- Joined
- Jul 11, 2005
- Messages
- 15,532
- Reaction score
- 27,569
Since we are pretty much all agreed that about the only chance Denver has is if they are able to apply pressure on Brady AND stop the run, a couple of key questions have emerged due to the Pats OL injury situation. In fact a lot of questons
1. If Mankins can't play there are several ways the Pats can fill the slot, which one is the best in your opinion
a. Move Wendell into the RG postion
b. Move Wendell to C and Connolly to LG
c. Move Solder to LT and move Light to LG and have Volmer play RT (this assumes Volmer can play)
Personally I'd like to see C. happen, since I have been calling in vain for the past 5 years to see Light playing the LG spot, and I would just like to see how it would work out at least one time.
2. If Volmer and Solder are both ready to play who gets the start. Volmer has missed the last half of the season and hasn't seen game speed for the last several weeks, but he's a more dominant run blocker than Solder, while Solder would seem to be better suited to take on Miller vs the pass
a. What I think we'll see is on running downs, Solder will line up as the TE next to Volmer, which will do 2 things. It will extend the LOS if the Pats want to pass from a standard 2 TE line up, and it will present a big problem for the Bronco's DC to defend vs the run as they would be out strenghted and sized on both sides of the LOS
Normally the I wouldn't fear the Denver rush much, because we have proven to be very good against speed rushers from the outside, but given the injury concerns and the fact Volmer hasn't played for around 10 weeks, gives me some cause for concern, especially early in the game, before the Denver defensive game plan becomes apparent.
Interesting Sidelight - Before the Draft it was apparent that we needed to fill 2 key needs on the OL at LT and RG. After the draft it looked like we had done just that, with the drafting of Solder and Cannon. Who would have thought that at the end of 16 games LT and RG would end up being the 2 strongest positions on the OL and NEITHER of them was filled by Solder OR Cannon. This is even more surprising since BOTH Solder and Cannon have exceeded our expectations of them
Who would have thought that 2 afterthought FA signings (Light and Waters) would turn out to be so impact-full. Who here would have guessed that Light would have such a big year after looking like he was in a slow decline in the previous few. And who would have thought the day they signed a washed up retread LG a mere week before the start of the first regular season game, we'd be adding the starting all pro RG.
BTW - when you think about the FA signings of Light, Waters, Carter, and Anderson; that was 4 home runs, which not only eases the pain of the Ocho and Haynesworth signings, though the Ocho story has yet to be finished; I'd be interested to see if if any other team managed to do better than that this season.
Of course who would have figured we'd lose Volmer for most of the season. And where would have we been if Solder hadn't been better than advertised and Cannon didn't make it back for the last half to the season.
OK guys - the ball is in your court - in a mere 27 hours we will know how it all pans out, but now is YOUR chance to play Dante. Assume Mankins isn't going to make it for this game, and name your best OL
1. If Mankins can't play there are several ways the Pats can fill the slot, which one is the best in your opinion
a. Move Wendell into the RG postion
b. Move Wendell to C and Connolly to LG
c. Move Solder to LT and move Light to LG and have Volmer play RT (this assumes Volmer can play)
Personally I'd like to see C. happen, since I have been calling in vain for the past 5 years to see Light playing the LG spot, and I would just like to see how it would work out at least one time.
2. If Volmer and Solder are both ready to play who gets the start. Volmer has missed the last half of the season and hasn't seen game speed for the last several weeks, but he's a more dominant run blocker than Solder, while Solder would seem to be better suited to take on Miller vs the pass
a. What I think we'll see is on running downs, Solder will line up as the TE next to Volmer, which will do 2 things. It will extend the LOS if the Pats want to pass from a standard 2 TE line up, and it will present a big problem for the Bronco's DC to defend vs the run as they would be out strenghted and sized on both sides of the LOS
Normally the I wouldn't fear the Denver rush much, because we have proven to be very good against speed rushers from the outside, but given the injury concerns and the fact Volmer hasn't played for around 10 weeks, gives me some cause for concern, especially early in the game, before the Denver defensive game plan becomes apparent.
Interesting Sidelight - Before the Draft it was apparent that we needed to fill 2 key needs on the OL at LT and RG. After the draft it looked like we had done just that, with the drafting of Solder and Cannon. Who would have thought that at the end of 16 games LT and RG would end up being the 2 strongest positions on the OL and NEITHER of them was filled by Solder OR Cannon. This is even more surprising since BOTH Solder and Cannon have exceeded our expectations of them
Who would have thought that 2 afterthought FA signings (Light and Waters) would turn out to be so impact-full. Who here would have guessed that Light would have such a big year after looking like he was in a slow decline in the previous few. And who would have thought the day they signed a washed up retread LG a mere week before the start of the first regular season game, we'd be adding the starting all pro RG.
BTW - when you think about the FA signings of Light, Waters, Carter, and Anderson; that was 4 home runs, which not only eases the pain of the Ocho and Haynesworth signings, though the Ocho story has yet to be finished; I'd be interested to see if if any other team managed to do better than that this season.
Of course who would have figured we'd lose Volmer for most of the season. And where would have we been if Solder hadn't been better than advertised and Cannon didn't make it back for the last half to the season.
OK guys - the ball is in your court - in a mere 27 hours we will know how it all pans out, but now is YOUR chance to play Dante. Assume Mankins isn't going to make it for this game, and name your best OL
Last edited: