Ryan O'Callaghan vs. Wesley Britt

[Pats726]

This is a good situation....currently there are 17 OL on the roster. My first question is...will either Light or Koppen start PUP...as that would change things a great deal. Worse case..they BOTH would be. Even with that, 15 competing. What does a team do with that many?? One thing I believe is clear..a wall is needed around Brady and changes will be made if it continues. I think THAT might be a point of emphasis...bringing in 4 giants...not small guys, but big and versatile. The competition is there...so it will be interesting to see who stays..and who is cut. Hand, Stevenson, Barthelmes end even Steitz may be PSqd possibilities...even Britt. Yates, Mrucz and Tucker may be the ones facing the ax...although with Tucker, someone as versatile will have to be found. This is not at all a bad position to be in.

 

[rhubma]

This is a good situation....currently there are 17 OL on the roster. My first question is...will either Light or Koppen start PUP...as that would change things a great deal. Worse case..they BOTH would be. Even with that, 15 competing. What does a team do with that many?? One thing I believe is clear..a wall is needed around Brady and changes will be made if it continues. I think THAT might be a point of emphasis...bringing in 4 giants...not small guys, but big and versatile. The competition is there...so it will be interesting to see who stays..and who is cut. Hand, Stevenson, Barthelmes end even Steitz may be PSqd possibilities...even Britt. Yates, Mrucz and Tucker may be the ones facing the ax...although with Tucker, someone as versatile will have to be found. This is not at all a bad position to be in.

One other potential advantage to having so many OL in the mix is the possibility of using 1 or 2 of them in training camp trades for mid-round draft picks. Right now, the Pats don't have any extra picks in the 2007 draft.

They probably will get some comp picks for Givens, Adam V., Willie, but comps are untradeable. I fully expect the Pats to make 1 or 2 trades to gather extra picks for in-draft trade options. Gorin would make an excellent candidate for a 4th or 5th round pick in 2007, if the Britt or the rookies are ready. Gorin started in SBs and did a serviceable job for the team over the years - he would have some value to other teams (Cleveland or the Jets, for example, who know him).

BB and Pioli have a history of taking doing trades like this. Before the season begins, I think OL and, possibly, DL are candidates for trades for mid-round draft picks.

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

mgteilegueche, I love threads on the OL just to see how many different ways you can spell Kaczur. Six letters, come on. Are you saying he's a Kancur in the locker room?

If you can spell O'Callaghan, you can spell Kaczur, and for that matter, McGinest. :bricks:

Kancer
Kencar
Kazcur
Kazner
Kazner
Keznar
...Uhmmmm...

 

[flutie2phelan]

Like AzPF, i see ours as a strong, young, experienced, and deep O-Line ... one which is not far from being recognized as one of the best.

Hmm...we're talking about a promising OT prospect who needs work on technique and might project to guard. What would the value of an IR year be? I definitely want him out there practicing and working with Dante.

I don't much like that course of action either - and for much the same reasons.
But Ryan Claridge's destination last year reminded me that there has been something of a pattern developing ...
of draft choices being redshirted while they acclimate and learn the playbook.
The player presumably is way ahead of the game, come his sophomore season.
Just as the financially wealthy have trust funds, perhaps teams well-endowed with personnel ... have strategic IR - and make it work.

More likely, I think, is the Gorin treatment for one of the two young RTs -- offer a practice squad job at live-roster salary.

This certainly would be how i'd like to play it ... but i don't sign the paychecks. I'd like to see it happen.

AndyJohnson wrote:

I think going from practice squad player to starter is certainly a noticable improvement [in Gorin].

If Andy can say that he has seen such improvement in Brandon with his own eyes, then i defer to his acuity.
Otherwise, i'd say that Gorin's rise thru the depth chart had much more to do with multiple injuries ahead of him
than with any great value he added on his own.

 

[mgteich]

I've worked in Boston for 20 years. O'Callaghan is an easy name to spell.

Kancer
Kencar
Kazcur
Kazner
Kazner
Keznar
...Uhmmmm...

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

In last year's TC, Gorin was beaten out by Kaczur for the backup T job. So I'd be very surprised if Kaczur isn't in the starting OL when camp opens up this year. And I won't be surprised if Gorin is beaten out by one or both of Britt/O'Callaghan. I appreciate Gorin's durability and experience. But his limited effectiveness at RT and inability to play any other position diminish his value.

As I recall, Gorin was inactive on the injury report breaking Training Camp. Still, I agree that Nick is the more athletic of the two and would have my vote to edge Brandon out if BB/Dante decide they're competing for the same slot.

 

[Pats726]

OT: A DL tangent...

Before the season begins, I think OL and, possibly, DL are candidates for trades for mid-round draft picks.

WHo on the DL would be up for a trade??? Green??? I am not sure any others would be tradeable. I think the DL is not all that deep, a tad opposite from the OL.

 

[rhubma]

WHo on the DL would be up for a trade??? Green??? I am not sure any others would be tradeable. I think the DL is not all that deep, a tad opposite from the OL.

My thought was possibly M. Hill now that Seymour and Green are resigned. I always thought that Hill was an insurance policy in case either of those 2 left in free agency. If the now 23 year old Hill steps up during training camp, it gives the Pats additional trade options.

I agree with you though that there are more possibilities of trades for picks with the OL than the DL.

 

[NordicVoyager]

Say we had 3rd and goal from the two, what would be your ideal "all-beef" line-up? I like the idea of having O'Callaghan lined up at right guard, and Britt at right tackle. Maybe put Kazcur as a tackle eligible to their right? What would your ideal complete eleven be in such a situation?

 

[NordicVoyager]

Another thing when judging Gorin is that you have to look at his upside. He has none. IMO, he's as good as he's going to get. However, O'C and Britt have upside.

It is great to see that both O'Callaghan and Britt made the final 53, especially in light of the many comments about our RT position back in May 2006. Congrats to both O'C and Britt!!

 

[Bostonian1962]

I am curious about this community's perspective on two of our OTs: this year's Pats 5th rounder Ryan O'Callaghan vs last year's Chargers 5th round pick (and Pats practice squad player) Wesley Britt. Both are enormous coming out of great productive careers at Cal and Alabama respectively. Thoughts are welcom.

Ryan O', by a mile. He was more successful in college. He was rated higher going into the draft, but slid a bit. Britt was on the practice squad last year. Ryan O' is looking like he'll START as a rookie. Britt could still be cut. Ryan O' won't be.

 

[Bostonian1962]

It is great to see that both O'Callaghan and Britt made the final 53, especially in light of the many comments about our RT position back in May 2006. Congrats to both O'C and Britt!!

Oh, that was an old post. Sorry. I didn't notice that.