Rebuilding: Where do we start

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

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.

I don't know what the heck Felger is smoking (maybe it's kielbasa for Rex Ryan ), but there's also the fact that the Patriots haven't even brought in a camp leg since they gave Gostkowski the job in 2006.

Just as importantly, who would they replace him with? I can't see anybody available who would be equal to Gostkowski, let alone better.

 

[muzz]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

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.

Wilhiite and Wheatley are USELESS, Springs is old and wasn't even active for what, 4 games?
I think Butler showed promise, but the only other player in that list that I have ANY confidence in is Bodden.
I say CB SHOULD be something they draft for, and PRAY that he takes a PLAYER instead of some combine freak, then he can have a young and hungry secondary, instead of BUMS like Willy and Buckwheat.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I don't know what the heck Felger is smoking (maybe it's kielbasa for Rex Ryan ), but there's also the fact that the Patriots haven't even brought in a camp leg since they gave Gostkowski the job in 2006.

Just as importantly, who would they replace him with? I can't see anybody available who would be equal to Gostkowski, let alone better.

Felger has gone over the deep end with his "the Pats won't spend this offseason" rant. Eventhough the Pats will have to spend tens of millions in free agency this offseason just to be cheap, he is convinced that the Pats won't spend more than a couple of million eventhough their current payroll is lower than any year since 2002 by about $10-20 million.

 

[jczxohn1]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

In view of the CBA turmoil, IMO, the Pats will try to backfill areas of weakness, possibly even trading down their 1st rd pick if no player excites them. The lack of free agent extensions (ex.-Kaczur sets the bottom for O-line talent; nothing for Wilfork) indicates a bunker mentality. Its unlikely long-term deals for top talent will be made until there is a rookie salary cap or the current turmoil is settled.

While this may make long-term sense, the teams competitiveness may suffer for a couple of years but be well poised for the future thereafter.

 

[Urgent]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

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.

My reactions:

This OL is as good as any of the Pats Super Bowl teams. If Vollmer is LT next year, Matt Light is at least as good as Robinson-Randall or any of the RT-of-the-years. If Neal retires they need a guard, but you can find guards, and maybe they like Ohrnberger.

DL - move Brace to DE. Brace cannot play DE. He has marginal agility and speed for NT. He cannot play DE. The Pats do need to take a 3-4 DE in the draft. There are several that might be available with their top #2 pick.

WR - clearly the Pats need a second receiver - another Gaffney. There's not a lot of viable vets available in free agency, but that is usually the safer route. The Pats could use a big possession receiver to complement Moss and Edelman/injured Welker.

LB - in my mind the top offseason priority. It would be great to get Julius Peppers, assuming Carolina doesn't give him the $20mm franchise. The list of free agent LB's drops off pretty quickly after him. The Patriots still need to develop a young OLB, and we all hope this is the year. Enormous weakness.

ILB - far less of a priority. Hopefully McKenzie comes back, Guyton improves, and the Pats pick up a fourth ILB.

QB - it would be nice to pick up a back-up, but probably just as important to get a TE or young RB.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

In view of the CBA turmoil, IMO, the Pats will try to backfill areas of weakness, possibly even trading down their 1st rd pick if no player excites them. The lack of free agent extensions (ex.-Kaczur sets the bottom for O-line talent; nothing for Wilfork) indicates a bunker mentality. Its unlikely long-term deals for top talent will be made until there is a rookie salary cap or the current turmoil is settled.

While this may make long-term sense, the teams competitiveness may suffer for a couple of years but be well poised for the future thereafter.

It is six weeks until free agency. Bodden said that they were not making offers to upcoming free agents until early February.

The Pats are approaching Wilfork the same way they approached Asante Samuel. Did they approach Samuel that way because of the lack of a CBA in 2011?

Fact of the matter is, the Pats like most teams are in limbo. Depending on how the CBA negotiations go, they have several marquee players who might either be RFAs or UFAs. That means if they rush off and make moves now on a number of players now, they could paint themselves into a corner of they agree on a CBA come mid February. What if the Pats resign Wilfork and Bodden expecting Mankins and Gostkowski will be restricted free agents only to find out that they will be unrestricted free agents and they will be unable to retain either of them and make the other moves they hoped to make in free agency.

