I was just wondering if anyone else feels the way I do. I am growing increasing tired of Matthew Slater. I just cannot forget the fumble in the Pittsburgh game. Also, he muffed a short kick off last night. You are taught in football 101 to simply fall on a fumble, but he always insits on picking it up which turns desasterous. I was curious to know if there are other fans out there that feels he is not worthy of spot on the 53 man roster or am I just being to hard on the kid? I feel tht there all the receivers on the team are better than him and forget tyhe special teams aspect because Aike, Edelman, Nunn, and Lewis are better options and they all play special teams. Also, Nick Kaczur got beat on a play that lead to Brady being blasted. I am kind of a Ryan O'Callahan fan; I remember his first couple of seasons he was great in the run game; I never really analyzed him in the passing game, but I do not remeber him giving up a lot of sacks when he was the starter. I just have never seen what Bill sees In Nick and why he remains the starter now that O'Callahan is back healthy. Plus Kaczur is scheduled to make 2.5 million which I think is rediculous for a man that in my opinion is the weak link on an otherwise talented offensive line. Here again, I feel O'Callahan is better and our rookie prospect has done nothing but impress. If you watched the 2008 games, Mark LeVoir filled in well for Matt Light. Wesley Britt has proven he can play a game or two at either tackle. I just cannot undestand the need for Nick when you have four other good tackles, and two of them can play both sides which Kaczur cannnot. Could I please get some feedback on what fans think of these two guys?
ceeski, I think Matthew Slater is going to hear it from the coaches on his muff last night as will Pat Chung. But I thought Slater did a fair job on his kick return game. It's going to be interesting to see where they go with this. I still think that the best KR on the team right now is Laurence Maroney. Somebody is going to have to go, and Slater didn't do himself a world full of favors last night.
Nick Kaczur did indeed get blown by last night on the sack of Tom Brady by Robert Geathers. At the time, I thought he lost track of the snap count as he was so slow off the mark allowing Brady to get pasted. Kaczur, IMO, is still one of the better OL the Patriots have. Bot he and Matt Light however have struggled with speed rushers. I like the other guys as well, but it will be interesting again to see who they keep. I think all of the young guys they drafted will get a pass for at least this season, but they do need to find some consistency especially in the rushing game. The rushing attack the first two games has been awful.
I really like the play of the young guys at WR, Terrence Nunn, Sam Aiken and Julian Edelman have been really positive. After going to nearly every practice during training camp, those three had at least one highlight play each every time. Hopefully they find the slots to keep all three. I think Edelman will be the punt returner for this season. After that.... who knows?
Next week against the Redskins, we should start getting a clearer picture.
As for Slater if Edelman makes the team I dont think that Slater will so you wont have to worry about him. Kaczur is going to be are starting right tackle until he really tanks in a couple weeks in a row. Kacsur is really inconsitent, he can be lights out one game then give up 2 or 3 sacks the next. I wouldn't mind seeing Volmer take over, he has been really impressive. I actually think next year we could see Matt Light be switched to right tackle and Volmer take over as the starting left tackle.
Here are some interesting opinions from M.R. of last night's performance, or lack thereof, when answering some questions and comments on last night's blog. Agree? Disagree?
Going through comments on the blog and sharing some thoughts on the Patriots’ 7-6 loss to the Bengals:
From Tom: So, did Alex Smith convince the Pats that going with 3 TEs isn't a bad idea at all? He almost got Brian Hoyer killed by completely ignoring the outside pass rusher on that play. Smith, Maroney, Crable and Wheatley really stuck out as players who did not help their cause one bit last night. No arguments when it comes to Smith, who also had a declined holding penalty on the night. He seems miscast to me when playing on the line of scrimmage, and would seemingly be better on the move. I thought Maroney, once again, got what was there in his limited opportunities. I also felt his one catch (14 yards) was a good individual effort by him to create yards after the catch by running away from the defender. Crable might have injured himself, but he hasn’t inspired confidence regardless. Wheatley has struggled two weeks in a row.
