Patriots draft FSU center Bryan Stork in 4th round with 105th overall pick

Well aren't these the same people who said Chandler Jones was raw and would take years to contribute? Take everything the media says with a grain of salt.

Stork directly addresses our need to strengthen the center position. I'm hoping he takes over sooner rather than later. Cos Wendell was flat out terrible last season. Was it an undisclosed injury he was fighting or does Wendell really suck that badly?

patchick said:

Hold on a second. We're talking about a redshirt senior who started 40 games for Florida State. A guy who won the Rimington Trophy as the top center in college football. A guy who projects to the exact same position with the Patriots -- as it happens, the position with the weakest incumbent starter on the whole roster.

And from this they conclude that he's a long-term developmental prospect?

Wow, tough audience. What would it take for a player to actually look like he's ready for the NFL?

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AzPatsFan said:

I still think Cameron Fleming was the enabling acquisition.

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I hope you are right but that was actually my least favorite pick of the draft. I don't like the slow feet and the reviews that say he struggles in pass blocking an has bad hands and doesn't possess the nasty streak i think we all want in OL. I like that he's a smart player and has great size but i am going to have to see him succeed in the NFL to buy into him.

JMC00 said:

I can't stand Chris Price.

C and DT two of the weakest positions last year and he's considering them one-two year developmental players.

If Stork outplays Wendell in training camp he will be the C and Wendell will be a Free Agent. Same thing with Easley if he outplays every other DT in camp Bill will play him.

Who was the last developmental 1st round pick? Meriweather?

Dont'a Hightower- 13 GS (14 GP)
Chandler Jones- 13 GS (14 GP) (I believe both missed sometime due to injury that year)
Nate Solder- 13 GS (15 GP)
Devin McCourty- 16 GS
Jerod Mayo- 16 GS
Brandon Meriweather- 0 GS (16 GP)
Laurence Maroney- 0 GS (14 GP)
Logan Mankins- 16 GS
Vince Wilfork- 6 GS (16 GP)
Ben Watson- 1 GS (1 GP)
Ty Warren- 4 GS (16 GP)
Daniel Graham- 6 GS (12 GP)
Richard Seymour- 10 GS (13 GP)

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I have no problem with Price but i agree that they don't use first round picks on developmental projects, they try to get players who can contribute very soon and long term with a big upside, and they usually hit on them.

Danger Zone said:

Ah.. d%#*!@t Scar. Why'd you have to retire?

If I had two doses of Past Patriot Youth Serum, he'd be right up there in serious consideration for that second dose.

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And he would seriously appreciate the chance to retire as a young man. He deserves it.

PP2 said:

When Mankins was in his prime, nobody could touch him but IMHO he hasn't been himself the last season or two. Maybe I am being overtly critical of Mankins, but.. Connolly does get to the 2nd level pretty good.

Anyway I was thinking Connolly starts at center until Stork is good to go and then he stays on as a swing, backup G and C.

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I think Connolly is too expensive for the Pats to keep as a backup. He starts at RG or C until Stork is ready later this year, or he gets cut after 2 or 3 weeks of pre-season with a chance to catch-on elsewhere. Wendell isn't as good, but he's priced closer to a backup.

pencilneckgeek said:

I think Connolly is too expensive for the Pats to keep as a backup. He starts at RG or C until Stork is ready later this year, or he gets cut after 2 or 3 weeks of pre-season with a chance to catch-on elsewhere. Wendell isn't as good, but he's priced closer to a backup.

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That's a possibility; both Wendell and Connolly can swing, but Wendell, while durable, finished dead last in pass protection in '13, and frequently struggles in run blocking, so money may not be the driving factor here.

pencilneckgeek said:

I think Connolly is too expensive for the Pats to keep as a backup. He starts at RG or C until Stork is ready later this year, or he gets cut after 2 or 3 weeks of pre-season with a chance to catch-on elsewhere. Wendell isn't as good, but he's priced closer to a backup.

