Idle thoughts - FA recap.....so far

[THELAWFIRM226]

Not sure if he will still be available by our first selection, but if Dre Kirckpatrick is around when we pick, I would absolutely love to see him taken. He has some "character" issues but I'm sure BB could straighten that out real quick.

 

[Deus Irae]

You have your wide receiver draft binky and I have mine. Unfortunately, your wide receiver draft binky will not last into the third round.

You seem to have missed what I wrote, since I didn't say anything about drafting a WR in the 3rd round.

 

[patfanken]

I'd rather take my chances with Aaron Henry, free safety from Wisconsin, if available in the fourth round than Ihedigbo or Barrett or Lockett or Brown.

Aaron Henry, Wisconsin, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

If the Pats resign him, and the should if only for the special teams play, Iheadabu would compete for a roster spot with Barrett and Locket, both are similar in style to James. Henry is a coverage guy first. Look, Tip, I'm not "demanding" the Pats re-sign James. He's a career special teamer and role player who was forced to be the guy who got the most snaps at safety of any Pats player. And for better or worse, he was also part of a defense that for better or worse was a significant part of a the the 4th ranked Scoring, Passing and Total defense during the playoffs. (btw- I deleted the Bengals cause they played just one game, officially they were 5th)

Wouldn't you say he at least deserved a chance to compete for a spot. No harm in that. Make him an offer. Let him compete for a spot with Locket and Barrett. And if you really want to cut someone for cause. Sergio Brown should be FIRST on that list...... Not James IHedigbu

 

[ATippett56]

WR - want to get a speedy receiver that can help on special teams returning kicks. Kid from Arkansas (Adams) is a possibility.

Shane Vereen could possibly fill the role of the primary kick returner. It's a shame that the New England Patriots cut Brandon Tate in essence for Chad Ochostinko.

Slater is only nominally a WR, really a gunner. He caught 1 pass for 46 yards and was targeted in AFC Championship on that circus catch interception after Spike turned the ball over. We really need a young receiver that we can develop that is a deep threat.

Since 2006, the New England Patriots have cut Chad Jackson, Brandon Tate, Taylor Price.

Slater aint it. Edelman aint it. Ocho aint it. Britt Davis/Dorin ****erson aint it. Underwood aint it.

Chad Ochostinko has become useless, especially since he does not contribute to the special teams units.

We have Welker (could hold out) and Lloyd. If we sign a 3rd TE, Hernandez might get split out more. Gonzalez has produced when healthy (over 3 years ago at this point), he might be it.

Sending Deion Branch to the football graveyard?

I'd get excited if they signed Welker long-term and drafted Adams.

What round do you consider good value for Adams?

 

[ATippett56]

5 picks in the first 3 rounds. 4 picks in the first 2 rounds. It's kind of a silly notion to say/imply that using one of those first 4 picks on a WR and 3 of them on defenders would not be prioritizing defense in the draft.

Considering how wretched the New England Patriots pass defense was in 2012, let alone 2011?

 

[ATippett56]

Its not a matter of him being WR depth. That's fine, but what's the consequence. Who goes if he stays??????

As far as I'm concerned, Belichick can hand Ochostinko his walking papers right NOW!

 

[Deus Irae]

Considering how wretched the New England Patriots pass defense was in 2012, let alone 2011?

How many positions do you think they're shooting for?

Chung
S2
Gregory

McCourty
Dowling
Arrington

Those "six" seem pretty set. At that point, you're looking for depth players, not top 2 round picks.

Mayo
Spikes
Fletcher

Ninkovich
OLB
Scott
Cunningham

Three of four seem set, with competition for that fourth spot in place, but more needed/wanted.

Wilfork
Love
Pryor
Fanene

The interior of the line seems set at the top, for both the 3-4 and 4-3, although a backup nose would be a great pickup.

That leaves the defensive end position, along with the aforementioned OLB spot, as the areas in most need. Surely going something like

DE/DT/OLB
DE/DT/OLB
WR
DE/DT/OLB

would be giving enough priority to the defense, assuming that open safety spot is filled by Landry/Nelson. And, if it's not, you can change one of the DE/DT/OLB picks to a safety. It's still a 3:1 focus on defense, with a 3rd and 4th still in play (although I'd be in favor of trading the 3rd into 2013 and using the 4th to accumulate picks later in the 2012 draft).

 

[ATippett56]

Wouldn't you say he at least deserved a chance to compete for a spot. No harm in that. Make him an offer. Let him compete for a spot with Locket and Barrett. And if you really want to cut someone for cause. Sergio Brown should be FIRST on that list...... Not James IHedigbu

Maintaining the status quo with Ihedigbo and Barrett and Lockett and Brown will not improve the New England Patriots defense. It's time to move on. Steve Gregory can compete for special teams as well as any safety or safeties selected in the 2012 NFL Draft.

