Who will be the starting center on opening day?

[Brady6]

Who will be the starting center on opening day? There are 3 candidates currently:

- Ryan Wendell – started at center for us in all 16 games last season.
- Dan Connolly – started at right guard for us in all 16 games last season, and started 11 games at center in 2011.
- Bryan Stork – rookie drafted early in the fourth round.

Vote above, or post your pick if you are on Tapatalk.

 

[varjao]

Last season Belichick was forced to throw some rookies into the fire, it's not the best scenario but those growing pains will pay the dividents this season, so you have to consider that approach.

That said, a Center learning on the fly is risky business, specially when you have a 37 year old not mobile quarterback, so I don't think Stork will start, but I can see him playing some significant snaps in the 2nd half of the season.

What I can't see is Wendell starting again, the last game the Patriots played speaks for itself.

So i vote Connoly.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Can't really hazard a guess at this point, but out of that list I would hope for Connolly. Maybe stork if he exceeds expectations, but from what little I've heard he doesn't sound like a day-one starter.

 

[BradyBomb]

Connolly.

As far as Stork.. don't think Bellichick starts a rookie at Center.
Don't know how Wendell can start after his play last season. Surprised he was even re-signed.
Process of elimination = Connolly as starter

 

[pdangle]

Connolly.

As far as Stork.. don't think Bellichick starts a rookie at Center.
Don't know how Wendell can start after his play last season. Surprised he was even re-signed.
Process of elimination = Connolly as starter

What he said.

 

[Brady6]

Does anyone know who the first team OL has been primarily? I know that Connolly got a long run at OC yesterday, who was at RG?

 

[Marinlik]

I could see Connolly at center. He isn't a very good lineman. Average at best in my opinion. But he is much better than Wendell. I'd much rather see us keep Connolly and cut Wendell, even if Connolly is more expensive. I'm not entirely confortable in cutting both as that would mean that we would have a new center and right guard.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Does anyone know who the first team OL has been primarily? I know that Connolly got a long run at OC yesterday, who was at RG?

PFK mentioned in his write up that Kline was lining up at RG with Connolly at center. I'm slightly intrigued

 

[BelichickFan]

PFK mentioned in his write up that Kline was lining up at RG with Connolly at center. I'm slightly intrigued

Agreed; while I like the drafting of The Beef, I don't want to trust rookies to protect The Franchise untli we're sure they're ready. One of the local writers (I forget which) said that Kline has yet to be beaten 1-1 (I know it's early).

 

[BradyFTW!]

Agreed; while I like the drafting of The Beef, I don't want to trust rookies to protect The Franchise untli we're sure they're ready. One of the local writers (I forget which) said that Kline has yet to be beaten 1-1 (I know it's early).

Kline made a lot of progress last season. He was about as bad as I've ever seen an OL be in the preseason, but when he was called on in spot duty as the season went on--when Mankins got hurt, and I think again when Mankins got temporarily moved to LT--he actually looked solid.

If he continues to progress, to the point that he's even in the ballpark of a league-average starter, the domino effect that that creates by moving Connolly to C will be a real upgrade.

 

[Joker]

Kline will make this squad before Wendell IMO.

 

[Brady6]

PFK mentioned in his write up that Kline was lining up at RG with Connolly at center. I'm slightly intrigued

I think the best OL would be:

LT- Solder
LG- Mankins, Kline
OC- Connolly, Stork
RG- Cannon, Halapio
RT- Vollmer, Fleming

 

[BradyFTW!]

I think the best OL would be:

LT- Solder
LG- Mankins, Kline
OC- Connolly, Stork
RG- Cannon, Halapio
RT- Vollmer, Fleming

I very speculatively agree, but the team seems very committee to keeping Cannon at RT. I could see Mankins and Kline both starting at guard, with Halapio as a backup and knowing that Connolly and Cannon are both capable of moving over if injuries create a need.

 

[PatFanCraig]

Cannon and Fleming would be better Guards than Tackles. Both are big strong lineman whom lack agility/quickness to be standout RTs. But their agility for Guard position is very good at guard but not so great for a Tackle. Halapio isn't very agile/quick even for a guard. He would struggle with quicker penetrators and when he is left to block DE due to lack of agility. However that wouldn't be a problem at Center where his NFL ready power/nasty aggression could handle big strong NTs. Not many centers could handle NFL NTs or better DTs one on one. Especially Wendell/Connolly can't with Wendall being even worse. If its one thing I dislike about Bill is stubbornness insisting leaving a lineman in position he played in college even if he sucks at it in the NFL. And his refusal and lack of enthusiasm to put any of his time/effort to coach them a position even if they could be pro bowlers to reward his work/ethic.

Or if he thinks his starters are set just because they have the system mastered and doesn't care if there is a very weak link. And shows no interest in taking time/effort coaching up a better talent to replace the weak link just because he knows the system/scheme and ready to just run his plays. It costed us a Superbowl trophy in 07. Everybody knew Kaczur had no business starting at RT in the nfl and needed to be replaced or moved to Guard. Bill didn't care because he mastered the scheme and Bill thought his scheme could overcome lack of talent. The offense struggled in the Superbowl as the line struggled terribly to contain NY's passrushers. Offense was disrupted because Brady had to get rid of the ball to soon and WRs couldn't work their routes. When Brady and WRs adjusted some to the passrush and just started getting its timing down to start scoring like they normally do,the heat got worse and The OTs got beat worse and more thoroughly especially Kaczur! Coaches and scouts urged Bill to draft a couple OTs in 05-07 to replace Kaczur.

Since Stork struggles with nfl power and isnt ready and Bill won't reshuffle to try to fix the OLine its imperative a trade is made to obtain a standout Guard or Center to protect Brady and give the offense time to execute and run any and all routes. And make defenses have to guard the whole field. The current C/RG will hurt the whole offense and cost the Superbowl. May take a round2 or couple picks but we have to acquire a standout guard or center if we are to beat The Broncos/Seahawks/SF or whoever on our way to this years Superbowl Trophy.

 

[Brady6]

I very speculatively agree, but the team seems very committee to keeping Cannon at RT. I could see Mankins and Kline both starting at guard, with Halapio as a backup and knowing that Connolly and Cannon are both capable of moving over if injuries create a need.

He has some reps at RG in the first 3 days of camp. If he started at RG he would still be the backup OT so I'm not surprised they are giving him reps there as well.

I think Belichick will start the 5 best OL and right now in my opinion Cannon is our 4th best OL.

 

[BradyFTW!]

He has some reps at RG in the first 3 days of camp. If he started at RG he would still be the backup OT so I'm not surprised they are giving him reps there as well.

I think Belichick will start the 5 best OL and right now in my opinion Cannon is our 4th best OL.

I would agree except that in a similar situation last year, where there was a clear C/RG weakness, Belichick still chose to keep Cannon at RT.

It's definitely possible that Cannon will be moved though, and I would welcome it if that's the route they choose to take. He played some snaps at RG last season when injuries forced him there. And maybe given last year's clear weaknesses at C/RG and a new OL coach, there will be more incentive to change things up vs. continuity

 

[AzPatsFan]

Agreed; while I like the drafting of The Beef, I don't want to trust rookies to protect The Franchise untli we're sure they're ready. One of the local writers (I forget which) said that Kline has yet to be beaten 1-1 (I know it's early).

But the real issue is whether Kline has gotten any bigger. According to the roster Kline is actually smaller than Wendell. Despite being a tough and nasty guy, with good technique, Wendell is sometimes just overwhelmed by the size of some DLs. Will Kline suffer likewise?