Anyone surprised about Dan Connolly?

TomPatriot · Apr 8, 2015

ashley1992 said:
I think Cannon is what he is, a back up right tackle who can fill in and do a decent job for a few games. I think putting him at guard is a recipe for disaster. Fleming is the wild card. I'm not sure if we know if he can play Guard or not like you said. I think drafting a Guard early is a must. I do hope we can bring Connolly back but even if we do, drafting an interior O-lineman I think is a must. Maybe we even double dip like a few poster pointed out.

I pretty much agree, but I think there could be a good opportunity for an UDFA if BB trades some picks for future picks. Cannon isn't quite agile enough to play guard in this system.

patfanken · Apr 8, 2015

mgteich said:
So, we went into the 2014 draft needed to find a starter at Center. And at this time last year, NO ONE could name the player who would be that starter. That is NOT shocking at all.

Your implication seems to be that since we don't know who the starting LG will be, we shouldn't bother to speculate.

Of course, we haven't a clue with regard to who will start at LG and, even more so, who will be the starting LG in the playoffs.
========
BOTTOM LINE
Some folks here thought that we needed only one starter to complete a very solid line. What was a TRUE shock was the starting LG for Game One was Cannon.

No, MG, quite the reverse. It is our JOB to speculate who might end up being our OL next season. What else better do we have to do.

. However, history has shown us pretty conclusively that I shouldn't lose any sleep worrying about it.

One of the very things I can count on about the 2015 NE Patriots, its that we will have a top 10 team in total offense and a top 5 team in scoring offense. That pretty much is REGARDLESS of who is playing on the OL, they will be good enough to accomplish THAT.

That being said, I couldn't agree more that we need to probably add at least one offensive lineman with one of our first 3 picks, and one more FA vet who is good enough to win a job from a rookie and not be a liability. Ideally either the Vet (ie Mathis), or rookie, or both can come in and be significant upgrades over last season, very effective, if not dominant, OL

mgteich · Apr 8, 2015

patfanken said:
No, MG, quite the reverse. It is our JOB to speculate who might end up being our OL next season. What else better do we have to do. . However, history has shown us pretty conclusively that I shouldn't lose any sleep worrying about it.

One of the very things I can count on about the 2015 NE Patriots, its that we will have a top 10 team in total offense and a top 5 team in scoring offense. That pretty much is REGARDLESS of who is playing on the OL, they will be good enough to accomplish THAT.

That being said, I couldn't agree more that we need to probably add at least one offensive lineman with one of our first 3 picks, and one more FA vet who is good enough to win a job from a rookie and not be a liability. Ideally either the Vet (ie Mathis), or rookie, or both can come in and be significant upgrades over last season, very effective, if not dominant, OL

I agree with all of your comments.

1960Pats · Apr 8, 2015

Deus Irae said:
This team let Revis walk. Not really, unless you're talking about the Pats not picking up the 2nd year, which everyone knew wasn't a real option.
After that, I won't be surprised by anyone they let get away this offseason. The Pats can always surprise us. That's what makes them so much fun.
Hell, I'm not sure if cutting Brady would surprise me at this point. Take a time out. You need it.

supafly · Apr 8, 2015

patfanken said:
There is no rush to sign Connolley or any other FA G before June.

They actually changed the date this year to May 12th. That is the start of the time period where it no longer affects compensatory picks.

I would expect that date to be the start of a much smaller 'run' on any free agents that may be on the market. As we know, that will likely be from mid-May through TC.

unoriginal · Apr 8, 2015

Connolly still being out there means either (1) the Pats have moved on and would like him to sign somewhere else so they can grab another, more desirable qualifying FA without losing a comp 6th or (2) his salary demands are too high.

The May 12th thing probably does not affect him as far as the Pats are concerned. The Pats could re-sign him today and it would not affect their comp picks.

If Connolly does sign somewhere else I think the Pats pounce on another FA.

Bourne Again Christian · Apr 9, 2015

Prefer Wis at center move Stork to Guard.

Jimke · Apr 9, 2015

unoriginal said:
Connolly still being out there means either (1) the Pats have moved on and would like him to sign somewhere else so they can grab another, more desirable qualifying FA without losing a comp 6th or (2) his salary demands are too high.

The May 12th thing probably does not affect him as far as the Pats are concerned. The Pats could re-sign him today and it would not affect their comp picks.

If Connolly does sign somewhere else I think the Pats pounce on another FA.

Connolly is probably still out there because he wants to return to the Patriots. He has good karma
with Brady and the other offensive linemen. On the other hand, the Patriots only want him on
their inflexible terms.

