Patriots 2012 OFFENSE Off-Season Preview

[DaBruinz]

OFFENSE:

QB - Brady, Ryan Mallett- The Pats have to make a decision on Hoyer. Do they let him walk via free agency or do they re-sign him to a year or a multi-year contract? A multi-year contract is in their best interest. Then they could boost his trade value. Hoyer, though, is one of the better young QBs available in free agency. It’s believed that the Pats will put a 2nd round tender on him. Whether they match an offer or let Hoyer walk remains to be seen.

RB – Steven Ridley, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead – BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk are unrestricted Free Agents. It was disappointing to bench Faulk for the SB and then not use Steven Ridley. Hopefully Vereen can get healthy and be a factor next year. It will be interesting to see if the Patriots let BJGE walk or if they give him a lucrative contract. If BJGE walks, then a Robert Turbin late in the draft might be a good addition.

FB – Lousaka Polite, Eric Kettani – Polite was someone I had hoped that the Pats would bring in sooner than they did. Unfortunately, Polite missed a block on Chris Canty and Canty stopped BJGE for a 1 yard loss in the SB and it killed much of the momentum the Pats had in the 4th quarter to that point. Eric Kettani had been released by the Patriots because the Navy revoked his orders and deployed him. Now, Kettani has been re-signed and is waiting to see what the Navy does.

O-Line –Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Brian Waters, Nick McDonald, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Donald Thomas, Marcus Cannon, Matt Kopa, Kyle Hix, Ryan Wendell– There is a lot of uncertainty on the O-line because of rumblings that Light and Waters could retire. That would severely cut into the depth the Patriots have built up at that position. Koppen ended the year on the IR and is now a UFA. Connolly got stronger as they year progressed, but he’s not a long term solution at center or at guard. He is also a UFA and could be moving.

If Light and Waters do retire, then Solder will step into the LT position. It was thought that Cannon would step in at RG, but rumors have it that the Pats liked him well enough at RT that they will keep him there going forward. That raises a predicament as to what the Pats would do. There are several better than average UFA available and a few good guards available in the draft.


TE – Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski– Gronkowski and Hernandez broke out this year. They put up record numbers as a duo, with Gronkowski being the better receiver of the two. However, Gronkowski’s ankle injury revealed two problems with the Pats. A lack of depth at TE and at WR. There are actually very few Tes available in free agency this year. Jeremichael Finley signed a 2 year deal with the Packers and the cupboards are thin otherwise. A couple of guys the Pats could look at are Jacob Tamme and Donte Rosario. Tamme really stepped up the last 2 years with Dallas Clark injured and Rosario has some decent talent all-around. Other options could include Ladarius Green and Emil Igwenagu during the draft.

WR- Chad OchoCinco, Julian Edelman, Shun White, Tiquan, Britt Davis – Priority number one is to get Wes Welker re-signed. Period. I don’t expect Chad Johnson to make the starting roster out of training camp. I also don’t expect the Pats to bring back Deion Branch with the way his production tailed off at the end of the season. There is also talk that Edelman’s future is as a slot corner, but that is just rumor for now. Regardless, the Pats usually go into camp with 10-12 WRs. I don’t expect this year to be any different, so they will be signing a FA or two, drafting one or two and adding a few UDFAs.

 

[patsfan13]

OFFENSE:

QB - Brady, Ryan Mallett- The Pats have to make a decision on Hoyer. Do they let him walk via free agency or do they re-sign him to a year or a multi-year contract? A multi-year contract is in their best interest. Then they could boost his trade value. Hoyer, though, is one of the better young QBs available in free agency. It’s believed that the Pats will put a 2nd round tender on him. Whether they match an offer or let Hoyer walk remains to be seen.

Given the number of QB's available not sure he will fetch a pick. A lot depends on how Mallett is developing something we don't really know.

