Looking ahead to the 2011 draft... WOW

[patchick]

*Ahem*

There's a draft forum for all the wild speculation and high draft jinks

I'll move the thread eventually, but with the newly added pick it seems to have sparked some general interest now.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

I can't believe how many misconceptions people have about Trent Richardson. First and foremost, he is not draft eligible. So forget about him till at least next year. Second, I have seen him compared to Jamaal Charles and to MJD by posters on this board. That baffles me. He's between 5'11 and 6'0 and about 225. That's clearly way bigger than either of those backs, and he doesn't play close to either of their styles. He's a bruising, powerful, inside runner who also has breakaway speed. In fact, if I compared him to any current NFL player it would be Adrian Peterson. He runs over, around, and through people on a regular basis.

Also, I am going to go out on a limb here and disagree with Patchick ( ) about our draft needs. I'd put OLB above RB, which I think is pretty deep next year. Otherwise, I defer to her superior knowledge. *grin*

 

[patchick]

Also, I am going to go out on a limb here and disagree with Patchick ( ) about our draft needs. I'd put OLB above RB, which I think is pretty deep next year. Otherwise, I defer to her superior knowledge. *grin*

You -- *gulp* -- DISAGREED???

Oh, actually you didn't. I should clarify, I'm not suggesting a higher draft pick for RB, just that there's a more urgent roster hole to fill. Going into 2011 with Banta-Cain, Cunningham and Ninkovich seems more workable than going in with Green-Ellis, ____ and _____.

Oh, and I did goof on Stephen Neal's contract, I thought it was just one year. But I still think OL ranks (barely) as the biggest need area barring re-sigings of Light & Mankins.

 

[Metaphors]

You -- *gulp* -- DISAGREED???

Oh, actually you didn't. I should clarify, I'm not suggesting a higher draft pick for RB, just that there's a more urgent roster hole to fill. Going into 2011 with Banta-Cain, Cunningham and Ninkovich seems more workable than going in with Green-Ellis, ____ and _____.

Oh, and I did goof on Stephen Neal's contract, I thought it was just one year. But I still think OL ranks (barely) as the biggest need area barring re-sigings of Light & Mankins.

Assuming none of the FAs re-sign, the Pats will have these obvious needs:
OT
OG/C
DE
OLB
WR
RB

The Pats have 4 premium picks and this draft looks to have a significant talent drop after about 70 players (assuming top JRs declare). Here is how I would rank the needs vs. the quality of the draft where the Pats top picks should fall:

OLB - Only if Quinn is available. Otherwise slide this back a little.
RB - Only if Belichick loves Ingram. Otherwise grab one of the Faulk replacements later and look to FA for RB.
DE - Lots of candidates available. Should be enough available to last to pick #32.
WR - If all the top JRs declare, one should slip to late 1st or Panthers #2. If you miss that run, forget WR early in this draft.
OT - Don't like the top OT in this draft, but some interesting players (Solder particularly) should be available with the later 2nd.
OG/C - I'm sure they will draft an interior lineman, I just wouldn't do it early.

I see the 3rd and both 4ths being used to move around to fill 4 of these needs. I don't anticipate collecting mid-round picks or trading down in this draft. Either trade up or trade out.

 

[patsfaninpa]

RB's are dime a dozen. Do you really think BB is going to risk a 1st round pick on another RB? No.

Very few become game breakers, this team will have other needs in the first couple rounds. I do think it would be good to get one in the 4th or 5th.

If Moss leaves, I want Green. Then get a stud DE with the other pick.

I agree that you can find good backs outside of the first round. But, what do these backs have in common?

Adrian Peterson
Chris Johnson
Dangelo Williams
Jonathan Stewart
K. Moreno
Ryan Matthews
R. Mendenhall
Ronnie Brown
Rickie Williams
L. Tomlinson
W. McGahee
Chris Wells
Steven Jackson
Thomas Jones
Cadillac Williams
J. Addaii
Fred Taylor
D. McFadden
Cedric Benson
CJ Spiller
M. Lynch
F. Jones

All first rounders. The next guys were 2nd rounders. Almost all of the starting rb's in the league have been 1st or 2nd round picks. Easier to list the ones that aren't.

