Mock Offseason 2011

[The_Riddler]

Nice job, excellent insight, appreciate your efforts here.

Not real big on the Jarrod Page re-up and let's not forget the fact that somehow, someway, we need to get a Mike Wallace type deep threat into this offense to keep any and all defenses honest. Taylor Price might be that guy in a couple of years, but I'm not banking on that this year. And Brandon Tate, well, count me in as a "non-believer", not physical, won't stretch the field or scare any defense, that outside spot needs to be seriously upgraded.

But again, thanks for your effort here, always fun to predict the offseason moves. I do love your OLine draft suggestions esp (Castanzo and Pouncey), 2 studs, Pouncey would step in at LG or RG (based on the Mankins situation) and he would start and impact right away. Castanzo could start should Matt move on or would provide tremendous depth should Matt re-up as he learns the ropes.

 

[Ring 6]

Nice job, excellent insight, appreciate your efforts here.

Not real big on the Jarrod Page re-up and let's not forget the fact that somehow, someway, we need to get a Mike Wallace type deep threat into this offense to keep any and all defenses honest. Taylor Price might be that guy in a couple of years, but I'm not banking on that this year. And Brandon Tate, well, count me in as a "non-believer", not physical, won't stretch the field or scare any defense, that outside spot needs to be seriously upgraded.

But again, thanks for your effort here, always fun to predict the offseason moves. I do love your OLine draft suggestions esp (Castanzo and Pouncey), 2 studs, Pouncey would step in at LG or RG (based on the Mankins situation) and he would start and impact right away. Castanzo could start should Matt move on or would provide tremendous depth should Matt re-up as he learns the ropes.

Isnt the longing for a 'deep threat' a huge overreaction to 1 game.
Where was the need to stretch the field while we were the only team in NFL history to score 30 points in 8 straight games and had possibly the best offensive half of a season in NFL history?

 

[Froob]

I'd kill to have this reality. Although maybe a pass rusher a bit earlier. I don't know the linemen that well though. Pouncey would be sick if he is as good as his twin. And would love more of that mankins attitude.

 

[The_Riddler]

Isnt the longing for a 'deep threat' a huge overreaction to 1 game.
Where was the need to stretch the field while we were the only team in NFL history to score 30 points in 8 straight games and had possibly the best offensive half of a season in NFL history?

The Jets figured it out, suck the safeties up and clog the middle and force Brady to look outside and deep, that is something that we don't have an answer for right now, why not address it instead of assuming another Rex Ryan scheme won't happen again?

 

[Deus Irae]

Isnt the longing for a 'deep threat' a huge overreaction to 1 game.
Where was the need to stretch the field while we were the only team in NFL history to score 30 points in 8 straight games and had possibly the best offensive half of a season in NFL history?

Brady's incredible hot streak after the Cleveland loss, combined with the opportunistic defense, had helped to cover up a weakness most knew was present with the absence of Moss and the failure of Tate to step up enough. In a game where Brady had an off day and the Jets played the Patriots exactly as people had talked about playing them to beat them, the weakness was brought back to the forefront.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Defensive front 7, Defensive front 7, Defensive front 7. If we keep Mankins and Light. M. Pouncey would be the only guy I'd want at 28 or 33. So, if we keep both

1A Cam Jordan - DE - Cal
1B Aldon Smith - OLB - Mizzouri - Trade up to 19 or 20. Give up 74.
2A Derek Sherrod - T - Miss St Plays RG for a year or two. Slides to RT when Matt Light isn't cutting it any more. Move Vollmer to LT.
2B Randall Cobb - WR - Kentucky - Sounds like a more polished version of Randel-EL.
3a Traded to move up in round 1.
3 S. Ridley - RB - LSU - Also plays special teams. Good size.

 

[alphilip77]

Nice job, excellent insight, appreciate your efforts here.

Not real big on the Jarrod Page re-up and let's not forget the fact that somehow, someway, we need to get a Mike Wallace type deep threat into this offense to keep any and all defenses honest. Taylor Price might be that guy in a couple of years, but I'm not banking on that this year. And Brandon Tate, well, count me in as a "non-believer", not physical, won't stretch the field or scare any defense, that outside spot needs to be seriously upgraded.

But again, thanks for your effort here, always fun to predict the offseason moves. I do love your OLine draft suggestions esp (Castanzo and Pouncey), 2 studs, Pouncey would step in at LG or RG (based on the Mankins situation) and he would start and impact right away. Castanzo could start should Matt move on or would provide tremendous depth should Matt re-up as he learns the ropes.

