Status of the Offensive Line

[AzPatsFan]

The team thinks Karras is such player

And also Jamil Douglas an ex 4th rounder cut by Miami who has 8 NFL starts including 2 at the Center position. He was an All Academic pick too as was Karras, who both should have the mental ability to call assignments at the OL.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

As something of an aside, Ted Karras is an exception to the rule that the Pats only take tackles (mostly left) and centers. He primarily played RG at Illinois.

 

[farn]

I'm worried if either RT or LT falls... I think Scar is special, but those positions are not where our most reliable depth can be found.

 

[mgteich]

I'm worried if either RT or LT falls... I think Scar is special, but those positions are not where our most reliable depth can be found.

A team cannot have solid starters as backups at all positions. Last year, we had Fleming and Waddle as backup OT's. Both have started and were good enough to play under Scar if someone was injured (as did happen).

We have EVERYONE coming back. In ADDITION, the team has drafted Garcia and McDermott, using 2 draft picks for each player. Compared to last year, there is every reason to believe that the team should be at least as as good this year.

 

[mgteich]

9 -10 OL has been the common practice for the Pats.. 8 is not the norm for them..
There was a stretch of like 10years where the team used 4 OTs a season. We are only 2 years removed from them using 16 different O-linemen..

Yes, we have carried 9 or 10 OL's. However, this was not at a time when we carried 3 QB's AND 6 WR's AND 3 TE's AND 4 RB's AND a FB.

 

[farn]

A team cannot have solid starters as backups at all positions. Last year, we had Fleming and Waddle as backup OT's. Both have started and were good enough to play under Scar if someone was injured (as did happen).

We have EVERYONE coming back. In ADDITION, the team has drafted Garcia and McDermott, using 2 draft picks for each player. Compared to last year, there is every reason to believe that the team should be at least as as good this year.

I hear you. I'm going to stick to my initial fear : that injuries to LT or RT will be hard to overcome. I'm not saying it can be rectified. With the $ they give Ts, it's impossible to have three or four top notch players "just in case" while trying to build a team with 'whatever is left'.

But, just like I would be concerned if something stopped Brady from suiting up, I'd feel less than confident if Waddle or Flemming play significant snaps in key games this year. "Should be as good as last year" is fun in 2014 & 2016 (healthy seasons) but much less fun in 2015.

 

[RayClay]

History tells us, with Connolly, Wendell and others, that a good student eventually gets his chance with Dante. Barker was signed in 2013 after a full training camp in Miami.

 

[RayClay]

Yes, we have carried 9 or 10 OL's. However, this was not at a time when we carried 3 QB's AND 6 WR's AND 3 TE's AND 4 RB's AND a FB.

Good point but, who's the 6th WR?

 

[n1997y]

Good point but, who's the 6th WR?

Slater?

 

[varjao]

Well McDermott came with some name and just the fact that he was drafted by the Patriots already improves his position in 2 rounds in a immediate draft redo so I don't think he would clear waivers. There was a trade up also right? Unless he absolutely stinks in training camp he is a lock.

 

[RayClay]

Slater?

I only need one more catch to match his career total. Why not pretend he's a safety? Probably played more snaps there.

 

[maineman209]

I only need one more catch to match his career total. Why not pretend he's a safety? Probably played more snaps there.

I think it has to do with what uniform number ranges are officially allowed for offensive players who can be eligible receivers.

 

[RayClay]

As something of an aside, Ted Karras is an exception to the rule that the Pats only take tackles (mostly left) and centers. He primarily played RG at Illinois.

How is that a rule?

 

[RayClay]

I think it has to do with what uniform number ranges are officially allowed for offensive players who can be eligible receivers.

I'm making him an eligible safety. Don't need a guy with one catch in nine years at backup WR. It just confuses people trying to make depth charts.

Now the question is, can we carry that many safeties?

 

[supafly]

Slater?

No, I'm pretty sure that he had Slater as a ST only player in his initial 53 man projection a week or so ago, IIRC, of course.

