mgteich

I have added ERFA Ventrone and RFA Woods. I've listed Slater as a STer. He is on most rosters mislabeled as the #5 receiver (which he is at the moment)

In the offensive analysis, the needs were modest: a FB, a WR or two and an OG. That is easily doable in free agency plus perhaps one Top 100 draft pick.

To me, the defensive needs seem more serious, both in 2009 and 2010. I presume we'll get a 2010 pick for Cassel which will help a bit. Free agency success will make all the difference, especially in the ability to re-sign and perhaps extend our own.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Adams is a major downgrade from Wright. Also, Seymour and Green are in their contract years. We should plan for one being gone in 2010 or even this year. Seymour sat out the last time he was in this position. Wilfork can be franchised for a couple of years if we can't work out an extension. So, for me, there is a SERIOUS need at DE. Even if we extend Seymour or Green and franchise or extend Wilfork, we need TWO defensive ends to replace the production of Wright in 2009 (and beyond) and either Seymour or Green in 2010.

If Green's 2009 bonus isn't guaranteed, he could be gone before March 1. A $2.3M bonus plus a $2.5M salary is a lot of money for Green.

LINEBACKERS
I must say that for the first time in years, this position is in fine shape. We should keep Woods at least for this year. We have him, Crable, Guyton and Redd as developing youngsters to add to the top three LB's. Depending on what the coaches think of the present expected production level of Bruschi, we could decide to move Thomas inside, or not. This is a very young group; Vrabel, Thomas, Bruschi and the kids. I'd rather add a veteran than another developmental player, although the draft has some top 3-4 linebackers. I would be fine with adding one if the value is there.

SAFETIES
Bring back the vets! My choices would be to re-sign Sanders, Harrison and Tank Williams. I would also re-sign Lew Sanders as a utility defensive back who can play at any of the positions. I have no problem with replacing any of these re-signs with other free agents. We need veteran leadership from our safeties. It will NOT come from our corners.

FOUR CORNERS
I have Lew Sanders or an equivalent discussed as a safety. So, where are we at corner? Bring in the JAGS! Hobbs, Wheatley and Wilhite are who we expect to depend on. We also have Richardson and Spann on the roster. Hobbs could be gone after the season, if there is a new CBA. We wll likely bring our normal 3-5 corners to compete for roster spots, for reps, and perhaps even for a starting position.

The open question is whether Belichick can find a high draftee that he wants to add. We would end up with a mix of Hobbs and the kids at corner.

Personally, I view this as the weakest unit on the team, by far. We can win by making up for our corners with solid front seven play plus pressure from our safeties. But there is no hiding the truth of the weakness.

MY ADDITIONS
Re-sign: Wright, Harrison, Sanders, Sanders, Williams or equivalent quality free agents
additional fa or top 100: DE, CB, LB

In the end, this is a doable wish list.
===========================
DEFENSE
DE - 3 Warren, Green, Seymour
DT - 3 Wilfork, Le Kevin Smith, (Adams)
LB - 8 Vrabel, Bruschi, Thomas, Crable, Mayo, Guyton, Woods, (open)
CB - 4 Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, (Richardson/Spann)
S - 3 Meriweather, (open), (open)
DB - 1 (open)
ST -3 Ventrone, Izzo/Alexander/Redd, Slater

iapatsfan

I don't even think this is close. Pass rush, pass rush, pass rush. The #1 reason we give up the 3rd and longs like we do is because of pass rush. Ours stinks. Yes, our DB situation can be improved, but I don't believe the Steelers or the Ravens have an overall sensational defensive backfield. They get after the quarterback and give him very little time to throw. I don't know how many times this year I watched our pass rushers get stoned at the line by single blockers. It almost seems as if our OLB's are taught to lock up and "chicken fight" with the guy blocking instead of making a move to get around the guy. Think about it - How many times do you remember one of our pass rushing linebackers beating his man and coming clean at the QB. Instead they engage the OL and attempt wrestle with the guy and bull rush him into the QB. I don't know why there is so much focus on our D line. I think they to their jobs very well. They are all still in their 20's and I'd put them up against any of the 3-4 D lines in football. Our LB situation (with the exception of Mayo) is a completely different story.

cstjohn17

I wouldn't be opposed to an upgrade at OLB, but last year the Pats were without there top 4 pass rushers. Thomas, Crable, Woods - IR, Vrabel - old, tired and slow.

Look closely at the Ravens and the Steelers, they have elite Safeties which gives the defense a lot of flexibility. Harrison used to be a difference maker at Safety, either as a blitzer or an extra guy in the box. He could cheat up because Law/Samuel and even Wilson could cover.

I see Safety as the biggest need, if we roll out the same unit as last year with both Harrison and Williams coming off major injuries I would ask you why I should think it is chicken salad instead of chicken-xxxx?

E Belichick Unum

You are looking for trouble saying anything bad about Ellis Hobbles. There is a serious case of manlove going on here for him.

iapatsfan

The three players you mention are not explosive playmakers. Two of them are not even locks to make the roster and the third has one year of double digit sacks in his career. My point is if you give a QB very little time to throw, it makes all the DBs much better. I don't care how good your safeties are, if a QB has all day to throw the ball, they will get beat. A perfect example is San Diego. I would argue their Safety situation is much better now (Weddle) than 2 yrs ago. However, with their explosive edge player either hobbled our out for most of the last two years, their pass defense has suffered greatly.

Rob0729

I think the Pats do need to upgrade the LB position. Neither Vrabel nor Bruschi are getting any younger. ILB is the bigger issue. I am willing to believe Vrabel will rebound next year, but Bruschi is a situational guy at best now. Guyton isn't an every down LB yet. I would like to see the Pats upgrade the position. I wouldn't be upset if it was done in the draft with Aaron Curry (granted it would have to be with a draft pick picked up by trading Cassel to get high enoug to get him) or James Laurinaitis or Rey Maualuga.