From Jim Nat: I was surprised that they went for the field goal and not the first down on the fourth and two at the Bengals’ 23. BB had stressed the importance of short yardage key situational runs this week, wasn't this a perfect opportunity to test that? It could have been a case where O'Connell's confidence would have been bolstered by going for it and converting, but I thought the situation called for the field goal, based on the time of game (end of second quarter). When also considering that it was a chance to further assess the competition at snapper between Nathan Hodel and Jake Ingram, it seemed like the right choice to me.
From edinFoxboro: What are your thoughts on how Brian Hoyer managed his drives? I was impressed. He showed good quickness to get out of the pocket, keeping some plays alive with his feet, while finishing 11 of 19 for 112 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. I thought he improved his standing on the team, giving himself a better chance than he had before the game to earn a roster spot.
From Andy M: Nick Kaczur seems to have mental breakdowns a lot, but BB obviously loves the guy. I'm praying that Sebastian Vollmer does well enough to take over for him this season. He looked decent this game. Bill Belichick’s comments after the game made me think that Brady’s sack wasn’t just on Kaczur. A big part of the Patriots’ offense is setting the protections at the line of scrimmage – that’s something Brady does very well – and there was a mix-up somewhere on that play. Watching it over again, it looks like running back Fred Taylor went to block up the middle, but everyone was accounted for, so I’m wondering if he should have been blocking to the outside right, chipping Robert Geathers to help Kaczur. That actually might fall on Brady based on his pre-snap read. As for Vollmer, I thought he struggled at times, missing a block on a receiver screen, picking up a declined holding penalty in the second quarter, and I believe he lined up improperly (off the line of scrimmage) in the fourth quarter which led to a fourth-quarter illegal formation penalty.
Didn't Matthew Slater still get some positive yards off that muffed kick return? I thought he still managed to bring it out to the 25 or 30, but I could be wrong. Regardless, have you ever tried to catch a line-drive kickoff? It's not easy...
Overall, I think our special teams needs work in the return game. No one had a good average in kickoffs or punts last night. They just weren't setting up good blocks. It could have something to do with the rule change on wedges... I dunno.
Nick Kaczur has never impressed me. He could be replaced by anyone else on the roster, and I wouldn't bat an eye. I hope someone else does step up soon, because he's absolutely the weak link on the line.
I wasn't pleased with the play of the offensive line in general last night. I think our run blocking flat out sucks, and the pass protection clearly needs work. It's very frustrating to watch one of our RBs take a handoff and immediately get swarmed by defenders!
My personal observations: - Offensive line play was pretty poor all around. I didn't break it down by player, of course, but pass protection looked weak and as with last week run blocking was subpar. If they don't get this fixed, expect to see a lot of pressure defenses getting a lot of sacks on Tom Brady, because everybody knows at this point that they're not going to stop him with coverage and they WILL sell out to blitz repeatedly. - Terrance Nunn looks like he has star potential. I realize they might not have a roster spot for him, but almost every time I looked for him he was wide open. He ran crisp routes and consistently seemed to know how to get some separation from the defender. With the first team offense and if Brady had a bit more time, I believe we'd have seen a great stat line from him. If they can find a way to keep him in the organization, they should do it. - The defense gave up a few big plays, but any time you hold a team to 7 points through 4 quarters of football, you have to call that a good effort. They got the stops when they needed them, except that one touchdown (which you can credit to the Bengals' offensive line picking up a massive blitz long enough for the QB to get the ball away; there was almost nobody in coverage). - Special teams play was *sloppy*. You can't give up that many penalties. - Maroney looked strong and decisive. When there was space, which wasn't often, he exploited it. - BJGE looked like, well, BJGE. When the defense was backed off in coverage, he looked spectacular. When the defense was playing the run, he went down fast. As much as we all like him, I view him as a bubble player; I think if I had to choose between keeping Nunn and Green-Ellis, at this point I'd choose Nunn, because he has much more upside and both are "merely" depth players. Not that that will turn out to be the decision, of course. - I hope Alex Smith is running out of chances. He looks *bad*, and he's looking bad against bubble players and third stringers. - Brian Hoyer is impressive. I think Walter would be my choice at this moment for top backup, but Hoyer could be special in a few years. - O'Connell isn't looking good. I am not saying give up on him already, but he's making poor decisions and displays poor situational awareness. He's quick on his feet and throws a pretty good ball, but he has a long way to go, and I wouldn't want to call whether he'll ever get there or not at this point. - Tully Banta-Cain has looked like a beast pass-rushing in both preseason games so far. I can honestly say that I have no concerns having him on the field on obvious passing downs as long as he's mostly trying to get after the QB. - I'll go for the gimme on this one: Jerod Mayo *WILL* be a superstar. - Meriweather is still a free safety lining up strong-side, but I thought he displayed very good awareness, he was in the area of a lot of tackles and he can bring guys down.
