Okay, I'll say it - who are we signing/drafting?

[patsox23]

In FA, I'd like to see the Patriots target that pass-rusher, Armond Armstead.

I'd like to re-sign Wes Welker, despite the HORRENDOUS, momentum-changing drop tonight. Perhaps that'll mean a lower price.

I'd like to re-sign Talib, but I worry he'll be too $$$. Seems like he's fit in well here, so maybe he'd want to stay for a few more years.

In the draft, with limited resources, I think they need to look hard at a WR and look for some help (again) at corner, especially if we don't sign Talib. Maybe go for even more LB help.

Thoughts as we lick our wounds...?

 

[randomk1]

Need a physical WR that can make plays. These small smurfs are cool against JAGs. Not so much when you get into a dogfight.

 

[fumbrunner]

In FA, I'd like to see the Patriots target that pass-rusher, Armond Armstead.

I'd like to re-sign Wes Welker, despite the HORRENDOUS, momentum-changing drop tonight. Perhaps that'll mean a lower price.

I'd like to re-sign Talib, but I worry he'll be too $$$. Seems like he's fit in well here, so maybe he'd want to stay for a few more years.

In the draft, with limited resources, I think they need to look hard at a WR and look for some help (again) at corner, especially if we don't sign Talib. Maybe go for even more LB help.

Thoughts as we lick our wounds...?

I don't disagree with any of that. A physical Boldin-like WR would be great. Need safety help too. Not much depth behind Devin. Gregory is ok, but that position could be improved.

Corner again?? I wonder if Ras I will ever be healthy. Him, Talib, and Dennard would give us three good, physical CBs. but as we saw today, there isn't much beyond that (Cole on Boldin? Really?).

I think the pass rush would have been better with a healthy Chandler Jones.

 

[deters]

Get rid of Branch ASAP.

Resign Welker for cheap money and if he doesn't take it, f him. He has had too many crucial drops over the past few seasons and is 32 next year. He's too short and his speed is declining.

Lloyd, Gronk, Hernandez, Welker (maybe), Greg Jennings, Edelman, 1st rd pick.

We need to resign Talib, but also need to address CB in either the draft or FO. DT and DE need a lot of help as does S.

 

[zipster9]

In FA, I'd like to see the Patriots target that pass-rusher, Armond Armstead.

I'd like to re-sign Wes Welker, despite the HORRENDOUS, momentum-changing drop tonight. Perhaps that'll mean a lower price.

I'd like to re-sign Talib, but I worry he'll be too $$$. Seems like he's fit in well here, so maybe he'd want to stay for a few more years.

In the draft, with limited resources, I think they need to look hard at a WR and look for some help (again) at corner, especially if we don't sign Talib. Maybe go for even more LB help.

Thoughts as we lick our wounds...?

Yeah. That was a crucial play. He must catch that. Wide open and tried to catch it with his mask! Sigh.

Ok, Talib is good (not elite), but what worries me is he is injury prone. I mean a hip-injury and a hamstring-injury in 8 games.

As someone mentioned, we need a WR that can jump-ball. We thought Lloyd can do that but, Torrey & Antqwan are much better than Lloyd.

DL could not get to Flacco, allowing him to torch our secondary with 20+ completions. Need to upgrade DL/LB.

Bottom line - MUST improve our Defense. Average in the pack is not good enough.

 

[Marqui]

DL could not get to Flacco, allowing him to torch our secondary with 20+ completions. Need to upgrade DL/LB.

Why does the DL need upgrading when we have Ninkovich?

 

[ivanvamp]

Yeah. That was a crucial play. He must catch that. Wide open and tried to catch it with his mask! Sigh.

Ok, Talib is good (not elite), but what worries me is he is injury prone. I mean a hip-injury and a hamstring-injury in 8 games.

As someone mentioned, we need a WR that can jump-ball. We thought Lloyd can do that but, Torrey & Antqwan are much better than Lloyd.

