Yes, as of right now our pass-rushers Banta-Cain and Ninkovich strike fear into the hearts of every quarterback.
Our wide receiver corps of Moss, Tate and Edelman will light up the league in our improved offense. And surely our run offense will be much better with the addition of no one at all. And certainly our tight end situation is better than last year.
Understand the sarcasm MG. Well played. I see your point. True words as far as the point. I can't see the excitement of a better team in 2010 versus 2009. Please Cousins out there, don't give me the Old Draft board routine. Those 21 year old kids are a gamble at best. Yes, I am sure we will hit on one or two....repeat...one or two in 2010, and that is better than average or about the same of
players drafted that will play at a high level in the NFL. If three or four develop by 2013, our 2010 Draft will be a extreme success.
I repeat our 2010 Draft success will be judged in 2013.
OK Now lets see what we can do this year. Kraft says we sit back and see what Teams jettison some of their talent between the Draft and upcoming season. Cousins, raise your hands if this instills confidence as one poster has said........no? I feel RK will want to put a superb product on the field. Right now IMO, I rate it as slightly above average and far away from elite and the ability to compete consistently with the elite. Yes the Draft will help.....somewhat. One of the most exciting years in the Pats history was 2007. That Team was built up with significant Trades and FA acquisitions. Yes, the Team perhaps had a better core of talented veterans than now or at the least, a younger version if they are still on the roster, than what our 2010 is.
Use what we have at WR? Patten? Like the man many moons ago, but he is not our savior. Crumpler ? Good pick-up but not the same player as 4 or 5 years back.. Decent blocker though. "Cheech" Tate? Please....We'll be begging to find out where Chad Jackson is. Way too stupid for BB. Was a great KR pre-injury and oh-by-the-way, and mediocre WR for UNC. Head scratcher.
Our youthful OLB/DE crew? Crable? Some posters didn't even know he was still on the Team. McKenzie? Maybe the best shot to make good but not even a day of practice yet. Ninkovich? Look at his pre-draft and combine stats and they are impressive. It has not transferred on the field. Cut by two other teams. Murell? Who? Dare I bring up Woods and Alexander?
Hate them as humans or not, at WR we have to consider Brandon Marshall or gasp....T.O. I can't see any vet on another Team that would be in jeopardy of getting Cut with starting ability here. Can any Cousins please name one or two?
At DE, I like Carriker in a trade and so do a few other NFL Teams. First round upper tier Draft pick that has been miscast as a DT on a very poor Rams team. I like him better than any DE in the Draft at #22 or back. Only 25.
OLB Gocong can be had as RFA and was miscast as a 4-3 DE or OLB by the Eagles. He is a pure 262lb, 3-4 edge rusher type OLB. Only 26.
Why not Ray Edwards for our #22? Who is better for a value. 11 sacks in his last eleven games including the playoffs. Great Viking D Linemates? Sure, but so are Wilfork and Warren. I think he is a steal for only a first rounder. Who is better at #22, Cousins. I challenge you to convince me. Edwards has valuable NFL experience. Only 26.
We need a "move" TE. Olsen and his 70 receptions can be had. Olsen and Crumpler would be a solid TE pairing. Some Cousins say look back at Watson and see we don't use a TE. If he could have been trusted more TB would have went his way. Didn't he lead the League in tipped balls that were intercepted?
The above are young except for TO. All will start here and not have to go through a process to see if they were Drafted correctly. Marshall automatically makes this Team better the day he signs. Yes there are trades to be worked as well as contracts but these are solid "ideas" and should be considered. We have the ammo.
Thoughts?
DW Toys