I believe there were 25 on each side of the ball, with the 3 specialty players (P, K, LS).

In that projection, I think there may have only been 8 OL, though.

 

[supafly]

I'm making him an eligible safety. Don't need a guy with one catch in nine years at backup WR. It just confuses people trying to make depth charts.

Now the question is, can we carry that many safeties?

Not if you include DMcC, Chung, Harmon, King, Richards, Ebner, and Slater. That's 7 right there.

It's safe to say that DMcC, Chung, and Harmon are positional locks. Ebner and Slater are locks, too. King has been excellent on STs, so it's difficult not to include him. Richards is likely the one on his way out, and even then, that's still 6.

I think it may be easier to just start including a few STOP on each side of the ball, but I guess it all evens out one way or another.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Not if you include DMcC, Chung, Harmon, King, Richards, Ebner, and Slater. That's 7 right there.

It's safe to say that DMcC, Chung, and Harmon are positional locks. Ebner and Slater are locks, too. King has been excellent on STs, so it's difficult not to include him. Richards is likely the one on his way out, and even then, that's still 6.

I think it may be easier to just start including a few STOP on each side of the ball, but I guess it all evens out one way or another.

I wonder if our backup safeties can actually play safety lol. For all we know Bolden might be a better safety than them if given the chance. He seems to be good at everything besides actually running the ball lol.

And to the topic of this thread, we are okay at everything, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a vet guard added that still has something in the tank like we did with Brian Waters. I see our line as

OT-Solder, Cannon, Garcia, Flemming

OG/C-Mason, Thuney, Andrews, Karras, Barker/yet to be signed vet.

 

[supafly]

I wonder if our backup safeties can actually play safety lol. For all we know Bolden might be a better safety than them if given the chance. He seems to be good at everything besides actually running the ball lol.

And to the topic of this thread, we are okay at everything, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a vet guard added that still has something in the tank like we did with Brian Waters. I see our line as

OT-Solder, Cannon, Garcia, Flemming

OG/C-Mason, Thuney, Andrews, Karras, Barker/yet to be signed vet.

As long as we could get McDermott through to the PS, I like it. Of course, this makes the Mike Tomlin assumption that McDermott is worth a damn, but he's got nice size and I'd like to see what Scarnecchia can do with a developmental year.

 

[RayClay]

Not if you include DMcC, Chung, Harmon, King, Richards, Ebner, and Slater. That's 7 right there.

It's safe to say that DMcC, Chung, and Harmon are positional locks. Ebner and Slater are locks, too. King has been excellent on STs, so it's difficult not to include him. Richards is likely the one on his way out, and even then, that's still 6.

I think it may be easier to just start including a few STOP on each side of the ball, but I guess it all evens out one way or another.

It was a joke.

 

[mgteich]

As long as we could get McDermott through to the PS, I like it. Of course, this makes the Mike Tomlin assumption that McDermott is worth a damn, but he's got nice size and I'd like to see what Scarnecchia can do with a developmental year.

We "need" 7 Game Day offensive linemen, the starters plus 2 backups.

BACKUPS

KARRAS is our backup center. He also backs up at OG.

FLEMING backs up at both OT spots. He also backs up at OG, and is a blocking TE in jumbo sets.

I don't think that Fleming is going anywhere; he is useful in so many roles. Even if both Garcia and McDermott make the team, I would expect to have us keep Fleming, giving a total of 9 OL's.
==========
OL #8
This is clearly Garcia, hopefully good enough to be one of our top 3 OT's in 2018. He should be good enough to take Waddle's place as the emergency #4 OT.
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OL #9
Given who we have, I think that we can go with only eight, with McDermott on the Practice Squad. We have several backup interior linemen who can also be on the Practice Squad. This is good considering the roster situation where we want to keep 25 on offense without the 9th offensive lineman. I can certainly understand keeping McDermott as the 9th OL as one of the last roster spots, often used for developmental players.

OFFENSE (25)
3 QB
4 RB
1 FB
5 WR
3 TE
1 ST (Slater)
8 OL