Has Ryan Wendell found a home at right guard?

Brady6 said:

Not having to snap the football

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maybe being able to set himself with the right leverage quicker than if he were the snapper helps him overcome his size disadvantage

maybe its something else......maybe a fluke.......time will tell

reflexblue said:

i wouldn't trust wendell in a playoff game going up against a top notch defense with all the marbles on the table

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Last night wasn't a playoff game, but that was a top notch defense. ....

AzorianPats said:

Last night wasn't a playoff game, but that was a top notch defense. ....

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Yeah, you're not going to find many tougher assignments than the Bengals' interior linemen. Unfortunately, the ones that are as tough are all on the Patriots schedule this season (Detroit, Buffalo, Jets, Dolphins).

50-yard-line said:

Funny, but before the game Reiss (I think it was Reiss, was only half-listening) said that Wendell would be the surprise difference-maker.

I agree - he was getting downfield and hitting anything that moved. It'd be great to see, because Wendell has taken so much grief (deservedly so). Gotta love an underdog, and we need better line play.

Amendola makes a big first down catch last night, then draws a PI on another big play. Was nice to see, but it's clear that his role will be limited and his days are numbered here. I hope he moves on next year and has a great career.

The emergence of Tim Wright and LaFell explain the Thompkins demotion, and along with Dobson, the size of the three will take a lot of heat off JE and give him more room to maneuver.

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I'll give my man Amendola some love. He came back after getting kicked in the head and that was a key catch he made. He still has very good hands, you never worry about him dropping the football. His role will be limited but that would change quickly if Edelman ever went down.

This is going to sound crazy coming from me but if Amendola restructured and say cut his salary down to $2-2.5M APY I would love to see him stick around for a few more years. The loss last Monday gave me some perspective that I had been lacking as an over privileged Patriots but there is something to be said about players who fight for their team. Amendola is a scrappy guy and his short comings are not are not as a result of lack of effort or caring so I can no longer knock that just because he doesn't live up to a contract Belichick gave him.

RayClay said:

Wendell played great that one game and surrounding the rookie with two vets was a great idea. However, not being on the rapid cycling manic depression track where a player is Satan one week and the cure for cancer the next, I'd say with practice we're looking for a bigger guard than Wendell, if one emerges.

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I think we could all live without the offending those who suffer from a mental illness. This thread is about Ryan Wendell at RG stay on topic.

AzorianPats said:

Last night wasn't a playoff game, but that was a top notch defense. ....

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tell that to the Pats team and the fans....sure felt like a playoff game to me, w/ just as heavy implications figuratively if not literally

juny said:

It's just one game, plenty of good DL coming in the weeks ahead to test this much improved line combo.

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This. That was easily the best performance of the year for the OL but I really need to see how they stand up against the Bills, Jets, Bronco's and Lions to really be able to gauge how good they actually are

Brady6 said:

I made this announcement in the game thread but I am putting down my responsibilities as #1 Amendola h8ter and leading the Ryan Wendell fan club. I think Wendell may have found a permanent home at RG; his play was impressive he held his blocks in pass protection and opened holes in the run game. RG actually seems like a good fit for his skill set, Wendell is an excellent run blocker, possibly the best run blocker on the team and that is usually the strength of a RG. Not having to snap the football and being aligned more head up with the DL appears to an advantage in pass protection.

What is the general thought, do you trust Wendell to be a long-term solution at RG?

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Ryan is a tough SOB. But he is undersized. He is arguably a very good run blocker when on the move. But he still can't move a big NT on a power block. That is his Achilles heal.
It helps that he can get into the best composure as a Guard to utilize technique as an assist.

The specific problem that BB was attempting to correct in seeking a bigger stronger and more intrinsically talented C was to prevent the collapse of the pocket by shear brute force, as was occurring. Stork in only his 4th rookie game has won the position,and pocket collapse has been somewhat mitigated. But the talented Bengal DL is talented but not huge with a Ngata, Suh, Wilkenson or Merceus.

Domata Peko is not a pass rusher lets see how he does vs Kyle Williams on the right side

juny said:

It's just one game, plenty of good DL coming in the weeks ahead to test this much improved line combo.

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Absolutely. We will how (if they keep this OL order) they fair: Bills, Jets, Broncos

Wendell was good last night, Stork was awesome. A revelation, hopefully they all build on it.

If both tackles can get back to old form, and if we get average play from Connolly, Stork, and Wendell. Then I think we'll end up having a decent o-line this year after all.

mgteich said:

One game is a bit early to consider Wendell the long-term solution at RG. However, IMHO, Wendell is certainly our 2014 solution at RG, and at least a backup for 2015. Given his age, he should be extended (presuming continued good play). We should replace Kline and Devey next year, but Wendell is young enough to be part of the mix for 2-5 years.

