rookBoston

QB (3) - Brady, UFA or rookie, Cassel... Need one more by TC; if you believe in Cassel as a #2, may as well spend another 6th rounder for depth-- but a journeyman vet makes sense

RB (4) - Dillon, Faulk, Pass, Evans... by my count, we're all set; maybe add a Day Two rookie for competition. Despite all the fair weather critics, I actually like our backfield

WR (6) - Branch, UFA, Caldwell, Brown, rookie/UFA, Bethel... need two players, at least. Could use an upgrade from the draft, but there are only about two WR prospects in this draft that I like. My vote: Eric Moulds solves the entire WR dilemma top to bottom

TE (3) - Graham, Watson, rookie... we won with Wiggins and Ruttledge, so how can we be concerned that "all we have" is Graham and Watson? I'd happily take Jed Weaver back as our #3 TE, but Garrett Mills would be a nice 4th round pick

OT (4) - Light, Kaczur, Gorin, rookie... I say "rookie", but we have good development young talent on the PS already. A cheap vet backup is always an option

OG/C (4) - Neal, Mankins, Koppen, Hochstein... Re-signing Neal locked down the entire interior line for another year. Might be nice to draft a rookie OC as "Koppen insurance" for 2007

NT (2) - Wilfork, Wright... Room for depth, but we're okay to go

DE (5) - Seymour, Warren, Green, Hill, Klecko... We could clear roster space for a rookie DE, if the right player falls in the draft and BB has lost faith in either Hill and/or Klecko. Personally, I think we're set

OLB (4) - Vrabel, Colvin, BantaCain, UFA or rookie... Real opportunity for a first-rounder to make an impact long term-- plenty of good prospects that fit a 4-3 OLB

ILB (6) - Bruschi, Beisel, Claridge, Izzo, Davis, rookie... The open roster spot is to backfill for Chatham. But can Beisel or Claridge step in as a starter? If not, Greenway, Schlegel or McGarigle are my top candidates.

S (5) - Harrison, Wilson, Hawkins, Sanders, Scott... Despite all the injuries, this group reads well on paper. Only two of them are going to see the field at a time, anyway.

CB (4) - Samuel, Hobbs, Scott, rookie... Poteat is our roster insurance at CB, but I'd love to see a Day One rookie on the depth chart

K/P/LS (3) - UFA, Miller, Paxton... Need a kicker, and BB is typically not one to trust an important job to an untested rookie

--------------

Where's the cause for panic? We have a total of 9 roster needs. We have 9 draft picks (4 on Day One), plus Compensatory picks TBD and plenty of cap space for free agents.

The only urgent needs on this roster are credible solutions at ILB, K and WR. Other than that, we're looking for depth at a handful of positions. The roster looks pretty competitive and it's only March.

Chill out, fellas. If you want a franchise that's going to blow it's wad in the first few weeks of free agency, you need to change allegiances... become Redskins fans and see how that fits.

__________________
"We want to build a big, strong, tough, smart, fast, disciplined football team that will consistently compete for a championship."
-- Scott Pioli, from the Patriots scouting manual

PatsSteve1

[QUOTE=DaBruinz]*ROFLMAO*
I know what you wrote. I quoted it. And then you went right on contradicting yourself and making yourself look like an arse. See, unlike you, I can read. You obviously are too ignorant to understand what you posted previously. When you say "This team isn't as good right now, as it was in 2005" YOU ARE MAKING A STATEMENT ABOUT THIS TEAM. And you don't know any more than BB does if this team is as good as the 2005. So, yes, ignorant fool, you are the one being hypocritical and talking out your arse.

* There is no one on the roster right now who reaplaces Willie M's production at LB or D Givens production at WR. Not even close. That makes us less of a team than last year. You can post your little "ROFLMAO" but I don't think you really laughed at all. Just internet board BS. The total current roster is not as good as last years. It will get better, but how much better no one, least of all you, knows how much. it must make you a real tough guy to post stuff on a message board. Another internet bad boy -

AzPatsFan

Getting guys back from IR could be thought of as signing FAs,especially if they were IRed early in the season. How would you view the 2006 upcoming edition if they had just signed teh following FAs:
Light
Harrison
Koppen
Dillon
Pass
Graham
Bruschii
Vrabel
Gay
Scott
Scott
Caldwell
while losing
Vinatieri
Givens
McGinnest
Ashworth
Davis
Dwight


I'd bet you'd be saying we will be unstoppable in '06.

