things that make you go hmmm.... - Page 2 - New England Patriots Forums

AzPatsFan · 02-19-2007, 07:06 PM

Belichick has always addressed a problem with two or more possible solutions. Sometimes three. Usually a rookie and a ex-vet starter, and occasionally another vet and/or a trade.

Unlike many I think TBC is here and will stay, as a budding star. TBC had the flu, before the AFCCG, and probably was one of the fifteen guys that were sick. That makes a OLB contingent of Colvin, TBC, Woods and Vrabel swinging from inside and then a ST like Alexander too. So the real problem is ILB.

My candidates at ILB are Takeo Spikes and Napoleon Harris to go along with Tedy and Vrabes.

Secondary choices would be Fletcher or Edwards. And a rookie pick or two.

Both Takeo and Nap have both size, speed and experience. One of the overlooked stats of the year was the #1 position of the Vikings against the Rush. Certainly their great DL helped, but it needed a MLB to excel as well to do that. The Pats DL is at least the equal of the Vikes DL. Harris would be a great addition, especially since he only costs some money as he has a voidable contract, and run-ins with Coach Childress. So he is a FA if he wants to be.

Takeo is a SOLB, has experience covering TEs, but would move inside for the Pats. As Belichick says OLBs become ILBs and DEs become OLBs in the Pat scheme.

As far as coverage is concerned I think a big Safety would do a lot better than a ILB. Harrison or Tebuckey have the size and better speed than a LB.. At playoff time both were injured and unavailable.

The scouting reports that I have seen on McCauley the CB is that he won't/doesn't force the run. He got into Pat Hill's doghouse too.

I always remember the Belichick quote, "...Don't give me a defensive player who can't tackle. What would I do with him ?..."

Unlike others, I think the Pats past investment in the secondary the last several years is starting to bear lots of fruit. I could see a secondary with four possible pro bowl players in it already. Harrison, Geno, Asante, and Hobbs could or have been mentioned as Pro bowl players already. Sanders is no slouch, nor is Tebucky. Chad Scott is aging and Randy Gay is often injured, but that is really pretty good depth and eight deep before you get to a Mickens and th cast of thousand hopefuls.

The Pats will draft a WR and a RB as there are very few openings on thsi team. Davis anand Izzo will go. I'm sure that Davis' absence was felt during the Playoffs, since he was the piece that was missing that Alexander tried to fill.

MrBigglesWorth · 02-19-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patfanken

....from Borges's column in today's Globe. Its not earth shattering, but after reading it, I actually went "hmmmm".

....and since I'm already here I might as well put down what I think would be MY perfect off season for the Pats. [disclaimer: I'm going to TRY to be realistic about this, but you now how it is.

]

1. Assante signs the tender and plays under the franchise tag
2. FA signings:
a. Wes Welker- WR/KR - He is Troy Brown tough with speed
b. Heath Evens-FB - good versitile player at a low cost
c. AThomas-LB - inside presence
d. Donnie Edwards LB - a perfect passing situation LB
3. Draft picks - Day one.
a. at 24 Patrick Willis - LB - I don't think he'll be here, but its my fantasy...
b. at 28 the Best CB available - My favorite would be McCauley from Fresno, but that's mostly because he's 6'1 Reives and Hall would also be acceptable.

Basically, in the first round I want to get a CB, LB/Tweener regardless of the order. In the second round I'd like to go WR or S which ever has more value at the pick- By the 3rd round I've lost interest because I rarely know the players and who knows until training camp, anyway.

IMHO this is a draft were we need to get quality over quantity. We have 11 picks (IIRC), and I'd hate to think we'd use them all. IMO only the first 2 are keepers, everything else would be open to use in trade to move up and any round. Best values IMO are in there early parts of the 2nd and 3rd rounds. I'd use lower picks to move up in those rounds.

BOTTOM LINE - given all the guys who wound up on IR and are coming back, like Wilson, TBuck, Gay, etc. We don't need much to tweek our lineup into a championship team. We need to get better and deeper at LB. We need to get bigger and deeper in the secondary. We need to get faster at WR. Hell, even if we did NONE of these things, we'd be a damned good team.

My list isn't long because it doesn't NEED to be.

does anyone know what Superbowl teams these 4 strength and conditioning coaches account for?

Mike W- has the Pats and Cowboys Dynasty(6)
Johhny Parker- the two Giants Superbowls(2) and 1997 PAts (3)

List includes superbowl losers too

Al Miller- Atlanta? (1)
Rusty Jones- Buffalo's 4 superbowl appearances and this past year in Chicago(5)

Missing 5 teams here