Rebuilding: Where do we start

[PatriotNation]

We have a QB that can take us quite far... but in my opinon we need to:
Offense
1) protect the QB, Brady is amazing with time.
Guard play and ROT was horrible this year
2) WR : It bgeins with Moss and ends with Welker
Aiken, Edelman and Tate may be helpful but not scaring anyone....
With Welker's injury this becomes a desperate need
Defense
1) Find a leader!
2) Get more talent on the DL, if we stay with the 3-4, we need more quality depth. (sign Wilfork, move Brace to DE) and find quality depth.
3) LB core is sub par, Mayo is a budding star (so was Vincent Brown), get him some help inside and move Guyton to OLB where he belongs.
4) Pass rush is paramount, find one! Blitz or find natural pass rushers that can play this D!
5) CB : 3 quality CBs are nessesary these days, sign bodden is a must, ( no clue what to do with springs) and draft a 2 players with size that can play middle rounds.

All in all we are falling behind the pack, Pats need to adapt to the new NFL and BB needs to adjust. Pats have never really had an identity, they are an ameboa for every situation. Problem is they just dont have the talent or the supporting cast to be that flexible. The next 2 drafts will really determine the future of this team for the next 10 years.

Draft needs:
1) OL
2) DL
3) WR
4) OLB
5) ILB
6) QB

We have so many picks in a strong draft perhaps we should use them like other teams instead of trading for the future.

IMO we have missed too many play makers at the LB position, due to stuborness at BB's level. Look at game changes such as Dansby and Mathews among others which we have passed on.

 

[RyanTheColtsFan]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Cornerback is where I would start. Outside looking in. I don't know the Pats as well as you guys do but CB seems like such a weakness.

 

[TOzgood]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I was listening on 98.5 and Felger said that he thinks the Patriots won't re-sign Ghost and his re-signing is not important. After watching this years playoffs, I think we would be CRAZY to let someone like Ghost walk.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Why a QB? Hoyer has been good. Team has too many needs this year to take another young QB IMO. Maybe another WR instead, I wouldn't mind getting the next Branch/Givens combo in this draft

Agree with the rest.

 

[Brady to Brown]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I was listening on 98.5 and Felger said that he thinks the Patriots won't re-sign Ghost and his re-signing is not important. After watching this years playoffs, I think we would be CRAZY to let someone like Ghost walk.

Gost has made a name for himself, like Wilfork and the many others that have been moved out. If the player does not take less money than he can earn elsewhere then he is gone. This way of thinking must change.

 

[Brady to Brown]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

As far as the rebuilding goes I would like to see the Patriots draft a good RB and let him run the ball. 4, 5 or 6 RB'S is NOT the answer.

Also note today when the Jets had both Wayne and Clarke covered Manning killed the Jets with 2 other WR's. Number one the Patriots d not have this kind of talent and number 2 as long as Moss is on this team Brady will continue to force the ball to him while not even looking at anyone else other than Welker.

While being a unique talent Moss is not good for this team. IMHO.

 

[jmt57]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

As Bill Lumbergh would say: mmm, yeah, I'm going to have to disagree about OLB being only the 4th need in the draft. And mmm, yeah, I'm also going to have to disagree with the need to take a quarterback with the 6th draft pick.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

My priorities:

1. DE
2. OLB (both need to pass rush)
3. WR
4. WR
5. OLB/DE
6. ILB
7. G
8. WR
9. TE

We need lots of good bodies at DE and OLB. We need 2 DEs (assuming Green is gone).

We need an OLB to take Adalius's spot and one to beat out Tully.

We need a good ILB to have a rotation with Guyton and the new guy.

As for time for Brady, if you give the D all they can handle in terms of covering pass catchers, the OL suddenly lands in the Pro Bowl. Light, Mankins, Koppen were in the Pro Bowl two years ago. Think about that.

We need a pass rush and playmaking LBs.

Luckily, I don't see this as rebuilding. If we somehow trade down or trade future picks for picks this year, you can grab 6 guys in the first 3 rounds, or 8 in four. The draft is so deep that you can go a long way toward filling your needs.

If you go the free agent route and land a guy like Dansby, you're a step ahead of the game. A replacement for Neal is needed but I do not see this as important a need as pass rusher and receiver.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Cornerback is where I would start. Outside looking in. I don't know the Pats as well as you guys do but CB seems like such a weakness.

Leigh Bodden, Darius Butler, Shawn Springs, Jonathan Wilhite, Terrence Wheatley.


Something is telling me the Patriots are not going for a CB unless they can't resign Bodden.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I was listening on 98.5 and Felger said that he thinks the Patriots won't re-sign Ghost and his re-signing is not important. After watching this years playoffs, I think we would be CRAZY to let someone like Ghost walk.

Kicking game often gets the knock in football but I guarantee teams will be scrambling for a half decent kicker, let alone one of the most accurate and solid in the NFL.

Not important? Whatever man...

