Predict the OL!

So, this is obviously a topic since the Mankins trade, I've seen ideas, thought, predictions, in half the active threads, lets consolidate it.

Who? Why?

New England Patriots offensive snaps vs. New York Giants - espnBoston

OFFENSIVE LINE:
LG Josh Kline – 70 of 70
RT Cameron Fleming – 70 of 70
RG/LT Chris Barker – 70 of 70
RG Jon Halapio – 57 of 70
C Bryan Stork – 37 of 70
C Braxston Cave – 33 of 70
LT Jordan Devey – 20 of 70

Quick-hit thoughts:With Nate Solder, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, Marcus Cannon and Sebastian Vollmer sitting this one out, it gave the Patriots a chance to look at their younger players.

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Did BB just tell us who the OL for week 1 is? I don't think I've read this idea yet, but it makes sense.

Solder - Connolly - Wendell - Cannon - Vollmer

Remember when Mankins held out for 7 games due to a contract dispute? Yeah, it was Dan Connolly that started every game at LG until Mankins returned. Cannon is the guy everyone wants at RG, Connolly, in my eyes, is roster lock due to experience at all 3 interior spots and has proven he's capable of playing at a high level at times. Cannon has still been viewed as a Tackle only in game situations by the team though.

I'm actually leaning towards this combination being the opening day OL, with Stork hopefully proving to be better than Wendell by years end.

A few other possibilities:

Solder - Kline - Connolly - Cannon - Vollmer
Solder - Kline - Stork - Connolly - Vollmer
Solder - Kline - Stork - Cannon - Vollmer (I really doubt this, no way the entire interior is new)

So, thoughts? Opinions? Predict your starting OL.

I'm personally going to stick with the 5 who were held out of the game as my pick, I kinda like the idea and I don't think I've seen it posted much.

I'm just going to go on a limb.

Solder-Kline-Stork-Connolly-Vollmer

Solder Cannon Stork Connolly Vollmer

JackBauer said:

I'm just going to go on a limb.

Solder-Kline-Stork-Connolly-Vollmer

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That would be my guess/wildly optimistic hope as well. All the better if Cannon can move to RG and turn Connolly into a versatile backup, but I'm not counting on that.

My gut tells me that Belichick will want to minimize turnover and that it'll be

Solder-Kline-Wendell-Connolly-Vollmer

but words can barely express how much I don't want that.

I could make a number of guesses that I would have the same, low level of confidence in.

We don't know if Cannon is being considered as a G.
We don't know if Connolly or Wendell won the C job. If Wendell, is it because Connolly is needed at G?
We don't know who is ahead or behind out of Kline, Devey, and Barker.
We don't know if Stork is anywhere near ready to play.

AndyJohnson said:

I could make a number of guesses that I would have the same, low level of confidence in.

We don't know if Cannon is being considered as a G.
We don't know if Connolly or Wendell won the C job. If Wendell, is it because Connolly is needed at G?
We don't know who is ahead or behind out of Kline, Devey, and Barker.
We don't know if Stork is anywhere near ready to play.

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FWIW, Stork looked very impressive last night against the Giants' 1st team. He more than held his own. Didn't look as polished as Wendell on the move--which isn't surprising, that's the one thing Wendell does really well--but in pass protection he didn't get pushed back at all. Obviously that'll be considered as one data point out of a much larger picture, but I can't imagine that they came out of that game last night feeling anything but encouraged.

Solder-Boone-Connolly-Cannon-Vollmer

All these people thinking Cannon will play Guard are going to be so disappointed. If we're gonna be weird, let's get weird:

Solder-Kline-Connolly-Stork-Vollmer

Think we start : Solder-Cannon-Wendell-Connelly-Vollmer and moveing toward Solder-Cannon-Stork-Fleming-Vollmer.

What I hope for: Solder-Cannon-Stork-Connolly-Vollmer

What I fear: Solder-Kline-Wendell-Connolly-Vollmer/Cannon

Solder Kline Wendell Connolly Vollmer

Perhaps (hopefully?) Stork can win the C position at some point. I don't think NE is going to put Cannon at G.

With Kline,Wendell,Connolly starting Giselle is going to make Brady retire because neither of them weaklins could block a NT or any of the better DTs man up. Mankins was the only one who could remotely handle size/power. Bill is impressed with how nice Kline picked up the system and likes him but wait til he he goes one on one with knighton,watt,Bennett,Atkins,McCoy or any of the better DTs or 3-4 DEs. Now down in Denver Marvin Austin has decided to start working and trying to play. He must be running out of $ but he looks like a beast and has impressed coaches this preseason. Best chance for a good OLine is LG Cannon, C Connolly and RG Fleming. That's a good combo and potententially dominant with big guards with very good athleticism for the guard position. Cannon has played with very good technique and he has size and would settle in at Left guard and play very well. Fleming is very thick and strong and can play RT but would struggle some with edge speed but his best position by far would be right guard where he could be a standout

KontradictioN said:

What I hope for: Solder-Cannon-Stork-Connolly-Vollmer

What I fear: Solder-Kline-Wendell-Connolly-Vollmer/Cannon

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Why do you hope Cannon starts at LG? What about him makes you think he would be good at LG?

He is big and fairly strong and athletic. He has played LR RT and some RG. Who on the team would outplay him there, Kline connolly or halapio

VrabelJr said:

Why do you hope Cannon starts at LG? What about him makes you think he would be good at LG?

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"He's [Cannon] obviously got great size and strength, and he's very athletic for his size," Belichick said. "He moves well. He has excellent feet, balance. He's a powerful player in the running game ... [with] his length and size."

"He [Cannon], I think, physically can play any position on the line," Belichick said. He probably could play center too but definitely could play guard or tackle. It's just a question of refining his skills at one position.

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New England Patriots' Bill Belichick: O-line performed inconsistently - espnBoston

VrabelJr said:

Why do you hope Cannon starts at LG? What about him makes you think he would be good at LG?

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Outside of his main weakness being lateral quickness? That he would be an improvement over Kline.

Mack Herron said:

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...107/belichick-o-line-performed-inconsistently

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I knew this would be quoted as soon as I saw it haha. Touché. We will have to wait and see I guess.

Luxusdk said:

Think we start : Solder-Cannon-Wendell-Connelly-Vollmer and moveing toward Solder-Cannon-Stork-Fleming-Vollmer.

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I agree that the Game 1 and Game 16 Offensive lines will likely not be the same. I like your "moving to" line.

That would be a very big line yet one with superior Pass blocking ability. Since it is basically all former, mostly left, tackles. Yet it is also all very big players who can excel in run drive blocking. The days of being bull-rushed by massive DTs should be over. The need for Finesse can be minimized and exist as frosting on the cake. The only possible drawback is pulling ability, but that is yet to be demonstrated.

Cannon will always be on call to augment the tackles if Solder and/or Vollmer are dinged, until they draft a proper swing tackle in 2015.

VrabelJr said:

I knew this would be quoted as soon as I saw it haha. Touché. We will have to wait and see I guess.

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You can't play OT without having lateral quickness. In fact that is a critical part to play against speed rushers. ALL OT's can play OG, but not all OG's can play OT.

I can see it as Solder-Kline-Wendell-Connolly-Vollmer (although it would make sense for Connolly to move over to the left side) with Cannon as the backup tackle, but I also see Stork taking over at center fairly quickly. He looked stout against the Giants last night.

There is also the possiblitity (however slim) that they might pick up someone who gets cut today or tomorrow. It's always interesting.