More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

Some more nice insight into Bill and our Pats.

The National Football Post | Diner Morning News

Excerpt:

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

It's a good read. It would have been better if it had mentioned that even with one guy running the show, it's difficult to find FA's for all your needs that will join your team for what you think they are worth. I also think it would be worth mentioning that, in the case of the Pats, two major factors are winning and the culture of the locker room and organization that can coax some players to accept going there for less than they might get elsewhere.... tho I wonder if that is enough to balance the crappy weather and high taxes.

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

Nice, but a couple of positions are still ? at the moment (OLB=Woods, SS=Sanders)

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

Didn't they sign James Sanders?

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

I'm guessing he meant that he thinks Sanders is more backup than starter. I'm not the world's biggest Sanders fan but he's alright. Vrabel's old spot and probably Gaffney's are still up for grabs IMO. Woods played alright with Thomas out so I think we can get by that way. Same with Lewis at WR. For now they're JAGs though, I would say that we aren't "set" at those positions unless we signed, say, Taylor and Galloway. As it stands we should have some competition there. The main point, though, is our holes are insignificant enough that we can look to BPA and development of players at upcoming FA positions (like DL) in the draft.

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

Yes. I believe the poster means that Woods and Sanders are both upgradeable at their positions, which is true. But both are serviceable starters at worst, and excellent rotational guys. Sanders was essentially our starting FS all of last year, so there's at least no real dropoff there from 2008. Woods was a part-time starter and was adequate at the very least.

I see both positions being upgraded long term through the draft, and possibly OLB through FA (Taylor).

There is certainly plenty of room to improve the team. But we essentially have a complete team in place going into the draft, so whatever we pick up will essentially be gravy. No gaping holes to fill. I'm not sure any other team can say that, and no other team is as stacked as we are going into a very deep draft.

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

The defense needs playmakers to replace Vrabel and Harrison. Neither Sanders nor Woods yet qualify (and in Sanders I don't see a big up side). There is some competition at OLB with Crable, Redd, but nothing else at SS. I hope both positions will be addressed before TC, either through draft and/or FA signings of late cuts.

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

Good post.....now duck!
DW Toys

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

We will have 5 or 6 picks this year in the first 3 rounds. That might help get us some playmakers.

Also, Crable and Wheatley should be very interesting this year.

Also, the best defense is a good offense. Maybe what's his name... oh yeah, Brady can help.

Re: More Belichick, Patriots in the NFP
 

Don't we have A.Thomas, TBC, Colvin, Crable, and Rudd at OLB in addition to Woods? Or are any of those projected to play ILB?

I'm not saying we shouldn't draft an OLB... in fact, I'd like to see us draft at least one good player at OLB and ILB... I'm just saying that we are not paper thin at OLB.

That was the premise of the OP... we are going into the draft being able to draft the best player available because we are not critically thin at any position.

At safety, we have Meriweather and Sanders starting with (presumably) Harrison as a backup along with the possibility of moving Springs to Safety if needed. There are also plenty of servicable, even if not flashy, safeties available in FA.