DW Toys · Apr 9, 2015

RayClay said:
They need two guards IMO and Wendell can start then back up G/C once someone takes those positions.

Have to agree. He was rated as one of the worst in the NFL. I too have a soft spot for him but at 33 and on the decline there are other options. They had Wisnieski in and he is still young and plays to a decent level. He can play C or G . He is rehabbing a shoulder and they might be waiting for a further check up in thge weeks to come. Or they pop for a pair in the Draft.
DW Toys

PatsFanSince74 · Apr 9, 2015

Deus Irae said:
This team let Revis walk. After that, I won't be surprised by anyone they let get away this offseason. Hell, I'm not sure if cutting Brady would surprise me at this point.

I take your second sentence as hyperbolic, but it does make the point that the Pats are no doubt already looking beyond Brady. I didn't like seeing Revis go any more than I liked seeing Welker go or any one of a number of others. But whenever we question how they do things, we're left having to argue that "maybe" they could have gone to seven or eight SB's instead of "just" six and won five or six instead of "just" four if they had done things differently...pretty tough arguments to have to try to make.

My own way of reconciling it is that the Krafts have decided that too much randomness is in play when it comes to getting to or winning an SB so they do what they think will give them the best chance of managing the opportunities or disasters that randomness hands them...down to the 53rd guy on the Roster and to the Practice Squad. Personally, I often don't see the rhyme or reason behind particular moves, but then I look at my hands and don't see any rings with Roman Numerals and lots of diamonds.

Deus Irae · Apr 9, 2015

PatsFanSince74 said:
I take your second sentence as hyperbolic...

It's not hyperbole. I'm not saying I expect it. I'm certainly not saying I want it. All I said was that I'm not sure it would surprise me.

Ochmed Jones · Apr 9, 2015

Hasn't Connelly had numerous head injuries? Maybe he is struggling to pass team physicals? Either way Connelly needs to think about life after football. Head injuries are scary things.

JackBauer · Apr 9, 2015

DW Toys said:
Have to agree. He was rated as one of the worst in the NFL. I too have a soft spot for him but at 33 and on the decline there are other options. They had Wisnieski in and he is still young and plays to a decent level. He can play C or G . He is rehabbing a shoulder and they might be waiting for a further check up in thge weeks to come. Or they pop for a pair in the Draft.
DW Toys

OK, I'll play. Rated by whom?

BradyFTW! · Apr 9, 2015

Not surprising, really. Connolly is exactly the kind of guy that you don't overpay even a cent for. He's serviceable, but I don't believe that he's in the Pats intermediate term plans, even, so now's as good a time as any to go find his replacement if he's demanding more than the vet min.

RayClay · Apr 9, 2015

DW Toys said:
Have to agree. He was rated as one of the worst in the NFL. I too have a soft spot for him but at 33 and on the decline there are other options. They had Wisnieski in and he is still young and plays to a decent level. He can play C or G . He is rehabbing a shoulder and they might be waiting for a further check up in thge weeks to come. Or they pop for a pair in the Draft.
DW Toys

seems time to turn over the position IMO. they're putting a lot of effort into scouting, with Dante playing a role. Stork seems solid and Wendell seems like a nice swingman now that he's proved he can play guard. with the multiple picks, or the possibility of trading #1 and some 3s, 4ths for second rounders, I can't see why they won't stock up with 2 or more for competition.

BB will let them struggle to learn, he proved that last year. Can't learn on the bench. If your too afraid of the learning curve, you end up with old and injured players making too much money.

captain stone · Apr 10, 2015

patfanken said:
5. I don't know what Marcus Cannon has done to Captn Stone personally, but he should share. Up to now Cannon has been a very versatile and effective performer, well worth the 5th round pick he cost us and the swing T extension he got. Cmon man,, if you had called a member a "churl" you might have been reported , even though you should get points for using the term "churl". But next time use it correctly on someone who deserves it, like Suh, Suggs, or Pollard. Not need to get personal, Marcus, by all reports, is supposed to be a very nice guy.

