NE met with Waddle - WADDLE IS HERE TO STAY

Is waddle ready to take over for solder or do we need to draft someone?

TommyBrady12 said:

Is waddle ready to take over for solder or do we need to draft someone?

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Probably depends on how far away they think Garcia is.

TommyBrady12 said:

Is waddle ready to take over for solder or do we need to draft someone?

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I don't think it's about taking over for Solder as much as having 2 vets who have started at tackle for you. Cannon being the other.

Let's assume the team is really high on Garcia than this buys you time until he is really ready. Same for any rook drafted.

I think we'd all like a vet even better than Waddle with plenty of starting experience but not easy to find. This would make us all feel like at least the minimum requirement was met.

Do not forget we are talking about very sensitive point I mean LT or RT. It is directly accountable for safety of TB12.Maybe I am exaggerating a bit but one mistake at this position can cost us a season. Brady won't be younger and his protection is absolute priority. I can live with for instance one mediocre CB or WR but having an unproven LT is unacceptable to me. That's why an experienced veteran would be welcome.

They'll announce Waddle tomorrow, I believe. Bedard or one of the others hinted at it today with the news of the Slater signing. Waddle has a lot of experience at LT.

That's a short-term solution, though. Hoping Jelks and Garcia can come into their own and stay healthy.

50-yard-line said:

Waddle has a lot of experience at LT.

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I don't think this is correct. He's had no "live fire" experience at LT with the Pats (a tiny bit in Camp and pre-season). In his 2.5 seasons in Detroit, he was exclusively a starter at RT (when he wasn't injured).

TommyBrady12 said:

Is waddle ready to take over for solder or do we need to draft someone?

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It seems extremely doubtful to me that a rookie LT for this draft class - one who would likely be available to the Pats when they pick - would be "ready to take over for Solder".

maineman209 said:

It seems extremely doubtful to me that a rookie LT for this draft class - one who would likely be available to the Pats when they pick - would be "ready to take over for Solder".

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TommyBrady12 said:

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Solder started at right tackle for 13 games as a rookie, subbing for Vollmer (with his bad back). Solder didn't take over at LT until the following season.

More to the point, regardless of any media bally-hoo or universal interest from teams, Miller is still just a prospect who hasn't played a down in the NFL. Us fans counting on him to step in at LT an play at even Solder's level as a rookie is mere wishful thinking.

maineman209 said:

Solder started at right tackle for 13 games as a rookie, subbing for Vollmer (with his bad back). Solder didn't take over at LT until the following season.

More to the point, regardless of any media bally-hoo or universal interest from teams, Miller is still just a prospect who hasn't played a down in the NFL. Us fans counting on him to step in at LT an play at even Solder's level as a rookie is mere wishful thinking.

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I'm not saying a rookie LT is going to fill in Solder's shoes exactly to a tee, but the question is, can he do an adequate enough job at LT? And do you think Waddle would be better? Obviously neither option is the equivalent of having Solder.

The assumption underlying this argument is that Nate Solder was good or even above average. All you need is a guy to step in and not be terrible to replace Solder. To be fair, that can be a tall order.

primetime said:

The assumption underlying this argument is that Nate Solder was good or even above average. All you need is a guy to step in and not be terrible to replace Solder. To be fair, that can be a tall order.

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Solder was overall a mixed bag some moments of a turnstyle some moments a top 3 tackle for what the Giants paid him the Patriots were right to bow out.
Heres hoping Scar can make something work.
I'd prefer to have Waddle or Flemming prefer Waddle signed.
And sign a bunch of undrafted and late round tackle to compete in Scars so you want to protect the Goat contest.

ChrisR2223 said:

Solder was overall a mixed bag some moments of a turnstyle some moments a top 3 tackle for what the Giants paid him the Patriots were right to bow out.
Heres hoping Scar can make something work.
I'd prefer to have Waddle or Flemming prefer Waddle signed.
And sign a bunch of undrafted and late round tackle to compete in Scars so you want to protect the Goat contest.

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Why a bunch of undrafted and late round picks? Why not a first round pick like Solder?

primetime said:

The assumption underlying this argument is that Nate Solder was good or even above average. All you need is a guy to step in and not be terrible to replace Solder. To be fair, that can be a tall order.

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It really doesn't mean sh*t to me whether Solder was good, bad or indifferent compared to other LTs around the league as determined by whatever "objective" standard anyone wants to impose.

The only thing that matters is that Solder was more than good enough for the Pats (combining run-blocking and pass-blocking) the vast majority of the time he was on the team.

The argument here is which of Waddle (with NFL experience, but virtually no LT experience) or a rookie (with no NFL experience at all, and who's probably out of reach for the Pats, anyway) is the option least likely to be a disaster.

Jimke said:

Why a bunch of undrafted and late round picks? Why not a first round pick like Solder?

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You have more chances to find a capable tackle I like strength in numbers.

primetime said:

The assumption underlying this argument is that Nate Solder was good or even above average. All you need is a guy to step in and not be terrible to replace Solder. To be fair, that can be a tall order.

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So your position is the guy who just became the highest paid ol in nfl history was just a tick above terrible? Ok

Jimke said:

Why a bunch of undrafted and late round picks? Why not a first round pick like Solder?

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Why not?

1) No rookie comes with a guarantee. Period. Doesn't matter when they're drafted - especially not with Scar in charge of OL development.

2) Even assuming that the consensus evaluation of OT prospects in this draft is more or less accurate (it's often way off wrt OL, especially recently), the "best" of them all seem likely to be off the board by pick #15 or so. It would require the Pats to trade to #31 + #43 to get up into that range, leaving them with the #63, #95, #136, #210 and #219 to cover the rest of their roster needs in this draft.

AndyJohnson said:

So your position is the guy who just became the highest paid ol in nfl history was just a tick above terrible? Ok

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With Brady's quick release, you don't necessarily need a Solder type. Just someone who will get the job done. Maybe that's Waddle, maybe that's a draft pick.