Has Ryan Wendell found a home at right guard?

[ATippett56]

Replacing and upgrading the OTs was a first things first, target in the last five years when Vollmer and Solder, and Cannon, were drafted.

Cameron Fleming, OT - Stanford was drafted to replace Marcus Cannon, OT - TCU as the backup offensive tackle going forward.

Cameron Fleming started 39 games at right offensive tackle during his career at Stanford.

 

[DocHoliday]

If you want to know what the Pats think of Wendell, all you have to do is look at their lineups so far.

They started Cannon, Fleming, and Devey over him at RG. Hard to be too enthusiastic when it's clear the coaching staff thinks so little of him that they tried start two guys clearly out of position ahead of him. IMO, it looks like they know Wendell is inadequare and are doing everything in their power to look for someone better.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Cameron Fleming, OT - Stanford was drafted to replace Marcus Cannon, OT - TCU as the backup offensive tackle going forward.

Cameron Fleming started 39 games at right offensive tackle during his career at Stanford.

I fail to see why you think it is impossible for Flemming to be moved to Guard, when the pre-draft analysts questioned his ability to have the feet for even RT.

Mankins was a tackle in college. Connolly was a tackle in college. Turning slower tackles into NFL Guards is a common occurance, as they are probably the most talented Offensive linemen on a college line.

 

[ATippett56]

I fail to see why you think it is impossible for Flemming to be moved to Guard, when the pre-draft analysts questioned his ability to have the feet for even RT.

Mankins was a tackle in college. Connolly was a tackle in college. Turning slower tackles into NFL Guards is a common occurance, as they are probably the most talented Offensive linemen on a college line.

Watch the god damn games instead of posting nothing more than speculative bull crap. First it was Jordan Devey, then it was Marcus Cannon, now it is Cameron Fleming. Meanwhile, Dan Connolly is firmly entrenched as one of the starters on the New England Patriots offensive line.

Jordan Devey is pure garbage at the offensive guard position. The New England Patriots may be able to salvage Devey's career in the Svitek role (ninth on the offensive line depth chart, fourth on the offensive tackle depth chart, inactive every game of the year barring injuries on the offensive line), but I'm not going hold my breath.

Marcus Cannon has flopped at the offensive guard position for the New England Patriots. Marcus Cannon is an adequate backup offensive tackle for the New England Patriots, better suited on the right side than the left side.

Nothing to right home about in Cameron Fleming first start, especially for an offensive lineman who played the vast majority of snaps in preseason at the offensive tackle position.

Out of desperation, the New England Patriots started veteran reserve center Ryan Wendell at right offensive guard due to the ineffectiveness of Devey, Cannon, Fleming, Kline. With Wendell starting at offensive guard against the Cincinnati Bengals, the result was BY FAR the best offensive output by the New England Patriots this season.

 

[supafly]

I think the familiarity of Wendell and Connelly on either side of rookie Stork certainly helped the cause on Sunday night.

The outside tackles looked much better, and hey--we did seem to upgrade things at center in terms of size and physicality.

Personally, I am more than happy with Wendell playing RG for multiple reasons; especially if we're going to be able to get back to having time to throw the ball properly.

 

[ATippett56]

I think the familiarity of Wendell and Connelly on either side of rookie Stork certainly helped the cause on Sunday night.

The outside tackles looked much better, and hey--we did seem to upgrade things at center in terms of size and physicality.

Personally, I am more than happy with Wendell playing RG for multiple reasons; especially if we're going to be able to get back to having time to throw the ball properly.

Bryan Stork played center at the collegiate level. Bryan Stork is playing at his natural position in the NFL. Square peg in a square hole.

 

[supafly]

Bryan Stork played center at the collegiate level. Bryan Stork is playing at his natural position in the NFL. Square peg in a square hole.

Yeah, one of the biggest problems was how to upgrade the position of center--so I'd like to see them continue that project.

Wendell seems to be a much better choice than anyone else at the moment at RG too, so may as well keep that continuity as well.

 

[ATippett56]

Yeah, one of the biggest problems was how to upgrade the position of center--so I'd like to see them continue that project.

Long term, the offensive center position may have been settled upon. Long term, the offensive guard position is a major question mark.

Wendell seems to be a much better choice than anyone else at the moment at RG too, so may as well keep that continuity as well.

Yet some posters keep hitching their wagons on offensive lineman who can't do the job at offensive guard:

Devey
Cannon
Fleming

Freakin' ridiculous.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Yeah, one of the biggest problems was how to upgrade the position of center--so I'd like to see them continue that project.

Wendell seems to be a much better choice than anyone else at the moment at RG too, so may as well keep that continuity as well.

Supa, we had this conversation months ago about Connolly vs Wendell and just as I did then, I feel Wendell can do anything Connolly can but better. And this was not Wendell's first time playing guard for us. I often watch our games more than once and I have seen Wendell seamlessly sub in for Connolly throughout the years. If anyone has the charger game from 2010 or 11(off the top of my head I think it was 10) you can see Wendell replace Connolly at guard and do a better job.

Someone else had mentioned that Wendell was our last option but I believe that was the new coach's fault entirely. Dante took Wendell and Kline who each played like garbage the first time they hit the field and turned them into respectable players. Our new coach is basically doing the opposite of everything Dante has done and failed in the process. Cannon had multiple chances to play guard for us but only did it once in the Saint game and struggled. He thought Devey, who looks clueless, was a better option than guys that actually played for us last year. Dave De guli..or Guch is learning that bigger is not always better(thats what she said).