RB – Steven Ridley, Shane Vereen, Danny Woodhead – BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk are unrestricted Free Agents. It was disappointing to bench Faulk for the SB and then not use Steven Ridley. Hopefully Vereen can get healthy and be a factor next year. It will be interesting to see if the Patriots let BJGE walk or if they give him a lucrative contract. If BJGE walks, then a Robert Turbin late in the draft might be a good addition.

Faulk has issues with fumbles early in his career he fixed those. We can be sure that will a point of emphasis for Ridley this off season. I want to bring BJGE back because of his reliability and gold plated ball security skills. If Vareen can play to his potential as a passing target out of the backfield he can add a lot to the O next year.

FB – Lousaka Polite, Eric Kettani – Polite was someone I had hoped that the Pats would bring in sooner than they did. Unfortunately, Polite missed a block on Chris Canty and Canty stopped BJGE for a 1 yard loss in the SB and it killed much of the momentum the Pats had in the 4th quarter to that point. Eric Kettani had been released by the Patriots because the Navy revoked his orders and deployed him. Now, Kettani has been re-signed and is waiting to see what the Navy does.

I would like to see the kid from UMass who can Play back up TE and double up as a FB drafted late (I know we currently don't have any late round picks). We need a backup at TE and FB isn't full time position with this offense.

O-Line –Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Brian Waters, Nick McDonald, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Donald Thomas, Marcus Cannon, Matt Kopa, Kyle Hix, Ryan Wendell– There is a lot of uncertainty on the O-line because of rumblings that Light and Waters could retire. That would severally cut into the depth the Patriots have built up at that position. Koppen ended the year on the IR and is now a UFA. Connolly got stronger as they year progressed, but he’s not a long term solution at center or at guard. He is also a UFA and could be moving.

If Light and Waters do retire, then Solder will step into the LT position. It was thought that Cannon would step in at RG, but rumors have it that the Pats liked him well enough at RT that they will keep him there going forward. That raises a predicament as to what the Pats would do. There are several better than average UFA available and a few good guards available in the draft.

A lot hinges on what decisions Light and Waters make. I am fine with Connolly, I would like to see a C drafted for the future. i think you make Koppen an offer but he is a backup from my POV at this time.

TE – Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski– Gronkowski and Hernandez broke out this year. They put up record numbers as a duo, with Gronkowski being the better receiver of the two. However, Gronkowski’s ankle injury revealed two problems with the Pats. A lack of depth at TE and at WR. There are actually very few Tes available in free agency this year. Jeremichael Finley signed a 2 year deal with the Packers and the cupboards are thin otherwise. A couple of guys the Pats could look at are Jacob Tamme and Donte Rosario. Tamme really stepped up the last 2 years with Dallas Clark injured and Rosario has some decent talent all-around. Other options could include Ladarius Green and Emil Igwenagu during the draft.

Yeah I though we had a back between Yeatman and Smith and ended up losing both of them. Given we are using a 2TE base we have to get some depth here I like the idea of Igwenagu and using him as a FB also plus adding a UDFA for camp at least.

WR- Chad OchoCinco, Julian Edelman, Shun White, Tiquan, Britt Davis – Priority number one is to get Wes Welker re-signed. Period. I don’t expect Chad Johnson to make the starting roster out of training camp. I also don’t expect the Pats to bring back Deion Branch with the way his production tailed off at the end of the season. There is also talk that Edelman’s future is as a slot corner, but that is just rumor for now. Regardless, the Pats usually go into camp with 10-12 WRs. I don’t expect this year to be any different, so they will be signing a FA or two, drafting one or two and adding a few UDFAs.

I want Branch back next year at short money as a backup. Signing Welker is a must IMO. I also feel that B Lloyd is the FA we need on O. Depending on what they do with Edleman we should draft 1 or 2 wr's. Hill has me drooling with his tools and a slot guy of they more Edleman to the DB as his primary function. Something that I think is a pretty good idea.


The biggest questions are on the OL and WR, if things break right this group could have the potential to be the best in the history of the game and much more dangerous in the playoffs.

