Give Vollmer a lot of credit. Facing free agency for the first time, he could have rested longer — or even elected season-ending surgery — after getting the Week 12 Jets game off. Vollmer to that point had allowed one sack and 14 quarterback pressures in 10 games. In the seven games after the injury, Vollmer allowed 5.5 sacks and 23 total pressures. Vollmer sacrificed money for the team. Hope the Patriots remember that when it comes to Vollmer’s playing time incentives.
And now a word from Seabass…
Thank you to the Kraft family, Coach Belichick and the entire Patriots organization. I’m truly blessed. Thanks for all the kind words.
— Sebastian Vollmer (@SebVollmer) March 26, 2013
The four-year contract will pay $8.25 million Vollmer guaranteed, and it will have a base value of $17 million. Another $9 million will be available in playing-time incentives and roster bonuses, along with a $1 million Pro Bowl bonus.
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Volmmer deal will have $8.25 million guaranteed | ProFootballTalk Wow, crazy that the Pats got arguable one of the best right tackles in the game for that little. The offensive line stability is officially intact. |
Great news today as the Pats have agreed to a reported four-year deal with Sebastian Vollmer. I was on board with bringing Vollmer back since the start of the offseason and it brings the final tally on the big three free agents to two (Vollmer/Talib) out of three (Welker).
Solid move that ensures Brady will get top-of-the-line protection this season and going forward, especially on the edges. Though it makes you wonder what this means for the free agent defensive ends like Freeney and Abraham.
Certainly a bargaining chip for the Pats coming during the offseason Vollmer becomes a free agent. I’d be all for re-signing him, and if the knee is not a long term problem he should be fine.
A four-year deal worth $23 million ($5.75 million per year) would surpass the contract given to Chiefs tackle Eric Winston last year, and would put Vollmer in the rank and file among the top 10 right tackles in the NFL without holding the Patriots down for too long in the event his back doesn’t stand the test of time.
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Why the Patriots Should Bring Sebastian Vollmer Back in 2013 | Bleacher Report Great read from Frenz, and again, I think Vollmer should be the first priority this offseason. Protect TFB first then worry about who he’s throwing to. |
That leaves Vollmer, who ProFootballFocus rated as the No. 22 tackle in the NFL. In 617 offensive snaps, Vollmer allowed only 35 pressures. Along with second-year pro Nate Solder (rated No. 23 overall by the site), Vollmer represents a core piece of the team’s stability. Signing him now, going into his fifth year, should be the the team’s No. 1 priority.
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For Patriots offseason, Vollmer should come first - Extra Points - Boston.com I concur on this… |
Great stuff here as always from the Word of Muth, breaking down the offensive line against the Dolphins. Vollmer is definitely one to keep an eye on this Monday night. Hopefully he can bounce back, but if he can’t it could be another major injury hurdle for the Pats to overcome this year.
Vollmer has been great all year, but missed Week 12’s game against the Jets with an injury. He was a game-time decision on Sunday, and it looked like New England may have made the wrong decision. Vollmer struggled in both the passing and running game against Cameron Wake for most of Sunday. In the running game he was consistently behind his blocks: his helmet was never on the correct side of the defensive lineman. Generally, if the defender is running towards your side, you want your helmet on the defender’s outside number or shoulder (depending on if the play is going inside or outside). Vollmer never threatened to get outside of Wake. As a result, Wake was never worried about losing leverage and was able to dig his cleats into the ground and hold the point. On backside cutoffs, Vollmer had the same issue. He was unable to get his head across defensive tackles, so he gave up far too much penetration. It wasn’t just the lack of movement or some leakage in the running plays: it was the huge negative plays he allowed. He gave up a sack-and-a-half and was responsible for another sack he wasn’t credited for. (His man beat him inside, forcing Brady to give ground and roll right into Solder’s man.) He also had a holding penalty. Those are all drive-killers.
[Mike Reiss thinks] Sebastian Vollmer will ultimately return and help the Patriots at right tackle this season, but in watching him closely during warm-ups at practice in Tampa, he appeared stiff while running (and finished last among his teammates for what it’s worth). He also didn’t bend over to touch his toes in stretching. Don’t want to read too much into it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if loosening up his back is an issue he’s dealing with all year.
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Quick-hit thoughts around NFL & Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston Not the kind of thing any of us want to hear but we have to be realistic with Vollmer. |
