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Look back at the '00-'01 offseason. The team as constructed then wasn't star studded, but Coach Belichick went out and got two missing ingredients, that helped the defense come into its own as a reliable and playmaking unit.
1) He brought in a stabilizing core of depth players. Not superstars, but guys who make the right play more often and not and weren't in high demand. Roman Phifer, Mike Vrabel, Anthony Pleasant, Otis Smith (well he was the previous offseason), Larry Izzo, guys like that (you can include Cox and Buckley if you want).
2) He got a "missing-piece" type player up front who could disrupt a play in a million ways in Richard Seymour.
Suddenly, the defense was pretty good. They made a lot of timely plays, stiffened at the right times, allowed few points, and ultimately went on to frustrate Kurt Warner and the high-flying Rams offense. Not because they were uber-talented, but they had the right mix.
Looking at this off-season, with the salary crunch that is about to go down, a lot of veteran defenders will be available. Some of them will get big contracts, but some will fly under the radar or wish to sign for a chance at a title. The Pats have much less cap space than they did in 2000, but also have a draw for free agents they did not have back then. If they can pull off a similar coup in free agent (acquire reliable veteran talent at a good value) and grab a penetrating presence in the draft, I will be very optimistic about the unit in 2013.
Addendum: Here's a list of guys with big cap hits, who could conceivably become available. All it takes is one guy to leave some money on the table and sign here, and all are players who could potentially be of use IMO. Some pipe-dreaming, but why not.
DT: Jonathan Babineaux, Kevin Williams, Domata Peko, Antonio Smith, Will Smith, Chris Canty, Tommy Kelly, Antonio Garay
LB: Jonathan Vilma, James Harrison, Quincy Black
LB/S hybrid role: Adrian Wilson, Roman Harper
SS: Charles Woodson, Antoine Bethea
CB/S "star": Antrel Rolle, Michael Huff
CB: Champ Bailey, Nnamdi Asomugha, Dunta Robinson, Ike Taylor, Carlos Rogers, Josh Wilson, Jason Allen
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Look back at the '00-'01 offseason. The team as constructed then wasn't star studded, but Coach Belichick went out and got two missing ingredients, that helped the defense come into its own as a reliable and playmaking unit.
1) He brought in a stabilizing core of depth players. Not superstars, but guys who make the right play more often and not and weren't in high demand. Roman Phifer, Mike Vrabel, Anthony Pleasant, Otis Smith (well he was the previous offseason), Larry Izzo, guys like that (you can include Cox and Buckley if you want).
2) He got a "missing-piece" type player up front who could disrupt a play in a million ways in Richard Seymour.
Suddenly, the defense was pretty good. They made a lot of timely plays, stiffened at the right times, allowed few points, and ultimately went on to frustrate Kurt Warner and the high-flying Rams offense. Not because they were uber-talented, but they had the right mix.
Looking at this off-season, with the salary crunch that is about to go down, a lot of veteran defenders will be available. Some of them will get big contracts, but some will fly under the radar or wish to sign for a chance at a title. The Pats have much less cap space than they did in 2000, but also have a draw for free agents they did not have back then. If they can pull off a similar coup in free agent (acquire reliable veteran talent at a good value) and grab a penetrating presence in the draft, I will be very optimistic about the unit in 2013.
Addendum: Here's a list of guys with big cap hits, who could conceivably become available. All it takes is one guy to leave some money on the table and sign here, and all are players who could potentially be of use IMO. Some pipe-dreaming, but why not.
DT: Jonathan Babineaux, Kevin Williams, Domata Peko, Antonio Smith, Will Smith, Chris Canty, Tommy Kelly, Antonio Garay
LB: Jonathan Vilma, James Harrison, Quincy Black
LB/S hybrid role: Adrian Wilson, Roman Harper
SS: Charles Woodson, Antoine Bethea
CB/S "star": Antrel Rolle, Michael Huff
CB: Champ Bailey, Nnamdi Asomugha, Dunta Robinson, Ike Taylor, Carlos Rogers, Josh Wilson, Jason Allen
It was clear from the day you arrived that this Forum would get a nice Boost.
