Looking Ahead: OL

--williams--xxxxx----montgomery---xxxxx---brown--

we could use some more interior linemen for sure, but lichtensteiger could still start at left guard if need be. rabach needs to go, he sucks.

Given that he held out and wants more money, I think he leaves. Unless Bellichick brainwashes him.

I don't know. Kind of reminds me of Reggie Wayne back in 03 or 04. The Skins were expected to make a strong push for him and he was having issues getting a new contract done but eventually he returned to the team with a better chance of winning. The Pats already got to the doorstep of getting a new deal done with Mankins so I wouldn't be surprised.

Sources: Logan Mankins, New England Patriots deal dead over apology - ESPN Boston (http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=5564031)
But at the last moment, just when both sides thought there would be a deal, talks collapsed over an apology, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.

About two weeks ago, Mankins and his agent Frank Bauer arrived at the Patriots training facility in Foxborough, Mass., with both sides intending and believing they would be able to hammer out a long-term deal similar to the seven-year, $56.7 million contract that Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans signed with New Orleans in the spring.

Shortly before the deal could be consummated, the Patriots asked Mankins to apologize to Patriots owner Robert Kraft for comments he made in June, questioning the New England owner's integrity. Mankins did. He called Kraft, apologized and explained why he spoke out in the way he did. It was a nice conversation and it paved the way for Mankins' long-term deal to be consummated.


My gut tells me he goes back. All he needs is something to rationalize it. Kind of like Vincent Jackson currently making a distinction between the team and the front office.

Assuming that Will Montgomery moves to Center, Lichtensteiger stays at LG between RG or RT which do you think is the priority for upgrade?

Hicks/Montgomery or Jamaal Brown/Stephon Heyer?

Assuming that Will Montgomery moves to Center, Lichtensteiger stays at LG between RG or RT which do you think is the priority for upgrade?

Hicks/Montgomery or Jamaal Brown/Stephon Heyer?

Free Agent Route: Sign Kalil and Davin Joesph. Kalil is the real catch here but paired with Joseph. Well not even Suh would be able to get through.

Williams - Kory L. - Kalil - Joseph - Brown

Draft Route: Draft Rodney Hudson in the second and if the draft board permits get one or two guys that fit your system between rounds 4-6

And as promised heres the latest on my newest O-Line man crush
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93/CapsXXVI/Title.png
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93/CapsXXVI/Body.png

Free Agent Route: Sign Kalil and Davin Joesph. Kalil is the real catch here but paired with Joseph. Well not even Suh would be able to get through.

Williams - Kory L. - Kalil - Joseph - Brown

Draft Route: Draft Rodney Hudson in the second and if the draft board permits get one or two guys that fit your system between rounds 4-6


Going w/ your line-up wouldn't it make more sense to draft a RT if you have us signing Kalil and Joseph?

Lets say you could only upgrade 2 positions via draft and FA how would you do it?
e.g.-LT-Trent Williams-LG-Corey Lichtensteiger-Center-Will Montgomery-RD-Davin Joseph-RT Ryan Harris/ 2nd round OT

Draft Route: Draft Rodney Hudson in the second and if the draft board permits get one or two guys that fit your system between rounds 4-6


Agreed on Hudson. He is great in space. I think he's worth our 2nd rounder as long as we draft Mallet in the first.

Going w/ your line-up wouldn't it make more sense to draft a RT if you have us signing Kalil and Joseph?

Lets say you could only upgrade 2 positions via draft and FA how would you do it?
e.g.-LT-Trent Williams-LG-Corey Lichtensteiger-Center-Will Montgomery-RD-Davin Joseph-RT Ryan Harris/ 2nd round OT

The only things I'm looking for in terms of tackles this offseason is either a savy veteran that wouldn't mind being a backup or I would hope to luck out on a guy in the middle rounds.

Everything I've heard about Brown as he's gotten healthy has been extremely positive so I would like to see the team focus on signing him to something a 6 year contract that we can get out of in year 4 when Brown turns 34. A healthy Brown with a young Trent Williams can easily be the top tackle tandem in the league since that would basically give you two pro bowl caliber players. Asking for anything else would be greedy.

Of course Ryan Harris would certainly be a great option if they weren't able to resign Brown.

Still the focus this offseason after you deal with Brown has to be on the interior. Hands down. In the future we would be better served investing more resources for depth but we're spread pretty thin right now with upcoming holes at QB, interior line, D-Line, and Free Safety.

The only things I'm looking for in terms of tackles this offseason is either a savy veteran that wouldn't mind being a backup or I would hope to luck out on a guy in the middle rounds.

How about a young savvy veteran that can come in and play at a high level for 3-5 years without having to worry about health?

-BTW hope isn't a strategy (you walked into that one)


Everything I've heard about Brown as he's gotten healthy has been extremely positive so I would like to see the team focus on signing him to something a 6 year contract that we can get out of in year 4 when Brown turns 34. A healthy Brown with a young Trent Williams can easily be the top tackle tandem in the league since that would basically give you two pro bowl caliber players. Asking for anything else would be greedy.

I wouldn't call the Brown signing a success.
He came in w/ injury concerns that were valid b/c he was injured.
He played in 13 games and either didn't finish or split timw w/ Stephon Heyer (yes Stephon Heyer) in about half or more of those starts.

Having a top tackle tandem and gambling on the health of 30 y/o player coming off 2i njury plagued season doen't mesh imo.
Imo if you want 2 pro-bowl caliber OTs then Jamaal Brown shouldn't be relied on as the other bookend.

Still the focus this offseason after you deal with Brown has to be on the interior. Hands down. In the future we would be better served investing more resources for depth but we're spread pretty thin right now with upcoming holes at QB, interior line, D-Line, and Free Safety.
The focus has to be on upgrading the entire OL.
When did FS become a need?

How about a young savvy veteran that can come in and play at a high level for 3-5 years without having to worry about health?

-BTW hope isn't a strategy (you walked into that one)


Isn't the whole draft based on the concept of hope? We're simply not in position to invest a high draft pick in another tackle this early in the process. On top of that the only comparable outside option at Tackle is Ryan Harris who would come on board with injury concerns of his own. Plus theres a good chance Harris stays in Denver when they bring on Kubiack to coach the team.

So in the end we're stuck between trying to take a shot on a late round gem or downgrading through free agency.


I wouldn't call the Brown signing a success.
He came in w/ injury concerns that were valid b/c he was injured.
He played in 13 games and either didn't finish or split timw w/ Stephon Heyer (yes Stephon Heyer) in about half or more of those starts.

Having a top tackle tandem and gambling on the health of 30 y/o player coming off 2i njury plagued season doen't mesh imo.
Imo if you want 2 pro-bowl caliber OTs then Jamaal Brown shouldn't be relied on as the other bookend.



I never called the Brown signing a success. It's actually been a disaster for most of the year. However you can see the difference in play as the season has gone on. I mean this is an injury that has somehow gotten healthier during the season. I can only imagine how much better it will get during the offseason.

The focus has to be on upgrading the entire OL.
When did FS become a need?

Since the revolving door was put in place this year. Doughty and Horton are good SS options but both as predicted have struggled at FS as has Moore.

No expensive free agent signings, we always try that and it never works! Keep building through the draft and signing young cheap free agents for the o-line. Skins need to go younger everywhere, tired of being the oldest team in the league. Biggest needs in the draft 1. interior o-lineman 2. OLB opposite Orakpo 3. CB/FS depending on where Barnes starts next year (he should start). Wish we would have kept Justin Tryon too, and i really hope Malcom Kelly can get over the injury bug, would be a big boost to our receiving core, i think he can still be a player and he has some nice size.