PatsSteve1

I'd bet you'd be saying we will be unstoppable in '06.[/QUOTE]

* But they aren't new additions no matter how you want to look at them. And none replace Willie or Givens effectiveness and production at thier respective positions. Look, I'm not a doom and gloomer who says we aren't' going to have a good team this year. I'm also not a " hope and faith" guy who just assumes we'll be better. Even if almost all those guys had played all last year it doesn't assure we'd have won the SB. Having them back this year doesn't either. I don't think anyone can say, on March 26th, if the Patriots are going to be good enough to win a Super Bowl this year, or not.
I don't think it makes sense for anyone to be pessimistic or overly optimistic. It's March 26th. I sure hope BB isn't satisfied at this point with the roster or assuming that with those guys back the 4th Lombardi is a sure thing this year. Complaining about injuries or ref calls is something often ridiculed here when other teams fans do it.

AzPatsFan

* But they aren't new additions no matter how you want to look at them. And none replace Willie or Givens effectiveness and production at thier respective positions. Look, I'm not a doom and gloomer who says we aren't' going to have a good team this year. I'm also not a " hope and faith" guy who just assumes we'll be better. Even if almost all those guys had played all last year it doesn't assure we'd have won the SB. Having them back this year doesn't either. I don't think anyone can say, on March 26th, if the Patriots are going to be good enough to win a Super Bowl this year, or not.
I don't think it makes sense for anyone to be pessimistic or overly optimistic. It's March 26th. I sure hope BB isn't satisfied at this point with the roster or assuming that with those guys back the 4th Lombardi is a sure thing this year. Complaining about injuries or ref calls is something often ridiculed here when other teams fans do it.[/QUOTE]


But none of them played on that Denver field which you started this argument with, by saying todays's team is much weaker than the team that palyed in Denver. None of them did, so they are additions to that team...


As toi BB being satsified, I guarantee he will decide to do something with the 11 drafdt picks he must use in late April, if nothing else... I know he won't pass, pass, pass, through all 7 rounds of the draft.

PATRIOTS-80

Good post. I agree. We will really know what our team looks like after the draft.

Remix 6

we run a 3-4..not a 4-3 so an OLB that fits 3-4 is a lot better


QB- 3rd has to be a UFA. We got Casell last yr..we need a veteran incase Cassel doesnt do well if Brady,god forbid, ever goes down.

RB- Id like to see us use an early pick for the future. Faulk is old..Dillon is older

WR- Branch, rookie/FA, Caldwell,Brown, Childress Johnson. I like Bam Childress...he can provide solid depth. Fast kid. FA would likely be Moulds if anything..if not..rookie in 2nd or 3rd round like Stovall..Demetrius Williams..Derek Hagan would fit
TE- UFA would be better..why waste a pick for a 3rd stringer?

OL- day 2 depth..maybe UFA but not early in the draft

DT- Need a solid #2 guy...Klecko doesnt cut it..and Wright and Santonio Thomas are unproven. UFA would be nice


OLB- FA like Diggs would be tremendous..but a rookie in the first 2-3 rounds would be good too. maybe 2 guys..1. to replace Willie 2. to replace Chatam as a backup

ILB-i think were set..Vrabel,Bruschi as starters.Beisel has skill to play if he went anywhere else.

S- Rookie. Harrison's future is uncertain..Hawkins played well but hes old too. Scott is always injured..Sanders is a good nickel or dime guy or mainly a backup at the moment.

CB- um 1 of our 3rd round picks or 1 of our 4th round picks to take a guy for depth I guess..not much else we need here..got 3 young guys that can start..not great but good. If we get a UFA, i would like Dyson.

K-Either Gatskowski, Houston, Hughes or Scifres..not too high on all but FA like Josh Brown would work great

PATRIOTS-80

My hope is we draft:
1st round -- Best OLB available for 3-4
2nd round -- WR
3rd -- RB
3rd -- OT
4th -- CB
4th -- OLB
5th -- WR
6th -- TE
7th -- K

I know we might hear some Chad Jackson and DeAngelo Williams stuff before the draft (remember that DeWayne Robertson and Sean Taylor), but my bet is either Greenway, Manny or Carpenter at 21. Besides I don't think Chad or DeAngelo will slide to 21.

shakadave

I like to build up reputation points, then blow them all on one big shopping spree! (cf Predict the NFL's Next Murderer thread)
Build and spend, build and spend, keep them guessing....

__________________
Please, God, don't let us ever suck as bad as the 2011 Cowboys did in the Jets opener.
* * * * *
"I got a little shine on and showed you guys a little taste of my speed."

----Vince Wilfork, Jan. 7, 2007

PatsSteve1

* I don't disagree at all. No one here knows how good the team will be for the 2006 season no matter how confident they may be that it will be good. Yes, the Patriots have draft picks and possible FA moves. No one knows how good they'll be. No one knows if the guys coming back from injuries will be as good or have off year's. We all hope they do, but hope isn't knowing.