Poll: Best Offensive Line Combination

mgteich said:

2) One issue for me is whether I think Connolly-Cannon is a better combination than Wendell-Connolly. I don't believe so.

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I can't agree with you there.

mgteich said:

Most on this board would have cut Kline and Wendell. Belichick disagreed.

I did NOT say that we should start anyone based on preseason play, other than noting that Cannon was not likely to be a starting OG because I thought that he would have gotten more reps at OG if he were starting.

Let's be VERY clear, since I understand that you disagree.

1) I do NOT think that Stork, Fleming or Devey is ready to start. Perhaps the decision was close between Devey and Kline, probably not.

2) One issue for me is whether I think Connolly-Cannon is a better combination than Wendell-Connolly. I don't believe so.

3) I understand that there is possibility of Vollmer starting at LG over Kline. I am NOT strongly opposed, although personally I just don't see Vollmer as a LG.

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Yes, let's be VERY clear:

1. I don't think that the combination of Kline and Wendell is an NFL-caliber starting combination of linemen. They'd fit ok on the 2013 Dolphins, but that isn't saying much. Combinations of weak linemen scare me much more than individual weak linemen.

2. I don't think it makes any sense to keep one of your 3 best linemen on the bench while you start 2 JAGs. I think getting your best players on the field is much more important than continuity.

3. Connolly has proven himself a decent starter at LG, C and RG in the past, so I think you can move him around depending on how you want to address the other 2 positions.

With that in mind I would make a decision on whether Stork or Fleming is ready to be a starter. If not (and Stork seems to me closer than Fleming), then I think you insert Cannon or Vollmer at one of the guard positions and you make a choice between Kline and Wendell. Possible week 1 combinations in that scenario would include:

- Solder - Cannon - Wendell - Connolly - Vollmer
- Solder - Connolly - Wendell - Cannon - Vollmer
- Solder - Vollmer - Wendell - Connolly - Cannon
- Solder - Kline - Connolly - Cannon - Vollmer

I would prefer to get Wendell and Kline both into backup roles as soon as possible, but I recognize that Stork and Fleming may not be ready. I can reluctantly live with one weak link in the OL. But what you do NOT want to do, IMO, is leave Cannon on the bench while starting Kline and Wendell next to each other. That is a recipe for disaster.

Kline and Stork inactive. Good chance we'll see either Cannon or Vollmer at guard.

Best OL combination? Something other than Cannon at LG.

Five new offensive lineman off the street

I think Stork better hurry up and learn his assignments. We can't afford to play Connolly at center. We need him for Guard.

Haley said:

I think Stork better hurry up and learn his assignments. We can't afford to play Connolly at center. We need him for Guard.

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I agree that Connolly should be playing OG.

I also think that we should play Wendell or Stork or even Barker at center, whoever is the best (likely Wendell until Stork is ready).

It seemed wrong to shift two positions.

The open question is whether Cannon is better than the alternatives for starters at OG.

"Best Offensive Line Combination"
The one dressed in teal, white and orange

Bill make the move to Stork now, can't get any worse. May as well just throw him in the deep end and see if he can swim.

Need stork

Archeryaddict12 said:

Need stork

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I agree on Stork, OK on Cannon and now let's get some real angry reply's...Richie Incognito!

mgteich said:

I agree that Connolly should be playing OG.

I also think that we should play Wendell or Stork or even Barker at center, whoever is the best (likely Wendell until Stork is ready).

It seemed wrong to shift two positions.

The open question is whether Cannon is better than the alternatives for starters at OG.

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Didn't they shift THREE positions, not two?

1. Connelly to center instead of Wendell

2. Devey at RG instead of Connelly

3. Cannon at LG instead of RT/reserve OL

d312 said:

I agree on Stork, OK on Cannon and now let's get some real angry reply's...Richie Incognito!

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I'm probably just in panic mode, but Incognito seems to me like he would be a better option than all the Guards we have right now. That said, Degugliemo coached him, so if he were any good we'd have signed him already.

Yes indeed.

supafly said:

Didn't they shift THREE positions, not two?

1. Connelly to center instead of Wendell

2. Devey at RG instead of Connelly

3. Cannon at LG instead of RT/reserve OL

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Surprised that Kline was inactive. Was there an injury issue?

Also surprised that Cannon played LG, not RG. Maybe the change was too soon for him,
especially when considering his very limited if any pre-season snaps there.

And as bad as it looked, having Connolly at Center is still a better option than Wendy at Center.

Vs Minny Bill should try my original lineup of Solder - Kline - Connolly - Cannon - Vollmer.

This is crazy, but from left to right I truly feel that our best line would be Vollmer-Kline-Wendell-Devey-Solder. Vollmer can play the left side just fine and Solder screams right tackle to me. I also think Solder would stop giving up pressure to the inside if he flips sides. I have and still see Wendell as a better center than Connolly and I'd go with the younger guys at guard despite some of their shakiness.

I honestly think that Connolly and Cannon are overrated and the young guys will outplay them if given an opportunity. They both should be our game day backups.

Here's a change up that I've been thinking about. Vollmer-Cannon-Connelly(Stork)-Kline(Connelly)-Solder

Solder's play at LT is underwhelming and Vollmer has played the position before when Matt Light was injured in '09. Solder is also the best run blocker on the roster so most runs should go in his direction.

I want to see Jordan Devey given a chance. I think people are lumping him with Wendell/Kline as an undersized weakling. Devey is listed as 6'7/317 lbs. He's a massive tackle playing guard.

If his play from Sunday can be corrected, we could theoretically play 4 tackle sized Olineman across. If Bryan Stork picks up his game it would be one of the larger O-lines in the league. This trend is picking up around the league - look up north to see the Bills putting two tackles in at LG/RG.

Of course, massive isn't inherently better, but we'd sure as hell stop seeing A-gap pressure.

Way too early to say, IMO: I think it's easier to just list what we can confidently say doesn't work. And that is:

Wendell on the field in any capacity

Devey as a starting G (for now, maybe he can grow into the role, and if not I'm fine with him being potentially a 3-4 position backup. I would rather let the last of the line settle down before tossing another wildcard into the starting mix.)

So I'm curious to see what a Solder - Cannon - Connolly/Stork - Kline - Vollmer line would look like given extended practice snaps together and a full game to work out their issues.