What is the ONE most important thing the Patriots need to do this off-season

[everlong]

I put other. Fix the LB corps. I think this involves identifying the SILB via free agency or the draft who can come in and allow Mayo to play the WILB and also the addition of a pass rushing force via the draft or FA. I think this is the hardest thing for the front office to do as they are entering year 6 of not being able to do it so it leads my list of many things they need to do.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Other.

Wilfork.

 

[PromisedLand]

I put other. Fix the LB corps. I think this involves identifying the SILB via free agency or the draft who can come in and allow Mayo to play the WILB and also the addition of a pass rushing force via the draft or FA. I think this is the hardest thing for the front office to do as they are entering year 6 of not being able to do it so it leads my list of many things they need to do.

That's not "other"; one of the choices is "Sign or draft an upper echelon linebacker."

 

[carolinatony]

Bring in experienced help to the coaching staff

BB is doing way to much. Go outside the organization if needed.

 

[PromisedLand]

Well I guess the bottom line is that they have a lot of needs. I can't remember feelling this pessimistic heading into a season since before 2001. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[JoeSixPat]

For me it's not even close.

Brady can cover up most deficiencies when health and with good WRs.

Right now we have a very high need. Moss has to be considered a question mark and we all know Welker's out for all of 2010. Edelman's good but we need more and without at least one top tier WR to take advantage of Moss double teams this team isn't going to have a real shot at a Super Bowl

 

[JoeShmoe]

A decent OC

Think back to the games you watched this season - what was the number one worst thing, what cost us wins?

Offensive play calling - hands down

 

[Rob0729]

what's all this nonsense about getting a pass rusher as the number 1 priority? that's number 2. you have to protect the franchise...Brady. getting some oline help has to be number 1. did you see what they did to favre last night? they teed off him like a pineta. teams will do the same to brady.

The o-line wasn't so bad towards the end of the year when Light came back and they moved Vollmer to RT. Brady got sacked once in like four games. With Neal retiring, getting a RG is a priority but with Mankin a RFA that is the only priority there.

 

[Rob0729]

I don't think there is one most important area to address. There are a number of areas to address on this team and not one of them really stands hands and shoulders way above the other. I would say pass rushers would be the most important, but there are other areas almost as important.

 

[skinnydog]

For me it's not even close.

Brady can cover up most deficiencies when health and with good WRs.

Right now we have a very high need. Moss has to be considered a question mark and we all know Welker's out for all of 2010. Edelman's good but we need more and without at least one top tier WR to take advantage of Moss double teams this team isn't going to have a real shot at a Super Bowl

I'm with Joe on this one. One thing will not get this team back to the Super Bowl, but it this team wants to run the same offense next year they absolutely must have another down field threat at wide receiver. Even Moss and a healthy Welker would not cut it. Teams shift/roll their whole secondary over towards Moss and Moss is beginning to show some age. If they were toput Brady under center more, and run more play action then my opinion would change, but they seem hell bent on running the spread offense whether they have the personnel for it or not, so get the personnel. Also, Most with a legit downfield receiver on the other side is a beast --Chris Carter, Stallworth . . .

 

[102 Pat]

I voted for pass rush, I love that most of the secondary will be back (hopefully Bodden resigns) and if a consistent pass rush can be established, it would take some pressure of the secondary and give them a chance to make some game changing plays.

 

[Prufrock]

what's all this nonsense about getting a pass rusher as the number 1 priority? that's number 2. you have to protect the franchise...Brady. getting some oline help has to be number 1. did you see what they did to favre last night? they teed off him like a pineta. teams will do the same to brady.

I think a decent running back might do more to protect Brady than anything else. The Patriots offense is totally one dimensional and teams are going to continue relentlessly come after Brady until the Patriots can prove that they can run the ball.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I think a decent running back might do more to protect Brady than anything else. The Patriots offense is totally one dimensional and teams are going to continue relentlessly come after Brady until the Patriots can prove that they can run the ball.

true that. we could get someone decent in the 2nd round like a matthews or jonathan stewart. cj spiller i don't see dropping to 22. if the pats decide to trade up, he's the guy to get.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

The o-line wasn't so bad towards the end of the year when Light came back and they moved Vollmer to RT. Brady got sacked once in like four games. With Neal retiring, getting a RG is a priority but with Mankin a RFA that is the only priority there.

but light is getting older, neal retiring, kaczur is just not good. they definitely need an upgrade here. plus baltimore found holes in our oline that worries me greatly. brady just didn't have much time to throw.

 

[mgteich]

Or just perhaps our fine receivers Stanback and Aiken weren't open enough.

but light is getting older, neal retiring, kaczur is just not good. they definitely need an upgrade here. plus baltimore found holes in our oline that worries me greatly. brady just didn't have much time to throw.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I don't want to see Stanback or Aiken as anything but STers this year

In other words don't fu^k up and draft another Chad Jackson,The future depends on a bonafide WR to be drafted.

This draft is a 'must do well draft' and we need to hit it near perfect with moves and selections or it could spell doom for years with more mediocre to flat out sucky picks.

I don't want that stupid ass 'look for value' idea to move down with your top picks and get more mid round picks this year,Its time to get a first round talent and pay them what they are worth as a #1

 

[skinnydog]

I don't want to see Stanback or Aiken as anything but STers this year

In other words don't fu^k up and draft another Chad Jackson,The future depends on a bonafide WR to be drafted.

I agree on Aiken and Stanback, but I'd rather see a free agent wide receiver signed on than one taken in the first round.

 

[Bostonian1962]

what's all this nonsense about getting a pass rusher as the number 1 priority? that's number 2. you have to protect the franchise...Brady. getting some oline help has to be number 1. did you see what they did to favre last night? they teed off him like a pineta. teams will do the same to brady.

I hope they get another stud O lineman, but they need a pass rusher much more IMHO. The Patriots OLine gave up zero sacks in 6 different games. Despite the 5th highest pass attempts of any team in the NFL, the OLine gave up the 3rd fewest sacks in the entire NFL (18 sacks). Even their running game averaged over 4 yards a carry. They have a Pro Bowler in Mankins, and likely future star at tackle in Sea Bass, and the OLine set the franchise record this year in consecutive pass attempts without a sack.

On the other hand QB after QB sat back there seemingly all day looking for the open receiver. The QB pressure was at times non-existant. It was the worst I've ever seen as a life long Pats fan. They were 23rd in the league in sacks, and it seemed worse than that.