mgteich

As mayo has posted, the core of our offense is almost set through 2014. THIS IS ****ING AMAZING!! We have one of the very best offenses in the league all but locked up for 3 seasons or more.
==================================
ISSUES

Welker and Vollmer are in their contract years.

We will need OL depth, and a starrting center or guard in 2014 (if McDonald doesn't work out). We're fine for 2013 with one of Koppen, Wendell and McDonald starting.

Each year, we will need backups and developmental players at the end of the roster.


That's all folks!
===============

I guess Welker's contract should be the next to consider. Vollmer's contract can wait until the PUP break so that we can see if he can stay healthy.

mayoclinic

Good thread.

I really didn't realize until the Gronk contract how well set up the Pats are for the next 3+ years, especially on offense. There will always be 25-33% roster turnover, but most of the core players are locked up long term:

QB: Brady is signed through 2014. Mallett, should he become a viable backup, is also signed through 2014. Hoyer is signed through 2012, and this will likely be his last season.

RB: Ridley and Vereen are signed through 2014, and they look to be the top 2 backs. Bolden is also signed through 2014. Larsen is signed through 2013. Woodhead, Addai and Fiammetta are signed through 2012, but Woodhead is the only one of those guys who is a 2012 roster lock, and he's not irreplaceable if he can't be extended.

WR: Lloyd and Slater are signed through 2014. Ebert is signed through 2015. Gaffney is signed through 2013 at reasonable money, wants to be a Pat, and could probably be extended if the team so desired. Welker, Branch, Stallworth and Edelman are all signed through 2012. With Gronk's contract in hand, a 3 year deal for Welker would be awfully nice.

TE: Gronk is effectively under contract through 2019! Fells is signed through 2014. Hernandez is signed through 2013, but the potential to use the franchise tag gives the team effective control through 2014 or even longer. Scaife's contract is presumably for only 1 year, but he's on the bubble.

OT: Solder is signed through 2014 with an option year for 2015. Cannon is signed through 2014. Vollmer is signed through 2012, and is probably the second highest contract priority after Welker.

OG/C: Logan Mankins is signed through 2016. Dan Connolly is signed through 2014. Brian Waters is likely to retire after 2012. Robert Gallery is signed only through 2012, and an extension could be a target if he proves valuable. Dan Koppen and Ryan Wendell signed through 2013. I think Nick McDonald is signed only through 2012 - he could also be in line for an extension if he makes the team.

As the OP states, the priorities on offense right now should be to lock up Welker and Vollmer long term, and address at least one additional interior lineman long term. If that were to happen, the Pats would essentially have the entire core of their offense under contract for the next 3 years, which would be practically unprecedented in today's NFL, and incredible given the level at which the offense has performed.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

Joey007

Don't forget the third priority after those two- Chung. He faces a similar situation as Vollmer does.
Both were drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft. Both have played exceptionally well, but have issues staying healthy.

__________________

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


Stevan Ridley. Bringing back the art of running the football back to New England since 2011.

mgteich

This is a thread about the awesome state of the OFFENSE. The defense is another matter entirely.

rookBoston

Interior linemen and youth at WR is all we'll need next offseason.

2013 roster, under contract

QB Brady, Mallett
RB Vereen, Ridley
WR Lloyd, Gaffney, Ebert, Slater
TE Gronkowski, Hernandez
OT Solder, Cannon
OG Mankins, Wendell
OC Connolly, Koppen

Looks like we're ready for 2013 already. Even without re-signing Welker or Vollmer, this roster works and is pretty competitive. Add a couple of draft picks at OT and WR, some vet FAs for depth, and we're ready to play.

__________________
"We want to build a big, strong, tough, smart, fast, disciplined football team that will consistently compete for a championship."
-- Scott Pioli, from the Patriots scouting manual

scout

I'm not a numbers cruncher, but logic states that unless Welker does a deep home discount he's gone. If he is signed, then there will be a number of really good players going to other teams.

mayoclinic

It's actually even better - see the annotations in red. All will be under contract through 2013, assuming they make the team or the PS (if eligible). And every player on your original list except for Gaffney, Hernandez, Wendell and Koppen is under contract through 2014, too, as are Fells, Zusevics and Warren.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

Patriot Missile

Vollmer's contract is up in the air. Another injury riddled season and I can see them letting him test free agent waters.

mayoclinic

Yup. And another season like 2010 and Vollmer could be very difficult to re-sign. He was the best RT in the NFL in 2010 and a damn good swing tackle. A healthy Vollmer and Solder give the Pats potentially one of the strongest bookends in the league. The Pats need to decide how soon to target locking Vollmer up.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

mgteich

I've never counted on Practice Squad players. I guess Fells and Larsen are additions. It seems likely that they will make the team. Most of us have them penciled in as of now.