Price: Pats close with Brace

[pats1]

It Is What It Is Source: Brace, Pats close on four-year deal

 

[Christopher_Price]

It Is What It Is Source: Brace, Pats close on four-year deal

Man, you guys are fast--thanks for the linkage! BTW, I had two folks tell me his deal will likely be done by the end of the week.

 

[farn]

Question : is Brace ready for prime time like some are hoping ? Or will he always be a suporting cast type à la Jarvis Green - productive, but never quite cream of the crop ?

It seems as though, considering the position he plays vs where he was drafted, it would be unrealistic to think he'll blossom into a superstar. Long story short, what can a fan realistically expect from R. Brace in coming years ?

 

[slash83]

Question : is Brace ready for prime time like some are hoping ? Or will he always be a suporting cast type à la Jarvis Green - productive, but never quite cream of the crop ?

It seems as though, considering the position he plays vs where he was drafted, it would be unrealistic to think he'll blossom into a superstar. Long story short, what can a fan realistically expect from R. Brace in coming years ?

For the teams sake he better be good since hes probably going to be our starting NT next season.

 

[supafly]

Question : is Brace ready for prime time like some are hoping ? Or will he always be a suporting cast type à la Jarvis Green - productive, but never quite cream of the crop ?

It seems as though, considering the position he plays vs where he was drafted, it would be unrealistic to think he'll blossom into a superstar. Long story short, what can a fan realistically expect from R. Brace in coming years ?

I think you obviously raise a very good question, one most of us will be anxious to find the answer to. I think it's hard to project at this early of a stage though, IMO. I think either one of your scenarios would be an asset to the DL, as that will always be the major piece of the defensive puzzle.

I think we'll see some decent plays here and there in camp and preseason games, here's hoping he makes a great start.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Question : is Brace ready for prime time like some are hoping ? Or will he always be a suporting cast type à la Jarvis Green - productive, but never quite cream of the crop ?

It seems as though, considering the position he plays vs where he was drafted, it would be unrealistic to think he'll blossom into a superstar. Long story short, what can a fan realistically expect from R. Brace in coming years ?

Question 1: Nope, he's a rookie and will need a little seasoning even if he winds up starting.

2: You obviously understand that productive isn't bad, but can he grow (figuratively for his health's sake) into another Ted Washington? I'd say it's not impossible. Pat Williams in Minnesota is considered one of the beasts of the DT pool and he's not your pass rushing type either.

3. I think a realistic expectation is a solid run stuffing citizen in the middle, he will be able to force double teams and he'll be hard to shift, that should free up Mayo & Co. to find the RB's crease and close the door before he's through. Expect Big Vince to have fresh legs heading into the playoffs, Brace will help keep him from wearing down and can also allow Vince to give Sey or Ty a blow at DE too. We can also expect that games where NE wants to really shut down the middle will be interesting to watch with Vince and Ron "bracing" the middle.

 

[patfanken]

I'll be interested to see how much, if any DE he plays in the pre season. I don't know what kind of an athlete this kid is. If they play him some out at the DE I'll be very happy because it will show they think he's a better athlete, and is more than just a rock in the middle of the defense.

 

[farn]

Question 1: Nope, he's a rookie and will need a little seasoning even if he winds up starting.

2: You obviously understand that productive isn't bad, but can he grow (figuratively for his health's sake) into another Ted Washington? I'd say it's not impossible. Pat Williams in Minnesota is considered one of the beasts of the DT pool and he's not your pass rushing type either.

3. I think a realistic expectation is a solid run stuffing citizen in the middle, he will be able to force double teams and he'll be hard to shift, that should free up Mayo & Co. to find the RB's crease and close the door before he's through. Expect Big Vince to have fresh legs heading into the playoffs, Brace will help keep him from wearing down and can also allow Vince to give Sey or Ty a blow at DE too. We can also expect that games where NE wants to really shut down the middle will be interesting to watch with Vince and Ron "bracing" the middle.

#2 - I think BB would rather get a decent, productive, "do the things I ask you to do right" type of player - even in the second round, than hope for a homerun.

#3 - If Brace does that, I know it'd be enough for me to be pleased with his performance. BB has been quite good at the DL, with M. Hill (RIP) seemingly being a rare miss.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

#2 - I think BB would rather get a decent, productive, "do the things I ask you to do right" type of player - even in the second round, than hope for a homerun.

#3 - If Brace does that, I know it'd be enough for me to be pleased with his performance. BB has been quite good at the DL, with M. Hill (RIP) seemingly being a rare miss.

#2: Matt Light, it can be done.

#3:

 

[farn]

But I saw that Raiders-wanted-Brace-column... Lotsa love for Brace after the draft. Why didn't they jump on the chance to get him when he was on the board ? People thought he'd last longer because he's not all Hollywood bravado ?

Also - love for Vollmer (after initial WTFs)... why wasn't he invited to the combine ?

Is the bottom line just that the draft - even with all the info and gametapes and mesurables - is still just an educated crapshoot ?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Is the bottom line just that the draft - even with all the info and gametapes and mesurables - is still just an educated crapshoot ?

As Troy Brown might say...

 

[BadMoFo]

Looks like its done.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/07/brace_on_board.html

Brace on board
Posted by Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff
July 17, 2009 09:23 AM

The Patriots have signed another draft pick, locking up nose tackle Ron Brace. Brace's agent, Nate Haber, announced the news via his Twitter feed, saying that Brace had agreed to a four-year deal with the club with roughly $2.82 million in guarantees.

With the uncertainty surrounding nose tackle Vince Wilfork, who is in the last year of his deal and is seeking a new contract with the Patriots, making sure that Brace was signed on time and ready to go for training camp was important.

Brace, a Boston College standout, was the Patriots' second overall selection in the 2009 draft and the second of the team's four second-round picks, taken with the 40th overall selection. The Patriots now have deals for three of their four second-round picks and four of their top five selections.

The team has not struck a deal yet with safety Patrick Chung, the team's top overall selection and the first of its four second-round picks, taken No. 34 overall.

The 6-foot, 3-inch, 330-pound Brace is a native of Springfield and attended Worcester Burncoat High School. He teamed with BC's B.J. Raji, a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, to give the Eagles one of the top interior defensive line tandems in the nation last season. BC led the Atlantic Coast Conference in rush defense last season.

Brace started 37 straight games at BC. Last season, he had 27 tackles, a career-high three sacks and was second on the team with 11 tackles for a loss.