I think there needs to be a fundamental re-think this off-season, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.
1. Amendola needs to be kept. At the very least, we need to be able to put Edelman and Amendola on the field together because otherwise there's a distinct lack of starting options at WR (see point 2).
2. We'll see what he does in the playoffs but Lafell has done little this season when we needed him most. Unless he steps it up through the playoffs, then I think he should be released this spring. I also think it's fine to let Keshawn Martin walk.
3. All efforts this spring should be made to bring in, at least one, but preferably two good free agent WR's . We can't rely on the draft for this, it's too much of a gamble. I am convinced that Marvin Jones should be their #1 off-season target this season, assuming he's available. As for the 2nd WR, that'll come down to who's available. Maybe Leonard Hankerson or Brandon Gibson will suffice as I'm really thinking about quality depth at this point.
4. They also need to draft at least one receiver and they need a big guy who can get deep. I am absolutely non-plussed as to why Brady keeps throwing deep balls to short receivers - that play has very little chance of success. There needs to be someone with a decent catch radius. I still want Braxton Miller but if we get someone like Marvin Jones then I'm fine looking for a big guy who can pluck the ball instead. Arizona's Cayleb Jones isn't fast, but he's huge and can get the ball whilst covered. (it should be noted that I'm assuming Dobson is done at this point although there might be some value too giving him one more year).
5. Interior OL: I think not having some veteran experience here was BB's biggest mistake this year. But at this point, I think we should just go with what we've got. Stork, Andrews, Kline, Jackson and Mason just need reps now. The mistake was made, it's now time to make the best of where we are.
6. Cannon needs to be shown the door. Not only does it give us additional cap space, hopefully to sign that FA WR we need, the guy has never shown that he's capable at this level. Drafting a RT to develop behind Vollmer is now a priority.
7. I'm fine with drafting a running RB rather than filling that position via FA. I'm not a huge Blount fan but because Lewis and White will be getting most of the RB reps, I think it's okay to bring a rookie through. BUT, BB does need to invest some significant draft capital here. Picking up Jonas Gray's or Brandon Boldens is not a recipe for a successful running game. Alex Collins, Jonathan Williams or another big hard running back in the 2nd or 3rd round please.
8.I'm not sure about the TE position. I want to see how Williams develops as a blocking TE, I'm fine with keeping him but Chandler has disappointed a little. However, I do think this is a lower priority than WR, RB, and RT.
9. I'm focused on offense for now, offensive depth, particularly at the skill positions, is this teams biggest weakness, even before the injuries. We have relied too much on the Brady/Edelman/Gronk scheme. They are all great players but we lack another option, something that the last month or so has exposed. If, as an offense, we can't get the ball out quickly then we become much more ordinary. We need another string to our bow, for circumstances such as this.
10. I'm not really focusing on defense. Yes, we need a backup linebacker and possibly some experienced depth at CB (I do think a trade for Jason McCourty is a possibility), and yes we need to sort out a bunch of defensive contracts, but the defense is almost all in place. This off-season has to be about getting better quality depth on the offense.
It shouldn't take much - a FA WR or two, drafting a RB and RT with two of our first three picks and another drafted WR on day three with size and the ability to get deep (or another year of Dobson). As far as I'm concerned, aside from sorting out the defensive contracts, this has to be the off-season priority. I realise there's not a lot new there, but the last couple of weeks have really re-inforced for me that this is the way we need to go.
