March 6 53-man roster

[mgteich]

Yes, Watson is our #3 WR. I would prefer to have a true WR in that position. I do agree with regard to Maroney. I also agree that Watson can be effective in his last year.

Maroney is still very cost-effective. I wouldn't trade him unless someone offers a 2nd round pick, which I think is extremely unlikely.

Thomas I would trade in a second. His contract is up after next year, and he has shown nothing to justify it. DeVrees and Listorti are reasonable depth, and if we signed Mike Leach at LS he could be our 3rd TE as well.

I see us using Watson as a "WR" a lot this year to stretch the field. I think he will be much more effective in tandem with a true Dan Graham-type TE in Chris Baker.

 

[mayoclinic]

I made the list as of now. Of course, some players will be replaced on the roster by free agents, trades or rookies. The following 14 are especially vulnerable. There is plenty of room for upgrades and developmental rookies.

OL Connelly, Yates, O'Callagan
RB BJGE, Maroney
QB Gutierrez
TE Thomas
DL Adams
LB Redd, Ruud
DB Richardson, Spann
ST Alexander, Ventrone

I am not especially advocating trading Maroney or Thomas, but I could see them traded if the right situation came up. I could see bring in a fullback and a certain TE in the second round (or even keeping Listorti or DeVree).

I don't see Maroney as "vulnerable". Tradeable for the right offer maybe, but not vulnerable.

I think that Banta-Cain and Alexander are more vulnerable than Redd, who has shown nice flashes of potential and has a much higher upside.

 

[mgteich]

I agree on Maroney, Alexander and Redd.

With regard to Banta-Cain, he is a top special teamer, and I expect him to make the team if he is not expected to see the field as a linebacker, except in emergencies. That being said, I also think that he will beat out Redd for a positional LB spot.

I don't see Maroney as "vulnerable". Tradeable for the right offer maybe, but not vulnerable.

I think that Banta-Cain and Alexander are more vulnerable than Redd, who has shown nice flashes of potential and has a much higher upside.

 

[mgteich]

I did another adding rookies, a trade for Holt, but no free agents. I would note that there are other players that Belichick or you all might pick. The important thing is that ability to upgrade though the draft. There would still be room for some free agency signings. If we draft a corner like Bodden, I would not expect to draft a corner, and would instead trade the pick into 2010.

23 LB Maualuga replaces Ruud
34 OL Unger replaces Yates
47 S Delmas replaces Spann
58 DL Hood replaces Adams
89 WR Holt (trade plus perhaps a 2010 pick) takes Connelly's spot
99 CB Domonique Johnson replaces Richardson (fa is more likely at Cb with the pick to 2010)
120 OT Murtha (replaces O'Callaghan or LeVoir)
186 QB Cantwell (replace Gutierrez)

After a week of free agency and 12 signings, see below for our 53-man current roster plus five who are very unlikely to make the squad. I've listed those as "Practice Squad" players.

======================
MG’s ROSTER AS OF MARCH 6

OFFENSE (26)
QB (3) Brady, O'Connell, CANTWELL/fa
RB/FB (5) Taylor, Faulk, Morris, Maroney, BJGE/fa
WR (6) Moss, Welker, HOLT/fa, Lewis, Aiken, Slater
TE (3) Watson, Baker, Thomas
OT (4) Light, Kaczur, LeVoir, MURTHA
OG/C/LS (5) Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Hochstein, UNGER

DEFENSE (25)
DL (6) Wilfork, Seymour,Warren, Green, Smith, HOOD
LB (10) Thomas, Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi, Woods, Crable, Banta-Cain, Alexander, Redd, MAUALUGA
DB (9) Hobbs, Springs, Wilhite, Wheatley, D. JOHNSON/fa, Meriweather, Sanders, DELMAS, Ventrone

SPECIALISTS (2)
K (1) Gostkowski
P (1) Hanson

PRACTICE SQUAD
Wendell, Listorti, DeVree, Craig, Malone, Ruud, Adams,Connelly

 

[JackBauer]

We still have much improving to do in free agency, trades and in the draft. I believe that this team will be as good as both the 2007 and 2008 teams in all aspects of the game.

Well, let me ask the question. Compare the offense, defense and special teams to 2007 and 2008. Would this team expected to be better, the same or not as good by midseason and into the playoffs?

