mgteich

mayo has posted a fine integrated plan of attack, but I guess we need to have the discussion a couple of times a week, at least through the draft.
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THE CRITICAL STEP NO ONE ONE WILL DISCUSS
Extend Brady! This cannot be taken for granted.
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PHASE ONE - DECIDE WHICH OF OUR FREE AGENTS TO SIGN TO NEW CONTRACTS
We need to understand that anyone we don't re-sign will be use up free agent resources. That is the way Belichick works. We will have a competitive team even without counting on any rookies. It needs to be noted that some situations cannot be resolved. For example, Thomas, Green and Watson should probably be considered gone.

I would re-sign Bodden, Banta-Cain, Faulk and Burgess.
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PHASE TWO - THE TENDERS AND FRANCHISEES
Bring back Guyton, Lockett, Gostkowski, Woods, Mankins, C. Taylor, and Wilfork.

We should tender all our ERFA's and RFA's and expect to keep them all as we always have. If someone gives us a 1st or better for Mankins or Gost, then we will have the compensation to draft a replacement. I would PREFER to sign long term contracts with both of these players.

I expect to franchise Wilfork. I would much rather pay him what he wants in a contract extension
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STEP BACK AND ASSESS NEEDS
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PHASE THREE - EARLY FREE AGENCY
We again need a couple of wide receivers, linebackers, a TE, and a corner (at least to challenge Wheatley). These are our free agent needs every year. To put in another way, belichick chooses to meet these needs through free agency every eyar (and sometimes also uses the draft). we could see a top free agent. I would prefer to use the money extending our own players: Brady, Wilfork, Mankins, Bodden and Gostkowski.
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STEP BACK AND ASSESS 2010 and 2011 NEEDS
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PHASE FOUR - THE DRAFT
I expect that we will fill DL and OL needs through the early part of the draft, perhaps with three picks. We have lots of later picks and UDFA's for developmental QB's, punters, returner and to take wild flyers on players at other positions. Obviously we did very well indeed in 2009 in getting Edelman, Ingram, Pryor, Hoyer, Richard and Bussey.
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PHASE 5 - FILLING IN WITH LATE FREE AGENCY AND TRADES
We do what we need to at this point. Of course, last year some were expecting Taylor or Peppers. We did get McGowan and Burgess.

bradyovermanning

as the saying goes...'easier said than done'

not saying what you write isn't a good way to go, just saying its not always easy to write a list and make it happen, thats all

with that said, the patriots will definitely improve next year and beyond. not a franchise to sit back and be happy with another division title.

PATRIOTSFANINPA

If you want Burgess for another season you are of the minority,Other than a few late games where he actually made the stat sheet,is he really worthy of another season?

Looks like he is one of too many who has no interest in being a difference maker....we need a post 2001 McGinest clone in here,not guys just here for a paycheck,dump the trash I say.

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wilfork is beastin'

To Burgess's credit, he actually responded to his benching and began contributing, unlike Thomas.

sg14

FWIW dept, you could add more phases,, in addition to the player acquistion.

1) Self Scouting
2) What kind of scheme will we be running in the future, O&D,
More run oriented,add a full back, or go all out for passing ala the Colt???
On D=> 3-4, 4-3???

How do we morph, what will we do this year, the following year

It does seem the league has caught on to our screen game, we need some scheme change on O, I think.

If the Ravens and Jets win this weekend, that could be very interesting, are other teams going to copy that success? Are we?

RichSeymour

Why is extending Brady this offseason critical?

Patspsycho

That is traditional with marquee QB's.. you don't want to risk a standoff that could extend to the actual expiration of the contract, giving him the freedom to sign elsewhere.

Also it dictates everything else we do, including Wilfork, Faulk, Mankins, etc.

It all starts with the Golden Boy.

RichSeymour

Thanks for the reply.

Reckedtrek

there is another reason.

Despite not having a great year relatively speaking, he's still considered by many to be in the top 5 QB's in the league. Having a top level QB is pretty big piece of the puzzle to getting into the off season and actually making a serious run at the superbowl.

Alot of FA (your own and possible incoming FA's) will consider that when deciding which is the best team to sign with, especially the ones who care about winning and not just the pay amount- and players who care about winning are what you want on your team. I don't think we had enough on our team this year, unfortunately. I would think that goes 10 fold for WR's and also older FA's looking to get a ring before they retire.

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... I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard and floor it. Floor it, That's technical talk. ~ Stevie Ray Vaughan
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mayoclinic

Once the deadline for juniors to declare has passed (tomorrow at 5PM, I believe) I'll be posting an updated mock offseason and draft over the weekend.

I'm very optimistic with the announcement that Dean Pees won't be back. I have nothing against him personally, and hope it was a mutual decision, but I really think that our problems on defense have involved more than just personnel. I'm hoping that whoever comes in will have a much more aggressive and attacking mentality, whether we continue with a 2 gap 3-4, go to a 1 gap, go to a 4-3, etc. I'd like to see the OC and DC situations resolved prior to the start of FA so that we are in position to map out our strategy for who to try to retain and who to go after.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

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