Appreciate the compliments. I know a proven deep threat would have been preferred (and I want one as well), but I would rather see the lines get shored up on both sides of the ball along with the pass rush before worrying about the deep receiver. Personally, I'd like to see us go after Fitzgerald in 2012 when hits FA. Also, what is it about Page re-signing that you don't like? Aside from being injured for about 6 games, I thought he played well in his limited time.

 

[alphilip77]

Defensive front 7, Defensive front 7, Defensive front 7. If we keep Mankins and Light. M. Pouncey would be the only guy I'd want at 28 or 33. So, if we keep both

1A Cam Jordan - DE - Cal
1B Aldon Smith - OLB - Mizzouri - Trade up to 19 or 20. Give up 74.
2A Derek Sherrod - T - Miss St Plays RG for a year or two. Slides to RT when Matt Light isn't cutting it any more. Move Vollmer to LT.
2B Randall Cobb - WR - Kentucky - Sounds like a more polished version of Randel-EL.
3a Traded to move up in round 1.
3 S. Ridley - RB - LSU - Also plays special teams. Good size.

Cam Jordan is, according to some board members, too small for our DE spot. Plus, he projects as more of a 1-gap DE.

Aldon apparently is represented by Tom Condon who, according to Sciz, burned all bridges in terms of future business after the Watson holdout.

Sherrod is projected as a 1st Round tackle and alot of people are projecting him going to Indy.

Ridley and Cobb sound intriguing though. Good suggestions.

Who would you get in rounds 4,5, and 6?

 

[andrewgarrr]

I don't agree with signing Matt Light for two years and then drafting his replacement in the first round when there are bigger needs at the defensive end and OLB positions. I guess the OLB need would be mitigated by signing Hali, but I don't think he'll be cheap nor available.

 

[Ring 6]

The Jets figured it out, suck the safeties up and clog the middle and force Brady to look outside and deep, that is something that we don't have an answer for right now, why not address it instead of assuming another Rex Ryan scheme won't happen again?

Come on.
Do you really believe that? No one could come close to stopping us and Rex Ryan figured out the master plan that no one else was smart enough to envision?
The Jets did what a lot of teams, including themselves, did against us all year. It just worked well that day.

 

[Ring 6]

Brady's incredible hot streak after the Cleveland loss, combined with the opportunistic defense, had helped to cover up a weakness most knew was present with the absence of Moss and the failure of Tate to step up enough. In a game where Brady had an off day and the Jets played the Patriots exactly as people had talked about playing them to beat them, the weakness was brought back to the forefront.

I'll stick with an entire season being the rule, and one game being the exception.
That analysis also requires that there was one sole reason, and it was not having a 'deep threat'.
This also begs the question that if the Jet defense was ignoring deep routes, why didn't Brady throw to the receivers running deep with light coverage on them?

 

[Ring 6]

Appreciate the compliments. I know a proven deep threat would have been preferred (and I want one as well), but I would rather see the lines get shored up on both sides of the ball along with the pass rush before worrying about the deep receiver. Personally, I'd like to see us go after Fitzgerald in 2012 when hits FA. Also, what is it about Page re-signing that you don't like? Aside from being injured for about 6 games, I thought he played well in his limited time.

Deep threats don't open up the field. You can send any receiver deep and the defense has to cover him.
Running an offense that doesnt invite a team to play 7 dbs and forces them to come up and defend the run is what gets receivers open.

No matter how good you are at one thing, or how bad the opponent is at defending it, when you put them in a position to sell out to stop it you make you life harder.

If we were playing the worst pass defense in the league would you rather throw 60 times against 7 DBs helping agaisnt the mismatches or run 30 to make them play a base D or something close to it so you can throw 30 times against that?

We told the Jets to worry only about stopping our passing game. Having 'deep threats' wouldnt have changed that.

 

[alphilip77]

I don't know why some people are bashing the proposed Light signing. He had a solid year, is only 32, and two years is VERY reasonable. Plus, we wouldn't be doing Brady any favors by throwing Castonzo into the fire (his technique needs work) and even though he can play LT, I like Vollmer as the RT.

 

[Rob0729]

Sorry, but I cannot see Belichick drafting three o-linemen with the first three picks.

First, Belichick has never drafted an o-lineman before 32nd (Mankins) and I don't know if he will draft two this year in the first round.

