The Official "Everything OTA" Thread

[supafly]

OC - 2 - Wendell Stork (for now till Stork hopefully beats him out)
OG - 4 - Mankins Halapio Kline Cannon
OT - 3 - Solder Vollmer Fleming

I see that you are one who has chosen to remove Connelly from the equation, rather than Wendell. I think that is certainly a possibility as well, and while I think that the majority would rather see Wendell gone instead, I wonder if you might be onto something when cap hit etc is considered?

 

[strngplyr]

Well since nothing is happening now for near a month time for some crazy pronouncements. My current 53 Man roster with PS players!

Offense 25

QB - 2 - Brady Gara (Why carry 3? I think we will be we shouldn't bother).

I agree, if Brady goes down I don't think Mallet is going to win us any more games than Jimmy, and Jimmy could use the game experience were that to happen, Mallet won't be here in 2015 no matter what, so it'd be best to get our backup and (hopefully not, I hope brady is still playing at the end of Jimmy's contract) future starter some reps.

 

[Sicilian]

I see that you are one who has chosen to remove Connelly from the equation, rather than Wendell. I think that is certainly a possibility as well, and while I think that the majority would rather see Wendell gone instead, I wonder if you might be onto something when cap hit etc is considered?

My only question there would be, given his 53 man projection (no outside additions), why would the Patriots need the additional cap space? Seems that in the proposed scenario Connolly's salary would be irrelevant if he's the better player.

 

[Ring 6]

Obviously, the first part of the G-C-G corps is going to include pro Bowler Logan Mankins. The center and guard duo should be improved upon with many different choices to go through, and lots of competition/versatility. There should be an "addition by subtraction" aspect from removing one of the (un) dynamic duo of Wendell/Connelly alone. Wasn't that the main goal of this whole offseason exercise?

I'm not sure why anyone would automatically look at think that things would somehow be worse, with Vollmer coming back, Kline having another year in our system, and adding more youth and talent via draft picks?

If it ends up that none of Stork, Halapio, or Kline cannot beat out ONE of Connelly/Wendell, then we'll simply keep both and stay status quo; and that's not even taking the return of Vollmer into account, let alone the improvement of a piss poor bunch of receiving options that likely contributed as well. I couldn't see how it would get worse.

It gets worse in your scenario where we must start one of rookies drafted in rounds where most players end up selling insurance or a slug like Kline.
I suppose what you are saying is you hope one, or even 3 of these long shot become studs. I see the wishful thinking but don't see the talent that has you cutting a guy who started last year.
It seems people just don't like Wendell and Connolly and are convincing themselves that 'fill in the blank' will replace them and be better.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I agree, if Brady goes down I don't think Mallet is going to win us any more games than Jimmy, and Jimmy could use the game experience were that to happen, Mallet won't be here in 2015 no matter what, so it'd be best to get our backup and (hopefully not, I hope brady is still playing at the end of Jimmy's contract) future starter some reps.

I don't know how you can say that. JAG is in the EARLY stages of learning the system. Mallett has had years and pre-season game experiences. Has everyone forgotten that the great TFB was one of FOUR, not 3, not 2 QBs kept in his 1st year? You expect JAG to perform better than Tom in his 1st year? Tom only impressed BB enough to be kept as a 4th, not even beating out Bishop. Brady has recently said that it was not until his 2nd OTAs (they were longer and more intense back then) and training camp where it came together for him. He said it's tougher for rookies these days because of all the CBA restrictions to learn the system.

Facts, not wishful thinking (unless I of course am doing it)

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't know how you can say that. JAG is in the EARLY stages of learning the system. Mallett has had years and pre-season game experiences. Has everyone forgotten that the great TFB was one of FOUR, not 3, not 2 QBs kept in his 1st year? You expect JAG to perform better than Tom in his 1st year? Tom only impressed BB enough to be kept as a 4th, not even beating out Bishop. Brady has recently said that it was not until his 2nd OTAs (they were longer and more intense back then) and training camp where it came together for him. He said it's tougher for rookies these days because of all the CBA restrictions to learn the system.

Facts, not wishful thinking (unless I of course am doing it)

Everything he did, he needed to do FASTER.

 

[Sicilian]

It gets worse in your scenario where we must start one of rookies drafted in rounds where most players end up selling insurance or a slug like Kline.
I suppose what you are saying is you hope one, or even 3 of these long shot become studs. I see the wishful thinking but don't see the talent that has you cutting a guy who started last year.
It seems people just don't like Wendell and Connolly and are convincing themselves that 'fill in the blank' will replace them and be better.

I think his point was that if the new kids DON'T beat out Wendell and/or Connolly, then the vets will start and we're at status quo. But if they do beat them out, it will be because they are an improvement (most likely). I don't think he meant to imply it was automatically better by not having Wendell and Connolly, just that worst case scenario we have the same as last year, best case the competition provides an upgrade.