DL could not get to Flacco, allowing him to torch our secondary with 20+ completions. Need to upgrade DL/LB.

Bottom line - MUST improve our Defense. Average in the pack is not good enough.

Despite a not-so-great performance today, the defense *is* improving. It was better this year than last year, and they're young, which means they're on the front side of the developmental curve. They'll be better next year even if the same exact group of guys comes back.

Here's what I'd do:

1. Try to re-sign Talib. Yes, he's apparently injury-prone, but when he's there, he's a difference maker. Single biggest play of the game tonight, IMO, was him getting hurt.

2. Re-sign Welker. I know his drops are killer. But he makes so many plays otherwise they really need him.

3. Sign a burner. They really do need someone who can be a legitimate threat down the field. I thought Lloyd would be that guy, but he's not. He's a solid receiver, but he's not that guy. I don't think they'll re-sign Vollmer, so you let him go, develop another tackle, and use the Vollmer money to go after a quality receiver. Here are some guys that are available: Jennings, Wallace, Bowe, etc.

4. Continue to draft defense. CBs (sigh) and pass rushers are the keys. Keep loading up in these areas.

 

[Ifleninwasawizard]

I'm done with Welker. I think Edelman can step up and Hernandez will be able to do a lot. We need to get a burner in either the draft in in free agency. Our O becomes scary if can get that and Gronk can stay healthy.

Other than that I think we mostly just need depth at a few areas.

 

[BadMoFo]

I'm thinking we need some speedy receiver, doesn't have to be the biggest, but has to be quick as well as fast, someone like Tavon Austin or Robert Woods. I'm afraid if we get a big receiver, Brady will force it to him too much, leading to lots of interceptions.

 

[zipster9]

Despite a not-so-great performance today, the defense *is* improving. It was better this year than last year, and they're young, which means they're on the front side of the developmental curve. They'll be better next year even if the same exact group of guys comes back.

Here's what I'd do:

1. Try to re-sign Talib. Yes, he's apparently injury-prone, but when he's there, he's a difference maker. Single biggest play of the game tonight, IMO, was him getting hurt.

2. Re-sign Welker. I know his drops are killer. But he makes so many plays otherwise they really need him.

3. Sign a burner. They really do need someone who can be a legitimate threat down the field. I thought Lloyd would be that guy, but he's not. He's a solid receiver, but he's not that guy. I don't think they'll re-sign Vollmer, so you let him go, develop another tackle, and use the Vollmer money to go after a quality receiver. Here are some guys that are available: Jennings, Wallace, Bowe, etc.

4. Continue to draft defense. CBs (sigh) and pass rushers are the keys. Keep loading up in these areas.

Yep. Ravens game plan tonight was to cover the middle of the field, and force brady to throw deep or the sides. Since we do not have a deep threat, you limit Brady's options...

 

[fumbrunner]

A "burner" Wr does not play to Brady's strength. We know his deep ball is average at best. I would rather see them get a tough, physical WR ala Boldin that could go up and get it. I deep threat does nothing for this offense. It just doesn't play to what this offense is about.

 

[TriplecHamp]

If welker wan'ts #1 money I don't think we should bring him back TBH. I love him as a player and love what he's done for us but this is about the long haul and building a better team than we put on the field this year. We need less space players and more guys to create the space. We need to overhaul the safety position completely. I'd like to move McCourty back to corner. He should take this entire offseason and work with Talib (who better be resigned). I'd like vets in the secondary and go with maybe a Dwayne Bowe or another receiver (maybe in the draft to create some space for guys like Edelman, Henandez and Gronk. Pass rush should be a priority as well because there were only maybe a handful of plays where Flacco actually had to rush a throw and one of them was on a blitz.

So priorities=

1) Big/Fast wide receiver(s)
2) Hopefully two new big safeties
3) Pass rush

We need to be even more physical next year because our losses were to:

Ravens x2
Seattle
San Francisco
AZ

Notice a trend?

