Ok, before the playoff games: Patriots player personnel needs for 2012

[VrabelJr]

With our first couple picks I see us going best player available which is most likely going to be a Guard/Center, WR, or CB. As much as Safety is a need the Safeties coming out this year just aren't that high quality. I think we can draft a decent FS in the 2nd round. OLB/4-3 DE is also going to happen in the 2nd round. I don't think there is that big of a drop off from late 1st to 2nd round in the OLB talent pool. It'll be interesting to see what we do if a highly rated 4-3 DT drops.

 

[The-Hooded-One]

Ridley looks to be a quality NFL player, Vereen hasn't proven anything yet.

They're rookies. They should be given a chance to prove themselves before more resources are put into the position. Ridley looks like he should be the starter next year.

 

[Ron Sellers]

Defensive End
Safety
Outside Linebacker
Center
Safety
Cornerback
Wide Receiver

Some of that will obviously change based on who gets re-signed, and then change again based on free agency. For example, do the Pats re-sign Koppen? If not, are they willing to go another year or two with Connolly and Wendell? Can the Pats re-sign Andre Carter and Mark Anderson - and if they do, does that change their plans at all? Do the Pats look for a free agent safety, target Mark Barron in the draft, or both?

 

[JackBauer]

Please tell me at what point this season you have seen Cannon playing Guard.

Gee, I dunno. Perhaps the fact that we have two All Pro caliber guards (though Mankins hasn't been playing up to his usual form this year until recently) might have something to do with that.

Perhaps you can explain to me why slotting Cannon at OT makes any sense, whatsoever, in light of the fact that we already have our LT/RT of the future in Solder and Vollmer, respectively.

 

[VrabelJr]

Gee, I dunno. Perhaps the fact that we have two All Pro caliber guards (though Mankins hasn't been playing up to his usual form this year until recently) might have something to do with that.

Perhaps you can explain to me why slotting Cannon at OT makes any sense, whatsoever, in light of the fact that we already have our LT/RT of the future in Solder and Vollmer, respectively.

How about depth purposes? Cannon has never played anything but OT in his entire career. Us having two other competent tackles (btw, we haven't even extended Vollmer yet and next year is the last year of his rookie deal) is not reason enough to switch Cannon to Guard. This was pure speculation from the day he was drafted and has never been proven true. This is like saying "well, the Giants already have Strahan and Osi, let's have Tuck and Kiwanuka play DT."

If Cannon was this Guard in the making wouldn't he have filled in for Mankins when he got hurt? Nope. Seeing is believing folks.

 

[The-Hooded-One]

How about depth purposes? Cannon has never played anything but OT in his entire career.

Mankins was an OT in college just like Cannon. Cannon most likely with be a better NFL guard than tackle, just like Mankins.

 

[VrabelJr]

Mankins != Cannon. Go off what your eyes show you. I've seen Cannon at RT so far but never at LG or RG. Certain members of this message board have a crazy tendency to place players at positions they've never played before just because someone in the past did the switch. Cannon has been credited for having very quick feet for his size. Why would you waste that at Guard? Certainly our coaching staff doesn't have Cannon slotted as a Guard, or are Donald Thomas and Ryan Wendell just that much better than him? Well, no that doesn't make sense because I've already seen Cannon playing OT for us! He's a Tackle.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Please tell me at what point this season you have seen Cannon playing Guard.

He was drafted as a Guard by the Patriots...that's what they listed him as int he pick. He has only played tackle because of injuries and the fact he played tackle in college, just like Mankins FYI.

He is the RG of the future imo. Just because you haven't seen him there doesn't mean that's not where he;'s going to be playing...if the Pats had their way he probably wouldn't have played at all this year let alone at tackle!

 

[JackBauer]

How about depth purposes? Cannon has never played anything but OT in his entire career. Us having two other competent tackles (btw, we haven't even extended Vollmer yet and next year is the last year of his rookie deal) is not reason enough to switch Cannon to Guard. This was pure speculation from the day he was drafted and has never been proven true. This is like saying "well, the Giants already have Strahan and Osi, let's have Tuck and Kiwanuka play DT."

If Cannon was this Guard in the making wouldn't he have filled in for Mankins when he got hurt? Nope. Seeing is believing folks.

Depth purposes? So you're really going to claim, with a straight face, that a draft pick with a first-round pedigree would be better off utilized as a backup OT than a starting G?

It's not like college tackles making the transition to guard in the NFL is a common occurrence, or anything.

 

[VrabelJr]

Depth purposes? So you're really going to claim, with a straight face, that a draft pick with a first-round pedigree would be better off utilized as a backup OT than a starting G?

It's not like college tackles making the transition to guard in the NFL is a common occurrence, or anything.

