Pats to replace Light next year?

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

Sorry to double post, but I'd like to mention just about the only left tackle upgrade the Pats might have gotten for a good value these last couple of years was Jason Peters, who the Pats must have scouted because they selected Cedric Cobbs from the same school (Arkansas) in the late fourth that year (2004). Roman Oben was traded to the Chargers by the Bucs in 2004 for a 2005 fifth, but he is at Matt Light's level, adequate.

Peters ended up going undrafted and was signed by Buffalo of all places. He was on the roster as a blocking tight end in 2004, switched to right tackle in the off-season and played the season at that position, was hailed as a young up-and-comer coming into this season and was eventually switched to left tackle for Wayne Gandy after Buffalo's bye. The hearsay I've heard is that he's given up two sacks in his career to this point.

Peters played tight end next to right tackle Shaun Andrews (now a Pro Bowl right guard with the Eagles) at Arkansas, which tells you something about his natural athleticism (listed weight 320). Reasons the Pats might have passed on him to draft the likes of Cedric Cobbs, PK Sam, and Christian Morton were that Peters scored very low on his Wonderlic (9, where Pats lineman average a very high number, and offensive lineman in general do well) and that Peters was adamant coming out that he wanted to play tight end in NFL, only later switching to tackle when he realized he could make more money at that position. Obviously the Pats are not allergic to dumb but devastating blocking tight ends (Daniel Graham) or tight end to tackle conversion projects (Tom Ashworth) but maybe the low score and the other thing were indicative of an existing attitude problem. He certainly seems to have his head screwed on right now however.

That's it. One tackle I can think of, from three years ago, that the Pats had a legitimate shot at and that would be an upgrade over Light. Where is this shiny new left tackle going to come from if our lowest pick is 24? Maybe Box is right and a full offseason of body work will be beneficial for one of Light/Kaczur/Britt, but otherwise, even assuming we are blessed with a shrewd selection of a physical freak like Peters, that's (at least) a two year process before Light's out of the starting lineup.

I also can't see them moving Light over to RT over an improving (hopefully!) O'Callaghan when its being rumored he's having trouble maintaining adequate weight for the more agile left tackle spot.

Hopefully we are looking forward at this point and not backward.

As of this year, we clearly have three Tackles that don't stay on the field full time and don't always look good when they do.

God knows we have tried to draft the best talent on the other side of the LOS, wouldn't it be nice to have just one true shut down tackle to protect the most important guy in the NFL?

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

Light was a lower pick in the second round, and unless you take a very big chance on an injured player like McNeill you'll be lucky to wind up with a left tackle of Matt Light's caliber. I.e. you might wind up with an Adrian Klemm.

Sure, there's other O-lineman out there, but they call those lineman strongside tackles, guards, and centers.

We traded up to pick Light as the second pick of the 2nd round, or close to it.

He sure would make an incredible gaurd or a solid RT.

Do you guys not mind seeing Brady get pummelled and suffer injuries? Or have you just given up in despair that a good left tackle will never be drafted again?

 

[unoriginal]

Hopefully we are looking forward at this point and not backward.

As of this year, we clearly have three Tackles that don't stay on the field full time and don't always look good when they do.

God knows we have tried to draft the best talent on the other side of the LOS, wouldn't it be nice to have just one true shut down tackle to protect the most important guy in the NFL?

Yeah, and we also have a center and right guard that don't stay on the field full time and don't always look good when they do. Logan Mankins and Tom Brady are just about the only people on the offense right now that can claim full time availability in their careers, and not even Mankins can say every day of his has been all rainbows and unicorn giggles. It would have been nice to have drafted a true shut down tackle for the most important guy in the NFL, but what I'm trying to get at is that the oppertunity never really presented itself to the Pats. For example, it sure would have been nice to get Jamaal Brown at pick 13 in 2005, he's having a great career so far, but the Pats didn't have a pick until 32, Logan Mankins.

When you pick at the ass-end of the first round like the Patriots consistantly do, that's about as good as you're going to get: a college left tackle who projects as an excellent pro guard. It will take a cosmic alignment of the stars over and above the Vince Wilfork blessing the Pats received in 2004 to get a stud left tackle at pick 24. Only a third of the teams in the NFL were looking for a big fat defense tackle for the nose that year. Nearly EVERY team in the NFL is looking for left tackle that doesn't need tight end help against pro bowl pass rushers.

