The improved Offensive Line

[mgteich]

For everyone but posters here, the patriots had one of the very best offensive lines in the nfl in 2010. We certainly went into the offseason with question marks, given the contract status of Light and Mankins, and the fact that Neal was now gone for good.

Belichick drafted Solder and Cannon, re-signed Light and Mankins, and now has added Waters. That's an A+ on my grading system.

INTERIOR LINE
starters: MANKINS, KOPPEN, WATERS
backups: CONNELLY, WENDELL
PUP in waiting: CANNON

TACKLES
starters: LIGHT, VOLLMER
backups: SOLDER, MANERI

We could still add a backup center if Wendell needs to go to IR. But, this is a fine offensive line.

 

[zipster9]

For everyone but posters here, the patriots had one of the very best offensive lines in the nfl in 2010. We certainly went into the offseason with question marks, given the contract status of Light and Mankins, and the fact that Neal was now gone for good.

Belichick drafted Solder and Cannon, re-signed Light and Mankins, and now has added Waters. That's an A+ on my grading system.

INTERIOR LINE
starters: MANKINS, KOPPEN, WATERS
backups: CONNELLY, WENDELL
PUP in waiting: CANNON

TACKLES
starters: LIGHT, VOLLMER
backups: SOLDER, MANERI

We could still add a backup center if Wendell needs to go to IR. But, this is a fine offensive line.

I would not go that far. Last year's playoff against Jets, Brady was sacked many times.. That was with Light/Mankins/Koppen/Connelly/Vollmer..

Adding Waters may help, assuming he has something left..

Light can be beat by fast pass rushers, and Vollmer is still learning..

I think it improved, but, IMO, B+.

 

[mgteich]

I rated Belichick's offseason job in taking care of businees regarding the OL as an A+, not the quality of the line as A+.

I would not go that far. Last year's playoff against Jets, Brady was sacked many times.. That was with Light/Mankins/Koppen/Connelly/Vollmer..

Adding Waters may help, assuming he has something left..

Light can be beat by fast pass rushers, and Vollmer is still learning..

I think it improved, but, IMO, B+.

 

[Simkin]

I have to say that Solder seems like a DAY1 bust to me. Guy is awful,, is slow, poor tecnique... Only Scar can turn this situation.

And I love Koppen Light and Conolly for the memories and good stuff, but just like Morris did, none of this 9 guys except Vollmer and Mankins and Neal and Waters if healthy can make a NFL team today.

We have the best QB in the game making the best hot reads in the game.

Put Roethisberger, Sanchez, Vick with that OLINE and you will have a season records in terms of sacks and qb hits and hurries

 

[moosekill]

I have to say that Solder seems like a DAY1 bust to me. Guy is awful,, is slow, poor tecnique... Only Scar can turn this situation.

And I love Koppen Light and Conolly for the memories and good stuff, but just like Morris did, none of this 9 guys except Vollmer and Mankins and Neal and Waters if healthy can make a NFL team today.

We have the best QB in the game making the best hot reads in the game.

Put Roethisberger, Sanchez, Vick with that OLINE and you will have a season records in terms of sacks and qb hits and hurries

Are you for real?

 

[JackBauer]

I have to say that Solder seems like a DAY1 bust to me. Guy is awful,, is slow, poor tecnique... Only Scar can turn this situation.

And I love Koppen Light and Conolly for the memories and good stuff, but just like Morris did, none of this 9 guys except Vollmer and Mankins and Neal and Waters if healthy can make a NFL team today.

We have the best QB in the game making the best hot reads in the game.

Put Roethisberger, Sanchez, Vick with that OLINE and you will have a season records in terms of sacks and qb hits and hurries

Simkin, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

 

[patriot lifer]

I have to say that Solder seems like a DAY1 bust to me. Guy is awful,, is slow, poor tecnique... Only Scar can turn this situation.

And I love Koppen Light and Conolly for the memories and good stuff, but just like Morris did, none of this 9 guys except Vollmer and Mankins and Neal and Waters if healthy can make a NFL team today.

We have the best QB in the game making the best hot reads in the game.

Put Roethisberger, Sanchez, Vick with that OLINE and you will have a season records in terms of sacks and qb hits and hurries

Vick easily has an inferior offensive line than ours. Those other qb's absolutely do not have better o-lines than the Pats.

 

[Patsbacker]

Simkin, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Well done! Carry on...

 

[UofApatsfan]

IMO the O-line will be good with Waters now, the bigger issue not having any fullbacks and only having one TE who can block. If they sure up the TE position (by bringing in Alge for example) then the blocking is gonna be fine this year.

 

[patriot lifer]

I have to say that Solder seems like a DAY1 bust to me. Guy is awful,, is slow, poor tecnique... Only Scar can turn this situation.