 

[DaBruinz]

Given the number of QB's available not sure he will fetch a pick. A lot depends on how Mallett is developing something we don't really know.

My thinking is that if Hoyer signs a multi-year deal, the Pats boost his trade value in 2012 and then deal him in 2013 if Mallett has progressed the way I think he will.

Faulk has issues with fumbles early in his career he fixed those. We can be sure that will a point of emphasis for Ridley this off season. I want to bring BJGE back because of his reliability and gold plated ball security skills. If Vareen can play to his potential as a passing target out of the backfield he can add a lot to the O next year.

Vereen is definitely a conundrum for the Pats. He seems redundant to Woodhead. I'd like the Pats to bring back BJGE as well, but i have a feeling that someone is going to pay him starter money.

I would like to see the kid from UMass who cam Play back up TE and double up as a FB drafted late (I know we currently don't have any late round picks). We need a backup at TE and FB isn't full time position with this offense.

The Pats, currently, have no picks beyond the 4th round. In all likelihood, they'll be trading down with one of the second rounders to add picks.

As for Igwenagu, they have shown a lot of interest in him. They made it a point to talk to him at the Shrine Game. I agree the Pats need a back-up at TE, as you saw from my initial post.

A lot hinges on what decisions Light and Waters make. I am fine with Connolly, I would like to see a C drafted for the future. i think you make Koppen an offer but he is a backup from my POV at this time.

Agreed. A lot does hinge on Light and Waters. To a lesser extent, Connolly is also someone who things hinge on. I agree that Koppen is just a back-up in this offense going forward. I love Dan's ability to call out to protection schemes and such, but he had issues all last season with being able to handle the blocking assignments inside. And he seems to have trouble picking up stunts and delayed blitzes...

Yeah I though we had a back between Yeatman and Smith and ended up losing both of them. Given we are using a 2TE base we have to get some depth here I like the idea of Igwenagu and using him as a FB also plus adding a UDFA for camp at least.

I really like what I have seen from Ladarius Green. I think that he fits right in between what Hernandez and Gronkowski bring to the table. If Igwenagu can pick up the blitz from the backfield and handle it accordingly, then I see no issue with him being a FB and emergency TE.

I want Branch back next year at short money as a backup. Signing Welker is a must IMO. I also feel that B Lloyd is the FA we need on O. Depending on what they do with Edleman we should draft 1 or 2 wr's. Hill has me drooling with his tools and a slot guy of they more Edleman to the DB as his primary function. Something that I think is a pretty good idea.

The biggest questions are on the OL and WR, if things break right this group could have the potential to be the best in the history of the game and much more dangerous in the playoffs.

Honestly, I don't want Branch back. I think that the money spent on him would be better spent in other areas. I still want a veteran WR brought in, but Branch would be the "OH SH!T" last resort. There are some youngish WRs who could have higher upsides in this offense. Not sure if a guy like Josh Morgan has the work ethic needed, but he could be a cheap possibility. Robert Meachem would probably cost the same as Branch and would have higher upside.

I was on the Brandon Lloyd Bandwagon, but a lot of locker-room issues have come up with him. Supposedly, there have been issues in every stop, despite Lloyd's success in McDaniel's offense in Denver and St.Louis. And, I definitely don't trust McDaniels' judgement when it comes to scouting players. Not with everything I've learned about him from reading "The WarRoom".

 

[Patspsycho]

Not to nitpick on the Polite "miss" but many thought he missed his block on that run for a loss. It was actually Mankins who lost control of Canty. Polite just shot right to the 2nd level so it's probably safe to assume his assignment was to stone whichever one of the backers came into the hole.

 

[Joker]

forgive me if I missed something but if you move Cannon to RT where does Vollmer play????????????

 

[NEGoldenAge]

forgive me if I missed something but if you move Cannon to RT where does Vollmer play????????????

DE or OLB. He's got great feet and a gigantic wingspan.