My Gameplan for the Offseason

[BelichickFan]

Needs
---------
#1 CB
Starting quality S
#1 WR
RT
#3 CB

Solutions
------------
Franchise Talib
Veteran FA Safety
#1 Pick WR
#2 Pick RT
Resign Arrington
I would also re-sign Edelman

Comments
--------------
Talib is a solid Franchise candidate, good enough to put solid $$$ into but we don't have to commit long term to his volatile personality.

I'm convinced Gregory should be a #3 Safety not a #2. And I'm not buying Wilson as a good starter yet but if the coaching staff thinks he will be, all the better.

I don't have a name for the pick yet but it's a deep group of good WR this year and we will have a shot at one. Little Wes doesn't count, we need a big, fast downfield WR. I don't care if Brady has trouble with new WR, other QB get it done. #1 pick WR and Lloyd on the outside with Gronk and Hernandez inside with Ballard as a backup and Edelman able to sub in for different packages makes me very excited.

I'd love to get Vollmer back but I franchised Talib instead and we've done well in the second round at OT with Light and Vollmer.

Arrington is fine at a #3.

Definitely don't want to lose Edelman.

I think we can afford all that and largely fill the needs. I like Lloyd but he's a solid #2 type not the outside stud. I love Wes but with the other inside players we have I want to spend that money elsewhere. This will be blown apart if there's another big need for a starter I forgot but I don't think there is.

 

[manxman2601]

I don't agree on a big fast #1 WR, it doesn't seem very BB too me. Would much rather have a quick WR (both in terms of long speed and short area quickness) who runs excellent routes and catches the ball really well and that displays good football intelligence and leadership.

A 2nd or 3rd RT is a real possibility, there's some nice athletic prospects in this upcoming draft that slot into that area.

It's a pretty good plan overall, just disagree with you on the type of WR you are looking for. I'd also quite like to get a potentially elite OG in the draft, there are a couple that might be available.

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't agree on a big fast #1 WR, it doesn't seem very BB too me

This is MY plan, not my guess at BB's plan

I watch the teams with real WR and I'm jealous. We have no Julio Jones or Torrey Smith. We don't even have a Boldin or a Crabtree. Gronk helps spread the field some but even with Lloyd we still play in a 20x20 box for the most part. Will Bill do it ? Probably not. But a real downfield WR would take this offense to the final level IMO. I wanted Demaryius Thomas in 2010 - he went before our pick but imagine if we had a WR like that.

 

[stevedogc]

Would love to see the Pats free up enough cap to go after Greg Jennings. I think he would completely change this offense, and if possible, make it better. Lloyd and Jennings can work the outside. Gronk, Ahern, Edelman and Vereen can work the middle. I know he has been banged up over the years, but I think he and Brady would be a match made in heaven.

 

[BelichickFan]

Would love to see the Pats free up enough cap to go after Greg Jennings. I think he would completely change this offense, and if possible, make it better.

I would love him or, even better, Mike Wallace, but the money didn't allow it for me. We can get a WR in the draft and tell our QB to get it worked out.

 

[ALP]

So parting ways with Wes...

I think like any move there's pluses and minuses to that...

My biggest question to you though is..what kind of safety do we want? Devin is easily an FS, do we want another FS or do we want more of a SS to compliment? And which of the two do Gregory and Wilson fit? (I would think SS and FS) respectively

 

[manxman2601]

This is MY plan, not my guess at BB's plan

I watch the teams with real WR and I'm jealous. We have no Julio Jones or Torrey Smith. We don't even have a Boldin or a Crabtree. Gronk helps spread the field some but even with Lloyd we still play in a 20x20 box for the most part. Will Bill do it ? Probably not. But a real downfield WR would take this offense to the final level IMO. I wanted Demaryius Thomas in 2010 - he went before our pick but imagine if we had a WR like that.

Fair enough

There's some outstanding WR's in this draft, they're just not 6'4" and run 4.3. They are more Reggie Wayne than Randy Moss in terms of style of play. I will be disappointed if we don't take one of these guys in the first or second.

Look at:

Markus Wheaton
Deandre Hopkins
Quinton Patton
Stedman Bailey

 

[BelichickFan]

So parting ways with Wes...

I think Wes is looking for TOP dollar and with his age, hits taken and makeup of our offense I reluctantly move on.

My biggest question to you though is..what kind of safety do we want? Devin is easily an FS, do we want another FS or do we want more of a SS to compliment?

