Best Patriots F.O. move in 2012 thus far?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

voted for Gronk - has immediate and long term impact. Not just as a player, but also as a signal for cap mgmt and ability to clear the financial negotiations table for other deals to be done.

the 1rnd draft picks look great; but they are unproven. we know how that can go in the not for long league; injuries, don't learn, do something stupid off the field..... BB does his best but you never know. And they are rookies so their short-term impact is bound to be less than Gronk. I think long term in 2 years maybe just by 2 players vs 1 gronk they are likely to have greater impact than Gronk in that season.

Lloyd. Yes, I really hope this proves me wrong and is actually a better deal than Gronk; but MY FEAR is....

Lloyd has more made his money (yds/TDs) by being the guy who can take the ball away from the defender [athleticism at the catch] and/or getting away as plays break down rather than getting immediate separation.

Brady (mostly) does not throw to a pre-determined point; he surveys the field and throws to the guy he sees is or believes will be open. Lloyd may very well be "OPEN" by Lloyd's definition - covered by a guy he can take the ball away from/keepthe ball from. But what does Brady see???

Brady may well see 'coverage' and go somewhere else. So while I am confident Lloyd will exceed 'Ocho' production; I am not so confident that he will dynamically change the offensive distribution. BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT I WILL BE WRONG. (call it a concern versus fear if you will).

I see Lloyd as a 500-600 yard receiver on this team this season and third behind Gronk and Welker maybe even behind Hernandez.....injuries can change that though.

 

[Gumby]

I see Lloyd as a 500-600 yard receiver on this team this season and third behind Gronk and Welker maybe even behind Hernandez.....injuries can change that though.

seems reasonable.

 

[DarrylS]

Gotta go with Jones and Hightower... for years folks on this board have whined and lamented about BB's penchant for not going for impact D players and the players they missed, on paper this year they have. While I have always trusted in BB, this year bore out my belief even more.

To move up for these guys is totally out of character and completely unexpected, but from all reports seems like a great move and will reap dividends..

 

[randomk1]

Extending Gronk isn't that big of a deal imo..that was a no brainer.

As far as 2012 goes i think Lloyd is the best move followed by the suprise draft(just because those guys are unproven).

 

[Observer]

I think that hiring McDaniels was huge. We could have been in some uncertainty with our offense, no matter the players on board, had McDaniels not luckily been available. The F.O. was pretty quick to jump on that as well, kudos to them. Now we can go into the season with a baseline confidence with our offense and optimism regarding the new talents acquired.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Lloyd will help the offence. Brady missed that big deep WR. Even if he's only a 600 yard per year player, he will open up the offence and make defences respect the deep ball.


But the 2 draft picks in rd 1 should solidify our defense for years to come if they pan out as expected.

 

[PlainOldEd]

I voted for moving up to get D in the draft. But as much as I am enjoying the offseason some part of me feels like a Jets fan celebrating the offseason before we can see what it really means on the field.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

From a this coming year perspective, I'm going to hope that Lloyd is the answer and all indictations look good. Spreading a defense out and making our best unit better could mean they are unstoppable and able to score/sustain drives as needed. Defenses will be left with aa great % of the field to defend and it will only take a couple (completed) deep balls per game to keep the mhonest.

From a long term perspective, we'll have to see how the defensive players turn out. so from a long term, I'd go with Gronk as he appears to be a special/transformational player for his position.

 

[The Gr8est]

Lloyd was my binkie, he makes the O much harder to defend.

Hightower and Jones may not have a large impact this year, so Lloyd it is for me.

I also think Fells is very important to provide some depth at TE, the lack of a 3rd TE option and an impact WR cost us a SB.

I went with "Moved up in 1st for two defenders", but I could have voted for any of the top four options.

Also, in addition to Lloyd, I'm really looking forward to seeing what using Vereen on screens is going to add to this offense.

Considering that Bolden and Ridley also appear to have some ability in this area as well, and also considering that the Pats may actually let a RB run it when he is in, it is more than blind homerism to suggest that this offense will be impossible to defend.

