Back seven anyone?

[cstjohn17]

Knee jerk post after the Eagles game but it is pretty obvious that the Patriots back seven specifically ILB, Safeties and Corners will be an offseason priority. This is based on performance just as much pending free agency.

Vacancies
ILB - Bruschi, Seau are free agents - It is embarrassing that Seau is our nickel ILB, Bruschi has become a target of opponents.
CB - Samuel and Gay are free agents - Samuel is our number one and Hobbs is not even in the same converstation. Gay, pretty good JAG but he was beeing targetted by the Eagles and didn't step up.

I expect at least 3 of the 4 picks in rounds 1-3 to be CB or ILB, maybe even Safety. Same story for the past 2-3 years.

Or we good go get more fire power and score 50+ points...

 

[dryheat44]

I was thinking the same thing about the linebackers in coverage. Three years in a row, I hoped to get Donnie Edwards just for that purpose. I think next years big FA acquisition is a coverage LB, although I thought Adalius was going to be that guy.

I don't know how much we can take from yesterday's game, though. It was fairly obvious that Belichick was selling out to take away Westbrook, and daring Feeley to beat him. He almost did.

 

[carolinatony]

We need defense with the first 2 picks imo.
We get get another TE,RB,OL, in the later rounds but after last night I see a big need for defense.

 

[cstjohn17]

Still feel the same way this week, trade back for one additional pick and take both a CB and LB.

Our defense is so so slow...

 

[carolinatony]

"Still feel the same way this week, trade back for one additional pick and take both a CB and LB.
Our defense is so so slow..."


I have felt this way for 2 years now. We need to draft/trade and get 3/4 YOUNG guys back there next year to groom and ready to take over. It still amazes me we didn't get a LB last year.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Young and fast is not necessarily better than old and slow, especailly in our defense.
In the Philly game we crowded the line to shut down Westbrook and Feely went over the top for a career day.
In Baltimore, the Pats were physically manhandled which caused cracks in the running game defnse. When a TE like Wilcox can single handedly block Thomas all game long and Thomas stick to him like glue, then you know neither age nor speed was the problem.

I do not see a college LB out there that could come in and start for us next season. I do see some college LBers that could really help us in games like Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Goff, Leman and maybe Laurenitis, but none of them would be wortht of playing nickel coverage against Indy.
BB wants big guys that run fast. Pittsburgh has smaller LBers, Harrison and Foote for example, that run fast and hit hard. There are a ton of those type guys coming out of the colleges.

 

[cstjohn17]

Young and fast is not necessarily better than old and slow, especailly in our defense.
In the Philly game we crowded the line to shut down Westbrook and Feely went over the top for a career day.
In Baltimore, the Pats were physically manhandled which caused cracks in the running game defnse. When a TE like Wilcox can single handedly block Thomas all game long and Thomas stick to him like glue, then you know neither age nor speed was the problem.

I do not see a college LB out there that could come in and start for us next season. I do see some college LBers that could really help us in games like Pittsburgh and Baltimore, Goff, Leman and maybe Laurenitis, but none of them would be wortht of playing nickel coverage against Indy.
BB wants big guys that run fast. Pittsburgh has smaller LBers, Harrison and Foote for example, that run fast and hit hard. There are a ton of those type guys coming out of the colleges.

Their comes a time when veterans become over the hill. I don't think a rookie could come in and start, but they could come in situationally. In our nickel formation we have Junior Seau covering the RB, or worse Bruschi. Their experience is a key but they are also a mismatch.

It may not happen but the right rookie could come in and play special teams and get some reps as season 1 progresses. An exceptional draft pick could then start in year 2. A few blowouts would be nice to see more of what Woods and Alexander can do.

In any case I expect 1-2 LBs to be drafted and a veteran to be brought in for one of the ILB positions.

 

[patsfan55]

In any case I expect 1-2 LBs to be drafted and a veteran to be brought in for one of the ILB positions.

i've been thinkin the same thing for three yrs now
when i first said it i got some backing me up, others saying why the hell would we need a linebacker when we have willie, bru, vrabel, colvin, and ted johnson
but as we all see now, they werent gettin any younger
we need an infusion of youth at the lber position so very badly
as for the dbs, well i still think rodney will come back, but a$ante is probably gone
anyone have a link to a list of potential fa's for next yr?

 

[patsfan55]

i've been thinkin the same thing for three yrs now
when i first said it i got some backing me up, others saying why the hell would we need a linebacker when we have willie, bru, vrabel, colvin, and ted johnson
but as we all see now, they werent gettin any younger
we need an infusion of youth at the lber position so very badly
as for the dbs, well i still think rodney will come back, but a$ante is probably gone
anyone have a link to a list of potential fa's for next yr?

answered my own question:
http://footballsfuture.com/2008/nfl/freeagentsLB.html

I'm taking a look at:
rb-mewelde moore-ufa-(heir apparent to kfaulk, although a rook would be better at this role)
fb-tony richardson-ufa- (heck of a blocker)
wr-Moss-ufa- (makes way too much of an impact to let him go)
wr-bryant johnson-ufa- (whenever fitzgerald or boldin gets hurt this guy produces (like last week))
wr-devery henderson-ufa- (we all know how much bb loves speed at the position)
wr-DJ HACKETT!!!-ufa- (would love to get him, but the seahawks will prob make sure he stays in town)
wr-doug gabriel (just kidding)
de-terrell suggs (move to outside linebacker?? could be a lil too costly)
de-paul spicer (6'4", 296 lbs, perfect for the 3-4, will be 33 on mine and Adalius' birthday (before next season starts))
de-mike rucker (see spicer, paul, but about jarvis' weight, and six months older)
lb-karlos dansby (don't know a whole lot about him, but he's 6'4", 250, i know he moved to inside this yr i believe, can anyone say versatility?)
lb-demorrio williams (i've always liked him, he's def too small for us, but maybe he could be a good nickle lb)
lb-boss bailey (see williams, demorrio, but omit the "ive always liked him" part)
lb-danny clark (came outta nowhere to have a couple great yrs in oakland, hasnt done much since-could come cheaper due to this fact)
lb-teddy lehman (i liked him comin outta college, did great as a rook, hasnt done anything since)
lb-lemar marshall (undersized, started to come on for wash, went to cincy, and the ir)
cb-A$ante (i'd love to keep him, but i jus dont see us giving him the money he wants, and deserves)
cb-marcus trufant (has always had a lot of talent, having his best yr since 04, of course lol)
s-ken hamlin (used to really like this guy, but ive cooled)
s-gibril wilson (used to really not like this guy, but ive warmed)

so, the four best free agents are: jarad allen, derek anderson, Randy Moss, and Asante Samuel
perfect!
we'll hafta give Moss top wr money
and Asante will want top cb money
only one will prob win, and i see the bb and pioli believing Moss has a greater impact on the outcome of the game
there are some decent lbers out there
and id really like to take a shot at hackett and/or bryant johnson
the only wrs we have that are definitely coming back as of now are welker and chad jackson (although the latter might not be a definite)
thing about both those wrs are they are the possession type we never ever pay a lot of money too (see david givens), as we always feel that we can pick one up off the scrap heap
i wouldnt mind seeing: Moss, Hackett, Welker, Chad Jack, Gaffney
(i don't see us bringing stallworth back, unless he seriously restructures) (same goes for kelley washington)