jsull87

I think this sentiment about next years potential echoes what my thoughts are. When trying to figure out what position to use our 1st 3 picks which are basically all 1st rounders with the form Carolina has displayed... i can't see any position on the roster where i can go yep... we need that filled if we are going to be a good team. you could say DE.. but Warren is back. Secondary depth... Bodden is back and you would hope Butler has progressed enough to be challenging Arrington and Wilhite. Our OL is Solid, our RB's, WR and TE's have all been solid and are by no means a weakness losing us games. I think this is one of those cases of a true just go out and Pick the best player available because really we have enough good bodies to cover the positions we don't Draft.

Maybe the one exception with crable being cut again is OLB but that is once again dependent on Cunningham Ninko and TBC who have all once again been serviceable.

DaBruinz

Ken - Great stuff as always.

However, we'll have to disagree on Koppen. While he did have a good game against Hampton, he's been highly inconsistent the last 2 years and he's blown more than a few blocks..

The Pats are going to need to look at OT, OG, and C in the draft, though OG might be less of a priority if Mankins is re-signed and with the way Connolly has played.

Bella*chick

I really hope we will be re-signing Mankins. It really bothers me to hear the local media discussing bringing him to the cesspool down here in D.C.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

jsull87

I really think unless they have agreed otherwise. We'll franchise Mankins next year so we will at least have him one more year. He did seem to have a solid game out there

apple strudel

Gonna make for one ornery cowpoke.

AndyJohnson

Its quite possible that the software of the cite has learned to 5star any thread you start

mgteich

Do you really think the patrtiots will pay Mankins between $10M and $11m ofr one year's service? And do you really think that the patriots would take that much cap money out of the early free agency market?

AndyJohnson

Nice post Ken. I'm going to select a couple items to address. although everyone is a great discussion point.

You can always count on Matt Light playing well every time this boars starts ripping hm. Contrary to popular belief his perfromance against top pass rushers has been excellent. I did the numbers last year, and maybe I can find them for the Freeney example, which IIRC was soemthing like Freeney having 2 sacks in his last 7 games vs Light.
Warren missing 2010 could be a blessing in disguise because he will be 100% for the first time in a while, and we have gotten experience for the youngsters. I REALLY like what I have seen from Brace. I think he will develop into a Ty Warren type of player. With Deadreick and Wright also here, not to mention Pryor, and the youth and upside a high pick isnt necessary, but if the right player is there, BB will take him.

Seems a veteran FA is more likely than a draft choice.


Its hard to standout on our defense. Its a team defense concept and players are asked to do everything required of their position and be complete. Many defenses build schemes around the strengths of the players and that gets the players attention. That said, McCourty and Chung show up and get attention. Thats reason enough to know they are special.

Since you mentioned it, a chance for a side rant. Why is it that when athletes who are bad people do well on the playing feel the media talks of their great story of redemption? I heard it all day with Vick. His redemption isnt how he plays football, its not because an awful human. Playing well has nothing to do with that. Sorry, way OT



.

I look at this from the other side. We may have never been good enough to overcome sloppy play but part of why we were so good is that we were never sloppy. Especially in the Championship years. It may be that from 05-09 we became better at overcomng sloppiness, yet became much more sloppy.

The record vs sub 500 teams in the Brady era is remarkably good. Good to the tune of the Browns loss may have been something like the 3rd ever.

Unfortunately the NFL and some officials think the offensive player has a right to run unimpeded to the ball and if the defender arrives at the same time or sooner to make a play on the ball contact is his fault in every case. It almost seems as if they see contact grab a flag and figure it must be D.


Great as normal Ken!!!

jsull87

10-11m? Maybe i am mistaken then. I thought the franchise number for a guard was closer to 8-9million

patfanken

I find it amusing how a LT can stop a great pass rusher 38 out of 40 times and get killed by media and fans for the 2 times he loses the battle.

Light is still a top 10-15 LT and a reliable asset. His key asset is that you know what you are going to get, so you can be prepared in those rare occasions that he's the mismatch. I think he's smart enough to know how this organization works, and he likes it here, so I'm sure his contract demands will be reasonable. I think he'll get another contract UNLESS, someone else makes him an offer he can't refuse, or he wants too man years.

Ditto, the more I think on it, the better I feel about our DL next year. We will not only get Warren back, but a very good and healthy Warren. His immediate impact will be bigger than ANY potential draft pick.

While I agree completely on Ben, Vick is another story for me. I see him as a guy who did horrible things, but he paid the price for his actions and repented. He not only cleaned up his act on the field but off it as well. I can forgive a guy like that. Plus who would have thought that after 2 years away from the game he could come back and within a year and a half elevate his game from being just a very exciting but not very effective QB, into simply a very effective QB...who is exciting to watch.

On a side note. Vick's improvement is just another feather in the cap of Andy Reid. Either this kid didn't get good coaching in Atlanta, or perhaps the old Mike Vick wouldn't take coaching until he had his epiphany courtesy of the federal gov't. Just another reason to root for him.

As to Ben. This guy was a complete ********* in college...and didn't change his ways until this last dust up. The fact he wasn't indicted doesn't forgive his well documented actions. Frankly a few months of a well choreographed PR job, doesn't make up for several years of bad/criminal behavior. I can admire his athletic ability, but he will need to show me a lot more before the stench of his GA escapade washes off.

This is a great insight. Back in the Championship years, we were the little engine that could. The team that could aways overcome, but had very little margin of error. Now we are back to being "that" team....and that's a good thing.

Its kind of sad commentary that when we play the Colts that I factor in at least 2 very questionable PI/contact calls per game. With most teams I don't feel this way, but when we play the Colts and Steelers, its seems like a fairly called game is the exception rather than the rule.