We could really use a backup G

[patsfaninpa]

Not kidding. Off of the the 2011 team we've lost Brian Waters and Donald Thomas. We've replaced them with Markus Zusevics an UDFA from Iowa who wasn't activated until the middle of last season and hasn't ever really played G. He was a tackle in college. Mankins has had some injury issues and Connolly isn't exactly one of the 7 blocks of granite. BB has said he likes Cannon at tackle and Svitek is a tackle. I guess McDonald could play there. But, he's no great shakes. Is Brian Waters locker still there?

 

[Jimke]

Not kidding. Off of the the 2011 team we've lost Brian Waters and Donald Thomas. We've replaced them with Markus Zusevics an UDFA from Iowa who wasn't activated until the middle of last season and hasn't ever really played G. He was a tackle in college. Mankins has had some injury issues and Connolly isn't exactly one of the 7 blocks of granite. BB has said he likes Cannon at tackle and Svitek is a tackle. I guess McDonald could play there. But, he's no great shakes. Is Brian Waters locker still there?

I was hoping they would draft Barrett Jones to cover both center and guard.
Maybe, the long awaited Cannon switch to guard will occur.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't know about his condition, but maybe Elvis Fisher is that guy. He's pretty well thought of:

Undrafted intrigue: Elvis Fisher, OT

Fisher seemed to be injured more often than not at Missouri. When he was healthy, he was one of the better blockers in the country. This could be a situation where the Patriots stash him for a year and let him get healthy.

2013 NFL Draft grades: Finding an A+ for everyone - SBNation.com

Teams looking for a sturdy, underrated pass protector on the blind side in the mold of long-time Green Bay Packer Chad Clifton may value Fisher in the early rounds of the draft;

Elvis Fisher, OT, Missouri, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com


Obviously this would depend on whether he's ready to go by the start of the season, but it sounds like there's some decent talent there.

 

[dales804]

Tebow's available.

Seriously though, Nick McDonald's brother, Chris, is a G that the Pats signed as an UDFA. They also brought in UDFA Matt Stankiewitch. I'd imagine there'd be some further veteran OL FA signings to round out the training camp roster.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

i think we are ok...on the oline. I think everyone is worried about WR and DL

 

[JMC00]

I think everyone is worried about WR and DL

I'm not worried about the DL especially if they sign Abraham. WR I feel a little better about after the draft.

 

[Rob0729]

As long as Scar is coaching, I am not worried about the o-line. The guy can probably plug me in there at a position and get me to play like an average NFL o-lineman.

Besides, now that Vollmer is tied up long term, Cannon could be moved in at guard. I think Cannon was only at RT because of the uncertainty of Vollmer's future with the Pats.

 

[patfanken]

Not kidding. Off of the the 2011 team we've lost Brian Waters and Donald Thomas. We've replaced them with Markus Zusevics an UDFA from Iowa who wasn't activated until the middle of last season and hasn't ever really played G. He was a tackle in college. Mankins has had some injury issues and Connolly isn't exactly one of the 7 blocks of granite. BB has said he likes Cannon at tackle and Svitek is a tackle. I guess McDonald could play there. But, he's no great shakes. Is Brian Waters locker still there?

You have McDonald and Cannon to back up the starters, or if I have my way Connolly and McDonald to back up Cannon. BTW- McDonald has started games at C and G, and has also filled in a OT as well. He IS "great shakes" as a versatile back up

I'm thrilled we didn't add an OLman to this draft class. We have 2 guys in their early 30's, but the rest of this OL is young, althletic and talented.

Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Cannon, Volmer

McDonald, Connolly, Zuvi, Sytec

That's 8 guys right there, all but Zuvi proven starters in the league. Its a great situation. Let the rest of the group compete for the last spot and the winner will end up being what we need for a 9th OLman. I actually really like the UDFA Elvis. He could be a real find in a year or two when he's fully healthy,.

 

[DocHoliday]

Would be amusing to line McDonald and McDonald at both guard positions at some point.

 

[p8ryts]

As long as Scar is coaching, I am not worried about the o-line. The guy can probably plug me in there at a position and get me to play like an average NFL o-lineman.