It is doubtful the Pats or many other teams will make moves in trying to retain their current free agents until they are sure this is going to be an uncapped year or not.

 

[The_Riddler]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Keep BB away from the draft table

Secondly, play the damn top picks and play them and develop them early like the damn Colts do.

You deal down for numerous 2nd round picks that by rule you can only sign to 4-year deals and we basically sit a Patrick Chung on the sidelines for the majority of the year and play JAGs in his spot. This strategy is garbage !!

You need to play the high picks early and develop them "especially" where they are only on 4 years deals. By the time we see any pay back on the investment, they are UFAs.

 

[DW Toys]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Keep BB away from the draft table

Secondly, play the damn top picks and play them and develop them early like the damn Colts do.

You deal down for numerous 2nd round picks that by rule you can only sign to 4-year deals and we basically sit a Patrick Chung on the sidelines for the majority of the year and play JAGs in his spot. This strategy is garbage !!

You need to play the high picks early and develop them "especially" where they are only on 4 years deals. By the time we see any pay back on the investment, they are UFAs.

I don't agree with everything but most of what you say has merit.
DW Toys

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Fact of the matter is, the Pats like most teams are in limbo. Depending on how the CBA negotiations go, they have several marquee players who might either be RFAs or UFAs. That means if they rush off and make moves now on a number of players now, they could paint themselves into a corner of they agree on a CBA come mid February. What if the Pats resign Wilfork and Bodden expecting Mankins and Gostkowski will be restricted free agents only to find out that they will be unrestricted free agents and they will be unable to retain either of them and make the other moves they hoped to make in free agency.

One of the concessions the NFLPA will almost certainly have to make to get a new CBA signed is that this year's FA will proceed as it is currently slated to do. There is no way 24 owners will accept 200+ FAs suddenly hitting the market like that.

 

[TulanePats]

10-6 #3 seed, and we're talking about "rebuilding".
We're so spoiled. Love it!

 

[SeymourTrophies]

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.

Honestly, Ghost is pretty shaky. He's not god awful, but he misses a lot of routine field goals. He always has. BB's choice to go for 4th and 10+ in XLII instead of kicking a 50 yarder does not imply that his opinion of Ghost is very high.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I would think that the corners for the patriots (presuming that we re-sign Bodden) are as good as any set in the playoffs).

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.

 

[mgteich]

Obviously "rebuilding" to a bit of a strong statement for 10-6 division winner who was the #3 seed.

WHERE WOULD I START
That was the OP's question

I would START be retaining as many of my UFA's, RFA's and URFA's as I could, especially in this uncapped year.

I suspect the OP meant which weakness would I want to address first. For me, that weakness is wide receiver. As of now, we start the season with Moss and Edelman.

 

[D-Money]

We better hope that Darius Butler turns out to be something nice for us.U start with with the defensive line!Each time we keep ignoring it and this team cant get no pass rush at all!

 

[upstater1]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Honestly, Ghost is pretty shaky. He's not god awful, but he misses a lot of routine field goals. He always has. BB's choice to go for 4th and 10+ in XLII instead of kicking a 50 yarder does not imply that his opinion of Ghost is very high.

His % is better than anyone's. I would choose him first over all other field goal kickers.

 

[paradox]

Joe Haden, our Revis

but yeah, I want DE first

 

[paradox]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

I would think that the corners for the patriots (presuming that we re-sign Bodden) are as good as any set in the playoffs).

Wilhite

ugh just awful

 

[mgteich]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

STARTERS: Bodden, Springs
NICKEL: Butler
BACKUPS: Wilhite, Wheatley
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That's we were this season. We can look at the stats and the results of the production by the secondary and guess how much better they would be with an im,provement or two up front and with a year more experience.
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That being said, I expect the patriots to bring in 2-3 corners to compete with these guys for roster positions. Arrington might even compete for a position.

Wilhite

ugh just awful

 

[muzz]

Willy and Buckwheat =2 swings and 2 misses

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Rebuilding where do we start

Honestly, Ghost is pretty shaky. He's not god awful, but he misses a lot of routine field goals. He always has. BB's choice to go for 4th and 10+ in XLII instead of kicking a 50 yarder does not imply that his opinion of Ghost is very high.

Then please explain to me why BB hasn't signed another kicker, even as camp fodder, since Gostkowski won the job.