Stay the course

[upstater1]

Keep doing what the Patriots are doing, add a few players. The team is already built to win. More pass rush, more outside receivers. That's it. Nothing wrong with Brady. No Gronk, and the offense stalls against a good D. It stalled against the 49ers until they went zone, it stalled against the Ravens.

Gronk is a pretty big weapon.

The D needs more pass rush, and they may be one player away there.

No need to panic. The Patriots are already built to win, no need to change course now.

If I'm the front office, I resign Welker at $7-8 million for 2 years, and go heavy on Percy Harvin.

 

[Rusty Coupe]

Keep doing what the Patriots are doing, add a few players. The team is already built to win. More pass rush, more outside receivers. That's it. Nothing wrong with Brady. No Gronk, and the offense stalls against a good D. It stalled against the 49ers until they went zone, it stalled against the Ravens.

Gronk is a pretty big weapon.

The D needs more pass rush, and they may be one player away there.

No need to panic. The Patriots are already built to win, no need to change course now.

If I'm the front office, I resign Welker at $7-8 million for 2 years, and go heavy on Percy Harvin.

The only thing I would disagree with is the bolded part. I think they already have what Harvin brings in Vareen, not sure why they haven't found a way to put it into regular rotation in the O yet.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

That'd be my approach, although I don't know if we can afford a guy like Harvin with so many rookie contracts expiring in the next couple offseason after this.

But despite not making it as far as the 2011 team, I think we upgraded on both sides of the ball in 2012. Expect the same next year if we can have a decent draft and keep Welker/Talib to reasonable deals. Young players each one year better and some continuity for a change, this team can only get better. Just have to hope guys like Welker, Wilfork, Brady that have alot of mileage now don't start declining. Like I said in the other thread I think we're set up good for '13 and '14.

 

[E1Downey]

Agreed. I think they can keep getting better. Not that I think Gronk will keep battling injuries the next couple years, but It is very comforting that we also have Ballard in the TE stable.

Couldn't agree more about Welker. Forget the drops, the patriots aren't even playing last night w/o that tough little bastard. Only question is how much $?

I'd like to see someone added to the Oline. I know they did very well this year on the whole but....Brady is not Brady when he perceives even the smallest threat. Pardon my french but, he looked like quite the ***** on more than one occassion last night. Would love it if they could find some way to boost his confidence. Dont get me wrong, I think T.B's the undispited GOAT, but last night Flacco played likr a man while Brady looked like an indecisive teenager too many times for me to stomach.

The team needs to get back the toughness of yesteryear. The Ravens slapped them last night and our guys responded by bending over.

-Sent from the device that is held in my hand-

 

[Gronkandez]

Keep doing what the Patriots are doing, add a few players. The team is already built to win. More pass rush, more outside receivers. That's it. Nothing wrong with Brady. No Gronk, and the offense stalls against a good D. It stalled against the 49ers until they went zone, it stalled against the Ravens.

Gronk is a pretty big weapon.

The D needs more pass rush, and they may be one player away there.

No need to panic. The Patriots are already built to win, no need to change course now.

If I'm the front office, I resign Welker at $7-8 million for 2 years, and go heavy on Percy Harvin.

So you're happy with the defensive backfield?
You think it's easy to keep Gronk healthy?
You think Brady won't regress in his upper 30's?

Not sure Percy Harvin is the answer. Would love to see them add a tall guy with speed and half a brain, a decent cornerback who isn't prone to get suspended and hurt, another TE for when Gronkandez get hurt. etc....

 

[hovis]

Keep doing what the Patriots are doing, add a few players. The team is already built to win. More pass rush, more outside receivers. That's it. Nothing wrong with Brady. No Gronk, and the offense stalls against a good D. It stalled against the 49ers until they went zone, it stalled against the Ravens.

Gronk is a pretty big weapon.

The D needs more pass rush, and they may be one player away there.

No need to panic. The Patriots are already built to win, no need to change course now.

If I'm the front office, I resign Welker at $7-8 million for 2 years, and go heavy on Percy Harvin.

They MUST re-sign Talib, draft a stud DT, get a coverage LB, and take lots of shots on big physical DBs and WRs.

I love Welker, but he won't resign at those numbers, and they'll probably need to move on. Plus, he's taken one too many shots, one of these days he won't be getting up after taking one. Better to lose him a year too early than a year too late.

This offseason needs to be to defense what 2007 was to the offense.

 

[Ivan]

Yeah Talib, who can't stay healthy for 2 weeks straight is a MUST RE-SIGN, while they should move on from Welker. Complete idiocy.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Would love to see them add a tall guy with speed and half a brain,

a decent cornerback who isn't prone to get suspended and hurt,

another TE for when Gronkandez get hurt.

The other TE is named Jake Ballard.

A tall, physical, get to the ball WR needs to be on the shopping list, with Talib or a replacement, a backup to Talib or his replacement, and an edge rusher.

