Pats need to re-sign Matt Light to avoid domino effect to OL

[patriot lifer]

Vollmer has PROVED he can play LT If solder for some reason fails @ LT why can't he play RT?:bricks:

True. Vollmer can play LT. But if Solder fails at LT, then he we're probably better off with good 'ole Kaczur at RT instead of Solder. No?

If you mean Matt Light at RT, then I still don't see how they could re-sign him in the first place in this free agency period.

 

[patfanken]

Solder is not going to be ready to be the full time LT for at least a year but..... .

This kind of baseless speculation has been proven wrong over and over again. The Pats have started rookie OTs on SEVERAL occasions during the BB era. Assuming there is a full 6 week training camp there is NO reason to believe Solder couldn't be ready to start from day one. Its not like he's sitting out on a lawn chair during the lock out. The kid has been living with his strength coach. He HAS the playbook. He is learning the offense. As of this moment all he has missed is 5 OTA sessions. Minus the 3 sessions he had with Brady.

IF he is the player they THINK they drafted, he will be ready. Light was ready, his rookie year and he isn't as talented as Solder.

Also consider that that very much like in 2001, the Pats will be running the ball more and playing most of the time with a TE outside of Solder.

You know I am a proponent to keep Light. Value wise. I believe the best route would be to sign light to play LG and trade Mankins. But that's here nor there. My comment comes because I think its presumptuous to ASSUME Solder is a year from being ready to play. To many good LTs have come in and started right away to make that presumption.

Imo Belichick knows the key to their future play-off success lies in protecting Brady, because if he has time they are going to hang 35 on any team they face, and this and age are the reasons he has devoted high picks to rebuilding the OL the past couple of years. If he was right about the young OL then they will be in great shape in the future, but that doesn't mean they should deplete their veteran depth now when they are already expected to be a final four team.

Here I agree with you totally. IF BB decides to let Light go, then I would implicitly trust his judgement that Solder is going to be ready to do the job expected. Maybe not perfectly or play at the level he will in later years, but well enough that he is an asset to the OL

Also remember that the key here is the playoffs. If he starts from the beginning of the year, he won't be a rookie by the time the playoffs come around. He will have had around 600-700 pass protection snaps to grow on by the time January comes around. Mistakes he makes in the first half of the year won't matter.

 

[Froob]

I'd like him back on a 2 year deal but not so sure he'd be willing to take that at his age. I though solder suposedly wasn't that polished? Could be wrong.

 

[ausbacker]

was Light not BRUTAL in Pass Protection, but a stand out run blocker?


Perhaps Crump made Light's STAT on Run much HIGHER than it should have been?

So Alge may have improved Light's run blocking numbers but you want him gone in favor of Lee Smith? Bi-polar much?

Light played more good games than bad in 2010. BB will do what's best for the team whether that's Light, Vollmer or Solder at LT.

 

[spacecrime]

Umm..he can always pass up MUCH MORE $$$$ and risk a serious injury that may negate future earnings for $10mil ....

May not be a smart move on his part

He cannot make a bad decision:

Does he want:

a) $10 million now and a chance for $25 mil more next year, or

b) $25 mil now.

Either way he gets $10 million dollars. I'm sorry, but no one will convince me that a happy satisfyhing life cannot be had for $10 million dollars.

$25 will buy more cars, more houses, a bigger bank account, but how much of a difference will $15 more mil make over and above $10 mil.

Players get so caught up in making sure they get as much as possible, they forget the purpose of money is to make you happy and give you a good life.

 

[Frezo]

I'd like him back on a 2 year deal but not so sure he'd be willing to take that at his age. I though solder suposedly wasn't that polished? Could be wrong.

The majority of scouting reports say he'll need coaching up and better technique in pass rush blocking to start.

 

[patriot lifer]

He cannot make a bad decision:

Does he want:

a) $10 million now and a chance for $25 mil more next year, or

b) $25 mil now.

Either way he gets $10 million dollars. I'm sorry, but no one will convince me that a happy satisfyhing life cannot be had for $10 million dollars.

$25 will buy more cars, more houses, a bigger bank account, but how much of a difference will $15 more mil make over and above $10 mil.

Players get so caught up in making sure they get as much as possible, they forget the purpose of money is to make you happy and give you a good life.

As a fan, I do appreciate when a player takes less than what he could potentially get, but I also can't blame a player for taking more when there's substantially more to be had. This is, in all likelihood, the period in their life in which they'll earn the vast bulk of their livelihood. And with a long life (hopefully) ahead of them (with families for many of them), they can feel a responsibility to earn the money before the opportunity is lost forever. And what's the alternative home for the money they don't take? The company? Imo, if it's a substantial amount more, then I can't blame them for jumping ship. If it's over a small amount, then I hear 'ya.

 

[patriot lifer]

The majority of scouting reports say he'll need coaching up and better technique in pass rush blocking to start.

That being said, I seem to remember the reports about Vollmer saying that he was a very raw product. Of course, there aren't going to be too many Vollmers out there (and Vollmer had a full TC).

 

[spacecrime]

As a fan, I do appreciate when a player takes less than what he could potentially get, but I also can't blame a player for taking more when there's substantially more to be had. This is, in all likelihood, the period in their life in which they'll earn the vast bulk of their livelihood. And with a long life (hopefully) ahead of them (with families for many of them), they can feel a responsibility to earn the money before the opportunity is lost forever. And what's the alternative home for the money they don't take? The company? Imo, if it's a substantial amount more, then I can't blame them for jumping ship. If it's over a small amount, then I hear 'ya.

I agree. As I said, there are no bad decisions for him to make. Either way he makes a lot of money, and even if he never makes more than the franchise tender, he can have a damn good life.

Given the choice between ten and twenty-five million dollars, I'd take the $25 mil also. Just not convinced it would guarantee me a better life.

