What the Patriots really need to draft is....

A power runningback. This offense has to get back to a more balanced attack and to do that they need that guy who they can hand the ball off to 20-25 times a game and pound the ball consistantly.

Maroney is not the answer-way to inconsistant and cannot be relyed on. Even in his best games, it still wasn't what this team needed and then he started to fumble every game.

Morris and Taylor are over the hill guys who can be serviceable for a few carries once in awhile, but not an every game back anymore.

Kevin Faulk is still Kevin Faulk and has a spot on this team

BJGE- I think he to could be a guy to be the 2nd back in the 2 back system that is needed these days. 5 to 7 carries a game to give the main guy a breather. We need that Corey Dillon type back in here again, that is what brought championships here, not the passing attack this offense has fallen in love with.

1 power RB.
2 OG who can actually block and have size, unlike the dimunitive Ohrenberger
1 center who can block
2 rush linebackers
1 3-4 DE now that Green is finally gone
1 ILB who can shed blocks even if he's no great shakes in the passing game
2 WR who can run short routes, get open.
1 TE who can block and be a good all around weapon.

11 players.

This team needs 11 players and we are SET!

Bill should've drafted Jacksonville's Rashad Jennings in the 7th round - instead of Darryl Richard - this past year. He also had the chance to draft Atlanta's Jason Snelling, or GB's DeShawn Wynn, or the Jints' Ahmad Bradshaw, in the 7th round in '07. There should be no need to expend a top-100 pick on a position which traditionally contains value late - or even very late - into the draft. The FO is just too lazy to look for them. Gotta fulfill the Randy Ratio, after all.

captain stone said:

Bill should've drafted Jacksonville's Rashad Jennings in the 7th round - instead of Darryl Richard - this past year. He also had the chance to draft Atlanta's Jason Snelling, or GB's DeShawn Wynn, or the Jints' Ahmad Bradshaw, in the 7th round in '07. There should be no need to expend a top-100 pick on a position which traditionally contains value late - or even very late - into the draft. The FO is just too lazy to look for them. Gotta fulfill the Randy Ratio, after all.

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We had no need for a Jennings with Maroney, Morris, Taylor, Faulk and BJGE already on the roster.

It sure was lazy of the Patriots digging up that Edelman guy in the seventh round though

midwestpatsfan said:

A power runningback. This offense has to get back to a more balanced attack and to do that they need that guy who they can hand the ball off to 20-25 times a game and pound the ball consistantly.

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There isn't a top guy like that in the draft. Someone will be there, of course, but there's no predictable workhorse to be had. I wouldn't mind a Ben Tate in the middle rounds, he could be a younger version of Morris. But a workhorse back in the first or second round really isn't the strength of this draft.

klinefan said:

1 power RB.
2 OG who can actually block and have size, unlike the dimunitive Ohrenberger
1 center who can block
2 rush linebackers
1 3-4 DE now that Green is finally gone
1 ILB who can shed blocks even if he's no great shakes in the passing game
2 WR who can run short routes, get open.
1 TE who can block and be a good all around weapon.

11 players.

This team needs 11 players and we are SET!

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And a partridge in a pear tree.

I would add one all-purpose back to eventually replace Kevin Faulk, and eventually a RT for when Vollmer moves to LT.

mayoclinic said:

And a partridge in a pear tree.

I would add one all-purpose back to eventually replace Kevin Faulk, and eventually a RT for when Vollmer moves to LT.

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Faulk's a FA, his eventual replacement may be in 2010 although with the lack of leaders on the team I think Belichick will bring Faulk back.

I really like McCluster for that role even though he's going to the combine as a WR. If he got a little bigger I think he could survive as a part time RB.

RB's are a dime a dozen. You can find them in the middle to late rounds or sign a vet who was cut for a year or two like we do every year. I suggested bringing in McGahee b/c I thought he would be cut by the Ravens after this season, but they are using him more again which leads me to believe they might want to keep him.

The only way I want to go RB first round is if we get a gamebreaker a la CJ Spiller. He'd bring a home run element out of the backfield and a replacement for Faulk who can catch the ball out of the backfield with ease.