 

[unoriginal]

We traded up to pick Light as the second pick of the 2nd round, or close to it.

He sure would make an incredible gaurd or a solid RT.

Do you guys not mind seeing Brady get pummelled and suffer injuries? Or have you just given up in despair that a good left tackle will never be drafted again?

Light was selected with the 17th pick of the second round in 2001. The Patriots actually traded DOWN to get him. They had the 39th pick, which they traded for the Steelers' 50th pick plus some garbage, after which the Pats traded the 50th and sixth round selection to Detroit for Detroit's second round pick, the 48th, which is where they took Light. That is very comparable to where the Chargers took McNeill this year, with the 18th pick of the second round, pick #50.

Matt Light might make a good guard. However, that is not really our problem on the O-line, as we already have three good ones.

I strongly dislike seeing Brady pummeled, nor have I given up hope of making the hurting stop. I am just realisitic about the Pats chances of grabbing a top 5 player for one of the NFL's three most demanding and important positions.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

Yeah, and we also have a center and right guard that don't stay on the field full time and don't always look good when they do. Logan Mankins and Tom Brady are just about the only people on the offense right now that can claim full time availability in their careers, and not even Mankins can say every day of his has been all rainbows and unicorn giggles. It would have been nice to have drafted a true shut down tackle for the most important guy in the NFL, but what I'm trying to get at is that the oppertunity never really presented itself to the Pats. For example, it sure would have been nice to get Jamaal Brown at pick 13 in 2005, he's having a great career so far, but the Pats didn't have a pick until 32, Logan Mankins.

When you pick at the ass-end of the first round like the Patriots consistantly do, that's about as good as you're going to get: a college left tackle who projects as an excellent pro guard. It will take a cosmic alignment of the stars over and above the Vince Wilfork blessing the Pats received in 2004 to get a stud left tackle at pick 24. Only a third of the teams in the NFL were looking for a big fat defense tackle for the nose that year. Nearly EVERY team in the NFL is looking for left tackle that doesn't need tight end help against pro bowl pass rushers.

Understood. Hopefully, as we move forward, we can do something about it.

At least that is my personal top priority. Clearly Bioli doesn't really care to take pointers from me, however.

 

[unoriginal]

There is always hope, at least. Here's hoping all our offensive tackles score a half second better on their agility tests next year.

 

[cstjohn17]

The article says they may just flip Kaczur to LT, and move Light to RT. Sounds good.

I hope they have a better plan than that, Kaczur seems to get beat a lot. Almost as much as Light. It is a high class problem to have, Light is an average LT and serviceable. If they can upgrade the position great, if not I think they can survive.

 

[zarakotas5]

unoriginal, you make some very, very good points on the situation. Incisive, as usual. Nice call on Peters, too. I remember him coming out of college and was surprised to be reminded that he wasn't even drafted.

Unfortunately, unless we stage a major coup by drafting an unheralded LT from some mid-tier WAC team, etc, the elusive wild game LT is a rare catch. Many a top three overall have flopped, let alone expecting those with any potential slipping to the late 20s or beyond.

Leonard Davis is a monster, but also with an apparent monster's lack of sophistication in terms of a definitive position or drive to succeed at one. Of course, mishandling by the Arizona & Bailey Circus may have helped. Either way, he will command beaucoup bucks and of all the positions he has been asked to play, LT was rarely one of them.

 

[Pawn512]

I agree that Light is merely adequate at LT, but I don't think there is a sure-fire upgrade out there. This is a weak draft for tackles - Joe Thomas is the only one who is a clear upgrade, and even that is no sure thing (Robert Gallery anyone?). Other than that there are a bunch of guys who might be adequate and even a modest upgrade after a couple years, but not in the near term.

Won't happen in free agency either, elite left tackles don't hit the market. I think Light is good enough to win with (we have in the past). The best we can do I think right now is possibly draft an athletic type who coupld develop into an upgrade in a coupe years.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

Joe Thomas please!

 

[Fogbuster]

Prognostication worth taking to the bank: The Patriots will draft and/or pick up at least two OL/tackle types before May. The hand-writing is on the wall.

