PFW note: O-Line shuffle at practice

[DefenseRules]

http://blog.pfwonline.com/

O-line note
August 11, 2008

The first offense is going through some plays against a scout defense right now. In a turn of recent practice reps, Wesley Britt is lined up at left tackle with Nick Kaczur taking reps at right tackle. Billy Yates is at what has become his usual right guard practice spot. The Pro Bowlers Logan Mankins and Dan Koppen are at left guard and center respectively.

I guess that will improve things. Sorry, I couldn't hold back that comment. PFW also reports that Matt Light is at the walk through, but there is no sign of Neal or Hochstein.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Good to hear they actually showed Light publicly. Our OL will be fine once he is back.

 

[JoePats]

Good to hear they actually showed Light publicly. Our OL will be fine once he is back.

Agree that the OL will be fine when he is back. But him being at the walkthrough doesn't mean he is off the PUP. I think his presence at the walkthrough is significant only if he wasn't at the previous walkthroughs, which may or may not be true. Anyone know?

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Agree that the OL will be fine when he is back. But him being at the walkthrough doesn't mean he is off the PUP.

I know it doesn't but being sighted is better than "out of sight out of mind". It's a strong indicator to me that he doesn't have a broken leg or something. I don't care if he's out for 2 more weeks as long as he's back by opening day.

 

[JoePats]

I know it doesn't but being sighted is better than "out of sight out of mind". It's a strong indicator to me that he doesn't have a broken leg or something. I don't care if he's out for 2 more weeks as long as he's back by opening day.

Right. But if he was at the previous walkthroughs, it's basically no change. If he wasn't, and this was his first appearance, then I agree it's significant.

 

[signbabybrady]

Agree that the OL will be fine when he is back. But him being at the walkthrough doesn't mean he is off the PUP. I think his presence at the walkthrough is significant only if he wasn't at the previous walkthroughs, which may or may not be true. Anyone know?

I didn't think Light was on the PUP. I recall him practicing the first few sessions before disapearing.

 

[Rob0729]

I guess that will improve things. Sorry, I couldn't hold back that comment. PFW also reports that Matt Light is at the walk through, but there is no sign of Neal or Hochstein.

Unfortuneately, presence at a walk through is no guarantee he is close to coming back. Absence is a little more telling, but not neccessarily if they are working with trainers.

I don't know if line ups at a walkthrough means much either.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Right. But if he was at the previous walkthroughs, it's basically no change. If he wasn't, and this was his first appearance, then I agree it's significant.

Logically you are correct but if he's at the walkthrough it's far more likely to be short term not long term.

I didn't think Light was on the PUP. I recall him practicing the first few sessions before disapearing.

Yep, you're correct.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm sorry, but I have to say this: anybody that says our O-Line is terrible is an IDIOT.

 

[signbabybrady]

I'm sorry, but I have to say this: anybody that says our O-Line is terrible is an IDIOT.

I completely agree when we talk about the 4 or 5 guys from last year( I say 4 or 5 because I feel Kaczur is a little interchangeable).


But with Neal and Light not healthy I have some concerns. We will wait until week 1 to turn some concern into anything more than that.

You can't sit there and say that our line didn't suck in that 1st preseason game.

 

[Kontradiction]

I completely agree when we talk about the 4 or 5 guys from last year( I say 4 or 5 because I feel Kaczur is a little interchangeable).


But with Neal and Light not healthy I have some concerns. We will wait until week 1 to turn some concern into anything more than that.

You can't sit there and say that our line didn't suck in that 1st preseason game.

Most everyone sucks in the first preseason game. Judge by last year's record setting QB being able to stand up long enough to throw 50 touchdowns, then judge on this season's performance.

 

[signbabybrady]

Most everyone sucks in the first preseason game. Judge by last year's record setting QB being able to stand up long enough to throw 50 touchdowns, then judge on this season's performance.

I would certainly agree you can't take to much from the 1st preseason game but at the same time you can't use last year as an example when we are not talking about the same people. No Light and No Neal and they really struggled so I am concerned about our depth. And until those guys come back I am concerned about them. But like you said 1st preseason game so I am not panicked yet.

