In their first meeting, the Wildcat ran wild. Miami's star running back and New England's head coach tackle the unorthodox formation. Plus, news and notes from Wednesday's practice.
The Patriots head into Sunday's game at Miami tied with the Dolphins for second place in a highly competitive AFC East. The winner of the contest will answer a few questions heading down the stretch toward the postseason. For all the other questions surrounding the Patriots we bring another wide-ranging edition of Ask PFW.
After seeing the Dolphins' Wildcat formation rip it to shreds in Week 3, New England is doing everything it can to prevent a repeat performance this weekend.
Joey Porter's running his mouth again. Read all about that and the other news and notes leading up to this weekend's Patriots-Dolphins game in today's Patriots.com News Blitz.
68 Ryan O'Callaghan T
Height: 6-7 Weight: 330 Year: 2 Yrs/Pat: 2 Acquired: D5-06(136th overall) School: California Major: Business Born: Jul 19, 1983
Personal
Ryan O'Callaghan was born the son of Tom and Evelyn O'Callaghan on July 19, 1983 in Susanville, Calif. ... Attended Enterprise (Redding, Calif.) High School, where he earned Prep Star All-America honors and was rated the 10th-best offensive line prospect in the West as a senior ... Selected to play on the California state all-star team vs. Florida ... Was a dominant offensive tackle as a senior, allowing no sacks while registering 74 knockdown blocks for a 10-2 team in 2000 ... Led a rushing attack that averaged 240 yards per game in his senior season ... Was a Business major at the University of California.
Career Transactions
Ryan O'Callaghan was drafted by the Patriots in the fifth round (136th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.
2006 Season
2006 (11/6/0/5): Started his first career game at right tackle in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over Buffalo (9/10/06).
Buffalo (9/10): Made his first career NFL start at right tackle in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills ... Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots' rushers to gain 183 rushing yards on 41 carries (4.5 yard avg.). at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Started at right tackle ... Part of an offensive line that allowed Patriots' rushers to gain 147 yards in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets. Denver (9/24): Started at right tackle and was a member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack despite 55 pass attempts. at Cincinnati (10/1): Inactive. vs. Miami (10/8): Made the start at right tackle ... Member of an offensive front that allowed just one sack on 29 pass attempts in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins. at Buffalo (10/22): Started at right tackle in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills ... Pounced on a Tom Brady fumble midway through the third quarter. at Minnesota (10/30): Started at right tackle ... Was a member of an offensive front that gave Tom Brady enough time to throw for 372 yards and tie his career high with four touchdown tosses in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings ... Helped to pave the way for a running game that averaged 5.7 yards per carry, gaining 85 yards on just 15 rushes. Indianapolis (11/5): Played in a reserve role at right tackle ... Member of an offensive front that did not allow a sack on 35 pass attempts. vs. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Played in a reserve role at right tackle and on field goal protection units. at Green Bay (11/19): Saw action in a reserve role at right tackle in the Patriots' 35-0 road victory over the Packers. vs. Chicago (11/26): Saw action in a reserve role at right tackle in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears ... Left the game with an injury in the second quarter. vs. Detroit (12/3): Inactive. at Miami (12/10): Inactive. vs. Houston (12/17): Inactive. at Jacksonville (12/24): Inactive. at Tennessee (12/31): Saw significant action in a reserve role at right tackle ... Member of an offensive front that allowed Patriots' ball carriers to gain 171 rushing yards on just 31 carries (5.5 avg.) in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans.
2006 Postseason (0/0/3/0): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Dressed but did not play in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets. at San Diego (1/14): Suited up but did not see action in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers. at Indianapolis (1/21): Dressed but did not see action in the game.
College
Started 35 games for the University of California over four seasons (2002-05), missing only one game in his collegiate career ... In his final two seasons with the Bears, blocked for a 2,000-yard rusher (J.J. Arrington, 2004) and a pair of 1,000-yard performers (Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett, 2005) ... A two-time All-Pac 10 first team selection (2004-05) ... Recorded a total of 44 touchdown-resulting blocks in his career. 2005 (Senior): Started all 11 games in which he played ... All-Pac 10 Conference first-team selection ... Recipient of the Morris Trophy, given to the outstanding offensive and defensive linemen in the Pac 10 Conference ... The award has a unique selection procedure, where the starting defensive linemen in the conference vote for the offensive winner and vice versa ... All- American Dream Team selection by The NFL Draft Report ... Rated the best right tackle in college by The Poor Man's Guide to the NFL Draft ... Registered 38 knockdowns and had 19 touchdown-resulting blocks for an offense that averaged 427.9 yards per game ... Paved the way for a running attack that averaged 235.2 yards, ranking ninth in the nation ... Was the main reason the team featured two 1,000-yard rushers in Marshawn Lynch (1,281) and Justin Forsett (1,028) ... Opposing defensive ends managed a total of just 12 tackles with one stop for a loss, no sacks and no pressures in his 10 starting assignments ... Did not allow an opponent to register any statistics in five of his 11 games played. 2004 (Junior): Started all 12 games ... First-team All-Pac-10 Conference selection ... Recipient of both the Bob Tessier Award (most improved offensive lineman) and Andy Smith Award (most playing time) ... Registered 28 knockdowns and produced 15 touchdown- resulting blocks for an offense that ranked fifth in the nation with an average of 492.4 yards per game and featured the NCAA Division 1-A's sixth-rated rushing attack, averaging 256.8 yards ... Was part of an offensive line that helped produce the school's first 2,000-yard rusher (J.J. Arrington). 2003 (Sophomore): Started 11 of 12 games ... Moved into the starting lineup at right offensive tackle ... Played a key role as the team improved a ground attack that averaged 124.3 yards per game in 2002 to 180.3 yards per game in 2003 ... Posted 27 knockdowns and 10 touchdown-resulting blocks. 2002 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared all 12 games as a reserve offensive tackle. 2001 (Redshirt): Redshirted as a true freshman.
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