But, don't they have a game on Sunday?? Maybe there's still time for Matt to make a statement that he really wants to LT spot next year.

 

[pats1]

Prognostication worth taking to the bank: The Patriots will draft and/or pick up at least two OL/tackle types before May. The hand-writing is on the wall.

Are you kidding me?

The line is YOUNG.

They have KACZUR. They have O'CALLAGHAN. They have LIGHT. They have MANKINS. They have KOPPEN.

And they're all under contract for at least the next few years!

Why would they draft ANOTHER?!?!

 

[spacecrime]

Reasons the Pats might have passed on him ... were that Peters scored very low on his Wonderlic ...

... and that Peters was adamant coming out that he wanted to play tight end in NFL, only later switching to tackle when he realized he could make more money at that position.

I guess the second paragraph proves that the first paragraph was pretty accurate.

 

[zarakotas5]

Perhaps he's not so dumb afterall, then?

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Light sucks and I worry about his play this Sunday more than any other player on the field. This could be another revolving door game.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

I have no problem with upgrading LT but Light is more than adequate. How many SB's have we won with him at LT......?

We have more pressing needs and I don't know of anyone currently on the Pats that I have more faith in. The OL is not a problem area and is young and deep.

As to L. Davis....NEM...I know you have an unwarranted, tainted, man-love for him at Pats LT....but I sincerely hope Beoli never calls you to ask your opinion of Davis.....He is not an upgrade over Light and most Cardinal fans were calling him a borderline bust over the last 3 years. He is as big as a building.....and nearly as mobile. That being said, the Pats would never pay him along with what they are already dishing out for the OL.....thank God.

 

[mgteich]

IMHO, this OL is great whether Light is a starter or not.

I try not to participate in this type of post until after the Super Bowl. I guess I am having a weak moment. The OL is a strong strength of this team through at least 2009, whether Light comes back to his former play level or not.

Two months ago we had the best OL since Hannah played, all six starters tied up through 2009. I've included O'Callaghan in the starter list. We certainly have five fine starters among Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaycur and O'Callaghan. One of three OT's in the gameday backup. I'd be fine if that were any of them, including Light. And forget the salaries, except for the total cap hit of the OL, which needs to be within budget.

We also have quality backups locked up through at least 2008. Hochstein is signed through 2008. Yates is an ERFA, so we can have him at least through 2008, even if we need to pay $2M a year as a tender in 2008. Both of these players is capable of starting. Yates could give Neal competition for reps in 2007.

Finally, we have Britt. I am not sure if he is an ERFA, but his contract ends this year, and he did fine when he played.

My gut feeling is that Kaycur and O'Callaghan could start at OT. I think Light is too light for RT.

Could we draft another? Sure, but the player would likely be expected to end up on the Practice Squad, like Stevenson this year.

Are you kidding me?

The line is YOUNG.

They have KACZUR. They have O'CALLAGHAN. They have LIGHT. They have MANKINS. They have KOPPEN.

And they're all under contract for at least the next few years!

Why would they draft ANOTHER?!?!

 

[pats1]

IMHO, this OL is great whether Light is a starter or not.

I try not to participate in this type of post until after the Super Bowl. I guess I am having a weak moment. The OL is a strong strength of this team through at least 2009, whether Light comes back to his former play level or not.

Two months ago we had the best OL since Hannah played, all six starters tied up through 2009. I've included O'Callaghan in the starter list. We certainly have five fine starters among Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaycur and O'Callaghan. One of three OT's in the gameday backup. I'd be fine if that were any of them, including Light. And forget the salaries, except for the total cap hit of the OL, which needs to be within budget.

We also have quality backups locked up through at least 2008. Hochstein is signed through 2008. Yates is an ERFA, so we can have him at least through 2008, even if we need to pay $2M a year as a tender in 2008. Both of these players is capable of starting. Yates could give Neal competition for reps in 2007.

Finally, we have Britt. I am not sure if he is an ERFA, but his contract ends this year, and he did fine when he played.

My gut feeling is that Kaycur and O'Callaghan could start at OT. I think Light is too light for RT.

Could we draft another? Sure, but the player would likely be expected to end up on the Practice Squad, like Stevenson this year.

Britt is indeed an ERFA. This will be his first accrued season.