2nd Round
R.. Rice
M. Jones-Drew
L. McCoy
C. Portis
Julio Jones
S. Greene
M. Forte


Non 1st or 2nd rounders
R. Grant
M. Bush
F. Jackson
J. Harrison
A. Foster
B. Jacobs
M. Barber

I think you would have to say that if you wanted a rb. You would choose one that was a 1st or 2nd round pick. Sure, you can find a diamond in the rough. But, it's very difficult. I wouldn't have a problem taking an olb, de and ol with my 1st three picks. But, then I'd like a rb. Provided we sign R.Moss. Or, trade for a rb. Maybe one of the Carolina guys.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2011 projected draft priorities: Defense

Safety: High Priority
-- Meriweather and Chung both required a season to develop.
-- McGowan and Page are signed through this season.
-- Meriweather and Sanders are signed through 2011.

Defensive Line: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Brace, Wright, Deadrick, Warren, Richard, Pryor, Wilfork are all signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Love was a pleasant surprise whom we could expect to see extended while he's inexpensive.
-- Weston remains an unknown, yet one with similarities to young Vollmer as far as raw potential.

Outside Linebacker: Target of Opportunity
-- TBC & Ninkovich are signed through 2012.
-- BB is shopping for another Rosevelt Colvin/Mike Vrabel type, but he's not going overboard to find them.
-- Cunningham and to everyone's surprise, Crable, are in development.

Inside Linebacker: Low Priority
-- Guyton signed through 2011.
-- Mayo & Spikes signed through 2012 or longer.
-- McKenzie is still in the hunt and I liked Fletcher's instinctive play for a kid in a new position.

Cornerback: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- McCourty and Butler are signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Wheatley and Wilhite are signed through 2011.
-- You can never have too many good CBs.


2011 projected draft priorities: Offense

Tackle: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Light has a couple years left in him, I expect an extension. Ojinnaka is a wait and see option.
-- Kaczur and Vollmer are signed through 2012.
-- Levoir is signed through 2011.
-- Maneri is a project.

Guard: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Neal and Connolly are signed through 2011.
-- Kaczur is signed through 2012.
-- Wendell, Orhnberger, and Ojinnaka are under consideration.

Center: Koppen is signed through 2011, his reserves are Guards.

Tight End: Low Priority
-- Crumpler is signed through 2011.
-- Gronkowski and Hernandez are signed through 2013.

Wide Receiver: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Edelman, Tate, and Price are signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Welker is signed through 2011.
-- Moss, I hope to see him re-signed (and I'd love to see Welker extended for the same length to keep them together).
-- NE keeps stirring the pot at the back of the roster, so far so good.

Runningback: Likely Target, Late Round Priority (we know the arguments)

Quarterback: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- NE will keep mining the later rounds and UDFA prospects for another Tommy Cassel.


Specialists: Low Priority

Coverage Specialists: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority

 

[Ochmed Jones]

2011 projected draft priorities: Defense

Safety: High Priority
-- Meriweather and Chung both required a season to develop.
-- McGowan and Page are signed through this season.
-- Meriweather and Sanders are signed through 2011.

Defensive Line: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Brace, Wright, Deadrick, Warren, Richard, Pryor, Wilfork are all signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Love was a pleasant surprise whom we could expect to see extended while he's inexpensive.
-- Weston remains an unknown, yet one with similarities to young Vollmer as far as raw potential.

Outside Linebacker: Target of Opportunity
-- TBC & Ninkovich are signed through 2012.
-- BB is shopping for another Rosevelt Colvin/Mike Vrabel type, but he's not going overboard to find them.
-- Cunningham and to everyone's surprise, Crable, are in development.

Inside Linebacker: Low Priority
-- Guyton signed through 2011.
-- Mayo & Spikes signed through 2012 or longer.
-- McKenzie is still in the hunt and I liked Fletcher's instinctive play for a kid in a new position.

