The Uncle Ignoramus Ridiculously Early 2012 Roster Projection

[dryheat44]

I must admit that I've paid precious little attention to the NCAA season or post-season this year. As a result, I haven't been posting much, because I really don't know what the F I'm talking about. Nevertheless, it strikes me that in spite of our appearance in this year's Super Bowl, this year's edition of the Patriots looks to be in year two of a 3 year retooling. I think there are a few obvious weak spots on the team, and for perhaps the first time in years, I feel pretty confident in where BB's going for re-enforcements. Or maybe it's the booze talking. Anyway, before I get to the projected roster, I'll highlight a few things:

Free agency signings:

1. Reggie Wayne WR -- He's had his paydays (3), the Colts seem ready to build from scratch, and I can't help thinking that between BBs admiration for him, and the unique opportunity to have played with both dominant QBs of this generation, Wayne will be here next year on a fairly small deal -- possibly less than Ochocinco money.

2. LaDainian Tomlinson RB -- Yes, we all hate him. But assuming the Firm heads elsewhere and Faulk is off the roster, there is a need for a been-there, done-that, veteran RB on this team. Also ringless and contemplating retirement, he could possibly be had fairly cheap to play a reserve role and take one more shot at it.

3. Adam Carriker DE -- He seemed to play a lot better in Washington last year than in St. Louis, and that's because he was playing his natural position. I'd like to bring him in to see if he can't work in the DE rotation and give some pass rush in the sub packages.

4. A vet safety -- Probably the weakest position on the team this year. I'd target Michael Griffin first, then Thomas DeCoud.

5. A vet corner -- I'd be calling the agents of Terrell Thomas and Rashean Mathis to see what kind of numbers it would take. Mathis would be more likely cheaper to sign and was once a great cornerback, but I don't know what he has left in the tank.

Draft picks -
I think that it's safe to say that Belichick will trade a #1 for a #2 and next years #1. Again, I'm not one of the more knowledgeable scouts, so to me the positions are more relevant than the names.

1. Rookie DE of your choice. I don't want to guess who'll be available, but I'll say Cox.

2. With the 3 seconds, I'm looking WR and a DB with some positional versatility, depending on where the value hits. I'm okay using the other 2nd to either trade up to get someone, or trade into next year or into the later rounds. Once again, people will clamor for pass rush, but I think BB is OK with Ninkovich, Anderson, Cunningham (assuming we're going back to 3-4 here) and Markell Carter keeps on getting black jerseysFor the sake of putting some names out there, I'm going to say 2A. Floyd or Sanu, 2B. Iloka, Dennard, or Minnifield, the latter two I would try out at safety in addition to CB.

3. The only other thing I want out of the draft is a kick returner. We were horrible this year. After looking at the NCAA statistics, the two guys I'm looking at are TY Hilton WR FIU and Luther Ambrose WR Louisiana-Monroe. Both very productive returners with some WR upside.

4. Oh, I guess a backup QB wouldn't hurt, although he'd probably be a PS guy.

The roster
1. QB Brady
2. QB Hoyer (If Mallett's ready for backup duty, I'd explore the trade market)
3. QB Mallett
4. WR Wayne
5. WR Welker
6. WR Edelman
7. WR Sanu/Floyd
8. WR/ST Slater
9. WR Branch
10. TE Gronkowski
11. TE Hernandez
12. TE ****inson
13. OL Mankins
14. OL Wendell
15. OL Cannon
16. OL Connelly
17. OL Light
18. OL Vollmer
19. OL Solder
20. OL McDonald
21. OL Waters
22. RB Ridley
23. RB Vereen
24. RB Tomlinson
25. RB Woodhead
26. DL Cox
27. DL Carriker / A Carter
28. DL Wilfork
29. DL Love
30. DL Deaderick
31. DL Brace
32. DL Pryor
33. LB Anderson
34. LB Mayo
35. LB Spikes
36. LB Fletcher
37. LB Ninkovich
38. LB Cunningham
39. LB M Carter
40. LB/ST Koutouvides
41. LB/ST Tarpinian
42. CB Arrington
43. CB McCourty
44. CB Mathis/Thomas
45. S Chung
46. S Grifin/DeCoud
47. S Ihedigbo
48. DB Dowling
49. DB Dennard/Minnifield/Iloka
50. KR Hilton
51. K Gostkowski
52. P Mesko
53. LS Aiken

 

[patsfaninpa]

No problem with your suggestions regarding the positions you want to target. Need vets to help on defense as you mentioned on DL, S and CB. No to Ladanian Tomlinson. He's not going to help. I think Vereen or Ridley will command a bigger role. Woodhead coming back as our spread/hurry up back. Law Firm can make himself some $$$ sunday night. I'm not against bringing him back if price not too high.
Sure sounds like Brandon Lloyd wants to be that veteran wr to bring in. I think he'd be a good fit.