 

[PYPER]

How did the reclamation project work with Albert Haynesworth?

I don't understand the criticism here. Haynesworth was a low risk/high reward acquisition. It didn't work out but its not like we gave up the farm to get him. I hear the haters, like Chris Carter, pointing to Haynesworth and Ocho as proof that BB needs a GM but never any mention of guys like Carter, Anderson, or Waters who were all HUGE scores last season. No front office bats one thousand but show me another organization that's been as consistent as the Patriots over the past decade. Show me another organization that's completely turned over its roster as the Patriots have since 2008 while still winning at the pace we have. I mean, gosh, we've completely rebuilt our team over the last three years and yet still have added three division titles, two #1 seeds, and an AFC Championship to our resume. This idea that anything other than a Super Bowl Championship is a failure is ridiculous and actually diminishes what an amazing accomplishment it is to win the Super Bowl, let alone multiple Super Bowls.

I mean lets be real here. BB's drafting and player acquisition skills are ripped daily in the media and yet we're coming off back-to-back #1 seeds and a Super Bowl appearance for a team where something like 80 % of our players weren't here three years ago. Accuse me of drinking the Kool-Aid all you want but when that Kool-Aid is made by the world's greatest chef with only the finest ingredients in all the land, I'm OK with that. Not only will I proudly go back for seconds, I'll make sure I bring a much larger cup as well.

);p

 

[ATippett56]

How many positions do you think they're shooting for?

Chung
S2
Gregory

Another strong safety and another free safety is required to upgrade the New England Patriots defense. That is two draft picks. I'm not sold on Steve Gregory as the starting free safety for the New England Patriots defense.

McCourty
Dowling
Arrington

Those "six" seem pretty set. At that point, you're looking for depth players, not top 2 round picks.

Dowling has yet to play a full season in the NFL and who knows what to expect from McCourty during the 2012 NFL Season. Cornerback is a high priority draft pick.

Mayo
Spikes
Fletcher

Ninkovich
OLB
Scott
Cunningham

Three of four seem set, with competition for that fourth spot in place, but more needed/wanted.

A 3-4 outside linebacker is a high priority draft pick, no lower than the second round draft selection obtained from the Oakland Raiders. I'm not sold on Scott or Jermaine Cunningham for the 2012 NFL Season. This assumption is based on Belichick migrating back to the 3-4 defense.

Wilfork
Love
Pryor
Fanene

The interior of the line seems set at the top, for both the 3-4 and 4-3, although a backup nose would be a great pickup.

That leaves the defensive end position, along with the aforementioned OLB spot, as the areas in most need.

3-4 RDE - Deaderick
3-4 NT - Wilfork, Love, Brace
3-4 LDE - ???

Defensive line interior pass rush specialists: Fanene, Pryor

Surely going something like

DE/DT/OLB
DE/DT/OLB
WR
DE/DT/OLB

would be giving enough priority to the defense, assuming that open safety spot is filled by Landry/Nelson.

There is no guarantee that the New England Patriots will obtain either LaRon Landry or Reggie Nelson. Besides, LaRon Landry is another achilles tendon injury away from the injured reserve list.

I don't see the need to draft a wide receiver in the first two rounds when the New England Patriots pass offense was the second most productive in NFL history and the New England Patriots just acquired wide receiver Brandon Lloyd in unrestricted free agency.

And, if it's not, you can change one of the DE/DT/OLB picks to a safety. It's still a 3:1 focus on defense, with a 3rd and 4th still in play (although I'd be in favor of trading the 3rd into 2013 and using the 4th to accumulate picks later in the 2012 draft).

The New England Patriots defense needs the following upgrades:

3-4 Left Defensive End
3-4 Outside Linebacker(s)
Cornerback
Strong Safety (the backups are completely wretched to Patrick Chung)
Free Safety (not sold on Steve Gregory)

 

[patsfan13]

I think you made a mistake. I went to Pro Football Reference.
Actually at NFL.com, he is tied with a group at 40

NFL Stats: by Player Position

I think you may have just search AFC only, because he would be 18th there.

You are correct my bad.

 

[supafly]

Maintaining the status quo with Ihedigbo and Barrett and Lockett and Brown will not improve the New England Patriots defense. It's time to move on. Steve Gregory can compete for special teams as well as any safety or safeties selected in the 2012 NFL Draft.

I will certainly agree, but the likelihood of at least ONE of them staying remains rather high.

I think the argument that some are making regarding Ihedigbo (including myself) is that out of the 4 that you mentioned, he is probably the best suited to stay; due to his knowledge of the schemes and valuable reps that he got throughout the season.

