A lot of needs on this team...

Sean Pa Patriot · Jan 11, 2010

The magic and mystique were gone on that 4th and 2 in Indy... We still have Tom Brady, he will be 33 next year... If we still are going to be a factor while Brady is in his prime.. then changes are needed. If not we could be the 3 rd best team in our division...

here are some top priorities..

WR- I know some here think we will be fine... Really??? 2-3 Wr are needed.. Sam Aiken, is not the solution, Eldelman is ok, but there will not be Wes Welker next year, or at least half the year...

Pass Rush- I dont think the corners are the problem, with the exception of Whilhite, but a few good pass rushers would kill the ills of this team..

offensive line man- Neal is prob done, Mankins needs to be resigned, but a few guards would be helful..

Punter- Chris Hanson , nuff said

a Solid Draft- the last few drafts have been horrible, this is probably the biggest draft in Belichick's tenure...

a few good coaches- Keep O Brien as the QB coach, but this team needs a OC.. And as we have seen this defense has been regressing for a few years under Pees...

and finally- Passion, - something was missing not just yesterday but all season lon. there is a chemistry issuie on this , and players who I dont think will be back, Thomas, Burgess, Green, Maroney, Watson, Springs are all gone... Im not sure of Moss , but something was missing with him this year too...

But it is safe to say, this is Belichick's biggest offseason as the HC/GM of the NEP....

DarrylS · Jan 11, 2010

Re: a lot of needs on this team..

Do not disagree with your assessment, but we do not know what we have with Tyrone McKenzie or Brandon Tate... this could be interesting, or could not...

I think you really need to look at the coaches..

edelmansarmy · Jan 11, 2010

Re: a lot of needs on this team..

The first thing that needs to be done is to blow up the offense and start over:

Running back: We need a stud. The committee concept with veterans and Maroney is not good enough. I think Lawrence could be a decent back-up, but Morris, Taylor need to go. We have no lead back that can carry the load and take over a game when needed. Flashes here and there. I would still sign Faulk to maybe a two year deal, but he's getting old. 2 of those 4 backs need to go for fresh legs.

Receiver: Obvious. Marshall would look good.

Tight End: Again, not close to enough production. I think we can close the book on Watson. Baker was invisible through most of the year.

Offensive line: Obvious, especially with Neal on the fence.

Sean Pa Patriot · Jan 11, 2010

Re: a lot of needs on this team..

I screwed up, forgot the RB issuie...

DaBruinz · Jan 11, 2010

Re: a lot of needs on this team..

I love it when people make statements like "we need to blow up this offense." I have news for you. This offense took us to 3 SBs

The RB by committee is fine. Taylor, Morris, Maroney, and Faulk would have done better if the O-line had been consistent in its run blocking. The zone blocking needs to go. And Koppen needs to be replaced. Koppen got abused by the Ravens the way he got abused by the Giants.. Replacing Neal is a must as well. Connolly is a JAG, but Ohrnberger could be interesting there.

Aiken is what he is. He's a great special teams player who never made it as a WR in Buffalo. And we saw why.

I disagree with the assessment that the Pats NEED another WR. It would be nice to have, but it's not a necessity. In fact, not having one would force Brady to go back to the receiver by committee attitude that worked so well from 2001 to 2004. It would also force him to get the TEs and RBs more involved. Another thing, with the 50/50 way the Pats seem to hit on WRs, bringing in a big name for Brady is probably not the wisest thing, unless they give the person numerous reps to work with Brady prior to signing. Otherwise, it could just be a Galloway Redux. Oh. One last thing. Edelman showed that he can do an amazing Wes Welker imitation. I think he'll develop into a very very good WR. He seems to have the same mentality as Welker, Wayne Chrebet and Troy Brown. Also, lets not forget Tate.

As for punter, people who mention Hanson tend to not have bothered to have actually looked at the stats other than the NET yardage. Net Yardage doesn't tell the whole story. You need to look at WHERE the punts were made. Almost 25% of Hanson's punts were made from inside the opposing 50. When that happens, it drags down the net yardage.. Especially when you make the 2nd fewest punts in the league. You have to look at things like the number of returns (20), the number of fair catches (16), the number of punts inside the 20 (18) and such. You have to look at the HOLE picture. Could he be improved upon? Sure. Is it an absolute necessity? Nope.

As for this being BB's biggest off-season as a coach/GM, I disagree. That was the 2000/2001 off-season. This is probably the 2nd or 3rd biggest. And with no restrictions on the UFAs they can sign, they should be in a good place to improve the team where needed.

PATSYLICIOUS · Jan 11, 2010

Re: a lot of needs on this team..

I agree with all except releasing Springs. Especially if we're unable to resign Bodden, Springs will be needed next year. At the time he's our 2nd best CB, but hopefully next year Butler is ready. Speaking of Butler I hope he's our KR next year, at least for the playoffs. His semi-big return may be the best one we've had all year as sad as that sounds.

I don't think RB is that huge of a need. Your RB is only as good as his OL unless you have a guy like Ray Rice/Chris Johnson... and a guy like that is going to cost alot unless he's aquired through the draft. But we have more pressing needs to be able to spend a high pick on RB. I want to see us focus the higher picks on DE,LB,WR,OG. We won 2 super bowls with Antowain Smith as the main back, This offense runs on Brady and the OL, the RB is a compliment at best.

I love Randy Moss and have no issues with his efforts. That being said I hope next season is his last here unless he's willing to sign for about half of what he's making on this contract. Simply not worth it to give 1 WR that kind of money especially at the tail end of his career. Better to have a deep set of WR's like in '03-'05 than to have 2 main guys and nobody else you can trust in.

Even so, the problem is not the WR's, I think the main problem with the offense is the lack of an effective OC. No excuse for yesterday's piss poor effort or the 2nd half nightmares during the season. Even if Moss and Welker are the only good WR's, they are DAMN good WR's. in 2001 our 3rd option was Jermaine Wiggins for cryin out loud. 2006 our go to guy was Reche Caldwell. This offense is too good on paper to have played like this. The solution is not to blow it up, it needs a G to replace Neal and a #3 WR... With 4 day 1 picks, nothing needs to be blown up here.

Jangles · Jan 11, 2010