I just want a starting caliber Safety. If he's a little bigger and slower but gets to the right place, fine. If he's another McCourtey who doesn't put fear into WR but makes the tackle and has good speed, also fine. I think either can work but I want a good player and while Gregory flashed at times he also is the master of bad angles and just not good enough overall. In this passing league I would prefer another Safety who is a good pass defender and tackler, I can live without the fear factor.

 

[BelichickFan]

There's some outstanding WR's in this draft, they're just not 6'4" and run 4.3. They are more Reggie Wayne than Randy Moss in terms of style of play. I will be disappointed if we don't take one of these guys in the first or second.

When I said Big and Fast I was meaning compared to Wes and Deion. 6'0" and a legit 4.50 works for me. I'm fine with a tougher version of Lloyd, someone who can catch over the middle and get some YAC and be a legit deep threat. A 6'0" version of Branch as a rookie works. Put him on the other side of Lloyd and we really open up the whole field.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think Wes is looking for TOP dollar and with his age, hits taken and makeup of our offense I reluctantly move on.

Well, according to his Miami teammates, he would often pine to play for a team that knew how to win (e.g., the Patriots).

I don't see him just chasing money.

 

[WhiZa]

I feel the #1 need isn't a specific position, but we need more enforcers. If you watch teams that beat the Pats in the playoffs every year they always seem to have more swagger (for lack of a better word). Teams just aren't intimidated by our defense and our offense is slowly losing steam.

 

[JackBauer]

Would love to see the Pats free up enough cap to go after Greg Jennings. I think he would completely change this offense, and if possible, make it better. Lloyd and Jennings can work the outside. Gronk, Ahern, Edelman and Vereen can work the middle. I know he has been banged up over the years, but I think he and Brady would be a match made in heaven.

I'd rather just keep Welker than go after Jennings, and all indications are that the latter is likely heading to South Florida.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I feel the #1 need isn't a specific position, but we need more enforcers. If you watch teams that beat the Pats in the playoffs every year they always seem to have more swagger (for lack of a better word). Teams just aren't intimidated by our defense and our offense is slowly losing steam.

More like hobbled by injuries (2009: Welker, 2010: Hernandez, 2011 and 2012: GRONK).

 

[patfanken]

On he OP.

1. I agree with your take on Welker but disagree with your takes on Talib and Volmer.

a. Bringing back Volmer would be a key to having an exceptional OL, and opposed to"just" an effective one. But I might be biased in this because of my dream of having a Cannon-Volmer right side. But as Brady ages the need for a great run game and pass protection become even more important. Now is the time to bolster the OL, not leave it to the risk of hoping a late 2nd rounder can come in and start right away, or starting a RT who may be playing out of position. BTW - keep in mind that Even though you sign Volmer now, Mankins can come off the books in just 2 years with little cap impact

b. I want Talib back, but not as a Franchise player. IIRC that is around $10MM for the year. I'm hoping he'll seek some stability, a winning program, and a new lease on life in a long term deal that will average out to $6-7MM/yr.

c. Despite what Ivan thinks, ,I won't be happy with Welker leaving, but it wouldn't be smart playing him 9-10MM on a long term deal. That would be tantamount to playing him for past deeds, not future production for the downside of his career. However a deal in the 6-8MM range, if acceptable to Welker, should be done.

2. The issue of duplicating the what the Ravens did with Smith and Boldin will be the current rage among NFL fans. Monkey see - Monkey do. Its just the way it is. I agree with you that the Torry Smith, model is nice, but not necessary. However an Anquan Boldin model WOULD be an effective addition to the offense, especially if Welker is gone.

So, I'm all on board to use one of our top 2 picks on that big, quick, but not necessarily a burner WR, who can simply just take away the ball away from DB's It still amazes me how many times Flacco simply throws up prayers that get answered. Too damned often for it to be simply luck.

 

[Sparetire]

More like hobbled by injuries (2009: Welker, 2010: Hernandez, 2011 and 2012: GRONK).

but that would make our O a one-player based offense. i dont think thats true. brady won a SB with david givens and troy brown (who wasnt the WR we are all craving for here since moss left) and he could have done it without gronk or hernandez ( about 09 with welker missing i'm just saying we were a bad TEAM) so i dont think its about a one-man injury.

we need a better secondary and a WR that can spread the field (coming into next year's playoffs without missing gronknandez is somthing to hope for) and i think we are a much better team. oh yeah, and we need the TB we all know, the TB with fire in his eyes. i hope its not just wishful thinking.

onto the draft!