I think some of the cuts will come down to salary cap #'s. For example, according to http://www.patscap.com/ if the Patriots cut Lawerance Maroney he would cost the patriots 900,000 against the cap which I think increases his chances of actually making the team. So I think he's a lock to make the 53 roster. Nick Kaczur on the other hand would save 1.8 mill and be replaced by O'Callagan at a cost of approx. 500,000 for a 1.2 mill savings. Alex Smith would save 1 mill if cut versus Ben Watson would save 500,000 if cut or traded. Shawn Crable is another one whom if cut costs the Patriots 455,000 against the cap making it harder for say Myron Pryor to beat him for the spot.
I'm not saying Kaczur or Smith should or will be cut I'll leave that to Bellichick but I think the current 75+ players are talented enough that the larger salary cap cost could be the reason a player gets cut or traded.
Any thoughts on Derrick Burgess? I agree that Tully Bainta-Cain played well last night and Burgess reallly looks one dimensional as a pass rusher. I've only seen 2 preseason games so it's hard to tell.
Any thoughts on Derrick Burgess? I agree that Tully Bainta-Cain played well last night and Burgess reallly looks one dimensional as a pass rusher. I've only seen 2 preseason games so it's hard to tell.I was never too big on the idea of getting Derrick Burgess to begin with. I just didn't think he would fit in, and we already had a cheaper one-trick-pony on the team in Tully Banta-Cain. So far I've been right about this. I know it's only been two preseason games but how hard is it to remember a play where your job is "Go sack Quarterback"? TBC has outperformed Burgess in both games, and it's not even close.
Matt Slater made the 53 man roster last season as the football equivelent of a baseball utility player (and the fact that BB has such a historical appreciation of the NFL and I think Slater's lineage didn't exactly hurt his chances). That said-- is he the best kick/punt returner on the squat right now? No. Is he one of the best 5 WRs right now? No. Is he one of the 4 best safeties on the team right now? No. I think Slater and another jack-of-all-trades guy, Ray Ventrone, may not fit with this year's roster as well as they may have in the past.
I always sort of viewed Nick Kaczur as an adequate lineman, but not someone who's ever going to be dominant. I think Ryan O'Callahan, now that he's healthy, will have every opportunity to break into the starting lineup, even if it doesn't happen until some time during the regular season. However, I would hate to see Kaczur cut, just because's he's a known quantity, and injuries on the o-line can add up quickly.
Another guy I was watching was Brandon McGowan, just because he went to my alma mater. Even though he was solid enough to work his way intot he starting lineup in a decent Bears defense, his injuries seem to keep putting him back at square one. I sort of viewed his chances as 50/50 of making the roster, but my untrained eyes seemed to think he played okay with the second stringers. Anyone else have thoughts on him?