I think we have bigger needs in the trenches than to go with a power RB in the first round. We could use o-line help as well as d-line and LB help.

we need an offensive coordinator who will realize you cant line up in the spread offense with such a depleted receiving core.
i felt sorry for fred taylor and all the other running backs we have watching on the sideline in the game against the ravens

klinefan said:

1 power RB.
2 OG who can actually block and have size, unlike the dimunitive Ohrenberger (Ohrnberger is 6'2.25" tall and 297 lbs. He's only 8 lbs lighter than Neal and 13 lbs lighter than Mankins. And that was before Ohrnberger got into the Pats Weight and Conditioning program)
1 center who can block (Koppen can Pass Block fine. It's the run blocking that he has issues with.)
2 rush linebackers (You do realize that it takes 2-3 years for rush linebckers to develop in the pro game, yes? )
1 3-4 DE now that Green is finally gone (The Pats have 2 guys in Pryor and Richard who they may have pegged for that. But I expect a high round DE to replace Seymour)
1 ILB who can shed blocks even if he's no great shakes in the passing game
2 WR who can run short routes, get open. (The Pats have this already. Not sure why you think they need more)
1 TE who can block and be a good all around weapon. (Before this can happen, the Pats need to commit to using the WR in the passing game again. They didn't do that with Watson and Baker, who are both very capable if they don't have to block all the time)

11 players.

This team needs 11 players and we are SET!

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This team doesn't need 11 players. They need players who can fit into the system and relieve some of the pressure. Getting rid of the zone blocking scheme in its entirety would be better for the Pats running and pass games, though I agree with the need of upgrading from Koppen.

On defense, having a stout D-line that can hold up against the opposing O-lines and some LBers who are quick enough to shoot the gaps would help out greatly.

captain stone said:

Bill should've drafted Jacksonville's Rashad Jennings in the 7th round - instead of Darryl Richard - this past year. He also had the chance to draft Atlanta's Jason Snelling, or GB's DeShawn Wynn, or the Jints' Ahmad Bradshaw, in the 7th round in '07. There should be no need to expend a top-100 pick on a position which traditionally contains value late - or even very late - into the draft. The FO is just too lazy to look for them. Gotta fulfill the Randy Ratio, after all.

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Why do you post such dumb arse comments?

Seriously. The "Randy Ratio"?

To lazy to look for late round diamonds in the rough... where the hell do you get that idea? Their late round picks tend to all be potential diamonds in the rough...

Brady. Edelman. Givens. Banta-Cain. Slater. Hairston. Smith. Andrews.

The Pats didn't look for a RB in 2007 because they already had Morris, Faulk, and Maroney. They also had Heath Evans as a FB/RB... Do you remember WHY they needed to use Heath Evans? Because Morris went out with an injury for the year. Something that wasn't expected.

People like you forget that, in 2007, the Pats had a full roster of 63 players who had spent the previous year with the Pats and they also had signed a few free agents as well who has legitimate experience.. The Pats also didn't like the quality of the players in the draft. It's why they tried to trade so many picks...

DaBruinz said:

Why do you post such dumb arse comments?

Seriously. The "Randy Ratio"?

To lazy to look for late round diamonds in the rough... where the hell do you get that idea? Their late round picks tend to all be potential diamonds in the rough...

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Ahh, posts like the one DaBruinz is responding to is why CapStone is on my ignore list --- if Stone is so good as a scout/talent evaluator why is he either not working on a perenial Super Bowl winning team (as they should be listening to his every pearl of wisdom on 5th, 6th, and 7th rounders and UDFAs as he never misses despite league-wide success rates of 10-15% after the 5th round (when success is defined as a starter by the end of year 3) or setting up his own private scouting service to out-compete either National or Blesto.

DaBruinz said:

This team doesn't need 11 players. They need players who can fit into the system and relieve some of the pressure. Getting rid of the zone blocking scheme in its entirety would be better for the Pats running and pass games, though I agree with the need of upgrading from Koppen.

On defense, having a stout D-line that can hold up against the opposing O-lines and some LBers who are quick enough to shoot the gaps would help out greatly.

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I can't believe we got run over by a one-dimensional team. Think about it. We knew they couldn't throw and they didn't have to. I know they got great field position after our turnovers. But, we should have held them to a couple of fg's not td's. Compare that game yesterday to the 06 game between Indy/KC. The colts had an awful run-defense and the Chiefs had LJ. The Colts pathetic run defense stuffed kc totally. That's what you do when you're a championship team.

