Solder's concussions

[Fencer]

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

I didn't realize Solder's diagnosed-concussion count was already up to 4. I think we're unfortunately getting to the point that there's significant risk he won't be able to have a long career.

 

[Tunescribe]

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

I didn't realize Solder's diagnosed-concussion count was already up to 4. I think we're unfortunately getting to the point that there's significant risk he won't be able to have a long career.

Career? How about this season?

 

[Archeryaddict12]

That means mankins at LT

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Career? How about this season?

Well, it's pretty much a given he's not playing next week, and it wouldn't surprise me if he ended up on IR.

The risk of a third concussion is too high, IMO, to take in such a snake-bitten season. OTOH, since the Pats have had healthy scratches every game this season, they can afford to keep him so that maybe he can play if, say, they reach the AFCCG/Super Bowl.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Well, it's pretty much a given he's not playing next week, and it wouldn't surprise me if he ended up on IR.

I bet he is done either for the year or until the playoffs (banking on us making it).

Wonder if we see the pats shifting the oline around a little bit if that is the case.

 

[upstater1]

Sounds of the game last week had him talking and laughing immediately after the last play, and he was in on the play as a FG blocker. So I was surprised that he had a concussion, and then again today he came out.

 

[Fencer]

Career? How about this season?

The career is more important. It's also probably at greater risk. I'd be very surprised if he missed the rest of this season for concussion reasons, yet then went on to have a long and successful career.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The career is more important. It's also probably at greater risk. I'd be very surprised if he missed the rest of this season for concussion reasons, yet then went on to have a long and successful career.

If I had to guess, given that he hasn't missed any games to this point, they've been relatively mild.

But right now I'm more concerned about Solder's concussions than Vollmer's leg/back.

 

[voluntarysaftey]

Assuming he's able to play in the next two games, I'd rather they just sit him and make sure he's ready for the playoffs. No need to risk a 3rd concussion in short time and have him gone for the entirety of the playoffs

 

[supafly]

Assuming he's able to play in the next two games, I'd rather they just sit him and make sure he's ready for the playoffs. No need to risk a 3rd concussion in short time and have him gone for the entirety of the playoffs

I think we're looking at a minimum of losing him for the rest of the regular season, with a possibility of losing him for the entire year. There's a terribly small chance that they'd actually risk having him incur a 3rd concussion in such a small window of time by bringing him back.

If we can somehow win the next 2 and still secure the bye week, it would mean that he could in theory, miss the next month before having a playoff game. That's about the best case scenario I am seeing. It would give him a full month to rest, slowly be brought back along, and then justify the return since it's the post-season in the middle of January.

As far as adjusting the line around, there aren't viable options that are going to be worth a damn. The loss of Solder is very big. Then again, I am getting used to these kinds of "big" injuries in every single game. Our offensive line has shown some serious issues, though so have both sides of the trenches.

 

[Sticky Caulk]

I guess the quick, short passing game we saw against Miami will stick for the rest of the season?

New England might not see any 'easy' front seven from here on out. The interior of the o-line was bad enough before moving Mankins outside. I can see him doing fine on the far left, but I have way less confidence in the other guys.

 

[Hael]

I think this might be the injury that breaks the camels back. We are forced to move so many players out of their natural positions and we are now at the point where we are looking at Jags as replacement players.

 

[Fencer]

I think this might be the injury that breaks the camels back. We are forced to move so many players out of their natural positions and we are now at the point where we are looking at Jags as replacement players.

Other than special teamers, the Patriots who could be mentioned in a Pro Bowl discussion without causing great laughter are Brady, Gronkowski, Solder, Mankins, Vollmer, Ch. Jones, Wilfork, Mayo, McCourty and Talib. (If Ridley can't even start, then he's not on that list.) Of those 10, 4 are lost for the season, Solder is injured and at risk of being a 5th, Talib is obviously impaired by injury, and Mankins has been overrated for a couple of years. That leaves only 3 -- Brady, Jones and McCourty -- actually delivering on their promise.

 

[captain stone]

Looks like it's time to add OT to the long list of off-season needs.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

Sit him at this point. He obviously needs more time to heal properly.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Solder was not a great pick, probably a scarnecchia recommendation. I don't see solder lasting long in the nfl. He consistently gets pushed around by bigger and stronger guys.

 

[JackBauer]

Solder was not a great pick, probably a scarnecchia recommendation. I don't see solder lasting long in the nfl. He consistently gets pushed around by bigger and stronger guys.

Solder was a fine pick, and is the fact that he was "probably" recommended by one of the best line coaches in the league supposed to be a negative?

 

[Brady6]

Solder was not a great pick, probably a scarnecchia recommendation. I don't see solder lasting long in the nfl. He consistently gets pushed around by bigger and stronger guys.

Your post is loco... Solder was starting at LT protecting Tom Brady since his second season. Did you see the 2013 draft? 3 of the first 5 players selected were LTs the Patriots drafted Solder at #17 and he has been every bit the player of any of the other LT taken over the past 3-4 drafts.

 

[Brady6]

The Blitz with Jeff Howe & Karen Guregian | Boston Herald

I didn't realize Solder's diagnosed-concussion count was already up to 4. I think we're unfortunately getting to the point that there's significant risk he won't be able to have a long career.

I can't help but wonder if this is something in his technique, seems odd for a 6'8 LT to be suffering from so many head injuries.

 

[Sciz]

Solder was not a great pick, probably a scarnecchia recommendation. I don't see solder lasting long in the nfl. He consistently gets pushed around by bigger and stronger guys.

Yesterday, I coined the term "announcer scouting," referring to people that decide how good a player is based on how often the announcer points out a bad play. This is another good example. The only thing holding Solder back from being a truly elite left tackle is his rare lapses in technique, where he doesn't drop back far enough, doesn't get his hands on the defender, or things like that. When that kind of play happens, it's usually a sack or hit. For the 98% of plays where he plays with correct technique, he's elite. Between Solder being blamed for sacks that weren't his fault (two defenders on his side and him only blocking one, not pass blocking on playaction because that's what they're supposed to do) and those lapses that turn into bad plays, Solder has received far more blame than he has deserved. Go watch him during the 70 plays where the announcer doesn't directly point out him screwing up. You'll be surprised.