'06 ST rebuilding
 

It is apparent now that Belichick and the other Coaches had a couple of rebuilding projects in mind for the last offseason.
Its time to look at the progress thereat:
A) teh running game
B) ST play in all phases.

A) The runing game has been upgraded significantly, with the addition of Laurence Maroney and Ryan O'Callaghan, at the run dominant position of RT, is doing fine. Its fourth or fifth in the league and a feared dimension for opposing Coaches. Allowing Cory Dillon to pace himself and ease into the Bettis mode is doing wonders for his longevity and effectiveness too. K Faulk is as effective as ever as the third down back, pass catcher, and screen runner. He is no longer being asked to run it as much as as an alternative. He is too small and insecure in his ball possesion to be able to with stand the jarring big hits. Complimentary players in Evans, Pass and perhaps Mills, as a future Larry Centers role, complete the package. Great success. Enuf said.

B) I think the Pats brass was unsatisfied with the ST play, over the last couple of years. KO distance was short. Opponents were starting beyond the thirty-five way too often. Returns by the opponents were creeping up in yardage; the coverage was mediocre. Patriots returners at both KO and especially PR duties, were not feared or/and producing mediocre statistics and no scores and or field position.

They decided to get both younger and faster in coverage and returners. The old gunners were replaced with faster newcomers, Iwuoma, and Andrews. Oldsters Izzo and Davis slower linebackers, were reasigned inside to other coverage and competiton for their jobs with more able players able to compete for regular team snaps were brought in. Tebuckey Jones, Mel Mitchell and Barry Gardner all ended up on IR, but all are accomplished STers, a generation younger and the competiton has pushed both Izzo and Davis to better performances. TBC and Eric Alexander have done well on ST coverage replacing others such as Matt Chatham.

AV walked and two bigger legs were brought in. Gostkowski won. Gostkowski's KO depth is among the NFL's best. His FG precentage has been average, but not bad; Miller is still having probowl type performances as a punter. Ditto for Paxton at long snapper.

Freeing Kevin Faulk from some running duties, has allowed him to concentrate more as a PR. His skill is showing in a near league leading PR average. As a KO returner newcomer LM has put a spark there with his returns. Andrews hurt with a hip injury has not been playing much as a KO returner, but he has fine college credentials for that task and that and his "gunner" play has won him a job as a rookie.

In short the ST in all seven dimensions, KOs, PRs, KO depth, PR coverage, KO coverage, Punting, and FG kicking, have been addressed. All but FG kicking has proven successful and FG kicking gets an INC, and may still be a strength and improved. Further improvement is still possible, as the IR people return next season, and Andrews matures.

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

The past several years, the Coaches and FO addressed an area that was average or just above average and tried to improve it. The job is complete.

This is the first year that they have the luxury of just adding good players wherever they find them.

For example: The LB situation is actually almost rebuilt for another generation and I'm not talking about the one year patch of Jr Seau. People don't recognize that though. Reality takes a while to penetrate the conventional wisdom.

Lets inspect the current LB corps. Colvin is 29, TBC is 26, Woods is 23, Vrabel is 30 going on 31 and Bruschi is the old man at 33 going on 34. They now know who will be the Team's LB "mike" man and play caller after Bruschi. Its Vrabel. The only true old timers are the ST guys, and perhaps Bruschi who only has a couple/three years left. Gardner and Alexander are good ST and younger. Cox, Phifer, and TJ and Willie have all been replaced, already; nobody seems to have noticed.

I'd look at where the Team is not as solid. ILB and OLB will get some attention. I expect these might be addressed with veterans in either FA or trade, though. An OLB might be drafted high to develop. Think what NFL star veterans like Adalius Thomas, Keith Bulluck or Takeo Spikes would do for the LB corps.

There are positions available for improvement at CB and Safety. These are not pressing needs IMO. Sanders 23, is developing, and Hawkins at 29 is a find to go with Geno, 27. Both Antrell and Geno are ex-CBs who can cover like a CB and tackle like a Safety. Not many clubs have that kind of luxury. Harrison is getting old. So there may be a need for a big Safety to groom. There is always an opening at CB. I could see a high pick here, too.