OFFENSE
I think the offense is already at least as good as 2007 with the addition of Taylor and Baker. I do believe that we need to add a wide receiver and a fullback. Then, there should be no question. I'm not saying the stats will be better. We may have a slow start.

DEFENSE
This is certainly a work in progress. We are already as good as the injury-depleted squad that we fielded last year. From 2007, we are down Vrabel, Samuel and Harrison; and Bruschi is slowing down. We have made additions, but more are needed.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Gost is the best. Hanson is fine. Our coverages are improved.

MY BOTTOM LINE
As someone else posted, we need to upgrade at linebacker and in the secondary.

I think we could upgrade at OT and WR, if the opportunity presents itself.

My positional needs, in order, would be LB, WR, OT, S, CB. I don't think the need to upgrade at CB is that great.

 

[JackBauer]

Where is Lewis Sanders?

 

[mgteich]

Lewis Sanders is an unrestricted free agent and therefore not part of the team. I would be happy to welcome him back.

Where is Lewis Sanders?

 

[JackBauer]

Lewis Sanders is an unrestricted free agent and therefore not part of the team. I would be happy to welcome him back.

Ah, I thought he was still under contract.

They should definitely bring him back.

 

[cstjohn17]

So far so good, I think there are 80 spots at the start of camp.

22 or so left to go. About 8 draft picks, 8 UDFAs and 4 or 5 more JAGS.

 

[mgteich]

Presuming that we don't sign Taylor or Holt, we should be able to have 2-3 mid level free agent pickups in addition to the UDFA's and jags. Belichick is pretty good with free agent value. I would note that Lewis cost us a net of about $300K of cap money.

So far so good, I think there are 80 spots at the start of camp.

22 or so left to go. About 8 draft picks, 8 UDFAs and 4 or 5 more JAGS.

 

[rookBoston]

Dont give up on Moroney, people. A bit fragile, perhaps, but he's been productive when healthy.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Agreed about Maroney. He has shown flashes of great ability, and needs to show the ability to stay healthy. If (big if) he can, then he along with Taylor and Morris gives them a very strong running game, with Faulk getting yards on draws as well. I like the potential there is to draft a good amount of young defensive talent, and have some real depth there, which has not been the case in recent years. Overall I would say they are in very good shape right now, and have a lot of time to address some of their areas of concern.

As stated by a previous poster, this is going to be a very hard roster to make. They already are shaping up as a pretty deep team, barring injury and pending future moves of course.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

mg,

Please link to the Shawn Springs signing.

To date I've only found stories reporting NE has "reached an agreement" with Springs, since those reports three days ago there has been no actual report of his signing, just a few people taking it on faith that he did sign.

 

[Pats726]

mg,

Please link to the Shawn Springs signing.

To date I've only found stories reporting NE has "reached an agreement" with Springs, since those reports three days ago there has been no actual report of his signing, just a few people taking it on faith that he did sign.

You are correct...but I think all have taken it on faith that he will become a Patriot...

 

[Dragda]

Now only if we could develop a pass rush. We can only hope.

I agree that the number one issue with our team is the pass rush. We need a monster DL addition that can be disruptive yet solid against the run. We need a new Seymour. With all these picks, it can happen.

 

[mgteich]

1) There is not a new Seymour in this draft (BTW, he was a top 10 pick)
2) Even if there were such a player, he would be a top 10 pick, and we will not trade three of our top 6 picks to move up.
3) I agree that we should be drafting a DL. We have 7 picks in the top 120, so as you say we have the picks available.
4) A defensive lineman would not get many reps, since we already have Seymour, Wilfork, Warren and Green. The problem is not the DL.
5) The place where we can help the pass rush most is by adding a top OLB or DE/OLB tweener. We could pick two of these players with our first two picks, if we do not sign Jason Taylor.

I agree that the number one issue with our team is the pass rush. We need a monster DL addition that can be disruptive yet solid against the run. We need a new Seymour. With all these picks, it can happen.

 

[Pats726]

1) The place where we can help the pass rush most is by adding a top OLB or DE/OLB tweener. We could pick two of these players with our first two picks, if we do not sign Jason Taylor.

I think that is agreed upon...OLB is the player needed..a true OLB or a DE/LB tweener..I am not sure the team needs two...one might be OK if he's teh right fit..a lot may depend on how they view the players that they have now..although I sense that they do not see one stepping up and taking that position easily. Might there be another player besides Taylor in FA? I look at this LB position as the big hole that needs to be filled...with the secondary next in line.