The OL - Celebrate and Extend

The OL - Celebrate and Extend


The OL coach seemed lost at the beginning of the season when Mankins was traded and Stork was injured. Obviously, he over-valued Devey (100% of reps pre-season and a starting RG job). He also over-valued Cannon as an OG (left guard no less!).
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THAT WAS THEN AND NOW IS NOW
This is a very fine OL, without Mankins. Obviously, we are better against the the 340 lb. DT's of the world with Stork playing, but Wendell is fine against everyone else (as is Kline).

It is time to celebrate our success. IMHO, we should not create holes by losing Connolly, Solder or Vollmer.
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2015
Going forward, this line would be at least as good for 2015 with the continued development of Stork and Solder (and Kline). I would like to replace Devey with Connolly's future replacement, but that is my personal evaluation. Maybe Devey indeed has future value.
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FIVE STEPS TO TAKE
Our backup OT (Cannon) has already been extended. Two top OL's have been added this year (Stork and Fleming).

1) Re-sign Connolly
I expect a 2-year deal, including lots of incentives. He is our best LG. Even we acquired a top LG, Connolly would be a fine backup.

2) Extend Solder
This is a bit more difficult, but hopefully it can be done. The default is a $7.45M cap hit and the need to find a starting LT for 2016. A long-term deal for Solder would provide cap relief.

3) Extend Vollmer
This would help the cap some.

4) Draft an OG in the first three rounds and late flyer.

5) Extend Wendell
He's an experienced veteran who is producing, and he is not old for OL's.
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Solder-Connolly-Stork-Wendell-Vollmer
Fleming-Cannon-Kline-top draftee-(Devey)

Agree 100 pct. about Solder. Would like one bigger guard. Because as you mentioned, we struggle with bigger DT's. We have a few in our division. Plus, Baltimore is going to remain a playoff challenger.
I'd be ok with letting Connolly walk given our cap situation. We're going to hit both lines in the draft.

solder has been elite these two games and none of the idiots on this forum who wanted the pats to cut Solder immediately will admit it. BB likes Connolly more than anyone else does but I can't see them extending all these guys and re signing Connolly.

meatface said:

solder has been elite these two games and none of the idiots on this forum who wanted the pats to cut Solder immediately will admit it. BB likes Connolly more than anyone else does but I can't see them extending all these guys and re signing Connolly.

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I am one of those "Idiots" that wanted Solder cut if he does not want to restructure his contract. I agree that he has been very very good in the playoffs and if he can consistently do this game in and game out then I am on board with keeping him. I am very happy that he is playing like a boss right now.

Over the years though he has been fairly inconsistent and if that makes me an idiot for recognizing that then so be it. I am for keeping continuity on the OL, but if keeping Solder at 7+mil cap meant not being able to keep Revis then he needs to go. Solder is only 26 and improving every game. I think that some of the issue early on was the issue at LG and a new OL coach.

I am pretty sure that he will restructure or agree to an extension . Really, Idiots? A little harsh maybe?

My hope is that Fleming becomes a starting RG next season. Hopefully we can bring back Connolly (or sign a decent FA for one year) and then draft a quality LG high in the draft for the long-term future. Then camp will determine whether the draftee can be started from day one or needs to redshirt for a while.

I agree with most of what you say here, except that the Dave DeGugliemo was lost at the beginning of the year...

To fill the shoes of Dante, and assume that there would be a seamless transition is folly, from what we saw there were adjustment issues, but it takes both sides to make this happen. Do you think that BB and McDaniels noticed that he was lost?? Or was that just apparent to the fans??

Maybe it was as simple as McDaniels wanted DeGugliemo to do some things differently... and everybody had some adjustment issues..

mgteich said:

1) Re-sign Connolly
I expect a 2-year deal, including lots of incentives. He is our best LG. Even we acquired a top LG, Connolly would be a fine backup.

Click to expand...

Connolly will be 33 in September, and he had a ton of injury issues this season. I am not convinced that he is physically up to the rigors of a full season. Perhaps as a backup. I agree he has been a fine player. I would not make this a top priority, and would do it only for low money.

I'd like to see a bunch of guards in training camp.

I hope we bring Connelly back next season.

However I also see us drafting an OG as well.

Solder could be a tough signing if he thinks bb will pay market price. Ps: When solder's technique gets sloppy, he plays horribly. However his technique had been much better of late.

meatface said:

solder has been elite these two games and none of the idiots on this forum who wanted the pats to cut Solder immediately will admit it. BB likes Connolly more than anyone else does but I can't see them extending all these guys and re signing Connolly.

Click to expand...

Understand that the net if all the extensions would not increase the cap hit.

My gut feeling is that Belichick is paying Cannon big bucks so that he can pressure Solder and/or Vollmer.

mayoclinic said:

Connolly will be 33 in September, and he had a ton of injury issues this season. I am not convinced that he is physically up to the rigors of a full season. Perhaps as a backup. I agree he has been a fine player. I would not make this a top priority, and would do it only for low money.

Click to expand...

A veteran who can start at all the interior line positions is valuable to Belichick. Cannon has not been a regular starter and he was paid big bucks.

To me, Connolly is the kind of player that Belichick likes to have suited up on Game Day. Yes, he has injuries, but he has been important to the success of the OL, critical when Stork has been out.

I really like our current seven OL's (including Fleming as the 6th OL and Cannon as a Game Day backup). Perhaps Fleming or a rookie will step up to be a starter next year, perhaps not. Everyone agrees that we should draft and/or bring in OG's.

I would really like us not to diminish the OL by losing one of these players, now that we finally have a very good OL.

BTW, we are all whining for Belichick to bring in solid guards. Perhaps Wendell and Fleming are those guards. I do agree that we should bring in more.