Vollmer may move to LG according to Ben Volin

hwc said:

To underscore what an idiot Ben Voilin is...

He was on Sirius XM NFL radio on Tuesday to discuss the Mankins trade. He said that the Pats were going to switch to a ground and pounds offense, with a major emphasis on power running...

Yeah, that sounds about right...

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He also wrote in the Globe that it was an example of the Patriots' focusing on the bottom line. He wasn't talking about salary cap savings, mind you, but trying to improve corporate profits by cutting pricey players.

I am pretty confident many of the posters here would make much, much better football writers than the current crop of "pros" we have.

patfanken said:

Not that I think its ever going to happen, but I have to ask. Why is playing G more a problem for the back than T??????

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That's a fair question. My initial thought is that (1) a guard has to take on defensive tackles most of the time, which puts a bigger pounding on a lineman than playing against edge rushers, and (2) a guard really has to be able to fire out of his stance to drive linemen back in run blocking, which requires a ton of core strength. But obviously, playing tackle is no picnic for a guy with back issues, either, and maybe I'm over-thinking it.

And typically guards will be asked to pull more, and its hard to maintain good posture and leverage when running.

As I recall the reason Kaczur couldn't make the transition to guard after Vollmer took over at RT was because it did a number on his back. Maybe that was coincidence.

Triumph said:

I am for it.

Vollmer is OK at RT but nothing special.

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I think he is one of better RTs when he is playing and injury free. With that said Cannon should settle in ok at LG . May take a game or so to adjust but since he is versatile he would settle in. Vollmer has never played there and he is almost 6'8, a prototype tackle. Cannon is a great tweener but I think would be a standout at guard with his bulk and technique playing opposite Fleming who has the most ability to be a standout RG. Both are big and can pass protect. Many teams would love to have guards that big that can be bulldozers with enough athleticism to protect the edge from a DE if the offensive tackle should have to pick up a blitzer on the outside of the DE

unoriginal said:

And typically guards will be asked to pull more, and its hard to maintain good posture and leverage when running.

As I recall the reason Kaczur couldn't make the transition to guard after Vollmer took over at RT was because it did a number on his back. Maybe that was coincidence.

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Interesting, I didn't know that about Kaczur. Thought he just retired outright because his back was shot. Definitely makes Vollmer-to-guard an even stranger proposition.

BradyFTW! said:

Interesting, I didn't know that about Kaczur. Thought he just retired outright because his back was shot. Definitely makes Vollmer-to-guard an even stranger proposition.

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IIRC correctly they moved him to LG (Mankins was holding out) for like four practices in 2010 and then he lost his back. Before that he had missed various games with "shoulder" and "foot" injuries. I don't recall anything about him having back issues like Marcus McNeill or Vollmer.

Obviously Patriot injury reports are notoriously vague but still.

unoriginal said:

IIRC correctly they moved him to LG for like four practices in 2010 and then he lost his back. Before that he had missed various games with "shoulder" and "foot" injuries. I don't recall anything about him having back issues like Marcus McNeill or Vollmer.

Obviously Patriot injury reports are notoriously vague but still.

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Right on, I'm sure you're right, and it's an interesting/relevant anecdote

A person would have to be a complete moron to think ken was claiming he was at closed practices

Triumph said:

I dont care if he lives next to Bob Kraft.

Every NE practice is not open to the public despite your delusions.

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....................

Ivan said:

A person would have to be a complete moron to think ken was claiming he was at closed practices

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Ivan, please sit down. This may come as a rude shock to you but yes, there are morons posting here.
Trust me.

Greg Bedard is full of himself, but at least he's pretty good. Ben "bobo" Volin is a fool. Someone called him the village idiot. Perfect description of this total buffoon.

lets answer this question...

injuries aside, do we think Vollmer or Cannon would be the better RT this season?

We're probably going see a few different OL lineups for the first few weeks. It'll be interesting to watch the OL's progression this year, that's for sure.

BradyFTW! said:

Interesting, I didn't know that about Kaczur. Thought he just retired outright because his back was shot. Definitely makes Vollmer-to-guard an even stranger proposition.

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Once Kaczur was busted for painkillers, I figured his remaining career would be short, on the theory that he no longer could (prudently) get the meds he needed.

Ivan said:

A person would have to be a complete moron to think ken was claiming he was at closed practices

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Or a complete troll to pretend that he thought that.

unoriginal said:

And typically guards will be asked to pull more, and its hard to maintain good posture and leverage when running.

As I recall the reason Kaczur couldn't make the transition to guard after Vollmer took over at RT was because it did a number on his back. Maybe that was coincidence.

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IIRC, Kaczur was hurt in his very first practice. It could very well have been affected by movements he wasn't used to, but it is hard to imagine that was the entire cause.

man, we need some freakin' football games around here...

Joker said:

man, we need some freakin' football games around here...

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Or at least some good Dez Effin' Bryant talk....

patchick said:

He also wrote in the Globe that it was an example of the Patriots' focusing on the bottom line. He wasn't talking about salary cap savings, mind you, but trying to improve corporate profits by cutting pricey players.

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I agree if you mean immediately.

But a line of Solder 6'8" 320, Cannon 6'5 335, Stork 6'4" 320, Fleming 6'5" 335, and Vollmer 6'8'' 325 Gronk 6'7" 270 would be mammoth and fully capable of a "Ground & Pound" Offense. It would be 25-30 lbs heavier than last season's pretty big line.

Edit; I was responding to hwc's post not to patchick's subsequent commentary. Sorry.