Opinions Of a Pessimist
 

Things are slow so I would like to express a few of my opinions.
1. The Patriots had a good draft. Even their late round defensive
picks are pretty good players.
2. The addition of Thomas and Mills should improve their third down
and goal line offense.
3. The kicker's job is Gostkowski's to lose. Brad Seely must have really
liked him to use a fourth round pick to get him.
4. Fred Roach is a good football player. The knock on him is that he
is a slow two down run stuffer with limited coverage abilities. He sounds
like Ted Johnson.
5. Herring and Jackson are good strong safetys. If they are good
special team players, they may pressure T. Jones, Mitchell, and Sanders
for a roster spot.
On the flip side, I will not be satisfied until the Pats do some of the following;
1. Sign a high profile free agent. Ty Law would be nice.
2. Re-sign Koppen, Branch, Graham, and Samuels. Low balling will
not do the job. A fair offer which increases their 2006 salaries might.
3. Sign a couple more wide receivers. It is still the weakest area on the team. True, we signed Caldwell and drafted Jackson but we lost Givens,
Davis, and Dwight in 2006 and Patten in 2005. The UDFA's we signed
(Davis and Shelton) had less than spectacular college careers.

a high profile free agent? What would be the point? Signing a big name just for the sake of saying we signed a big name? If ty law accepts a good offer to come back then so be it, if he wants to be one of the highest paid CB in the league, see ya later.

what a terrible knock: the guy sounds like another ted johnson

we're doomed

I think you read that wrong. He was stating that the knock on Roach was that he wasn't an everydown LB which is why he didn't get drafted. I think the TJ thing was a compliment. Just my take.

Actually, w/ his build, I was thinking more Sam Hunt.:singing:

Just remember this one thing about pessimists.

" Pessimists are never disappointed - - they are just pleasantly surprised! "

:cool:

He meant that as a compliment.

I disagree on the WR's. I believe the Pats are going to play a ton of double wides and double tights next season. With Maroney or Dillion in the backfield to pick up the blitz or lug the rock, defenses can not tee off and bltz us to death anymore.
Plus we have the luxury of splitting Watson out as a slot reciever. that's going to cause opposing DC's and safties to have nightmares.
Last year the OL had to deal with inexperience and injuries. With any luck at all, they will have a much more stable 2006 and we will finally get to see the offense we ran in the 2005 preseason, but not during the regular season.
Watson busting a deep seem route is a beautiful sight, unles you are the DB covering him.

Just to set things straight. I thought Ted Johnson was a terrific,

run stuffing linebacker. He played his two downs and then came

off the field.

Let me cheer you up! :)

You're not a true pessimist. If your were, you'd be panning this draft.

JMHO: I loved this draft.

Again, you're not a true pessimist. Such a person would bemoan the continuous drafting of TEs.

JMHO: Thomas will add depth to the important TE position and will be an upgrade over Fauria, who's now winding down his career in DC. Mills will be an upgrade over Pass. I'm sure Garrett won't drop the football to grab a hammy.

If you are what you claimed to be, you'd be PO'd at this pick. Even I thought it was a reach. However, the guy hasn't missed a kick from 40-49 since 2003.

You can't be what you claim to be. Now you're pulling my leg. If Roach, UDFA, is to be another TJ, that would make me giddy. The only thing about Roach, he's got a history of knee injuries.

Only an optimist would find some solace in these guys.

From this point, you'll need to look on the bright side of life. Sit back and sip the Kool-Aid. :cool:

If RH and/or James Sanders steps up in 2006, the Pats secondary should be better (with the addition of Hobbs) than the 2004 squad that helped held Indy to 3 points in the AFC DIV game. Law wasn't needed.

Why question a salary distribution system that works? Brady and Seymour could have racked the Pats over the coals (as Peyton did to Indy) to get the best deals possible. They did not. "Low-balling" is unfair. How about "not overpaying"? Givens wasn't worth #1 WR money, Law wanted a ridiculous contract, Andruzzi was a guard and interior OL are easy to replace. BTW define "fair". That is such a subjective term.

As for the players you mentioned...

Koppen: All I've heard is that he suffered a torn rotator cuff. Unless anyone heard otherwise, there's a good chance he'll be on PUP list this year. Anyway, Russ Hochstein did a solid job at center and Gene Mrzcowski (sp) is still in the mix. Unless Koppen makes a strong recovery, his chances of returning in 2007 are slim.

Branch: I agree, he should be re-signed. He's a special player. But, like Brady and Seymour he needs to accept a contract in concordance with the Pats capology.

Graham: Unless he wants to stay here and be a #2 TE, he's gone. He could be tagged for 2007 and become part of a sign-n-trade (see Tebucky Jones). Problem is, we have Watson who's got more talent and upside. As for Graham, a blocking TE isn't too hard to find.

Samuel: Who's "Samuels"? Asante had a very good 2004 season. According to KC Joyner, in 2004, the Pats were able to funnel coverage help to Randall Gay because Samuel was doing such a good job on his side of the field. He struggled in 2005 but was victimized by crappy officiating in the Denver game. The loss of RH might have had something to do with it too. I'd like to see him return. I can't see why not.

Branch is one of the best WRs, IMO. But with an improved running game and a healthy Brady, I'm confident another WR will step up. Signing WRs for the sake of signing them isn't panacea. All of the WRs you mentioned: Givens, Davis, Dwight, Patten weren't that good. IMO, Givens was overrated and the Titans won't like the results. Dwight is an over-30 return man. Davis wasn't worth the 2006 5th round pick we traded for him. Patten was a FA bust in DC. Hey, when you sign Randle-El and trade for Brandon Lloyd, while you still have Santana Moss, that doesn't speak well of Patten.

Feel better? :)