Well for FA / Draft we need:
1. Big play WR [Top FA: Dwayne Bowe, Pierre Garcon, Mario Manningham, Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, Robert Meachem, Mike Wallace (RFA) ]
2. Lockdown CB [Top FA: Carlos Rogers, Cortland Finnegan, Tracy Porter , Ladarius Webb (RFA)]
3. Young pass rushers [Top DE FA: John Abraham, Cliff Avril, Adam Carriker, Robert Mathis, Jeremy Mincey]
There are plenty of good WRs but I think our priority is to resign Welker. Bowe is a big physical WR as is Vincent Jackson but that'll cost a lot. DeSean is overrated, Mike Wallace is someone I would honestly give up a 1st and a 3rd if thats what it took. It is a late 1st and we have another one as we have 2 second rounders as well. Meachem is injury prone but comes from a big / complex offense while Garcon makes some dumb plays at times but also makes some big ones. Manningham torched us and I dont see him getting paid enough in NY so he is a possibility. Question is can some of these guys come in and contribute in a timing offense?
These CB's will probably cost a lot of money and Webb is an RFA. Porter and Finnegan aren't really lock down so I wouldn't overpay. I'd take Bodden back if his back is all healed up and if he is willing to come back.
The DE's I mentioned, some of them are older towards end of career but can still contribute. I'd rather resign Anderson & Carter if possible but we need either a starter or a young talent on the outside that we can develop. Cliff Avril would be nice but that is going to be costly. The draft certainly has some explosive pass rushers that we should target.
Some OLB pass rushers can also fit in if we stick with a 3-4 and it'd be names like Manny Lawson, Quentin Groves, Anthony Spencer and Mario Williams. These guys are younger than the DE options I listed but essentially play the same spots. Mario Williams is a dream scenario as a DE or OLB while the other guys are solid rushers but not elite.
Cousin , I have listened to all of this Brady can't throw crap etc from others. And I agree there is a problem in that we have no big outside threat. He can still sling it pretty good. I have to laugh hysterically at Felger saying this Team did not need Moss. Well Felger was wrong then wasn't he! Epic fail on that know it all.
But TB needs to diversify. When
Gronk and Welker are 75% of your throws what guys do you cover.....well Gronk and Welker. Giants were Lucky last night with two fumbles, if a no-hurt Gronk gets down the middle, the throw is not intercepted for TB and probably a TD. Welker missing a wide open catch with 4:00 left. But we do not have that one big WR on the outside to take the pressure off the TE's and Welker.
Branch is a 4th or 5th guy. He was awful yesterday. Do we need to waste a WR roster space? We keep lining him up as a #2 guy and he is not.
I have analyzed the Ochocinco situation for myself and it was not the kid. If Tom does not want to throw it to you, he won't. I have seen him open and TB shoots elsewhere. In the end it was a little bit of TB's fault that he could not work harder getting Ocho into some kind of rhythm. Let's get rid of him if you are not going to want to throw to him. Ocho was brought in here to be Moss we all thought. Not fair. Let's just get rid of him because TB refuses to use him. I see him open. Yes he is open. Play book? Baloney. Why waste roster space on him?
Underwood? I don't think so.
We do not need a smurf WR like a Jackson. I think you can get a Reggie Wayne for reasonable. Would Wayne have helped yesterday? He would if he can get TB's attention like Chad could not.
Bowie would be good but expensive. I am thinking Wayne and then do what you need to do to get Jeffery in the draft. He can dominate a game at 6'4" and has speed and hands. Then add Wayne as your #2 behind Welker.
Mario would be great but that won't happen. I said Carriker a couple years ago but the so called elite here, giggled. Look at his Washington numbers. 34 tackles and 5.5 sacks on a mediocre Team. The numbers are better than many we praise here on the Pats. He had as many tackles and sacks as Deaderick, Ellis and Warren all together. He would be a nice young add who can play DT and DE. I guess he is not that bad huh? Deaderick and Brace are mediocre. Pryor is hurt every year. Ellis is gone. Warren is a stop gap and not any younger.
Finnegan is tough. We need tough. You won't get RFA Webb and Rodgers will be too much. You pry Adrian Wilson from the Cards as he could be a CAP casualty at a $6.5 mm for sure as is Reggie Wayne, and he a Finnegan make the back end tougher. Wilson was rated the second best coverage TE in the league last year. He has got size where as McCourty is very slim even at FS and certainly and up grade over Ihedigbo who actually has played decent. Barrett seem like a non-issue in 2012.
My best thoughts for the Pats are some FA and some Draft if he quits screwing around with 18 undrafted FA on his roster. Great job coaching? Yes. but if these guys were not Drafted, the talent in front of them that we missed because of our infamous down trading must be outstanding and yet undercoached. Why bother drafting? Just give up the picks and dig into UDFA's. Our down trades have worked approx. less than 20% of the time. We hover at 22% draft choice success in the last six years. That equates to 2 picks per year that made it and of those a handful are long term players. We have all seen the talent that BB has passed. 9 picks in over 20 selections is mediocre (3 TBD). Bill, put your balls on the line and make some picks. Mayo worked well as did Solder.
My preference to add experience and toughness:
Reggie Wayne
Cortland Finnegan
Adrian Wilson
Adam Carriker
These above should all be had reasonably unlike a Mario or a De Sean Jackson.
Then Draft with all of your bullets instead of the down trades that have been minimal success at best.
Ashton Jefferies WR at #31 Uses strength and quickness to beat the press – Makes some incredible catches, unreal hands – Adept at bringing hands up late and making the catch – Uses his body very well to box out defenders – Very tough to bring down after the catch
Melvin Ingram DE/OLB at #27 (same size as A. Thomas was and James Harrison is and bigger than Robert Mathis). Team Captain. Excellent leaping ability – Sudden laterally and shows a nice first step – Has a variety of rush moves, conversion from speed to power catches linemen off-guard – Plays a lot of different positions, could play 3-4 OLB, but has played some 4-3 DE and 4-3 DT – Looks comfortable dropping back into coverage, also able to redirect TE’s at the line – Driven to perform and produce – Team captain. Can play both OLB and DE.
Vinny Curry DE at #49. Team Captain. Great motor. Nice size, with sub 4.8 speed – Sudden pass-rusher, uses a good bull rush, conversion rush, and a decent swim move – Uses his hands very well – Recognizes blocking schemes quickly – Very productive, applies consistent pressure on quarterbacks – Closes quickly when he gets a run at the QB – Good motor, doesn’t quit on plays and pursues well – Adept at getting to the ball (6 FF, 2 blocked kicks so far in 2011) – Plays 4-3 DE, but has the skill-set to transition to a rush OLB
and the shocker.......... Coby Freener at our #63 TE at 6'6" 254lbs and can catch like our other two, just think of he, Gronk and Hernandez running free. Excellent size/strength/speed combination – Catches balls in traffic very well – Works the seam like an NFL pro, very adept with his little fakes – Very good in and out of his breaks, gains separation from safeties/linebackers with ease – Rarely gets jammed off the line, uses his hands well – Plucks the ball with his hands – Looks like a prototypical “F” tight end, but can block a bit as well – Shows the necessary skills to be an effective pass and/or run blocker.
Later on you might steal OK WR Broyles who was injured or Crick who was injured.
Now lets get back and try this SB again.
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