 

[fgssand]

I would certainly agree you can't take to much from the 1st preseason game but at the same time you can't use last year as an example when we are not talking about the same people. No Light and No Neal and they really struggled so I am concerned about our depth. And until those guys come back I am concerned about them. But like you said 1st preseason game so I am not panicked yet.

Light lines up during walkthrough....Neal does not.

We can read into that if we want and it could take you to the thought that Light will be back where he belongs to start the season - but Neal may very well be an in season PUP.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I think this is really a huge vote of confidence from the coaching staff to Britt.

If Light does come back, I would not mind seeing Britt move to ROT and Kazcur slide inside to RG until Neal comes back. I think Kazcur has more drive blocking ability than Hochstien or Yates.

After watching the replay of the Pats Raven game on NFL Network, I found that RB Jordan had success running behind the center #63. and even though the Baltimore defense was not man up on the center, #63 did some very nice work against the Baltimore backup DT's.

 

[DefenseRules]

I think this is really a huge vote of confidence from the coaching staff to Britt.

If Light does come back, I would not mind seeing Britt move to ROT and Kazcur slide inside to RG until Neal comes back. I think Kazcur has more drive blocking ability than Hochstien or Yates.

After watching the replay of the Pats Raven game on NFL Network, I found that RB Jordan had success running behind the center #63. and even though the Baltimore defense was not man up on the center, #63 did some very nice work against the Baltimore backup DT's.

#63 is Dan Connolly. He was signed to the practice squad last season.

 

[PatsFan37]

I think this is really a huge vote of confidence from the coaching staff to Britt.

If Light does come back, I would not mind seeing Britt move to ROT and Kazcur slide inside to RG until Neal comes back. I think Kazcur has more drive blocking ability than Hochstien or Yates.

It could also mean that Yates had trouble pass-blocking (yup, that sounds about right) so they want Kaczur at RT to help Yates because Kaczur's better than Britt. If Britt has trouble at LT, at least he has Mankins next to him. It could also mean Light is about to return, so they want Kaczur back at his normal spot. So many possibilities.

But you're saying they want Britt at RT, so they're moving him from RT to LT. See, that doesn't make sense to me.

 

[tombonneau]

It could also mean that Yates had trouble pass-blocking (yup, that sounds about right) so they want Kaczur at RT to help Yates because Kaczur's better than Britt. If Britt has trouble at LT, at least he has Mankins next to him. It could also mean Light is about to return, so they want Kaczur back at his normal spot. So many possibilities.

My guess is that it signifies Light is ready to return.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Y'all missed the really important news. Wellbourne was promoted to second string RT after less than week with the Team. People here don't know how good a player that he is. I expect in another week, he gets promoted to first string RT.

Moving Kaczur to the right side merely positions him to go to RG where he has practiced extensively, this camp.

I can see a line left to right of Britt, Mankins, Koppens, Kaczur, Wellbourne. And Light takes his job back when he returns, and so does Neal when he returns mid-season. Billy Yates did not perform well and probably lost his job opportunity at RG.

Connolly looks like a year on PS under Dante has helped him advance quite a bit.

 

[PatsFan37]

Y'all missed the really important news. Wellbourne was promoted to second string RT after less than week with the Team. People here don't know how good a player that he is. I expect in another week, he gets promoted to first string RT.

Moving Kaczur to the right side merely positions him to go to RG where he has practiced extensively, this camp.

I can see a line left to right of Britt, Mankins, Koppens, Kaczur, Wellbourne. And Light takes his job back when he returns, and so does Neal when he returns mid-season. Billy Yates did not perform well and probably lost his job opportunity at RG.

Connolly looks like a year on PS under Dante has helped him advance quite a bit.

Maybe I'm missing something, but that seems a bit rose-colored to me. When your 1st string OL has Yates at RG and Britt at LT, getting promoted to 2nd string isn't all that impressive. Considering that in 3 weeks the entire 3rd string is on the PS or in Shipping and Receiving.

I'd expect that if a FA signee has any potential whatsoever, it shouldn't take long to make it to the 2nd string.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Does anyone know if the Commish has a time window for ruling on Kaczur's situation? Were we to lose him for 4 games or so, it wouldn't be good.