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My understanding is that if he's on the 53 on opening day his too expensive salary is guaranteed even if/when cut later, so he's either cut in camp or hits the cap for full year salary

PatsWickedPissah said:

My understanding is that if he's on the 53 on opening day his too expensive salary is guaranteed even if/when cut later, so he's either cut in camp or hits the cap for full year salary

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That's correct. I suggested that he could be cut in week 2 or 3 of pre-season, if he is let go largely for financial considerations, and BB wants to give a solid team player a chance to catch on elsewhere. If he is on the opening day roster, we keep him, because he's a good player to whom we've already committed then money at that point.

pencilneckgeek said:

And he would seriously appreciate the chance to retire as a young man. He deserves it.



I think Connolly is too expensive for the Pats to keep as a backup. He starts at RG or C until Stork is ready later this year, or he gets cut after 2 or 3 weeks of pre-season with a chance to catch-on elsewhere. Wendell isn't as good, but he's priced closer to a backup.

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Connolly can play both positions and is a much better player than Wendell imo. His cap hit isn't going to be a factor this season so I would keep him around for 2014 and release Wendell if Stork wins the job, which imo is just a matter of time.

I think many of us were not as happy with the draft when it happened as we would have hoped to be, but since then I have grown much more appreciation for the picks and the way they approached it. Their best shot at a game changing DL was clearly in the first, they are really really hard to come by. I said WTF when they picked Garrapolo but given that he is a really good prospect, Brady is in the last quarter of his career, and the saving they get by using a pick over a FA QB to back up Brady I think it was good use of the pick.

Using their mid round picks for what appears to be quality depth at RB and starters on the interior OL was excellent, and grabbing Thomas, who I really like as Arrington's eventual replacement late was another good choice. So overall my view of the draft has improved significantly since that weekend.

Ivan said:

Conolly can play both positions and is a much better player than Wendell imo. His cap hit isn't going to be a factor this season so i would keep him around for 2014 and release Wendell if Stork wins the job, which imo is just a matter of time.

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Connolly's cap hit is $4M, of which $3M is non-guaranteed salary, whereas Wendell's is $1.6M, of which $1.2 is non-guaranteed salary. If either of them are going to be backups, I think that $1.8M difference factors in significantly.

If, however, Connolly wins a starting role, his salary is reasonable. I just wonder whether he will get enough snaps at Center to win that job, when the coaches will obviously want to give Stork lots of snaps and will give Wendell the opportunity afforded a returning starter. I expect Stork will need more than TC and pre-season to both polish his technique and master the line calls, which would mean that either Wendell or Connolly would be our starting center.

If recent years are any indication, I would expect Connolly to get more reps at guard, as much as I'd like him to be given every chance to win the starting center job and Cannon given the chance to slide in next to him at RG. Maybe the Pats or the new line coach sees what we see in Wendell; which is good effort, good technique, and not enough beef; and starts out looking for an upgrade that moves both Connolly and Cannon, but I'm not expecting that.

pencilneckgeek said:

Connolly's cap hit is $4M, of which $3M is non-guaranteed salary, whereas Wendell's is $1.6M, of which $1.2 is non-guaranteed salary. If either of them are going to be backups, I think that $1.8M difference factors in significantly. If, however, Connolly wins a starting role, his salary is reasonable. I just wonder whether he will get enough snaps at Center to win that job, when the coaches will obviously want to give Stork lots of snaps and will give Wendell the opportunity afforded a returning starter. I expect Stork will need more than TC and pre-season to both polish his technique and master the line calls, which would mean that either Wendell or Connolly would be our starting center. If recent years are any indication, I would expect Connolly to get more reps at guard, as much as I'd like him to be given every chance to win the starting center job and Cannon given the chance to slide in next to him at RG. Maybe the Pats or the new line coach sees what we see in Wendell; which is good effort, good technique, and not enough beef; and starts out looking for an upgrade that moves both Connolly and Cannon, but I'm not expecting that.

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Good post, appreciate the information. I would love to see them finally give Cannon the RG job and if that happened then Connolly would be more expendable. I would be fine with giving Connolly the starting C job while Stork learns the job and if Halapio or Cannon win the RG job then this OL is going to be so much better.

