AzPatsFan said:
It is common wisdom that the best and most talented OLineman is placed at OLT. Gorin did not play left tackle in college. O' Callahan did not play left tackle in college. Wesley Britt made All-SEC several times as a left tackle with a reputation as a very good run blocker. Kaczur and Mankins played left tackle in college.
In most cases left tackles do not have that rep as run blockers as they are chosen for their athleticism in pass blocking first and foremost.
Scouts questioned whether Britt could play left tackle in the pros just like they questioned whether Light, Mankins or Kaczur could.
None of these guys is competing for left tackle though. At right tackle where the competiton is, there is more need for run blocking EXCEPT on teams with a great passing game based on a Superb QB.
Gorin was a right tackle, O'Callaghan was a right tackle, and Kaczur was a left tackle, along with Britt. IMHO the competiton is between Kaczur and Britt with the incumbant Gorin as third man in the game. O'Callaghan is PS this year.
On expereince I'd pick Kaczur or Gorin. On fit for the position I'd pick Britt and next year O'Callaghan. Anfd Gorin is the incumbent.
I expect Britt will lineup at RT on opening day or perhaps platoon with Kaczur and Gorin.
Just to confuse you it soemtimes has been suggested that the Pats could move Light to Right tackle if a suitable left tackle could be found. Kaczur demonstrated he could do that; and for chuckles Mankins is better than Kaczur. Both could play anywhere. How bout a 5-way competiton at Right tackle?
I love it when a plan comes together - competition.
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As usual, there will be massive platooning to start the season. My depth chart (which is my competition line-up) looks like this (the second man on the depth chart is the primary competition for the job, the rest of the guys are just in the mix):
Left Tackle:
Light, Kaczur, Britt, Mankins, Roehl
Left Guard:
Mankins, Kaczur, Roehl, Mruczkowski, Tucker, Steitz, Stevenson
Center:
Koppen, Hochstein, Mruczkowski, Tucker, Barthelmes
Right Guard:
Neal, Tucker, Yates, Gorin, Stevenson, O'Callaghan, Roehl, Hand
Right Tackle:
Gorin, Kaczur, Tucker, Britt, Roehl, O'Callaghan, Hand
Practice Squad Eligibility
OT: Britt, O'Callaghan, Hand
OG/OC: Steitz, Stevenson, Barthelmes
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Roster Projections: Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Britt, Gorin, Kaczur, Hochstein, Tucker
Depth Chart Projection to start the season
LT:
Light, Kaczur, Britt, Mankins
LG:
Mankins, Hochstein, Kaczur, Tucker
C:
Koppen, Hochstein, Tucker
RG:
Neal, Tucker, Hochstein, Gorin, Kaczur
RT:
Gorin, Kaczur, Britt, Tucker
PSquad Projection: O'Callaghan, Steitz
Shadow Roster Projection: Mruczkowski, Yates, Roehl, Barthelmes, Hand, Stevenson
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My projected roster creates the greatest flexibility/experience pool on the line. It also gives Dante the option of developing one of his reserves as the primary reserve for each side; e.g. Kaczur takes a series at LT to rest Light, then moves inside to LG for another series to rest Mankins, Britt does the same with Neal and Gorin, but in that case it may work better to have Gorin be the two position player and leave Britt outside when he is in the game.
For the projected roster, Dante has the flexibility to focus Kaczur and Hochstein as left side reserves, with Tucker and Britt as right side reserves. I doubt he'd do it that way, but he has the talent on hand.
As I see it, Mankins and Neal have solid leads on their starting slots, the T and C slots are up for grabs.
BBF - I'm not worried about O'Callaghan making it through waivers, if that is a concern BB just goes with 10 OL on the roster (if he likes O'C enough to protect him). If he goes on IR it may be so Woicik can have him for a year to settle his weight and build up his foot speed. Both he and Hand were unimpressive in pass protection in their All-Star games, but they give Dante and Woicik putty to shape.
. The running game was so much more important than the passing game back then and the premium was on guards who could pull. Now it's a passing game priority and big fat bodies take precedence.