Cornerback: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- McCourty and Butler are signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Wheatley and Wilhite are signed through 2011.
-- You can never have too many good CBs.


2011 projected draft priorities: Offense

Tackle: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Light has a couple years left in him, I expect an extension. Ojinnaka is a wait and see option.
-- Kaczur and Vollmer are signed through 2012.
-- Levoir is signed through 2011.
-- Maneri is a project.

Guard: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Neal and Connolly are signed through 2011.
-- Kaczur is signed through 2012.
-- Wendell, Orhnberger, and Ojinnaka are under consideration.

Center: Koppen is signed through 2011, his reserves are Guards.

Tight End: Low Priority
-- Crumpler is signed through 2011.
-- Gronkowski and Hernandez are signed through 2013.

Wide Receiver: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Edelman, Tate, and Price are signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Welker is signed through 2011.
-- Moss, I hope to see him re-signed (and I'd love to see Welker extended for the same length to keep them together).
-- NE keeps stirring the pot at the back of the roster, so far so good.

Runningback: Likely Target, Late Round Priority (we know the arguments)

Quarterback: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- NE will keep mining the later rounds and UDFA prospects for another Tommy Cassel.


Specialists: Low Priority

Coverage Specialists: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority

Very nice analysis, thanks for posting this.

On the safety analysis, is Chung signed through 12?

If you want BB to draft a safety early in April then look no further than Alabama's Barron. Can play free or strong. Covers and supports the run. I think he had 7 INT's as a sophomore in the SEC last season. Plus I think he forced 3 fumbles as well. PLAYMAKER!!!!!!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Very nice analysis, thanks for posting this.

On the safety analysis, is Chung signed through 12?

If you want BB to draft a safety early in April then look no further than Alabama's Barron. Can play free or strong. Covers and supports the run. I think he had 7 INT's as a sophomore in the SEC last season. Plus I think he forced 3 fumbles as well. PLAYMAKER!!!!!!

Miguel has him UFA in March of 2013.

 

[patsfaninpa]

2011 projected draft priorities: Defense

Safety: High Priority
-- Meriweather and Chung both required a season to develop.
-- McGowan and Page are signed through this season.
-- Meriweather and Sanders are signed through 2011.

Defensive Line: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Brace, Wright, Deadrick, Warren, Richard, Pryor, Wilfork are all signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Love was a pleasant surprise whom we could expect to see extended while he's inexpensive.
-- Weston remains an unknown, yet one with similarities to young Vollmer as far as raw potential.

Outside Linebacker: Target of Opportunity
-- TBC & Ninkovich are signed through 2012.
-- BB is shopping for another Rosevelt Colvin/Mike Vrabel type, but he's not going overboard to find them.
-- Cunningham and to everyone's surprise, Crable, are in development.

Inside Linebacker: Low Priority
-- Guyton signed through 2011.
-- Mayo & Spikes signed through 2012 or longer.
-- McKenzie is still in the hunt and I liked Fletcher's instinctive play for a kid in a new position.

Cornerback: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- McCourty and Butler are signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Wheatley and Wilhite are signed through 2011.
-- You can never have too many good CBs.


2011 projected draft priorities: Offense

Tackle: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Light has a couple years left in him, I expect an extension. Ojinnaka is a wait and see option.
-- Kaczur and Vollmer are signed through 2012.
-- Levoir is signed through 2011.
-- Maneri is a project.

Guard: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Neal and Connolly are signed through 2011.
-- Kaczur is signed through 2012.
-- Wendell, Orhnberger, and Ojinnaka are under consideration.

Center: Koppen is signed through 2011, his reserves are Guards.

Tight End: Low Priority
-- Crumpler is signed through 2011.
-- Gronkowski and Hernandez are signed through 2013.

Wide Receiver: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Edelman, Tate, and Price are signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Welker is signed through 2011.
-- Moss, I hope to see him re-signed (and I'd love to see Welker extended for the same length to keep them together).
-- NE keeps stirring the pot at the back of the roster, so far so good.

