What do we have in Welbourn & Flynn?

[D-cleater]

My suspicion is that Hochstein or O'Callaghan will be on IR by next week and both Welbourne and Flynn will be on the 53. I don't think that Connolly is making the 53.

Both players were full time starters for several years on pretty decent O-lines up until this past offseason. I'm not sure why either got cut , or just not resigned, but I just want to consider each of these guys and how they can help the team. Assume we keep 9 OL on the active 53 man roster. Four tackles, one full time center, three pure guards and one Guard/center hybrid

Current depth chart:

T: Light, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Britt
G: Mankins, Yates
C: Koppen, Connolly
G/C: Hochstein

PUP: Neal


I'm not considering the third string guys, as one would expect them to land on the practice squad if they show anything against the Giants.

So where do Welbourn and Flynn fit in? Consider that Welbourn has played both guard positions and right tackle, and Flynn has played RG and Center. I think, with another week of practice under his belt, Flynn supplants Connolly as backup center/guard. But assuming Neal returns from PUP, what happens then? Is Flynn good enough to take a roster spot from Yates, Hochstein, Britt, or O'callaghan ?

What about Welbourn? He has position flexibility and experience. Any chance he could take the spot currently held by one of the backups? I don't see this as a big stretch for either Welbourn or Flynn, to be honest, although I never gave either much thought when they weren't playing the pats. I want to say that Mike Flynn is a tough, above averages C/G , and Welbourn also brings a physical game, and opened a lot of holes for Westbrook/Johnson the past few years. I think we need some physical players right now on the O line. I'd like to see at least one of them take a spot from one of the aforementioned JAGS, if not both of them.

 

[cstjohn17]

I would say all of the backup spots are in play, Hochstein was a virtual lock until he got hurt. O'Cal never seems to be healthy, Yates just plain sucks and O'Connelly is the mayor of JAGsville.

Welbourn & Flynn were at home watching soap operas a couple of weeks ago, maybe we are expecting a lot but one of them should make the opening day roster at least until the PUPs come back. My money is that they both back it and O'Connelly and Yates (maybe Hochstein if he is hurt) gets cut.

 

[DW Toys]

I would say all of the backup spots are in play, Hochstein was a virtual lock until he got hurt. O'Cal never seems to be healthy, Yates just plain sucks and O'Connelly is the mayor of JAGsville.

Welbourn & Flynn were at home watching soap operas a couple of weeks ago, maybe we are expecting a lot but one of them should make the opening day roster at least until the PUPs come back. My money is that they both back it and O'Connelly and Yates (maybe Hochstein if he is hurt) gets cut.

Good post. I agree.
DW Toys

 

[Jimke]

Flynn has a good shot at replacing Connelly. Welbourn could replace

Hochstein if the latter has a serious injury. Both Flynn and Welbourn

are experienced veterans.

 

[D-cleater]

Pretty much as I was hoping. It might be fun to watch our O line begin to gel as the season progresses with one or both of these guys solidifying the right side of the line, preferably with the first team, and a healthy Light holding down the left tackle position.

 

[JoePats]

Provided that Welbourn and Flynn aren't taking a roster spot of a future starter (they're not), I'd like to see them both stay, simply for their veteran experience. I'd have no problem if either one had to start a week or two here and there. But I doubt either one can be a full time player.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

Provided that Welbourn and Flynn aren't taking a roster spot of a future starter (they're not), I'd like to see them both stay, simply for their veteran experience. I'd have no problem if either one had to start a week or two here and there. But I doubt either one can be a full time player.

That is exactly what we need - a vet who can bail us out for a week or more without any significant drop in ability.

 

[AzPatsFan]

When we watched Wellbourne come into the game for Yates. It was as the the skies cleared and the Sun came out.

With Yates we were a left handed team running for yardage to the left and getting stoned when we ran right. After Wellbourne entered the game, we suddenly could run right as well. He also pancaked a couple of pass rushers. Who may have not been the same guys, who were giving the right side fits earlier, and ending up in the QBs face in a few seconds.

Wellbourne can play.

I did not see Flynn play, so I can't evaluate him.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Welbourne & Flynn - Hmmm Sounds like a new law firm ,I like the sound of it !

Maybe they will get together and become lawyer partners if the NFL does not pan out for them

 

[captain stone]

The OL as I (hope to) see it:

Light - Mankins - Koppen - Kaczur - O'Cal (if healthy)
Britt - - - - - Flynn - - - - -Welbourn

Neal & Ross to PUP

If there is a 9th spot available, then it would likely go to a Guard, as both Britt & Welbourn can play Tackle.
That eliminates Ts Martin & Sene, esp. if Martin still has PS eligibility.
Flynn makes the undersized Wendell redundant. Rookies Wendell & Sene also could make the PS.
Therefore, it could be a winner-take-all btwn. Connolly, Hochstein & Yates. If I were choosing, I would choose the younger, bigger Connolly...which means that Hochstein will probably win the last spot.