Another key area is Strong Safety. Harrison is probably done. James Sanders is a liability in coverage. Wouldn't mind upgrading here. In the draft William Moore looks like the best option.

In free agency, Dawan Landry looks like a good pick up, but he may get a first round tender offer as a RFA. Although if they tender him with a second round tender or lower, I would consider making him an offer. A bit of a risk since he landed on IR this season. Also, to consider is Jermaine Phillips (11 INTs in the last three years), Sean Jones (14 INTs in the last three years), and Darren Sharper (a bit on the decline and only a short term pick up) to name a few.

Brettlax3434

Great Defenses have great pass rushes. Until this past season we have always had one. Willie McGinnist in the early years, vrable and colvin in later years. We need to take a dominant pass rushing outside linebacker within the first two rounds of the draft. A dominant pass rush mask's secondary problems, and makes an average secondary elite. Luckily, the draft is very deep with 3-4 linebackers this year. BB will adress this blairing need.

HEY BRO! WHAT UP?

Other than Jerod Mayo, their LB's are a mess right now. Vrabel should be on his way out, Bruschi's time is up and Adalius Thomas is very close to being in the "overpaying FA" category. A.T. better step up his game next season and make more of an impact on the field like he did late in the regular season and '08 superbowl. The Pats should know better to not overpay for someone that justs sits in coverage. Woods is worthless, Redd hasn't shown a damn thing and Crable has become the savior at OLB. However, Guyton has shown flashes but nothing to suggest he can take on the duties full time. The Pats need a MLB opposite of Mayo and one OLB to replace Vrabel.

I love what Harrison has done for the Pats, but his time is up. Sure, re-sign Sanders if the price is right, but he's not your starter. Tank Williams will not be retained because he gets injured way too much. The Pats need to sign Sean Jones or Jermaine Phillips and move Merriweather to FS.

Bring in the JAGS? Didn't you see what happened last season? Wheatley and Wilhite haven't done jack to suggest they are the starters. Richardson and Spann are worthless. The Pats need good veteran corners. I don't care who they bring in, as long as they weren't cut from their former teams.


I'm not saying the Pats need to break the bank and sign every top free agent, but if the Pats keep re-signing their weak links and keep everything status quo, you will get the same results. However, if they do re-sign their own, they better take a backup role because they should no longer be starters. Players that I'm talking about are: Bruschi, Vrabel, Harrison and every DB not named Brandon Merriweather or Ellis Hobbs.

If the Pats want to get back to their dominant superbowl winning ways, than their going to need an outstanding pass rush and better DB's. You don't have to have pro bowlers in the backfield, just players who can get the job done.

mgteich

Could it be that having Thomas and Woods injured affected 2008's pass rush? Could it be that the additions of Crable and another year of experience for Mayo and Guyton will help. You indicate that our pass rush was fine until 2008. Well, it may take a little time to see the help from all the 2008 additions (Mayo, Guyton, Crable and Redd). In addition, we should see help as injured players come back.

We started 2008 with Thomas, Vrabel, Woods and Crable. Three were injured. Your answer to the fact that the pass rush wasn't good enough is to ask to replace the injured.

BTW, we don't have close to an "average" secondary. Also, part of the effectiveness of the pass rush comes from corner and safety blitzes. Of course, this leaves the rest on an island. This is a risk with each of our current defensive backs.

patsfaninpa

My upgrades in order.

1. CB - I view Wheatley/Wilhite as replacements for Hobbs. Still nobody to replace
A.Samuel. I watched NFL Network rebroadcast of Super Bowl XXXVI. It was amazing
how often Law and O.Smith lined up in press coverage. We hardly ever do that any more.
And, need to work it back into our repotoire. I know the rules have been re-inforced to
call the 5yd rule. But, we play way too soft. Hell, we don't have anybody on the roster
as good as Otis Smith.

2. S - I don't think we need a big thumper like Rodney. With the way teams throw the
ball I prefer more of a CF type the way the game is headed. B.Meriweather seems to
play better closer 10-15 yds to the line of scrimmage than playing the deep ball.
Before anyone tells me what pct. of plays he played. I view J.Sanders as a 3rd safety.
If he wants to come back for 3rd safety money fine. But, he's the slot I'm looking to
upgrade.

3. OLB - There is no indication that P.Woods,S.Crable or Redd can become quality
NFL starters. And, quality is my key word. We can't afford average olb's in our scheme.
They have to get to the qb. That's why we paid big money for Adalius Thomas and
Roosevelt Colvin. Can't afford mediocrity at that spot. That's why M.Vrabel has been such a great player. But, he's in decline and we need a 2010 starter to replace him. I still can't
fathom how P.Woods didn't recover that fumble at his feet in Super Bowl XLII. I know it
was only one play. But, he's been in the league long enough to make other plays to make
up for that, but he hasn't. He is what he is. Excellent special teams player Nice backup.
Redd wasn't even in the league until injuries devasted our lb corps. Not going to be a
starter. In best case scenario S.Crable develops into a quality NFL starter. He could play
opposite the guy we're picking up here. Move A.Thomas inside. Worse case. Guy picked
up here must be able to replace Vrabel in 2010. I don't want to have to count on a
rookie next year.

How to solve. Trade Cassel for a 1st. Use cap space to keep players we have.
Wilfork,Mankins, extend Seymour. Also, want to keep M.Wright and J. Sanders.Then draft.

1. cb - Maybe a guy like Alphonso Smith
1b olb - Maybe a guy like C.Sintim or C. Barwin.
2a S - L.Delmas W.Michigan
2b ol
3 te
3 suple NG