 

[IllegalContact]

I don't believe drafting a 1st round WR with brady turning 36 will be good value.

first there is the brady comfort factor and this theory that the WR needs to earn 'brady's trust' ...... if that's the case, the the first option would be for productivity first........maybe in the 3rd round a guy like ryan swope. then be it in the 5-7th round, maybe the pats make a deal for a draft pick or and gram marcus davis from virginia tech....take a shot on the best WR physical specimen in the draft....he might be a little soft....but he can stretch the field


it all starts in the trenches.......a DT in round 1 and an OT in round 2 if Vollmer is to be relaced. I would rather have Vollmer back and use round 2 on an upgrade at ILB that gives us more range and speed than spikes......who I think is only going to be here 1 more year anyway. Nico Johnson form Alabama has the size(6'3" / 245) and speed (sub 4.6) to gives more on early downs than spike.

draft
1 - NT jessie williams
2 - ILB nico johnson
3 - WR ryan swope
7 - WR marcus davis
7 - SS ray ray armstrong

FA -
vollmer
talib
laron landry
arrington....as insurance for dowling

these are my primaries.

I lik the idea of jessie williams.... especially with armstead. the pats can do more 3-4 and let their outside guys (jones, hightower, francis, ninko, bequette) develop with what makes themmost effective....with deaderick in and adding ILB nico johnson, I think with this group, the weaknesses will be filled with the ability to get as scheme diverse as the good old days.

I'd like to limit the personnel changes in the secondary to the mmost obvious weakness to me.....the SS position......a combo of landry and ray ray armstrong shifts the makeup of the secondary to osmething more physical.....

keep talib and arrington.

I'd consider a FA WR for the right price that will fill the gaps between what's already there and the rookies......but let welker go

I think this direction (not necessarily these specific players) works best.

 

[Ivan]

No dislike button, what a shame. Get rid of their best skill player and pay big money to a CB who can't stay on the field for 2 games in a row, Recipe for sucking.

 

[IllegalContact]

No dislike button, what a shame. Get rid of their best skill player and pay big money to a CB who can't stay on the field for 2 games in a row, Recipe for sucking.

this would mean something if you had a clue

 

[IllegalContact]

the tag won't be needed for talib, and would not be used if that's what it took.........he's by no means the only option in FA, I guess you could insert "or similar value CB"

On he OP.

1. I agree with your take on Welker but disagree with your takes on Talib and Volmer.

a. Bringing back Volmer would be a key to having an exceptional OL, and opposed to"just" an effective one. But I might be biased in this because of my dream of having a Cannon-Volmer right side. But as Brady ages the need for a great run game and pass protection become even more important. Now is the time to bolster the OL, not leave it to the risk of hoping a late 2nd rounder can come in and start right away, or starting a RT who may be playing out of position. BTW - keep in mind that Even though you sign Volmer now, Mankins can come off the books in just 2 years with little cap impact

b. I want Talib back, but not as a Franchise player. IIRC that is around $10MM for the year. I'm hoping he'll seek some stability, a winning program, and a new lease on life in a long term deal that will average out to $6-7MM/yr.

c. Despite what Ivan thinks, ,I won't be happy with Welker leaving, but it wouldn't be smart playing him 9-10MM on a long term deal. That would be tantamount to playing him for past deeds, not future production for the downside of his career. However a deal in the 6-8MM range, if acceptable to Welker, should be done.

2. The issue of duplicating the what the Ravens did with Smith and Boldin will be the current rage among NFL fans. Monkey see - Monkey do. Its just the way it is. I agree with you that the Torry Smith, model is nice, but not necessary. However an Anquan Boldin model WOULD be an effective addition to the offense, especially if Welker is gone.

So, I'm all on board to use one of our top 2 picks on that big, quick, but not necessarily a burner WR, who can simply just take away the ball away from DB's It still amazes me how many times Flacco simply throws up prayers that get answered. Too damned often for it to be simply luck.

 

[Patsbacker]

I'd like Talib re-signed at a reasonable deal along with Vollmer. In free agency Jared Cook would make the tight end offense beastly...in the event Wes leaves...Hernandez, Gronk, Cook, and Ballard...defensive coordinators would have fun with that...