 

[Funktopus]

I entered the thread leaning toward Lloyd, however, the offense is already close to awesome even without him. The defense on the other hand has the most potential for improvement. And the secondary in particular needs the most help. So, being the optimist homer that I am, I'm hoping that the Tavon Martin selection is the best F.O. move.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Signing FAs is easy. Lloyd was a no brainer. He even stated that he wanted to follow Josh where ever he went. Moving up in the draft took some savvy trade talk and paid off. Signing Gronk into the distant future was genius. Working out that deal took experience, negotiating power and every trick in the book. IMO that was the best move.

The only thing that lowers the genius score on the GRONKstension is that GRONK's camp apparently approached the Pats about it, which gave the Pats a bit of leverage.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The only thing that lowers the genius score on the GRONKstension is that GRONK's camp apparently approached the Pats about it, which gave the Pats a bit of leverage.

I can't remember another player in the BB era where The F.O. Worked so fast and diligently to get a long term contract done.

They know they have something special with Gronk

 

[Ivan]

Many good moves this offseason but trading up twice for Jones and Hightower takes the cake for me.

 

[Avenger]

Lloyd is only here because of McDaniels, so if you combine his 23 with McD's 7 McDaniels is the best addition this year with 30 votes.

 

[brdmaverick]

OTHER: Officially adding Belichick's son to the coaching staff. As Pats fans, we are being setup for decades to come.

Just kidding..........

Real Answer: WR depth in general. Last year it was the trio of Welker/Gronk/Hernandez causing mass distruction. Ocho was brought in to also be a contributing playmaker. When Ocho failed to produce, a lot of pressure and defensive attention was put on the big three. Sure, they all still did well, but we saw how hurtful it can be when one of them is dinged up (see Gronk in Super Bowl). Adding Lloyd, Gaffney, and Stallworth gives us enough depth to destory defenses when everyone is healthy, but also continue to be very productive if someone got hurt.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Judging by the voting,it looks like most see Stallworth as either a rare contributor to the team or a cut in TC.

I don't think he makes the 53 but could be called upon later if injuries accumulate.

 

[PatsDeb]

Hmmm. I went with moving up in the draft to get defensive help as the offense has been pretty spectacular for about 11 years running now, no matter what they do (although I thought about choosing extending Gronk as I hate contract disputes). The defense, on the other hand, has needed help since 2007. If the D in 2012 can rise to the O's level, we'll be unstoppable!

 

[The Gr8est]

OTHER: Officially adding Belichick's son to the coaching staff. As Pats fans, we are being setup for decades to come.

You just know the Rats will be requesting permission to interview Steve Belichick for the HC position when they finally fire Rex.

 

[363839]

I had to go with the Gronk signing...the man is a beast.
Although I thought that option 2 and 3 were good choices but Lloyd
has a bit of a troublesome personality and if it shows up in New England, we will all be wishing the Pats never took a chance with him but I am hopeful that Josh will be able to stem that because he can be a real good pick up for us, no doubt
The 2 defensive players we got in the draft look like they might be able to help us immediately...but we will probably have to wait a season or 2 for their development.Which is ok. Gronks has already proven himself and will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Real glad those years will be in New England.
Let's have this poll again at the end of the season and see where we are then.

 

[The Gr8est]

I had to go with the Gronk signing...the man is a beast.
Although I thought that option 2 and 3 were good choices but Lloyd
has a bit of a troublesome personality and if it shows up in New England, we will all be wishing the Pats never took a chance with him but I am hopeful that Josh will be able to stem that because he can be a real good pick up for us, no doubt
The 2 defensive players we got in the draft look like they might be able to help us immediately...but we will probably have to wait a season or 2 for their development.Which is ok. Gronks has already proven himself and will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Real glad those years will be in New England.
Let's have this poll again at the end of the season and see where we are then.

While this is certainly true, on 3rd and long, having Jones, Hightower, and Bequette available gives us a real reason to hope that we might get that drive ending big play; either a sack or a hurry.

We really haven't had that much recently,Ccarter and Anderson last year notwithstanding.