Meeting needs in April

[mgteich]

As of April 9th the patriots had many, many needs, as documented (whined about) at length. Let's see how we did.

QUARTERBACK
ROBINSON - a developmental quarterback.

WIDE RECEIVER
HOLT - a starting top level WR to stretch the field opposite Moss
PRICE - a developmental WR (to compete with Tate)

TIGHT END
GRANKOWSKI - a first round quality solution
HERNANDEZ - a second round quality solution; he is also an h-back

OFFENSIVE LINE
LARSEN - the #3 center available as a devlopmental OL; 4th rounder per dryheat44
WELCH - a developmental OT; 6th round quality per dryheat44

RUNNING BACK
Clearly, the team judged that the time is next year. We already have a young starter, three solid veterans and a developmental back.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Lewis - a very good veteran
Warren - a JAG veteran, a former #1, should be a reasonable #7 DL
Deaderick - a late round DE that dryheat44 had as a late 3rd or early 4th round talent
Weston - a Practice Squad DT

LINEBACKER
Spikes - a GREAT ILB pick, may allow us to try Guyton outside (we also have McKenzie)
Cunningham - our young solid OLB

DEFENSIVE BACK
McCourty - We needed a corner; the value was there in the first; belichick got his man and
in effect picked up a 2011 2nd rounder by moving down in the first.

PUNTER
Mesko - long hang time and the best at dropping the ball behind the 20
=================

BOTTOM LINE

Are you kidding???!!! We got almost evertything we wanted for Christmas.

We didn't get a premier pass-rusher. I take it that Belichick didn't like who was available. And we didn't get a the 4th round running back that folks wanted, even though such a player probably wouldn't have played much in 2010 (we'll take care of RB next year).

We met our needs. We ended up with 6 top 100 players (per Gosselin) and a starting punter!

 

[Deus Irae]

They haven't come close to meeting the DE need. Also, I don't expect that any o-lineman drafted this weekend is the answer to "who can step in when Neal goes down and really hold down the fort?" for this season.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

They haven't come close to meeting the DE need. Also, I don't expect that any o-lineman drafted this weekend is the answer to "who can step in when Neal goes down and really hold down the fort?" for this season.

careful, you will be accused of sayin the sky is fallin, except your are only speaking the truth...

 

[Patspsycho]

As of April 9th the patriots had many, many needs, as documented (whined about) at length. Let's see how we did.

QUARTERBACK
ROBINSON - a developmental quarterback.

WIDE RECEIVER
HOLT - a starting top level WR to stretch the field opposite Moss
PRICE - a developmental WR (to compete with Tate)
ANDERSON- size and frame upside, extremely durable (1 of only 3 with receptions in every game played in college.)

TIGHT END
GRANKOWSKI - a first round quality solution
HERNANDEZ - a second round quality solution; he is also an h-back

OFFENSIVE LINE
LARSEN - the #3 center available as a devlopmental OL; 4th rounder per dryheat44
WELCH - a developmental OT; 6th round quality per dryheat44

RUNNING BACK
Clearly, the team judged that the time is next year. We already have a young starter, three solid veterans and a developmental back.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Lewis - a very good veteran
Warren - a JAG veteran, a former #1, should be a reasonable #7 DL
Deaderick - a late round DE that dryheat44 had as a late 3rd or early 4th round talent
Weston - a Practice Squad DT
Love - thick squat frame, inside plugger.

LINEBACKER
Spikes - a GREAT ILB pick, may allow us to try Guyton outside (we also have McKenzie)
Cunningham - our young solid OLB

DEFENSIVE BACK
McCourty - We needed a corner; the value was there in the first; belichick got his man and
in effect picked up a 2011 2nd rounder by moving down in the first.
Brown - ????

PUNTER
Mesko - long hang time and the best at dropping the ball behind the 20
=================

BOTTOM LINE

Are you kidding???!!! We got almost evertything we wanted for Christmas.

We didn't get a premier pass-rusher. I take it that Belichick didn't like who was available. And we didn't get a the 4th round running back that folks wanted, even though such a player probably wouldn't have played much in 2010 (we'll take care of RB next year).

