Name 5 Upgrades or Replacements - Page 3 - New England Patriots Forums

***DaBruinz*** · 02-13-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombonneau

Only in Boston is the #2 priority upgrading the All-Pro tackle ...

If Light was an "ALL-PRO" this is the first I've heard of it. In fact, Mankins was only 2nd team "ALL-PRO" and I thought he was the only Patriot O-lineman to be mentioned. I think you are confusing ALL-PRO with PRO-BOWL. And, for at least the next year, the newbie would play RT while he got used to the game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombonneau

Anyway, the only assumption I'll make is Asante is gone.

1. CB - With Asante gone, either draft or FA needs to net starting caliber CB.

Don't make the assumption he's gone. Just make the assumption he's a fa. There aren't many starting caliber FA CBs available.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombonneau

2. ILB - Bruschi/Seau were much better in rotation. Someone needs to be brought in to start or rotate with them. This is even higher priority if Colvin goes as AD would likely move outside. You could also look at this need as OLB if the thinking is Colving goes & AD moves inside. Depends on your POV.

I agree that ILB needs an upgrade. I don't see Colvin going anywhere. The Pats defense was BEST when Thomas was inside with Vrabel and Colvin on the edges. I agree that new blood is needed here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombonneau

3. RT - I think Kaczur can be improved upon. Having him & O'C as backups and another starter at RT really improves the line immensely.

That's the idea of drafting an OT early and having him play RT then move to LT. Also, someone mentioned that Light has been tried at RT and has fared poorly there. I don't know if this is true or not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombonneau

4. Punter - Never mentioned really, but I think this is a no brainer & easy upgrade.

WOW. I guess the stats LIE or something. Do you realize that the Pats only had 14 punt returns against them? That's on 44 punts. And they only allowed 5.3 yards per return. That is a HUGE improvement over last year. when the Pats were allowing 11.7 yards per return at the end of the season.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tombonneau

5. FB - Evans is a decent blocker and sounds like he is a good locker room guy, but I swear to God I've never seen an alleged FB go down on first contact more than this guy. I cringe every time he carries the ball. I think there a few guys who can be drafted late -- Owen Schmidt, Jacob Hester - who are more versatile and would represent an upgrade.

I like Hester. He has "PATRIOTS" TYPE written all over him. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Pats uniform, though he is lighter than either Evans or Eckel.

***DaBruinz*** · 02-13-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgteich

Before we replace probowlers, let's look at some the folks currently on the roster. There are probably 10 upgrades I would list before I even considered an OL.

1) CB Mixon
2) CB Spann
3) LB open (Bruschi's spot)
4) LB open (seau's spot)
5) WR Jones
6) DS open (Paxton's spot)
7) WR Spach (Washington's spot)
8) WR Stallworth (we won't pick up his option)
9) DB Moore
10) DL Thomas
-----------------------------------------------------

Active Players By Position
QB - 3 Tom Brady, Cassel, Gutierrez
RB - 3 Faulk, Maroney, Morris
FB - 2 Evans, Eckel
C - 1 Koppen
G - 4 Neal, Hochstein, Mankins, Yates
OT - 4 Light, Kaczur, O'Callaghan, Britt
WR - 5 Welker, Stallworth, Chad Jackson, Jones, Spach
TE - 3 Watson, Dave Thomas, Kyle Brady

DE - 4 Warren, Green, Seymour, Wright
DT - 4 Wilfork, Le Kevin Smith, Santonio Thomas, Moore
LB - 8 Vrabel, Colvin, Adalius Thomas, Woods, Alexander, Lua, open, open
CB - 4 Hobbs, Spann, Richardson, Mixon
S - 5 Sanders, Harrison, Meriweather, Andrews, Ventrone

P - 1 Hanson
K - 1 Gostkowski
LS – 1 open

53 Active Players

Just a couple points of information:
1) Rashad Moore is a DT, not a DB
2) Stephen Spach is a TE, not a WR

***mgteich*** · 02-13-2008, 05:30 PM

I fixed the typo on Moore. Spach is listed as a WR because I wanted it to be clear that we had 5 WR spots and 3 TE spots. Clearly it is important to upgrade on Spach as a WR.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBruinz

Just a couple points of information:
1) Rashad Moore is a DT, not a DB
2) Stephen Spach is a TE, not a WR

carolinatony · 02-13-2008, 05:38 PM

1 - a LB under 30( two are better)
2 - CB
3- Power RB
4 - OL depth
5- TE- Not happy with current production

maybe a backup QB for Brady so if we are winning by 30+ in the 4th BB won't get scared to pull him.

VOODOOZF · 02-13-2008, 05:54 PM

They must get younger at cb + lb.

Everything else is trivial at this point.

***Deus Irae*** · 02-13-2008, 06:11 PM

1.) Use the first round pick to draft the best LT available, even if it's a long-term prospect. Allow him to play RT for a year or two before switching him over.

2.) If the team has no confidence in the kicker, get rid of him now.

