Who starts at RT in 2007?

[jgb95]

Kaczur or O'Callaghan?

 

[DaBruinz]

Its definitely a hot topic for camp.

1) Is O'Callaghan fully recovered from his concussions? Does he have a new mouth guard to help him prevent future ones?
2) Has Kaczur matured enough where he won't get traded?
3) Will Britt step up and push for playing time?
4) Will Oldenburg or Hilliard just blow everyone away and win the starting position?

 

[cstjohn17]

Its definitely a hot topic for camp.

1) Is O'Callaghan fully recovered from his concussions? Does he have a new mouth guard to help him prevent future ones?
2) Has Kaczur matured enough where he won't get traded?
3) Will Britt step up and push for playing time?
4) Will Oldenburg or Hilliard just blow everyone away and win the starting position?

To me this is more interesting than the battle at WR. No matter what the WRs should be really really good, at RT there is far more uncertainity.

 

[LA Pats Fan]

My Guess is that O'Callahan is in the lead position.

1) It looks like he works harder than Kaczur and has a year up on the new rookies.

2) I think he is bigger than Kaczur and fits the position RT better.

3) Kaczur stepped in at LT so it might be that BB considers him to the the primary backup at both positions. So if Light got hurt only one OL position would need to be changed.

 

[reflexblue]

O'Callihan if he stays healthy through training camp.Ithought he sustained a neck injury in the chicago game,not a concusion.

 

[unoriginal]

Who knows really. I just hope we don't have one of those "camp retirement" phenonmenons about to occur with O'Callaghan.

Kaczur has been about as good as you could expect from a 3rd round Canadian/MAC tackle his first two years, but he has been the weak point on that O-line. Case in point: one play against the Chargers in the playoffs where I watched (Polk, I think) completely spin him 360-degrees around. On the one hand, Kaczur got completely spun around and backed into the pocket. On the other hand, Kaczur got completely spun around but maintained his block. He didn't just fall down à la Max Lane.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

O'Callahan started as a rookie and did quite well until he got hurt (I also thought it was a neck injury). Unless he's regressed he'll probably win the spot.

 

[ClevTrev]

O'Callaghan is good bet to win the starter's job. He's a beast. I haven't heard anything regarding lingering injuries, as he's not on the PUP. Kaczur's an excellent backup.

 

[PonyExpress]

When the smoke clears, Wesley Britt will be the starting RT come playoff time. He was dominant in college as a run blocker, and dominant vs. Cincinnati last season.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

When the smoke clears, Wesley Britt will be the starting RT come playoff time. He was dominant in college as a run blocker, and dominant vs. Cincinnati last season.

Well, as long as somebody else is out on that limb, I'll climb on too. Then again, that behemoth has been on my binkie list for a while now.

 

[stinkypete]

Add me to the list. I think O'Callaghan begins the year as the starter but I am seriously concerned about his health. Britt is (correct me if I'm wrong) entering his 3rd year in the Donte school of offernive linemenship. I think he breaks out.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

By the way... good look at the O-Line posted yesterday by Erik Scalavino on Patriots.com : http://www.patriots.com/news/index.cfm?ac=latestnewsdetail&pid=26426&pcid=44

Returning veterans
Russ Hochstein
A versatile replacement at either guard or center, Hochstein often sees plenty of action throughout a 16-game season. He’s reliable when called upon and his years of experience in the Pats system are a bonus. A roster spot is a safe bet for him.
Nick Kaczur
Kaczur has had injury problems in his first couple of seasons, though when healthy, he’s managed to secure a starting spot at right tackle. He’ll likely face a stiff challenge from second-year man Ryan O’Callaghan. Theirs will be an interesting battle to watch.
Dan Koppen
The Patriots starting center gets better every year. Staying healthy is the most important factor for Koppen.
Matt Light
A starter since his rookie year, when the Pats won their first Super Bowl, Light made his first Pro Bowl last season. He’s one of the best left tackles in the NFL. Injuries are his only major concern, though he enters camp as fit as ever.
Logan Mankins
Mankins is steadily gaining respect around the league for his tough style of play. This season could be a breakout year for him.
Gene Mruczkowski
Like Hochstein, Mruzckowski is interchangeable at guard or center. Scarnecchia has developed him via the practice squad and some spot duty during the regular season. His experience in the system should benefit him as he fights to retain a place on the team.
Stephen Neal
A starter at right guard for the past few seasons.
Not bad for a guy who never played college football. Injuries can be a problem for him from time to time, but his status on the team appears safe.
Billy Yates
Still in the developmental stage, Yates did appear in a few games in ‘06 before an injury ended his season. This summer, he’ll again be battling for a spot.
Rookies and second-year players
Brian Barthelmes
He was on the practice squad last season and spent this past spring in the now-defunct NFL Europa. Tall for a center at 6-6, he’ll need to work extremely hard to prove he can remain a Patriot.
Wesley Britt
Another player still developing, Britt has had his opportunities in games. He’s the biggest Patriot lineman at 6-8, 320, and was respectable when called upon in live action.
Mike Elgin
Though light for a lineman (277), he was impressive during drills in rookie and mini camps. The seventh-round pick is a long-shot, but one worth watching.
Corey Hilliard
After struggling in his first rookie camp practice, Hilliard bounced back in mini camp, but he’ll need to do a lot more to secure a roster spot on this team.
Ryan O’Callaghan
When Kaczur was out with an injury, O’Callaghan started last season at right tackle, and filled in admirably until Kaczur’s return. His play was limited thereafter, but he’s a player who fits the Patriots mold and will likely be in the mix for a starting spot.
Clint Oldenburg
Like Hilliard and Elgin, Oldenburg is a rookie draft pick fighting for a roster spot. Nothing’s impossible, but his best shot may be at a practice squad position.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Despite the reports claiming Kaczur has a lackadaisical approach, he's still the man to beat for the job after two seasons with significant time as a starter. The other factor in his favor, he's still a stronger pass protecter than either of the other two veterans - that will play a major role in the decision based on the potential of this season's passing offense.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