Second, the o-line isn't the Pats' pressing need. The Pats need to address the future of the o-line and possibly get an immediate starter, but not as much as they need to address holes in the front seven. It is hard to get an impact d-lineman or OLB the further you go down the draft. Belichick doesn't like to take LBs too high, but he has drafted three d-linemen in the first round. If Belichick thinks Kazcur can play RG and he resigns Mankins and Light, I highly doubt he drafts more than one o-lineman in the first two rounds.

Also, I don't expect the Pats to use all six of their picks in the first three rounds. I think if there is rookie cap, the Pats may package to move up since the financial risk won't be nearly as great to gamble to get a stud standout player.

 

[Ring 6]

I don't know why some people are bashing the proposed Light signing. He had a solid year, is only 32, and two years is VERY reasonable. Plus, we wouldn't be doing Brady any favors by throwing Castonzo into the fire (his technique needs work) and even though he can play LT, I like Vollmer as the RT.

I don't think anyone is bashing resigning Light. I think people are wondering why you would spend the 17th pick on a guy who will sit and do nothing for 2-3 years, because we would be all set at both T positions.
Wouldnt it be better to draft a guy who can help the team?

 

[Ring 6]

Also, I don't expect the Pats to use all six of their picks in the first three rounds. I think if there is rookie cap, the Pats may package to move up since the financial risk won't be nearly as great to gamble to get a stud standout player.

THIS will be interesting to see. As top 10, or even top 5 picks become FINANCIALLY smart, I think you may see BB moving up to that part of the draft which he never even considered in recent years.

 

[Patspsycho]

I'll stick with an entire season being the rule, and one game being the exception.
That analysis also requires that there was one sole reason, and it was not having a 'deep threat'.
This also begs the question that if the Jet defense was ignoring deep routes, why didn't Brady throw to the receivers running deep with light coverage on them?

Jets weren't ignoring the deep route. They nearly always had a single high safety. Also on some packages, Revis was in man coverage on Tate.

They had quite a few DBs on the field, and so could afford to have one on top and the rest clogging the middle.

 

[Lamanai]

Defensive front 7, Defensive front 7, Defensive front 7. If we keep Mankins and Light. M. Pouncey would be the only guy I'd want at 28 or 33. So, if we keep both

1A Cam Jordan - DE - Cal
1B Aldon Smith - OLB - Mizzouri - Trade up to 19 or 20. Give up 74.
2A Derek Sherrod - T - Miss St Plays RG for a year or two. Slides to RT when Matt Light isn't cutting it any more. Move Vollmer to LT.
2B Randall Cobb - WR - Kentucky - Sounds like a more polished version of Randel-EL.
3a Traded to move up in round 1.
3 S. Ridley - RB - LSU - Also plays special teams. Good size.

I really like Randall Cobb. This team could use his kind of spark. However, I think he projects as a slot guy only. Edelman still has upside, IMO. Cobb should be available at 3A. I wonder if he would last until 3B?

 

[Ring 6]

Jets weren't ignoring the deep route. They nearly always had a single high safety. Also on some packages, Revis was in man coverage on Tate.

They had quite a few DBs on the field, and so could afford to have one on top and the rest clogging the middle.

Thats kinda my point. "A deep threat" wasnt the golden key.

Its a doubleedged sword IMO.
You are faced with doing what got you there, and we were the #1 offense in the NFL. If they doubted they could attack that defense and beat it with the passing game they never would have had the season they did
vs.
Taking what the defense gives you.

I think retrospect is always easy. If you could go back and rewrite the gameplan, you would turn 45 passes into a defense that was loaded up to stop the pass into about 30 into a defense that was playing at least somewhat more balanced.

Thats the dilemma with balance. Establishing the run doesnt give me the best chance to score on THIS drive, but it gives me the best chance to set myself up to ultimately score.
More than anything, this is the offensive issue I see with this team when it struggles. After a few poor drives, or after getting behind, the overall concept of setting up an offense to succeed goes out the window, and we go to what we do best even though we are doing it against a reinforced defense.

The best analogy I can come up with is this.
If you are facing the worst corner in the NFL. If you throw at him every down you will be throwing into a double team and never get to exploit how bad he is. If you run your normal offense and then come at him 5-6 times when he has no help, you burn him more on those 5-6 than you would thorwing at him all day with help.
We need to show defenses that we can come out and jam it down your throat if you play 7 dbs against us, and maybe even if you bring 8 into the box too.

 

[12plus81=6]

mark it down chad johnson will be a member of the New England Patriots next year