Predict the OL!

What I want: Solder - Connolly - Stork - Cannon - Vollmer

What I will probably get: Solder - Kline - Wendell - Devey - Vollmer

How can anybody want Conolly to start at guard?! He can't handle huge DTs or big athletic DEs man up. Him at guard was one of the problems last yr and you want him to return as a guard AGAIN. At center he won't have to go man up as often with lineman he can't handle. Our best most dominant guard tandem by far is Cannon and Fleming. Both are big stout and very athletic for the guard position. How can anybody argue our most talented dominant powerful OLine doesn't look like............... I'll spell it all out

Left Tackle- Solder
Left Guard- Cannon
Center- Conolly with Stork competing
Right Guard- Fleming( even his college coaches said a bulldozer guard is his best NFL position but could play tackle if the starter is injured but guard is where he's best)
RT- Vollmer

That is getting our best lineman on the field in their best position. They may try switching Cannon and Vollmer. Which is fine as long as they are both on the field. However I could see Cannon settling in at Left Guard and doing OK after a couple games.

I'll be different and say....

Solder - Vollmer - Wendell - Connolly - Cannon

PatFanCraig said:

Our best most dominant guard tandem by far is Cannon and Fleming. Both are big stout and very athletic for the guard position.

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With all due respect Craig---it's a bit difficult to take this projection seriously, due to the unknown that is Fleming. I hardly think he's one of our 5 best OL right now.

It's possible that you're right down the line, but definitely not at the current moment.

supafly said:

With all due respect Craig---it's a bit difficult to take this projection seriously, due to the unknown that is Fleming. I hardly think he's one of our 5 best OL right now.

It's possible that you're right down the line, but definitely not at the current moment.

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Especially when an opinion is positioned as verifiable fact despite no evidence to support the assertion.

One less offensive lineman to predict in the starting five:

New England Patriots claim safety Don Jones; waive OL Chris Barker - espnBoston

I've been a big proponent of Marcus Cannon to G, even to LG. But this piece by James Christenson suggests why the Pats may prefer him at tackle:

Sebastian Vollmer Move to Guard Puts Best 5 Forward for Patriots Offensive Line | Bleacher Report

The article cites twitters suggesting that the Pats - and specifically Scar - didn't consider Cannon quick enough to play guard. DeGuglielmo may have a different perspective, but this is thd first concrete thing I've heard on the issue.

I could not see the link--is this it?

Sebastian Vollmer Move to Guard Puts Best 5 Forward for Patriots Offensive Line | Bleacher Report

Vollmer at G seems odd and makes no sense. I beleave Vollmer is a better OT then Cannon AND Cannon would be a better G. ONLY reason to play Cannon at OT would be something regarding contract talks later this year..

Craig, what Stanford coaches said Fleming is a Guard? When he was picked David Shaw (his head coach!) Was on set for NFL Network and said that he was a Tackle and only a Tackle.

Mack Herron said:

I could not see the link--is this it?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ts-best-5-forward-for-patriots-offensive-line

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Yes. I fixed the link. Sorry.

Luxusdk said:

Vollmer at G seems odd and makes no sense. I beleave Vollmer is a better OT then Cannon AND Cannon would be a better G. ONLY reason to play Cannon at OT would be something regarding contract talks later this year..

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Vollmer is the better RT but the point people are trying to get across is that Solder, Vollmer and Cannon are considered by many as the Patriots best linemen. Moving Vollmer to LG ensures the Patriots put their 3 best linemen on the field together.

Personally, I have my reservations but I understand why a move as such would be made.

I think we have a tendency to overrate linemen on their athleticism and underrate them on their smarts, knowledge of the offense and ability to adjust to Brady's audibles. You can have all the strength in the world, but I promise you there is nothing more agonizing to watch than an offensive lineman pulling when he should be blocking.

supafly said:

With all due respect Craig---it's a bit difficult to take this projection seriously, due to the unknown that is Fleming. I hardly think he's one of our 5 best OL right now.

It's possible that you're right down the line, but definitely not at the current moment.