Sign the Canada d-lineman, sign Wes, sign Talib, get best players available in the draft, and focus when possible on DBs and safeties with size and ball-hawking ability in FA and the draft.

I think all of these changes amount to typical offseason tinkering rather than a major roster upheaval.

Jones, Hightower, Cunningham, Spikes, Deadrick, Love, Dennard, and McCourty as a safety are all at stages in their careers where they are apt to continue improving, so the defensive core is in good shape IMO.

 

[upstater1]

So you're happy with the defensive backfield?
You think it's easy to keep Gronk healthy?
You think Brady won't regress in his upper 30's?

Not sure Percy Harvin is the answer. Would love to see them add a tall guy with speed and half a brain, a decent cornerback who isn't prone to get suspended and hurt, another TE for when Gronkandez get hurt. etc....

Very happy with the defensive backfield. In fact, I'm ecstatic with Dennard. Can't believe he was a 7th rounder. He is very good. Talib looks good too.

We have 3 TEs in Hernandez, Ballard and Gronk. I want WRs. I expect Brady to regress over the next 2 or 3 years. But I don't think his regression has started yet.

That being said, Brady at the top of his game without gamebreakers is not as good as a regressed Brady with all his weapons.

The way I look at it is this: Belichick probably has more respect for Mike Shanahan more than any other coach in the game. The Elway Broncos focused on the run as Elway was on the backside of his career, but they had plenty of weapons for him as well (Horseface). This is what the Patriots are looking at.

Develop the run, get weapons, improve the D.

Then hope they stay healthy.

 

[hovis]

Yeah Talib, who can't stay healthy for 2 weeks straight is a MUST RE-SIGN, while they should move on from Welker. Complete idiocy.

Oh, so what would you do, pay Welker well over half of your free agency budget so you can continue to have great offensive numbers in the regular season while losing in the playoffs because you can't afford to pay for a physical D, AGAIN? And you call me an idiot?

 

[Ivan]

Very happy with the defensive backfield. In fact, I'm ecstatic with Dennard. Can't believe he was a 7th rounder. He is very good. Talib looks good too.

We have 3 TEs in Hernandez, Ballard and Gronk. I want WRs. I expect Brady to regress over the next 2 or 3 years. But I don't think his regression has started yet.

That being said, Brady at the top of his game without gamebreakers is not as good as a regressed Brady with all his weapons.

The way I look at it is this: Belichick probably has more respect for Mike Shanahan more than any other coach in the game. The Elway Broncos focused on the run as Elway was on the backside of his career, but they had plenty of weapons for him as well (Horseface). This is what the Patriots are looking at.

Develop the run, get weapons, improve the D.

Then hope they stay healthy.

I agree with this but would add that I would be more aggressive with the cap than they normally are. I don't mind if they are a little cash strapped when the Brady era ends if they can get another ring or 2 before it ends. I expect Belichick to respond much the same as he did after the loss to the Colts in 2006. After that loss Belichick doubled down and radically improved the WRE corps, and I won't be surprised if he goes after another WR, re-signs Welker, and upgrades the defensive backfield. they have come a long way in rebuilding the defense and it should be better next season, but that doesn't mean they are done and i expect them to be aggressive going forward.

 

[goheels22002]

The other TE is named Jake Ballard.

A tall, physical, get to the ball WR needs to be on the shopping list, with Talib or a replacement, a backup to Talib or his replacement, and an edge rusher.

Sign the Canada d-lineman, sign Wes, sign Talib, get best players available in the draft, and focus when possible on DBs and safeties with size and ball-hawking ability in FA and the draft.

I think all of these changes amount to typical offseason tinkering rather than a major roster upheaval.

Jones, Hightower, Cunningham, Spikes, Deadrick, Love, Dennard, and McCourty as a safety are all at stages in their careers where they are apt to continue improving, so the defensive core is in good shape IMO.

I was thinking that the Patriots were without their two best TEs last night in the 2nd half - Ballard and Gronkowski. Now that the offense is built for two tight end sets, the offense will be better next year.

On defense, I'd stay away from Talib - he's a knucklehead who will get serious money elsewhere. There will be new DBs in camp, I hope a couple work out.

Overall, this is a very good team steeled by a tough loss.

 

[IllegalContact]

this team needs to start adjusting its compass away from being a team that will only go as far as brady takes them

brady threw the ball more in 2012 than in any other season in his career......first, I don't believe tehre will ever be success with that much dependence on a 35-36 year old QB......old QB's ride off into the sunset handing the ball off 40 plus times a game and make the opponent pay for it every time they put 8 in the box.

I'd like to see brady throw the ball no more than 500-525 times....even less

I think that would be the most effective offense given the ingredients

 

[Gronkandez]

The other TE is named Jake Ballard.

A tall, physical, get to the ball WR needs to be on the shopping list, with Talib or a replacement, a backup to Talib or his replacement, and an edge rusher.

