Trade Cole Strange to a Team That Runs A lot of Outside Zone

[Wozzy]

I think they want to use a FB (as do I desperately) but won't if they think the players currently slated to be in camp can't cut it.

Agreed, they’ll use a lineman or another position.

I think they’ll roster a FB, it probably will be Jaheim Bell or Gee Scott.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agreed, they’ll use a lineman or another position.

I think they’ll roster a FB, it probably will be Jaheim Bell or Gee Scott.

Hmm. Not who I would pick. Both player's scouting report state they are willing, but not powerful blockers.

 

[Wozzy]

Agreed. What does that have to do with Bell?

He’s 6’2” 241 pounds… does that scream TE?

 

[203Pat]

Cole Strange isn't getting you anything of value.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

He’s 6’2” 241 pounds… does that scream TE?

Maybe. Bell was awful last year. A J Baker type, had trouble lining up. There are lots of guys that are 6'2"+ and 240 lbs+, very few are NFL TEs.

 

[mgteich]

As improbable as it may seem, never say never.

And don't say that there will be a snowstorm today.

 

[mgteich]

I think Dippre will head to the practice squad, and he could well be the replacement for Hooper next season. Which is exactly the way you want the practice squad to work, as you give them a red shirt year, get the young replacement, and clear some cap space at the same time. If they chose to release him Lampe could make it to the practice squad as well, but I think both Chism and Larison would be gone for good if they released them. Ultimately I have Lampe, Larison, and Chism making the .53, which would be really impressive UDFA haul if they work out.

I agree that a couple of good prospects are likely to make the Practice Squad.

Of course, there is no reason to believe that they would be on the patriot roster in 2026. Any team might sign them, as they can within the season.
=========
for me, Larison is the only one that is more likely than not to make the 53-man squad.

Larison and one of Lampe or Chism on the 53 would be a really good UDFA haul.

 

[Wozzy]

Maybe. Bell was awful last year. A J Baker type, had trouble lining up. There are lots of guys that are 6'2"+ and 240 lbs+, very few are NFL TEs.

Awful… based on what?

He played 83 offensive snaps, about a third of them came in the final game of the season.

He did play the 8th most special teams snaps in the team. In limited minutes on offense he blocked well. Doing the little things like that could earn him a roster spot.

He’s either a FB or an HBack.

 

[captain stone]

cole strange missed the first 14 games of 2024... when he came back, he played out of position, partly because they weren't sure his knee could handle the requirements of the guard position... the front office went out and added a lot of moving pieces to the line this year... all of that means he is a speculative camp cut... he has no trade value

Yeah I don't think we'd receive much if anything for him right now either. Might as well keep him (and Siddy the Sow), help him get healthy, let him compete with Sow (& Wilson perhaps) for the LG job, hope his trade value rises during TC, and re-evaluate at the end of it...

 

[captain stone]

...For me, Larison is the only one that is more likely than not to make the 53-man squad...

I really hope both of them make the 53, but I feel that Chism's odds are a little better than Larison's because all of the WRs ahead of him kinda suck anyway so it's a less difficult hill to climb...

 

[mgteich]

I really hope both of them make the 53, but I feel that Chism's odds are a little better than Larison's because all of the WRs ahead of him kinda suck anyway so it's a less difficult hill to climb...

The difference is numbers.

Larison must beat out Jennings to be the #4 RB.

Chism needs to beat out FOUR incumbents to be the #5 WR, or THREE to be the #6 WR if we have one.
Sure, Chism COULD beat out Bourne AND Polk AND Baker AND Boutee(or Douglas). Or not.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Awful… based on what?

You ask a question..

He played 83 offensive snaps, about a third of them came in the final game of the season.

You then immediately answer your own question. Classic.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The difference is numbers.

Larison must beat out Jennings to be the #4 RB.

Chism needs to beat out FOUR incumbents to be the #5 WR, or THREE to be the #6 WR if we have one.
Sure, Chism COULD beat out Bourne AND Polk AND Baker AND Boutee(or Douglas). Or not.

