FOXBORO -- Every Friday, Tom E. Curran, Mike Giardi and Phil Perry take your Patriots questions on Twitter and answer them as a joint mailbag -- or a Friday Bag, as they call it. Got questions? Tweet the trio using the hashtag #FridayBag.
Let's get right to this week's bag:
TC: Hey, Luke. I don’t think you can rule out a trade of any sort with this team. Nobody’s been more willing to deal over the past few seasons than Nick Caserio and Bill Belichick. The Patriots have Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon at the top of the depth chart now that Nate Solder’s done for the year. Behind them, it’s tight end/tackle Michael Williams and practice squad tackles Cameron Fleming and Blaine Clausell. Clausell is a rookie from Mississippi State. With Vollmer’s age and injury history, depth has definitely got to be a concern for the team leading up to the Nov. 3 trade deadline.
TC: Given the intensity the Patriots have shown in trying to prove the Wells Report science conclusions were faulty, it would stun me. But realistically, how would they do that? The game balls are under the jurisdiction of the officials so the team would have to keep balls that they gauged before the game on the sidelines through halftime, gauge them again and then do so after the game? I just don’t see Bill Belichick being down with that operation.
TC: There’s just too much real estate to deal with out there for someone who doesn’t have great length. Stork is 6-4, 313 with arms that were measured at 32 ¼ inches at the NFL Combine. Most tackles in the NFL have arms that are longer than 33 inches. The ability to strike and keep a pass rusher from getting into your chest is vital on the end of the line. So too is the ability to get that extension that can redirect a pass rusher upfield and behind the quarterback. Those inches matter. What matters most, though, is the experience playing out there. Stork is smart, athletic and competitive. But putting him out there would not be putting him in a position to succeed, is my initial reaction to that question, Ty.
MG: Mark, I’ve done a lot of research on this. I’ve asked questions. I’ve snooped around Patriot Place. I’ve had Ernie Adams tailed. Initially, I was convinced it was a secret game plan or play call ready to be sprung this week. Then I saw Ernie walking around in a checked blazer with unmatching pants and a shirt that came straight out of the 70s and it dawned on me that his wife probably called him to remind him that khakis and pink stripes is perfectly acceptable for their dinner date.
MG: Jerry, Stephen, it’s simple math. The Pats are hurting at cornerback right now. Carell Brown didn’t practice on Thursday, he missed the Jags game and he had that lingering foot issue pop on the injury report prior to the Dallas game. In addition, you cut Bradley Fletcher, meaning that as of right now, you have 4 healthy corners: Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Justin Coleman and Melvin. Unless Brown can prove his foot is fine, Melvin probably has to dress Sunday night. Scary? Yes. But it’s out of necessity.
MG: No short jokes? No blazer cracks? I don’t even know who you are anymore. As for your question, if Lewis is ok (he showed up on the injury report with an abdomen issue), I see no reason why he doesn’t continue to get the lion’s share of the snaps, at least until the game is in hand. Blount will be the change of pace back, and by change of pace, I mean bringing the thunder.
MG: It’s Cincy, Tillie, despite the fact that Andy Dalton is their quarterback and Marvin Lewis is their coach. They have tons of talent on that roster, a secondary filled with former first rounders, athletic linebackers, a game changer at wide receiver (AJ Green) and a couple of home run threats at running back (Hill and Bernard). I have no idea if they keep it together, but the pieces are there. Second guess would be the Jets. Yep, I said the Jets. Elite defense. Playmakers on offense. A streaky quarterback. Not sure what kind of coach Todd Bowles is yet, but the early verdict is in his favor.
MG: Pete, he’s a matchup player. Last weekend in Dallas, then needed a tight end who could help slow down Greg Hardy. That’s an easy choice, right? You go Michael Williams, a former tackle, or Gronk, a beast. Chandler isn’t that kind of player. In weeks prior, the coaching staff believed they’d be better off with Danny Amendola, or even in Buffalo, Aaron Dobson. I suspect Chandler will have his moment in the sun, but I doubt it’s this week.
PP: Hey, Jim. He could be, but he told me on Thursday that the Patriots had not yet asked him to shift back to tackle from tight end. Remember, even though he initially came to the Patriots as a tackle, his natural position is as a blocking tight end. He played tight end in college and he only really had one year (2014) working at tackle for the Lions.
PP: Speaking to reporters on Friday, Bill Belichick seemed confident in Cannon's abilities in pass protection. He has the requisite length -- 34-inch arms -- and he's a pretty impressive athlete for a guy of his size. It's why they've been confident moving him from right tackle to left tackle to guard to blocking tight end at times in his Patriots career. But don't be surprised to see an extra tight end on his side, as you mentioned, or a running back chip his man. There's only so much you can do. Most of the time, Cannon is simply going to have to win his matchup. But the coaches will keep an eye on the situation, and if it's evident he needs a hand, they won't ignore that.
PP: If the Colts are able to slow Brady down, they'll have to get vintage performances from veteran pass-rushers Robert Mathis and Trent Cole. Typically the plan to disrupt Brady is to pressure him without sacrificing numbers in coverage, and the Colts may be able to do that if Mathis and Cole play up to their reputations. But the two have combined for just one sack so far this season.
PP: If Brown can't play, his absence in and of itself doesn't seem debilitating for the Patriots defense. He's played is 59 percent of the team's defensive snaps this season. But it's the domino effect that his injury could have on the secondary that might be of concern. When healthy, I thought Brown may be the ideal player to play the Kyle Arrington role against TY Hilton, meaning he would cover the Colts speedster underneath while Devin McCourty shaded over the top. If Brown is out, Logan Ryan may be relied upon in that role, or perhaps it falls to one of the team's other safeties who have slot experience. Or perhaps the Patriots use a different plan altogether. Assuming the Patriots try to do something similar with Hilton -- if it ain't broke... -- and if Brown can't go, I think they'd use Ryan underneath on Hilton with McCourty over the top. That would then leave Malcolm Butler to run with Donte Moncrief, who I think is the Colts best down-the-field threat. The issue with that kind of alignment is that the job of handling Andre Johnson would fall to rookie Justin Coleman. Though Johnson doesn't appear to be the same athlete is was years ago, that's still not an ideal situation if you're the Patriots. Expect them to use their safeties in a variety of ways to help make up for their lack of depth at corner. As for Fleener, that job could fall to Patrick Chung, who has plenty of experience running with tight ends. And don't forget, before Brandon Browner ran with Fleener in their meetings last season, it was Jamie Collins who saw a lot of the Colts tight end in the 2013 Divisional Round. That could be a matchup the Patriots turn to once again.