 

[mayoclinic]

Jon Halapio gets a couple of shout-outs. Reiss lists him as one of the guys building "momentum" going into training camp:

Jon Halapio -- The sixth-round draft choice from Florida has been working at both right and left guard. He participated in all 13 practices, and at one point, was aligned at left guard next to tackle Nate Solder and center Ryan Wendell, last year's starters. So the Patriots are working Halapio into the mix quickly, seeing what he can handle and how he looks at both guard spots after he solely played on the right side at Florida. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Halapio looks like he plays with a bit of a mean streak and is someone we're interested in seeing in training camp.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england...64306/momentum-builders-in-offseason-camps-2

And Chris Price notes:

It was different to gauge the work of either side of the line — with no pads in either the OTAs or minicamp sessions, trying to get a handle on the state of the offensive or defensive line is a dicey proposition. But on the offensive side of the ball, rookie Jon Halapio stood out as a first-year player who appeared to get plenty of reps with what looked like a reasonable facsimile of the No. 1 offense. In drills like this at this time of year, one of the main things you’re looking for is for a rookie not to look overwhelmed by his surroundings, and Halapio appeared to fit well with the rest of the starters. We’ll know more about how he’ll hold up at the NFL level when the pads go on in July, but to this point, he’s done well. One other note as it relates to the offensive line: center Bryan Stork took a lot of laps (at least three, by our count) after botched snaps. From that perspective, the Florida State product and Rimington Award winner had a rough spring.

http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports...up-pieces-from-the-end-of-patriots-minicamp/

 

[Brady6]

QB-Brady-Garopollo
RB-Ridley-Vereen (3D RB)-Bolden-White
FB-Develin
X-WR-Dobson-LaFell-Thompkins-Slater (ST)
Z-WR-Edelman (PR)-Amendola-Boyce (KR)
TE-Gronkowski-Hoomanawanui
LT-Solder
LG-Mankins-Kline
OC-Connolly-Stork
RG-Cannon-Halapio
RT-Vollmer-Fleming
LE-Ninkovich-Bequette
DT-Kelly-Easley-Chr Jones
NT-Wilfork-Siliga
RE-Cha Jones-Buchanan-Moore
SLB-Hightower-Fleming
MLB-Mayo-Beauharnais
WLB-Collins-Anderson
LCB-Revis-Ryan
RCB-Browner-Dennard-Arrington
SAF-McCourty-Thomas
SAF-Harmon-Wilson-Ebner (ST)
K-Gostkowski
P-Allen
LS-Ott
PUP-Armstead-W Smith-Watson
PS-Finch-Houston-Gallon-Swanson-Davis-J Jones-Cave-Gordon

 

[Kontradiction]

Jon Halapio gets a couple of shout-outs. Reiss lists him as one of the guys building "momentum" going into training camp:



http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4764306/momentum-builders-in-offseason-camps-2

And Chris Price notes:



http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2014/06/20/5-picked-up-pieces-from-the-end-of-patriots-minicamp/

I think it's obvious the Patriots are putting less of an onus on the smaller, more fleet of foot O-Linemen that they've drafted pretty much since Bill has gotten here. They could either be moving away from being more dependant on the screen or are seeing defenses getting smaller and quicker so are responding by getting smash mouth maulers on the OL to simply run over those defenses. Or it could be both. Halapio, even though he's a Gator, looked to be a project to me. I'm happy that he's seeing time with the starting group and it will be interesting to see if things remain that way when the shoulder pads are thrown on. I'm looking forward to seeing what both he and Stork are capable of.

 

[Sciz]

My only question there would be, given his 53 man projection (no outside additions), why would the Patriots need the additional cap space? Seems that in the proposed scenario Connolly's salary would be irrelevant if he's the better player.

Rollover for next year. They've got quite a few guys to lock up in the near future, and that's without considering any outside free agents. A few million dollars isn't insignificant if it's the difference between Revis staying or going, for example.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Jon Halapio gets a couple of shout-outs. Reiss lists him as one of the guys building "momentum" going into training camp:

Yes.

And Reiss writes "The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Halapio looks like he plays with a bit of a mean streak and is someone we're interested in seeing in training camp."

How on earth can he say that on the basis of watching the OTAs?

 

[Kontradiction]

Yes.

And Reiss writes "The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Halapio looks like he plays with a bit of a mean streak and is someone we're interested in seeing in training camp."

How on earth can he say that on the basis of watching the OTAs?

I'm assuming he watched some Florida Gator football. Halapio absolutely plays with a mean streak.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I think it's obvious the Patriots are putting less of an onus on the smaller, more fleet of foot O-Linemen that they've drafted pretty much since Bill has gotten here. They could either be moving away from being more dependant on the screen or are seeing defenses getting smaller and quicker so are responding by getting smash mouth maulers on the OL to simply run over those defenses. Or it could be both. Halapio, even though he's a Gator, looked to be a project to me. I'm happy that he's seeing time with the starting group and it will be interesting to see if things remain that way when the shoulder pads are thrown on. I'm looking forward to seeing what both he and Stork are capable of.

New offensive line coach? (Dante Scarnecchia -- such a small guy, such big shoes to fill!)

 

[Kontradiction]

New offensive line coach? (Dante Scarnecchia -- such a small guy, such big shoes to fill!)

I would normally go that route, but Dante reportedly helped a lot in the selection process.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I'm assuming he watched some Florida Gator football. Halapio absolutely plays with a mean streak.

OK. Then that's a verdict based on pre-draft scouting, not a conclusion drawn from camp.

 

[Sicilian]

Rollover for next year. They've got quite a few guys to lock up in the near future, and that's without considering any outside free agents. A few million dollars isn't insignificant if it's the difference between Revis staying or going, for example.

A good point, for sure.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I would normally go that route, but Dante reportedly helped a lot in the selection process.

Yes, you're right.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Yes.

And Reiss writes "The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Halapio looks like he plays with a bit of a mean streak and is someone we're interested in seeing in training camp."

How on earth can he say that on the basis of watching the OTAs?

Maybe Jalapeño is bitter and yells stuff at Wilfork saying he's fat & old?

 

[Mike the Brit]

Maybe Jalapeño is bitter and yells stuff at Wilfork saying he's fat & old?

Not to mention that his mother is a hamster and his breath smells of elderberries.