Offeason wants and needs: offensive line

[Steve102]

The offensive line looks, to me, as if it's going to have a new RT next season. Given Vollmer's history of missing games, I don't see the Patriots spending big money to keep him. That would seem to put Cannon in as the starter, which means the team would need to find at least one backup tackle.

Also, with Thomas a free agent, and both Connolly and Wendell inadequate starters at their current positions, there's a definite need for the interior positions. Also, with Mankins and Connolly both being 31 for next season, I expect the team will be looking at at least one young "project" for Dante, above and beyond a starter/near starter level backup type.


Just my $.02

off topic slightly, but when do we need to be concerned about having Dante's replacement in house? He's been very successful, and he's what, 64? There can't be a lot of miles left on those tires.

 

[borg]

1.) Wide receivers aren't part of the offensive line, so the Welker stuff doesn't really matter in this thread.

2.) regarding the substitution in the playoffs, you're not generally going to get much of it.

3.) A good screen game is about more than being afraid of QB pressure, and the Patriots use it frequently against both good teams and bad.

1) Just explaining how I'd redeploy assets....Welker $$$ -------->>beef up line/sign Vollmer/open field WR.....sorry to extrapolate beyond the he good/he bad basics.

 

[Deus Irae]

1) Just explaining how I'd redeploy assets....Welker $$$ -------->>beef up line/sign Vollmer/open field WR.....sorry to extrapolate beyond the he good/he bad basics.

You weren't extrapolating anything. You were trying to troll the thread and turn it into another Welker thread. This thread is about the O-line. There's plenty of Welker talk elsewhere.

 

[jmt57]

For some perspective, a look back at some of the NFL's OL free agents in 2012, and how much they were paid; it gives an idea about what level of player is going to cost how much.


Offensive Tackle

Demetress Bell, 28, Bills; signed with Eagles
5 years, $34.5mm, $8.5 roster bonus in 2013; cap #s: 3.2, 9.6, 6.1, 7.1, 8.5

Levi Brown, 28; re-signed with Cardinals
5 years, $30mm, $7 SB; cap #s: 2.7, 6.4, 7.6, 6.7, 6.7

Jared Gaither, 26; re-signed with Chargers
4 years, $24mm, $8mm SB; cap #s: 2.6, 6.5, 7.0, 8.0

Eric Winston, 28, Texans; signed with Chiefs
4 years, $22mm, $8.4 SB; cap #s: 3.0, 7.0, 6.0, 6.0

Jeff Backus, 34; re-signed with Lions
2 years, $5.85mm, $1.5 SB; cap #s: 2.35, 3.50

Max Starks, 30; re-signed with Steelers
1 year, 890k, 65k SB, 825k salary


Guard

Carl Nicks, 27, Saints; signed with Bucs
5 years, $47.5mm, $17.5 in bonuses
cap #s: 14.857, 3.072, 9.357, 10.107, 10.107

Ben Grubbs, 28, Ravens; signed with Saints
5 years, $36mm, 10mm SB
cap #s: 2.7, 7.3, 8.1, 8.6, 9.3

Steve Hutchinson, 34, Vikings; signed with Titans
3 years, 16mm, 4.50 SB
cap #s: 3.5, 6.75, 6.50

Evan Mathis, 30; re-signed with Eagles
5 years, 25mm, 5.0 SB
cap #s: 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0

Travelle Wharton, 31, Panthers; signed with Bengals
3 years, 10mm, 3.175 SB
cap #s: 1.88, 3.73, 3.73

Jeremy Zuttah, 26; re-signed with Bucs
4 years, $16.3mm

 

[JackBauer]

The offensive line looks, to me, as if it's going to have a new RT next season. Given Vollmer's history of missing games, I don't see the Patriots spending big money to keep him. That would seem to put Cannon in as the starter, which means the team would need to find at least one backup tackle.

Also, with Thomas a free agent, and both Connolly and Wendell inadequate starters at their current positions, there's a definite need for the interior positions. Also, with Mankins and Connolly both being 31 for next season, I expect the team will be looking at at least one young "project" for Dante, above and beyond a starter/near starter level backup type.


Just my $.02

Most if not all the film review/player eval I've read has been very high on Wendell. I'm not so certain he's an inadequate starter.

I'd agree that Connolly, at OG, is inadequate and should be replaced (perhaps by Thomas, although he seemed to look better at LG than at RG).

 

[Deus Irae]

Most if not all the film review/player eval I've read has been very high on Wendell. I'm not so certain he's an inadequate starter.

I'd agree that Connolly, at OG, is inadequate and should be replaced (perhaps by Thomas, although he seemed to look better at LG than at RG).

Maybe I'm being unfair to Wendell. It seemed to me that he was a liability, but maybe I wasn't giving him a clean look. I'll look at him more before commenting further on him as a lesser player.

 

[JackBauer]

Maybe I'm being unfair to Wendell. It seemed to me that he was a liability, but maybe I wasn't giving him a clean look. I'll look at him more before commenting further on him as a lesser player.

Here's Ben Muth's take from the Raven's game, also with a bit of a broader eval:

Wendell played very well on Sunday. In fact, he might have handled Ngata better than any other Patriots lineman. Wendell is exactly what you want from the modern center: he’s agile and effective at the second level, he’s solid in pass protection, and he has a real knack for knowing how a defense’s pieces fit together. He does a nice job of noticing when a defensive tackle is rushing at a strange angle or pace (either because he is stunting or there is a blitz coming behind him), and how that affects where other rushers might be coming from. This allows him to get into position to block blitzes before they fully form.

Wendell is not a dominant one-on-one player, but he plays well with others and that’s what you need out of a center. Wendell is under contract for next year at a very affordable number and will certainly be back.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Word of Muth: Patriots Exit Exam

Seems to remind a bit of Koppen back in the day, who never really struck me as being a dominant one-on-one player, either, but was more of a tactician in his play. Wendell strikes me as a guy you could upgrade, but I think the resources would be better spent elsewhere (e.g. a road grader at RG).

 

[jmt57]

Soon-to-be free agent offensive linemen:

Patriots: Sebastian Vollmer, 29
Vollmer probably ranks among the top 4-5

Offensive Tackle
Jake Long, Dolphins, 28
Andre Smith, Bengals, 26
Ryan Clady, Broncos, 26
Phil Loadholt, Vikings, 27
Bryant McKinnie, Ravens, 33
William Beatty, Giants, 28
Sam Baker, Falcons, 28
Brandon Albert, Chiefs, 28
Sean Locklear, Giants, 32
Gosder Cherilus, Lions, 29
Winston Justice, Colts, 28
Jeremy Trueblood, Bucs, 30

Barry Richardson, Rams, 27
Jermon Bushrod, Saints, 29
Khalif Barnes, Raiders, 31
Jason Smith, Jets, 27
William Svitek, Falcons, 31
King Dunlap, Eagles, 27
Max Starks, Steelers, 31
Tyler Polumbus, Redskins, 28
Rashad Butler, Texans, 30
Frank Omiyale, Seahawks, 30
Ryan Harris, Texans, 28
Jonathan Scott, Bears, 30
Dennis Roland, Bengals, 30
D'Anthony Batiste, Cardinals, 31
Jordan Black, Redskins, 33
Pat McQuistan, Cardinals, 30
Corey Hilliard, Lions, 28
William Robinson, Saints, 28


Patriots: Donald Thomas, 27
Even though he wasn't a starter Thomas is certainly among the top ten at the position, if not the top five.

Offensive Guard
Andy Levitre, Bills, 27
Louis Vasquez, Chargers, 26
Kevin Boothe, Giants, 30
Brandon Moore, Jets, 33
Matt Slauson, Jets, 27
Tyronne Green, Chargers, 27
Chad Rinehart, Bills, 28
Ramon Foster, Steelers, 27
Kory Lichtensteiger, Redskins, 28
Cooper Carlisle, Raiders, 36

Eben Britton, Jaguars, 25
Antoine Caldwell, Texans, 27
Derrick Dockery, Cowboys, 33
Nate Garner, Dolphins, 28
Rex Hadnot, Chargers, 31
Leroy Harris, Titans, 29
Doug Legursky, Steelers, 27
Lance Louis, Bears, 28
Deuce Lutui, Titans, 30
Garrett Reynolds, Falcons, 26
Geoff Schwartz, Vikings, 27
Jake Scott, Eagles, 32
Chris Williams, Rams, 28


Center
Fernando Velasco, Titans, 28
Dan Koppen, Broncos, 33
Todd McClure, Falcons, 36
Evan Dietrich-Smith, Packers, 27
Rob Turner, Rams, 29

Brad Meester, Jaguars, 36
Chris Spencer, Bears, 31
Joe Berger, Vikings, 31
Dylan Gandy, Lions, 31
Mike Pollak, Panthers, 28

 

[ATippett56]

WalterFootball.com: 2013 NFL Free Agents - Offensive Tackles

Sebastian Vollmer, OT, Patriots. Age: 29.

Sebastian Vollmer is arguably the top right tackle in football - but not when he has to go up against Cameron wake.

 

[Sciz]

WalterFootball.com: 2013 NFL Free Agents - Offensive Tackles

More misinformed crap from them. The only problem with Vollmer against Wake is that Vollmer almost didn't even play that game because his back was just a mess.