pats1

Well, it's never too early. So here's an early look at how I think the Pats will approach the beginning of their offseason, whenever it shall come:

Quarterback:
Retained: Tom Brady, Kevin O'Connell
Re-signed: Matt Gutierrez (ERFA)
Depart via FA: Matt Cassel (UFA)

Running back:
Retained: Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Re-signed: Heath Evans (UFA)
Not re-signed: LaMont Jordan (UFA)

Tight end:
Retained: Benjamin Watson, David Thomas
Re-signed: Tyson DeVree (ERFA)

Wide receiver:
Retained: Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Sam Aiken, Kelley Washington, Matthew Slater
Future contract: Maurice Price
Re-signed: Jabar Gaffney (UFA), Ray Ventrone (ERFA)

Offensive line:
Retained: Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur, Billy Yates, Ryan O'Callaghan
Future contract: Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell
Re-signed: Russ Hochstein (UFA), Mark LeVoir (ERFA), Wesley Britt (RFA)
Injury settlement: Barry Stokes

Defensive line:
Retained: Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Jarvis Green, Le Kevin Smith
Future contract: Titus Adams
Re-signed: Mike Wright (UFA)
Injury settlement: Kenny Smith

Linebacker:
Retained: Mike Vrabel, Adalius Thomas, Jerod Mayo, Gary Guyton, Shawn Crable, Bo Ruud
Future contract: Darrell Robertson
Retire: Tedy Bruschi
Re-signed: Pierre Woods (RFA), Eric Alexander (RFA), Larry Izzo (UFA), Vince Redd (ERFA)

Defensive back:
Retained: Brandon Meriweather, Ellis Hobbs, Terrence Wheatley, Jonathan Wilhite
Future contract: Mark Dillard
Re-signed: James Sanders (UFA), Tank Williams (UFA), Antwain Spann (ERFA), Mike Richardson (ERFA)
Retire/Not re-signed: Rodney Harrison (UFA)
Not re-signed: Deltha O'Neal (UFA), Lewis Sanders (UFA), Jason Webster (UFA)

Special teams:
Retained: Stephen Gostkowski
Future contract: Tom Malone
Re-signed: Lonie Paxton (UFA), Chris Hanson (UFA)

...I put the secondary in bold because that's where I think the most change could come. I have Sanders and Williams both being re-signed, but it could go either way. Meriweather, Wheatley, Hobbs (for now), and Wilhite are the obvious base, and how the Pats go about (re-)building around that, I am not sure. Could be FA, could be a draft, could be a mix.

MrBigglesWorth

we need a pass rush. no ifs ands or buts about it.

__________________
"There are two categories of superbowl participants that nobody remembers:

The team that lost the game and the team that only won one." Dwight White- Steelers

SoCal Pmen

The number one pick will most likely be a DL

pats1

I disagree, where would he play? He would just be another Marquise Hill - a high draft pick with no chance at seeing the field.

pats1

Traditionally this has been supplied by the OLBs for the Pats. You have Vrabel, Thomas, Woods, and Crable. You can make an upgrade here or there, but the pass rush capability is already there.

ALP

maybe the potential is there....but we dont know about the capability....

__________________
Last time I lived in New England the Pats became a Dynasty

Then I moved away and they haven't won since

...now I'm moving back, and a Lombardi I predict

pats1

Well, Vrabel and Thomas should be successful pass rushers. Have they lately? No, not really.

MrBigglesWorth

they aren't getting the job done.

Woods has potential, no production. same with Crable.

Thomas is alright, he hasn't lit it up yet, I hope he does.

and Vrabel hasn't really gotten to the QB(some would blame it on the shoulder), but we need a demarcus ware, james harrison, joey porter, or shawn merriman.

we haven't gotten much consistent pressure with our front 7 with just a 4 man rush. I emphasize consistent.

Some may blame the secondary for not being able to cover, but I'm of the thought not being able to get to the QB. we should be beating up the opposing QB.

__________________
"There are two categories of superbowl participants that nobody remembers:

The team that lost the game and the team that only won one." Dwight White- Steelers

MrBigglesWorth

agreed. I also wonder if because of the new players in the system they haven't been able to disguise defensive schemes like they normally do.

__________________
"There are two categories of superbowl participants that nobody remembers:

The team that lost the game and the team that only won one." Dwight White- Steelers

pats1

But they've never had a player of that caliber at OLB - in 2003-2004, they had three steady rushers in Vrabel, McGinest, and then Colvin in late 2004. So when 3rd down came, you had a steady dose of at least Vrabel, McGinest, Green, Seymour, and then usually another LB and/or a safety.