This is the offseason. It is time to addess weaknesses. We will address some before the draft, some during the draft, some between the draft and Training Camp, and some even after that (as injuries occur and players fail in camp). It is important to understand where there are perceived critical weaknesses so that we can better understand offseason moves.
DEFENSE
We have lost Green, expect to lose Thomas, and expect to re-sign Burgess (and/or perhaps sign Taylor).
I have posted that we have done extremely well in re-signing Wilfork, Bodden and Banta-Cain. I believe that our 2010 defense will be much better than that of 2009. I expect us to draft a DE like Odrick or Carrington and an OLB. This is normal transition.
So for me, we are fine on defense. We are in the last year of a major transition. The youngsters are almost all in place.
I didn't like last year's plan of dealing with th OLB and DE positions, ignoring the position in early free agency and in the draft, hoping that Jason Taylor would sign, giving up a 3rd and a 5th for Burgess and then trading away Seymour. Some think that this strategy was just fine. Maybe it was the best that we could do.
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OFFENSE
Posters have criticized every position but quarterback. Why is it bad to focus on the more serious NEED at receiver (WR and TE)? We have only one such serious need. We MUST address it, and we will.
There are many possible plans of attack. One is to hope that Welker will be back at 100% 9 months after an ACL injury. We saw the result of that plan for #3 receiver last year when we counted on Tate coming back and signed an ancient receiver in the meantime. Is it wrong to question repeating that strategy this year?
I have posted that I want Thomas in the first (or another reciever in the second if we can get Odrick in the first or choose to trade down) in addition to signing Branch. But then, perhaps I am just wishing and hoping and will be disappointed when Branch signs elsewhere. I have also said that I would trade for Olsen and/or draft ****erson.
The situaion at receiver is aweful at the moment. I see no harm in pointing that out. It is also quite solvable.
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The post I was responding to indicated that we were division favorites right now, with no further additions of 2010 contributers. I don't believe this to be the case unless there are strong 2010 performances from Tate and Thomas and Burgess. After all, these three would indeed meet the need at WR and OLB.