5 Best Defensive Free Agents for Pats

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Hali. He has toiled on a losing team and played well and consistently. Last two years he has played in a system like the Pats -- and it doesn't hurt that Crennel coached him. Don't see if the Chiefs will let him go, though.

 

[WelshPat]

Marcus Spears sucks. He also called out Parcells when he left.

Hali is obv a guy we would want, but I doubt KC will let him go. The thing with Woodley is, is he a product of Lebeaus system? Soo many OLBs come and go there, and have little success outside that scheme.

Ray Edwards could be realistic, he's a solid player he won't cost that much, but again was it him or did he benefit from Allen and Williams.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

While I consider getting meaner and nastier on the D-line our number 1 priority (O-line too if Mankins goes, please don't let that happen BB!), pass rushing comes right behind. Admittedly he's a bit one dimensional but wouldn't Kamerion Wimbley come fairly cheap and instantly be our best 3rd down pass rushing specialist?

He was something of a revelation in Oakland this year and could continue to bloom with the right team/coaches. $$-wise he seems a lot more likely than Woodley.

 

[Deus Irae]

Just something to watch:


The Broncos are now being coached by Fox, who's a 4-3 guy. That could result in some front 7 guys being available, depending on whether or not Fox feels they'll fit in his scheme.

 

[Coach42]

Marcus Spears sucks. He also called out Parcells when he left.

Hali is obv a guy we would want, but I doubt KC will let him go. The thing with Woodley is, is he a product of Lebeaus system? Soo many OLBs come and go there, and have little success outside that scheme.

Ray Edwards could be realistic, he's a solid player he won't cost that much, but again was it him or did he benefit from Allen and Williams.

What about Mike Vrabel he came out of Pittsburgh and did just fine for himself. I wouldn't dismiss Woodley so quickly.

 

[Aßßynormal]

Pay the price ...... two 1st round pix 2010 (28th) and 2011 (32nd). Oh, and his salary, which, because he's coming out of a Franchise Tag could be in the range of Wilfork.

Haloti Ngata ..... at RDE. Cunningham will/could/might have 15 sacks as a result. Also, as when we had Seymour, running to that side would be in our favor.

 

[THELAWFIRM226]

It will be very interesting to see how the champ bailey saga plays out. I'm just throwing this out there, but I haven't heard anyone talk of jonathan joseph. It appears that the bengals may franchise him, but if they don't, any possibility of him coming to the pats you think?

 

[Sciz]

Pay the price ...... two 1st round pix 2010 (28th) and 2011 (32nd). Oh, and his salary, which, because he's coming out of a Franchise Tag could be in the range of Wilfork.

Haloti Ngata ..... at RDE. Cunningham will/could/might have 15 sacks as a result. Also, as when we had Seymour, running to that side would be in our favor.

Until he goes into sloth mode after getting paid. It took a contract year before he was even close to his potential, and now he's going to get paid as if he'll keep that up, and he won't.

 

[Rob0729]

Marcus Spears plays in a 1 gap system IMO he would not be any better then Brandon Deaderick or Ron Brace will be next season

Marcus Spears' best years were under Parcells in a two gap system. I don't know what he has left (since he has declined in recent years) and he certainly struggled in the one gap, but you can't dismiss the guy as an 1 gap player when Parcells is the one who drafted him and he played 2-3 years under him.

 

[Rob0729]

Personally, I could see the Pats making a big splash in free agency this year especially since there is the potential of two years' worth of free agents available because so many players who should have been UFA last year were RFA and only played for the tender this past season.

Contrary to popular beliefs, the Pats are not opposed to making splashes in free agency (Colvin, Harrison, Thomas, etc.). With most if the team coming back, the return of Bodden and Ty Warren, potentially plenty of cap space, tons of picks to fill holes; it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility that the Pats take a pass at one or two marquee free agents.

My guess if they do it will be on the defensive side of the ball and probably a pass rusher or a d-lineman. I would say Hali or Woodley would be the top two picks, but both may be franchised depending on the new franchise tag rules under a new CBA.

 

[Tucker]

for Tamba Hali I'd pony up a 1st and 3rd

someone mentioned Eric Weddle as a FA want on the previous page. We do not want this guy. I live in charger land and a lot of them cant stand the guy - always looks for the big hits doesnt tackle well and isnt that good in coveage

 

[Marqui]

for Tamba Hali I'd pony up a 1st and 3rd

Me too. God, I want Hali here so bad. An absolute perfect fit for this defense.

 

[mcsully]

I'm stunned on the Lamarr Woodley comments.. Last year people wanted to stay away from Brandon Graham because he wasn't big enough.. But people want to shell out big bucks for a guy 6"1 260 pounds.. Really surprised..

I remember last years predraft party for season tkt holders.. Bruschi said when he slide outside, it lasted one day.. He couldn't contain the edge and hold the play in front of him..

I'll lean on Bruchi and say Woodley isn't coming here.. He doesn't fit our system..

Spears might work, because of his experience with Parcels.. Of course, not top $$

 

[Rob0729]

I'm stunned on the Lamarr Woodley comments.. Last year people wanted to stay away from Brandon Graham because he wasn't big enough.. But people want to shell out big bucks for a guy 6"1 260 pounds.. Really surprised..

I remember last years predraft party for season tkt holders.. Bruschi said when he slide outside, it lasted one day.. He couldn't contain the edge and hold the play in front of him..

I'll lean on Bruchi and say Woodley isn't coming here.. He doesn't fit our system..

