Interception

I know I'm going to get raped for this thread, but it's just something I've been thinking about.

I think we're overreacting about some of our "needs."

Running back
I see all these threads about how we need to use one of our top picks for a running back.
We have a running back that never fumbles and ran for 1,000 yards this season.
And we have an explosive, tiny little guy named Woodhead that just runs underneath the defenses feet when we need him to get some yards.
How many times this season did these two give our team exactly what we needed -- those six to ten yards to either get us a first down or set us up for a short completion for the first down? I'm sure these two are responsible for at least some of our wins this year. As in, if it had been maroney instead of them, we would've had more losses this year.
Another back for depth wouldn't be bad... but maybe we'll still have Faulk playing, and if he plays, you know he'll play at a high level.
Even if he doesn't, a third back of even Maroney's talent would be good enough depth after BJGE and Woodhead, in my opinion.
Why's this such a big need?

Offensive Line
After that playoff game, I know you guys will chew me up for this.
... But according to the awards, we had the best offensive line of 2010.
How many games did Brady have all the time in the world to throw?
Only four interceptions... I bet if our offensive line hadn't played at the level it did, some more pressure would've caused Brady to throw at least one or two more picks.
We might need some depth depending on how resigning goes, but if you have the #1 o-line in a season, I don't see how it's a big need.
When the running backs fail to gain a good amount of yards in a game or our cornerbacks give up big plays in just one game, they don't jump to the number one spot on our needs,
But when the o-line does, they do?

Depth, once again, is good. But we've got a strong line if mankins returns.
Maybe one or even two picks, but later into the draft.


D-Line
I'll agree it's a need, but look at it this way:
last season we thought it was a huge need... but BB went with a cornerback with his first pick.
and when you think about it, that approves the d-line.
next year, we'll have bodden coming back to.
if we pick up another cornerback in the draft, we'll have mccourty-bodden-rookie. and if the rookies good, it'll be one scary defense for the receivers. and if that happens, the defensive line gets more time to get to the QB.
i'm not saying we don't need improvements there, but i'm saying BB made it work this season. we got pressure when we needed it (see colts last interception ). a GREAT cornerback and a DECENT to GOOD lineman with our 2nd round pick would solve our problem a bit.

DISCLAIMER: i know d-line is a need. i'm not saying its not a need. its one of our biggest needs, but I still think this team is good enough to pick the BEST player instead of the best D-LINE player with our top picks.

and thats my point -- we should take the best player with our top picks, regardless of the position (of course besides QB).
i know that's what BB likes doing, but this isn't aimed at BB, it's for you guys who are saying our top picks HAVE to be for the d-line or the o-line or for running back.


we all have our different opinions, and none of us are really experts on this, so please keep any disagreements respectful. thanks!

sbpatfan

I think people are underestimating Green Ellis and Woodhead still. But they do need some more legs there, a rookie and solid FA (even just a FB) would improve that area greatly. If they can get four steady contributors at RB it could be a very powerful unit going into 2011.

I don't think people are overreacting about the needs at Offensive Line and Defensive Line. Brady is getting older, past three season: 1) out for season, 2) broken ribs, fingers, all banged up, 3) broken foot. Granted, he plays though injuries like a boss but his injury resistance is diminishing.. protecting him is the number one priority. Even if he was immune to injury the offensive line is still getting old and injured themselves. Neal can't play through a whole season, Kaczur is showing signs of wear and tear, Light occasionally gets hurt and is a FA. I'd say Offensive Line is a huge need. Same thing with the Defensive Line. Wilfork shouldn't be getting 80 whatever tackles a season. He was a beast last year, but he needs help. Warren was off getting his degree and then when football time came around he decided he was getting surgery. I hope he's back, but who knows? Beefing up the d-line would also help solve the pass rush problem among other things.

Edit: people are putting way to much weight on Bodden, too. He's a 30 year old stop gap corner that was off a year with an injury. There's no way to know if he's back until the season rolls around. I would expect another pick on corner. And I wouldn't be surprised if Butler / Arrington take the other spot from him. I actually think that has a better chance of happening then Bodden coming back to 2009 form.

ausbacker

The last time the Patriots won a playoff game was season 2007/2008. Our issues are issues but they're nowhere near as bad as most teams have.

patsfan-1982

RB i am happy with Woodhead and BJGE they were great last year the pats just need some dept at RB not a big need

OL if the pats are still going to have to out score teams come playoff time then RG is a big need

DL if Brandon Deaderick can take that next step and if Ron Brace, can be a good back up and if Ty Warren can stay on the field they will be ok but thats a lot of IF's and even with that said there is still no pass rush and with no pass rush we will still see bad QB's turn 3rd and long into first downs all day

but i understand what your saying there were 14-2 best team in the NFL and they are very young IMO they are a pass rusher away from a ring

supafly

Improved talent, depth in the trenches--that's my opinion on the #1 'need.'

