Pats "TOP" priorty

[DaBruinz]

Let's all promise no binkies until after the combine

Briz already broke that promise.. See the Maclin thread.

 

[PatsFan2]

Safety is looking like a fine position in the upcoming Draft...we have to get an upgrade over James Sanders.

 

[DaBruinz]

Safety is looking like a fine position in the upcoming Draft...we have to get an upgrade over James Sanders.

The likelihood of the Pats finding a Safety who can step in right away and start over Sanders is slim. This team is much better with Sanders holding the fort while a pick develops without the pressure than it would be otherwise.

Sanders isn't the best, but BB and the coaching staff considers him to have starting safety talent.

That being said, they could look at Sean Jones to come in and start next to Meriweather until a suitable replacement develops behind him

 

[PatsFan2]

The likelihood of the Pats finding a Safety who can step in right away and start over Sanders is slim. This team is much better with Sanders holding the fort while a pick develops without the pressure than it would be otherwise.

Sanders isn't the best, but BB and the coaching staff considers him to have starting safety talent.

That being said, they could look at Sean Jones to come in and start next to Meriweather until a suitable replacement develops behind him

It's still not out of the realms of possibilities for a guy to come in ready. Merriweather will be the Coach back there anyway...so this prospect could potentially transition easily. I just want a lay the lumber type Safety like Ryan Clark so Merriweather could go back and roam at FS.

 

[mgteich]

Meriweather wasn't ready with Harrison as coach back there. And BTW, James Sanders is the signal caller back there, not Meriweather.

It's still not out of the realms of possibilities for a guy to come in ready. Merriweather will be the Coach back there anyway...so this prospect could potentially transition easily. I just want a lay the lumber type Safety like Ryan Clark so Merriweather could go back and roam at FS.

 

[billdog3484]

if we cant find a safety in the first 2 rounds better than james sanders then this years safety class is probably pretty pathetic.

 

[Warren94]

Between Moore, Mays and Johnson Hamlin. I concur what you are saying about Sanders. We need an upgrade. He's ok and all but if the pats don't sign Sean Jones away from Cleveland This has to be a priority.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

if we cant find a safety in the first 2 rounds better than james sanders then this years safety class is probably pretty pathetic.

Is Sanders a FS or a SS?

It seems to me that Merriweather exceled at SS, especially when he was lined up down low in the box.

If we let Sanders walk, then we will need a FS. Moore of Mizzu is regarded as the prize of this year's draft class.

However I want my FS to make plays (we had a secondary completely bereft of playmaker's this past season, except for maybe Merriweather at the end of the season.) and I think Greene or Rutgers has more upside as far as coverage and playmaking then any FS in this draft. And he should be available, provided he runs well, in the third round.

 

[billdog3484]

i think merriweather can play both. i agree that we need a playmaker at safety. i really wouldnt mind if we took one in the first round if it was possible he could make an immediate impact.

obviously ed reed is a once in a generation playmaker at the position but i would prefer someone with a skill set similar to his than just a bone crushing Safety.

 

[ayjackson]

Let's all promise no binkies until after the combine

you don't pick binkies; binkies pick you.....you're helpless as far as timing goes.

 

[j00fek]

i got BB taking a tackle in the first round this yr like the OP said oline will need to solidified past '09

running back second round TE maybe late 2 and two 3rd rounders this yr for olb/saftey

after that its depth picks

 

[VJCPatriot]

i think merriweather can play both. i agree that we need a playmaker at safety. i really wouldnt mind if we took one in the first round if it was possible he could make an immediate impact.

obviously ed reed is a once in a generation playmaker at the position but i would prefer someone with a skill set similar to his than just a bone crushing Safety.

But Meriweather isn't a bonecrunching safety either. He's more of a coverage guy. He's been pretty solid this year but he won't intimidate anyone. I'd like to get a hard hitter that has enough coverage ability to stay with a freaking tight end in the middle zone area. You don't have to be a track star or something to keep up with most tight ends. Is that too much to ask for?

