DaBruinz

Well, this is my 1st off-season review for this year. Call it the Pre-Free Agency / Pre-Combine review. For the purpose of this review, I am going to consider ERFA and RFA as part of the team.


QB - Brady, Cassel, - Cassel showed that he has real potential. The Pats went for several weeks last season without a veteran back-up until they brought in Vinny Testaverde. This will be Cassel’s 3rd year wth the team and could be his last depending on how he performs in pre-season. The Pats usually sign a youngster either as a UDFA or draft a QB late for TC. It will be interesting to see if Vinny returns for one more run or if the Patriots bring in a different veteran.

Free Agents: Vinny Testaverde (UFA)

RB – Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney, Earl Charles– Big question marks here beyond Maroney. Why? Because Dillon will be 32 and made some comments about retiring right after the Colts game. Were they heat of the moment words or were they real? We won’t know for awhile. Regardless, Dillon wasn’t exactly the “Clock Killin” Dillon we were all used to. Yes, he split time with Maroney, but he also was injured yet again.
Kevin Faulk is on the wrong side of 30 now and he was injured again. When healthy, he’s one of the best 3rd down backs in the league. The problem is keeping him healthy.
Earl Charles spent the year on the NFLE IR list.

I can definitely see the Pats drafting another RB regardless of what Dillon does. Brian Leonard is an intriguing prospect as the new hybrid back to Faulk. Other players include Tony Hunt and Lorenzo Booker.

In free agency, the Pats could look to Ahman Green, Domenic Rhodes, or Marcel Shipp.

Free Agents: Earl Charles (ERFA)

FB – Heath Evans, Quadtrine Hill – Evans is what he is. An average FB. He has average running skills and average to above average blocking skills. He has average receiving skills. Unfortunately, the Pats had to rely on him in a critical situation and Brady obviously didn’t trust him.
Hill supposedly excels as a receiver out of the backfield and is a solid straight-line runner.
Garrett Mills was mentioned as a possible FB/TE/H-back type player in the mold of Chris Cooley, but he red-shirted last season and will need to work through camp to get onto the roster.

I could see the Pats drafting Leonard to do work at both FB and RB and giving the Pats a lot more versatility out of the backfield.
Free Agents: Patrick Pass (UFA)

O-Line – Matt Light, Nick Kaczur, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Russ Hochstein, Wesley Britt, Stephen Neal, Gene Mruczkowski, Billy Yates, Sean Bubin, Ryan O’Callaghan, Brian Barthelmes- 4 of the 5 starters seem to be set with Light, Mankins, Koppen and Neal from left to right. The question mark is RT where the Pats will have Kaczur, Britt, O’Callaghan and Bubin fighting it out next season. Hochstein continues to be a solid reserve. Yates is an RFA and should be back. If not, then Mruczkowski will be more than happy to stick around.

The Pats have 11 O-linemen signed or probably tendered, including Yates and Mruczkowski. Many of whom are signed through 2009. The Pats may draft a C/G type player. I don’t see them taking an OT in the draft unless someone they absolutely love and feel will immediately start over Light or O’Callaghan or Kaczur falls to them

Look for a couple of JAG guards in free agency.

Free Agents: Billy Yates (RFA), Gene Mruczkowski (ERFA), Wesley Britt (ERFA)

TE – Ben Watson, David Thomas, Garrett Mills, Rodney Trafford – Graham is a UFA. I hope that the Pats re-sign him as he is a monster blocking and he can make the catch when called upon. The issue has been his durability, which reared its head again this season. Ben Watson was Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde this year. But part of the is the fact that he was under abnormal pressure to be the top receiver on the team. David Thomas had 1 good game, then disappeared. Garrett Mills was a game-day scratch until he was finally given the medical red-shirt with Pass going active.

With how Watson played, I definitely would like Graham back. Especially since neither can seem to stay on the field for more than a few games. Maybe a 3 man rotation with Thomas would help their longevity.


Free Agents: Daniel Graham (UFA)

WR- Jabar Gaffney, “BAM”Childress, Chad Jackson, Reche’ Caldwell, Zuriel Smith, Kelvin Kight, Jonathan Smith – We had to live through the lies last year from Meion.. err…. Deion Branch after Given left for a 5 year deal worth $24 million. Neither Branch nor Givens were spectacular last year. The Pats attempted to shore things up with a trade for Doug Gabriel, but Gabriel refused to be coached and did his own thing and was released.
Currently, the Pats have Caldwell and Gaffney as their starters. Both took some time to get used to the system and both seemed to click in the play-offs until the Colts game where Caldwell had 1 major drop. Kelvin Kight beat out Bam Childress for a roster spot and it wasn’t until the end of the season that Bam was re-signed of the Pats practice squad.
Troy Brown is again contemplating retirement.
Chad Jackson is a major question mark, though a report from his High School coach was that Jackson needed at least a year to learn a system. If that is the case, we should expect big things out of Jackson this year.
Bringing in someone like Kevin Curtis or Drew Bennett could help this corps become solid the way it was in 2003. Kight or Jackson stepping up could also solidify this group.

