Deus Irae

I'm bored, so I thought I'd do a quick fix thread about the offense, based upon current draft positions of soon-to-be rookies, and based upon the current FA crop. So, here goes:

Draft Cox and Poe in the first round, and sign Sign Goldson/Branch/Griffin/Landry for defense, and then....

Draft Adams

Sign Lloyd
Re-sign Welker
Re-sign Koppen
Re-sign Connolly
Re-sign Branch
Release Johnson
Let BJGE walk (Unless he's willing to take committee RB money and he can be RB4)
Convince Light and Waters to return

Starters

Light/Solder
Mankins
Koppen/Connolly
Waters/Connolly
Vollmer/Solder
Gronk
Hernandez
Welker
Lloyd
Ridley
Brady

Bench

Vereen
Woodhead
RB4
Branch
Adams
Edelman
Wendell
Ohrnberger
TE3/FB
Mallett
Hoyer
Cannon (added when tatepatsfan noticed the oversight)

Depending upon how the rest of the draft board falls, drafting another C and/or G could still be an option to compete against the likes of Wendell and Ohrnberger.


Have at it.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

patsinthesnow

I like it, but do you mean Dontari Poe in the first round, the mammoth 6'5 350 pound NT? Curious how you see using him with Wilfork and Love.

tatepatsfan

Maybe I am misreading it, but I think you left out Cannon. I feel confident he'll be on the team next year.

I think BGJE is a very interesting free agent for us. It's been well documented how trustworthy he is, but then again, he's not really a "game changer" either. I'd like to see him back, but I really doubt we give him more than say 2 or 3 mil a season.

Welker will almost certainly be back. I like bringing Branch back too, but only as a 3rd or 4th WR. At least one of Connolly or Koppen will be back. I'd like to see both back too.

Convincing Light and Waters to retire is ideal, but might perhaps be easier said than done.

Deus Irae

Yes, sorry....

Dontari Poe
Fletcher Cox
Joe Adams

I'd initially look at Poe as backup NT, NT when Wilfork bounced outside, and part of the DT rotation when the Patriots went into sub packages.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

Zeus

Agree that they shouldn't overpay BJGE, although I think he's a better player than people generally think. You are putting a lot a faith in Ridely and Vereen. Would RB4 be a rookie or a veteran free agent?

__________________
"And the anger and the yearning, like fever in my veins, set the fire burning ..." WZ

patsinthesnow

Oh thanks, I also thought you ment Mike Adams too, lol.

That'd actually be interesting, gives the pats alot of flexibility at the line. Wilfork-Poe-Love, ultimate run stuffers.

Deus Irae

Either would work. My guess is that, if the team lets BJGE walk, it'll be because they are confident in Ridley as the RB1, so the team will be looking for a rotation guy who can maybe get a couple of carries, but would be more important as an injury hedge.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

Zeus

Even though we didn't see all that much of either Ridley or Vereen, the talent is evident. How much they improve with the benefit of a full offseason will be key. In particular, conditioning/durability, blitz pick-up and (especially) ball security will make or break these guys.

__________________
"And the anger and the yearning, like fever in my veins, set the fire burning ..." WZ

Gronkandez

I agree with this.

I think RB4 should be a good ST player a la Sammy Morris only not that old. Let BJGE walk.

I don't think the Pats should re-sign Branch if they get Lloyd and draft Joe Adams. Welker/Lloyd/Edelman/Adams + Underwood or some other JAG is enough.

Deus Irae

Just to explain my reasoning behind the Branch re-signing here:

1.) He'd be able to mentor Adams, who seems like he's got some of the same skills

2.) If Adams isn't ready yet, Branch would work well in the empty backfield sets

Lloyd
Welker
Gronk
Hernandez
Branch

I think Branch is in decline, but I don't think we're looking at a complete breakdown, and I think he's still got another season of decent play left in him. I don't want him as a starter but, if he'll take an appropriate deal, I see him as still having real value to the team.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius