Connolly and Wendell – Only room for 1

[Brady6]

Right now, I see these OL as near locks to make the 53-man roster –

- Nate Solder
- Sebastian Vollmer
- Logan Mankins
- Marcus Cannon
- Bryan Stork
- Cameron Fleming
- Jon Halapio

In addition to those 7 players it appears the Patriots like Josh Kline a lot, so that puts the team at 8 offensive lineman. That leads to me to think at best we only have room for Connolly or Wendell, and that is if we decide to keep 9 lineman, and players like Cave, Barker, etc. do nothing to impress in camp.

Do you think Connolly or Wendell makes the team, or do you think neither?

 

[Big-T]

Dan Connolly every day and twice on a Sunday, for me.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Cut Connolly (+2.5 million)
Include Amendola in a trade as a salary dump move (+2.88 million)
Net cap: 12.88 million
Acquire Andre Johnson (-11 million)
Sign Garoppolo/Easley (-1-1.5 million)

Still dreaming

Answer: Wendell under dream scenario, Connolly otherwise

 

[mgteich]

Right now, I see these OL as near locks to make the 53-man roster –

- Nate Solder
- Sebastian Vollmer
- Logan Mankins
- Marcus Cannon
- Bryan Stork
- Cameron Fleming
- Jon Halapio

In addition to those 7 players it appears the Patriots like Josh Kline a lot, so that puts the team at 8 offensive lineman. That leads to me to think at best we only have room for Connolly or Wendell, and that is if we decide to keep 9 lineman, and players like Cave, Barker, etc. do nothing to impress in camp.

Do you think Connolly or Wendell makes the team, or do you think neither?

Yes, we have 10 good linemen (or good prospects) going into camp. It seems likely that injuries will decide the final 8-9 on the 53 man roster.

 

[varjao]

What about Svitek? If we don't resign him who's gonna play swing tackle?

 

[BobDigital]

I think it is CURRENTLY possible that we keep 10 OL. That is because right now we only have 2 TEs on the roster worth keeping and I double Gronk starts the year. That means even if we sign Finley or Keller we are still only at 2 TEs likely. I think we might start the year with 10 and use one of them as an extra blocker as to king of reassign those TE responsibilities.

 

[Brady6]

What about Svitek? If we don't resign him who's gonna play swing tackle?

Cannon has been getting work at LT in OTA and if Solder suffered a serious injury they would likely move Vollmer to LT and put Cannon at RT.

 

[Brady6]

I think it is CURRENTLY possible that we keep 10 OL. That is because right now we only have 2 TEs on the roster worth keeping and I double Gronk starts the year. That means even if we sign Finley or Keller we are still only at 2 TEs likely. I think we might start the year with 10 and use one of them as an extra blocker as to king of reassign those TE responsibilities.

I cannot see us keeping 10.

 

[Kontradiction]

Connolly can play three positions on the OL and is only a mediocre starter. Wendell can only play one position badly. Connolly for me as well.

 

[Brady6]

Connolly can play three positions on the OL and is only a mediocre starter. Wendell can only play one position badly. Connolly for me as well.

Wendell can play guard as well, not very well but he can..

 

[mgteich]

What about Svitek? If we don't resign him who's gonna play swing tackle?

Swing tackle is not a position. Cannon is our backup RT. Mankins is our backup LT. In addition, Vollmer can player LT. Cannon is our #4 LT. That's fine.

 

[Brady6]

Swing tackle is not a position. Cannon is our backup RT. Mankins is our backup LT.

I think it is more likely that they would move Vollmer to LT and use Cannon at RT. When they used Mankins last season Vollmer was on injured reserve.

 

[Miguel]

Right now, I see these OL as near locks to make the 53-man roster –

- Nate Solder
- Sebastian Vollmer
- Logan Mankins
- Marcus Cannon
- Bryan Stork
- Cameron Fleming
- Jon Halapio

Why is Halapio considered a near lock?

 

[Brady6]

Why is Halapio considered a near lock?

They drafted him because they like him, we very seldom release sixth round draft picks in the same year. I think it is unlikely that he is released, you are free to disagree.

 

[Kontradiction]

Wendell can play guard as well, not very well but he can..

I would hate to see that day. He struggles enough as an undersized center, never mind when he has to play guard against a 3-tech like Knighton. I hope to God Stork outplays him in TC and makes him expendable.

 

[Miguel]

They drafted him because they like him, we very seldom release sixth round draft picks in the same year. I think it is unlikely that he is released, you are free to disagree.

Before this year the Patriots in the BB era have made 19 6-round draft picks. 7 of them made the 53-man roster. 7 were waived. 1 was placed on PUP. 4 were placed on IR.

Based on the above numbers, being selected in the sixth round does not make Halapio a near-lock.

 

[mgteich]

They drafted him because they like him, we very seldom release sixth round draft picks in the same year. I think it is unlikely that he is released, you are free to disagree.

I agree that Hilapio is a near lock, barring injury.

However, I do NOT agree that 6th rounders are rarely released.

 

[Ring 6]

Right now, I see these OL as near locks to make the 53-man roster –

- Nate Solder
- Sebastian Vollmer
- Logan Mankins
- Marcus Cannon
- Bryan Stork
- Cameron Fleming
- Jon Halapio

In addition to those 7 players it appears the Patriots like Josh Kline a lot, so that puts the team at 8 offensive lineman. That leads to me to think at best we only have room for Connolly or Wendell, and that is if we decide to keep 9 lineman, and players like Cave, Barker, etc. do nothing to impress in camp.

Do you think Connolly or Wendell makes the team, or do you think neither?

How do you put late round draft picks ahead of starters?
If we had a game tomorrow not only would both be on the team, both would be starting.

 

[Ring 6]

They drafted him because they like him, we very seldom release sixth round draft picks in the same year. I think it is unlikely that he is released, you are free to disagree.

We OFTEN release 6th round picks in the first year.
We almost never cut last years starters who are still under contract.

Do you think we started these 2 guys and gave them contracts becuase we don't like them more than a guy we drafted in the 6th round?

Who do you propose will be starting at C an RG if you think last years starters are expendable?

 

[Brady6]

We OFTEN release 6th round picks in the first year.
We almost never cut last years starters who are still under contract.

Do you think we started these 2 guys and gave them contracts becuase we don't like them more than a guy we drafted in the 6th round?

Who do you propose will be starting at C an RG if you think last years starters are expendable?

We have release 1 sixth round pick in the last 8 years, and he signed to the practice squad (Markell Carter).

Wendell was the worst rated center in the NFL, he allowed 37 QB disruptions, and Connolly was third to last amongst guards and allowed 33 QB disruptions. They were the starters but they did not play well, and right now it is an open competition in my opinion.

The most effective depth chart in my opinion would be –

LT – Solder
LG – Mankins, Kline
OC – Connolly, Stork
RG – Cannon, Halapio
RT – Vollmer, Fleming

With the hope that Stork could take over sooner rather than later for Connolly at center.