Dan Koppen at 100% but is that enough to start again?
Koppen has returned for a 10th season with the Patriots, but this one is different from many of the rest because there’s no guarantee that he’ll be the team’s Week 1 starter. That job might belong to Dan Connolly if he’s not pressed into action at left or right guard.
Koppen took the business-minded approach to that topic, saying nothing has ever been guaranteed to him. And yeah, that’s true to an extent.
But Koppen said he re-signed because he’s comfortable in New England. Plus, the chance to win a Super Bowl might have been more enticing than starting for a team that is considered a longshot.
As for that ankle, though?
“I’m good,” Koppen said. “I don’t even feel it anymore.”
Koppen has been an anchor in the middle of that Patriots offensive line for a decade. However, it can't be emphasized enough how much the Patriots value depth and developing talent. He'll have to fight to gain that starting spot back.
One of the underplayed story lines of last year was that center spot. We saw how big of a deal it became with the Jets when Nick Mangold went down. The Jets went on a losing streak and a lot of that was blamed on Mangold's absence. However, the Patriots lost their starting center the first game of the season and it didn't seem to affect them nearly as much. The reason? Belichick builds that quality depth on his roster.
Dan Connolly was the starter at center last year when Koppen went down in Game 1 and I would assume he will probably keep that job. To be honest, I thought Koppen struggled protecting Brady at times in the last couple of years before his injury.
The wide receiver core has gotten a lot of attention this off-season but the center position is another to keep your eye on in training camp.
