Wait and see at tackle
Waddle’s the leader at pivotal position
ORLANDO, Fla. — With a vacancy at left tackle for the first time in nearly two decades, Bill Belichick maintained yesterday that every option would continue to be considered in the coming months.
LaAdrian Waddle is likely the leader in the clubhouse, but he’ll have to win the job in camp. His competition will include Tony Garcia, Cole Croston, Matt Tobin, Andrew Jelks and the assumption of a draft pick.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Belichick said. “I don’t know.”
The void obviously stems from Nate Solder’s departure for the Giants, who wooed him with a fouryear, $62 million pact that was the biggest contract in history for an offensive lineman.
For the first time this offseason, Belichick addressed the replacement plan, which is an ongoing process.
“There’s a lot of team building left for us and every other team in the league, so we’ll see how it goes,” Belichick said.
Waddle has mostly appeared at right tackle in a Patriots uniform, but he has practiced on both sides during his three-year tenure with the team. He overtook Cameron Fleming last season as the top swing tackle, but injuries derailed his progress. If Waddle can stay healthy, it’s his job to lose.
Garcia has been cleared to return after blood clots in his lungs sabotaged his rookie season. He got off to a strong start last training camp, so if he can return to that level, he’ll make a run at the starting job. It’s too early to know if that is a realistic possibility for 2018, though.
Croston, who went undrafted last year, was a healthy scratch a team-high 15 times in 19 games. He was a backup at tackle and maybe even at guard on an emergency basis. Pending the draft, Croston could be a surprise winner if Waddle gets injured in camp and Garcia isn’t ready for game action.
“He’s a developmental prospect, has some position versatility, has been in a good program, has worked hard, has improved, obviously didn’t get any playing time during the season or very little,” Belichick said. “We’ll see how it goes this year. He did enough in training camp to make the roster. We’ll see how it goes.”
Rave reviews
On the surface, adding a couple members of the 0-16 Browns doesn’t seem like a fabulous idea.
But cornerback Jason McCourty and lineman Danny Shelton should stabilize the Patriots defense, and Browns coach Hue Jackson vouched for both of them.
“It was very tough (to trade Shelton),” Jackson said. “These are the things you do to try and find ways to better your football team. What Danny did in Cleveland, he did a great job for us. He did everything we asked him to do. He improved year to year, and that’s what you want from a football player.
“They’re getting a guy that’s going to work extremely hard, is a dominant run player. He’s a tremendous teammate. He loves to win. I know that more than anything about Danny. I just think he’s going to help their defensive football team. He’s talented, and in that scheme, he’s going to flourish.”
As the Browns tried to get younger with their rebuild, they weren’t sure McCourty would make the team out of training camp.
“It gave Jason a chance early to get out and have a chance to move on to a good team and that’s what he’s done,” Jackson said.
Titan up
Titans coach Mike Vrabel obviously liked running back Dion Lewis enough to give him a four-year contract worth up to $23.4 million.
Here’s why.
“I feel like he is a player that’s willing to put the team first,” Vrabel said. “There’s only one football. They don’t let you play with more than one football. You play with a Hall of Fame quarterback, probably a Hall of Fame tight end and other runners on that team, it looked like he tried to do his job when they gave him the ball, or threw it to him.”
Breakfast leftovers
Regarding safety Duron Harmon’s marijuana-related incident in Costa Rica last week, Belichick said, “I think it’s all been covered. The Patriots released a statement. Duron released it. So I don’t have anything to add to that.” . . .
Belichick saluted outbound free agents Solder, Malcolm Butler, Lewis and Danny Amendola.
“Malcolm, Dion, Nate, Danny, all of them, those guys worked hard,” Belichick said. “They competed well. They performed well. They signed contracts that were better than what we were able to give them. So they all did a great job for us. We wouldn’t have had the success that we’ve had without the contributions of those and many other players.” . . .
Former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has worn Patriots gear around the predraft circuit. Belichick, who shares an agent with Bielema, wouldn’t say if he had been hired on a full time or consulting basis.
“We’ll have any formal and final staff announcements later in the spring,” Belichick said . . . .
Belichick said wide receiver and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson will get a chance to return punts in practice to see if it’s a role he can seize, and Adrian Clayborn will probably stick to right defensive end, though he’ll get a chance to evaluate him on the other side . . . .
Belichick offered an interesting answer when asked if recent restrictions on practice time have impacted his view of the draft.
“It’s harder to develop players,” he said. “You don’t have as much time.”
Group effort
Linebackers coach Brian Flores will be the unofficial defensive coordinator this season, but he won’t have the title for at least a year. Belichick said the whole staff will have to pick up the slack after Matt Patricia’s departure.
“I think everybody on the defensive staff will take on additional responsibilities,” Belichick said. “I haven’t really added anybody to the defensive staff. I’m not saying we won’t or will, but I’d say everybody’s responsibilities are going to — Matt did a lot for us, obviously, did a great job — but those will be shared by multiple people on the defensive staff.”
Belichick added high praise for Flores.
“Absolutely, he has done a lot of different things for us and done them all well,” Belichick said. “He has gained a lot of experience. He is a quality person, a quality coach with a lot of experience.”
More Manziel
The Patriots were in attendance at Texas A&M’s pro day.
They were there with 31 other teams to watch 14 Aggies players auditioning for next month’s draft. But there was also someone else there of note: Johnny Manziel.
Manziel threw to receivers and running backs including A&M star receiver Christian Kirk, who has drawn a lot of interest.
According to a source, the Patriots spoke with Manziel before and after the workout.