 

[Ring 6]

I hope so - but neither of us have seen him play this year, not to mention his competition.

With this being such a bizarre offseason you also have to assume that veterans have a big advantage - still it will be interesting to see if Vollmer begins to get first team reps at LT during whatever pre-season games they play - especially in blitzing situations where Light always seems to have a weakness for speed rushers.

The thinking that Light 'has trouble with speed rushers' is a misconception, because the facts are he has done better against them than most other LTs.
Does he let up more sacks to good pass rushers than bad ones? Yup, so does everyone else.

 

[spacecrime]

That being said, I seem to remember the reports about Vollmer saying that he was a very raw product. Of course, there aren't going to be too many Vollmers out there (and Vollmer had a full TC).

I remember Matt Light being projected to NFL OG, not tackle. He seemed to do okay for a rookie LT.

 

[Frezo]

That being said, I seem to remember the reports about Vollmer saying that he was a very raw product. Of course, there aren't going to be too many Vollmers out there (and Vollmer had a full TC).

Yup...I was just pointing that Froob's concerns aren't unfounded. I also recall that when Vollmer played LT he had help on just about every play from Crumpler. The LT faces some of the most talented players in the league. Of course if Solder starts he could have Smith helping him out. Poor Tom.

 

[Ring 6]

Solder is not going to be ready to be the full time LT for at least a year

Huh?
What are you basing this on? Light, Kaczur and Vollmer all played LT during their rookie seasons, starting at least for a period of time.
Why would the guy picked #17 not be ready for AT LEAST A YEAR when the guys taken in the 2nd and 3rd were?

 

[BlueThunder]

Mankins costing $10 Mil against the cap is obscene.....I can't see BB keeping him for that kind of money.....Sign him long term and give him a signing bonus that gets him more money that can be amortized over 5-6 years.

Brady is only $13 Mil against the cap.....after Mankins, the highest is approx $5.8 Mil ....

 

[IcyPatriot]

The Light is out in New England. We can play ... Kaczur if Solder isn't ready.

spit my supper on my keyboard on that one ...

No typing while not thinking Frick.

what are Eugene Chung and Pat Harlow up to lately?

 

[HomerSchooled]

Yup...I was just pointing that Froob's concerns aren't unfounded. I also recall that when Vollmer played LT he had help on just about every play from Crumpler. The LT faces some of the most talented players in the league. Of course if Solder starts he could have Smith helping him out. Poor Tom.

Crumpler only signed in 2010, so most of Vollmer's play at LT was without him. I think Watson was the one doing most of the blocking at TE in 2009. Still, offensive production certainly didn't suffer from Vollmer at LT, and it may have even improved. He's a more than adequate emergency replacement if Solder can't quite cut it immediately.

That being said, if training camp begins as planned, I think we'll see Solder as the starter at LT for the foreseeable future. Mankins and Light both started opening day, and they were picked a half-round or more later. Given that history, and the fact that this team has been notorious for not holding onto veterans too long, I find it hard to believe the team would want Light for as much as a single season, and I doubt he'd take anything less than a 2-3 year contract. This off season has admittedly been more truncated than most, but not as much as people think. Truly intelligent and hard-working players like Solder will be just fine with a full training camp.

 

[Boston Boxer]

spit my supper on my keyboard on that one ...

No typing while not thinking Frick.

what are Eugene Chung and Pat Harlow up to lately?

ya, that was a little silly.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Huh?
What are you basing this on? Light, Kaczur and Vollmer all played LT during their rookie seasons, starting at least for a period of time.
Why would the guy picked #17 not be ready for AT LEAST A YEAR when the guys taken in the 2nd and 3rd were?

Probably because they had an offseason in which to prepare themselves under Belichick and Scarnecchia's guidance. If it's going to be late July or early August before players and teams are allowed to have contact with each other, then I'll be surprised if any of the non-RBs make significant contributions for the Pats this year.

 

[Frezo]

Crumpler only signed in 2010, so most of Vollmer's play at LT was without him. I think Watson was the one doing most of the blocking at TE in 2009. Still, offensive production certainly didn't suffer from Vollmer at LT, and it may have even improved. He's a more than adequate emergency replacement if Solder can't quite cut it immediately.

That being said, if training camp begins as planned, I think we'll see Solder as the starter at LT for the foreseeable future. Mankins and Light both started opening day, and they were picked a half-round or more later. Given that history, and the fact that this team has been notorious for not holding onto veterans too long, I find it hard to believe the team would want Light for as much as a single season, and I doubt he'd take anything less than a 2-3 year contract. This off season has admittedly been more truncated than most, but not as much as people think. Truly intelligent and hard-working players like Solder will be just fine with a full training camp.

That is correct. :ugh: I do think they will be better this year with Light at LT, Vollmer at RT than Vollmer at LT, Kaczur at RT. IMO they need to sign either Mankins or Light to maintain a vet influence on the OL. I doubt Kaczur or Koppen could be that leadership. I'd be more comfortable with Solder at LT if he's flanked by Mankins and Crumpler.

 

[Ring 6]

Probably because they had an offseason in which to prepare themselves under Belichick and Scarnecchia's guidance. If it's going to be late July or early August before players and teams are allowed to have contact with each other, then I'll be surprised if any of the non-RBs make significant contributions for the Pats this year.

In my opinion you are severly overvaluing OTAs and minicamp.
I think they could have an impact for a different reason, health. If the players come in out of shape they will get injured.
But to take a LT through a 4 game preseason and even an abbreviated camp should be sufficient, especially for a guy who was a #1 pick.
Would it be better to have OTAs and minicamp? Of course, but it is what it is and BB will get the players ready rather than sitting around lamenting the imprefect offseason and giving up on them.