No one wants to see any of them on the field too much, if at all.

We'll see what BB comes up with, and how he views the situation.

 

[ATippett56]

I will certainly agree, but the likelihood of at least ONE of them staying remains rather high.

I think the argument that some are making regarding Ihedigbo (including myself) is that out of the 4 that you mentioned, he is probably the best suited to stay; due to his knowledge of the schemes and valuable reps that he got throughout the season.

No one wants to see any of them on the field too much, if at all.

We'll see what BB comes up with, and how he views the situation.

Ihedigbo may have knowledge but is devoid of talent. Has he even been re-signed?

 

[supafly]

Ihedigbo may have knowledge but is devoid of talent. Has he even been re-signed?

No, not yet.

Maybe not ever!

I don't think it's out of the ordinary that he hasn't been signed as of yet though, so I'm not sure if we should read too much into that.

I understand your reasoning, I don't think he's that great either. My argument is that when you consider the others, he is the lesser of the evils + he knows the system.

Sometimes bringing in an outsider that does not isn't the best approach. I trust that BB will make the right choice.

 

[Deus Irae]

Another strong safety and another free safety is required to upgrade the New England Patriots defense. That is two draft picks. I'm not sold on Steve Gregory as the starting free safety for the New England Patriots defense.

The Patriots don't play a free/strong safety pairing. They play left and right. As for Gregory, he's the 3rd safety in, a la Sanders.

They need one safety, not two.

 

[Deus Irae]

McCourty
Dowling
Arrington

Dowling has yet to play a full season in the NFL and who knows what to expect from McCourty during the 2012 NFL Season. Cornerback is a high priority draft pick.

This is one of the weakest arguments you've ever put forth. Dowling has never played a full season in the NFL, so grabbing some kid who's never played a full season in the NFL is a high priority?

Come on, man. Be better than that.

 

[Deus Irae]

A 3-4 outside linebacker is a high priority draft pick, no lower than the second round draft selection obtained from the Oakland Raiders. I'm not sold on Scott or Jermaine Cunningham for the 2012 NFL Season. This assumption is based on Belichick migrating back to the 3-4 defense.



3-4 RDE - Deaderick
3-4 NT - Wilfork, Love, Brace
3-4 LDE - ???

Defensive line interior pass rush specialists: Fanene, Pryor

There is no guarantee that the New England Patriots will obtain either LaRon Landry or Reggie Nelson. Besides, LaRon Landry is another achilles tendon injury away from the injured reserve list.

Yes... as I mentioned, DT/DE/OLB with 2-3 of the first 4 picks, depending upon whether the team needs to draft a safety due to the inability to grab another starter level safety in free agency.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't see the need to draft a wide receiver in the first two rounds when the New England Patriots pass offense was the second most productive in NFL history and the New England Patriots just acquired wide receiver Brandon Lloyd in unrestricted free agency.

The need is obvious. Even with the Lloyd signing, the WR corps is lacking, both in current talent and in youth for the future. You're a smart enough poster that I'm sure you see that.

The New England Patriots defense needs the following upgrades:

3-4 Left Defensive End
3-4 Outside Linebacker(s)
Cornerback
Strong Safety (the backups are completely wretched to Patrick Chung)
Free Safety (not sold on Steve Gregory)

They don't need an upgrade at corner if they're confident in what they have. At this point, if they're confident that McCourty will bounce back, they only need competition for the CB4 and CB5 spots, and that's not worth spending a first or second round pick on this year.

They don't need any strong or free safeties, because they don't play their safeties that way. They need another starting safety, and they need competition at the S4 and S5 spots. Again, that's not worth spending a first or second round pick on this year, unless they fail to reel in that starting safety via free agency.

They need at least one OLB, and they need at least one DE. Furthermore, they realistically should look to getting another NT, both to help Wilfork out and to begin grooming his successor, and to getting another DE even assuming Carter returns.

 

[Ring 6]

You are correct my bad.

No problem. Wasnt really checking up on you, just found it interesting and stumbled on that.
HOWEVER, being the 40th ranked WR in a 32 team league is also pretty impressive when you consider he was on the field with 3 guys who put up 291-3800-36.
He ranks (reception wise) at the end of the top 10 of 2nd WRs when he had to contend with 3 teammates getting more than some entire teams.

 

[VrabelJr]

I think there is about a 0% chance BB takes a Safety before the 3rd round in this horrible class. The value just doesn't match up with our need. And as of right now, Gregory is the starter next to Chung. That's certainly cause for concern but drafting a bunch of defensive talent isn't going to fix anything this year anyway. Luckily there's still a ton of LB free agents available and maybe BB thinks Fanene can play the 5-tech in our 3-4 (I really pray he can, I wanted Red Bryant so bad ah well).