I hear a lot of good things about both Mays and Moore. And they both have the size/athleticism combo that you want from that position. 6'2-3, 220+ lbs, 4.5ish speed.
PS Ed Reed ran a 4.57 40 at the 2002 combine for comparison.

Mays profile:
Scout.com: Taylor Mays Profile

Moore profile:
Scout.com: William Moore Profile

Safety has traditionally been an underdrafted position but I think that NFL teams are starting to see them as more important playmakers on D. I wouldn't be surprised if BB took one of those guys at #24, if they are still around.

 

[DaBruinz]

i got BB taking a tackle in the first round this yr like the OP said oline will need to solidified past '09

running back second round TE maybe late 2 and two 3rd rounders this yr for olb/saftey

after that its depth picks

J00fek - Being as I was the OP, you have misunderstood the point of this thread. It wasn't to specify the rounds in which players should be drafted. It was to put a weight on the position as part of the Belichick/Pioli Best Value Available equation. I have OT weighted 9th (lower priority) on the needs list. I have NT weighted 3rd (which is a higher priority).

 

[DW Toys]

if we cant find a safety in the first 2 rounds better than james sanders then this years safety class is probably pretty pathetic.

Touche! Well played.
DW TOYS

 

[DaBruinz]

f we cant find a safety in the first 2 rounds better than james sanders then this years safety class is probably pretty pathetic.

Touche! Well played.
DW TOYS

You two clearly won't ever learn. The Patriots are about VALUE. And if the value isn't there, they aren't going to reach.

This wasn't going to be a strong safety draft class unless a lot of juniors came out. It MIGHT turn into one. And if it takes a few years for a couple of them to develop, that doesn't make it pathetic.

What you two fail to realize is that the best coach in the NFL considers James Sanders to be a starting caliber safety. Neither of you are smarter than Belichick. And, honestly, neither of you show any want to improve your understanding. Its why Billdgo is on ignore and DW is joining him.

 

[billdog3484]

You two clearly won't ever learn. The Patriots are about VALUE. And if the value isn't there, they aren't going to reach.

Dear PatsNazi (DaBruinz), (if this is offensive to anyone, i apologize in advance, i was only playing off the soup-nazi from seinfeld).

Please find me where i said anything about actually drafting a safety. you claim you people dont read posts and then make outrageous comments. well, YOU just did that.

I said if we cant find one better than Sanders the S's in the draft are pathetic. Sanders stinks, you can believe whatever you want. the guy cant cover, he never makes any big plays, and he takes horrible angles to the ball in the air and the ball carriers.


i have actually posted on this board, maybe not this thread, that i could care less what position we draft, I just want a damn good player.

I personally would love to upgrade at Safety, i would love a playmaker there. I think in a perfect world I would love to draft an impact CB or S in the first round, then go OLB and OG in the 2nd round. Preferably an OLB that can get to the QB. you may claim we have that on our roster, and maybe we do, but i want more than 1, and ill let them compete for the starting job. but, at the end of the day, i could care less. i just want good players on this team.


so, you can claim i "won't ever learn" but apparently you dont even learn from yourself and you put words in peoples mouths. like i said before....
If there is not a Safety in the draft better than James Sanders in the 1st or 2nd round, the safeties in this draft STINK....and NO I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT REACHING.

So, when the three headed monster meets (you, BB, and Pioli), please clarify to them my position. Thanks bud.

and, keep in mind its 2:00 in the morning and you kept me from going to bed early because i had to make sure most of what i wrote made sense, because god forbid someone writes something with grammatical errors.

 

[billdog3484]

What you two fail to realize is that the best coach in the NFL considers James Sanders to be a starting caliber safety. Neither of you are smarter than Belichick. And, honestly, neither of you show any want to improve your understanding. Its why Billdgo is on ignore and DW is joining him.

So what you are saying is that if there were 10 crappy players on the team at a position, BUT, even though you had to fill a position and you had to start one of them, because the best coach in the NFL puts him in the starting lineup, that means that he doesnt think the guy stinks?

just because things are done one way by a person, does NOT mean that is the way that person (BB) wants things to be done. it is called adaptation. that has been BB's #1 strength.

