fester
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2005
- Messages
- 530
- Reaction score
- 88
Instead of pissing each other off about the strengths/weaknesses/wisdom/follies of the 2011 draft, I want to take a look at the position groups that the Patriots may have needs to draft in 2012. I know this is early as there is no CBA and there is no free agency period where an area of current need could be filled by a vet who gets a six year contract next week. But let's take a look anyways as I am waiting for a massive process to complete at work. I am assuming no rookie Gus Scott contract situations.
Offense
QB: Minimal need, perhaps a late round flyer but with Brady signed for several more years, Hoyer a solid back-up and Mallet as the potential QB of the Future, there is minimal need.
RB: Minimal need, perhaps a late round flyer. Woodhead, Ridley and Vereen are all signed for 2012.
TE: Minimal need. Gronk and Hernandez are both signed for two more years and should hold the #1 and #2 slots/playing time by the end of 2011.
WR: Significant need. Branch and Welker are getting older, and so far Tate, Price and Edelman are question marks. Could see a 2nd round pick used here.
OT: Modest need, could see a Day 3 pick here. Vollmer and hopefully Solder are the long term bookends, but depth is a bit questionable.
Interior OL: Major need --- Connelly could concievably be the only Day 1 2011 starter back. Koppen is getting older and as 3-4 defenses proliferate, he has noticable trouble with big NTs. There are two many IFs here.
Offense, the interior line and the wide receivers have the greatest need given age/contract situations.
Defense
NT: Minimal, although if an athletic 340 pound freak falls into the Pats lap, they will never complain as they spring to the podium.
3-4 DE: Moderate --- Half of the rotation is old or getting to be old, and the other half have not proven they can be every down/every game players.
ILB: Minimal --- Mayo, Spikes, Guyton are all signed for a couple more seasons.
OLB: Significant --- Only Cunningham is on the upside of his career. TBC and Moore are both old for a position that relies on both power and speed, while Ninkovich is solid, he is not spectacular.
CB: Minimal --- Bodden, McCourty are signed for a couple more seasons, Wilhite is the only FA from the current group IIRC, and he is replacable.
Safety: Significant --- Meriweather will be a FA, Sanders is starting to get old. Will Chung and Dowling be the combo of the future?
Offense
QB: Minimal need, perhaps a late round flyer but with Brady signed for several more years, Hoyer a solid back-up and Mallet as the potential QB of the Future, there is minimal need.
RB: Minimal need, perhaps a late round flyer. Woodhead, Ridley and Vereen are all signed for 2012.
TE: Minimal need. Gronk and Hernandez are both signed for two more years and should hold the #1 and #2 slots/playing time by the end of 2011.
WR: Significant need. Branch and Welker are getting older, and so far Tate, Price and Edelman are question marks. Could see a 2nd round pick used here.
OT: Modest need, could see a Day 3 pick here. Vollmer and hopefully Solder are the long term bookends, but depth is a bit questionable.
Interior OL: Major need --- Connelly could concievably be the only Day 1 2011 starter back. Koppen is getting older and as 3-4 defenses proliferate, he has noticable trouble with big NTs. There are two many IFs here.
Offense, the interior line and the wide receivers have the greatest need given age/contract situations.
Defense
NT: Minimal, although if an athletic 340 pound freak falls into the Pats lap, they will never complain as they spring to the podium.
3-4 DE: Moderate --- Half of the rotation is old or getting to be old, and the other half have not proven they can be every down/every game players.
ILB: Minimal --- Mayo, Spikes, Guyton are all signed for a couple more seasons.
OLB: Significant --- Only Cunningham is on the upside of his career. TBC and Moore are both old for a position that relies on both power and speed, while Ninkovich is solid, he is not spectacular.
CB: Minimal --- Bodden, McCourty are signed for a couple more seasons, Wilhite is the only FA from the current group IIRC, and he is replacable.
Safety: Significant --- Meriweather will be a FA, Sanders is starting to get old. Will Chung and Dowling be the combo of the future?