Ross Tucker steal or dud?

[mgteich]

and Neal .

I guess I meant you don't make it by default anymore. Seems to me the last OL spot was a questionable "coached up" practice squader.

Of course look at the contract Ashworth got.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Tucker played okay in the Miami game to end the regular season.

- He can play 4 of 5 line positions.
- He has starting experience at G & C from Buffalo where there was a great deal of controversy when he was cut, several team mates reportedly felt he was a scapegoat for the club while they kept less effective higher draft choices.
- Princeton reportedly has decent academic standards, suggesting he will learn the system well enough.
- under 30.

Competition:
- Dan Koppen: injury question.
- Russ Hochstein: proven reserve at LG, C, and TE; has taken reps at RG, RT, FB, reserve LS.
- Gene Mruczkowski: bad penny reserve at C/G, shadow roster veteran who will likely slide to shadow roster again and may be looked at by NYJ and Cleveburg when they assess their depth.
- Billy Yates: Practice Squad survivor, G & emergency center training, he'll likely slide to the shadow roster and be looked at by NYJ and Cleveburg too.
- Brian Barthelmes: UDFA rookie with starting experience at all three interior positions. He's fighting for a Practice Squad slot or a place on the shadow roster and an allocation to NFLE.
- Nick Steitz: NFLE allocation G fighting for Practice Squad slot.
- Dan Stevenson: 6th round rookie at G fighting for Practice Squad slot or shadow roster and NFLE allocation.
- Jeff Roehl: NFLE allocation, used up his Practice Squad eligibility, shadow roster candidate.
- Ryan O'Callaghan: 5th round rookie, RT projected to G in NFL, fighting for Practice Squad slot.

Tucker's versatility puts him in competition with Mruczkowski and Yates for number three behind Koppen and Hochstein inside, also known as the game day inactives.

Good summary and probably pretty accurate. I see no reason for the Pats to be making Stephenson or Callaghan anything other than grooming candidates for Dante's Graduate school on PS this season. Most of his recent guys have graduated, (Druzz, Ashworth Gorin, Neal) or had their PS eligibility expire, (Mrucz, Roehl), so he needs a new class to tutor; this time with maybe more intrinsic talent.

I still think we got a steal in picking up Tucker; Britt is the most likely competiton for 4th tackle, not O'Callaghan this season. If you had a Steelers-type run 65% of the time offense, than O'Callaghan would have a better shot. Protecting the Brady family jewels in pass-blocking is more important, and Britt is more accomplished there having All-SEC credentials as a Left tackle for 'Bama throwing QB Brodie Croyle. He also has a rep as a great run blocker, together with a year in Dante's school already under his belt.