Some article tidbits on rookies Ron Brace and Sebastian Vollmer

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Interesting 'behind the player' articles that I assume have not been posted here as of yet.

A rookie's journey from Germany to New England

Springfield native Ron Brace feels right at home with Patriots - MassLive.com

 

[ctpatsfan77]

From the Vollmer article, I think I found what caught BB's eye:

He signed with Houston in 2004. He knew very little English and was a 20-year-old, 250-pound tight end. Now he's a 310-pound tackle who was All-Conference USA as a senior and played in the East-West Shrine game.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

From the Vollmer article, I think I found what caught BB's eye:

There is not a doubt in my mind that IF Vollmer makes this team you will see him on goaline formation as a blocking Fullback taking place of Seymour and Hochstein who we cannot see get injured on a dumb decision to use them there,Vollmer would be a fine wall on a goaline run.

 

[Sicilian]

There is not a doubt in my mind that IF Vollmer makes this team you will see him on goaline formation as a blocking Fullback taking place of Seymour and Hochstein who we cannot see get injured on a dumb decision to use them there,Vollmer would be a fine wall on a goaline run.

Or line him up as a tight end and essentially have six o-linemen.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Or line him up as a tight end and essentially have six o-linemen.

That too - but I think Vollmer would make an ideal guy to run behind and if its 2 yards or less just have the running back hang onto his coattail and it could be an unstoppable play for a rushing TD .... Assuming Vollmer's body will be as big and strong as he appears to be.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Or line him up as a tight end and essentially have six o-linemen.

Assuming Vrabel's role as an unexpected pass catcher in goal line situations...

 

[cstjohn17]

Assuming Vrabel's role as an unexpected pass catcher in goal line situations...

Pretty sure Ron Brace will be the pass catching TE in goalline situations....

Brace is defintately a guy who will benefit from an NFL conditioning program, even for a NT he looks chunky.

 

[Sicilian]

Pretty sure Ron Brace will be the pass catching TE in goalline situations....

Based on what?

 

[cstjohn17]

Based on what?

Agility, speed, hands, etc.











Ps. It was a joke.

 

[Sicilian]

Ps. It was a joke.

Oh, haha, sorry. Sarcasm detector ran out of batteries.

 

[VJCPatriot]

That too - but I think Vollmer would make an ideal guy to run behind and if its 2 yards or less just have the running back hang onto his coattail and it could be an unstoppable play for a rushing TD .... Assuming Vollmer's body will be as big and strong as he appears to be.

Well he's 6-8 315 lbs. I don't think he's made out of cardboard. However playing with strong hands and good leverage determines effectiveness in the trenches as much as size.

 

[TheBaronPatriot]

That too - but I think Vollmer would make an ideal guy to run behind and if its 2 yards or less just have the running back hang onto his coattail and it could be an unstoppable play for a rushing TD .... Assuming Vollmer's body will be as big and strong as he appears to be.

I don't think using a 6"8 fullback would be wise.
The perfect fullback would be 5"8 250 lbs of fire hydrant muscle.
With a 40 yard time of 4.8 sec but a 10 yard split of a 4.5 guy.

Small through the hole, and BOOM

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I don't think using a 6"8 fullback would be wise.
The perfect fullback would be 5"8 250 lbs of fire hydrant muscle.
With a 40 yard time of 4.8 sec but a 10 yard split of a 4.5 guy.

Small through the hole, and BOOM

Charlie Tolar 5' 6" or so and over 200 LBS back in the 60s (from memory, may be slightly off)

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Charlie Tolar 5' 6" or so and over 200 LBS back in the 60s (from memory, may be slightly off)

The human bowling ball, as he was known...........

Charlie Tolar, 65, Fullback Known as Human Bowling Ball - The New York Times

 

[efin98]

From the Vollmer article, I think I found what caught BB's eye:

Probably what sealed the deal on him!

Can see him now as an eligible receiver on the end of the line...hope he doesn't get asked to catch any passes though.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Well he's 6-8 315 lbs. I don't think he's made out of cardboard. However playing with strong hands and good leverage determines effectiveness in the trenches as much as size.

If you've seen the video on this guy, he moves VERY well and seems to do a decent job against speed rushers.

I don't exactly have him tabbed to take Matt Light's starting LT position (though the sky's the limit for his development) but I can't help but wonder if there'd be a case to be made to train him to be a specialist dealing with speedrushers.

That is, everyone knows Matt Light has trouble with speedrushers. There's only a handful of teams that have the personnel to give us a hard time with that in the first place - and one doesn't expect that type of pressure on every play.

But on sure fire passing downs against those teams, does it make sense for the coaches to have the 6' 8" 315 lb. rookie with excellent speed and ability to handle smaller quick rushers focus on one job and one job only, putting him in on such plays and have Light move to the Right?

Seems to me that's almost a Special Teams type role - and if he were focused just on that, might actually get good at it quicker.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

If you've seen the video on this guy, he moves VERY well and seems to do a decent job against speed rushers.

I don't exactly have him tabbed to take Matt Light's starting LT position (though the sky's the limit for his development) but I can't help but wonder if there'd be a case to be made to train him to be a specialist dealing with speedrushers.

That is, everyone knows Matt Light has trouble with speedrushers. There's only a handful of teams that have the personnel to give us a hard time with that in the first place - and one doesn't expect that type of pressure on every play.

But on sure fire passing downs against those teams, does it make sense for the coaches to have the 6' 8" 315 lb. rookie with excellent speed and ability to handle smaller quick rushers focus on one job and one job only, putting him in on such plays and have Light move to the Right?

Seems to me that's almost a Special Teams type role - and if he were focused just on that, might actually get good at it quicker.

I doubt he subs in for passing downs. We'll see how he develops in Training Camp and looks in preseason. He may be able to win a starting job over the Summer, more likely he spends a season as a reserve taking injury and garbage time reps.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

The human bowling ball, as he was known...........

Charlie Tolar, 65, Fullback Known as Human Bowling Ball - The New York Times

when i think of " the human bowling ball" i think of don nottingham.