Runningback: Likely Target, Late Round Priority (we know the arguments)

Quarterback: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- NE will keep mining the later rounds and UDFA prospects for another Tommy Cassel.


Specialists: Low Priority

Coverage Specialists: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority

Have to disagree on a couple of positions.

Safety - High priority .- I'd say low. Happy with starters and depth.

DL - Late round opportunity. - I like M.Wright as a decent player. But, I see him as more as a part of a rotation. I think a 3-4 de is a need. If Heyward or Dareus on board with Oakland pick. I'd be shocked if we passed on them. Unless, it was for R. Quinn.

OL - S. Neal and D.Koppen are closer to the end of their careers than their prime. I'd love to get a kid who can play c/g early. I wouldn't be against taking a T if Light's salary demands too high and we keep Mankins.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Have to disagree on a couple of positions.

Safety - High priority .- I'd say low. Happy with starters and depth.

DL - Late round opportunity. - I like M.Wright as a decent player. But, I see him as more as a part of a rotation. I think a 3-4 de is a need. If Heyward or Dareus on board with Oakland pick. I'd be shocked if we passed on them. Unless, it was for R. Quinn.

OL - S. Neal and D.Koppen are closer to the end of their careers than their prime. I'd love to get a kid who can play c/g early. I wouldn't be against taking a T if Light's salary demands too high and we keep Mankins.

I think Box is saying that because safeties need a red shirt year and only Chung is signed past 2011, that we need to grab a developmental safety in this draft to give the kid a year to learn the system. It makes sense.

I am also concerned at the massive amount of communication breakdowns our secondary has when Meriweather is in there. It could be me, but the more Merriweather played in the second half, the worse the pass defense looked.

There is no doubt in my mind that there is a reason Sanders is starting over Merriweather and I think that based (my opinion only) on Merriweather's apparent lack of football intelligence/communications skills, pre-snap that is; he appears to me to be dumb as a box of rocks. (No pun intended.)

I think OT is a huge need regardless of what happens with Light. OG's and C are the easiest to find/develop. But every team needs three legitimate OT's and I am not sold on Levoir.

 

[UofApatsfan]

I'd love to hear how safety is a high priority. Meriweather and Chung will be the starters for the next several years at the least, beats me why they'd use a high pick on a safety.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I am also concerned at the massive amount of communication breakdowns our secondary has when Meriweather is in there. It could be me, but the more Merriweather played in the second half, the worse the pass defense looked.

Box would know better than I, but I would chalk at least some of that to the Patriots D turning the dial from "ATTACK! KILL!" to "HARASS! SLOW THEM DOWN!"

 

[Off The Grid]

I agree that you can find good backs outside of the first round. But, what do these backs have in common?

Adrian Peterson
Chris Johnson
Dangelo Williams
Jonathan Stewart
K. Moreno
Ryan Matthews
R. Mendenhall
Ronnie Brown
Rickie Williams
L. Tomlinson
W. McGahee
Chris Wells
Steven Jackson
Thomas Jones
Cadillac Williams
J. Addaii
Fred Taylor
D. McFadden
Cedric Benson
CJ Spiller
M. Lynch
F. Jones

All first rounders. The next guys were 2nd rounders. Almost all of the starting rb's in the league have been 1st or 2nd round picks. Easier to list the ones that aren't.

2nd Round
R.. Rice
M. Jones-Drew
L. McCoy
C. Portis
Julio Jones
S. Greene
M. Forte


Non 1st or 2nd rounders
R. Grant
M. Bush
F. Jackson
J. Harrison
A. Foster
B. Jacobs
M. Barber

I think you would have to say that if you wanted a rb. You would choose one that was a 1st or 2nd round pick. Sure, you can find a diamond in the rough. But, it's very difficult.

Think again.

5th ~ Michael Turner
7th ~ Derrick Ward
3rd ~ Frank Gore
4th ~ Marion Barber
4th ~ Brandon Jacobs
4th ~ Darren Sproles
UFA ~ Ryan Grant
4th ~ Leon Washington
5th ~ Jerome Harrison
4th ~ Michael Bush
7th ~ Jason Snelling
7th ~ Ahmad Bradshaw
3rd ~ Jamaal Charles
4th ~ Tashard Choice
6th ~ Deji Karim
UFA ~ Joique Bell
UFA ~ Danny WoodHead

...And that's just in the last few years.

