Patriots sign another rookie OL, Kyle Hill

Patriots sign offensive lineman Hill - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Despite the troubles we've had at camp so far along the O-Line, we have yet to add anything more than (no offense to Mr. Hill) what appears to be camp fodder.

This tells me that Belichick is expecting Waters, Vollmer & Mankins all to be playing for this team once the season gets going. If that's the case, that's a relief.

BradyManny said:

Patriots sign offensive lineman Hill - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Despite the troubles we've had at camp so far along the O-Line, we have yet to add anything more than (no offense to Mr. Hill) what appears to be camp fodder.

This tells me that Belichick is expecting Waters, Vollmer & Mankins all to be playing for this team once the season gets going. If that's the case, that's a relief.

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I like your optimistic long-term take. I just hope the Pats' QBs can survive the preseason!

BradyManny said:

Patriots sign offensive lineman Hill - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Despite the troubles we've had at camp so far along the O-Line, we have yet to add anything more than (no offense to Mr. Hill) what appears to be camp fodder.

This tells me that Belichick is expecting Waters, Vollmer & Mankins all to be playing for this team once the season gets going. If that's the case, that's a relief.

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I would expect the same with Waters. But, with Mankins and Vollmer, it all depends on health. Especially with Vollmer. Back injuries can be extremely tricky, especially for someone playing a position that primarily takes on bull rushers.

We can only hope that Brady is rarely,if at all out there in ANY preseason game like it was in 2008.

He doesn't need to be.....showcase the other 2 QBs with this porous OL

patchick said:

I like your optimistic long-term take. I just hope the Pats' QBs can survive the preseason!

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Same here - and that's why these reps against the Saints are so valuable. It will help keep the Pats sharp and maybe allow Belichick to hold back on the Brady-led offense in the preseason. I'm sure we'll see #12 out there, but I would expect the run game and short passing game to be heavily featured so as not to expose him unnecessarily to injury.

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

We can only hope that Brady is rarely,if at all out there in ANY preseason game like it was in 2008.

He doesn't need to be.....showcase the other 2 QBs with this porous OL

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Maybe we don't want to be like 2008

KontradictioN said:

I would expect the same with Waters. But, with Mankins and Vollmer, it all depends on health. Especially with Vollmer. Back injuries can be extremely tricky, especially for someone playing a position that primarily takes on bull rushers.

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I agree, Vollmer's back injury is a real concern to fans. But what fears I have are eased by the fact that Belichick has done little to address the position in the offseason. His additions were on the interior line. I'm banking on the Patriots having more information on Vollmer than we have, and that information being positive for his outlook.

It strikes me that even with BOTH presumed starting guards out and Gallery retired, the interior OL roster is still respectable, which is pretty amazing. Connolly, Thomas, Koppen, Wendell and McDonald give you decent experience and depth.

But at tackle, they're seriously out of bodies right now. McDonald was playing RT with the second string yesterday.

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

We can only hope that Brady is rarely,if at all out there in ANY preseason game like it was in 2008.

He doesn't need to be.....showcase the other 2 QBs with this porous OL

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What about game speed timing with his new toy Lloyd?

And what is going on in your sig pic?

PlainOldEd said:

And what is going on in your sig pic?

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Oh, did you miss the thread about that pic? Don't worry, IIRC Belichick is just feeding on his inflatable zombie vampire. Something like that, anyway.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/931265-i-think-someone-slipped-something-into-my-drink-lunch-today.html

PlainOldEd said:

What about game speed timing with his new toy Lloyd?

And what is going on in your sig pic?

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Belichick acting like a funny man in practice is a rarity from what i have seen...its a pic worth noting that he indeed is a man with humor inside of that serious outer body that the media sees

I seriously think Belichick could be the life of any party if he shows his off the field personality....But I personally love the way he handles the media to perfection by leaving them with their mouths open with questions that go unanswered or take another turn.

Is he making "raspberries" on his arm?

