The improved Offensive Line

[Deus Irae]

===========================================

Cuts his hair like Fryer Tuck.

That's why he is always wearing a hat, like in your sig.

To tall and to bald.

Vlad is perfect height, ugly as sin and a full head of hair.:snob:

Nice fishing.... and a great job of reeling him in.



Well played

 

[Reckedtrek]

Wow, gunnails! I never realized how much Solder with his head shaved looks like Pioli!
Take a good long look at this photo for comparison sake.






.

 

[Gunnails]

Nice fishing.... and a great job of reeling him in.



Well played

==========================================

Yea, I was playing.

I will say this, when The Solder King first started posting here, he came on like a ton of bricks:bricks: and I found his excessive thread starting and such annoying.

I feel as if Solder King has matured as a poster in a short time, that combined with his youthful enthusiasm, unwavering support of his team, and the fact that he is just starting college in a pursuit to further better himself has endeared me to him, I like him and look forward to his posts.

Solder King,, Respect!:youtheman:

 

[captain stone]

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.

Light - another year older, and slower;
Mankins - same as last season(s);
Koppen - another year older, and weaker;
RG - Waters > Connolly, but is that enough?
Vollmer - improving, if his injury(?) isn't long-term;
Solder - prob. better than Maneri & LeVoir now, should be much better in future;
Wendell - can't believe this JAG still has a job;
Cannon - the X Factor, but for now...PUP.

The only positions from which I see improvement are RT (Vollmer in his 3rd year)
& LG (Mankins for a whole season). LT & C are in decline (and have been for awhile),
and RG is a wash if Waters > Connolly but < a healthy Neal.
Solder & Cannon arrive with hope, but have played Zero downs of NFL reg. season action.
And we still have Zero C/Gs of promise in development.

In conclusion, if our OL has improved, it is only slightly, until Solder & Cannon have shown themselves worthy of the hype. Otherwise, I see no reason to believe that this OL will help bring a result to this season that will be any different than those of the previous six seasons.

 

[Deus Irae]

Light - another year older, and slower;
Mankins - same as last season(s);
Koppen - another year older, and weaker;
RG - Waters > Connolly, but is that enough?
Vollmer - improving, if his injury(?) isn't long-term;
Solder - prob. better than Maneri & LeVoir now, should be much better in future;
Wendell - can't believe this JAG still has a job;
Cannon - the X Factor, but for now...PUP.

The only positions from which I see improvement are RT (Vollmer in his 3rd year)
& LG (Mankins for a whole season). LT & C are in decline (and have been for awhile),
and RG is a wash if Waters > Connolly but < a healthy Neal.
Solder & Cannon arrive with hope, but have played Zero downs of NFL reg. season action.
And we still have Zero C/Gs of promise in development.

In conclusion, if our OL has improved, it is only slightly, until Solder & Cannon have shown themselves worthy of the hype. Otherwise, I see no reason to believe that this OL will help bring a result to this season that will be any different than those of the previous six seasons.

Given that the line's not been at fault for any of the team's playoff losses during that time, I don't see this as an issue.

 

[reflexblue]

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 and San Angelo State roomies?

I don't see the O-line as being improved all that much if at all. The better teams with good D-line will still be able to pressure TB up the middle.

 

[bagwell368]

Are you and San Angelo State roomies?

I don't see the O-line as being improved all that much if at all. The better teams with good D-line will still be able to pressure TB up the middle.

Middle?

Mankins in house and signed and w/ as much camp as anyone else should be better then last year.

Our C is meh against big bull rushers, but based on pre-season should not get collapsed much more then last year - if any more.

If Connolly was say the 29th best RG last year in the NFL, and Waters is the 22nd best this year - then that is also going to be better.

Outside?

Vollmer despite a couple of awful plays this pre-season shouldn't be worse then last year in fact he should be better. With a stronger player to his left, it maybe a lot better.

Light - I worry about him. I'd be happy if he'd be as good as last year, but I thing age will be stalking him this year. So he may be relieved by Solder at some point, or we are going to have to get used to Brady being smacked hard from the backside to often.

So I count 3+ and 2- on the line individually, and w/ lack of camp and new Waters the cohesion won't be that good to start, but should shape up nicely around early mid-season

It's a transitional year to some extent, with Cannon, Solder, and IMO an expected high draft pick at C for next year, it's potentially one of the great units in the NFL from 2012-2016 time frame.