We met our needs. We ended up with 6 top 100 players (per Gosselin) and a starting punter!

Updated to reflect UDFA signing.

 

[efin98]

Updated to reflect UDFA signing.

You missed Kyle Love at DT and Sergio Brown at safety

 

[Marqui]

They haven't come close to meeting the DE need. Also, I don't expect that any o-lineman drafted this weekend is the answer to "who can step in when Neal goes down and really hold down the fort?" for this season.

True. The Pats still have concerns at OL, DE, and OLB. I think they're better off than last year but probably not an SB contender yet. Hopefully there are still more additions to be made.

 

[Patspsycho]

You missed Kyle Love at DT and Sergio Brown at safety

Went back and updated it, then saw your post. Do not know anything about Brown.

 

[RobertWeathers]

They haven't come close to meeting the DE need. Also, I don't expect that any o-lineman drafted this weekend is the answer to "who can step in when Neal goes down and really hold down the fort?" for this season.

Why? Because they didn't land Seymour 2.0? Lewis is functional. Warren is big enough to do something constructive.

Neal going down is a concern no question. BB would not have resigned him had he felt a replacement was on the roster.

 

[efin98]

Went back and updated it, then saw your post. Do not know anything about Brown.

Just signed in the last hour or so...announcement should be forthcoming.

 

[Deus Irae]

Why? Because they didn't land Seymour 2.0? Lewis is functional. Warren is big enough to do something constructive.

Neal going down is a concern no question. BB would not have resigned him had he felt a replacement was on the roster.

Kindly list all the great games Lewis has had in the 3-4 during his NFL tenure.

As for Neal going down not being a great concern, come on. Anyone watching this team since 2007 knows that's not true.

And Warren has been crap in Cleveland, Denver and Oakland. Odds are very good that he'll be crap in New England, too.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Damione Lewis is a very good veteran?,by who's standards?

He's a JAG hoping to make the team like Gordon and the others,What is so special about the career thus far of Lewis?.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Kindly list all the great games Lewis has had in the 3-4 during his NFL tenure.

You are right. No one who has played in a 4-3 has even been successful in a 3-4. The Pats did line up in the 4-3 many times last year as well.

As for Neal going down not being a great concern, come on. Anyone watching this team since 2007 knows that's not true.

I did say it was a concern. The Pats interior line is a weaker unit w/o Neal.

And Warren has been crap in Cleveland, Denver and Oakland. Odds are very good that he'll be crap in New England, too.

You don't stay in the NFL for 10 years if you are crap. Terdell Sands is crap. Gerard Warren may be overrated and never met expectations as the 3rd pick in the draft, but hes not crap.

Both Warren and Lewis are 4-3 guys. The writing is on the wall.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Damione Lewis is a very good veteran?,by who's standards?

He's a JAG hoping to make the team like Gordon and the others,What is so special about the career thus far of Lewis?.

The fact that he has played in 131 games and started 67 of them qualifies him as solid, unspectacular veteran depth. 22 career sacks aren't too shabby for in interior lineman as well.

Hes not a JAG.

 

[BradyMossWelker]

Kindly list all the great games Lewis has had in the 3-4 during his NFL tenure.

As for Neal going down not being a great concern, come on. Anyone watching this team since 2007 knows that's not true.

And Warren has been crap in Cleveland, Denver and Oakland. Odds are very good that he'll be crap in New England, too.

Crap??
Starting everygame you've played in 4 straight years, in any NFL franchise is crap?
Starting every game two years in a row is crap?
Starting all of the games in the last two seasons is crap??

If a DE isn't as good as Ty Warren or Seymour he is crap in PatsFans standards. Damione Lewis is also a very good player who started a LOT of games and here you guys bash him.
I think this way, EVERY player who is starting in a bad team, can start or be a good backup in a good team. Thats exactly what Lewis and Warren are.

 

[Ring 6]

careful, you will be accused of sayin the sky is fallin, except your are only speaking the truth...

Nah, thats reserved for people who post that 7-9 teams that lose more players than they gain have moved light years ahead of us.

 

[Ring 6]

True. The Pats still have concerns at OL, DE, and OLB. I think they're better off than last year but probably not an SB contender yet. Hopefully there are still more additions to be made.