PATRIOTSFANINPA said:

Belichick acting like a funny man in practice is a rarity from what i have seen...its a pic worth noting that he indeed is a man with humor inside of that serious outer body that the media sees

I seriously think Belichick could be the life of any party if he shows his off the field personality....But I personally love the way he handles the media to perfection by leaving them with their mouths open with questions that go unanswered or take another turn.

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Agreed.

Does anyone remember how he behaved and interacted with the media prior to joining us? Same? A little different? Has he ever acknowledged that he utilizes a particular 'approach' or 'style' with the media?

Nehalem said:

Maybe we don't want to be like 2008

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Exactlywhy he needs to play a full preseason. The point of preseason is to get ready to play, not to see the scrubs out there.

basement zombie said:

Agreed.

Does anyone remember how he behaved and interacted with the media prior to joining us? Same? A little different? Has he ever acknowledged that he utilizes a particular 'approach' or 'style' with the media?

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I am sure he has a lot of personality and is very social with the team, he could never of led the franchise this long and well if he only led with fear. I think he does the things he does with the media to build a level of trust with his players and coaches. They know that whatever happens or said BB is not going to let it get to the media creates a safe environment for the players.

Look at Rex Ryan and his teams dysfunction. There is no trust in there locker room and it shows in the teams moral, effort and learning.

basement zombie said:

Agreed.

Does anyone remember how he behaved and interacted with the media prior to joining us? Same? A little different? Has he ever acknowledged that he utilizes a particular 'approach' or 'style' with the media?

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I think there are a few factors involved with why Belichick treats the media the way he does.

First and foremost is his obsession with winning and paying attention to every detail, and I bet he feels that loose lips sink NFL ships. I read in Pepper Johnson's book Won For All, Belichick actually coaches his players how to handle media questions and how to take the questions down dead ends.

Another factor is the way Belichick was treated in the past by the media. He was publicly ridiculed in NY as unstable and called duplicitous pond scum by a local writer here. I'm a little more foggy on his Cleveland days, but I think he took a beating there too.

The last factor is because he's been to seven SBs as a HC or coach and won five rings. He can treat them any way he wants. Payback is a bi**h.

BBass said:

Look at Rex Ryan and his teams dysfunction. There is no trust in there locker room and it shows in the teams moral, effort and learning.

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You must have missed the memo from the Jest fans. Rex uses that bluster as a strategy to get into opponents heads. He's really not just a big bag of hot air.

1960Pats said:

You must have missed the memo from the Jest fans. Rex uses that bluster as a strategy to get into opponents heads. He's really not just a big bag of hot air.

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If BB was coaching the Tebow situation with Sanchez he'd of answered the question with "It's good to have depth at the QB position". And that would of been the last of him answering the questions. Rex is a good coach for 1-2 seasons then he is always going to lose his team because of the nonsense and the constant need for attention.

waters will be back week 1 IMO which will help big time..then hopefully mankins within the first 3 games. First 2 games should be easy..SHOULD be

1960Pats said:

I think there are a few factors involved with why Belichick treats the media the way he does.

First and foremost is his obsession with winning and paying attention to every detail, and I bet he feels that loose lips sink NFL ships. I read in Pepper Johnson's book Won For All, Belichick actually coaches his players how to handle media questions and how to take the questions down dead ends.

Another factor is the way Belichick was treated in the past by the media. He was publicly ridiculed in NY as unstable and called duplicitous pond scum by a local writer here. I'm a little more foggy on his Cleveland days, but I think he took a beating there too.

The last factor is because he's been to seven SBs as a HC or coach and won five rings. He can treat them any way he wants. Payback is a bi**h.

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I think that you personalize it when you say these are the reasons. BB interested in winning. His team is the key to that and therefore he feels they deserve to be in the loop, anyone that isn't going to contribute to him winning is seen as a liability so why bother taking any chance with it.

Think of the team as his company and the media as his auditors who openly speaks to there auditors with anything more then short and professional answers.