Let The OL Competition Begin!

We now seem to want bigger OL's. We keep 8-9 OL's on the 53.

TACKLES
Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
The four tackles should be safe, especially since both backups can play RG.

GUARD AND CENTER
Mankins and Stork should be safe for 2014.
Wendell, Connolly, Kline, Cave, Barker, and Halapio are competing for 2-3 roster spots.

Very happy with all the OL and DL picks. Playoff games are won in the trenches.

Solder-Mankins-Stork-Cannon-Vollmer

That'd be a nice starting OL for week 1.

I like this draft class, I like their thought process, love the emphasis on the online, we will see if the players drafted pans out, i don't think I watch enough college football to say whether they reached or didn't reach our if there were better players at those positions when they drafted, so can't really say much about that.

I think the main competition for a roster spot is going to be Connolly vs Halapio.

Looks like the Pats scouts really liked the depth at OL in this draft. They must have had a lot of players high on their board at the OL positions. Hopefully these guys develop into contributors.

Elijah said:

I think the main competition for a roster spot is going to be Connolly vs Halapio.

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If we keep 8, It seems quite possible that neither will make the team. In any case, it may be Connolly, Hapalio and Kline competing for 1-2 spots. Wendell is likely to be a backup or starter, depending on Stork's progress.

I think that Kline has done well at LG when he played there. I don't see the maulers as LG's.

I still see us keeping 9 offensive linemen. 8 is only if someone is on PUP. 5 interior, and 4 exterior. Cannon and Fleming might give us some flexibility at the tackle positions as they may both be able to play Guard. That versatility is always a plus.

Throughout the pre-draft, I emphasized that I thought the 40 sacks that Brady took last season was THE #1 item to b addressed. Even when all you were anxious to spend a First on securing a TE who more resembled a Hoomanawanui clone than anything else.

I am happy I read BB intentions, and he has taken 3 OLs, including the Rimington award winner at C, along with a tough G, and a RT reserve prospect, who can pass block, that may free Cannon to really compete and win the RG job. I wanted a Day 1 OL talent, but apparently BB was happy to fill the need with more modest selections. He could have taken Brandon Thomas without trading down, but I don't know if the Center would have still been there at 130.

It has long rumored that Smith and Keller were already bookmarked for the Pats, and I expect he will be signed as his leg improves or not. Someone suggested we might delay the signing to protect next years likely comp pick selections, but I am unsure how waiting till June 1 does that, although they implied it did somehow. In any case Lafell is the proven, veteran H-Back to fill for Hernandez, IMHO. Keller might be better, but who knows how his leg is doing.

Gambling on Greatness is something BB never did with his First Round picks, reserving gambles to 2nd or 3rd round. We shall see If BB has drawn a Full House or ended up with a busted Flush. Dominique Easly must potentially really be something special to make him break his established patterns.

Overall I like the selections except BB never did address the LB position. Maybe a 7th rounder or UDFA.
He possibly didn't see it as a high need but with only 6 on the current roster, that seems a bit light for the position.

I would love to have all the rookies make it. We've recycled guys that were getting Tom killed. I don't know that they can be any worse than what we saw against the Broncos. That was turnstile-level embarrassing.

Connolly could be a cap casualty. Anyway my binkie is halapio. He has a knack for using his opponent's momentum against them, taking them out with good angles.

Bring on Denver!

I'd rather have Connolly who can play G/C than Wendell.

There's nobody to spend his cap money on at this point anyway, outside of a trade (or if we can convince Tony G to take a shot at a SB bookending with Gronk). So in all reality... Connolly.

The Scrizz said:

I'd rather have Connolly who can play G/C than Wendell.

There's nobody to spend his cap money on at this point anyway, outside of a trade (or if we can convince Tony G to take a shot at a SB bookending with Gronk). So in all reality... Connolly.

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So, your attitude is to waste cap money? Any cap money not used is available for extensions or for 2014.

mgteich said:

If we keep 8, It seems quite possible that neither will make the team. In any case, it may be Connolly, Hapalio and Kline competing for 1-2 spots. Wendell is likely to be a backup or starter, depending on Stork's progress.

I think that Kline has done well at LG when he played there. I don't see the maulers as LG's.

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Not sure how you put Wendell and Kline ahead of Connolly.

mgteich said:

So, your attitude is to waste cap money? Any cap money not used is available for extensions or for 2014.

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I think his attitude is keep the better player so we are more likely to be a better team.

AndyJohnson said:

Not sure how you put Wendell and Kline ahead of Connolly.

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1) Connolly's salary and contract length is an issue.
2) Kline is a proven inexpensive backup LG.
3) Wendell has the contract of a backup center.

A) If Connolly is clearly the best starting RG or starting C, then he will make the team, with our without a change in contract.

B) If Connolly is a $4M one-year backup, he might still make the team, but only if he is viewed significantly better than Wendell and Kline.

I just hope Wendell is gone.

Marqui said:

I just hope Wendell is gone.

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Would you keep Connolly as a $4M a year backup center?

mgteich said:

1) Connolly's salary and contract length is an issue.
2) Kline is a proven inexpensive backup LG.
3) Wendell has the contract of a backup center.

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We can afford the extra 3 mill to have a better #1 backup
I'm not sure how playing a game and a half and not totally crapping himself makes Kline 'proven' compared to a multiyear starter.

A) If Connolly is clearly the best starting RG or starting C, then he will make the team, with our without a change in contract.

B) If Connolly is a $4M one-year backup, he might still make the team, but only if he is viewed significantly better than Wendell and Kline.

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Well he is better than both of them, thats the point.