Former Packers Free Agent OT Chad Clifton Available

[BBass]

Bring him in, Cannon was a serious problem over there on Thur and I have long term concerns that he lacks the mobility to play tackle in the NFL. I think Soldier will be fine his holding calls were crap never be called by real referees but Cannon was getting beat basically every snap.

 

[Kontradiction]

Would he be able to transition to RT for Vollmer until he's healthy? Anything beside Marcus Cannon over there would be a plus.

 

[BradyManny]

Would he be able to transition to RT for Vollmer until he's healthy? Anything beside Marcus Cannon over there would be a plus.

Cannon to tackle was worth a shot, but it looks like his skills project better on the inside where some of his weaknesses are less exposed. I'd say the team should get a vet 3rd OT (like Clifton) and focus on moving Cannon to the interior where we'll need depth once Waters is gone.

 

[Lamanai]

Like Solder, I am willing to give Cannon more game. It could have been just one poor outing for him too. Preseason is for finding these things out. Cannon has been penciled in at OT since he got here, so BB and DS, who see hIm every day, must think he offers more at OT than OG at this point.

 

[Kontradiction]

Like Solder, I am willing to give Cannon more time. It could have been just one poor outing for him too. Preseason is for finding these things out. Cannon has been penciled in at OT since he got here, so BB and DS, who see hm every day, must think he offers more at OT than OG at this point.

Or that OT is a lot thinner than OG at this point...

 

[Lamanai]

Or that OT is a lot thinner than OG at this point...

True, but he was at OT from the get go, and the team didn't really pursue any serious OT options in the draft or free agency. They added Gallery, but put him at OG. And they added a few camp bodies, but nothing else of consequence.

 

[Kontradiction]

True, but he was at OT from the get go, and the team didn't really pursue any serious OT options in the draft or free agency. They added Gallery, but put him at OG. And they added a few camp bodies, but nothing else of consequence.

That was most likely because they assumed Vollmer would be healthy.

 

[Lamanai]

That was most likely because they assumed Vollmer would be healthy.

But if that was true and they planned on moving Cannon to OG, who was their 3rd OT going to be? Kopa? Hix?

I agree with most of us that Cannon seems like a guard type, but to date the team hasn't shown that they think so.

 

[RayClay]

...and if Clifton gets hurt, we could just put somebody else in the suit.:bricks:

 

[UofApatsfan]

Like Solder, I am willing to give Cannon more game. It could have been just one poor outing for him too. Preseason is for finding these things out. Cannon has been penciled in at OT since he got here, so BB and DS, who see hIm every day, must think he offers more at OT than OG at this point.

Has he really been penciled in at OT since he got here? I don't remember him having a clear-cut position from day one, but I do remember the Patriots intially listing him as a guard when he was drafted. Since then, Mankins signed a long term extension, Brian Waters signed last minute and provided great play at RG, Vollmer developed a re-occuring back problem that's basically kept him completely off the field, and Matt Light retired probably 1-2 seasons before people expected. It seems obvious that Cannon being at tackle has just as much to do with circumstances as it does what the team thinks he offers more at.

I forgot where, but I remember reading the opinion that Connolly playing RG so much this preseason might mean BB knows Waters isn't coming back. I see it pretty differently as I think BB would be experimenting more at RG if he knew Waters wasn't coming back and we'd certainly see Cannon being tested at RG if it was a sure thing Waters wasn't coming back. Furthermore, my hunch is that BB expects Waters and Mankins back by week 1 and feels a lot more confident in what he has at G than at T right now.

So yeah, if Clifton is relatively healthy then I say sign him and groom Cannon as the long term option at RG. Clifton being able to move over to RT isn't an issue as Solder was productive at RT last year so he could move over w/ Clifton at LT if Vollmer can't get healthy.

Hopefully Mankins, Waters, and Vollmer all come back healthy and who they have as the 3rd tackle isn't such a hotly contested topic.

 

[Kontradiction]

But if that was true and they planned on moving Cannon to OG, who was their 3rd OT going to be? Kopa? Hix?

I agree with most of us that Cannon seems like a guard type, but to date the team hasn't shown that they think so.

The team also, more than likely, expects Waters to be back as well. So they're sticking him where they need him most, even if he isn't the best fit there.

 

[signbabybrady]

Has he really been penciled in at OT since he got here? I don't remember him having a clear-cut position from day one, but I do remember the Patriots intially listing him as a guard when he was drafted. Since then, Mankins signed a long term extension, Brian Waters signed last minute and provided great play at RG, Vollmer developed a re-occuring back problem that's basically kept him completely off the field, and Matt Light retired probably 1-2 seasons before people expected. It seems obvious that Cannon being at tackle has just as much to do with circumstances as it does what the team thinks he offers more at.