I really think we need an olb. I know I'm beating a dead horse. But, Mark Anderson would be effective if he only played 50pct of the snaps. I'd like to have a run stopper there. Vinny Curry would be my guy. Can trade down from 32(hopefully) and get him. Hope we get that 2-gap de with our first as you mentioned. Can get our db and wr with the other seconds. My preference is Iloka the S from Boise St and Juron Criner - WR from Arizona if you want a bigger guy. If you want speed, love Joe Adams-Arkansas. A burner who is also a great punt returner.

 

[rookBoston]

I'm pretty sure Tomlinson would retire before he signed with the Pats. There's a guy who's spent his entire career hating New England. Plus, even if BJGE leaves as a FA (I really doubt it), I think we have the RBs already on the roster to backfill, between Woodhead, Ridley and Vereen.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

A lot of people calling for us to sign Lloyd, but really Wayne makes more sense, if he is willing to be reasonable with a contract for the chance to get back to the bowl. Considering the substandard QB's throwing the ball this year in Indy, Wayne proved tome that he can still get open against single coverage and some zone coverage.

 

[patsfaninpa]

A lot of people calling for us to sign Lloyd, but really Wayne makes more sense, if he is willing to be reasonable with a contract for the chance to get back to the bowl. Considering the substandard QB's throwing the ball this year in Indy, Wayne proved tome that he can still get open against single coverage and some zone coverage.

I'd bet he's headed to Miami to play with Peyton. Or, one of the other Florida teams. Jacksonville and Tampa Bay both have a ton of cap money and need wide receivers. He did say in an interview on tv that he wanted to win as many championships as possible. And, he wanted to leave football a healthy man. He's a better player than Lloyd no doubt. We won't match the money others will though.

 

[reflexblue]

I'm pretty sure Tomlinson would retire before he signed with the Pats. There's a guy who's spent his entire career hating New England. Plus, even if BJGE leaves as a FA (I really doubt it), I think we have the RBs already on the roster to backfill, between Woodhead, Ridley and Vereen.

And i've spent most of HIS career Hating him. I wouldn't want Lady T near this team.

 

[Off The Grid]

The last thing I want to see us do is dump Cap Dollars and Roster spots on fading Vets...especially donkeys like Reggie Wayne and LaDanian Tomlinson.

Pass.

 

[manxman2601]

The last thing I want to see us do is dump Cap Dollars and Roster spots on fading Vets...especially donkeys like Reggie Wayne and LaDanian Tomlinson.

Pass.

"Fading vets" are BB's thing. But then there is a difference between fading (Wayne) and FADING (Tomlinson). I'm alright with the former, less happy with the latter.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

LDT has about as much use to this team as a 200 pound dumbbell.

Do not want.

 

[Off The Grid]

The last thing I want to see us do is dump Cap Dollars and Roster spots on fading Vets...especially donkeys like Reggie Wayne and LaDanian Tomlinson.

Pass.

"Fading vets" are BB's thing.

I disagree.

VETS are Coach Bill The Mad's thing.

FADING is NEVER a target, thank you VERY much.

Rodney Harrison.

Bryan Cox.

Corey Dillon.

THOSE are the kind of guys he targets.

The fact that he picks up a lot of GRAVEL ~ Ocho, HaynesWorth, Et Cetera ~ in his search for GOLD...hardly means that he TARGETS Gravel.

 

[The Scrizz]

I prefer Lloyd to Wayne (given their ages and Lloyd's knowledge of Josh's system).

I prefer having my eyes removed with a rusty spoon to LDT.

Also, no room for Slater on ST? The hell you say!

 

[manxman2601]

I disagree.

VETS are Coach Bill The Mad's thing.

FADING is NEVER a target, thank you VERY much.

Rodney Harrison.

Bryan Cox.

Corey Dillon.

THOSE are the kind of guys he targets.

The fact that he picks up a lot of GRAVEL ~ Ocho, HaynesWorth, Et Cetera ~ in his search for GOLD...hardly means that he TARGETS Gravel.

Never said he targets gravel. But the players he targets are perceived generally as "fading" when he gets them. Randy Moss was hardly at the highpoint of his career (or so people thought), Fred Taylor was done at Jacksonville, Junior Seau was hardly the pro bowl linebacker when he was picked up by the Pats.

"Fading Vets" was in apostrophes for a reason - because that's how they are perceived when they come to the Pats.

Wrong? I hardly think so. I demand a recount.

Edit:

Actually, I'll qualify the above. In fact, targeting "fading vets" is exactly what BB does. Do you think we'd have been able to trade for the 90's Randy Moss for only a fourth rounder? Or been able to trade for the Titans' Haynesworth, giving up as little as we did?

It is the very fact that these players are "fading" from their Hall of Fame (or near) performances that gives them the value that entices BB. What these players are is FAD-ING, thankfully for the most part they are not FAD-ED.

 

[cstjohn17]

You sell yourself short, nice job. As the draft rankings come in I am starting to formulate my thoughts. At least this is a typical year where free agency occurs before the draft.

The contract length of current players is unknown, based on what I know I have the roster looking like this. Light colors are good, dark colors are bad.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...QXNhc0IweWJ6bUE&single=true&gid=0&output=html

Huge holes at WR, DE and weakness in the secondary.

Free agency will be underwhelming as usual with a the Pats selectively taking mid level vets to fill the roster. FA should focus on Safety, WR.