Brian Hoyer... suddenly I'm not so sure who the 3 QBs are going to be. Honestly, he ouplayed Kevin O'Connel, and I think he looked better than Andrew Walter did in the first preseasong game. I think O'Connel probably has a spot just because he was a third round pick, but Walter's stay with the Patriots could be a short one.
Another guy I was watching was Brandon McGowan , just because he went to my alma mater. Even though he was solid enough to work his way intot he starting lineup in a decent Bears defense, his injuries seem to keep putting him back at square one. I sort of viewed his chances as 50/50 of making the roster, but my untrained eyes seemed to think he played okay with the second stringers. Anyone else have thoughts on him? I thought he did well. I love that hit he laid on (insert Bengals player here) that caused a fumble. I think he could be a good backup safety for us.
Nick Kaczur is by far my least favorite Patriots starter. I even think more of Laurence Maroney than Kaczur (and Maroney is probably the guy I get on the hardest...). He's a sub par ROT. I'm really shocked Sebastian Vollmer hasn't had a chance in the starters. I'd have cut him after he got caught with all of those pain killers, but that's me. Maybe belichick knows something about kaczur that we just don't.
However, there has been quite a few people talking well about him during training camp this year.
Vollmer didn't look good last night. He was a revolving door blocking 2nd teamers and had an illegal formation penalty against him. Not saying "bust" alert, just saying I would expect him to need more time to develop. I don't like having to start Kaczur either, but I'm not convinced Vollmer represents an upgrade at this moment.
As for Burgess, remember that he'd been in New England for a little more than a week before the Bengals game. The trade went down Aug. 7 and it took him a few days to get into practice. Also remember that before the Bengals game I doubt very many people would have been willing to go out on a limb and say they thought Banta-Cain could be the guy as a pass rusher - we knew he was a solid pass rusher but he's coming off two pretty bad years. Now, sure, but hindsight is what it is.
Burgess could turn out to have been a bad trade, but it's much too early to start judging it like that.
I think Slater is looking really iffy on making the team right now...I almost think Edelman's prior history at QB gives an added advantage to him making the team over Slater.
Obviously most of the OL has been put "on warning" by how the Pats drafted this year and I honestly would not mind seeing Kaczur get released - but my gut is that he winds up staying this year before being replaced
Here's more detail on the Tom Brady hit. It seems it wasn't Kaczur's fault afterall:
FOXBOROUGH – When Tom Brady was crunched to the turf by Robert Geathers in the Patriots’ 7-6 preseason loss to the Bengals on Thursday, it looked like right tackle Nick Kaczur missed a block.
But as is often the case, there was more to it than that.
Kaczur was asked about the breakdown today at Gillette Stadium.
“It was a communication error on what we were running,” he said in the team's locker room before the Patriots' practice (3:45 p.m.). “Unfortunately, he took a hit on that one, which we never want to see. ... We had a draw and thought we were running the ball. Unfortunately, he held the ball and it was a communication error and that led to him getting hit. I don't want to put blame on anyone. It was a communication error. " (edited 2:10 to add more to quote)
After the game, Bill Belichick had explained that there was a mix-up on the play, but he didn’t specify the root of the breakdown. Still, Belichick’s remarks seemed to hint that it wasn’t simply a blocking miscue, it was about the offense failing to be on the same page.
Yet Kaczur alone seemed to take the brunt of criticism after the game.
“I went home that night, turned on the TV, and they said ‘Nick Kaczur missed a block and Tom Brady gets blown up’,” said guard Logan Mankins, tiptoeing around the specific breakdown. “But really it wasn’t Nick’s fault at all.”
