Biggest off-season need(s)

Dutchmaster617 said:

But only Gronk and Lafell see the field, they refuse to play Tyms.

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When a guy can't get on the field, it is possible that the finest coaching staff in the NFL over the past 15 years, judging by results, led by certainly one of the top 5 head coaches ever to play the game, is suicidally inept in some way specific to Tyms (or [insert binky here].) It is also possible, indeed, even probable, that given the available options, said coaching staff thinks at this point that Tyms is not the key to victory. I'll include in this my Bill Works in Mysterious Ways disclaimer: for all we know, next week he's on the field every snap and targeted 15 times.

However, the more likely explanation is that he can't get on the field because (1) other options give you a better chance of winning, and (2) "just give the guy a chance" is not a persuasive argument in the bowels of Gillette. It would suck to be him: continually being ready to make the most of a rare opportunity, and knowing that even if you hit it out of the park, that doesn't make you the overnight superstar in New England (see Gray, Jonas).

My whole problem with these arguments is I've drunk the kool-aid. Every time I think I have Bill and Co. dead to rights on something, every time I think "Why don't they just..." they prove that the thoughts I've had have also occurred to the coaching staff. Sometimes the time is not right. Sometimes the personnel is not right. Ought implies can.

I remember at some point we had a decent but not integral tight end in the passing attack, and drafted another. I though OMG, we're looking to create tight end mania. Maybe they were... but everybody's opinion was that BB valued blocking first, last, and always in a tight end. (Did Watson overlap Graham? Maybe that's the time I was thinking that.) A few years later, ta daaaa, they did exactly what I thought they were trying way back in the day.

It's possible that BB DID want that fearsome TE facet. But if you don't really have the talent to make it happen... you have to play a waiting game at a given position. That's the nature of the cap/free agency: errors cost you in maneuvering room.

And pushing a fan binky out on the field on a whim, when you're not seeing the value in practices/tape room... I dunno, that seems like the kind of thing you do when you're out of contention and just trying ****.

HFA is locked up. Maybe we'll see some binky playing time this week, maybe not

Dutchmaster617 said:

But only Gronk and Lafell see the field, they refuse to play Tyms.

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Tyms has actually gotten 58 snaps on offense in 10 games, so they /are/ putting him out there at least some. Not a lot, although I don't think those snaps are distributed equally. My feeling is, he's had a couple of games were he's on the field for around 15 snaps, and others where he isn't on at all. Tough to track down the exact distribution though.

A little early for this, but, for right now, I'd say they need to:

1) Keep as many guys as they can. This is a strong. deep team who can afford to use the first few games as exhibition because they are so much better than the rest. Keep the known quantities within reason.
2) Address JMcD's situation more permanently or replace him, depending.
3) Assess the medical needs of Mayo, Ridley, Solder, Connolly, Dobson, Edelman, Aiken, and anyone else who gets hurt the rest of the way. Replace with vets as needed.
4) Draft prep. They feel they are so deep they can draft injured and developmental guys in the earliest rounds. Find and secure the BAP.

Dutchmaster617 said:

But only Gronk and Lafell see the field, they refuse to play Tyms.

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We have THREE tall receivers in the red zone. Wright has been solid. Compare that to past years.

Even on long routes, we have two tall receivers: Gronkowski and LeFell.

Hopefully, one of Tyms, Dobson or a free agent will make four next year.

kennyb said:

Why did they Resign cannon do you think?

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Let's be clear. We posters haven't a clue. We really don't.

Cannon is certainly needed as a backup OT, especially given the injury history of the starters. He will be paid double what that position pays. Curiously, I'm OK with that. His signing also provides a better ability to negotiate deals with Solder and/or Vollmer, if the team is inclined to that.

Solder will be difficult to negotiate with. I suspect that we want a long-term deal. However, his agent is the same was Welker's. He won't be easy to negotiate with. Belichick now has a plan B (Vollmer, Cannon a free agent, and a draft choice).

