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View Poll Results: What Is the Biggest Hole Left to Fill?
There are, in many cases above, players under contract. I just don't consider those slots to be defaulted to them. Some combination of existing players, new free agents, and rookies will fill these holes.
Looking at this real-time depth chart, the biggest need remains the absolute disaster waiting to happen at LB. Hartwell would be a decent move, but they need to find several younger guys to fit the mold. There's also some depth issues in the secondary, especially at safety.
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The best thing about Troy Brown is not that he was the last ever 8th round draft pic. It's not that he is immortal. It's that when he had the chance to talk to President Bush after the SB 36 win, he asked,
"So when are we going to get Social Security reform?"
That, my friends, is the balls. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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A couple quick points: I think Randall Gay is a pretty safe bet to be with us at corner, I'd pencil him in. I'd also like to see us draft or sign a long-snapper who can legitimately play a position so we don't have to continue wasting a roster space on a long-snapper only. I believe Zak DeOssie can long-snap, by the way, and would be a good developmental linebacker.
A couple quick points: I think Randall Gay is a pretty safe bet to be with us at corner, I'd pencil him in. I'd also like to see us draft or sign a long-snapper who can legitimately play a position so we don't have to continue wasting a roster space on a long-snapper only. I believe Zak DeOssie can long-snap, by the way, and would be a good developmental linebacker.
I actually have no problem keeping Lonnie there, but only if he never makes a mistake. The comfort the kickers get from having Lonnie out there every snap is worth a lot. Besides who else would do our snowangels for us in times of victory? But seriously, I think, not sure, that Garett Mills was a long snapper in college and since he doesn't seem to be doing anything he could fill the void of LS if it came down to it.
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In front of his team after a 28-10 loss to the Packers in 2002, Belichick said: "We have a lot of smart guys in this room, but on the football field we play like a bunch of f------- morons. If you are one of the players flinching at the harshness of these words, you might as well begin packing. There is no way you are going to last as a New England Patriot."
Paxton has made every snap, and he also blocks well for a long snapper and is good for a tackle a year. I think he also recovered a fumble once. I can see your point that DeOssie has more of an upside as both a player and a long snapper, however, their is no way the Pats are "wasting" a roster spot on Paxton.
Long snapping is all that Paxton does, so that is all he practices, he has no other duties to take away from his snapping. Even if the Pats do draft DeOssie, money says that Paxton is still on the team.
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The Jets look like a Super Bowl contender right now about as much as Rosie O’Donnell looks like a threat for the Miss America crown. -NY Post 12/19/2011
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A couple quick points: I think Randall Gay is a pretty safe bet to be with us at corner, I'd pencil him in. I'd also like to see us draft or sign a long-snapper who can legitimately play a position so we don't have to continue wasting a roster space on a long-snapper only. I believe Zak DeOssie can long-snap, by the way, and would be a good developmental linebacker.
Nice idea, but tell me - what happens if said "developmental" player gets injured?
As an aside, has this "wasting a roster spot", as you so glibly put it, yielded any degree of success for the team, over time?
Maybe Lonnie can't block. Or tackle. Or punt or kick. Or throw the ball with any degree of success. But boy, can he long snap! He comes out and there is nothing but confidence out there. He remains one of the very best at his craft.
And what kind of price can you put on that?
No, Lonnie's not going anywhere, and neither is the concept of the "wasted space" for the man and his position.
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....and that's the way I see it!
Here's my best shot at it: let the debate begin. Please keep in mind this is a real-time chart and subject to free agency/draft changes:
QB (3): Brady, Cassell, OPEN I think the spot doesn't get filled
RB (4): Maroney, Faulk, Morris, Evans
WR (5): Stallworth, Caldwell, Welker, Gaffney, Brown (Jackson on PUP)
TE (4): Watson, Brady, Thomas, Mills
OL (9): Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kazcur, OCall, Hochstein, OPEN, OPEN Yates and Britt are pretty secure
TOTAL OFF: 25
DL (6): Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, Wright, Green, Smith Wright could be gone in a year and DT could be upgraded, so there's at least one open spot here
LB (9): Thomas, Vrabel, Bruschi, Colvin, Izzo, OPEN, OPEN, OPEN, OPEN
S (5): Harrison, Sanders, Hawkins, Wilson, OPEN Could be 6 safeties, 4 CBs, given that Wilson and Hawkins can imitate CBs in emergencies.
CB (5): Samuel, Hobbs, Scott, OPEN, OPEN Gay will be here for a year still
TOTAL DEF: 25
K (1): GoKo
P (1): OPEN
LS (1): Paxton
Therefore, the slots that are "open" (meaning there is no one who should consider themselves an entrenched incumbent there) remain:
--Third string QB As noted above, I disagree about the first 3
--Backup G/T
--Backup G/T
--Backup OLB
--Backup OLB
--Backup ILB More than backup, IMO
--Backup ILB
--Strong Safety of the Future FS of the future is a bigger need. Wilson will be gone before Harrison, and Baker isn't as secure as Sanders.
--Dime Corner
--Backup Dime Corner
--Punter
There are, in many cases above, players under contract. I just don't consider those slots to be defaulted to them. Some combination of existing players, new free agents, and rookies will fill these holes.
Looking at this real-time depth chart, the biggest need remains the absolute disaster waiting to happen at LB. Hartwell would be a decent move, but they need to find several younger guys to fit the mold. There's also some depth issues in the secondary, especially at safety.
I agree that LB and safety need the most attention. And CB, since Gay and Scott could both be in their last year.
Paxton has made every snap, and he also blocks well for a long snapper and is good for a tackle a year. I think he also recovered a fumble once. I can see your point that DeOssie has more of an upside as both a player and a long snapper, however, their is no way the Pats are "wasting" a roster spot on Paxton.
Long snapping is all that Paxton does, so that is all he practices, he has no other duties to take away from his snapping. Even if the Pats do draft DeOssie, money says that Paxton is still on the team.
Yup, but having a back up long snapper doesn't hurt, just like having an emergency kicker. (people forget Welker kicks, too)
Real-Time Depth Chart and Remaining Holes
Re: Real-Time Depth Chart and Remaining Holes
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