 

[lovsn]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Moving back to a 4-3

Too many teams looking for too few players who can play 3-4 positions means the quality available to you goes down and price goes up

 

[TriplecHamp]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

O-line: Not to much work to be done here IMO, Guard in the draft or through FA and maybe another tackle through the draft if were going BPA.

LB: If we were a 4-3 team this would be DE but for us its OLB, ILB is another area we should look at because Guyton is not the answer, maybe in passing downs but not an every down player.

WR: At least two more starting quality wideouts are needed. One through the Draft and one through FA is probably the way to go.

RB: No we do not need a big bruiser like Dixon or Gerhart, we need a good mix of size and speed. Jonathan Dwyer is probably the perfect back if size and speed is what your looking for but a Homerun threat is as much of a need. CJ Spiller, Best, McKnight, or McCluster are good fits.

TE: If Watson leaves TE will be a priorty for us unless your comfortable with Chris Baker as the starting TE.

CB: If Bodden leaves were F***ed! Better start signing and drafting because Butler, Wilhite and Springs are our only quality corners IMO.

D-Line Depth: I fully expcet us to resign or atleast franchise Wilfork but if not this jumps toward the top of the list and Terrance Cody or Dan Williams better be on their way here come late April.

So Basically, Saftey, QB, OT, and maybe DT/DE are where we dont need much help if any.

 

[WhiZa]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

As Bill Lumbergh would say: mmm, yeah, I'm going to have to disagree about OLB being only the 4th need in the draft. And mmm, yeah, I'm also going to have to disagree with the need to take a quarterback with the 6th draft pick.

I had a chance to see Crabel play, and boy that's just a straight shooter with upper management written all over him.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I was listening on 98.5 and Felger said that he thinks the Patriots won't re-sign Ghost and his re-signing is not important. After watching this years playoffs, I think we would be CRAZY to let someone like Ghost walk.

If there is no cap, he is a RFA. He won't be going anywhere. He is a very good kicker with a great kick off. I doubt the Pats will let him go especially considering even the highest paid kickers don't take up that much cap space. It isn't like Vinatieri when they let him go since Vinatieri was older and had back issues.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Top priority is to get OLBs.
Next is an ILB next to Mayo.
Then a DE.
Then WR depth.
Then a starting RB.

 

[Patjew]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Hasn't this already been started? Look at the defense of 2009 vs 2007.

 

[mayoclinic]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I already outlined my plan a week ago:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../314602-january-15-2010-offseason-mock.html

But to outline the priorities:

1. Add playmakers anywhere.
2. Change the coaching staff and get more diversified on offense and more aggressive and attacking on defense.
3. Resign/tender key personnel: Wilfork, Bodden, Mankins, Ghost
4. Get a true SILB next to Mayo and add a strongside and weakside pass rusher
5. Address the RG position and the offensive line, and add some young legs at RB, preferably a playmaker
6. Add a 3rd WR in FA
7. Depth everywhere else

 

[zipster9]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I think the Patriots need to select smarter in the Draft.

Look at the Colts (2009 AFC winners) : Garson, Addai, Sanders, Gonzalez...

How many duds did we have last year? Look at how many picks we got.

It's not the # of picks, but, what players you are targeting for.

I dont buy the idea "best available player at that time"...

Look at the picks of 2009. Most of the rookies are injured, or no-impact or released.

So far, biggest rookie duds are: Brace & Crable.

Got lucky with Vollmer.

 

[zipster9]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Forgot. Todays AFC game, Austin Collie, WR stepped up.

Geez.. 4th rounder...

 

[mayoclinic]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I think the Patriots need to select smarter in the Draft.

Look at the Colts (2009 AFC winners) : Garson, Addai, Sanders, Gonzalez...

How many duds did we have last year? Look at how many picks we got.

It's not the # of picks, but, what players you are targeting for.

I dont buy the idea "best available player at that time"...

Look at the picks of 2009. Most of the rookies are injured, or no-impact or released.

So far, biggest rookie duds are: Brace & Crable.

Got lucky with Vollmer.

Gonzalez has been on IR this year and hasn't contributed to the Colts SB team. Addai hasn't been much better than Maroney. Solid, but nothing special. I'd take Maurice Jones-Drew (who went in the 2nd round in 2006) by a mile over both. Sanders has been excellent but injury prone.

I don't buy your argument. The Colts have had their share of duds. They traded up (giving up a 2008 1st round pick) for Jeff Otah, who has been passed up on the depth chart at LT. Donald Brown ran for 281 yards (3.6 YPC) this year - we would be screaming that he was a bust if we had drafted him at #27 and gotten that kind of production, just like you're calling Brace a dud. The Colts had 4 picks in the 6th round in 2008 - Pierre Garcon is the only one who has emerged as an important player, and he did nothing as a rookie.

The Colts are one of the best drafting teams in the NFL, without a doubt. But your argument doesn't hold up.

2009 major contributors drafted after the 6th round = 3 (Edelman, Pryor and Ingram)
2009 draft picks to make the 53 man roster, go on IR, or make the practice squad = 12 (plus UDFA Brian Hoyer)

No one's going to bat 1.000.