VJCPatriot said:

Stork directly addresses our need to strengthen the center position. I'm hoping he takes over sooner rather than later. Cos Wendell was flat out terrible last season. Was it an undisclosed injury he was fighting or does Wendell really suck that badly?

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It's the latter.

pencilneckgeek said:

Connolly's cap hit is $4M, of which $3M is non-guaranteed salary, whereas Wendell's is $1.6M, of which $1.2 is non-guaranteed salary. If either of them are going to be backups, I think that $1.8M difference factors in significantly.

If, however, Connolly wins a starting role, his salary is reasonable.

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How do you factor in positional flexibility? As high as Connolly's salary is, a dependable vet who can handle all 3 interior OL positions should be FAR more valuable from a roster-building perspective than a center-only player like Wendell.

I agree; if it comes down to choosing to keep either Connolly or Wendy, I'm choosing Connolly
all day long.

I would be happy if Stork becomes a top 12 center. If he adds another 10-12 lbs and trains with tae kwan do and other flexibility training I think he can become top5-6 center no problem.

I think reports of Ryan Wendells demise have been greatly exaggerated.

He definitely struggled for large parts of last season - but the year before he was excellent - who knows what types of transient issues he might have been dealing with?

Don't get me wrong, I think a bigger frame at centre is a good thing - but Wendell does have established chemistry with Brady (very important) and is a tough technician even if undersized.

In recent years when the interior of the O-line has become a sieve in pressure must-have situations i've seen Mankins often at fault - does that make him suddenly expendable?

People do seem quicker to denigrate players when they have come through the UDFA route - just human nature, I guess.

I fully expect Wendell to give Stork a tough battle for the centre spot through camp (though yes, i'd prefer Stork won it).

livinginthe past said:

In recent years when the interior of the O-line has become a sieve in pressure must-have situations i've seen Mankins often at fault - does that make him suddenly expendable?

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In some of those situations you describe, particularly a must-pass down, where you see Mankins at fault, he more often than not was assigned to help Wendell in the form of a double-team block.

I don't recall seeing him losing too many one on one battles which is the only way we can fairly judge him, since we don't know the line calls or assignments.

He does have trouble with the dropback protection as far as handling rushers coming in on the outside of Solder.

PP2 said:

In some of those situations you describe, particularly a must-pass down, where you see Mankins at fault, he more often than not was assigned to help Wendell in the form of a double-team block.

I don't recall seeing him losing too many one on one battles which is the only way we can fairly judge him, since we don't know the line calls or assignments.

He does have trouble with the dropback protection as far as handling rushers coming in on the outside of Solder.

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I seem to recall both of our guards getting beaten on the outside shoulder in these occasions - one sack vs the Jets in the divisional round loss years back came from a ridiculous 3 man rush - Shaun Ellis if I remember correctly.

My main point, I guess, is that people are really panning Wendell for a single below-par year.

livinginthe past said:

My main point, I guess, is that people are really panning Wendell for a single below-par year.

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He continually loses one on one battles, especially bull rushes, so I'm not sure this is entirely relevant to having a bad year. He's not losing because of poor technique- he's simply getting overpowered.

PP2 said:

He continually loses one on one battles, especially bull rushes, so I'm not sure this is entirely relevant to having a bad year. He's not losing because of poor technique- he's simply getting overpowered.

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I agree, and that's the real problem with Connolly and Wendell, they are both good technicians but don't have the power to deal with the bigger more powerful DL.

PP2 said:

He continually loses one on one battles, especially bull rushes, so I'm not sure this is entirely relevant to having a bad year. He's not losing because of poor technique- he's simply getting overpowered.

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Ivan said:

I agree, and that's the real problem with Connolly and Wendell, they are both good technicians but don't have the power to deal with the bigger more powerful DL.

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Exactly. That's why I love what the Pats have done along the interior OL. We now have the beef up front to deal with the bigger DT's that we'll see in the playoffs and Super Bowl.