Besides, now that Vollmer is tied up long term, Cannon could be moved in at guard. I think Cannon was only at RT because of the uncertainty of Vollmer's future with the Pats.

What he said plus I don't know that we expected Donald Thomas to be that good. This only requires a double whammy, faith in Bill, faith in Dante. No sweat.

 

[JMC00]

Seriously. He got Thomas a $14 million dollar deal.


Thomas was a 6th round pick who after playing two years for the Dolphins wasn't signed until November in 2010 by the Lions and didn't play at all and then was on the street in 2011 when the Pats signed him because of the Koppen injury.

I just don't think he is getting that $14 million deal if he doesn't spend two years with Scar as his coach.

 

[mgteich]

Our backups are McDonald and Cannon. We also have Svitek and Zusevics.

Yes, we could use an veteran upgrade to McDonald, and I expect that we will bring one to camp.

Not kidding. Off of the the 2011 team we've lost Brian Waters and Donald Thomas. We've replaced them with Markus Zusevics an UDFA from Iowa who wasn't activated until the middle of last season and hasn't ever really played G. He was a tackle in college. Mankins has had some injury issues and Connolly isn't exactly one of the 7 blocks of granite. BB has said he likes Cannon at tackle and Svitek is a tackle. I guess McDonald could play there. But, he's no great shakes. Is Brian Waters locker still there?

 

[BTTA]

Our backups are McDonald and Cannon. We also have Svitek and Zusevics.

Yes, we could use an veteran upgrade to McDonald, and I expect that we will bring one to camp.

That, plus the coaches like to have just a little bit more competition going into camp than they have on the OL. So no one gets complacent.

 

[jmt57]

Not kidding. Off of the the 2011 team we've lost Brian Waters and Donald Thomas. We've replaced them with Markus Zusevics an UDFA from Iowa who wasn't activated until the middle of last season and hasn't ever really played G. He was a tackle in college. Mankins has had some injury issues and Connolly isn't exactly one of the 7 blocks of granite. BB has said he likes Cannon at tackle and Svitek is a tackle. I guess McDonald could play there. But, he's no great shakes. Is Brian Waters locker still there?

Yes, Waters and Thomas are gone. However, consider the following:

- Waters did not play a single down on the 2011 team.

- Nick McDonald was considered to be an extremely capable interior lineman for his play in the 2010 season, and to be better than the departed Donald Thomas. He was injured early in camp last year, and never seemed to be fully recovered from that. Hopefully with the time off he will be back to his 2010 form.

- Ryan Wendell stepped up and played quite well at center; that allows others to compete at guard, whether it be as a starter or backup. Going into last season there was overlapping at the two positions, which in reality made for less depth at that point in time.

- The signing of Will Svitek as a swing tackle - he has started in the NFL and played well when forced into starting duty - allows for Marcus Cannon to compete at guard. Whoever plays best starts, and the other should be a very capable backup.

- Dante Scarnecchia will have had a full year working with Markus Zusevics, training him to transition from college tackle to NFL guard.

- Looking to 2014 and beyond the Pats have signed some UDFA to keep the pipeline flowing, some of whom will end up on the practice squad to work with Dante on refining their craft: Matt Stankiewitch, Josh Kline, Elvis Fisher, and Chris McDonald.


The guard position (and offensive line as a whole) looks to be as solid as can reasonably be expected given the realities of the salary cap and roster size limitations, in terms of both starting talent, backup depth, and even long term potential replacements.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Barrett Jones would have been pure gold in this regard, he could backup the all positions on the interior.

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Modud operandi here is to take YDFA like Chris McDonald and Matt Stankiewitch and have Scar work his magic. Voila! Initailly backup linemen w/ Pats or if released, starters on the Dolphins or Tampa Bay teams.

Why BB doesn't trade the surplus graduates of the Scar School of OLmen, is beyond me.

 

[mgteich]

Considering that we brought in UDFA's for camp reps, I don't understand your statement. We likely will have 9 OL spots. We have 9 players, including Scar graduates. There is no surplus. In fact, as this thread suggests, we need another veteran guard for camp competition (and perhaps even an OT).