At the end of 2011 when O-lines are being graded I would be surprised and dismayed if the Pats are not in the top 8. A little Scar goes a long way.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Same here. Im fine with what BB does . But let me say that we have an way below average OL.

I think you have a way below average IQ for saying this. really, you do.

 

[SanAngeloState]

He looks like the Kurgan. Separated at birth?

Image Detail for - http://jordanhoffman.com/wp-content/uploads/kurgan.jpg

There can be only one!

 

[SanAngeloState]

Are you and San Angelo State roomies?

I don't see the O-line as being improved all that much if at all. The better teams with good D-line will still be able to pressure TB up the middle.

I take no responsibilty for the previous poster you allude to however I do agree with the jist of what he said...our line is weak, especially up in the middle...but I think some of it could be alleviated with better play calling.

 

[mgteich]

We didn't have Neal AND Mankins last year. We had Neal and Connolly, and then Mankins and Connolly. I think that there was a game or two when we had neither Neal nor Mankins.
The BOTTOM LINE is that we upgraded Ohrnberger with Waters. Let's review.
=========
So, Let's compare to year end.

OT: Light is indeed a year slower. Vollmer is a year better. And Solder is certainly a better backup than Ojinnaka who was usually active last year as our backup OT, although it might have been LeVOir in a game or two.
BOTTOM LINE: slight improvement, especially at backup.

C: Koppen and Wendell (with Connolly also now available)
BOTTOM LINE: perhaps a bit weaker

OG:
Last Year: Mankins (Neal intead early) and Connolly, with Ohrnberger as the backup. Wendell and Ojinnaka were also available.

This year: Mankins and Waters, with Connolly as the backup, and Cannon as a wild card late.

BOTTOM LINE: A major improvement.
We replaced Ohrberger with Waters.

Light - another year older, and slower;
Mankins - same as last season(s);
Koppen - another year older, and weaker;
RG - Waters > Connolly, but is that enough?
Vollmer - improving, if his injury(?) isn't long-term;
Solder - prob. better than Maneri & LeVoir now, should be much better in future;
Wendell - can't believe this JAG still has a job;
Cannon - the X Factor, but for now...PUP.

The only positions from which I see improvement are RT (Vollmer in his 3rd year)
& LG (Mankins for a whole season). LT & C are in decline (and have been for awhile),
and RG is a wash if Waters > Connolly but < a healthy Neal.
Solder & Cannon arrive with hope, but have played Zero downs of NFL reg. season action.
And we still have Zero C/Gs of promise in development.

In conclusion, if our OL has improved, it is only slightly, until Solder & Cannon have shown themselves worthy of the hype. Otherwise, I see no reason to believe that this OL will help bring a result to this season that will be any different than those of the previous six seasons.

 

[captain stone]

Given that the line's not been at fault for any of the team's playoff losses during that time, I don't see this as an issue.

Does that include The SB Which Must Not Be Named?

 

[Deus Irae]

Does that include The SB Which Must Not Be Named?

Yes, it does. Of course, I don't blame the line for Neal's injury, the injured tight ends, or Brady's injury. Perhaps you do. If so, I'd suggest you look elsewhere for a place to lay blame.

 

[kkpat]

The question is:

We are leading 21-14 with 5 mins left in the Q4. Do we have the pieces (OL and RB) to run the ball and get 3/4 first downs and take 4 mins off the clock?

We are leading 31-17 in half time. The Jets/Ravens/Colts are trying to come back and they go all out. Brady is unable to carry the team and get few first downs to keep the clock running. Can this OL keep the clock moving with running game or give TB time to make 4-5 min drives?

Brady getting killed and Defense is unable to stop the other team. Do we have OL and/or RB take off the time on the clock with long drives?

We were unable to do that in 2006,2007,2009,2010. Are we any different in 2011.

 

[reflexblue]

I take no responsibilty for the previous poster you allude to however I do agree with the jist of what he said...our line is weak, especially up in the middle...but I think some of it could be alleviated with better play calling.