Drafting an RB or WR in the first 2 Rounds is virtually ALWAYS a mistake.

* Invest HEAVILY in O Lines and D Lines.

* Fill IN...with Late Round SCRAPPERS at RB + WR...

* Win some @#$%^&*ing CHAMPIONSHIPS.

 

[jsull87]

Think again.

5th ~ Michael Turner
7th ~ Derrick Ward
3rd ~ Frank Gore
4th ~ Marion Barber
4th ~ Brandon Jacobs
4th ~ Darren Sproles
UFA ~ Ryan Grant
4th ~ Leon Washington
5th ~ Jerome Harrison
4th ~ Michael Bush
7th ~ Jason Snelling
7th ~ Ahmad Bradshaw
3rd ~ Jamaal Charles
4th ~ Tashard Choice
6th ~ Deji Karim
UFA ~ Joique Bell
UFA ~ Danny WoodHead

...And that's just in the last few years.

Drafting an RB or WR in the first 2 Rounds is virtually ALWAYS a mistake.

* Invest HEAVILY in O Lines and D Lines.

* Fill IN...with Late Round SCRAPPERS at RB + WR...

* Win some @#$%^&*ing CHAMPIONSHIPS.

I agree with your "draft lines" in theory but thats only if there is comparable talent there. E.g say we had the same pick the vikings had in 2007 (round where i think the raiders pick will be) The dt's and OLB's and DE's just do't have the same talent at that pick and AP was the best option there

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

After watching my recording of Iowa @ Arizona

OLB types - Arizona's Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore, Reed has shown some nice strength at the point of attack. We should keep an eye on both of these kids.

DE types - Iowa: Karl Klug is drawing double-teams routinely, he's reportedly giving up 70 lbs to the Sr. RG and 30 lbs to the Sr. C (NFLDS #3 C) and they still have to double him. Ballard might be better as a 4-3 DE, he's got the stats, but with double-teams on Klug and RB/TE help on Clayborn, Ballard is getting a lot of 1-on-1 battles.
Arizona: Lolomana Mikaele, Iowa can't seem to move him off the LOS. They also double him on passing downs too. He could be a good late round/UDFA prospect.

Arizona's LT Adam Grant is handling Adrian Clayborn, but he also gets RB/TE help time and again. I'm not sure Clayborn is a good 3-4 fit.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

California @ Nevada

California

DE Cameron Jordan - for those who don't already know, he's a 3-4 DE in this defense. He's more active in this game then he was in the Colorado game.

ILB Mike Mohamed - game time decision.

RB Shane Vereen - (Jr.) NE fans want to keep an eye on this kid, he's got good third down potential, or a better way to phrase it, he's a Faulk-like every down player if he can learn to block the blitz.

OLB/DE Keith Browner - NE OLB sized, he appears to also take the occasional rep at DE in Cal's 3-4. Potential UDFA.

Nevada

OLB Dontay Moch - I remembered him being in the 250 range last season, apparently he's slimmed down to 236. Speed rusher off the edge, it's notable Cal runs away from him.

TE Virgil Green - Receiving TE, but he's not afraid to throw a block either.

RB Vai Taua - Productive RB, inside or outside.

DE Ryan Coulson - 3-4 DE, but NE OLB sized. Playing on the Punt team. There's little doubt he can stack & shed OL. UDFA at best, but just an out of the box player to consider.

OT Jose Acuna - Speaking of out of the box thinking ... I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but after re-watching several plays, I found Nevada flips their OTs throughout the game. I wondered if at first they were using an unbalanced line, but no, they both just line up at either R or L tackle as the play is called. FWIW, this kid is a developed Swing Tackle. He needs to get stronger, and I'm not sure he's getting enough bend with his knees, but with NE's love of versatile OL, it was an interesting thing to discover in the game. He is very good at the next level working against LB or DB.