Spears might work, because of his experience with Parcels.. Of course, not top $$

Colvin was 6-3 and 250lbs during his years with the Pats. Tully Banta Cain is 6'2 and 250lbs. Jermaine Cunningham is 6-3 and 260lbs. I am assuming that the bulk of the player and not his height would affect the problems that Bruschi deswcribed. Basically, based on this assumption, the Pats might as well cut both TBC and Cunningham because neither will be affective as OLBs on this defense.

 

[Ring 6]

Personally, I could see the Pats making a big splash in free agency this year especially since there is the potential of two years' worth of free agents available because so many players who should have been UFA last year were RFA and only played for the tender this past season.

Contrary to popular beliefs, the Pats are not opposed to making splashes in free agency (Colvin, Harrison, Thomas, etc.). With most if the team coming back, the return of Bodden and Ty Warren, potentially plenty of cap space, tons of picks to fill holes; it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility that the Pats take a pass at one or two marquee free agents.

My guess if they do it will be on the defensive side of the ball and probably a pass rusher or a d-lineman. I would say Hali or Woodley would be the top two picks, but both may be franchised depending on the new franchise tag rules under a new CBA.

The level of BBs involvement in FA is EXACTLY commensurate to the cap room he has available.
When we have a lot of cap room, we are major players, when we don't we are not. End of story.

Mostly, we are not big players in FA, because since we have won more games than any team for the last decade, we have the best, or close to the best talent, and we work hard to keep our best players, often extending them early. Because we have a better roster to pay than most teams, we have more tied up in players that are home grown, and less to spend in FA.
BB has nothing against signing FAs, he just would prefer to keep a guy he developed than cut him loose and spend just as much or more on someone he hasnt.

 

[Ring 6]

I'm stunned on the Lamarr Woodley comments.. Last year people wanted to stay away from Brandon Graham because he wasn't big enough.. But people want to shell out big bucks for a guy 6"1 260 pounds.. Really surprised..

I remember last years predraft party for season tkt holders.. Bruschi said when he slide outside, it lasted one day.. He couldn't contain the edge and hold the play in front of him..

I'll lean on Bruchi and say Woodley isn't coming here.. He doesn't fit our system..

Spears might work, because of his experience with Parcels.. Of course, not top $$

260 is plenty big. Brushci was really somewhere between 235-245 (really 235 IMO, but listed at 245)

 

[Sciz]

It's a combination of things. Ideal bulk and average length (Cunningham) works. Cunningham is 1 7/8 inches taller and has 7/8 inch longer arms. TBC is basically screwed if the OL gets his hands on him, hence him being an ideal situational pass-rusher and nothing more. Bruschi was short and lacked bulk (but I don't know about arm length). Therefore, we can say that Cunningham is a better scheme fit than Woodley, who is a better scheme fit than Bruschi, but none of there are Mike Vrabel.

 

[Ring 6]

It's a combination of things. Ideal bulk and average length (Cunningham) works. Cunningham is 1 7/8 inches taller and has 7/8 inch longer arms. TBC is basically screwed if the OL gets his hands on him, hence him being an ideal situational pass-rusher and nothing more. Bruschi was short and lacked bulk (but I don't know about arm length). Therefore, we can say that Cunningham is a better scheme fit than Woodley, who is a better scheme fit than Bruschi, but none of there are Mike Vrabel.

Its a mistake IMO to think a player is his measurables.

 

[Sciz]

Its a mistake IMO to think a player is his measurables.

In a lot of schemes, yeah. In this scheme, length and bulk are everything. Other than TBC (who was a 7th round pick), the shortest OLB he's ever drafted is Cunningham, who is two inches taller than Woodley. Bill is extremely picky with his OLBs. We've seen this in how he's drafted (2 OLBs in the top 3 rounds, none in the first). It makes sense that he'd be just as picky when he's handing somebody a $30M contract.

When I have some free time this weekend, I'll rewatch the Steelers game and see how many times Woodley took on a blocker, rather than trying to shoot the gap. I'm guessing it's not many. Being short and having shorter-than-ideal arms works when your goal is to run right around blockers. When you're supposed to take them on, not so much.

 

[sebman2112]

I'm stunned on the Lamarr Woodley comments.. Last year people wanted to stay away from Brandon Graham because he wasn't big enough.. But people want to shell out big bucks for a guy 6"1 260 pounds.. Really surprised..

I remember last years predraft party for season tkt holders.. Bruschi said when he slide outside, it lasted one day.. He couldn't contain the edge and hold the play in front of him..

I'll lean on Bruchi and say Woodley isn't coming here.. He doesn't fit our system..

Spears might work, because of his experience with Parcels.. Of course, not top $$

Listen, I wanted the Patriots to Draft Woodley, and even made videos showcasing the skills I thought he possessed that would make him a good OLB for NE. I even pointed out his ability to make plays in coverage, which people seemed to scoff at, but he actually made a number of plays in coverage for Pitt, and he's not simply a Rush LB, they've even used him at SILB from time to time, where he's been effective blitzing up the gut. When it came to Graham, I didn't see him as a fit, and he's not the clone of Woodley those less informed have described him as. Also, LaMarr is close to 6'2", and coming out of college he weighed 266lbs, I highly doubt he lost weight after entering the NFL, and if anything he's closer to 275lbs these days. If you look at Pitts two OLB's, Harrison fits more of the one gap rush OLB mold, while Woodley's a more versatile LB.