BPF

The 2008 season is here, let's put the SB L behind us.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn...c.php?t=348983

Maroney's Dreads

After last season, I didn't think the Pats had the room to make the team significantly better, and we got Thomas, Welker, Stallworth, and Moss.

Anything Bill does in the offseason doesn't surprise me anymore. The way this team is set up, there has to be a run this year though

BelichickFan

Safety actually interests me more than CB; because we know we need CB unless Samuel stays.

Safety we have Harrison, Sanders, Meriweather and could save $3M by realeasing an aging Harrison. I would keep Harrison and draft another young Safety in the 3rd round or so. That would give us a good foursome and a good transition from Harrison. With the cap savings, though, I don't think it's clear that we will bring him back for sure.

Rocky

I still think that LB is just as much conern as the secondary.

RayClay

I must have missed the column where we acquired the two young LBs.

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RhodyPatriot

Need to reload on defense. Get younger faster and more athletic. We're fine on offense. Lose Moss keep Stallworth or keep Moss and lose Stallworth. Either way we're fine. Sammy Morris shores up the run game and having David Thomas back upgrades the TE slot in the passing game a 1000%.
Look for the Pats to draft defense....defense .....and more defense with an O-lineman thrown in the mix. Look for a D-lineman to be drafted high. Easy to say the secondary is the problem when not looking at the lack of QB pressure generated from the D-line all season long. Wilfork is THE man inside, Ty Warren is good but Big Seyesta has been a Big Nonfactor for 2 years running and Jarvis is a nice player but not high impact. Colvin helps the pass rush but never stays healthy and Mike Vrabel is terrific but if he has an off game (see Super Bowl) who fills the pass rush void and gets to the QB? If the D front is getting pressure that frees up the LB's and safeties to stay in coverage. Just amazing how much better the secondary gets when the D-line can put pressure on the QB all by themselves.
Think defense with free agency and the draft.

BPF

The type of 3-4 we play is geared for LB's to pressure. I don't think pass rush is our problem being that we finished 2nd in the league to the Giants in sacks with 47: http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...ue&Submit=Find

We may need some youth at LB but the secondary is our real weakness. If we had physical corners ala Ty Law and Otis Smith along with more playmaking abiltity and speed in the safety position we would be able to open up the blitz playbook and create more negative plays along with more turnovers. Hobbs can be a solid 3rd CB and Asante is solid but a finesse player.

SVN

Florio thinks a lot of things and puts on his website.just whatever comes to his mind on the day.its amazing how he has managed to make a biz out of it.

patsfaninpittsburgh

Pressure wasn't the problem in that last drive, muffing the play was.

Samuel's missed int was pressure induced duck.

Rodney's missed play was a pressure induced duck.

We had 3 guys right there on Manning- Tackle Him!!!!!!

Pressure just doesn't mean sacks. It's all about disrupting the offense. That means hurries/ tips/ bat downs/ interception/ fumbles.

fumbrunner

The D line is the strength of the D. There is no reason to update there. We need height at CB because our current CBs are smurfs and dont match up well against tall receivers. We have a good blitzing, pressuirng LB group when Vrabel and Rosie are in there. Seau and Bruschi are good run stoppers. Our BIG weakness there is in coverage. AD as an ILB could help to solve it, but we need depth there.

So, I think we are two CBs and a coverage LB away from being the most dominant team ever. 2 CBs assuming Asante leaves, and Hobbs moves to nickel. Unfortunately there isnt alot in FA for CBs. The draft has some interesting options, but I doubt BB would start 2 rookies at corner.