Wendell is really a fine run blocker and has enough talent to play RG.

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Ryan Wendell is under contract for the 2015 NFL Season.

http://www.patscap.com/2015patscap.html

Worse case scenario, Ryan Wendell is the backup offensive center for the 2015 NFL Season.

Dan Connelly and Marcus Cannon will be unrestricted free agents next season. Offensive guard should be one of the highest priorities for the New England Patriots in the 2015 NFL Draft.

50-yard-line said:

Funny, but before the game Reiss (I think it was Reiss, was only half-listening) said that Wendell would be the surprise difference-maker.

I agree - he was getting downfield and hitting anything that moved. It'd be great to see, because Wendell has taken so much grief (deservedly so). Gotta love an underdog, and we need better line play.

Amendola makes a big first down catch last night, then draws a PI on another big play. Was nice to see, but it's clear that his role will be limited and his days are numbered here. I hope he moves on next year and has a great career.

The emergence of Tim Wright and LaFell explain the Thompkins demotion, and along with Dobson, the size of the three will take a lot of heat off JE and give him more room to maneuver.

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Oh man. We BETTER be running plays with Gronk-Wright-Edelman-Dobson/Lafell in the red-zone from now on.

juny said:

It's just one game, plenty of good DL coming in the weeks ahead to test this much improved line combo.

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The key word going forward:

Consistency

Brady6 said:

I think we could all live without the offending those who suffer from a mental illness. This thread is about Ryan Wendell at RG stay on topic.

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Why would they be offended being compared to our fine patriots fans?

Ryan is listed at 6'-2" & 300 lbs which is not small. I gather that he is really 10-12lbs lighter.
No?

ATippett56 said:

Ryan Wendell is under contract for the 2015 NFL Season.

http://www.patscap.com/2015patscap.html

Worse case scenario, Ryan Wendell is the backup offensive center for the 2015 NFL Season.

Dan Connelly and Marcus Cannon will be unrestricted free agents next season. Offensive guard should be one of the highest priorities for the New England Patriots in the 2015 NFL Draft.

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Belichick is miles ahead of you. Fleming will be the eventual RG, and Wendell will be the primary interior sub. Fleming has had one start, did well and broke a finger, so he can't grasp a DL's shirt. His takeover at RG will have to wait a while.

Belichick will draft another interior lineman to groom behind Connoly around the 3rd or 4th round. He will try to re-sign Cannon but Cannon will walk to play somewhere,where he can start. If that happens then he might draft a OT in round 2.

BB will draft a DL in round 1.

SammyBlueCat said:

Ryan is listed at 6'-2" & 300 lbs which is not small. I gather that he is really 10-12lbs lighter.
No?

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Yes, Against Big DTs he gets man handled. BB has already drafted his replacement at C and RG, in Stork and Fleming. He will become super sub on the interior O-line. Connolly taking Mankins job at 33, is the next guy for whom BB will spend a 3rd or 4th to replace.

AzPatsFan said:

Belichick is miles ahead of you. Fleming will be the eventual RG, and Wendell will be the primary interior sub. Fleming has had one start, did well and broke a finger, so he can't grasp a DL's shirt. His takeover at RG will have to wait a while.

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Just like Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming has not proven crap at the offensive guard position.

AzPatsFan said:

Belichick will draft another interior lineman to groom behind Connolly around the 3rd or 4th round.

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Dan Connolly will be an unrestricted free agent in calendar year 2015. If Belichick won't pay Logan Mankins, there is no guarantee that Dan Connolly will be back when Dan Connolly will be 33 years old at the start of the 2015 NFL Season.

AzPatsFan said:

He will try to re-sign Cannon but Cannon will walk to play somewhere, where he can start. If that happens then he might draft a OT in round 2.

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Marcus Cannon can make a hell of a lot more money as a starting offensive tackle. Donald Thomas left the New England Patriots for an opportunity to be a starting offensive guard. Cameron Fleming is an offensive tackle, better suited on the right side.

ATippett56 said:

Just like Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming has not proven crap at the offensive guard position.

Dan Connolly will be an unrestricted free agent in calendar year 2015. If Belichick won't pay Logan Mankins, there is no guarantee that Dan Connolly will be back when Dan Connolly will be 33 years old at the start of the 2015 NFL Season.

Marcus Cannon can make a hell of a lot more money as a starting offensive tackle. Donald Thomas left the New England Patriots for an opportunity to be a starting offensive guard. Cameron Fleming is an offensive tackle, better suited on the right side.

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Fleming has had 1 start at RG,already. I predict he will have more when able. Replacing the two oldsters and the younger undersized C, as a starter, was a target of Belichick for 2014, and 2015.

Replacing and upgrading the OTs was a first things first, target in the last five years when Vollmer and Solder, and Cannon, were drafted.