Cole Strange Activated for Cards Game... but wasn't active... Cuz We Can't Have Nice Things...

[n1997y]

my prediction is strange is your starting C soon, and it carries over into next season

Can he play LT?

 

[yukon cornelius]

all of his work at practice this week, and his prep before opening his window, has been geared towards C........did very well there at the senior bowl, always projected as more of a C in the NFL

 

[Pape]

my prediction is strange is your starting C soon, and it carries over into next season

has he ever played center?

 

[archstanton543]

has he ever played center?

Briefly.

I don't know why people want him to play C when he's not going to get resigned here.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Briefly.

I don't know why people want him to play C when he's not going to get resigned here.

Why would that be set in stone, especially if he can transition to center where we don't really have much if David Andrews retires. Or even if he stays at guard we're starting an undrafted free agent in his place right now and while Strange might not have lived up to his draft status he was still starting caliber there (even if low end).

I'm not saying it's a good pick and I don't really expect his next deal to be here, but it should hardly be set in stone that he won't be re-signed. If he can transition to center effectively though, I'd flip that to a pretty decent chance his next deal is here.

 

[Pape]

Briefly.

I don't know why people want him to play C when he's not going to get resigned here.

He getting a second contract. There is no doubt that it will happen. They need to keep the better players that they have because there are so many holes to fill.

Whether anyone thinks he is "good", sure argue away. But he is one of the better linemen we have. He's not going anywhere.

 

[jdlboot14]

I don't know why people hate Strange so much?
He really hasn't played enough to know (maybe that's why?)
But, I find it hard to believe he'd come off of a 1+year injury and be able to jump in at Center with a rookie QB and help.
Maybe in 2 weeks, but not this week. And probably at LG or RT rather than Center.

 

[TheRainMaker]

He getting a second contract. There is no doubt that it will happen. They need to keep the better players that they have because there are so many holes to fill.

Whether anyone thinks he is "good", sure argue away. But he is one of the better linemen we have. He's not going anywhere.

Maybe he finds his niche at C. If he does, he'll be re-signed.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I don't know why people hate Strange so much?
He really hasn't played enough to know (maybe that's why?)
But, I find it hard to believe he'd come off of a 1+year injury and be able to jump in at Center with a rookie QB and help.
Maybe in 2 weeks, but not this week. And probably at LG or RT rather than Center.

Because he was overdrafted when Trent McDuffie was sitting right there for the taking, but Bill traded down for him. If he played like Mankins, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Overall, he's been very underwhelming when on the field and posters have shown plenty of clips of bad plays from him.

 

[PatsFan2]

Maybe he finds his niche at C. If he does, he'll be re-signed.

I would keep him at Left Guard for now: at least the Interior should be better and Coach Maye to always glance to his left and right. He should be able to step up now and not worry about the Middle as much. Benny Brown had a horrible gaff last week @ Center which lead to the fumble awesome stunt by the Rams.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I don't know why people hate Strange so much?
He really hasn't played enough to know (maybe that's why?)
But, I find it hard to believe he'd come off of a 1+year injury and be able to jump in at Center with a rookie QB and help.
Maybe in 2 weeks, but not this week. And probably at LG or RT rather than Center.

I think it's pretty clear why people hate him so much. He was widely panned as an overdraft and hasn't played up to his draft status at all. That creates a wave of negativity around him.

Where he was drafted is a sunk cost though, so people really shouldn't consider it. You gotta evaluate him on a go-forward basis the same you would any other player. He was starting caliber at LG, though on the low end of it. Ideally they should be trying to improve over what he was at LG. But if they can't, he's not the worst player in the world to start there. But Center is tougher spot to fill and we have less semi-viable options there moving forward in the event David Andrews retires like many have speculated. It'd be better for the team if Strange can play that spot at the same serviceable but uninspiring level he played LG. It makes 100% to try him out there and the best way to do that is with game experience during a rebuilding year. If the experiment fails (or never even gets off the ground because he shows in practice he can't handle it at all), then no harm, no foul and you move him back to LG.

 

[n1997y]

I think it's pretty clear why people hate him so much. He was widely panned as an overdraft and hasn't played up to his draft status at all. That creates a wave of negativity around him.

Exactly

Where he was drafted is a sunk cost though, so people really shouldn't consider it. You gotta evaluate him on a go-forward basis the same you would any other player.

