mayoclinic

I certainly hope that Spikes doesn't move on, but if he does we're certainly well positioned with Hightower, especially if Fletcher comes back. I wouldn't be at all unhappy with Dion Jordan as a OLB/DE guy who can play in space, along with a LDE and/or DT.

I'd like a tackle and a guard/center in next year's draft, but I don't think they need to be immediate contributors. Hopefully we will find a way to keep Sebastian Vollmer, allowing Marcus Cannon to be a swing guard/tackle player. Edwin Fisher of Central Michigan is intriguing as a day 2 swing tackle prospect, but there are several day 3 guys with a ton of upside. I'm especially intrigued by Kyle Long, Howie's son. I think there are a number of solid interior line prospects as well.[/QUOTE]

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"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

Sciz

I'm pretty confident Spikes is around long term if for no other reason than that he's too slow to play in most schemes.

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nekromantique

when you guys are listing TE's on your 'needs' do you look at the pats roster at all?

daniel fells is here for a couple years, and we will have ballard next year as well.

manxman2601

And none of those are "move" TE's. If TE wasn't still some sort of need, why did they sign Winslow?

mgteich

I agree that we always need help on the lines.

However, the DL is in great shape, and we have several developmental players in the wings, at DT (Francis and Forston) and at DE (Bequette).

We are in fine shape in the interior of the line with Mankins, Wendell, Connolly, Thomas, Cannon, and McDonald. Yes, we could always use another stud, and always another developmental prospect for the academy. IMHO, Dante does fine with "mediocre" talent in interior linemen.

We are in really poor shape at OFFENSIVE TACKLE. We have Solder, the oft-injured Vollmer who isn't signed for 2013 and Cannon, who could possibly be developed as our starting RG, if he ever has a chance to focus on playing OG. Of course, free agency may be the best place to find an OT or two (if Vollmer isn't re-signed. I would note that at OT, especially LT, talent does really show, and dante is more limited in what he can develop.

[QUOTE=mayoclinic;3173989]

Defensive line and offensive line are both ALWAYS a priority.

patsfaninpa

Safety play was pretty poor yesterday.

1ST Buffalo TD - Chung had decent coverage. Just didn't turn his head. I'll give him a little slack he nearly broke it up and it was a nice catch and throw.

2ND Buffalo TD - Spikes turned the wrong way on his drop. Gregory and Chung both slow getting over.

3rd Buffalo TD - Should have been a 15 yard play. Horrible angle to tackle wr by Chung results in a 65 yard touchdown.

4th Buffalo TD - Ebner bites on play action up 42-21. Ugh. Gets beat.


Tavon Wilson looked good. Nice tackle in backfield on one play. And, an easy pic. Didn't seem out of place. Chung's up for a new contract this year. He's got to play better. I might move safety up on my wish list. Might turn out that Wilson is our FS. What a terrible pick that was. And, Gregory a 3rd safety/dime back. If you play 2 deep, don't need a thumper at SS like Rodney or Milloy. Or, what we hope Chung can become. Get a better coverage guy.

Ochmed Jones

[QUOTE=mgteich;3178137]I agree that we always need help on the lines.

However, the DL is in great shape, and we have several developmental players in the wings, at DT (Francis and Forston) and at DE (Bequette).

We are in fine shape in the interior of the line with Mankins, Wendell, Connolly, Thomas, Cannon, and McDonald. Yes, we could always use another stud, and always another developmental prospect for the academy. IMHO, Dante does fine with "mediocre" talent in interior linemen.

We are in really poor shape at OFFENSIVE TACKLE. We have Solder, the oft-injured Vollmer who isn't signed for 2013 and Cannon, who could possibly be developed as our starting RG, if he ever has a chance to focus on playing OG. Of course, free agency may be the best place to find an OT or two (if Vollmer isn't re-signed. I would note that at OT, especially LT, talent does really show, and dante is more limited in what he can develop.

I agree 100%.

At the OT position, there are not a lot of studs coming out this year, but the two kids from Texas A&M look really impressive, Jokiel and Mathews.

Any of the big three from Alabama could step in and start for us from day 1, Jones, Womack and Fluker.

BB has to restock the O line this year and hopefully get another really good safety who can step in and play as well as Wilson has as a rookie.

I wonder if BB could pry WR Reilley Cooper away from Philly. He looks like he could thrive in our offense.

nekromantique

fells was still injured
shiancoe wont be available for a few more weeks
ballard is out for the year most likely
hernandez is injured


that is why they signed winslow. they obviously didnt mind letting him go once they saw fells was healthy (and winslow asked for it).

it was a need for THAT moment, not necessarily for next year+

my point is that its not a position id waste a pick on or actively pursue in FA. maybe look at a couple of guys as injury replacements, and of course rookie fa for training camp/preseason...

DaBruinz

Yes, the guy has 10% body fat at 350 lbs and you think he needs to shed weight... Those are numbers that were confirmed prior to the combine. So, that means, he could shave maybe 5-7 lbs and still remain at a healthy point before his body starts eating the muscle..

BALANCE is affected more by Core Muscle Training than it is by weight.

Seriously.. I wish people would get their facts before saying that such and such should lose weight.

DaBruinz

Safety will be one of the positions the Pats draft unless they are able to entice Ed Reed to come play.

Donald Thomas held up very well at LG against Buffalo. At RG, the previous week, he was bad. Moral - Donald Thomas isn't a fit at RG, though he is at LG.

Nick McDonald has been injured, but hopefully will get a chance to move up and pass Wendell, allowing Connolly to move to center and McDonald to take over at RG, though, McDonald was better at C than at RG.

I see the Pats needing a Swing Tackle unless Kopa, Hix or Zusevics steps up and forces their way onto the pro-roster. This is regardless of whether or not Vollmer is re-signed..


What I find funny is how people are writing off Bequette already. Kid isn't even out of his rookie year and people want to replace him.

Of course, then you have people like Captain Stone who makes laughable claims about the Pats LBers .. Yet, all they've done is make plays this year.

Free Agency Questions:
Welker, Arrington, Vollmer, Chung, Edelman

If the Pats re-sign Welker, then the need for a WR is diminished significantly.
If the Pats re-sign Edelman, then the need for a WR is gone (considering Lloyd and Salas).

Signing Vollmer will be the key to the O-line for next year. If they re-sign him, then they would need a swing tackle behind Cannon who could step in.

Chung - Whether or not he's re-signed, the Pats will draft a Safety, imho. This will be someone who can push Ebner Wilson, Gregory and Chung.

Arrington - His re-signing will depend on the development of Moore, Denard and Dowling. Dowling seemed to have been the starter to start the season, but has plummeted on the depth chart, sitting only ahead of Denard know (seemingly). Moore has been lining up in the Nickel formations against the outside receiver with Arrington moving inside to the star. Marquice Cole has been coming in on the Dime packages and lining up against other slot receivers.


It's still way to early to tell what's going to be going on by the time Free Agency rolls around next season. In fact, the addition of Ballard could move Hernandez to WR and make things really interesting..