Offensive Line - A Unit In Full Transition

As few as two lineman from the 2013 may be on the 2015 roster. Now THAT is transition in a hurry.

We have added 3 rookies this year. Connolly, Cannon and Mankins may be gone next year. Solder and Vollmer will stay, depending on health.

The above analysis doesn't include Kline who could make this year's roster and next, or not. Given the likely losses next year, I would hope that we would keep Kline this year.

mgteich said:

As few as two lineman from the 2013 may be on the 2015 roster. Now THAT is transition in a hurry.

We have added 3 rookies this year. Connolly, Cannon and Mankins may be gone next year. Solder and Vollmer will stay, depending on health.

The above analysis doesn't include Kline who could make this year's roster and next, or not. Given the likely losses next year, I would hope that we would keep Kline this year.

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Full transition would mean the entire line is being turned over, it is not. Actually we enter camp with all five of our starters from last year in place.

-Stork – upside would be that he replaces Wendell as the starter; likelihood is that he replaces Kline as the top interior backup.
-Fleming – is the replacement for Svitek
-Halapio – is a developmental prospect in the same mold as Barker who was on the roster last season.

I think you are mistaking the fact that we had to replace player with us turning over the unit.

2013
-Solder
-Vollmer
-Mankins
-Connolly
-Wendell
-Cannon
-Svitek
-Kline
-Barker

2014
-Solder
-Vollmer
-Mankins
-Connolly
-Wendell
-Cannon
-Fleming
-Stork
-Halapio

I am not seeing a transition other than Svitek, Kline, and Barker being upgrade upon through the draft, with the potential that Stork overtakes Wendell. One of the biggest losses last season was Thomas, many forget that, but his loss was felt.

If we keep 9, we will have replaced Wendell, Svitek and Barker. So would argue that Stork, Fleming and Halapio are upgrades. I certainly think so. If Stork can't start at C, Connolly can and will.

With regard to next year, I suggest that Mankins, Connolly and Cannon are likely to go. Do you disagree?

I think that changing 6 of an 8-9 man line is a major transition? do you disagree?

Brady6 said:

Full transition would mean the entire line is being turned over, it is not. Actually we enter camp with all five of our starters from last year in place.

-Stork – upside would be that he replaces Wendell as the starter; likelihood is that he replaces Kline as the top interior backup.
-Fleming – is the replacement for Svitek
-Halapio – is a developmental prospect in the same mold as Barker who was on the roster last season.

I think you are mistaking the fact that we had to replace player with us turning over the unit.

2013
-Solder
-Vollmer
-Mankins
-Connolly
-Wendell
-Cannon
-Svitek
-Kline
-Barker

2014
-Solder
-Vollmer
-Mankins
-Connolly
-Wendell
-Cannon
-Fleming
-Stork
-Halapio

I am not seeing a transition other than Svitek, Kline, and Barker being upgrade upon through the draft, with the potential that Stork overtakes Wendell. One of the biggest losses last season was Thomas, many forget that, but his loss was felt.

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mgteich said:

If we keep 9, we will have replaced Wendell, Svitek and Barker. So would argue that Stork, Fleming and Halapio are upgrades. I certainly think so. If Stork can't start at C, Connolly can and will.

With regard to next year, I suggest that Mankins, Connolly and Cannon are likely to go. Do you disagree?

I think that changing 6 of an 8-9 man line is a major transition? do you disagree?

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Who are you keeping instead of Wendell?

Brady6 said:

Full transition would mean the entire line is being turned over, it is not. Actually we enter camp with all five of our starters from last year in place.

-Stork – upside would be that he replaces Wendell as the starter; likelihood is that he replaces Kline as the top interior backup.
-Fleming – is the replacement for Svitek
-Halapio – is a developmental prospect in the same mold as Barker who was on the roster last season.

I think you are mistaking the fact that we had to replace player with us turning over the unit.