 

[Mark Morse]

My suspicion is that Hochstein or O'Callaghan will be on IR by next week and both Welbourne and Flynn will be on the 53. I don't think that Connolly is making the 53

If veterans like Flynn and Welbourn are on the roster for game 1 then you have to pay them for the entire season. Neal and Ross should end up on PUP and be back week 7. I say they go with 8 OL for Week 1 and cut both Flynn and Welbourn. Neither were employed weeks ago and nobody was knocking their doors down to get them. If either Hochstein or O'Callaghan are on IR, they keep Connolly. After week 1 they re-sign one or both.

 

[jeffbiologist]

I think if there was a chance of Kaczur playing inside we would have seen it already. I think its realistic to think that either of these guys(with the edge to Welbourn being here longer)may be our starting RG come the KC game. Good post!

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

I'm not in the loop, as I was gone for a few months.

When did the Pats sign Flynn?

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Flynn is a decent OL, although getting old at 34. Raven's fans say his legs get tired as the year goes on, allowing him to get pushed back by a bull rush. But they consider him a decent back up, spot starter. He was cut by the RAvens due to salary cap issues.......

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm not in the loop, as I was gone for a few months.

When did the Pats sign Flynn?

A week or two ago.

 

[BelichickFan]

Flynn is a decent OL, although getting old at 34. Raven's fans say his legs get tired as the year goes on, allowing him to get pushed back by a bull rush. But they consider him a decent back up, spot starter. He was cut by the RAvens due to salary cap issues.......

That's what we need, with Light practicing our OL will soon be the same as last year (assuming no Kaczur suspension) and a decent vet, whether Flynn or Welbourne, to replace Neal for the first half of the season who won't single handedly kill us will work. We don't need someone to make the OL all by himself, just someone who won't break it all by himself.

 

[PatsFan37]

If veterans like Flynn and Welbourn are on the roster for game 1 then you have to pay them for the entire season. Neal and Ross should end up on PUP and be back week 7. I say they go with 8 OL for Week 1 and cut both Flynn and Welbourn. Neither were employed weeks ago and nobody was knocking their doors down to get them. If either Hochstein or O'Callaghan are on IR, they keep Connolly. After week 1 they re-sign one or both.

I understand the sentiment and I also understand that you wrote this before the cutdown yesterday, so you might have written something different afterward.

I think it's too big a risk at the weakest point of the offense. They desperately need a starting RG and a backup RT. With Hochstein injured and O'C on IR, they've got nothing.

I wouldn't put it past the Jets to sign Welbourne just to keep him off the Pats roster (and pick his brain). They've spent many millions to beef up their OL. Why not spend a half-million and a backup roster spot to force the Pats to use Yates as their starting RG in game 2? I know that's sounds contrived for almost any coach in the league, but not for Mangini, who would make Machiavelli blush.

 

[JSn]

I wouldn't put it past the Jets to sign Welbourne just to keep him off the Pats roster (and pick his brain). They've spent many millions to beef up their OL. Why not spend a half-million and a backup roster spot to force the Pats to use Yates as their starting RG in game 2? I know that's sounds contrived for almost any coach in the league, but not for Mangini, who would make Machiavelli blush.

I dont know Jets fans, but wouldn't he get eaten alive for a move like that? They're already writing in the cap zone and would have to cut someone to sign him.

 

[PatsFan37]

I dont know Jets fans, but wouldn't he get eaten alive for a move like that? They're already writing in the cap zone and would have to cut someone to sign him.

After the hole he's dug for himself, he has to win. Desperation makes him unpredictable.

 

[BPF]

If veterans like Flynn and Welbourn are on the roster for game 1 then you have to pay them for the entire season. Neal and Ross should end up on PUP and be back week 7. I say they go with 8 OL for Week 1 and cut both Flynn and Welbourn. Neither were employed weeks ago and nobody was knocking their doors down to get them. If either Hochstein or O'Callaghan are on IR, they keep Connolly. After week 1 they re-sign one or both.

I know what your saying and it's a very good point and has happened in the past here and on other teams but I don't see it happening this year. Currently the Pats are under the cap by $6 mil and Welbourn's salary for 2008 is $730K and Flynn's $830K so the savings although substantial in dollars for you and I are really not that important to the team. Especially when you consider risking losing any one of these guys to another team in a year where every team around the league is light on OL's. I know that they weren't picked up by another team before the Pats signed them but that's just teams hoping to develop some of their young OL's, when the season draws near most coaches face reality and want to go with the proven guy on the OL. Everyone is looking for OL this time of the year around the league. Also, I don't think either of these guys would have signed here if they had a feeling they would be gone before the season. Flynn hasn't even been given a shot yet. In addition I think they are both quality linemen who can help this season. Welbourn has a chance to start at RG and be the #4 backup at OT now that O'Callaghan is on IR and Flynn can play all ineterior positions as a backup. Both guys are very flexible and have started at different positions in their careers. Hey, maybe Flynn has a shot at RG - we don't need him for the entire season all we are looking for is a solid 6-8 games till Neal hopefully gets back.