I forgot where, but I remember reading the opinion that Connolly playing RG so much this preseason might mean BB knows Waters isn't coming back. I see it pretty differently as I think BB would be experimenting more at RG if he knew Waters wasn't coming back and we'd certainly see Cannon being tested at RG if it was a sure thing Waters wasn't coming back. Furthermore, my hunch is that BB expects Waters and Mankins back by week 1 and feels a lot more confident in what he has at G than at T right now.

So yeah, if Clifton is relatively healthy then I say sign him and groom Cannon as the long term option at RG. Clifton being able to move over to RT isn't an issue as Solder was productive at RT last year so he could move over w/ Clifton at LT if Vollmer can't get healthy.

Hopefully Mankins, Waters, and Vollmer all come back healthy and who they have as the 3rd tackle isn't such a hotly contested topic.

I actually think he was listed as T when they drafted him.

As to the rest of your timeline even if the Pats did move him to Tackle due to circumstance what has changed to make him any less of a need at Tackle? Clifton or anyone else brought in would likely have more to do with Vollmers health and the lack of a 4th tackle then giving up on Cannon as a tackle.

IMO provided Vollmer is Healthy then Cannon is your third tackle and we dont really have a 4th with any experience. Cannon played some Tackle in small batches last year and held his own I would not give up on him based on a week or two of practice and one preseason game especially when the starting RG and LG had not practiced yet.

 

[UofApatsfan]

I actually think he was listed as T when they drafted him.

I remember them initially listing him at guard regardless of what he was listed at as a draft prospect.

As to the rest of your timeline even if the Pats did move him to Tackle due to circumstance what has changed to make him any less of a need at Tackle?

My timeline showed that since Cannon was drafted he became less of a need at guard and more of a need at tackle, hence why he moved to tackle.

And no circumstances have changed that made him less of a need at tackle, my opinion is that they'd be better off filling their depth need at tackle another way and transitioning him to right guard, the position every thought he projected at well.

Clifton or anyone else brought in would likely have more to do with Vollmers health and the lack of a 4th tackle then giving up on Cannon as a tackle.

And the whole point of this discussion is whether or not they should give up on Cannon at tackle given how he's looked. I'm in the camp that believes they should move him to right guard, but that's my opinion. It's not something I think will happen, it's something I want to happen.

IMO provided Vollmer is Healthy then Cannon is your third tackle and we dont really have a 4th with any experience. Cannon played some Tackle in small batches last year and held his own I would not give up on him based on a week or two of practice and one preseason game especially when the starting RG and LG had not practiced yet.

If Vollmer is healthy it means they have left tackle and right tackle figured out at least for the near future. Again, this is just my opinion, but Cannon has too much talent to settle him into a reserve role. Waters at the most is gonna give them another year at RG, Cannon would be much better utilized as the future right guard.

 

[unoriginal]

He was a college left tackle who most fans had pegged as an NFL guard.

Slight correction: he was only a left tackle his senior year. His first three seasons he was a right tackle.

I remember them initially listing him at guard regardless of what he was listed at as a draft prospect.

I actually think he was listed as T when they drafted him.

Their website actually listed him as OL. Same as the NFL draft website. ESPN listed him as OT.

my opinion is that they'd be better off filling their depth need at tackle another way and transitioning him to right guard, the position every thought he projected at well.

Q: Was that part of the pre-draft process? Did certain teams tell you that you were a better fit at guard and others thought you were a tackle? Or are you set to move to guard? How has that gone for you?

MC: Every team had me at a different position. Half of the teams had me at guard, half of them had me at tackle. I really didn't care where they put me. I'll play at either one of them, but playing guard is going to be an awesome opportunity for me.

source: Transcript: Marcus Cannon Conference Call

Q: Marcus Cannon has some position flexibility. We’ve seen him mostly at tackle this camp. What made tackle the choice for you?

BB: just feel like that’s his best position.

Q: How so? What are the traits that make you feel that way?

BB: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s in good condition [and] he’s got the feet to be able to play out there in space. It’s the position he played in college; he has a long history of playing there. think he can play the spot.

source: Bill Belichick Press Conference Transcript

 

[patchick]

Back to the thread topic -- don't count on buying a Clifton jersey:

Reports have linked the Patriots to free-agent offensive tackle Chad Clifton, and Caserio was asked if he could confirm that the team was bringing him in for a physical. “There is no truth to that,” he responded.

Quick hits from Nick Caserio - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[PlainOldEd]

Back to the thread topic -- don't count on buying a Clifton jersey:



Quick hits from Nick Caserio - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Damn! I already special ordered one.....

 

[mayoclinic]

Back to the thread topic -- don't count on buying a Clifton jersey:

Quick hits from Nick Caserio - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

Sounds like it's a done deal.