I was very much OK with the Cannon pick in 2011. He was a top-75 talent who dropped to the 5th round
because of his illness.
However, I was and am very much not OK with the extension. I obviously will not ever know what offers
he would've received in the open market, but I doubt they would've been as generous as what he signed
here. He is strictly a right-side lineman; he is absolutely not in any way, shape or form a Swing Tackle.
Does anyone really want to see him attempt to play LT? I still maintain OTOH that he could become a
starting-calibre RG if given reps there throughout TC.
It was reported (sorry to have forgotten the source) that after the December Jesters game, which the Pats
barely won no thanks whatsoever to Cannon, who had another horrible "performance", he was asked
about the dichotomy between his just recently signed extension and his play during the game. He gave
short, churlish responses that suggested that such questions were unworthy of him. A true professional
would have responded by saying that he was very appreciative of the faith which his HC placed in him
and of the opportunity to continue his career here, and that he will do everything possible to prove that
such faith & investment was not misplaced, while also acknowledging that how he played vs the Jesters
will simply no longer be good enough.
I fear that Cannon now believes that how he played vs the Jesters was, and will continue to be, good enough, and that's what angers me.

supafly · Apr 10, 2015

captain stone said:
I was very much OK with the Cannon pick in 2011. He was a top-75 talent who dropped to the 5th round
because of his illness.
However, I was and am very much not OK with the extension. I obviously will not ever know what offers
he would've received in the open market, but I doubt they would've been as generous as what he signed
here. He is strictly a right-side lineman; he is absolutely not in any way, shape or form a Swing Tackle.
Does anyone really want to see him attempt to play LT? I still maintain OTOH that he could become a
starting-calibre RG if given reps there throughout TC.
It was reported (sorry to have forgotten the source) that after the December Jesters game, which the Pats
barely won no thanks whatsoever to Cannon, who had another horrible "performance", he was asked
about the dichotomy between his just recently signed extension and his play during the game. He gave
short, churlish responses that suggested that such questions were unworthy of him. A true professional
would have responded by saying that he was very appreciative of the faith which his HC placed in him
and of the opportunity to continue his career here, and that he will do everything possible to prove that
such faith & investment was not misplaced, while also acknowledging that how he played vs the Jesters
will simply no longer be good enough.
I fear that Cannon now believes that how he played vs the Jesters was, and will continue to be, good enough, and that's what angers me.

Couldn't agree more regarding the right side. He's strictly a RT, as you said--with the potential to play at RG if they muddle through some growing pains.

Either way, I think he's looked serviceable on the right side, and horrible on the left.

meatface · Apr 10, 2015

I'm a bit surprised that Connolly hasn't resigned with how much BB and the coaching staff like him. That being said i'm not really broken up by it, anyone who has watched him play especially in the second half of the season, can tell he isnt an irreplaceable player. If he resigns the Pats would still be looking to upgrade at guard at both positions

AzPatsFan · Apr 10, 2015

patfanken said:
Some Comments on the Comments

1. There is no rush to sign Connolley or any other FA G before June.

2. There are so many possible interior offensive line groups that could actually be good, there are almost too many to count. Who would have thought we'd win a superbowl with an interior OL of Connolley, Stork and Wendell, this time last year. NO ONE, that's who..

3. Potential editions this line up in 3 groups.

a. incumbents

Kline, Stork, Wendell
Kline Stork, Flemming
Cannon, Stork, Flemming, etc, etc

b FA's/trades

a. Wisnewski, Strork, Flemming
b. Connolley Stork, Cannon
c. Mathis, Stork, Kline, etc, etc, etc

Draftees

a Rookie, Stork, Flemming
b Cannon Stork, Rookie, etc, etc

The interesting thing is that while they are SO many possible combinations, NONE of them would be any more surprising than the one we had last year. Which turned out to be a very effective group. Even though we are looking for an upgrade this season.

4. There is a chance Connolly comes back but only after he realizes that his market isn't much more than $1-1.6MM. If he isn't signed by the draft the likelihood of that happening will grow.

5. I don't know what Marcus Cannon has done to Captn Stone personally, but he should share. Up to now Cannon has been a very versatile and effective performer, well worth the 5th round pick he cost us and the swing T extension he got. Cmon man,, if you had called a member a "churl" you might have been reported , even though you should get points for using the term "churl". But next time use it correctly on someone who deserves it, like Suh, Suggs, or Pollard. Not need to get personal, Marcus, by all reports, is supposed to be a very nice guy.

6. Bottom line, if we had a lottery today, and instead of numbers you picked the 5 OLmen who will be the primary starters for the 2015 season, there is a reasonable chance that there would be no winners.

An altogether apropos comment.

It seems everyone is overlooking the Belechick oft stated preference regarding Offensive linemen. Namely: "...You draft left tackles; and the less successful ones, you make in to good Guards. also " ... You can always find a Guard..."

Cannon, Fleming and Devey were all tackles in college. All three are potential Guard candidates in his eyes. All have taken some snaps at Guard already. I expect that BB will draft a lower rated tackle and convert him to Guard, too.

kennyb · Apr 10, 2015

Cannon's play was sickening. Couldn't believe they gave him an extension. How is if he played lt in college and can't even play guard?

Happy they're letting connoly go. Time for him to be put to pasture.

Anyone surprised about Dan Connolly?

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