For example, if we have great coverage personnel, i would be BB wouldnt blitz as much as he would blitz if we had great coverage personnel. if we had great run blocking OL and OL with lesser pass blocking skills, we would pass more.

The thing about BB that makes him great is that he ADAPTS.

Dictionary.com says: a⋅dapt   /əˈdæpt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [uh-dapt] Show IPA Pronunciation

–verb (used with object) 1. to make suitable to requirements or conditions; adjust or modify fittingly: They adapted themselves to the change quickly. He adapted the novel for movies.

this is why he is good. he does NOT draft for need, he will draft for value. VALUE VALUE VALUE.


so, just because things have been done by BB in the past one way, doesnt really mean a lick of poo. he will take whatever he has and bring the best out of that person. so stop your nonsense of "he did it this way in the past so he will definitely do it again in the future." he is the best because he never does that.


ADAPT...remember that. it applies to everythng in life.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

The teams top priority should be drafting a #1 corner, and then a #2 corner. I know people believe that Belichick doesn'5t draft need, but he really does. He just ranks need second to talent so, for example we really need a corner or two, a pass rushing OLB, a stud DL/OL. If the talent on the board at #24 is at DL, he takes a DL. If the talent on the board at #24 is WR, he isn't going to take a WR, he will take the most talented person at a need position.

If you look at expiring contracts, DL, OL are the most pressing positions, but the secondary was so bad this year that he has to strengthen it.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Agree about the secondary. After watching this team play. It's clearly the
weakest position on the team. While he's no thumper like L.Milloy or Rodney.
Meriweather seemed to make more plays closer to the line of scrimmage. I think
I'd rather have a centerfield type to team with him. For you old timers(like me)
a F.Marion type. Not sure who fits that bill. Kid from Alabama R.Johnson might
make a nice compliment. But, first i'd like to get a cb. Not sure what we have
in Wheatley. Plus, E.Hobbs will be entering his final season on his contract.

Normally, you can't go wrong drafting a good linemen. They are way too expensive
in free-agency. So, if there's a better lineman than db that would address some
holes too.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Ok.. We all know that Belichick and Pioli draft based on perceived value to the Patriots organization. And that perceived value takes into consideration that person's tangible skills, intangibles (like leadership and instinct), and the need to the team. With that being said, here is I see the Pats top priorities based on need only.

1) Defensive End
2) Offensive Guard
3) Nose Tackle
4) Long Snapper
5) Safety - SS to Tweener
6) Pass-Rushing OLB
7) ILB
8) Cornerback
9) Offensive Tackle
10) Tight End
11) Center
12) Running back
12) Wide Receiver

Now, I KNOW people are going to go into their tirades because I have pass-rushing OLB as the 6th need on the team. That's how I see it based on the personnel they have going forward and based on how BB likes to bring in players 1 year before they will need them.

After 2009, the following players are UFA (based on the CBA being redone):
Seymour, Wilfork, Green, Vrabel, Faulk, Neal, Bruschi, Hobbs, Mankins, Kaczur, Washington, Yates, D. Thomas, Watson, Gostkowski,, LK Smith.

I expect that Mankins, Gostkowski, and Hobbs to be retained. The others are question marks either because of age/injuries (Neal, Bruschi, Vrabel, Faulk, Seymour), because they are so good that the Pats may not be able to afford them (Wilfork) or because they may not fit into the Pats plans going forward (Washington, Kaczur, Yates, Watson, LK Smith)

So, I looked at this draft and saw where the strengths were. ILB and OLB have good strengths. NT has potential. DE, not so much. Safety has good mid-round depth, but doesn't have a lot at the top end (unless several juniors declare). OT, OG, and Center are pretty good. WR is weak. RB is strong. TE isn't great.

So, I can see the Pats adding to most of the positions that I see as "need" positions and addressing them with value players.

has anyone actually been watching the pats this year? all i hear from people is we need DE and lBs. those are the position we DON'T need to waste draft picks on. we need CB, TE, S, OL. we have to address these position either through the draft or free agency.

the guy we need is malcolm jenkins. we have to have a top 10 draft pick for that. hopefully, cassell will be traded somewhere whose team picks in the top 10.