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That's my point exactly,Fleming is big athletic for a guard and smart. You know what you have in Connolly at guard. Below average who just knows the system. Consistently crumbles into Bradys lap. Fleming may have some growing pains but he is intelligent and will be playing well by playoff time when it counts. Nothing will get him up to speed faster than starting. When he does start to get comfortable he will be an upgrade over Connolly. I don't care how well a lineman knows the scheme and knows who to block or double team. He is no good if every time he has to block one on one he is handed to tom Brady while he is trying to throw a football. An error occasionally isn't nearly as frustrating as an OLineman crumbling every time he doesn't get help blocking a DLineman. As we learned in 07, the OLine will eventually go against a defense with more good DLineman than you can double which means Brady is getting harassed on every play because you don't have enough weakA$$ OLineman to double team everybody on the DLine. Connolly can get away with his deficiencies at Center for most part but not guard. Wendell knows the line calls and schemes but he sucks everywhere. He is only good for helping somebody block their guy.

So with Connolly struggling physically at guard why not start Fleming who will very likely be much better than Connolly as he gets experience. And let Connolly replace Wendell who struggles terribly at center. I just think were looking at playoffs time here. Connolly Wendy duo may know the schemes now but will struggle especially when playoff time comes and the creampuff DLines are all watching from tv,leaving the nasty DLines they must play and can't handle. Bronco DLine could be very dominant. Do you want to see Connolly/Wendell duo struggling in a playoff game.

mayoclinic said:

I've been a big proponent of Marcus Cannon to G, even to LG. But this piece by James Christenson suggests why the Pats may prefer him at tackle:

Sebastian Vollmer Move to Guard Puts Best 5 Forward for Patriots Offensive Line | Bleacher Report

The article cites twitters suggesting that the Pats - and specifically Scar - didn't consider Cannon quick enough to play guard. DeGuglielmo may have a different perspective, but this is thd first concrete thing I've heard on the issue.

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Sorry, but that makes NO sense at all. How can you possible be not "quick" enough to play G, yet quick enough to play T. Especially in a league that has enumerable speed rushers, an OT HAS to have enormously quick feet to deal with 265-300 lb guys with 4.8 or below speed

There is only one reason the Pats might think Cannon won't do as well at G than T, and it's NOT physical. For the most part playing T, especially in the passing game, is pretty much a one on one situation. However things tend to move much more quickly in the interior with various stunts, stems, and blitzes possible. So there IS a possibility that Cannon doesn't process these changes quickly enough to be an effective G, even though he has ALL of the PHYSICAL skills to be a great one.

BTW- this is just complete speculation on my part. Just like I Chrisenson's comment on Scar.

patfanken said:

Sorry, but that makes NO sense at all. How can you possible be not "quick" enough to play G, yet quick enough to play T. Especially in a league that has enumerable speed rushers, an OT HAS to have enormously quick feet to deal with 265-300 lb guys with 4.8 or below speed

There is only one reason the Pats might think Cannon won't do as well at G than T, and it's NOT physical. For the most part playing T, especially in the passing game, is pretty much a one on one situation. However things tend to move much more quickly in the interior with various stunts, stems, and blitzes possible. So there IS a possibility that Cannon doesn't process these changes quickly enough to be an effective G, even though he has ALL of the PHYSICAL skills to be a great one.

BTW- this is just complete speculation on my part. Just like I Chrisenson's comment on Scar.

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I interpreted this comment in the article (source unspecified) to refer the mental part of his game:

Doesn't think quick enough for guard.

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patfanken said:

There is only one reason the Pats might think Cannon won't do as well at G than T, and it's NOT physical. For the most part playing T, especially in the passing game, is pretty much a one on one situation. However things tend to move much more quickly in the interior with various stunts, stems, and blitzes possible. So there IS a possibility that Cannon doesn't process these changes quickly enough to be an effective G, even though he has ALL of the PHYSICAL skills to be a great one.

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This is very plausible, though I understand it is just speculation.

If Cannon had trouble processing stunts and assignments Bill wouldn't have praised his versatility to play any position including Center. I completely agree however that it takes more quickness to play the edge against explosive edge rushers than guard. As a matter of fact aren't Tackles who lack quickness and athleticism routinely moved to guard.

Fleming College coach said he considered making him a bulldozing guard due to lacking ideal athleticism for a tackle. However he said he used his power,intelligence and athleticism he has and was never beaten for a sack. And he said he was prepared to move him to guard but didn't have to because he has a great feel for blocking and handled the edge and stayed at tackle. He also said he may not get away with less than ideal athleticism at the NFL level and his best position in the NFL will be a bulldozing guard who can get movement against a DLine