Center

PP2 said:

If I were you, I wouldn't take their word for gospel. Center is the least of our problems.

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If Stork is fully healthy and has no ongoing conclusion risk, than we have a solid starter and an OK backup. If not, we need someone to compete with Stork and Andrews.

And just BTW, this is a 2016 issue, rather than the 2017 issue of almost all our other needs.

I suggest that this is concern in the bottom of the 3rd or 4th, IF AND ONLY IF Stork's health is a concern.

Tony2046 said:

I agree that road games are tough. ( They are 14-10 over the last 3 seasons but your point still stands)

2013--4-4 road record
2014--5-3 road record
2015--5-3 road record

Interesting quote from Brady after the AFCCG.



( I wonder if the young guys were keying their snap off of the football instead of the silent headcount off of the head bob during the AFCCG. )

Either way I think line communication, including the silent count, is a big part of why it is tough to win on the road and I imagine even tougher when you have an injury carousel inhibiting continuity throughout the season.

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I included the postseason games, which is why I placed 2014 under the home field advantage category. That's the year we only played 8 games, hence the 5-3 record.

2013 and 2015 losses at Denver make 9 games total for those two years. Those are the games you're missing.

If Ryan Kelly was sitting there when we draft, I'd grab him in a second. Otherwise I would not take a center in this years draft class. OT is the first OL priority for back up this year and future starters.

supafly said:

I included the postseason games, which is why I placed 2014 under the home field advantage category. That's the year we only played 8 games, hence the 5-3 record.

2013 and 2015 losses at Denver make 9 games total for those two years. Those are the games you're missing.

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OK, I should have picked up on that.

Tony2046 said:

OK, I should have picked up on that.

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Or--I could've been a bit clearer, as well.

PATSNUTme said:

If Ryan Kelly was sitting there when we draft, I'd grab him in a second. Otherwise I would not take a center in this years draft class. OT is the first OL priority for back up this year and future starters.

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Hey, Nut. Long time, no see.

I think Stork will be just fine this year, and may play some time at Guard, too. I'm not giving up on Andrews - tough as nails and has an awesome attitude. Wouldn't surprise me if he came back 15 pounds of muscle heavier. The kid is very smart.

mgteich said:

I've seen it 3 times in the last week or so, most recently by Draftek, which does NOT project, but indicates that are giving us the consensus pick.

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Drafttek's sims (they're not strictly a mock) are done automatically based upon how they grade needs and on players available. Unless their need grade says there's zero need, it's always possible they'll mock one.

They give us a '4' grade at center which means a depth need only. They only have us with two positions with a need greater than depth, at ILB and at CB. In their latest mock they take CB in round 2 (Kendall Fuller) and a linebacker the pick after the center (Tyler Matakevich).

supafly said:

Or--I could've been a bit clearer, as well.

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No, it was pretty clear. I'll just enjoy my Homer Simpson moment.

Center?!? A decent swing tackle in the third round? sure.... maybe a guard in the sixth or seventh....

NewFeep said:

Center?!? A decent swing tackle in the third round? sure.... maybe a guard in the sixth or seventh....

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It would simply mean that Belichick has chosen to move on from one of Stork/Andrews, and that we've once again overrated someone. Either that, or perhaps there are ideas of moving one of them (or the new center) inside to either guard position.

It's probably not likely, but I can't say that I'd be shocked anymore at any position.

JMC00 said:

Bryan Stork manhandling Michael Bennett is a big reason why the Patriots won another SB

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Though your statement is overly simplistic (and I promise I don't say that disrespectfully), I see the sentiment. Stork played well when he played as a rookie. He didn't play well at all at times in 2015. Concussions are a concern with him.

Andrews was my "binkie" in TC last season (did I use that word right). I was proud to see him play so well, if only for the fact that I could proclaim I called it. Nah, I just liked the kid and wanted to see him build on all the momentum from TC. But at the end of the day he is still undersized and must learn to read defenses better. But there was another undersized wrestler-turned-NFL Center that did pretty well for the club, so who knows?

It's a good problem to have, but maybe the Pats still view it as a position of need. With 11 picks at hand we know they have the draft capital.

"Ladies and gentlemen, starting at Center for your New England Patriots: Shaq Mason."

I'm not real worried about our interior line personnel. We got fairly healthy near the end and the line didn't know how to communicate by signals with crowd noise. That's not a breakdown in athletic ability, that's coaching.

With Solder coming back, Dante probably has as much or more talent than he ever has. People forget how low budget the line used to be.

RayClay said:

With Solder coming back, Dante probably has as much or more talent than he ever has. People forget how low budget the line used to be.

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How exactly is our interior OL high budget?

RayClay said:

With Solder coming back, Dante probably has as much or more talent than he ever has...

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That's simply not true, at all.

mgteich said:

How exactly is our interior OL high budget?

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I didn't say that, I said

"With Solder coming back, Dante probably has as much or more talent than he ever has. People forget how low budget the line used to be."

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We have two 6'8" tackles drafted in the first and second. How many free agents have we had at tackle and guard and center over the years?

Gorin, Andruzzi, Koppen, Neal and Light. A second round pick, a fifth and 3 free agents 2004 champions

2003, Ashworth, another FA tackle. Woody at guard cause he couldn't snap, technically is a first round center, But I think Solder and Vollmer are much better 1sts and seconds.

How many free agents, wrestlers who never played etc, do we have?

Dante did a great job with a lot of free agents. We've picked a lot more in recent years, he's consulted on them and he's back

Compton was a great pickup in 2001, but I think he was just a street FA.

My point is, there's nothing stopping them from picking up free agents now. Some look great in hindsight, but with Dante back, why do people assume, with all the young players, some recent picks can't be better?

PatsBoy12 said:

But at the end of the day he is still undersized and must learn to read defenses better.

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What makes you say this?

RayClay said:

With Solder coming back, Dante probably has as much or more talent than he ever has. People forget how low budget the line used to be.

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Having said that, in a draft with a ton of low picks, why not roll the dice on some projects at OLine in the 6th? Competition brings out the best. Or higher for a better swing tackle.