The draft looks average across the board, expect to see a WR, D Line, CB.

Free agency
Safety
- current roster is pretty bleak
- this is one of the higher priorities in free agency
- possible fits - Landry (if healthy), Branch, Griffen
- binkie alert - Reggie Nelson, he was so good in college, if only he was 15 pounds heavier, could contribute at FS and would be an upgrade

WR
- franchise Welker
- think hard about a 1 year deal for Branch, he may be just about done and has no special teams ability
- good free agency class, lots of high end names
- possible fits Steve Johnson, Meachem, Lloyd
- KR - Ted Ginn, instant impact on returns, with ability to stretch the field

DT / DE (3-4)
- there is a need at 3-4 DE
- little bit more depth at DT would be nice <-- via draft
- possible fits Carriker

DE/OLB
- Anderson and Carter were great but both are free agents
- hunch is that Carter could be a post draft addition with a wink wink agreement, this would be huge and provide flexibility in the rest of free agency and the draft
- possible fits Spencer, Jason Jones, Mincey, Brooks, Groves
- I would love Mario Williams but it may be prudent to spread the money out


CB
- although their current CBs are not a world beater, I am ok with adding through the draft
- possibly bring in a mid to low level veteran (William Gay, Hayden, etc.)


Draft
- come back to model that works
- 1st rounders contribute early, the rest of the picks build depth and play special teams

 

[PatsFaninME]

2. LaDainian Tomlinson RB -- Yes, we all hate him. But assuming the Firm heads elsewhere and Faulk is off the roster, there is a need for a been-there, done-that, veteran RB on this team. Also ringless and contemplating retirement, he could possibly be had fairly cheap to play a reserve role and take one more shot at it.

I will not root for Patriots if they sign Tomlinson. He is the biggest A-hole in football and the most classLESS athlete I have ever seen. He would diminish the shine of the whole Patriots organization if they sign that LOSER.

 

[everlong]

A lot of people calling for us to sign Lloyd, but really Wayne makes more sense, if he is willing to be reasonable with a contract for the chance to get back to the bowl. Considering the substandard QB's throwing the ball this year in Indy, Wayne proved tome that he can still get open against single coverage and some zone coverage.

Sign them both if they're willing to take team friendly deals. I have no idea if Wayne would come here or not. Lloyd loves McDaniels and vice versa so it's more likely based upon that.

 

[everlong]

2. LaDainian Tomlinson RB -- Yes, we all hate him. But assuming the Firm heads elsewhere and Faulk is off the roster, there is a need for a been-there, done-that, veteran RB on this team. Also ringless and contemplating retirement, he could possibly be had fairly cheap to play a reserve role and take one more shot at it.

It's not just that we hate him. It's that the Patriots hate him. Troy Brown has remarked more than once that they throught he was a fraud and a whiner. Then you look at how he threw the Chargers and Jets under the bus on the way out. No chance.

 

[ayjackson]

I`d keep Ocho over Wayne. He`s spent a year learning the offense. Lloyd knows much of it already. Given a full camp, I could see those two as very effective wideouts for us.

Chad is signed for next year isn`t he? (And little cost to release?)

 

[patsfaninpa]

I`d keep Ocho over Wayne. He`s spent a year learning the offense. Lloyd knows much of it already. Given a full camp, I could see those two as very effective wideouts for us.

Chad is signed for next year isn`t he? (And little cost to release?)

I think we save 1.5m if we cut him. He's no help. Just better to move on. Sign Lloyd and draft a wr early. Re-sign Welker of course. And, we're ready to roll on offense.

Anyone know when Miguel is going to update the cap page?

 

[Off The Grid]

Never said he targets gravel. But the players he targets are perceived generally as "fading" when he gets them. Randy Moss was hardly at the highpoint of his career (or so people thought), Fred Taylor was done at Jacksonville, Junior Seau was hardly the pro bowl linebacker when he was picked up by the Pats.

"Fading Vets" was in apostrophes for a reason - because that's how they are perceived when they come to the Pats.

Wrong? I hardly think so. I demand a recount.

Edit:

Actually, I'll qualify the above. In fact, targeting "fading vets" is exactly what BB does. Do you think we'd have been able to trade for the 90's Randy Moss for only a fourth rounder? Or been able to trade for the Titans' Haynesworth, giving up as little as we did?

It is the very fact that these players are "fading" from their Hall of Fame (or near) performances that gives them the value that entices BB. What these players are is FAD-ING, thankfully for the most part they are not FAD-ED.

Heh!! Nicely argued...

We're gonna have to agree to diverge on this one, my friend: You and I have dramatically different views on what constitutes "fading", as well as divergent views on how Coach Bill The Mad (Genius) perceives the term and its import. Viva la Difference, mon ami!!

 

[ayjackson]

I think we save 1.5m if we cut him. He's no help. Just better to move on. Sign Lloyd and draft a wr early. Re-sign Welker of course. And, we're ready to roll on offense.

Anyone know when Miguel is going to update the cap page?

I don't see any point in drafting a receiver. He won't see the field.