Is it time to draft offense early? - New England Patriots Forums

***Bobs My Uncle*** · 01-12-2010, 02:00 PM

The last 3 drafts the Pats have used their early picks almost exclusively (Vollmer excepted) on defense. Is it time to start focusing on offense?

Code:

  
Year	No.	Round	Pick	Player	Name	Position	College

2009	1	2	2	34	Patrick Chung	DB	Oregon
 	2	2	8	40	Ron Brace	DT	Boston College
 	3	2	9	41	Darius Butler	DB	Connecticut
 	4	2	26	58	Seb Vollmer	 T	Houston

2008	1	1	10	10	Jerod Mayo	LB	Tennessee
 	2	2	31	62	T Wheatley      DB	Colorado
 	3	3	15	78	Shawn Crable	LB	Michigan
 	
2007	1	1	24	24	B Meriweather	DB	Miami (FL)

s.t.e.n.d.e.c · 01-12-2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobs My Uncle

The last 3 drafts the Pats have used their early picks almost exclusively (Vollmer excepted) on defense. Is it time to start focusing on offense?

Code:

  
Year	No.	Round	Pick	Player	Name	Position	College

2009	1	2	2	34	Patrick Chung	DB	Oregon
 	2	2	8	40	Ron Brace	DT	Boston College
 	3	2	9	41	Darius Butler	DB	Connecticut
 	4	2	26	58	Seb Vollmer	 T	Houston

2008	1	1	10	10	Jerod Mayo	LB	Tennessee
 	2	2	31	62	T Wheatley      DB	Colorado
 	3	3	15	78	Shawn Crable	LB	Michigan
 	
2007	1	1	24	24	B Meriweather	DB	Miami (FL)

No imo the pats should pick a pass rusher if they don't get one in FA.

Jimke · 01-12-2010, 02:09 PM

The Patriots have holes on both offense and defense. They

probably have to draft the best player available and fill as many

holes as possible.

***BelichickFan*** · 01-12-2010, 02:16 PM

Unfortunately we still appear to need :

1 DE
1 NT (unless Wilfork signs long term)
2 OLB (I'm reluctantly saying McKenzie and/or Guyton can suffice at ILB)

I think we can get by at CB and I hope Meriweather/Chung can be our Safety duo.

Thankfully we have 4 early picks but unless Crable rises from the dead and a mystery man appears to fill the other OLB and DE slots, I think we need to be looking at a 50-50 split on offense and defense.

Jimke · 01-12-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BelichickFan

Unfortunately we still appear to need :

1 DE
1 NT (unless Wilfork signs long term)
2 OLB (I'm reluctantly saying McKenzie and/or Guyton can suffice at ILB)

I think we can get by at CB and I hope Meriweather/Chung can be our Safety duo.

Thankfully we have 4 early picks but unless Crable rises from the dead and a mystery man appears to fill the other OLB and DE slots, I think we need to be looking at a 50-50 split on offense and defense.

If Bodden leaves, you have to add cornerback to the above. This
would use up our 4 top draft picks.

Relentless649 · 01-12-2010, 02:43 PM

It definitely is time to take offense early. What we currently have on our roster simply isnt good enough anymore because our defense isnt what it once was.

upstater1 · 01-12-2010, 03:19 PM

I would draft like so:

DE
WR
OLB
WR
DE
OLB
WR

Unless a guy like McClain at ILB is available at the top.

In addition to replacing Jarvis Green, the team needs a backup for that DE position, a guy other than Pryor who can eventually step in for Warren (maybe that guy is Pryor).

So, 1 or 2 DEs, a couple of OLBs to take over on early downs from Adalius and Tully (a kid like Eric Norwood, for instance).

As for offense, yes I know we need guards and/or centers, but our pass rush and passing game are bigger concerns.

The idea that the Patriots are going to go back to a power running game in today's NFL when Brady is their QB and their OL is still viable? I'm not buying it. It makes more sense to run a 1 back 3 WR offense and/or 4 WRs but this time, when you spread the field, hopefully two of your receivers aren't Sammy Morris and Sam Aiken.

That's why they should draft 2 WRs in a draft loaded with them. Keep Moss, but don't rely on him.

***mayoclinic*** · 01-12-2010, 04:10 PM

It's time to draft both offense and defense early. We need playmakers on both sides of the ball. Ideally, an OG and an offensive playmaker with 2 of our top 4 picks, and defensive playmakers with the other 2 picks.

***mgteich*** · 01-12-2010, 05:57 PM

WE NEED YOUNG OFFENSIVE PLAYERS!

We always need playmakers on both sides of the ball. The fact remains that the offense will not be maintained and get better if we draft 7 defensive players and 1 offensive player over three years and then make it 2 and 2 for a couple of years to make up.

The offense needs a srarting quality guard or two, two wide receivers, a starting quality running back or two, a starting quality tight end, a developmental quarterback, and a developmental OT. The offensive cupboard is bare.

We have lots of young defensive players.

I agree that we should draft ONE defensive player early: a 3-4 DL. The early draft is the place to find such players, and we need to replace Green and Seymour. We have Brace and Pryor, but we need one more.
========================

We do need a corner and an impact OLB or two. Well, then we need to find them in free agency.

BillBelichickFan79 · 01-12-2010, 06:46 PM

We definitely need some playmakers on offense, either via the draft or free agency.

I think we need a physical #2 WR to go across from Moss. Aiken doesn't suffice. Edelman can slide into the slot for the Welker routes.

When I look at this team we don't have a physical WR who will go over the middle in the intermediate passing game and make the 7-15 yard catches. Moss isn't physical and doesn't like to go over the middle, and Edelman/Welker are at their best when they are running quick little 5 yard option routes and such.

I want a guy comparable to Anquan Boldin who is a tough, physical presence and operates over the middle of the field and will put his body on the line to make the catch.

Marshall is definitely a guy that fits that profile, but I don't see us adding him.