability to play tackle which is a more premium position.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think the Pats should try to lock Vollmer up for several more years. Dude is playing great football and is still young.

I agree. All this talk about Cannon supplanting Seabass is way too premature.

However Seabass is not that young and with is injury history it does complicate things a bit. The hope is that the team and he can work out a contract that both parties are comfortable with.

 

[bigcountry75]

I think the Pats should try to lock Vollmer up for several more years. Dude is playing great football and is still young.

I love Vollmer and would wish for the Pats to re-sign him and keep him for many more years but it seems like he is ALWAYS hurt....If it's not one thing then it's another....I am just not sold that he will be worth the money if he plays less than 10 games in season.....If he can stay healthy then I say go for it but he hasn't shown that he can yet.....I would say try to re-sign him with reasonable $ and or put an injury clause in his contract so it wouldn't be as hard to swallow if he gets hurt....

 

[BTTA]

Not a home run but most 5th rounders washout so I grade a C+ or B-

Nuts. If that were true, that a player of NFL starting caliber at one, if not two positions were a just a little above average for a 5th round draft pick, there would be no veterans left in the league.