Vollmer at Left Tackle

[JoeSixPat]

Right from when he was drafted and I began to watch more video of Vollmer, it seemed to me that a guy that big, who moved that well, had some decent potential - he even looked like someone who might be better able to handle a speed rusher better than Light.

Now with Vollmer getting a good amount of time at LT in practice, I'm wondering if that's exactly the role we might see Vollmer in.

Light obviously has trouble with speed rushers but that's not an every game issue... just a few times each season and even then, not on every down.

Belichick I'd think tends not to want to throw too much at rookies - so I can't help but wonder if he's being looked at as a pass rushing specialist this year, focusing on that aspect of the game, while Light will continue in his role as the primary LT.

Regardless, it seems obvious that the team has hopes for Vollmer at LT whether its in a specialst role or eventually full time. When LTs lose a step it really shows, and you always have to be planning ahead for that day when you've got a valuable commodity at QB to protect.

 

[BelichickFan]

Next year.

I doubt we'll see a rotation, that's just not done with OL; not to mention that the mediocre (against pass rushers) Light would be more reliable than a rookie. However next year is his last year, if we released him we would save $4-$5M with no dead money.

If Vollmer looks good this year he could well be the LT in 2010 with Light gone unless he signs a team friendly deal to move to RT.

 

[RayClay]

If that's true, I called it.

Only based on that scrimmage video and a hunch, but he just seems light on his feet and big enough too.

 

[captain stone]

SeaBass better be groomed for LT, and not RT; otherwise, it would be an even worse draft pick then I already think it is. Vollmer instead of Beatty still blows my mind.

 

[Kontradiction]

SeaBass better be groomed for LT, and not RT; otherwise, it would be an even worse draft pick then I already think it is. Vollmer instead of Beatty still blows my mind.

Vollmer instead of Oher blows my mind even more. I hope I'm dreadfully wrong. Patrick Chung turning into a beast and Vollmer turning into a starting left tackle would ensure that.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

Light is the starting LT this year. When that unit is healthy, they play well together. When one of them goes down, things get ugly. Maybe BB wants to look at the kid at that position before camp? Check out something for the future. Come camp time, its all about Light, who is very good despite what some of you may think. There are only a handful of starting LTs in the NFL that are good run blockers, AND can handle speed rushers. If Light wants to break the bank after next year, then fine, see ya. Otherwise, im happy with him. We really need someone to fill Neals shoes. When he's injured (which is often) the line looks shaky. IMHO

 

[Feep50]

Light is the starting LT this year. When that unit is healthy, they play well together. When one of them goes down, things get ugly. Maybe BB wants to look at the kid at that position before camp? Check out something for the future. Come camp time, its all about Light, who is very good despite what some of you may think. There are only a handful of starting LTs in the NFL that are good run blockers, AND can handle speed rushers. If Light wants to break the bank after next year, then fine, see ya. Otherwise, im happy with him. We really need someone to fill Neals shoes. When he's injured (which is often) the line looks shaky. IMHO

Good post! I agree 110%

 

[patman52]

My take on it is that Vollmer will get most of the snaps during camp and will share time with Light during game week to keep Light fresh. Then next year Light slides over to RT.

Then in 2011 he will be a 33 FA and will probably stay and play for another 4 years.

 

[BTTA]

There was an explanation of this that suggested that Oher doesn't have the brain matter to deal with the Pats schemes, and that the team that got him (was it Baltimore?) has a much simpler scheme where he would have a better chance.

Vollmer instead of Oher blows my mind even more. I hope I'm dreadfully wrong. Patrick Chung turning into a beast and Vollmer turning into a starting left tackle would ensure that.

 

[JoeShmoe]

Scar worked him out, thought he was a smart guy and picked him. He is an enormous guy and before comparing him to Beatty etc lets see how he does first

Jason Peters was picked up by the Bills as a UDFA in 2004 .. its what the scouts see and how he's coached that matters

I think he could be a real find

 

[patchick]

Vollmer instead of Oher blows my mind even more. I hope I'm dreadfully wrong. Patrick Chung turning into a beast and Vollmer turning into a starting left tackle would ensure that.

Kontra, lest others take your statement too literally, let's remember that Oher was drafted at #23, Vollmer at #58. Here's what the Pats got for the Oher pick:

Darius Butler, Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman, AND Jacksonville's 2010 2nd-round pick.
(Chung had nothing to do with it, he was taken with the Cassel pick.)

In any case, time will tell. Vollmer is wildly inexperienced but he's highly intelligent and his raw physical tools eclipse Oher's:

Oher:
6'04" 309 5.34/3.03/1.78 21 30.5" 08'07" 4.60 7.81
Vollmer:
6'08" 312 5.13/2.90/1.77 32 36.6" 09'03" 4.50 7.51

 

[DaBruinz]

SeaBass better be groomed for LT, and not RT; otherwise, it would be an even worse draft pick then I already think it is. Vollmer instead of Beatty still blows my mind.

Blah blah blah. I'm Captain Stone and I know more than Belichick. That's why I am whining on a message board and not a GM for an NFL football team.

