So Let me get this straight, The Pats are gonna play the Jets with ONE TE ?

[mgteich]

Solder was a TE on 11 plays on Sunday.

I don't see how it sells out to have 2 TE's (including Solder) and 2 WR's. There are still receiving and running options. It's not going to improved a huge amount with Mulligan as the 2nd TE (as it wasn't with Fells or Ballard).

He did as an inline blocker. The problem with that, it sells out the play since there are three tackles on the field at the same time (Solder, Cannon, and Vollmer).

 

[50-yard-line]

He did as an inline blocker. The problem with that, it sells out the play since there are three tackles on the field at the same time (Solder, Cannon, and Vollmer).

Which also means that Solder reports as an eligible receiver, which means, I believe, that he must sit out the next play.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

The downside to Solder at TE is that by NFL rule, Solder can't go from an eligible receiver directly back to tackle on the next play.

He has to leave the field and miss a play before returning to his tackle role. He can stay on the field at TE and keep reporting, every play, as eligible.

But with Solder at TE it would be interesting if they targeted him with a pass. I'd give a 90% chance that he'd be left uncovered.

 

[mgteich]

He is an ex-TE. Solder could catch a couple as Vrabel used to.

But with Solder at TE it would be interesting if they targeted him with a pass. I'd give a 90% chance that he'd be left uncovered.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Solder can line up as a blocking TE, but obviously that's not an ideal solution. Ideally, one of Sudfeld or Gronk is good to go.

Can't for the life of me understand why they're re-signing Mulligan while Ballard is still available.

 

[mgteich]

Apparently, Fells has the after effects of a concussion. IMHO, in today's NFL environment, it is good to stay clear, especially with regard to marginal players.

With regard to why we signed Mulligan at all (the first time), apparently Belichick thinks that it good to have an emergency blocking TE on the team. I tend to agree. If Sudfeld isn't ready, Mulligan might get some reps opposite Hooman.

Solder can line up as a blocking TE, but obviously that's not an ideal solution. Ideally, one of Sudfeld or Gronk is good to go.

Can't for the life of me understand why they're re-signing Mulligan while Fells is still available.

 

[FCB02062]

The downside to Solder at TE is that by NFL rule, Solder can't go from an eligible receiver directly back to tackle on the next play.

He has to leave the field and miss a play before returning to his tackle role. He can stay on the field at TE and keep reporting, every play, as eligible.

But with Solder at TE it would be interesting if they targeted him with a pass. I'd give a 90% chance that he'd be left uncovered.

So he can get hit low and have his knees taken out? Last thing this farking team needs is another idiotic Belichick injury like when Seymour got hurt playing full back or Gronkowski broke his arm on a farking extra pt protection...BB, gotta prove he's the smartest guy in the room....

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

Oh boy "I can't say that I'm feeling very well ,Charles". :sick:

 

[PatsFanSince74]

...and likely with no Amendola and with Fumblerooski at RB.
Thank goodness it's the Jets with a rookie QB, but I'm not breathing too easy.

 

[Gronkowski123]

Rob Ninkovich will be the 3rd tight end!

 

[Wheelman]

But with Solder at TE it would be interesting if they targeted him with a pass. I'd give a 90% chance that he'd be left uncovered.

I saw one goal line play against the first Miami game last season. Solder reported as eligible. He wasn't Brady's first target but Hernandez slipped and the other tight ends were covered. As soon as Brady started looking left for Solder he was sacked because Donald Thomas couldn't pick up his block. Solder ran past several Dolphins defenders, wide open, and no one paying attention to him. It would have been a TD for Solder. So you could be right

 

[wolverinejoe80]

one of our youngsters better breakout sooner rather than later. I had high hopes for sudfield, but man did he look horrid or what? first he looked scared. second he looked weak as hell. i mean just weak. like 13 reps 225 kinda weak.

 

[Joker]

he had a pulled hamstring.

 

[supafly]

Can't for the life of me understand why they're re-signing Mulligan while Ballard is still available.

That whole "moving around" thing is pretty overrated in your mind, huh?

 

[supafly]

Ballard was tried and found severely wanting. We would have kept him if there was any reasonable chance that he would come back to reasonable form. After all, he is only 25 and was under contract for a couple of years.

That's what is kind of surprising to me, the fact that they could have easily kept him on IR or even made him the IR exempt player (prior to Vereen of course).

Must not have been too impressed with what they saw and felt that the odds of him regaining full form after such a serious injury weren't too good.

He did as an inline blocker. The problem with that, it sells out the play since there are three tackles on the field at the same time (Solder, Cannon, and Vollmer).

I can't say that having our 3 best tackles on the field at the same time makes me too happy, but then again maybe I'm just a worry wart.

I'd be much more concerned about keeping a viable candidate as our 3rd tackle, rather than throw him out so much to block. It would seem that much lesser talented players who are actual TE's (like Mulligan) would be able to do the exact same thing.

Like I said, maybe it is a good idea to utilize the superior blocking abilities, and I'm just too much of a worry wart for a guy in his late 30's.