You say that like it would be hard to do.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The difference is numbers.

Larison must beat out Jennings to be the #4 RB.

Chism needs to beat out FOUR incumbents to be the #5 WR, or THREE to be the #6 WR if we have one.
Sure, Chism COULD beat out Bourne AND Polk AND Baker AND Boutee(or Douglas). Or not.

I’m optimistic that all 3 will make the 53. We will see?

 

[Huckleberry1]

The difference is numbers.

Larison must beat out Jennings to be the #4 RB.

Chism needs to beat out FOUR incumbents to be the #5 WR, or THREE to be the #6 WR if we have one.
Sure, Chism COULD beat out Bourne AND Polk AND Baker AND Boutee(or Douglas). Or not.

Here’s the thing mg, Chism can play a role that MacDaniels loves, the Welker/Edelman slot role that bails the quarterback out, none of the others can play that role. He can also play in both offensive and defensive special teams, which none of Bourne, Boutte, Polk, and Baker can do. So I don’t think the question is whether Chism can beat them out, I think the question is can they beat Chism out, because he offers the team more than they do. And if in pre season he’s making plays on special teams, as well as showing he can play that slot role, then the WR’s he’s competing for a job with are going to be in serious trouble.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Quibbling over semantics? Is it his job? Did they give him a contract equivalent to a starter? Does he have a lot of NFL experiences? Is he in the vicinity of his prime?

Let's make sure he makes some starts for us on the 53 first before calling him an entrenched starter. He has started a grand total of ZERO games for the Patriots. I'd like to see what we have before calling him a lock.

 

[Ring 6]

Let's make sure he makes some starts for us on the 53 first before calling him an entrenched starter. He has started a grand total of ZERO games for the Patriots. I'd like to see what we have before calling him a lock.

So we shouldn’t consider Moses, Diggs, Landry, Davis, Williams, or Spillane starter either because they have played ZERO games for the Patriots?

 

[Ring 6]

Here’s the thing mg, Chism can play a role that MacDaniels loves, the Welker/Edelman slot role that bails the quarterback out, none of the others can play that role. He can also play in both offensive and defensive special teams, which none of Bourne, Boutte, Polk, and Baker can do. So I don’t think the question is whether Chism can beat them out, I think the question is can they beat Chism out, because he offers the team more than they do. And if in pre season he’s making plays on special teams, as well as showing he can play that slot role, then the WR’s he’s competing for a job with are going to be in serious trouble.

You sound like you value the player way higher than the 32 teams who didn’t think he was worthy of being drafted.

A few other points. Welker and Edelman played different roles force Patriots, they were not clones. Neither was a “bail out” in fact they were more the opposite of that, guys who could get open very quickly and be a quick initial read (Welker much more so)
“Can play special teams” against low level college competition and in the NFL are 2 very different things. Just having played on special teams dormant make you good on special teams and that competition level jump is as big if not bigger than what he faced at WR. His speed is also a big concern.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The difference is numbers.

Larison must beat out Jennings to be the #4 RB.

Chism needs to beat out FOUR incumbents to be the #5 WR, or THREE to be the #6 WR if we have one.
Sure, Chism COULD beat out Bourne AND Polk AND Baker AND Boutee(or Douglas). Or not.

Chism is going to have to beat out a WR with 83 receptions and 800 yards receiving.

Wait a second, my bad, he’s going to have to beat out 4 WR’s, with a combined 83 receptions and 800 yards, but at least they all play special teams. Oh, wait a second, my bad again, none of them play special teams.

Efton Chism III is going to make the 53.

 

[p8ryts]

The difference is numbers.

Larison must beat out Jennings to be the #4 RB.

Chism needs to beat out FOUR incumbents to be the #5 WR, or THREE to be the #6 WR if we have one.
Sure, Chism COULD beat out Bourne AND Polk AND Baker AND Boutee(or Douglas). Or not.

I'm a Chism fan, but if he can't beat out those guys, he's not who I think he is.