While we're on the O-line, Breer had this tidbit from last week that seemed to slide by:

6. Will they be in the zone?

One of the reasons the Patriots struggled in the running game last year, ranking 18th in yards per carry, is because the team was shifting to zone principles in blocking on the ground.

With Maroney, they have the perfect one-cut-and-explode runner for the Denver-like look. Now it's a matter of the big guys up front improving on blocking in it, which requires linemen to block an area, stretch the defense horizontally and work in unison.

The linemen to make it work are in place, with mobile and heady interior men Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen and Stephen Neal leading the charge. So the improvement should be vast.

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x2105704693

If true, the folks who considered 2006 a transition/re-building year may not have been too high after all.

 

[AD#96]

Ryan O'Callaghan and Nick Kaczur are competing for the starting job at right tackle. O'Callaghan seems to have the early edge.

http://www.courant.com/sports/football/patriots/hc-patriots0801.artaug01,0,6272259.story?track=rss

ryan has been working with the starters for the past 3 days now. kaczur sucks, he could be a solid backup. o'callaghan looked awesome, solid in pass protection (shut down shaun ellis) and amazing in the running game.

 

[RobertWeathers]

While we're on the O-line, Breer had this tidbit from last week that seemed to slide by:http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x2105704693

If true, the folks who considered 2006 a transition/re-building year may not have been too high after all.

Box-o-rocks brings up a great point. Who will function better in the zone-blocking scheme that the Pats will be implementing this year? The scheme requires strength and technique and holding your blocks (then again, what OL position doesn't?). From what I gather, Kazur is quick but lacks strength. O'Callaghan is powerful, quick for his size and had better technique than Kazur. I have also heard good things about Britt regarding his quickness and strength (6'8" 320?...my god).

I say O'Callaghan starts and Britt comes in to rotate between RT/LT and Kazur gets traded.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

**yawn** Scarnecchia says "psyche!"
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/08/practice_attend_6.html

One area we noticed in the early part of practice was Nick Kaczur lining up next to right guard Stephen Neal. That's an area we've been monitoring in training camp -- the right tackle competition -- and we'll continue to keep an eye on it.

This rotation at RT has been a hallmark for the last three training camps. Ashworth and Gorin were always doing it with Ash the guy who usually won in Camp and Gorin the one coming off the bench and closing out the season after Ash got hurt. Kaczur, for all his sins (real or imagined), won the job back after he got healthy last season and then rotated with O'C until the Urlacher slobberknocker put O'C on the sick, lame, and lazy list. Either way the Pats will be good.

 

[JtudsJetsFan]

Kaczur has been about as good as you could expect from a 3rd round Canadian/MAC tackle .

What does this have to do with it? Most O-lineman in the NFL were drafted after round 2 and how does his nationality or college conference make a difference? O-linemen come from no-name schools/small programs more than any other position in the NFL.....the fact that he is from Canada means what, that he naturally cannot be as good?

 

[Warren94]

obviously the pats saw something Kazur. O'Callaghan has had injury concerns in college but is tough. I am leaning toward OC and Britt as a backup. Trade Kazur.

 

[rbkgoalr]

I am going to say Britt. I have not been impressed at all with O'Callahan and Kaczur over th past few years. I really would like to see what this kid can do as a full time starter.