And I love Koppen Light and Conolly for the memories and good stuff, but just like Morris did, none of this 9 guys except Vollmer and Mankins and Neal and Waters if healthy can make a NFL team today.

We have the best QB in the game making the best hot reads in the game.

Put Roethisberger, Sanchez, Vick with that OLINE and you will have a season records in terms of sacks and qb hits and hurries

Is this supposed to be sarcastic? And why is Neal mentioned exactly?

 

[Patsbacker]

I think they'll use Solder as a 3rd TE when needed and save a roster spot...of course I'm probably wrong...

 

[zipster9]

IMO the O-line will be good with Waters now, the bigger issue not having any fullbacks and only having one TE who can block. If they sure up the TE position (by bringing in Alge for example) then the blocking is gonna be fine this year.

Yes. I see AlgeC coming back very soon. He had shoulder surgery, and needs to heal.

But I'm sure that BillB said to AlgeC, "Go and heal, we will cut you now, but, we will get you back in once you are better..."

I also think AlgeC wants to come back to Patriots, as well..

 

[patriot lifer]

If Waters can play, that would place Connolly into the reserve/Hochstein role which is ideal for him and the team. If we're asking him to be a starter, it's a bit of a stretch (as was evident at times) and he won't excel. But if we're asking him to be a back-up, then he will be placed in a role in which he can succeed. But it all depends on Waters' quality of play.

From reviewing some old Chiefs message board threads, it sounds like plenty think he's still starter-worthy, but his play has declined. See below.

Chiefs Brian Waters - ChiefsPlanet

Chiefs Brian Waters released - ChiefsPlanet

 

[upstater1]

The idea that other NFL lines are solid across the 5 positions is a fantasy. This is why Larsen gets cut from the Patriots and starts elsewhere. It's why LeVoir lands on his feet right away.

The Patriots are better off than most, but there's nothing much an offense can do when a team runs 4 blitzers against the right side. The offense can only counter by catching the D off guard. Make them pay for overloading.

As for a single defender stopping Suh or Ngata, that's not going to happen. Why are people complaining?

 

[Reckedtrek]

Is this supposed to be sarcastic? And why is Neal mentioned exactly?

Between his post in this thread and by also including Neal, well let's just say it's not safe to drive a motorcycle with no helmet on.

 

[Simkin]

Yes, that is this board. Insults and oblivion for express an opinion.

Meriweather was the gOAT 2 days ago and now is terrible.

Our OLINE is fantastic, just check our last 3 playoff games

 

[Simkin]

And I hope no one gets hurt in a motorbike accident or something like that. You guys are being just hypocrytal, a lot of Myra Kraft avatars and then that bull****. Great stuff.

 

[bagwell368]

I have to say that Solder seems like a DAY1 bust to me. Guy is awful,, is slow, poor tecnique... Only Scar can turn this situation.

Jeez... different eyes. Jaws likes his tecnique, he looked good at RT to me last week, and good at LT prior to the Lions game. Given when he signed and how much time he has had (well less then Vollmer had in his rookie year) it's a BIG struggle for me to see how you could write these words. My bet is that no later then Game 5 of 2012 Solder will be a starting T for this team not through injury, but through supplanting others. We will see.

And I love Koppen Light and Conolly for the memories and good stuff, but just like Morris did, none of this 9 guys except Vollmer and Mankins and Neal and Waters if healthy can make a NFL team today.

I think Koppen could make some teams. I think at RT Light could make a few teams too. Not great, and I'm pretty sure BB will move to address C next year.

 

[neuronet]

Our OLINE is fantastic, just check our last 3 playoff games

Hard to argue with that. Everyone knows the key to beating the pats is to manhandle our offensive line because our running game hasn't been up to SB quality.

OTOH, Simkin you are being a bit unfair. Everyone knows that to beat us is to manhandle our O-line, but how many teams have good enough D to actually do that? Maybe a half dozen? Jets, Ravens, Giants, Lions (we saw this Thanksgiving at least the first half). Who else?

Saying our OLine isn't the best in the league is different from saying they suck. You are being a bit chicken-little-ish don't you think?

I am not competent to judge Solder. My hunch is he will develop into something we can use, but I have so much less football knowledge than people here, so much less ability to judge talent, I leave it up to them (and most of all to BB).

 

[Deus Irae]

Yes, that is this board. Insults and oblivion for express an opinion.

Meriweather was the gOAT 2 days ago and now is terrible.

Our OLINE is fantastic, just check our last 3 playoff games

When you claim that a Patriots first round pick is a bust before he ever gets into a game, you are going to get some pretty derisive responses. They're warranted, too.

If this board wasn't so tightly moderated, I'd be happy to more fully discuss my take on your post.