Starting Center

[patsinthesnow]

Anyone have any ideas as to what the Pats will do with center? I doubt we sign one of the three expensive ones (mack, smith, puente) and would much rather that money towards Browner, Woodyard, and a WR anyway.

So are we going to roll with a TC battle between a couple of JAGS and a 2nd-3rd round rookie? Please no more Wendell.

 

[JackBauer]

1.) Sign Shelley Smith to start at RG
2.) Move Connolly to OC
3.) Draft an OC

 

[mayoclinic]

1.) Sign Shelley Smith to start at RG
2.) Move Connolly to OC
3.) Draft an OC

Works for me. Cost-effective and efficient.

 

[patsinthesnow]

1.) Sign Shelley Smith to start at RG
2.) Move Connolly to OC
3.) Draft an OC

Sounds good.

 

[PatsFan2]

We can find a Center in the 7th Round who would be an instant upgrade over that rag doll turnstyle Ryan Wendell.

 

[resdubwhite]

Isn't Larson a FA? he's be good depth at least.

 

[mayoclinic]

We can find a Center in the 7th Round who would be an instant upgrade over that rag doll turnstyle Ryan Wendell.

There is very good depth at center in this draft. Tyler Larsen, Bryan Stork and Russell Bodine are all day 3 prospects with the potential to be long-term starters at the position. Matt Armstrong and Gabe Ikard are also interesting developmental guys.

 

[Stylez]

We can find a Center in the 7th Round who would be an instant upgrade over that rag doll turnstyle Ryan Wendell.

That's where we lost the AFCCG...

 

[Rob0729]

Isn't Larson a FA? he's be good depth at least.

Larsen signed with the Cards yesterday.

 

[NewFeep]

1.) Sign Shelley Smith to start at RG
2.) Move Connolly to OC
3.) Draft an OC

Perfect, and fits BB's MO to a T!

 

[Tunescribe]

The Patriots have no greater need than shoring up the interior OL. After that DL, then tight end.

 

[50-yard-line]

Don't forget Jonathan Goodwin. He's 35 but solid and could be a one-year hold.

There are 3 or 4 good centers in the draft.

Or flip Connolly inside and draft Xavier Su'a'Filo and his Mankins-like attitude.

 

[Brady6]

Anyone have any ideas as to what the Pats will do with center? I doubt we sign one of the three expensive ones (mack, smith, puente) and would much rather that money towards Browner, Woodyard, and a WR anyway.

So are we going to roll with a TC battle between a couple of JAGS and a 2nd-3rd round rookie? Please no more Wendell.

I would address though the draft, early on, we can use Cannon at RG and slide Connolly to OC.

 

[Brady6]

I am not sure why nobody feels Cannon can play RG, he started and played extremely well the final 8 games at RT last season. I have seen very few tackles not have success with moving inside to guard.

Keep in mind both Mankins and Connolly were OTs in college.

 

[mgteich]

We need a backup OT with the injury histories of Solder and Vollmer. Cannon has filled that role well.

Sure, we could sign a quality backup OT instead of a guard. I just don't see Belichick doing that. Tackles capable of starting are relatively expensive. And it is likely that our backup OT will need to start at least a couple of game.

We are set at OT until next year when Cannon's contract runs out. We should draft an OT for depth.

Cannon is the starting guard on message board teams. Belichick seems to feel differently. I'm sure that Cannon will be given the opportunity to compete in camp for a starting job. That is always the case.

CONCLUSION
We need to bring in at least one free agent and a draftee. The question is at what position. My conclusion is that we should be bringing in free guards and centers, and even a JAG OT as our 4th OT if one is out there.

I am not sure why nobody feels Cannon can play RG, he started and played extremely well the final 8 games at RT last season. I have seen very few tackles not have success with moving inside to guard.

Keep in mind both Mankins and Connolly were OTs in college.

 

[mgteich]

I suspect that Belichick strongly disagrees.

The Patriots have no greater need than shoring up the interior OL. After that DL, then tight end.

 

[Jimke]

There are a couple of good, young centers out there. I'd rather cut
Connolly and use that money to sign one of them. Connolly was
almost as bad as Wendell as a pass protector.

 

[mayoclinic]

There are a couple of good, young centers out there. I'd rather cut
Connolly and use that money to sign one of them. Connolly was
almost as bad as Wendell as a pass protector.

Cut Connolly and use his cap space ($2.5M) to sign Shelly Smith. Sign Alex Mack to an offer sheet that's hard for Cleveland to match. Since Revis' 2014 cap hit is only $7M, we have the cap space to go after Mack. Mankins can be cut in 2015, freeing up long term money for Mack's deal.

 

[Nunchucks]

Move Connolly to OC, use Cannon as the starting OG and backup swing tackle, draft a tackle and an OC/G and see where the development train takes you.

 

[mgteich]

And at first injury your development train would be starting. WE NEED DEPTH.

We need to have at least six starting quality offensive linemen.

If we are not re-signing Wendell, we WILL bring in someone else to start at OC or OG or at least be able to start.

Move Connolly to OC, use Cannon as the starting OG and backup swing tackle, draft a tackle and an OC/G and see where the development train takes you.