 

[Off The Grid]

I agree with your "draft lines" in theory but thats only if there is comparable talent there. E.g say we had the same pick the vikings had in 2007 (round where i think the raiders pick will be) The dt's and OLB's and DE's just do't have the same talent at that pick and AP was the best option there

Ah, but you're assuming that one stays at that slot.

And of course: You're using an extreme example: Adrian Peterson versus 2007's thin crew of TrenchMen.

They could've traded back, then traded forward, and ended up with at least 2 late 1st Rounders, a 5th, and a couple 7ths, and gone with this:

* OT Joe Staley at #28
* OG Ben Grubbs at #29
* OG Uche Nwaneri at #149
* RB Jason Snelling at #244
* RB Ahmad Bradshaw at #250

I cherry picked, of course, but so did you, with Adrian Peterson, and we both did so to highlight a point.

Even in an extreme case like Peterson's, the best way to build a Championship team is, in my opinion, to build from the inside out.

Consider, if you will:

When's the last time anyone won a Super Bowl with their own Top 10 WR or RB, within a DECADE of the pick, leading the way?

I exclude teams like the 2007 Giants, 2002 Bucs, and the 2000 Ravens, who had such guys contribute, but who obviously rolled to the Super Bowl on the strength of their Defenses...

Answer: The 1977 Dallas Cowboys, with Tony Dorsett.

Defense + Dominant Road Graders win Championships.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

2011 projected draft priorities: Defense

Safety: High Priority
-- Meriweather and Chung both required a season to develop.
-- McGowan and Page are signed through this season.
-- Meriweather and Sanders are signed through 2011.

Defensive Line: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Brace, Wright, Deadrick, Warren, Richard, Pryor, Wilfork are all signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Love was a pleasant surprise whom we could expect to see extended while he's inexpensive.
-- Weston remains an unknown, yet one with similarities to young Vollmer as far as raw potential.

Outside Linebacker: Target of Opportunity
-- TBC & Ninkovich are signed through 2012.
-- BB is shopping for another Rosevelt Colvin/Mike Vrabel type, but he's not going overboard to find them.
-- Cunningham and to everyone's surprise, Crable, are in development.

Inside Linebacker: Low Priority
-- Guyton signed through 2011.
-- Mayo & Spikes signed through 2012 or longer.
-- McKenzie is still in the hunt and I liked Fletcher's instinctive play for a kid in a new position.

Cornerback: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- McCourty and Butler are signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Wheatley and Wilhite are signed through 2011.
-- You can never have too many good CBs.


2011 projected draft priorities: Offense

Tackle: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Light has a couple years left in him, I expect an extension. Ojinnaka is a wait and see option.
-- Kaczur and Vollmer are signed through 2012.
-- Levoir is signed through 2011.
-- Maneri is a project.

Guard: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Neal and Connolly are signed through 2011.
-- Kaczur is signed through 2012.
-- Wendell, Orhnberger, and Ojinnaka are under consideration.

Center: Koppen is signed through 2011, his reserves are Guards.

Tight End: Low Priority
-- Crumpler is signed through 2011.
-- Gronkowski and Hernandez are signed through 2013.

Wide Receiver: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- Edelman, Tate, and Price are signed through 2012 or longer.
-- Welker is signed through 2011.
-- Moss, I hope to see him re-signed (and I'd love to see Welker extended for the same length to keep them together).
-- NE keeps stirring the pot at the back of the roster, so far so good.

Runningback: Likely Target, Late Round Priority (we know the arguments)

Quarterback: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority
-- NE will keep mining the later rounds and UDFA prospects for another Tommy Cassel.


Specialists: Low Priority

Coverage Specialists: Target of Opportunity, Late Round Priority

I was asked a question about my Safety analysis and thought I might as well look this list over again.

Safety: All of the above is still valid. Meriweather is the key, was San Diego an aberration? Can he start playing more under control? More disciplined? Can he make himself over into the Safety we all hoped for? Until we know, I expect this to be top priority.

Defensive Line: Looking less and less like a major need.

