Just wanted to throw out one quick tidbit that should help when figuring out the Patriots offensive line going forward. And it involves one of the most talked-about rookies.
Marcus Cannon, who beat cancer and was a late-season addition for depth, will be considered a tackle, not a guard, moving forward, I’m told.
This isn’t exactly breaking news or anything, and we won’t have to stop the imaginary presses. But Cannon’s intrigue continued all year, beginning when Cannon (left, with R&B star Ciara during Super Bowl XLVI Media Day) slipped in the draft from a second-round talent to a fifth-round gamble because of his health situation.
Fingers crossed, it worked out well. He was activated on Nov. 16 and ending up filling in at tackle when needed this season. And while he was a little rusty, the raw talent was there.
The reason I bring this up, however, is that Cannon was considered versatile when he was drafted. Some — ahem, me — assumed he would be used at guard as well as tackle, providing depth along the O-line… and maybe being a future starter. And with the team looking at the possible retirement of Brian Waters, some thought Cannon could step in.
Instead, Cannon will be in the mix with Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer and practice squader Matt Kopa, who is promising. While it hasn’t been said officially, the expectation is that Matt Light will not be back next year (with retirement definitely possible).
Cannon is a 6-foot-5, 358-pounder, and the Patriots love his size at tackle. Not at guard. While it seems the Patriots have two starters going into next season — Vollmer and Solder — the season-long injury struggles that Vollmer faced have raised some internal eyebrows. If Vollmer has more ailments, Cannon is a prime candidate to step in.
Either way, the Patriots should be pretty psyched about their future at tackle.