Outstanding Premise, Brother Shataway.
***
Truly, we are very likely looking at 2001 Revisited. Few Owners ~ indeed: few Mammals ~ approach Expenses with any attempt at discipline. As a result, a vast swath of these Owners have got caught leaning off first.
There could be some exquisite Salary Cap Carnage, in the the weeks and months ahead.
Opportunity...knocks.
***
I, for one, am casting covetous eyes in the general direction of SE Anquan Boldin...and especially towards the allegedly finished CB Nnamdi Asomugh.
...and that's but a start.
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Belichick had previous experience coaching so many of those players listed; that's why they fit in so well. How many FAs does BB have experience with this time?
Look back at the '00-'01 offseason. The team as constructed then wasn't star studded, but Coach Belichick went out and got two missing ingredients, that helped the defense come into its own as a reliable and playmaking unit.
1) He brought in a stabilizing core of depth players. Not superstars, but guys who make the right play more often and not and weren't in high demand. Roman Phifer, Mike Vrabel, Anthony Pleasant, Otis Smith (well he was the previous offseason), Larry Izzo, guys like that (you can include Cox and Buckley if you want).
2) He got a "missing-piece" type player up front who could disrupt a play in a million ways in Richard Seymour.
Suddenly, the defense was pretty good. They made a lot of timely plays, stiffened at the right times, allowed few points, and ultimately went on to frustrate Kurt Warner and the high-flying Rams offense. Not because they were uber-talented, but they had the right mix.
Looking at this off-season, with the salary crunch that is about to go down, a lot of veteran defenders will be available. Some of them will get big contracts, but some will fly under the radar or wish to sign for a chance at a title. The Pats have much less cap space than they did in 2000, but also have a draw for free agents they did not have back then. If they can pull off a similar coup in free agent (acquire reliable veteran talent at a good value) and grab a penetrating presence in the draft, I will be very optimistic about the unit in 2013.
Addendum: Here's a list of guys with big cap hits, who could conceivably become available. All it takes is one guy to leave some money on the table and sign here, and all are players who could potentially be of use IMO. Some pipe-dreaming, but why not.
DT: Jonathan Babineaux, Kevin Williams, Domata Peko, Antonio Smith, Will Smith, Chris Canty, Tommy Kelly, Antonio Garay
LB: Jonathan Vilma, James Harrison, Quincy Black
LB/S hybrid role: Adrian Wilson, Roman Harper
SS: Charles Woodson, Antoine Bethea
CB/S "star": Antrel Rolle, Michael Huff
CB: Champ Bailey, Nnamdi Asomugha, Dunta Robinson, Ike Taylor, Carlos Rogers, Josh Wilson, Jason Allen
Totally with you on this and meant to post it earlier today (busy, lazy). I will be curious as to which veterans will be cut from teams around the league. I wouldn't be disappointed to see Seymour/Canty, Asomugha/Bailey, and Huff added at reasonable $$$.
As a byproduct, wouldn't letting Talib sign elsewhere and replacing him with a player cut recoup Talib's cost by virtue of a compensatory pick.
So what you're saying is all we need to do is add and hit home runs on...
-3 high end veteran role players
-1 all pro OLB
-1 HOF DT
Yeah, sounds pretty simple. Not sure why Belichick hasn't figured that one out yet.
Getting two good vets, two more decent ones, and drafting a stud is perfectly doable. Look how the Colts transformed their offense in a single offseason, get two steady vets below market value (Avery and Justice, who isn't very good but was by far their best offensive lineman) and drafting some good players (Luck, Hilton, Allen). Its not unusual for a well-executed offseason to transform a team.
And sorry to burst your homer bubble but Seymour is not a HOFer.
I just naturally assumed he was referring to coachability......
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