Sign the Canada d-lineman, sign Wes, sign Talib, get best players available in the draft, and focus when possible on DBs and safeties with size and ball-hawking ability in FA and the draft.

I think all of these changes amount to typical offseason tinkering rather than a major roster upheaval.

Jones, Hightower, Cunningham, Spikes, Deadrick, Love, Dennard, and McCourty as a safety are all at stages in their careers where they are apt to continue improving, so the defensive core is in good shape IMO.

Forgot about Ballard. Hopefully he is good enough and healthy enough to fill in without the offense losing too much.

Good call on the CFL guy.

I'm not as opptimistic on the defense. They couldn't stop a nose bleed in the 2nd half yesterday against a good but not great offense.

Time to gamble on a first round receiver IMO.

 

[condon84]

I don't know what it is. I've heard people say we're a front running team; when the going gets tough, we don't fight back. Not sure if that's really the case, but I can see why people say that.

One thing for sure, the Ravens didn't all of a sudden get 15 points better from week 3 to yesterday. Maybe momentum does play a huge role. But then again, we destroyed the Texans last week. People make fun of Ray Lewis' leadership, but it's evident that those guys, whether it was for Ray or not, were playing with more sense of urgency than we were.

The argument that we don't have enough talent is bull*****. We led the league in scoring, even without Gronk. We put up 41 against the Texans, and scored a boatload against the 49ers defense. We have the talent. Our teams just doesn't seem to have the balls to make plays or to make the right adjustment. How can you fix that?

 

[Schmo]

I was thinking that the Patriots were without their two best TEs last night in the 2nd half - Ballard and Gronkowski. Now that the offense is built for two tight end sets, the offense will be better next year.

On defense, I'd stay away from Talib - he's a knucklehead who will get serious money elsewhere. There will be new DBs in camp, I hope a couple work out.

Overall, this is a very good team steeled by a tough loss.

I don't know... he improved our defense, but didn't conquer the world while he was here. I think most, if not all teams will be too cautious to pay full price for him.

 

[Claremonster]

Our teams just doesn't seem to have the balls to make plays or to make the right adjustment. How can you fix that?

Better coaching, better play calling, better talent on both sides.

 

[mgteich]

First we must understand that the first task is to decide who to re-sign and to see what needs are created by those not re-signed. It would take restructures just to re-sign our players. It is likely to cost as much to replace them. If we are very lucky, the new personnel will give us as much in total as those who thy replace. There is little room for additional free agency help.

We will improve as our young defenders get better, along with the 2-3 additions that we get in the first three rounds of the draft. Perhaps Fletcher, Dowling and Ballard will help; perhaps not.

Personally, I would try to bring everyone back for camp, to the degree we can understand adding that we will need a restructure or two). I would hope to add 2 too defenders and an OL in the beginnings of the draft.

Keep doing what the Patriots are doing, add a few players.

 

[Boomer B]

this team needs to start adjusting its compass away from being a team that will only go as far as brady takes them

brady threw the ball more in 2012 than in any other season in his career......first, I don't believe tehre will ever be success with that much dependence on a 35-36 year old QB......old QB's ride off into the sunset handing the ball off 40 plus times a game and make the opponent pay for it every time they put 8 in the box.

I'd like to see brady throw the ball no more than 500-525 times....even less

I think that would be the most effective offense given the ingredients

I agree with you. It can't all be on Bradys shoulders going forward. Go more towards the 2004 offence. Pound the ball and use play action. For play action we need a WR who can go deep and make D's pay if they bring a saftey into the box.

From my point of view these are the offseason keys:

1) Find a deep threat
2) Add a coverage LB
3) Add a starting quality Safety to partner with McCourty
4) resign Talib and add depth at CB
5) Offence - as Brady gets older lets run more and use play action
6) Defense - get aggressive. Flacco had way to much time to throw.

 

[Spiral]

First we must understand that the first task is to decide who to re-sign and to see what needs are created by those not re-signed. It would take restructures just to re-sign our players. It is likely to cost as much to replace them. If we are very lucky, the new personnel will give us as much in total as those who thy replace. There is little room for additional free agency help.

We will improve as our young defenders get better, along with the 2-3 additions that we get in the first three rounds of the draft. Perhaps Fletcher, Dowling and Ballard will help; perhaps not.

Personally, I would try to bring everyone back for camp, to the degree we can understand adding that we will need a restructure or two). I would hope to add 2 too defenders and an OL in the beginnings of the draft.

You probably have to figure on losing at least one from the following: Vollmer, Welker and Talib. There are teams out there with a lot of cap room that could overpay for any or all of those three. Some team might think Vollmer could be a solid LT; there are usually 1-2 big contracts given out to free agent CBs; and there are a lot of teams with young QBs who might think that Welker would be an ideal player to assist in their development. I think if the Patriots decide to sign two of the three, they'll be shopping in the free agent bargain bin. The big issue with the current roster is that there are no easy salary cap cuts. Most of the guys who may not be here next year don't have much of a 2013 cap number.