I want a 3-4 de after yesterday's debacle. I'm sure there are others out there. But, I think J.Odrick from PSU is going to be a good pro. Not great. Just good. That's a start.
Then trade up in round 2 if one of the olb's we like are still there.

midwestpatsfan said:

A power runningback. This offense has to get back to a more balanced attack and to do that they need that guy who they can hand the ball off to 20-25 times a game and pound the ball consistantly.

Maroney is not the answer-way to inconsistant and cannot be relyed on. Even in his best games, it still wasn't what this team needed and then he started to fumble every game.

Morris and Taylor are over the hill guys who can be serviceable for a few carries once in awhile, but not an every game back anymore.

Kevin Faulk is still Kevin Faulk and has a spot on this team

BJGE- I think he to could be a guy to be the 2nd back in the 2 back system that is needed these days. 5 to 7 carries a game to give the main guy a breather. We need that Corey Dillon type back in here again, that is what brought championships here, not the passing attack this offense has fallen in love with.

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Somehow they ran for a lot of yards last year without a stud running back.

What we need is

1 OG who can run block....a la John Hannah.
Remeber 4th and 2 against Indy. We can't run block .

2 WR Welker wilL miss 1/2 the year or more. Slater and Sam Aikens are not the answere and If Moss gets hurt... ouch

3 OLB We need players to go with Mayo.

4 DE Warren is a good DT but the rest are average.

5 Coaching staff- That's up to BB if he feels they can get better.

6 Resign Vince Losing Seymour didn't help.

BelichickFan said:

We had no need for a Jennings with Maroney, Morris, Taylor, Faulk and BJGE already on the roster.

It sure was lazy of the Patriots digging up that Edelman guy in the seventh round though

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I suggested that Bill draft Jennings - a fairly consensus top 150 talent - instead of yet another DLman - Richard - who was barely a top 300 talent. It is not a stretch to imagine that Jennings would have beaten BJGE for the 5th spot, either.

The Patriots were obviously not lazy digging up Edelman with the other 7th-rounder; but they are lazy regarding the FB/big RB position. This laziness I believe has manifested itself in the well-deserved "finesse" label under which this offense now suffers.

fester said:

Ahh, posts like the one DaBruinz is responding to is why CapStone is on my ignore list...

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...and now you're on mine, *******. Have a nice ******* life.

DaBruinz said:

The Pats didn't look for a RB in 2007 because they already had Morris, Faulk, and Maroney. They also had Heath Evans as a FB/RB...

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Then why did they draft potential diamond in the rough Justice Hairston at the end of the 6th round?

DaBruinz said:

On defense, having a stout D-line that can hold up against the opposing O-lines and some LBers who are quick enough to shoot the gaps would help out greatly.

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I don't usually agree with DaBruinz,after all he's never played a down in his life and usually just reiterates what he reads elsewhere, but I like this post. It is almost perfect.
If he would have said a stout D Line affords the linebackers the freedom to roam where ever, sideline to sideline or from the LOS to the third level, then I would have been in perfect agreement.

At the end of the day football games are won and lost in the play of the lines, turnovers and QB play not withstanding.

On defense, BB's goal is to take away what the opponent does best and/or make the opponent one dimensional. A stout D Line is a major factor in taking away the run.

On offense we have to decide if we are a pass happy team or a road grading team, before we can figure out what kind of upgrades are needed for the O Line.

Pryor and Richard are too small to play 3-4 DE. Pryor is like 6'1".

Too short. He's a good 4-3 DT though. Maybe trade him for a 3rd or 4th.

Ohrenberger was listed as like 6'2" 280 coming out. Maybe he gains a little weight, but he wasn't much in college (did you see Penn state's bowl game that year where they were BLOWN OUT against USC? How'd he look in that? LOL).

Iaputi OG Idaho, 6'5" 330 and not fat is what we need. He has the power to demolish those DT as well as the agility to pull. That's the kind of thing we need. Not these midgets from munchkin land.

Rich Ohrnberger - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Look at his picture, he looks tiny.

I maintain the BIGGEST thing we need by far is a legitimate offenseive coordinator. Someone who can mix it up a bit and not just have maroney off tackle, dump pass to welker, bubble screen to welker, randy deep overthrown, maroney off tackle, draw to faulk. I mean 90% of our plays are one of 6 or 7 plays, it's ridiculous.