You'll win this argument when I see footage of Marcus Cannon playing Guard for us. Right now all I see is footage of him playing Tackle and nothing right now convinces me he is going to make that switch. That was pure speculation from the day we drafted him. Seeing is believing. Show me it.

 

[UK_Pat37]

You'll win this argument when I see footage of Marcus Cannon playing Guard for us. Right now all I see is footage of him playing Tackle and nothing right now convinces me he is going to make that switch. That was pure speculation from the day we drafted him. Seeing is believing. Show me it.

You're incredibly naive. He was projected a first round guard prospect before his diagnoses with Cancer...

...he is going to be a GUARDDD.

G...U...A...R...D.

Just thought I would spell it out

 

[The-Hooded-One]

Mankins != Cannon. Go off what your eyes show you. I've seen Cannon at RT so far but never at LG or RG. Certain members of this message board have a crazy tendency to place players at positions they've never played before just because someone in the past did the switch. Cannon has been credited for having very quick feet for his size. Why would you waste that at Guard? Certainly our coaching staff doesn't have Cannon slotted as a Guard, or are Donald Thomas and Ryan Wendell just that much better than him? Well, no that doesn't make sense because I've already seen Cannon playing OT for us! He's a Tackle.

Thomas and Wendell are more experienced. Cannon is a rookie who wasn't even on the active roster until halfway through the season.

 

[VrabelJr]

He was drafted as a Guard by the Patriots...that's what they listed him as int he pick. He has only played tackle because of injuries and the fact he played tackle in college, just like Mankins FYI.

He is the RG of the future imo. Just because you haven't seen him there doesn't mean that's not where he;'s going to be playing...if the Pats had their way he probably wouldn't have played at all this year let alone at tackle!

Really because on all draft boards the pick is listed as OT. This was speculation by draft analysts as well.

 

[VrabelJr]

You're incredibly naive. He was projected a first round guard prospect before his diagnoses with Cancer...

...he is going to be a GUARDDD.

G...U...A...R...D.

Just thought I would spell it out

What? Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have never been wrong before? You guys can say whatever the hell you want. Right now the proof is in the pudding.
TACKLE
T-A-C-K-L-E
TACKLE.

 

[JackBauer]

You'll win this argument when I see footage of Marcus Cannon playing Guard for us. Right now all I see is footage of him playing Tackle and nothing right now convinces me he is going to make that switch. That was pure speculation from the day we drafted him. Seeing is believing. Show me it.

I really don't care about winning anything.

If the reasons for him playing OT instead of OG so far this season are not abundantly obvious to you, then there's nothing more to be said here. I'm sure you can take solace in apparently being the only person on the face of the planet who believes Cannon's long term projection is at tackle rather than guard.

 

[MSU]

Need: S, CB, DE, DT, WR

Actual Draft: OT, CB, RB, TE, S, OG

 

[Deus Irae]

Depth purposes? So you're really going to claim, with a straight face, that a draft pick with a first-round pedigree would be better off utilized as a backup OT than a starting G?

It's not like college tackles making the transition to guard in the NFL is a common occurrence, or anything.

We'll see what the future holds, obviously, but the reality is that the Patriots had a viable 3 man rotation at tackle and had need for improvement at guard before Waters was brought in, yet Cannon worked in at tackle.

I'm not doubting Cannon at guard, but there's been nothing to show it, to date.

 

[VrabelJr]

We'll see what the future holds, obviously, but the reality is that the Patriots had a solid 3 man rotation at tackle and had need for improvement at guard before Waters was brought in, yet Cannon worked in at tackle.

I'm not doubting Cannon at guard, but there's been nothing to show it, to date.

THANK YOU!!:rocker:

Also, as per the official Patriots.com roster:
New England Patriots: Marcus Cannon

Your boy is listed as, drum roll please, a TACKLE!

 

[The-Hooded-One]

We'll see what the future holds, obviously, but the reality is that the Patriots had a viable 3 man rotation at tackle and had need for improvement at guard before Waters was brought in, yet Cannon worked in at tackle.

I'm not doubting Cannon at guard, but there's been nothing to show it, to date.

Notice I bolded the important word for you. The Patriots HAD 3 tackles. Vollmer has been hurt all season.

 

[JackBauer]

We'll see what the future holds, obviously, but the reality is that the Patriots had a viable 3 man rotation at tackle and had need for improvement at guard before Waters was brought in, yet Cannon worked in at tackle.

I'm not doubting Cannon at guard, but there's been nothing to show it, to date.

Quite right, but considering they parachuted Cannon in off the PUP midseason, I think it stands to reason that you'd keep him at the position he's most familiar with, especially considering Vollmer's less than stellar durability and the mostly solid play of the starting guards.

I think Cannon could be a good OT, but has the potential to be an elite OG. Unless BB elects not to re-sign Seabass, I think the odds of him sticking at OT are fairly long.