Huge offseason ahead...

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Its safe to say that this is the biggest off season in recent yrs for the Pats... The biggest need is to get younger and faster in the LB and Secondary. The need for a playmaker in the passing game is a need as well. But if Bruschi retires, we need to draft or sign a lb that is able to start week 1.. The pats need to take advantage of having both Brady and Belichick in there prime, because these yrs coming up are Brady's best yrs for a QB.. By focusing on the three area's of need ,we should be fine for yrs to come..

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Also Montey Beisel and Chad Brown type LB's are not allowed to be signed..

 

[cstjohn17]

Or Eric Warfield, Duane Starks, types.. Doug Gabriel... etc.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I didn't want to make another thread, but I had a question? I've heard and read different cap numbers.I've read 34 million under the cap.30 million under the cap and also read 3.4 million. Does anyone know a exact figure?

 

[Seneschal2]

Or DB's under 6 feet.

Samuel is the exception to the rule.

All of the DBs drafted by BB -- name the 6-footers?

Willie Andrews
Ellis Hobbs
James Sanders
Guss Scott
Dexter Reid
Christian Morton
Eugene Wilson
Asante Samuel
Brock Williams
Hakim Akbar
Leonard Myers
Antwan Harris

 

[ATippett56]

Or Eric Warfield, Duane Starks, types.. Doug Gabriel... etc.

......... Andre Davis!

 

[ATippett56]

I didn't want to make another thread, but I had a question? I've heard and read different cap numbers.I've read 34 million under the cap.30 million under the cap and also read 3.4 million. Does anyone know a exact figure?

http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp

 

[AzPatsFan]

Its safe to say that this is the biggest off season in recent yrs for the Pats... The biggest need is to get younger and faster in the LB and Secondary. The need for a playmaker in the passing game is a need as well. But if Bruschi retires, we need to draft or sign a lb that is able to start week 1.. The pats need to take advantage of having both Brady and Belichick in there prime, because these yrs coming up are Brady's best yrs for a QB.. By focusing on the three area's of need ,we should be fine for yrs to come..

Where have you been? The Patriots ARE YOUNG in the secondary, already.

In spite of all the caterwauling the Linebacking is younger than it has been and will get even younger next season. If the Pats weren't six years in to a dynasty, they would be considerd the NEXT BIG COMING WINNER, as a fan pointed out. Consider that there are six safeteis including five with extensive starting expereince under thirty. There are three starting CBs under thirty with extensive starting experience. Its true we have ex-veteran starters as reserves, but that is preferable rather than raw rookies when you have to call on them.

Belichick confirmed that has been a conscious, guiding principle.

 

[BelichickFan]

Belichick obviously likes quickness over size in his DBs. I'm hoping that leads to Brandon Merriweather coming here

I don't see why this is a huge offseason. We have a few needs but we can let the offseason come to us, we have cap money and draft choices.

 

[ATippett56]

Consider that there are six safeties including five with extensive starting experience under thirty.

Funny, I only count two safeties on the Patriots roster who have extensive starting experience on defense under the age of 30:

James Sanders
Eugene Wilson

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/roster?team=nwe

 

[BelichickFan]

DBs are shorter because it's a more difficult skill to stick with a WR than for a WR who knows where he's going. A tall, gangly DB would not have the athleticism or quickness to be able to cover top WR. A shorter, more compact DB is does. The quickness and athleticism of a DB is just more difficult.

 

[BelichickFan]

Quickness over size doesnt work any more in the NFL as far as DB's go. The offensive passing games have become a totally diffeent animal, and with the rules regarding contact, smaller DB's now are at a huge disadvantage, even if they are quick...

Quickness is more important than ever. The days of bigger DBs being physical at the line are gone. Now that they're gone (at least for now), all the DBs have to challenge the WR is quickness to the ball.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Where have you been? The Patriots ARE YOUNG in the secondary, already.

In spite of all the caterwauling the Linebacking is younger than it has been and will get even younger next season. If the Pats weren't six years in to a dynasty, they would be considerd the NEXT BIG COMING WINNER, as a fan pointed out. Consider that there are six safeteis including five with extensive starting expereince under thirty. There are three starting CBs under thirty with extensive starting experience. Its true we have ex-veteran starters as reserves, but that is preferable rather than raw rookies when you have to call on them.

Belichick confirmed that has been a conscious, guiding principle.

The Safteys need the next Rodney...

 

[BradyisGod]

Its safe to say that this is the biggest off season in recent yrs for the Pats... The biggest need is to get younger and faster in the LB and Secondary. The need for a playmaker in the passing game is a need as well. But if Bruschi retires, we need to draft or sign a lb that is able to start week 1.. The pats need to take advantage of having both Brady and Belichick in there prime, because these yrs coming up are Brady's best yrs for a QB.. By focusing on the three area's of need ,we should be fine for yrs to come..

How is it that every year is labeled at the biggest off season in recent years? In my opinion, we had far more holes to deal with last year than this one.

 

[ATippett56]

The Safteys need the next Rodney...

The Patriots need a playmaking free safety, not one chasing Jerricho Cotchery down the field.

 

[Seneschal2]

DBs are shorter because it's a more difficult skill to stick with a WR than for a WR who knows where he's going. A tall, gangly DB would not have the athleticism or quickness to be able to cover top WR. A shorter, more compact DB is does. The quickness and athleticism of a DB is just more difficult.

I agree. In addition, ball skills (playing the ball), athleticism (quicks, speed, vertical jump) are all important to playing the CB position. Referring to the list, some of the CBs were 4.4 guys and had impressive vertical jumps:

Willie Andrews
Ellis Hobbs (4.4's VJ)
James Sanders
Guss Scott
Dexter Reid
Christian Morton
Eugene Wilson
Asante Samuel
Brock Williams (4.4's Combine-best VJ)
Hakim Akbar
Leonard Myers
Antwan Harris (4.4's Combine-best VJ)

 

[cstjohn17]

Plus the FAs, Starks, Hawkins (originally a cb), Poole.. all 5'2, 5'3

I don't think our dbs were an issue this year, and BB seems to like smaller smaller, faster guys on the edge (period).

All of the DBs drafted by BB -- name the 6-footers?

Willie Andrews
Ellis Hobbs
James Sanders
Guss Scott
Dexter Reid
Christian Morton
Eugene Wilson
Asante Samuel
Brock Williams
Hakim Akbar
Leonard Myers
Antwan Harris

 

[BelichickFan]

The Patriots need a playmaking free safety, not one chasing Jerricho Cotchery down the field.

Brandon Merriweather, damn it

 

[ATippett56]

Brandon Merriweather, damn it

Character counts with Bill Belichick. There is no way the Patriots will select a gun carrying, leg stomping, gang banger. Michael Griffin is the long term solution at free safety. Now if, for some miracle or divine intervention, Reggie Nelson fell to the New England Patriots with the 24th overall selection ..........................

 

[AzPatsFan]

Funny, I only count two safeties on the Patriots roster who have extensive starting experience on defense under the age of 30:

James Sanders
Eugene Wilson

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/roster?team=nwe

Hawkin is 29; Gay has played Safety as well as CB. Mitchell is primarily a ST safety but he does have some starting expereince in regular defense as well. and as you say we can add Sanders and Geno. Most teams carry only four or five Safeties, so we were three past the usual definition of "depth" due to injury.

Scott,Tebuckey and Harrison provide depth. All are ex-starters and much better than having to play inexperienced players like an Andrews or Baker.