Starting with Matthew Slater. From what we hear and see, he doesn't seem to be a consistently heads up football player, which is surprising, given that he's the son of a former player. I think he tries hard but the results seem dubious. I guess the caution is that BB and the coaches see him on a daily basis -- perhaps he is quietly contributing to the special teams in ways that we can't appreciate. Still, it would be disappointing for most of us, I think, if Slater made the final squad while Nunn, who seems to be a tough, smart playmaker, got cut, or got scooped up by another team from waivers (if they try to stash him on the practice squad, forget it -- he'd be a Cleveland Brown.)
BJGE runs too hard NOT to make the team, in my opinion. Especially given the fragility of Maroney, Morris, and Taylor. And Maroney has looked better this offseason, IMO. Not sure why he's still getting hammered for excessive dancing. BJGE vs. Nunn? If we keep both, is Galloway a goner?
The above post picked up Mike Reiss's piece describing the play where Brady got hammered, and it seems Kazcur was not solely to blame. I would love to see an upgrade because he is not a reliable pass blocker, but the poster above who remarked that Vollmer is not near ready is 100% on the mark. You can't get rid of Kazcur unless there's someone better to replace him with, and I'm not sure about Ryan O'Callahan (let's face it; he's been around for a few years now and has not really distinguished himself.)
Tully Banta-Cain may indeed turn out to be the pass rush X-factor. When they picked him up I didn't really think of him as a difference-maker, more like a retread, and I was genuinely excited about picking up Burgess. While I think it's way too early to give up on Burgess, I would be thrilled if TBC became a pass rush force, the type they really could have used last year. Between Adalius Thomas, an unleashed Jerod Mayo, Tully Banta-Cain and Seymour, maybe the pass rush will be able to pin those ears back and get after some people.
Biggest concern I have is one somone else already mentioned: pass protection. I think teams are going to blitz Brady like crazy this year, and Matt Light and Nick Kaczur give me unease on that score. A robust running game is absolutely vital in this regard, as is one reliable 3rd-down tight end, be it David Thomas or Chris Baker. I've given up on Watson, I'm afraid, and Alex Smith, it was nice knowing ya.
You can't get rid of Kazcur unless there's someone better to replace him with, and I'm not sure about Ryan O'Callahan (let's face it; he's been around for a few years now and has not really distinguished himself.)
Ryan O'Callaghan was on IR last year. In my opinion, he has never been afforded a real opportunity. I love Bill B, but every now and then he sticks with a player that has us as fans scratching our heads. You say O'Callaghan has done nothing to distinguish himself,and I am on the opposite end of the spectrum because I feel Kaczur has never done anything spectacular or even consistantly to be handed a starting position plus he make 2 million more than O'Callaghan. In my opinion, players of little worth and high dollars are going to continue to impede the Vince Wilfork extension which besides getting ready for the season should be our top priority because if they do not get the extension done, Vince will be gone unless they franchise him because some team will ofer him at leat 10 million per when I believe he will stay with us for 8 milion per. I usually support Bill, but I am not understanding the Wilfork thing even with the labor agreement not in place.
Sorry to break the news to some of you but the Patriots and Nick Kaczur are expected to sign an extension in the near future.
Mark LeVoir and Sebastian Vohlmer have the ability to play both tackle positions as does Wesley Britt. Also, you have Ryan O'Callaghan. So why do you give an extension to a guy who is already overpaid and can only play right tackle. Also, why would you do this yet you just cannot find a way to extend your most important defensive player? I do not understand Bill B lately. The only way I can see an extension being justified for Nick is if he is going to save us some money by doing so. Otherwise, it is down right foolish of Bellichick who i have never called foolish before even when he makes questionable decisions. If he wants Vince to leave us, he definetly helping his case with moves like this.
If he wants Vince to leave us, he definetly helping his case with moves like this.I'm thinking they're going to slap the tag on him. It'll give some of the other less experienced players another year under their belt regarding the Patriots defensive playbook and then if they don't come to a reasonable and fair agreed-to contract with Vince Wilfork, it's time to move on to his replacement. My thoughts are that this is what happened with Asante Samuel.
