Brady#12

sorry if already posted

Inside Linebacker
Tedy Bruschi's comeback from a stroke this past offseason is a big boost, but he's turning 33 this offseason, and nobody knows just how well he will play. Even with a return to form, the Patriots have a large need at ILB. Chad Brown has had a nice career, but he's turning 36 this offseason, and hasn't been anything special thus far. Beisel has been unsuccessful thus far in trying to replace the Teds (Ted Johnson, who retired, and Bruschi), and doesn't seem like more than a backup. Larry Izzo is a great special teamer, but isn't much at ILB, and Chatham doesn't seem like starting material either. They desperately need some youth at ILB, and should look towards Iowa ILB Abdul Hodge in round 1 or a guy like Justin London in round 2.

Outside Linebacker
As much as some Pats fans might disagree, they are in serious trouble here. McGinnest and Vrabel are both free agents this offseason, and even if they manage to keep both LBs, McGinnest turns 35 next season. While Vrabel is playing as well as he ever has, I doubt he takes a small contract in return for his services, and the Pats don't have much cap room. They could also use some youth here with both starters in their 30s, so even if both are signed, a future starter is needed. Rosevelt Colvin has the talent to replace McGinnest, but hasn't been himself since the injury. I could see him doing the job well, but I don't know if the Pats can depend on that. And Tully Banta-Cain? Just not a good starting option. Iowa's Chad Greenway and Alabama's Demeco Ryans could be options if they fall in round 1, along with Bobby Carpenter from Ohio State and Spencer Havner of UCLA, in late round 1 or round 2. It should be a deep position this April, and other solid options include Omar Gaither and Terna Nande who both should be available on Day 2.

Wide Receiver
This has the potential to be a huge need this offseason, with Troy Brown's retirement looming and starters David Givens and Deion Branch both slated to be free agents. Assuming they are all kept, they would have a very small need, but that is doubtful, and they still might want to upgrade here. Branch has the ability to be a great number one receiver, and this season, is starting to show it. However, a great receiver warrants a big contract, and even if he does receive it and stay, they may lose the money needed to re-sign Givens, who also has played very well this season, but is expected to leave the team via free agency this offseason. Bethel Johnson has the talent to be a good receiver, but it doesn't look as if he will ever pan out there, despite his speed. If he can learn to run routes, however, he could be a solid option as a slot receiver with a ton of upside. Tim Dwight is aging and isn't much of a receiver. Arizona State's Derek Hagan and Miami of Ohio's Martin Nance would be good mid-late round 1 options, while Mike Hass and Demetrius Williams would be solid round 2 options.

Safety
Rodney Harrison turns 34 next season and his backup, Guss Scott, has been placed on the IR in each of his first two seasons. Eugene Wilson has been a very solid starter thus far in his career, but even he can be improved upon. Rookie James Sanders doesn't look like he's going to be a star in this league, so this could be a big need, even if they just draft a future replacement for Harrison, who will serve only as a backup in his early career. I could see them taking a safety as early as round 2 or 3 with options such as Florida State's Pat Watkins and Nebraska's Daniel Bullocks likely available. Jarrad Page of UCLA and Marcus Demps of San Diego State would be solid Day 2 options.

Runningback
Corey Dillon turns 32 next season, and the Pats might want to find a future starter at RB this offseason. His production has already dropped from last year's spectacular season in which he averaged 109 yards per game played. Thus far this season, he averages 67 ypg. Kevin Faulk and Amos Zereoue are poor backups and both will be 30 next season. They wouldn't be good options as a backup or a future starter. I see them targeting an RB with one of their two third round picks. DonTrell Moore of New Mexico would be a great fit if he falls, along with Louisville RB Michael Bush, as a power RB is the best fit for the Pats system on offense.



what do you guys think?

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A.Samuels #1 fan

JoeSixPat

The Patriots have a way of finding diamonds in the rough when it comes to ILBs and OLBs - be it in the middle rounds of the draft or in free agency (this past season not included).

So I'm confident the team will find a way to address those needs one way or another.

Finding help in the secondary and at WR is a tougher nut to crack.

The best guys in those positions - especially CB and WR - are tall, fast, shifty guys. There aren't too many of them that sneak by other teams unnoticed and are usually only to be found at a premium in FA or as high draft picks.

Ultimately the Pats are going to have to restock in both these realms - and WR would be my top priority out of the two.

A good start would be to somehow keep Givens at least for one more season. We went into last seaons with Branch and Givens at #1 & #2 and the talent level dropped off dramatically after that.

This season, without Givens, we have Branch and a major drop off in talent... and this in a year when WRs are tough to come by.

I'd be willing to spend some money or a high draft pick to give Brady his Jerry Rice - a young tall guy with good hands and speed.

I think with that type of player the entire offense and the entire team can take it to a whole new level.

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JoeSixPat

By the way - Branch is signed through 2007 I believe

And I was not aware that Dillon was already averaging 67 yards per game. I agree that's a little low, considering the defense isn't even on the field.

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Brady#12

i think we do need to get a WR that nearer to the quality that Givens is which is hard

but BB and co seem to do this kind of thing all the time in every position and i think that CD doesn't have much left in the tank so we might need a replacement.

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A.Samuels #1 fan

ilduce06410

your RB has to scare the $h!t out of the opposing LBs. it makes play-action work later. when LBs are like, hey he's not gonna get more that 10 if he busts loose, they'll ignore the play fake. and the screens.
whatisnaame, that RB from Atlanta, can average 60, 55 yaerds a game. but when he gets the ball....

patchick

I'd actually flip your discription of WR and OLB in this regard. A Patriots OLB is an exceptionally rare athlete -- very tall, very big, very fast. Vrabel may have been a "diamond in the rough," but Colvin was a widely coveted free agent and Willie was a top draft pick. In fact, even Vrabel was drafted on the first day...and in today's NFL with all its new 3-4 defenses, he could have gone in the first round. 'Tweener is now a desirable label.

WR, meanwhile, has been shown to be the single least reliable position to pick at the top of the draft. It's just too hard to project from college offenses to the NFL.

cellshade

While I haven't beign a fan of football since some 2 or 3 years ago, I do agree that NE needs a new RB, though I still think Dillon can give us another year or 2, since he makes the LB'S to think if they should rather go and get him or Brady.
Also what about if on the draft they take WR from USC in College, since USC hhad pretty good WR'S.

patchick

Also, no offense but it's not great to copy an entire article like this, especially without even mentioning the source! (It appears to be the work of Jason Chernofsky on footballsfuture.com.)

Yours truly,
An oft-plagiarized writer

JoeSixPat

I'm not saying that Patriots caliber OLBs grow on trees - its just that the Pats seem to do a decent job of finding them - mostly through FA once they can accurately guage their ability and upside for their system.

As far as WR, you're right - in fact if they are looking to the draft I'd feel better if they worked some deals to move up into the top 10 to get a WR where there is more consistency. We don't need another Tony Simmons, which is why I'd go along with using a high draft pick, trade or spending some $$ in free agency (though the pickin's are slim this year).

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patsox23

Enjoyed reading this, but disagree with some of the OLB stuff.

For one thing, why are we worried about a contract for Vrabel? He was EXTENDED last off-eason. Also, Colvin has steadily improved since the injury and seems all the way back.

I agree that McGinest only has a year or so left and we need to draft some youth - at all LB positions - but the straits New England is in at this particular spot is hardly as dire as you make it sound.