 

[TriplecHamp]

A "burner" Wr does not play to Brady's strength. We know his deep ball is average at best. I would rather see them get a tough, physical WR ala Boldin that could go up and get it. I deep threat does nothing for this offense. It just doesn't play to what this offense is about.

Randy Moss says throw that entire theory out the window lol. Brady has a very good deep ball but its harder to hit when you're throwing them to a 5"9' quicker than fast guy without big hands.

 

[The Beast]

Talib is a must, the defence went from shutdown to complete garbage tonight in his absence.

I like Welker and he has an important role and would hope to resign him but hopefully not for too much money as I think adding a Safety, another pass rusher and a deep threat are more pressing needs and would prefer to address them before paying Welker 8 digits again. I say draft a pass rusher since that seems to be the position you can find the best talent at when you're drafting when the Pats do.

 

[fumbrunner]

Randy Moss says throw that entire theory out the window lol. Brady has a very good deep ball but its harder to hit when you're throwing them to a 5"9' quicker than fast guy without big hands.

Randy Moss is a freak who often caught balls for us in double and triple coverage. He is the exception to the rule. You aren't going to find a Randy Moss in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft.

 

[Nikolai]

Sign Welker. This idea that we can replace him with Edelman is laughable. Edelman definitely has a lot going for him and I hope he sticks around for a while, but he's got a major problem. Let's say we did that last year. Who would have been playing as a slot receiver tonight? Or for the other however-many games Edelman's missed?

Sign Talib if he takes a hometown discount, or has incentives. His injury concerns are definitely worth considering.

Draft DL, WR, and forget drafting a CB. Sign one if available.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Resign Welker for 2 years.
Resign Talib if he can accept a reasonable deal loaded with incentives. Otherwise, do not commit big money. Doesn't seem durable recently and off the field concerns.
Resign Edelman, Arrington, and perhaps Woody for cheap (compete with Demps for the 4th RB spot).
Hope for a good draft, we have alot of rookie contracts running out in 2014/2015 and I doubt we have the cap room for anything more than the usual cheap FA pickups. Would like to see us draft the following:
CB - reliable outside backup or someone to take Talib's spot if not re-signed. We had a fantastic find in Dennard again and it's not out the question to find another. But there's no excuse for our D having THAT huge a dropoff from losing someone who's a solid but far from an elite corner.
S - at least for depth, ideally for an upgrade to Gregory. Or hope Wilson improves a good deal.
LB - one who can cover, or an inside guy in case Spikes can't be retained post 2013.
WR - Welker and Lloyd are nearing the end.
OT/OG - depth never hurts.

That would set us up nicely for another title run next season IMO. Perhaps take us to that next level.

 

[Froob]

I hope they bring Wes back. Will be sad if he never wins a super bowl here.

 

[Cassanova792]

Yes we need to get rid of Welker. I love the guy but we have too many of the same type of players on the team. Edelman, Woodhead and even Vereen can fill his type of role on short passing plays to create YAC. Aside from Gronk, we lack any imposing offensive player that can create seperation consistently.

If we drop Welker, we can use that money that is tied up to him on a trusted burner in free agency. I would like Mike Wallace or Dwayne Bowe and if possible Brian Hartline paired up as well. Tall and fast and the offense will be unstoppable. Imagine:

WR: Dwaye Bowe (6'2")
WR: Brian Hartline (6'2")
WR: Brandon Lloyd (6'0")

TE: Gronkowski (6'6")
TE: Hernandez (6'1")


Our offense would be too tall and too fast to cover. We should concentrate offensively in free agency and defensively through the draft.


The defense has really good building blocks going forward but we lack a consistent pass rush. We are one player away on defense from being very good and 2 players away from being elite IMO.

 

[DefenseRules]

Yep. Ravens game plan tonight was to cover the middle of the field, and force brady to throw deep or the sides. Since we do not have a deep threat, you limit Brady's options...

Finally someone who saw what I saw. The Ravens knew that we had no deep threat, and they used it against us. People complain that Brady doesn't throw deep. Who is he going to throw to?