Not around here. PatsFans draftniks get their feelings hurt if anybody other than their personal binkie gets overdrafted. And they carry that grudge forever. Until eternity. It’s so predictable, an eternal truth.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

He getting a second contract. There is no doubt that it will happen. They need to keep the better players that they have because there are so many holes to fill.

Whether anyone thinks he is "good", sure argue away. But he is one of the better linemen we have. He's not going anywhere.

Agreed, the team has much bigger issues than worrying about re-signing a healthy Cole Strange. Contracts always come down to value. Strange is respected by his teammates, works hard, has proven to be reliable on the field, and is a team player. His athleticism indicates that he has untapped potential if put in the right situation. If he is recovered from his injury and the dollars make sense, he should be resigned.

 

[Brick27]

Briefly.

I don't know why people want him to play C when he's not going to get resigned here.

The thought might be trying him there for exactly that reason if assuming there is nothing to lose

 

[Brick27]

Agreed, the team has much bigger issues than worrying about re-signing a healthy Cole Strange. Contracts always come down to value. Strange is respected by his teammates, works hard, has proven to be reliable on the field, and is a team player. His athleticism indicates that he has untapped potential if put in the right situation. If he is recovered from his injury and the dollars make sense, he should be resigned.

Hard to be reliable when you’re not healthy. Hopefully it works out. At this point, unless he comes back this season and lights the world on fire, declining the 5th year this offseason will be step 1, then can reassess elsewhere for any future contract.

 

[stcjones]

I wish we knew whether he'll likely amount to much. I don't think we saw enough before the injury to know. I don't recall his having wowed anybody pre-injury, but I do recall broad bafflement that the Pats drafted him as high as they did.

I think he is average at best ….but for our OL currently….he will fit right in….IF he can stay healthy. He has been injured a lot

 

[upstater1]

Why would that be set in stone, especially if he can transition to center where we don't really have much if David Andrews retires. Or even if he stays at guard we're starting an undrafted free agent in his place right now and while Strange might not have lived up to his draft status he was still starting caliber there (even if low end).

I'm not saying it's a good pick and I don't really expect his next deal to be here, but it should hardly be set in stone that he won't be re-signed. If he can transition to center effectively though, I'd flip that to a pretty decent chance his next deal is here.

We are really hurting more at guard than center.

David Andrews, Ben Bron, Jake Andrews, Cole Strange.

That's a lot of centers when we have Michael Jordan still starting at guard.

 

[upstater1]

Hard to be reliable when you’re not healthy. Hopefully it works out. At this point, unless he comes back this season and lights the world on fire, declining the 5th year this offseason will be step 1, then can reassess elsewhere for any future contract.

He has had one major injury that came from a leg whip. Started the first 27 games of his career. Otherwise he had a small injury which is normal but he only missed 2 games for it. If not for the leg whip, there'd be no issue.

 

[Brick27]

He has had one major injury that came from a leg whip. Started the first 27 games of his career. Otherwise he had a small injury which is normal but he only missed 2 games for it. If not for the leg whip, there'd be no issue.

Not pointing blame at all for the injury. Yes, it was freak thing. The question isn’t how it happened, but it VERY much matters how he goes from here. Knee injuries are no joke and not some minor blemish. It has and does critically impact careers going forward when having one of significance. That’s been athletics 101 that it can dramatically vary on whether guys are ever the same or can continue positive trajectory. We’ll see and just have to hope it works out.

 

[JohnJH]

Ideally Wallace could take over at RT next season, with Onwenu kicking back inside. The address LT in the draft and Center in either free agency, the draft, or both. But if they don’t believe Wallace will be the answer then address RT in the offseason as well.

Agreed. Optimally, Wallace becomes a solid fixture at RT with Onwenu next to him at RG, and a young and solid from Day 1 Center, combined with a solid young (probably through the 2025 Draft, even if at the end of the 1st Round or in the 2nd Round) LT. Then it's just a matter of seeing who can be solid at LG. I would also hope that they find another young Center as a backup (as that position is crucial to an effective OL). A young OT who can play both LT and RT as our Swing Tackle wouldn't suck. We really need to nail the 2025 Off Season and Draft. I'd prefer FA's that are no older than 26 in their 1st year with the team (although I'd go as high as 27 years old if they're in excellent shape and not injury prone). We need an OL and skill position and defensive foundational players that are young enough to be around for awhile. I believe that we have THE QB! Now, let's get him help.