Dante has shown the ability to build almost anyone up and Guch so far has shown he can do the opposite(solder). I still have faith our oline will be fine in the future but it seems like it will be completely blown up come next draft.

 

[AzorianPats]

If you want to know what the Pats think of Wendell, all you have to do is look at their lineups so far.

They started Cannon, Fleming, and Devey over him at RG. Hard to be too enthusiastic when it's clear the coaching staff thinks so little of him that they tried start two guys clearly out of position ahead of him. IMO, it looks like they know Wendell is inadequare and are doing everything in their power to look for someone better.

Wendell started week 1 vs Miami as a center, got hurt half way thru and missed week 2 and 3, and was rotating in the debacle of a game vs the Chiefs.

 

[RayClay]

Long term, the offensive center position may have been settled upon. Long term, the offensive guard position is a major question mark.

Yet some posters keep hitching their wagons on offensive lineman who can't do the job at offensive guard:

Devey
Cannon
Fleming

Freakin' ridiculous.

If you decided after four games that a player couldn't cut it, you'd eliminate Stephen Neal, Hochstein, Connolly, Wendell and a lot of other eventually useful players who played some guard for us. We need two guards and we need to sign people at other positions.

It's great they are having success using two guys who, by your criterion, should be out of football, to stabilize the line along with Stork. Meanwhile, they practice every week and I'm not sure we've seen the eventual combination for this year, or the future just yet.

 

[Rob0729]

It is kinda funny that for the last few years everyone was convinced Wendell could only play center and didn't have the skill set to play guard. Now after one game, it looks like guard is his more natural position.

 

[Brit patriot]

Good to see Wendell doing well there. That was the best our O-line has looked in a long time.

If he has a future there beyond 2014 will be judged at the end of the season, not after one game. No-one can say that he didn't look good however, unless they are just a Wendell 'hater' who can't see any right in what he does.

One thing can't be denied though. If the DT's are less concerned about what is going on at G and C, they will be more able to concentrate on their own job and stop Brady getting killed

 

[ATippett56]

If you decided after four games that a player couldn't cut it, you'd eliminate Stephen Neal, Hochstein, Connolly, Wendell and a lot of other eventually useful players who played some guard for us. We need two guards and we need to sign people at other positions.

It's great they are having success using two guys who, by your criterion, should be out of football, to stabilize the line along with Stork. Meanwhile, they practice every week and I'm not sure we've seen the eventual combination for this year, or the future just yet.

I can decide whatever the hell I want. Who the hell are you to be arbiter of offensive lineman?

 

[RayClay]

I can decide whatever the hell I want. Who the hell are you to be arbiter of offensive lineman?

You can be as short sighted as you want, who said otherwise?

 

[Kontradiction]

Watch the god damn games instead of posting nothing more than speculative bull crap. First it was Jordan Devey, then it was Marcus Cannon, now it is Cameron Fleming. Meanwhile, Dan Connolly is firmly entrenched as one of the starters on the New England Patriots offensive line.

Jordan Devey is pure garbage at the offensive guard position. The New England Patriots may be able to salvage Devey's career in the Svitek role (ninth on the offensive line depth chart, fourth on the offensive tackle depth chart, inactive every game of the year barring injuries on the offensive line), but I'm not going hold my breath.

Marcus Cannon has flopped at the offensive guard position for the New England Patriots. Marcus Cannon is an adequate backup offensive tackle for the New England Patriots, better suited on the right side than the left side.

Nothing to right home about in Cameron Fleming first start, especially for an offensive lineman who played the vast majority of snaps in preseason at the offensive tackle position.

Out of desperation, the New England Patriots started veteran reserve center Ryan Wendell at right offensive guard due to the ineffectiveness of Devey, Cannon, Fleming, Kline. With Wendell starting at offensive guard against the Cincinnati Bengals, the result was BY FAR the best offensive output by the New England Patriots this season.

I wouldn't mind seeing the team try Cannon at RG. He just didn't seem line a natural on the left side of the OL. Then again, Bedard said yesterday that he thought the issue was Cannon doesn't process info quickly enough to be a guard at all so it may just be that he's not cut out for it either.

 

[JackBauer]

Long term, the offensive center position may have been settled upon. Long term, the offensive guard position is a major question mark.

Yet some posters keep hitching their wagons on offensive lineman who can't do the job at offensive guard:

Devey
Cannon
Fleming

Freakin' ridiculous.

Just because they haven't done the job yet doesn't mean they're incapable of doing the job in the future.

 

[JackBauer]

If you want to know what the Pats think of Wendell, all you have to do is look at their lineups so far.

They started Cannon, Fleming, and Devey over him at RG. Hard to be too enthusiastic when it's clear the coaching staff thinks so little of him that they tried start two guys clearly out of position ahead of him. IMO, it looks like they know Wendell is inadequare and are doing everything in their power to look for someone better.

Then again, the very same coaching staff apparently thought it appropriate to enter the season with Jordan Devey as their starting RG.

 

[ATippett56]

You can be as short sighted as you want, who said otherwise?

You can be as naïve as you want.

You can address the following offensive lineman that the New Englands Patriots signed or drafted this decade:

Thomas Austin
Braxston Cave
Elvis Fisher
Jon Halapio
Matt Kopa
Ted Larsen
R.J. Mattes
Chris McDonald
Nick McDonald
Mitch Petrus
Matt Stankiewitch
Matt Tennant
Jeremiah Warren
Thomas Welch
Corey Woods
Markus Zusevics

You are the self-proclaimed offensive line expert.

 

[ATippett56]

Just because they haven't done the job yet doesn't mean they're incapable of doing the job in the future.

What job is that? Sending Tom Brady to the morgue?