I'm not referring to this thread specifically, it was more in a general sense. I remember in the game day threads last year you and him were the Gloom and Doom Twins.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

The question is:

We are leading 21-14 with 5 mins left in the Q4. Do we have the pieces (OL and RB) to run the ball and get 3/4 first downs and take 4 mins off the clock?

We are leading 31-17 in half time. The Jets/Ravens/Colts are trying to come back and they go all out. Brady is unable to carry the team and get few first downs to keep the clock running. Can this OL keep the clock moving with running game or give TB time to make 4-5 min drives?

Brady getting killed and Defense is unable to stop the other team. Do we have OL and/or RB take off the time on the clock with long drives?

We were unable to do that in 2006,2007,2009,2010. Are we any different in 2011.

Yes, for several reasons.......

Waters will start over Connelly and that is a huge upgrade. Waters still has game and is mean and ornery SOB (in the Mankins mold). He's able to pull fairly well and he probably handles stunts better then anyone else on our line (our Oline has traditionally struggled handling stunts). He's opened holes for several good runners. I think our line will be better with him on it.

Plus, we have way better RB options now if BJGE gets ineffective towards the later parts of a game. Riddley and Vareen, who I believe will begin to move up the depth chart are by far and aways better options to plug in then Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris. Having those options may keep teams or make teams pay for bull rushing on every down. We've had to depend on passing for first downs late, which allows teams pin it back on TFB. Better RB options should alleviate that.

 

[kkpat]

Yes, for several reasons.......

Waters will start over Connelly and that is a huge upgrade. Waters still has game and is mean and ornery SOB (in the Mankins mold). He's able to pull fairly well and he probably handles stunts better then anyone else on our line (our Oline has traditionally struggled handling stunts). He's opened holes for several good runners. I think our line will be better with him on it.

that's good to know. We need to really get 4-5 yds on first down run rather than putting TB in Shotgun formation to throw.

Plus, we have way better RB options now if BJGE gets ineffective towards the later parts of a game. Riddley and Vareen, who I believe will begin to move up the depth chart are by far and aways better options to plug in then Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris. Having those options may keep teams or make teams pay for bull rushing on every down. We've had to depend on passing for first downs late, which allows teams pin it back on TFB. Better RB options should alleviate that.

We have to see how Ridley and Vereen will fare. But OL improvement for Run is the key. I am hoping your assessment is correct.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

We have to see how Ridley and Vereen will fare. But OL improvement for Run is the key. I am hoping your assessment is correct.

Well at the very least, they will have younger, fresher legs then the 74 year old Morris and 78 year old Taylor. Both provided NO SPARK off the bench last year.

 

[VJCPatriot]

The question is:

We are leading 21-14 with 5 mins left in the Q4. Do we have the pieces (OL and RB) to run the ball and get 3/4 first downs and take 4 mins off the clock?

We are leading 31-17 in half time. The Jets/Ravens/Colts are trying to come back and they go all out. Brady is unable to carry the team and get few first downs to keep the clock running. Can this OL keep the clock moving with running game or give TB time to make 4-5 min drives?

Brady getting killed and Defense is unable to stop the other team. Do we have OL and/or RB take off the time on the clock with long drives?

We were unable to do that in 2006,2007,2009,2010. Are we any different in 2011.

Pats made major additions to the RB corps, Ridley and Vereen, and upgraded the main weakness last year at RG, Waters over Connolly. I think the Pats OL and run game will be improved in 2011. And watch out for those double tight end sets. The Pats have the option to pass or run out of that set, keeping the defense guessing.

 

[mgteich]

We had the #1 offense in the nfl in 2010, because Brady had a great year. But, let's not ignore the performance our running backs, and the fine OL that support them and Brady.

We had a 1000 yard runner. We had a second running back who had over 1000 total yards.
We were #8 in rushing yards, #2 in rushing TD's.

Brady wasn't in the shotgun any more than in past years.

The tight ends gave us a much IMPROVED running game in 2010, in the end, a pretty good one.

Adding Waters, Ridley and Vareen will likely help our running game, as well as having Mankins for the whole season. However, it seem wrong to keep on saying how poor our ruinning game was in 2010. That simply isn't true.

that's good to know. We need to really get 4-5 yds on first down run rather than putting TB in Shotgun formation to throw.



We have to see how Ridley and Vereen will fare. But OL improvement for Run is the key. I am hoping your assessment is correct.