Whether its at LT or RT doesn't matter as long as SeaBass becomes a starter.

Dante watched both of them and put Vollmer through a workout himself. One of the things that I read about Vollmer is that he's aggressive in both run blocking and pass blocking. I didn't read that about Beatty. Also, something to remember. Vollmer started for 2 years on a very pass oriented offense. Beatty only started for his senior season. One other thing is that Vollmer is a former TE who switched to LT as he continued to grow into the young man he is now.

Instead of showing time and again that you don't know what you are talking about, how about you work on understanding what the scouts and coaching staff see in a player? You'll whine a lot less and be better off for it.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Dante watched both of them and put Vollmer through a workout himself. One of the things that I read about Vollmer is that he's aggressive in both run blocking and pass blocking. I didn't read that about Beatty. Also, something to remember. Vollmer started for 2 years on a very pass oriented offense. Beatty only started for his senior season. One other thing is that Vollmer is a former TE who switched to LT as he continued to grow into the young mammoth he is now.

Fixed your post for you.

 

[NE39]

I don't get the Light criticism. Matt Light may not be Orlando Pace in his prime, but he is one of the better LT in the NFL. I certainly think he is in the top half of the NFL at the position.

Every NFL LT gets beat by speed rushers on occasion. There are some really good players rushing from the outside. Light holds up better than most.

It seems to me when the Patriots have struggled with protection, a lot of it has come up the middle. In the last Super Bowl appearance, the Giants pushed the pocket up in Brady's face, not beating him up from around the outside. In that game, Neal got injured, Mankins didn't play to his usual standards and Koppen was overpowered at times. When the Pats struggle, it is more interior blocking than exterior blocking, IMO.

 

[JR4]

I would not be surprised to see unexpected changes on the OLine.
I really think BB and Scar are going into training camp with the
mind set "let the best man win". I believe all starting positions on the
Oline are possible for a change except Mankins.

IMO,
RT is definitely up for grabs - best man wins.
C - only an experienced vet could upset here.
RG - is probably the second most likely for a change.
LT - unlikely. a replacement would have to be a clear winner with no doubt.

 

[Mark Morse]

I happened to come across this years East West Shrine game I had on my DVR. Who is the starting RT... SeaBass. He is head to head against Lawrence Sidbury (Richmond DE) who everyone loved as a speed rusher. SeaBass swallowed him up and Sidbury never got close to the QB's. It was embarrassing (and probably teh reason that Sisdbury wnet so low in the draft). After seeing that tape I know why the Pats project him as a LT.

Also in that game were Briam Hoyer, Myron Pryor (great stop on 4th and goal) and Darryl Richards.

 

[JoeShmoe]

It seems to me when the Patriots have struggled with protection, a lot of it has come up the middle. In the last Super Bowl appearance, the Giants pushed the pocket up in Brady's face, not beating him up from around the outside. In that game, Neal got injured, Mankins didn't play to his usual standards and Koppen was overpowered at times. When the Pats struggle, it is more interior blocking than exterior blocking, IMO.

I'd wholly agree with that .. I think Koppen can get swamped and I wouldn't be surprised if we went for a young and nasty Center with one of our seconds next year

 

[ctsports]

Beatty only started for his senior season.

That is false. Beatty started every game his last two years at UConn and was the starter during his red-shirt sophomore year until he broke his leg.

I have no idea whether Beatty or Vollmer will ultimately prove to be the better pro (since I'm a Pats fan and hate the Giants I hope it's Vollmer), but Beatty is a tremendously athletic tackle prospect.

 

[mayoclinic]

That is false. Beatty started every game his last two years at UConn and was the starter during his red-shirt sophomore year until he broke his leg.

I have no idea whether Beatty or Vollmer will ultimately prove to be the better pro (since I'm a Pats fan and hate the Giants I hope it's Vollmer), but Beatty is a tremendously athletic tackle prospect.

Beatty was one of my draft binkies, and is a termendous athletic LT prospect. I would have been happy with him at 23 or 34, much less at 58, and was shocked when we passed on him for Vollmer. But BB and Scar had plenty of opportunity to observe him, and if they chose to pass on Beatty for Vollmer I'm sure they had a reason. Only time will tell if they were right. Vollmer does have a tremendous combination of size, speed and intelligence, though he's a bit raw. I never saw Oher as a good fit because of his tendency to take off plays and his mental lapses.

 

[WhiZa]

I would not be surprised to see unexpected changes on the OLine.
I really think BB and Scar are going into training camp with the
mind set "let the best man win". I believe all starting positions on the
Oline are possible for a change except Mankins.

IMO,
RT is definitely up for grabs - best man wins.
C - only an experienced vet could upset here.
RG - is probably the second most likely for a change.
LT - unlikely. a replacement would have to be a clear winner with no doubt.

I would like to believe each position is a competition, BB likes experience on the OL. That's why he keeps picking Kaczur as the starter. I'm guessing the same starting 5 will be taking the field this year as well.