We certainly have varied evaluations of Solder, somewhat like our analyses of Mankins at this time last year. Mankins was sent packing with less of a Plan B than we have an OT, now that Cannon is re-signed.

ATippett56 said:

Marcus Cannon was terrible during the 2014 NFL Season no matter what position he played.

Not this bunch of bull crap once again. Fleming played exclusively at offensive right tackle while at Stanford. Fleming played exclusively at offensive right tackle during preseason for the New England Patriots. First, it was posters grasping at straws with Cannon starting at offensive guard, now it's Fleming.

Nate Solder is not worth over $7 million per season especially with 4 concussions on his medical file.

Dan Connolly will be a 33 years old next season as well as an unrestricted free agent.

Barker, Devey, Hauptmann, Kline don't belong in the NFL.

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It would help if you actually watched the games. Fleming did not play EXCLUSIVELY at RT during the Pre-season. He did play at RG. He's also taken snaps at RG during the season. So, you claiming it's BULLCRAP is what is BULLCRAP.

Cannon was so "terrible during the 2014 NFL season no matter what position he played" that the Pats threw him a 2yr/$8M contract extension.

But, yeah.. we should believe you over the actual actions of the Patriots Brass.

G, T & WR (deep threat) don't care about the draft FA whatever. Sign our own folks.

DaBruinz said:

It would help if you actually watched the games. Fleming did not play EXCLUSIVELY at RT during the Pre-season. He did play at RG. He's also taken snaps at RG during the season. So, you claiming it's BULLCRAP is what is BULLCRAP.

Cannon was so "terrible during the 2014 NFL season no matter what position he played" that the Pats threw him a 2yr/$8M contract extension.

But, yeah.. we should believe you over the actual actions of the Patriots Brass.

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IMHO, we are very solid on the right side with Wendell, Fleming, Vollmer and Cannon. We're fine with Stork at C.
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The major needs are on the left side. We start with Kline, Barker and Devey (obviously we could try moving one of the right side players to the left side; Wendell was OK at LG).

We have FOUR roster positions (with Kline, Devey and Barker "competing")
Solder - $7.4m?
Connolly - ?
Draft choice - how high, how many?
Free agent - how much

It seems likely that Belichick see who's available in free agency and then negotiate with Solder and Connolly. The most likely case seems to be that they both are back, along with a couple of draft choices.

This isn't the Patriots last game, but this is the final regular season game on the road to the playoffs. A road that 10 key players might not be around for next season. Let's pay some respect:

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http://www.patspulpit.com/2014/12/2...layers-in-their-last-patriots-game-free-agent

ThatllMoveTheChains!!! said:

http://www.patspulpit.com/2014/12/2...layers-in-their-last-patriots-game-free-agent

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The list actually includes 13, but who's counting. Who will be returning out of this bakers' dozen? See below for an expanded list of 27. A normal roster over is 20-25%, so we should expect about 11-13 new faces.

The reality is that half of the roster is always up for grabs.

OFFENSE (4)
Vereen
Ridley
Connolly
Amendola

DEFENSE (8)
Revis
McCourty
Chung
Ayers
Casillas
Branch
Mayo
Fleming

SPECIAL TEAMS (2)
Gostkowski
Aiken

WE SHOULD ADD (5)
Hooman
Wilfork
Solder
Bolden
White

ERFA's WITH NO CHOICE (3)
Siliga
Develin
Tyms

AND SINCE THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION (1)
Vollmer

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And there are more: Manieri, Wilson, Ebner, Dennard (4)

O-line, O-line, O-line, and, erm, O-line.

1. Creative accounting to keep the meat of the defense intact
2.OG
3. OT
4. Talented WR(s) that fall in the draft due to character issues

Not kidding.

king_ejd said:

1. Creative accounting to keep the meat of the defense intact
2.OG
3. OT
4. Talented WR(s) that fall in the draft due to character issues

Not kidding.

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Why should you be kidding? I agree with your top 3 and the priorities.

For #4, my preference is a free agent wide receiver and a DE as one of the top 3 draft picks.