Free Agents:Troy Brown, “Bam” Childress (ERFA), Kelvin Kight (ERFA), Zuriel Smith (ERFA)

Jimke

One problem at wide receiver is that both Caldwell and Gaffney are only

signed thru 2007. Hope they do get another guy.

SeanBruschi54

Or one will end up being successfully better than the other and the Patriots will sign one of them and let the other walk.

Late in the season that person was Gaffney, showed great concentration and hands in the playoffs but still managed a couple of screw ups. Reche dropped a few balls.

stinkypete

We should work on extending both. If Jackson emerges to his potential, then we have what we need to be a dynamic passing offense again. If Jackson does not emerge, Caldwell and Gaffney made for a solid 2a and 2b punch, with one piece missing.

ATippett56

The Patriots could look at running back Kenny Watson from the Cincinnati Bengals who was the replacement to injured Chris Perry as the third down running back.

http://www.theredzone.org/2007/freea...sp?Position=RB

Remix 6

if Dillon is gone..we might look at Sammy Morris from Dolphins or Anthony Thomas from bills

Morris had a huge game against us ..not sure hes a power back but i think he played FB and RB...Thomas is a power back or is supposed to be 1 but stats dont really indicate. Davenport is also an option..he finishes with power

everlong

The offensive line really came together as far as pass blocking goes as the year went on but it seemed like there was a d-lineman or lb in the back field on running plays constantly. I felt that issue was at the tackle position on both sides. I also felt that O'Callahan was very good in both the run and the passing games and I think he is going to own the RT spot as long as he can stay healthy. Our interior three is solid.

__________________
"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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ilduce06410

[QUOTE=DaBruinz;336775]Well, this is my 1st off-season review for this year. Call it the Pre-Free Agency / Pre-Combine review. For the purpose of this review, I am going to consider ERFA and RFA as part of the team.
Cassel showed that he has real potential. The Pats went for several weeks last season without a veteran back-up till they brought in Vinny Testaverde.
RB – Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk, Laurence Maroney, Earl Charles– Big question marks here beyond Maroney. Why? Because Dillon will be 32 and made some comments about retiring right after the Colts game. Were they heat of the moment words or were they real? We won’t know for awhile. Regardless, Dillon wasn’t exactly the “Clock Killin” Dillon we were all used to. Yes, he split time with Maroney, but he also was injured yet again. Kevin Faulk is on the wrong side of 30 now and he was injured again. When healthy, he’s one of the best 3rd down backs in the league. The problem is keeping him healthy.
WR- Jabar Gaffney, “BAM” Childress, Chad Jackson, Reche’ Caldwell, Zuriel Smith, Kelvin Kight, Jonathan Smith – We had to live through the lies last year from Meion.. err…. Deion Branch after Given left for a 5 year deal worth $24 million. Neither Branch nor Givens were spectacular last year. The Pats attempted to shore things up with a trade for Doug Gabriel, but Gabriel refused to be coached and did his own thing and was released. Currently, the Pats have Caldwell and Gaffney as their starters. Both took some time to get used to the system and both seemed to click in the play-offs until the Colts game where Caldwell had 1 major drop. Kelvin Kight beat out Bam Childress for a roster spot and it wasn’t until the end of the season that Bam was re-signed of the Pats practice squad.
Troy Brown is again contemplating retirement.[/FONT]
Chad Jackson is a major question mark, though a report from his High School coach was that he needed at least a year to learn a system. If that is the case, we should expect big things out of him this year.

1. Cassel has real potential? talent, perhaps. i'm unconvinced about him. problem is that to get a look at him in 30 minutes of regular-season football means TB would be injured.
2. Dillon, Maroney, Faulk, Earl Charles. i've become fond of dillon. if pats have him for 12 of 18 games i'd be happy. he's still a north-south runner, and he wants to come back i'd gladly have him. i wonder why dillon hasn't had more influence on maroney. the kid has to stop dancing in the backfield and hit it up in there for 2 when necessary.
IMHO faulk is too slow for the things he does. but he's gotten better every year he's been in the league. sure would like another 3rd down back tho.
3. Jabar Gaffney, “BAM” Childress, Chad Jackson, Reche’ Caldwell, Zuriel Smith, Kelvin Kight, Jonathan Smith. i am not at all happy with this bunch. bam childress is a a sentimental favorite, IMHO he's the next troy brown.
but the rest simply don't compare to givens and branch.
say what you want about "lies", but it seems that when BB/SP don't lock players up (Koppen, Light) before their walk year, the plan is to let them go. 'cause BB/SP dang sure aren't gonna pay market price for anyone. if they want to keep them for less-than-market price, they extend them BEFORE the walk year. IMHO givens and branch were doomed in the first place.
BTW this does not augur well for asante samuel.
troy brown? if he wants to, patriots can use a good slot receiver/WR/DB/KR who plays for the veteran minimum.
chad jackson? i just don't know what to say.

PATRIOTS-80

I definitely see a young pile-driving RB to compliment Maroney down the road. Kevin Curtis would be a nice addition.

Keegs

The Pats should make a move to get Joe Horn for cheap after the Saints cut him.

They don't need him anymore and he could really help us out.

If N.O. keeps him they are morons.

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