How much should the Pats address the Oline in the draft, team needs by position group

by JonnyNYC on Mar 12, 2010 3:52 PM EST

Understanding the sexier conversations are improving the RB situation, getting a deep threat @ WR and perhaps finding 1 or 2 TEs who can start, I'm curious about the opinion regarding the Oline for the Pats.

Going into the season the line could look like this:

LT - Vollmer

LG - Mankins

C - Koppen

RG - Neal

RT - Light

Kazur / Connelly the outside/inside swings.

I'd argue getting a high value OL really at any position would be a good thing. Question is where does OL help rank in terms of team needs in the draft?

I argue team needs in the draft are:

1. Front Seven / Impact Edge player

2. Oline

3. TE

4. RB

5. WR

6 iLB

Thoughts?

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I'd say we need a tackle the most...

…since we grabbed Ohrnberger and Bussey for the tackle position, as well as have Mankins and Neal as starters with Connolly as the back up.

At tackle, we have Vollmer, then we have Light and Kaczur and then we have LeVoir. That’s it.

by Richard Hill on Mar 12, 2010 4:27 PM EST reply actions

I gotta admit, I don't really understand offensive line intricacies.

Other than where they play, I generally have difficulty understanding why one guy plays well at any one given position. But as a whole I realize they definitely need help. But at the same time, the old adage holds true, and if we have to reach significantly for a offensive lineman, we’d be better off trying to trade down, or just drafting the best available talent so long as it’s not somewhere like QB.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Mar 12, 2010 4:43 PM EST reply actions

Not an expert

The LT is usually the faster of the two (faster first step). The RT is usually the bigger of the two.

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by SlotMachinePlayer on Mar 12, 2010 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

The LT covers the blind-side of the QB...

so he has to be mobile enough to always get himself in between a pass-rusher and the QB – the QB can’t see the guy to avoid him, so the LT does all the work.

The RT is in the QB’s vision, more or less, so the QB’s got an inkling of who’s coming at him from that side. So that means he can use a very large, very strong RT like a roadblock – he’ll shift around the pocket to keep the RT between any pass-rusher and himself.

Very oversimplified, of course, but RTs are usually bigger and stronger than LTs, and LTs are more mobile and have better technique to fight off pass-rushers ripping around the blind side.

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by Comedic.Sans on Mar 13, 2010 6:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

also

LTs should have better footwork than RTs due to prime edge rushers. Though footwork, strength, and consistency are the main skills an analyst should look for.

by patriotguy on Mar 14, 2010 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Light played on the right early on and sucked at it.

Hoodie was raving about Vollmer being a true swing tackle because not many guys can do it. Apparently Light can’t. There have been many left tackles drafted that have been slid to right while they learned the pro system. The ones that can makes the jump are around 50% according to Ross Tucker.

We need to draft either a right or left tackle, and slide Vollmer to the other hole.

Kaczur and Light can be tackle backups / BIG tight-ends (AKA Tackle eligible – who needs a blocking tight-end?). We should be good at the guards with the youngsters. Neal may slide to backup as he is getting older, so RG may be a rotating duty for awhile until one of the youngsters claims it for his own.

Maybe Ohrnberger can start to spell the center (his job in college). He might be the heir apparent to Koppen’s slot.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Mar 12, 2010 5:04 PM EST reply actions

Tackle value also varies based on QB's Throwing Arm

My understanding is your best pass blocking tackle IE most agile typical is the blind side protector of your QB – LT for righties, RT for lefties.

Guards can relate to your running style, pulling, line blocking, etc, I think and Centers – well not everyone can snap the ball and recover to block effectively I guess.

Bottom line to me is that the Pats can stand to improve at least at tackle, perhaps C and G as well.

In some respects to me, I’m starting to think of the OL like starting pitchers – you can never have enough

by JonnyNYC on Mar 12, 2010 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

At this stage in the game, Neal is a great backup guy, an OK starter, and a bit prone to injury.

If you can find a good to great starter, and stick Neal in at backup. His remaining years can hopefully be injury free, and if he sees playing time, we’ll feel pretty good seeing him out there.

His best role at this stage of the game. Especially when you consider that he was seriously considering retiring. Pay the man to help train the newbies.

My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Mar 12, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

He said yesterday that he's only got 2 years left in him

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Mar 12, 2010 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

isn't that how long his contract is?

i want him to be a starter/backup/motivator so kaz can be kicked to RG and Vollm @ RT till the rookie RT can take over.

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by NinjaZX6R on Mar 12, 2010 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

Need some consistency along the O line

throughout the year to develop a rhythm offense. The O-line’s best years have been when everyone stays healthy. With Light, Neal, and Koppen getting up in years and ailments, I see cohesiveness as an issue. We need some young tendons manning the front line!

Unfortunately, it would be difficult to use players like Light or Neal as back-ups, so we might be SOL this year in terms of consistency. Needless to say, it will a transitionary year for the O line, and a good time to develop young talent.

by amerrill on Mar 13, 2010 3:40 PM EST reply actions