A Few Questions for the PatsPulpit Congregation

It hard to predict where the pats will end up because I do believe this team is capable of winning a Superbowl, but there are a few teams that have a really good chance of beating the patriots when they get in the playoffs. Like the Jets, nothing is really stopping them from doing the exact same thing they did last year and shutting down the O. Also the Packers and Saints and other teams that have high-powered Os that pats D might struggle especially with the lack of pass rush. So other then those few teams I expect the pats for the most part to dominate the competition. 12-4

1. First of all, I think we’ll resign him, but….

LT – Solder / Vollmer
LG – Mankins
C – Koppen
RG – Connolly
RT – Vollmer / Kaczur

If Solder can step in, then the job is his and Vollmer mans the right side. If he can’t do that, then Vollmer slides back to the blind side (because he’s a swing tackle) and someone else mans the right side. Kaczur has made the starting line-up over every one of our backups (other than Solder), so I assume he would again.

It’s possible LeVoir gets snaps on the left side, but really you want your best available tackle there.

2. As someone pointed out early on, the positions we drafted are the positions that need the least time to come up to speed.

CB – coverage is coverage and we have depth (also Ras-I came from a Patriots-like system)
OL – blocking is blocking and we have depth
RB – running is running and we have depth

If Solder and Ras-I don’t make the field, we are no worse off than last year. If Vereen and Ridley can’t play well we still (likely) have Law Firm for 1st and 2nd downs and Woody (and maybe Faulk) on 3rd downs.

Besides that, all of those guys have worked out with their teammates, so they are likely only a little bit behind where they would be for OTA’s.

If they can’t cut it this year at training camp, there’s always the Foxboro Flu, cough cough.

My bet is Solder will see significant snaps at LT (probably second team) during the preseason. Same for Ras-I and the running backs in the later quarters.

3. The guy that has the best chance of starting is Solder, but only if Light isn’t signed.
The rest will be used rotationally, and will see their reps increase or decrease based upon talent.

The late round guys as always aren’t locks to make the team, and may have a bit of a steeper slope. Then again, no one seems to have a lot of confidence in out OLBs, so maybe Carter’s got a better shot. There’s always special teams and the practice squad available to stash the guys that don’t quite make the field at there regular positions.

4. I have high hopes for Ras-I against some of the larger receivers. By the end of the season, he might have a special role on the outside.

My favorite, though, will probably be Solder who will come in for one of our perpetually injured tackles and won’t come off the field again.

5. I’m sure we’ll win at least 10 games. Past that, I don’t make predictions. We’ll make the playoffs and will win at least the first playoff game.

6. Pat Chung, due to the fact he won’t be playing slot CB. He’ll be all over the field making a name for himself.
On offense, Brandon Tate will find a niche on the team. He’ll make a couple acrobatic clutch catches and endear himself to the fans. The three and outs will drop off severely this year.

7. There are a lot of bodies at WR and DB. Not necessarily for roster spots, but definitely for pecking order.
The best battles this year will be in the air.

8. I doubt BB makes a splash selection, but there will likely be 90 roster spots instead of 80, so there will be holes to fill. I think we’ll have two kickers for the first time in awhile – just to give the Ghosts leg a rest.

Another OLB body is likely, another WR just to see who’s who. Past that I couldn’t guess.

Question 1.) Solder – Mankins – Koppen – Connolly – Vollmer

I believe an inexperienced Nate Solder is still an improvement over a LeVoir- and I feel like Kaczur has a better chance of starting at RG than RT.

Question 2.) The Patriots drafted specifically with the lockout in mind. They know that Solder can step on the field and play and they set him up with Mankins just to prepare him even further. They have high hopes for him. Dowling has experience in a Belichick-style defense, and running backs like Vereen and Ridley have the easier learning curve as RBs transition extremely well into the NFL. I don’t think they’ll have a Price-like year off, but don’t expect strong contributions until mid-way through the year.

Question 3.) The lockout will hurt Markell Carter the most, as well as Malcolm Williams. Solder comes next, along with Mallett. I feel like Marcus Cannon benefits from the delay because it keeps him more in line with the other rookies.

Question 4.) My favorite has to be Cannon. Just love his heart for the game.

Question 5.) 13-3, SB Champs. Obviously.

Question 6a.) Brandon Spikes.
Question 6a.) Brandon Tate.

Question 7.) Cornerback. Dowling, Arrington, Butler, Wilhite and maybe even a recovering Bodden will all be fighting for two spots alongside Devin McCourty. That should be a tough battle.

Question 8.) I don’t expect the Patriots to make a big FA splash pick. I see, maybe, a WR FA for a camp body.

Question 1.) If Matt Light does not resign what is your day 1 starting lineup along the offensive line?

Solder, Mankins, Koppen, Connolly, Vollmer (assuming Mankins resigns partly with Light’s money)
Otherwise:
Solder, Mankins, Connolly/Koppen, Cannon, Vollmer.
Cannon as a dark horse to be healthy and start immediately – he had late-1st round, early-2nd round talent but his cancer made him drop. That could be starter-worthy.

Question 2.) What is your opinion(s) on the overall readiness of this years rookie class after missing minicamps and OTAs?

The RBs will be ready (although will obviously split time). Ras-I Dowling will compete for a spot. Cannon might, depending on health. What I’ve seen from coaches around the league suggests Solder will start immediately, too.

Will this year basically be a red-shirt year for them like last year was for Taylor Price?