They need another WR to take Troy's position when he retires. Unlike others I think there is still an opening for a starting caliber G/C interior Offensive lineman. Russ Hochstein is an able starter/reserve and maybe Yates would be acceptable, but a truly dominant G/C, hands down, would be nice to have.

I don't think they would use a high pick for a LOT candidate unless a great player just fell to them. IMO they have four starting OTs and Mankins could move too, if absolutely necessary, to make five.

Stretching to look for an opening, there is an opening for a third QB to groom and a third down pass catching back to groom behind KF who is turning thirty this season. Josh Miller can't keep it up for much more than 3-5 years too.

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

BB also rebuilt the WR corp this years, the benefits will become more apparent by the time of the playoffs and very apparent next year.

Just completed this year (as much as the roster is ever complete) rebuilding the OL.

#3 developmental QB

Work on the LB corp. Perhaps the DB's?

The rest is determined on what happens with our FA's.

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

Places where they could tweak with new personnel:

Backup QB -- make Cassell tradeable some day
WR -- not everybody on this year's roster will prove a long-term keeper
TE -- if Graham leaves
OL -- yet another development guy
DL -- it's only 5 deep

So LB and DB could be just tweaked too.

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

Nice breakdown on STs, the focus in camp really paid off as you mentioned they were able to replace primary STers Mitchell, TBuck and Gardner with younger cheapers guys without missing a beat.

As constituted, based on currently signed players, there are holes at CB & LB next year. This could change but anytime players hit free agency there is an increased risk they will be gone.

When you start to look at the roster as a whole, it makes the case for best available player very compelling. The team is very balanced heading into next year.

2007

----------
CBs signed Hobbs, Scott
- ERFA Spann
- RFA Gay
- 3 open spots

Remaining CB spots
- 1 spot - if Spann shows anything extend him
- 1 veteran FA, please don’t be from the same mold as Warfield, Starks
- 1 spot via draft, there may be some expectation that the CB brought in through the draft will be the #2 or worst case #3 CB on the team, for a rookie to come in at this level it makes sense to take the player high, rounds 1 or 2

Another option
- sign Samuels, draft a CB in rounds 1 or 2 and CB becomes a position of strength
- if a quality Safety is a better value than CB in the draft, draft Safety move Wilson to CB
- sign a quality CB via free agency, draft a developmental CB later in the draft, rounds 3 or 4

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LBs signed (age at start of next season) – Bruschi (33), Vrabel (32), Colvin (30), Woods (24)
- average age 29.8
- 5 spots open based on current 53 man roster (9 LBs)

Remaining LB spots
- 2 spots – pick 2 from TBC, Alexander, Gardner, Mays - some youth and depth could be provided quickly if Alexander or TBC are re-signed (Alexander may be a RFA or URFA, not sure)
- 1 spot - either Izzo or Davis may be brought back, 2007 is the year one of them goes (I said this last year too!)
- 1 spot - Draft
- 1 open spot, filled as you said by a FA (Thomas from Baltimore would be ideal)

Other options
- bring in more youth in via draft, unless the right person is there in early rounds more likely to see round 4,5 type players brought in with expectations of learning system while performing on special teams

Safeties signed (7)
- Wille Andrews, Rodney Harrison, Antrell Hawkins, Tebucky Jones, Mel Mitchell, James Sanders, Eugene Wilson
- I am not saying these are all good players but they are signed through 2007

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

they still need a punt returner as faulk and brown are reliable but not game changers. i say down the road give willie andrews a try. they did have chad jackson in for one return but it was kicked out of bounds

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

they still need a punt returner as faulk and brown are reliable but not game changers. i say down the road give willie andrews a try. they did have chad jackson in for one return but it was kicked out of bounds

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

they still need a punt returner as faulk and brown are reliable but not game changers. i say down the road give willie andrews a try. they did have chad jackson in for one return but it was kicked out of bounds

Re: '06 ST rebuilding
 

they still need a punt returner as faulk and brown are reliable but not game changers. i say down the road give willie andrews a try. they did have chad jackson in for one return but it was kicked out of bounds