2013
-Solder
-Vollmer
-Mankins
-Connolly
-Wendell
-Cannon
-Svitek
-Kline
-Barker

2014
-Solder
-Vollmer
-Mankins
-Connolly
-Wendell
-Cannon
-Fleming
-Stork
-Halapio

I am not seeing a transition other than Svitek, Kline, and Barker being upgrade upon through the draft, with the potential that Stork overtakes Wendell. One of the biggest losses last season was Thomas, many forget that, but his loss was felt.

Click to expand...

I fully expect Stork to replace Wendell. I think they look at Fleming as a RG prospect and suspect he'll be competing with Connolly for the RG job.

I think Brandon Stork is destined to be the Pats starting C by end of 2015. I think Fleming is destined as the backup for Vollmer, which frees Cannon to take Connolly's job at RG.

KontradictioN said:

I fully expect Stork to replace Wendell. I think they look at Fleming as a RG prospect and suspect he'll be competing with Connolly for the RG job.

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Belichick pretty much said Fleming is a tackle and a tackle only.

Halapio & Cannon are the obvious candidates to take over at RG.

Big-T said:

Belichick pretty much said Fleming is a tackle and a tackle only.

Halapio & Cannon are the obvious candidates to take over at RG.

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I agree that Fleming is an OT.

Presuming that Mankins stays, I see that we are transitioning to the following in 2015.
Solder, Mankins, Stork, Hilapio, Vollmer
Fleming, Kline

Gronk will be back too to provide much needed blocking from the TE spot

mgteich said:

I agree that Fleming is an OT.

Presuming that Mankins stays, I see that we are transitioning to the following in 2015.
Solder, Mankins, Stork, Hilapio, Vollmer
Fleming, Kline

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I know people are not in love with Wendell but to put Kline ahead of him seems rash, he might not be the greatest starter but he is a better player than Kline.

KontradictioN said:

I fully expect Stork to replace Wendell. I think they look at Fleming as a RG prospect and suspect he'll be competing with Connolly for the RG job.

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Personally, I think it will shake out like this –

-LT – Solder
-LG – Mankins
-OC – Stork
-RG – Cannon
-RT – Vollmer
-Swing OT – Fleming
-OG/OC – Connolly or Wendell
-OG – Halapio or Kline

I definitely think drafting these 3 linemen, the Pats have their eyes on the 2015 season. Wendel, Conolley, and Mankins prob won't be here for the start of the 2015 season. Seems like the new OL coach wants more beef up front.

For Fleming and Halapio this may be a "red shirt" season... do not see them stepping in as major players in '14, more likely in '15.. if they have the skills and aptitude.

AzorianPats said:

Seems like the new OL coach wants more beef up front.

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There definitely seems to be a change in drafting philosophy with O-Line man. I read that Halapio had one of the worst vertical numbers in the draft. That's always been a mainstay measureable for Pats O Linemen. The guys they are drafting seem bigger too. Does anyone have any insight into this? Is this an evolutionary reaction to the way defenses are morphing into being primarily predicated on speed rush and coverage? Is the intent that the larger maulers will be able to overpower smaller faster defensive fronts in the run game?

They are going with a bigger interior OL group, as they are trying to protect Brady from pressure up the middle and of course become more of a power run team.

Nunchucks said:

They are going with a bigger interior OL group, as they are trying to protect Brady from pressure up the middle and of course become more of a power run team.

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I would be more convinced that we are to become more of a power running team if we drafted a power runner, or signed one in free agency.

mgteich said:

I would be more convinced that we are to become more of a power running team if we drafted a power runner, or signed one in free agency.

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Little guys can run in-between the tackles.

Nunchucks said:

Little guys can run in-between the tackles.

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True, but there is no denying that a power back makes developing a power running game much easier.

mgteich said:

I would be more convinced that we are to become more of a power running team if we drafted a power runner, or signed one in free agency.

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Beat me to it. I miss Blount.
Still have a boner from that playoff game against the Colts.