Mostly likely for Cannon, unless he’s recovering faster than expected. Perhaps, for Solder, if Light re-signs and nobody gets hurt. They might injury-reserve on of the RBs if they get a little dinged up with a case of Foxborough flu. Most likely depends on injuries to other people – Ras-I could be last year’s McCourty, etc.

Question 3.) If the lockout, and the lack of offseason camps, hurts one or some rookies more than some others, which ones are the ones hurt the most?

The ones who were least polished and are in positions with the most to learn.
Solder missed out on some polishing, but he’s similar to Mankins and Mankins started as a rook. Cannon now has both his illness and lack of coach-time, so his chances dipped a little. The RBs have a less-steep learning curve, though, so can probably contribute fairly quickly in one way or another. Lee Smith was drafted as an already-gifted blocker, so he probably doesn’t need to adjust much either. Carter’s job just got tougher.

Question 4.) Without having seen them play, what is your guess at who will be your favorite rookie from this years class? Not necessarily the best, or most talented, or most productive, but your favorite?

I saw Cannon play in the Bowl game and was highly impressed (albeit with the entire O-line, especially in the first half). If he’s healthy, he could surprise and become a fan favourite. Talented? Probably Solder – the guy’s a physical freak.

Question 5.) What is your prediction for the Patriots this year? 12-4 and SB Champs, or 13-3 and AFCCG loss, etc.

Super Bowl. The Pats can take the Ravens, Steelers, Colts, Chargers, and half of the time they can take the Jets. Their D was patchy last year, but they inherit much the same team (if not improve), and they’re far more experienced. If they make that second-year leap, boom.

Question 6.) Who makes the biggest leap, comparative to past performance, this year for the Patriots?
You can consider 6a.) On Defense? and 6b.) On Offense?

O – Tate or Price (or both). Tate’s had a full year in the system, Price too. One or both will likely fire this year.
D – Cunningham. I suspect he’ll start sticking some of those almost-sacks, etc, he had last year. He’s also had a year to acclimatise to the longer season in the NFL, so he probably won’t dip as much as he did mid-season. Plus a full year of Mayo/Spikes in the middle will help the outsides a little.

Question 7.) When Training Camp finally starts, what will be the biggest training camp battle?

CB – Bodden back to fitness? McCourty’s a lock. How will Ras-I do? Butler? Will Wilhite stick around as Mr Dependable-but-not-a-lot-more? Arrington stick as a CB, or go back to ST stud?

S – Meriweather, Page, Sanders, Lockett, McGowan?, Chung, Brown, Barrett and Ventrone. Too many guys, not enough spots, some hard decisions.

RB and WR are going to be a little ‘by committee’-ish, so there might be training camp battles, but I don’t think they’ll entirely correspond to depth chart and/or playing time.

Question 8.) What is the most likely position to be addressed during free-agency, whenever that happens, whether with a mid-level player, a big splash, or a savvy cheap veteran looking to latch on for his chance at a ring? Again, not which position do you want to be addressed the most, but which is the most likely.

OLB – Hoodie loves his vets.
DE – if a good guy comes up. It won’t be for depth purposes – the Pats have plenty. It’ll likely be if someone rather talented has a falling out with a team or is too expensive.

Thank you both Richard, and CS.

Honestly I feel like I should do this more often now. These are some things I was bouncing around in my head for awhile, and your responses have increased my confidence in some thoughts that I had, while outright changing my mind with others.

Reading these responses here, I feel like I’m reading a professional mailbag or something, except they’re all my questions, and I have a few qualified intelligent people to respond instead of like one Mike Reiss or something.

I agree with you Richard about the CB training camp battle.

I think either Solder or Vereen might be my favorite rookie. I think Vereen will shock a lot of people who think he’s a Kevin Faulk or a Woodhead. I think he’ll be a good in-between the tackles runner, and I also think he’ll be explosive at times running outside, or in the screen game. And if he’s also a good blocker he has a good chance for playing time in our offense.

I think Taylor Price might make the biggest leap on offense, but almost by default. He didn’t get a chance to perform last year. Not counting him because of that, I’d guess Aaron Hernandez. I feel like he’ll produce like he did the first third of last year, all year.

On defense I feel it could go a number of ways. I could see Meriweather sharply cutting down the number of boneheaded plays, while maintaining his level of big plays. I could see Butler excelling in a nickel role, and bouncing back from his struggles of last season. I could see Chung performing like he did in the beginning of last year, par example the Miami game, more consistently throughout the year without having to play partime SS parttime slot CB. I could see either, or both, out of Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes building on their solid rookie campaigns. Therefore I feel 6a. was probably my toughest question.

Solder can’t and won’t start,.
Nothing to do with physical talent, everything to do with responsibilities.

2011-12 Rookie contribution:
Ras-I, Vareen, Solder, Lee Smith will all be great additions and step in immediately as contributors at some level.
 
The lock-out affect:
I think the lockout is good for vets (heel old battle wounds like turf toes) and good for rookies in some ways too(one-on-one time with vets to gain brotherhood).

RAS-I DOWLING hands down :)

2011-12 breakout seasons:
a) Ron Brace, Pat Chung, and Cunningham are going to be the difference from last years weaknesses.
b) I expect Brandon Tate to have a solid year too.

2011-12 Patriots 13-3 could be more or less depending on lockout and how it affects us.

2011-12 Pats Defense: one word…Versatility! Pass rush will be fine with key FA acquisitions by the staff(BB)

2011-12 Season results: I really love our chances this year with only two teams really being able to take us down in the playoffs. GB and N.O. (GB=duh and N.O.=just because of pass rush and Brees)