3.) The team needs 1-2 CB's, even if Gay or "Overated, but gonna get paid" should return.

4.) It's time to look for another ILB, but I wouldn't panic unless there's a retirement.

5.) Kyle Brady vs. Daniel Graham was a bad decision, but I don't know that there's an upgrade of any significance out there.

DropKick Flutie · 02-13-2008, 06:14 PM

1. Moss- Time for Chad Jackson to step up.
2. Seau- Sign Lance Briggs
3. Tedy- Draft Dan Connor in the 2nd
4. Samuel- Use the 1st rd pick and get the best available CB, and sign Hobbs
5. Harrison- They need lots of help at SS, and Harrison is just about out of gas.

This instantly make the D younger, faster, and set for the future. They lose a little in toughness, but these guys didn't look that tough in the playoffs anyway.

***HEY BRO! WHAT UP?*** · 02-13-2008, 06:42 PM

Every move in my plan is on defense, that is what I believe lost the superbowl.

1. Sign Terrell Suggs if he isn't franchised. He is 25 years old and has the flexibility to rush the passer standing up or down. He will either replace Vrabel or Thomas so they will move inside on first and second downs.
2. Samuel will walk so I say a draft pick will replace him or a veteran free agent
3. Merriweather will start at free safety and James Sanders will move to SS fulltime. Rodney Harrison will be used more as a big nickel package.
4. Veteran free agent to replace Hobbs, please move him to nickel.
5. Draft DE/OLB Vernon Gholston with the first pick. This guy is a beast! Just look at him. Aside from his physical attributes, he can really provide a good pass rush. I assume he wouldn't start right away but he will be used a lot on third downs.

My projected starting lineup on defense on first and second downs:

DE: Seymour
NT: Wilfork
DE: Warren
OLB: Suggs if signed
ILB: Vrabel
ILB: Thomas
OLB: Colvin
CB: Free Agent or rookie
CB: Free Agent or rookie
FS: Merriweather
SS: Sanders

On third downs, use your imagination with this new linebacking crew and the potential addition of Gholston through the draft.

notable reserves:
Jarvis Green
Rodney Harrison
Junior Seau
Teddy Bruschi
Vernon Gholson (if drafted)
Ellis Hobbs
Randall Gay if re-signed

I cannot guarentee that Suggs will want to sign with the Patriots because I have read awhile ago that Suggs may want to go back to his hometown of Arizona. However, this all comes down to whether or not he is franchised. But I can guarentee this, if Suggs isn't franchised, the Pats will pursue him hard. Write that down.

Wotan_the_Wanderer · 02-13-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimke

If the Pats lose Asante, they are in deep trouble. At best, Hobbs is

average. Gay if he is re-signed is below average. Maybe, the Pats

should trade their front seven and Dean Pees to the Giants for their

front seven and Steve Spagnuolo. Then, the Pats might have a good

enough pass rush to cover for less than adequate defensive backs.

The Pats go 18-1 with a top five defense and yet they need to go into rebuild mode?

tombonneau · 02-13-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBruinz

If Light was an "ALL-PRO" this is the first I've heard of it. In fact, Mankins was only 2nd team "ALL-PRO" and I thought he was the only Patriot O-lineman to be mentioned. I think you are confusing ALL-PRO with PRO-BOWL. And, for at least the next year, the newbie would play RT while he got used to the game.

I'm not confused. Light is a 2007 AP All-Pro tackle.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=090...o&confirm=true

Consider this to be the second time you've heard about it.

As far as ML goes, I think he's a tad overrated (his high # of false starts are inexcusable -- let's put it this way: he's the only offensive lineman my GF knows by name; that's not a good thing) but he is still above-average and when I think of positions in need of upgrade, LT is not one of them.

Quote:

Don't make the assumption he's gone. Just make the assumption he's a fa. There aren't many starting caliber FA CBs available.

Well, in order to make a realistic "Need" list, you need to make an assumption. If Vegas had odds, I'd imagine Asante staying a Patriot would be something like 10-1.

Quote:

WOW. I guess the stats LIE or something. Do you realize that the Pats only had 14 punt returns against them? That's on 44 punts. And they only allowed 5.3 yards per return. That is a HUGE improvement over last year. when the Pats were allowing 11.7 yards per return at the end of the season.

I'd say this more attributable to the PR coverage team and the excellent ST play of Washington than the prowess of Hanson. Plus, 44 is not a lot of punts. That's 32% punts being returned. Not sure what the league average is on that, but doesn't strike me as out of this world.

Anyway, Hanson is an average punter. Sure he looks great when compared to Walter, but I think when you look for an area of improvement, punter is one of them. It's not a weakness, but it can def. improved.

Quote:

I like Hester. He has "PATRIOTS" TYPE written all over him. I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Pats uniform, though he is lighter than either Evans or Eckel.

Agree to agree on this one. I think Hester -- while a tad light as you note -- is a great Patriot type of guy. If he puts on a few pounds I think he'd be a great addition to this offense.