I think that its fair to assume that relying on Ohernberger, a 4th last year, or Kaczur moving inside, or last years backups to replace Neal if he is injured is not unrealistic and as good a plan as 90% of teams have to backup a G.
I think we are fine at DE with Warren on one side and Wright, Lewis, Pryor and G Warren all in the mix on the other side. Sure its good to have 11 all-pros out there, but that group is more than capable.
OLB remains a question mark, but we've done a lot to address it, and will probably do more.

 

[Ring 6]

Damione Lewis is a very good veteran?,by who's standards?

He's a JAG hoping to make the team like Gordon and the others,What is so special about the career thus far of Lewis?.

He has been a solid if unspectacular DL, like many players that have played DE on successful BB defenses, such as Bobby Hamilton, Rick Lyle, Anthony Pleasant, Leonard Marshall, George Martin, Rob Burnett, Jarvis Green, and others who were not part of an all #1 pick DL.
He isn't going to a pro-bowl, but he can play 2gap run defense in the base, and can probably get a little pressure up the middle if he is called on to in sub packages. Thats not a terrible thing. If thats the worst player we have on the field, we are going to have a great defense.

 

[Gwedd]

Right now, the biggest threats I see in the division are the new receivers that Miami and the JETS have landed, Marshall and Holmes, respectively. BB countered that nicely by drafting a CB.

I still see us as matching up very well with any other threat from Miami, JETS or Buffalo as we stand right now.

It's still early, but I'm not really concerned about any other team at the moment. I like what's been done so far.

Respects,

 

[patsfan13]

Kindly list all the great games Lewis has had in the 3-4 during his NFL tenure.

As for Neal going down not being a great concern, come on. Anyone watching this team since 2007 knows that's not true.

And Warren has been crap in Cleveland, Denver and Oakland. Odds are very good that he'll be crap in New England, too.

Kaczur to RG and Sea Bass at RT no problem.

 

[Metaphors]

As of April 9th the patriots had many, many needs, as documented (whined about) at length. Let's see how we did.

Looking at it a little differently:

Passing Offense
============
Lots of new targets for Brady. Mitigates the loss of Welker for a while while still reducing the load for Moss. Gronk should also be able to help in protection.
---With Brady fully healthy, much improved.

Rushing Offense
============
Gronk should also be able to wall off the outside pursuit (which is likely why the Pats wanted to make sure they got him). This isn't Larsen's year, but he really stabilized the NC State line and looks like a leader.
---About the same.

Passing Defense
============
McCourty and Spikes both excel in zone coverage. Cunningham isn't a traditional 3-4 OLB but his role will likely be in sub packages initially anyway.
---Unknown. The pieces are improved but need to see the scheme first.

Rushing Defense
============
Spikes adds toughness and smarts to the middle. Added a ton (literally) of competition at 3-4 end. Only 1 or 2 of Lewis, Richard, Deaderick, Weston, Warren will make the 53. All have the right size/strength and only the best will survive since Belichick went all Darwinian on the position.
---Slight improvement, unless every one of the base RDE candidates flop.

Kick Defense
=========
Mesko improves the punting game just by...well, not being dead or imaginary. If he gets close to reaching his potential, he could really change field position which has a domino-effect on both the offense and defense. McCourty is solid in coverage but don't think he will be needed there or used much unless he displaces someone like Slater.
---Major improvement.

Kick Return
========
If McCourty gets a lane, he is a weapon. He isn't a shake-n-bake guy so he needs to get to full speed to be really effective.
---Unknown. Pats blocking needs to improve to realize any gains.

So I see the passing offense getting its swagger back while the base 3-4 defense adds a little toughness. The kicking game should see the biggest improvement, which is huge since that area hasn't pulled its weight since the title years.

The wildcard is the pass defense. Every layer has skill and smarts. Potentially even some quality depth. The key is going to be matching a scheme to the talent. If the Pats have a vanilla 4-man outside rush and play run-n-chase coverage, it will be a long year. Throw out some different rush packages with combo coverage behind it (much like the "walkin' around" LB looks late last year) and the Pats should be able to get off the field when they need to.