Pats Keeping it Young

[Bostonian1962]

One of the things I like, so far, with the Patriots approach to player signings (their own and other team free agents) is they are signing players 30 years old or younger.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I wasn't digging their Joey Galloway/Tory Holt approach of the past. Too many players were added in the recent past that were past their prime IMHO.

So far this year it's been guys like Fanene (30), Tracy White (30), Steve Gregory (29), Connolly (29), Marcus Harrison (28), Slater (27), and Kyle Love (26). I was happy they signed Connolly over Koppen for example.

IMO, when you trade for or sign an older player, you add risk to the equation, ie, can they still play at a high level? I like what they've quietly been doing so far. It'll set the team up nicely for their 6 picks in the first 4 rounds in April.

Now let's get a receiver (Lloyd is 30 and A. Gonzalez is 27)

 

[IllegalContact]

brian waters?

andre carter?

 

[randomk1]

brian waters?

andre carter?

Well...obviously this youth movement started this year. Duh!

I expect us to get alot younger through the draft.

 

[Rob0729]

brian waters?

andre carter?

Which one of these guys were signed this year?

 

[Rob0729]

One of the things I like, so far, with the Patriots approach to player signings (their own and other team free agents) is they are signing players 30 years old or younger.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I wasn't digging their Joey Galloway/Tory Holt approach of the past. Too many players were added in the recent past that were past their prime IMHO.

So far this year it's been guys like Fanene (30), Tracy White (30), Steve Gregory (29), Connolly (29), Marcus Harrison (28), Slater (27), and Kyle Love (26). I was happy they signed Connolly over Koppen for example.

IMO, when you trade for or sign an older player, you add risk to the equation, ie, can they still play at a high level? I like what they've quietly been doing so far. It'll set the team up nicely for their 6 picks in the first 4 rounds in April.

Now let's get a receiver (Lloyd is 30 and A. Gonzalez is 27)

I don't know if this really constitutes a youth movement. It does go against getting those seasoned veterans in their early to mid 30s for one year stop gap type of deals (although don't be surprised if the Pats get a few of those).

 

[brady199]

Which one of these guys were signed this year?

I think the point as they were both older guys signed in the past that filled in and played at a high level. So not all of the guys signed over 30 are a waste of time/money.

 

[Rob0729]

I think the point as they were both older guys signed in the past that filled in and played at a high level. So not all of the guys signed over 30 are a waste of time/money.

My bad. I guess I missed the gist of rebuttal. Probably should have re-read the original post before I reacted.

Yeah, a lot of older players have done well in this system. They are hit or miss. They are also low risk, high reward type of players.

The Pats have flamed out going young too. Donald Hayes and Monty Beisel come to mind right off the bat.

 

[naF staP]

I'm pretty sure the signing of older vets last season was due to the short time the team had to prepare and get ready for the season due to the lockout. No time to get younger, inexperienced players ready.

 

[VrabelJr]

Well...obviously this youth movement started this year. Duh!

I expect us to get alot younger through the draft.

I expect us to use all of our picks on players from BYU that are age 25-27.

 

[IllegalContact]

Well...obviously this youth movement started this year. Duh!

I expect us to get alot younger through the draft.

where the pats were the weakest (secondary), the problem was youth.

also, the 2 new players the pats have signed are gregory(29) and fanene(30)

I don't believe age was a problem on this team last year.

 

[randomk1]

where the pats were the weakest (secondary), the problem was youth.

also, the 2 new players the pats have signed are gregory(29) and fanene(30)

I don't believe age was a problem on this team last year.

Too old...won't make it out of TC.



I agree with you btw. Just because we haven't gone after some veterans who might have something left in the tank doesn't mean BB is looking towards youth.

 

[BlueThunder]

Youth usually means speed ....to the QB and to the ball......

Speed is good....

BB usually trys to balances youth and veteran leadership when putting together a roster....:rocker:

 

[Bostonian1962]

brian waters?

andre carter?

Great points, although even Carter was 31 a year ago, and not exactly an old man.

If given a lie detector test, I will admit that I want Brian Waters back.

I still stand by my original post which said thus far the Pats are keeping it young. They are, and I like it.

I'm certainly not saying that everybody 30 or younger will be a hit, and everybody older will be a miss. There are exceptions to every approach. I like the getting players in their prime approach, if you can pull it off.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

The average age of an NFL player is 27.
The average age a NFL player retires is 28.
The only players the Pats have signed that weren't on their team last year are aged 28,29 and 30.
I don't know if that's keeping it young.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

R.Kelly approves this thread......

 

[Raymond]

The average age of an NFL player is 27.
The average age a NFL player retires is 28.
The only players the Pats have signed that weren't on their team last year are aged 28,29 and 30.
I don't know if that's keeping it young.

The free agency portion of the season is the equivalent of shopping in the used car lots only. None of those late model leases are there yet and the new models will be at the dealers only in April.

 

[stcjones]

Youth usually means speed ....to the QB and to the ball......

Speed is good....

BB usually trys to balances youth and veteran leadership when putting together a roster....:rocker:

When's the last time we had a speed rush though and got pressure on the QB? Speed is gr8...but if they still can't get to the QB that obviously doesn't help us...

 

[Bostonian1962]

The average age of an NFL player is 27.
The average age a NFL player retires is 28.
The only players the Pats have signed that weren't on their team last year are aged 28,29 and 30.
I don't know if that's keeping it young.

So what? What is the average age of an unrestricted free agent? The average age of an NFL player includes the 22, 23, and 24 year olds, which obviously factors in to the "average" age. If a player is that age, he will not be a restricted or unrestricted free agent. Moreover, why did you feel the need to exclude their own free agents signed? The original post didn't. Oh, that's right, it messes up your contrarian point, as flawed as it was.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

So what? What is the average age of an unrestricted free agent? The average age of an NFL player includes the 22, 23, and 24 year olds, which obviously factors in to the "average" age. If a player is that age, he will not be a restricted or unrestricted free agent. Moreover, why did you feel the need to exclude their own free agents signed? The original post didn't. Oh, that's right, it messes up your contrarian point, as flawed as it was.

Right but your post summing up the 2012 free agent class after 3 whole days proclaiming they're "keeping it young" by signing 4 players 29 and older, an exclusive right free agent, a special teamer and a guy out of football last year was rock solid.

 

[BlueThunder]

When's the last time we had a speed rush though and got pressure on the QB? Speed is gr8...but if they still can't get to the QB that obviously doesn't help us...

Pats ranked #13 in sacks last year out of 32 teams ....Miami and Jets were right behind them..

Note that the Patriots Increased their sack percentage over 2010 whil both the Jets and Miami got worse....

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/sack-pct

I think the Pats are headed in the right direction....