Linebacker: I'm combining both here because I think NE has found their future.

Cornerback: You can never have too many good Cornerbacks.

Offensive Line: I'm combining all three positions here, I'm also raising the priority a little. I think NE will be shopping for a multi-tool OL.

Runningback: It's now a high priority, though I'm not convinced NE shops too high for one.

Wide Receiver: I don't know how to handicap this one, Price is looking more and more like he's a red shirt being developed for 2011. Welker, Tate, Edelman are all looking good, though better health would be nice. Branch is still a band aide, for now. I don't think NE is actively looking for a top WR, but I expect them to draft at least one in the mid rounds.

Tight End: Given how TE fits in the new plans, I can see NE shopping for another, preferably a receiving TE who can develop on the PSquad behind Hernandez.

Quarterback: They're always in season, late.

 

[patchick]

I was asked a question about my Safety analysis and thought I might as well look this list over again.

Safety: All of the above is still valid. Meriweather is the key, was San Diego an aberration? Can he start playing more under control? More disciplined? Can he make himself over into the Safety we all hoped for? Until we know, I expect this to be top priority.

I think there's a lot yet to be determined at safety. You can say that Chung & Meriweather needed a year to develop, but you can also say that Asante Samuel needed years to develop and McCourty sure hasn't. Plus it wasn't that long ago that we all agreed that LB was the slow-developing position that rookies couldn't possibly succeed at. Etc. I think a rookie safety could do fine with a vet like Chung or Sanders (who is surely re-signable) acting as the brains of the secondary.

All in all, I can't look at 2011 with Chung, Meriweather, Sanders & Brown all under contract and call that the #1 priority.

Defensive Line: Looking less and less like a major need.

I see more opportunity than need. If the juniors declare, this could be the first draft in a long time with multiple elite 3-4 DE prospects. I wouldn't pass that up.

Linebacker: I'm combining both here because I think NE has found their future.

I can't combine them in my mind, because of this: I think that adding a legit stud at OLB would make a much bigger impact on this defense than adding a stud ILB. ILB is looking truly stacked, while OLB is fairly deep and solid but could still use a real impact player.

Cornerback: You can never have too many good Cornerbacks.

Too true, alas. Bodden is missed.

Offensive Line: I'm combining all three positions here, I'm also raising the priority a little. I think NE will be shopping for a multi-tool OL.

OL is the opposite of DL to me -- high need, and unfortunately not a ton of opportunity in the talent pool. Not loving the OL prospects at this point.

Runningback: It's now a high priority, though I'm not convinced NE shops too high for one.

Agreed, I'd rather double up in the later rounds and go FA shopping for the next Fred Taylor.

Wide Receiver: I don't know how to handicap this one, Price is looking more and more like he's a red shirt being developed for 2011. Welker, Tate, Edelman are all looking good, though better health would be nice. Branch is still a band aide, for now. I don't think NE is actively looking for a top WR, but I expect them to draft at least one in the mid rounds.

It's a puzzle, partially because we have no clue about Price. Redshirt? Numbers game? Bust? Who knows? Even Tate is still an enigma. Again, though, this is an opportunity position that's loaded in the draft.

Tight End: Given how TE fits in the new plans, I can see NE shopping for another, preferably a receiving TE who can develop on the PSquad behind Hernandez.

"Shopping" for the practice squad definitely counts as lowwww priority.

Quarterback: They're always in season, late.

Yep, always. I'm enjoying watching Ryan Fitzpatrick, late-round binky of drafts past, make good.

Shapes up to be a fun draft, even with Oakland refusing to be as lousy as they ought to be.

 

[ZoisKing]

Good analysis on both sides. opcorn:

Before the season started, I was looking at DL and OLB being major areas of need.

However, Cunningham is making good progress and Ninkovich has come from out of nowhere to make plays for this defense. And the line has quality depth and has played much better than I expected.

On the other side, our offensive line has held up okay, but at times has shown to be overmatched at all spots. At WR, we lose Moss and Tate hasn't stepped up to the level we need at stretching the field.