Then comes the linebackers--basically improvement on the front 7, and we are in a good position to use our plethora of picks to do this.

1. Front 7--priorities depending on Belichick's knowledge of the big picture

2. Offensive line--this has to be a priority, maybe not just for the reason you provided, aka poor playoff performance. With questions with the returns of Neal and Kazcur, plus contract negotiations with Light and Mankins, this HAS to be a priority. And this isn't even taking into account what many deem as our weakest o-line link, which is Koppen.

Koppen--can/should be upgraded, probably our weakest spot

Light--free agent, certainly on the wrong side of age, and possibly could be upgraded too--may not ever play another down here

Mankins--contract problems, need stability for next year (2012) if no deal is reached

Neal--could retire, position could/should be upgraded--may not play another down here

Kazcur--coming off a major injury, questionable to return to form, position could be upgraded

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I am wondering how you see offensive line as 'not an area of need?'

I do understand your statistical analysis RE: profootballfocus or whatever, yet that was LAST year. We need to not only improve for the upcoming year, but plan for the future. O-Line will be a focus in my opinion, with 2 picks in the first 3 rounds, and another 1 or 2 in the later rds.

Nastiness in the trenches, with a primary focus on defense, and a couple picks on O-line in the first 3 rds is a very good plan, in my opinion.

EDIT: I am not saying it is in dire straights (O-line), just that it is certainly a position of importance, with improvement and future being the focus. I could honestly care less about WR and RB, as we scored the highest pts in the NFL, and were 9th in rushing (above PIT, IIRC?). Our RB's get the job done through RBBC, and we should not have a problem drafting a mid-round RB, or adding a mid to low level free agent, if not both. I could see the exact same thing with WR too.

Interception

After reading these posts, you've convinced me a little bit that we could use depth on DL and OL.

Don't get me wrong, I want new talent for our o-line and d-line, i just think "best player" over "best d-line/o-line player" would be better for our top two picks.


or we can just hope that the best player available IS on the d-line.


either way, brady doesn't get sacked too much, right? (correct me if i'm wrong).
i think hes just always banged up by playoff time recently because of luck and age.
either way, we had a monster o-line this year. the playoff game doesn't change that.


but you're right, o-line will be a need in the future, since some of those players are in the end.
makes sense.
and we could use upgrades too, sure.

basically, this is what i want with our top six picks, in no order:
WR, FS, CB, OL, DL, DL.
so its not that i don't want DL and OL upgrades, but i think we're overreacting a bit. we had a good o-line and running backs this year, and our d-line managed. it WAS last year, you're right, but a lot of people have been basing this off of the performance of the playoff game rather than the whole season and the future.


a fairly new fan, so I'm still learning!
just felt like there was a little bit of a lingering overreaction of the playoff game.

DarrylS

In reality we do not have huge issues compared to other teams, but need to continue to build depth on the D and O lines.. with this many early picks, this would be my focus..

Later would look at "risky" running backs and receivers.. but right now, would use the opportunity to load up in the trenches with the first 4 picks..

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"Being the best doesn't mean you always win. It just means you win more than anyone else".. tweet from Kurt Warner to Tom Brady.

NE39

I think the Pats biggest issue relates to 3rd down defense. They couldn't get off the field last year on 3rd down. They were last in the NFL by a pretty fair margin.

That would seem to point to their nickel/dime looks and their ability to:

1) Generate Pass Rush

2) Cover pass routes

#1 seems to point to the most critical issue, IMO, which is someone who can generate pass rush on their own. #2 would seem to be helped by the return of Leigh Bodden, but even with his return I wouldn't be upset if they draft another DB pretty high. Looking at how they hit with McCourty, I'd love to see something similar.

However, the #1 issue is a rusher, not that it is news.

supafly

I agree that we shouldn't judge anything on the basis of one game, that is a very fair point and you're right. The overreaction is pathetic in my opinion, but that's what makes these boards go 'round--everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

I see need at the areas in the trenches = O-line and defensive front 7, but not because of anything based on one game, because we have issues heading into the future, and could certainly use improvement on talent and depth. Plus it is a great position for us to be in, considering a high number of picks + good talent on those positions in this yr's draft.

I think BB would be looking at those positions regardless of what happened in the playoffs, at least in my opinion.

Anyway, nice thread, gets people thinking/debating in the offseason.

The Boston Patriot

Our O-line is what I would call "depth" with the exception of Mankins. We need
some starters and players. The remainder of the O-line is hardly what I would
call a strength at this point. They are more than adequate when playing the
everyday teams but against a strong defensive unit they perform poorly.

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