Is the current OL lineup fine for 2015?

[patsinthesnow]

Connolly is a FA and probably could be resigned for cheap.

Solder - Connolly - Stork - Wendell - Vollmer

That OL combination gave Brady enough time to carve up the 3 of the best defenses in the NFL (Bills, Lions, Seahawks). They also stonewalled the Broncos/Ravens pass rushers.

Is OL really a need? Vollmer returned to All-Pro form this year, Stork looks like a future 10 year starter at C, and Solder pulled his head out of his @$$ after the Chargers game. Our guards aren't anything special but does upgrading them really warrant a 1st or 2nd round pick?

 

[The Gr8est]

Can you guarantee they will all stay healthy and won't age?

Pats need an infusion of young interior OL talent.

A high pick with a good pedigree is preferable.

 

[Show416]

I could be wrong but it seemed to me Brady would take alot of hits this year. Not sacks but just QB hits and another reason the OLine looked better is Tom's footwork in the pocket has vastly improved even from last year. That's what makes this guy so good he's always improving even at this age.

Also, they gave him enough time because Brady would get rid of the ball in 2 seconds or less and even then some pass rusher was up in his face. Even in the superbowl Bennett was up his ass alot of that game. Tom would get rid of the ball though it wouldnt result in a sack but he would get hit.

I think it wouldnt hurt to get some new guards. Especially, considering if Revis, McCourty, etc come back there really arent too many other needs.

 

[Seacoast Fan]

Can you guarantee they will all stay healthy and won't age?

Pats need an infusion of young interior OL talent.

A high pick with a good pedigree is preferable.

I would draft OL with one of our high picks and in fact maybe two.

 

[SunsOutGunsOut]

I would do something similar to what Dallas did .. Invest 1st n 2nds on Guards / Tkl .. Romo was having a BBQs back there at times ..

 

[nabwong]

Question: did cannon play a lot in the Super Bowl? I don't remember.

 

[patsinthesnow]

We could invest in the position similar to last year. We do have two 3rds and two 4ths.

We drafted 3 OL last year outside of the top 100 picks and came away with a franchise center and a decent tackle prospect.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Fleming could battle Wendell for RG spot. A first or second on a LG isn't using too much on an important spot. Even though we won both games. Ravens and Seahawks. I don't want TB12 throwing 50x per game.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

O-Line is thin. The solution was a combination of increasingly solid play, but also a quicker release by Brady. I actually think a 2.5-second average per pass is a good thing (but not every play and not by necessity.) Elsewhere here I've talked about this as an "evolution." It was by necessity in '15, but might be ugly if maintained in its present form (i.e., denying ourselves much of a shot of a long game).

I think that is, however, what will happen. We should draft high along the lines... I don't think we spend money or picks on a flashy outside receiver. At present we're built to grind it out, by land or by air. And Bill has built a defense that finally makes us a threat when the other guys have the ball.

So yes to prospective upgrades/competition w/the guys there now. Yes to making them a draft priority. No, I don't think we measure this group (until further notice) against the elite O-Lines in the league. Getting Brady to recognize that "whatever you get in the time you have has to do" took until after KC, as did the gelling of the O-Line. Coming back from that 4 game stretch, especially that last loss, is where the mental toughness of this team was forged.

Now it's on to 2015. I'll flatter Brady and assume he'll remember. Hope that pertains team-wide.

 

[TBR]

Brady took some of the most QB hits in the entire NFL this year. Top 5 I believe.

You can't have that happen, especially to an older QB.

 

[The Gr8est]

I would do something similar to what Dallas did .. Invest 1st n 2nds on Guards / Tkl .. Romo was having a BBQs back there at times ..

And to think Jerruh had to have his arm twisted to take Zach Martin.

He was ready to hand in the draft card with Johnny Football's name on it.

 

[reflexblue]

First round=D-tackle
Second = guard/tackle
Third= TE or Guard
Third=TE or Guard.
The O-Line is thin and connolly and wendell are getting older, so i'd look to take two o-lineman near the top.

 

[zipster9]

Most will agree that the answer is : NO.

If you can upgrade any one of the OL positions, you do it.

Last years' draft, the Patriots got:

4th Round – Bryan Stork (OL, Florida State) – 105th Pick
4th Round – Cameron Fleming (OT, Stanford) – 140th Pick
6th Round – Jon Halapio (G, Florida) – 179th Pick

Not bad (2 out of 3). But, they are not "elite"/"top tier". As Brady gets older, OL becomes MORE important.

Either Patriots pickup a top player in free-agency, or pick a top OG/OT in the NFL draft, 1st round.



IMO

 

[50-yard-line]

I think it depends on the progress of Cannon and Fleming, mostly. But I agree with SunsoutGunsOut and others: your OL is never good enough.

I'm hoping that 2 of the first 3 picks this year are OL, if those guys are upgrades. You bet. OL and DL should be pretty much the entirety of NE's draft. I can't think of any other pressing needs, unless it's a kicker (or there's someone just too good to leave on the board).

 

[JMC00]

Either Patriots pickup a top player in free-agency, or pick a top OG in the NFL draft, 1st round.

Neither of those things will happen.

 

[RayClay]

Connolly is a FA and probably could be resigned for cheap.

Solder - Connolly - Stork - Wendell - Vollmer

That OL combination gave Brady enough time to carve up the 3 of the best defenses in the NFL (Bills, Lions, Seahawks). They also stonewalled the Broncos/Ravens pass rushers.

Is OL really a need? Vollmer returned to All-Pro form this year, Stork looks like a future 10 year starter at C, and Solder pulled his head out of his @$$ after the Chargers game. Our guards aren't anything special but does upgrading them really warrant a 1st or 2nd round pick?

We need one or two guards, be they promotions from within, or young draft picks/FA. I don't think just because the vets were mostly adequate, that Goog intends to stop trying to get stronger and bigger at the position.

Wendell played well, but has not suddenly become a beast, he's capable of being plowed in. Connelly might be a salary cap casualty. I could easily see two beasts being worked in with Wendell a swing guy now that he'a proved he can play guard too.

This will not require high draft picks, probably. Just a good camp with lots of low picks/fa competition. you do not stop progress just because you did a good job to patch with what you had for one year.

 

[The Gr8est]

Neither of those things will happen.

Why do you say that? Are there no guards worth a 1st round pick?

 

[Fencer]

The Patriots played important games without being able to run. They had great problems whenever there was an interior OL injury. They made considerable use of a JAGgy blocking tight end and of 6 OL formations.

Yeah, I think OL upgrades are called for.

 

[RobertWeathers]

As much as I appreciate what Connolly and Wendy did last year they can absolutely upgrade the G position in 2015.

I know I sound like a broken record but the best apaproach to ensuring Brady can play as long a possible is reducing the risk of him sustaining a major injury and the number of dropbacks which would lead to hits and sacks. The best way to do that is by running the football or thru play action.

I'm comfortable with Vollmer and Stork. I still have faith in Solder but the G position can use an upgrade for sure.

 

[JMC00]

Why do you say that? Are there no guards worth a 1st round pick?

Belichick just doesn't value a G in that spot and thinks he can get a guy that could be just as good a round later. Although maybe now that his LG is a free agent that opinion has changed.