Our Biggest needs Next year?

[carolinatony]

I see a few areas with LB as the biggest need and would like to see two new young guys to groom with Seau and Teddy likely retiring.

LB..Age issue
CB - replacing Samuel
RB- Can Maroney carry the load?
TE- Not as good as past years and BB likes them

P.S. Resigning Moss is a must!

 

[zarakotas5]

I'm ascribing to a nebulous theory that BB/Pioli are designing the team to replenish units, rather than plugging individual holes. After the few years they've been here, they've young and gelling OL and DL. 2003-2005 saw a lot of DBs come in. RB and QB require less man-power and are case-by-case when opportunity arises.

I'm guessing BB will prolly become one of the lost Noll, Landry, Shula -types that last 20+ years. They seem set up to be able to rotate replenishing individual units as a unit. LB appears to be the apparent choice, with DB (again).

I'd guess DB would be the most likely, adding to Merriweather et al who stays. LB still seems to be brought in from outside.

 

[sebman2112]

I'm ascribing to a nebulous theory that BB/Pioli are designing the team to replenish units, rather than plugging individual holes. After the few years they've been here, they've young and gelling OL and DL. 2003-2005 saw a lot of DBs come in. RB and QB require less man-power and are case-by-case when opportunity arises.

I'm guessing BB will prolly become one of the lost Noll, Landry, Shula -types that last 20+ years. They seem set up to be able to rotate replenishing individual units as a unit. LB appears to be the apparent choice, with DB (again).

I'd guess DB would be the most likely, adding to Merriweather et al who stays. LB still seems to be brought in from outside.

Yea, I could see them going DB early. Maybe a LB in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. I like Maualuga, but I don't know if he's even going to come out, and the Patriots are likely going to trade out of his draft range (if he did come out). Speaking of DB's, I think they'll draft two within the top 5 rounds this year.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

After QB, building a solid football team means having strong lines, especially the defensive line. Everything on defense starts with the D Line.

I do think that they address TE on day #1. I think Davis of Michigan State or Carlson of Notre Dame could be good fits.

PS: I watched Tamme of Kentucky play against LSU and he is a true HB type and it would make me ill if somehow Indy got this guy.

But if we do lose Samuel, Gay and Wilson, we must reload in the secondary. But there is no college starter out there close to being ready to go in the Pats secondary. I would not be surprised to see Meriweather at CB next season with Hobbs and Harrison and Sanders at safety.

 

[Real World]

ILB #1, with either a CB or OLB second. Other than that, they could go a multitude of ways. The Pats have shown that they will draft positions that aren't always a need in the public's eyes.

 

[rookBoston]

I think Gay will be back, and competing for a starting position over Meriweather.

Wilson will probably be back. I dont expect any team will be prepared to outbid what the Pats will offer. He has been injury prone, and that is something the Pats dont downgrade their players for, as much as other teams do.

Samuel is gone. Especially if we win the SB, and he gets some big time pick six type plays.

And Chad Scott is scheduled to come back from IR, and will be in the mix for the starting role.

Sanders has been great this year, and looks like the future of our secondary.

Rodney is Rodney. A few more years in the tank, maybe.

In all, I think drafting a DB early makes a lot of sense, and two or three would not be unwelcome. Still, I dont expect the rook or Meriweather will get the nod over veterans like Scott, Gay, Hobbs, Sanders, Wilson and Harrison. They will get their start on ST, and gradually earn their stripes in the regular D.

 

[rookBoston]

Our biggest needs:

QB - Is Gutierrez catching Cassel from behind on the depth chart? There are so many QBs in the draft this year, I expect we'll take a prospect on Day Two

RB - Finding the eventual replacement for Faulk, and someone to pair with Moroney (although I think Morris has been great). Who would have thought Kyle Eckle would be such a prolific scorer on this offense? RB is not a driving need, but we can be opportunistic as the talent falls.

TE - Bring it on. Thomas, Watson seem like great players for the future. Kyle Brady is not long for the squad, and we've lost Garrett Mills off our shadow roster. The ongoing search for TE talent off the street is evidence that we have roster space for a player at the position. Would not be surprised to see a pick at TE in the first three rounds.

WR - We have talent, youth, depth... there is nothing else to wish for. Plus Chad is an up and comer. Even if we lose, say, Stallworth in the offseason, Gaffney has been impressive. If Troy Brown cant even make the team, clearly we're in a good place.

OL - Maybe a OC or a prospect at RT. The braintrust have proven their ability to take no-names and make them all-pros. An early pick on the OL is entirely optional

NT - The staff love Mike Wright, but it would be good to have some insurance against the loss of Wilfork. If Dorsey is available at our pick, I dont think we will say no

DE - Wealth of riches at the position, but the death of Marquise Hill left a spot on the depth chart that has been filled by whatever talent we have on hand. Taking a raw talent to groom into the role-- here's I'm thinking Jarvis Green career progression-- makes sense. And if we're not prepared to sign a big check to retain Seymour in 2009, drafting his eventual replacement would not be untimely

OLB - Vrabel is great back as his natural position. Colvin is a fixture. And Thomas provides elite depth and is playing out of position at ILB. Woods is a nice project, who contributes on ST. Maybe one more youngster with upside would be nice. I'm kind of sorry that Justin Rogers didn't make the 53-man. I liked what he brought.

ILB - Why is it so hard to fill talent and youth into this position. Is Lua really the future for the Pats? BB tried to turn the corner with Monty Beisel and Ryan Claridge, but neither really fit the bill (is that a pun? fit the Bill?). Alexander does not evoke confidence, and Corey Mays was picked up by Cinci off our shadow roster, leaving us looking very old and very thin at the position. Bruschi has to be looking to the exits soon, and Seau has walked through that door more than once. Izzo has to be reaching the end of his career, soon enough. A prospect has to be able to shed blockers, stop the run, cover a RB or TE in pass coverage, or drop into a zone with the agility and athleticism to make a play on the ball. That means, we need physical freaks who are 250# and strong enough to stuff an OG, and enough agility to play (in effect) SS. Each year, I expect Paul Pozluszny or David Harris or Bobby Carpenter or Manny Lawson to fill the gap... but BB always seems to have something else in mind. Maualuga and Laurinitis look decent on paper, but exactly what are we drafting for, and do they have it?

CB - Pats corners have to be solid tacklers, able to take a TE down in the open field, able to play physical on the line, then run down the field with anyone 1 on 1. Smart enough to recognize where the help is, and quick enough to make a play on the ball. Asante and Hobbs and Gay were not highly drafted, but they've been stars our the scheme. More like that, please.

S - Two molds, here: a free safety (who looks a lot like a Belichick corner) and a strong safety (who looks more like a LB for most other teams). We have a handful of the former, but really only Rodney who defines the prototype for the latter. Is Sanders really a strong safety in the Harrison mold? or a very physical, punishing free safety? Either way, I'd love to see another 220# speedster who can lay a lick on anyone coming over the middle, and have the physical skills to beat an OT for a sack.

So my needs, in order:

1 - starting ILB
2 - starting CB
3 - depth at TE
4 - starting SS
5 - depth at NT
6 - depth at RB
7 - depth at QB

Which means we'll probably draft DE or OL...