my blueprint for next year

[ayjackson]

I really don't anticipate Seymour being extended. When healthy, he's been great. Even when he isn't healthy, he's good. His health is almost always an issue. I expect it to be even more of an issue over the next five years. Of course, it comes down to price, but I'd imagine Seymour wouldn't mind a change of scenery.

 

[mgteich]

FURTHER COMMENTS
A) I think that we should give Britt a 3rd tier RFA tender ($1.5M). He would compete with Levoir and O'Callaghan for the backup roster spots. I fixed my original post and also the copy below. I have little confidence in O'Callahan's long-term durability (or Neal's)
B) OK. Let's extend Seymour, if we can!!
C) I would sign Gaffney even if I were planning to draft a wide receiver (which is fine)
D) From your draft comments, it would seem that you think best value on Day One would be at CB, ILB and WR, the three positions that you do not mention as being readily available on Day 2. That is convenient since we have three Day One picks. If we implement the plan that we have agreed upon, there will less need at the other positions on Day One, freeing us up to go after value.

1) Sign Practice Squad players (5 of 7 already done) check
2) Franchise and trade Cassel for a 2010 pick. check
3) Tender Woods (2nd or 3rd tier) and Britt (3rd tier) Uh, how many Woods do we have again?
4) Tender all the ERFA's check
5) Re-sign Paxton, Evans, Hochstein, Hanson and Lew Sanders. check
6) Re-sign Tank Williams, Seau, Colvin and/or Harrison if they are physically able and willing. Williams, maybe. Harrison, maybe. Seau, no. Colvin, maybe.
7) RE-SIGN WRIGHT check
8) EXTEND WILFORK check
9) Extend Green check
10) Extend Mankins check
11) Trade Seymour for a 2009 pick extend
12) Re-sign Gaffney or free agent equivalent I'd like to use this slot for a draft WR to groom behind Moss.
13) Re-sign James Sanders (the current captain of the secondary) check
14) Sign the normal host of free agent defensive backs for camp. check
15) Make ZERO major free agent acquisitions (I have used the cap money on extensions) check
==================================
We are now ready for the draft. Presuming a ..... third for Samuel, we will have 5 picks of the top 100 (first three rounds).

When I see how much of the above happens, I will have a better idea of my draft priorities. If all this happens, I would be looking for a DE, OG, ILB, DB and a TE in the first three rounds, with all the emphasis on value rather than need. I think the team below can win the division and go deep into the playoffs without counting on rookies as major contributers.

As things currently stand, I believe a good DE candidate can be found Day Two, same for TE, OG, and S. If you want a CB, then try to get one early.

If Wright can be re-signed, then this draft can be used to shop for high value playmakers. LB, CB, S, TE, OL, WR, DL in no particular order.

 

[Jimke]

I really don't anticipate Seymour being extended. When healthy, he's been great. Even when he isn't healthy, he's good. His health is almost always an issue. I expect it to be even more of an issue over the next five years. Of course, it comes down to price, but I'd imagine Seymour wouldn't mind a change of scenery.

Seymour would love a change of scenery for Dwight Freeney money.

I think you may see him stay away from training camp in 2009 if

the Pats don't give him an adjustment to his 2009 salary.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

FURTHER COMMENTS
A) I think that we should give Britt a 3rd tier RFA tender ($1.5M). He would compete with Levoir and O'Callaghan for the backup roster spots. I fixed my original post and also the copy below. I have little confidence in O'Callahan's long-term durability (or Neal's)

Britt is not worth $1.5M as the #4 OT, if you want him back sign him to a vet minimum deal at half the price. O'C has had his health issues, but as a reserve, he's not as critical and can be replaced the same way the Pats grabbed LeVoir off waivers.

Neal's durability is a concern, but when he's on, he's All-Pro level. Take an OC/OG in Rd 3 if you really feel it's an issue, but I'd let Connelly, Hochstein, and Yates battle it out and look for a Scarnecchia project on the waiver wire - then draft a stud in 2010 if needed.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Britt is not worth $1.5M as the #4 OT, if you want him back sign him to a vet minimum deal at half the price. O'C has had his health issues, but as a reserve, he's not as critical and can be replaced the same way the Pats grabbed LeVoir off waivers.

Neal's durability is a concern, but when he's on, he's All-Pro level. Take an OC/OG in Rd 3 if you really feel it's an issue, but I'd let Connelly, Hochstein, and Yates battle it out and look for a Scarnecchia project on the waiver wire - then draft a stud in 2010 if needed.

Neal has an extra month or so this offseason to heal up and should have a great start to the 2009 season.

After watching Urbik have his way with the FSU DL earlier in the bowl season, I would love to see him road grading for us, IF BB does not draft Unger.

PS: Urbik would still need a year in the Dante "school of ballet" and a year with Wiocik working on S&C before being entrusted with protecting Brady.

But while Unger is 2nd round material, Urbik could be had in the 5th or 6th.

 

[DaBruinz]

Neal has an extra month or so this offseason to heal up and should have a great start to the 2009 season.

After watching Urbik have his way with the FSU DL earlier in the bowl season, I would love to see him road grading for us, IF BB does not draft Unger.

PS: Urbik would still need a year in the Dante "school of ballet" and a year with Wiocik working on S&C before being entrusted with protecting Brady.

But while Unger is 2nd round material, Urbik could be had in the 5th or 6th.

Why not add BOTH?

 

[cstjohn17]

MG's JANUARY 1 BLUEPRINT FOR THE OFFSEASON

1) Sign Practice Squad players (5 of 7 already done)
2) Franchise and trade Cassel for a 2010 pick.
3) Tender Woods (2nd or 3rd tier) and Britt (3rd tier)
4) Tender all the ERFA's
5) Re-sign Paxton, Evans, Hochstein, Hanson and Lew Sanders.
6) Re-sign Tank Williams, Seau, Colvin and/or Harrison if they are physically able and willing.
7) RE-SIGN WRIGHT
8) EXTEND WILFORK
9) Extend Green
10) Extend Mankins
11) Trade Seymour for a 2009 pick
12) Re-sign Gaffney or free agent equivalent
13) Re-sign James Sanders (the current captain of the secondary)
14) Sign the normal host of free agent defensive backs for camp.
15) Make ZERO major free agent acquisitions (I have used the cap money on extensions)
==================================
We are now ready for the draft. Presuming a second for Seymour and third for Samuel, we will have six picks of the top 100 (first three rounds).

When I see how much of the above happens, I will have a better idea of my draft priorities. If all this happens, I would be looking for a DE, OG, ILB, DB and a TE in the first three rounds, with all the emphasis on value rather than need. I think the team below can win the division and go deep into the playoffs without counting on rookies as major contributers.
==================================
OFFENSE (18)
QB (2) Brady, O'Connell
RB (3) Maroney, Faulk, Morris
WR (4) Moss, Welker, Gaffney/fa, Aiken
TE (2) Watson, Thomas
OL (7) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, Hochsein, Levoir

DEFENSE (19)
DL (5) Wilfork, Warren, Green, Wright, Smith
LB (7) Thomas, Vrabel, Woods, Mayo, Guyton, Bruschi, Colvin/Seau
DB (7) Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, L Sanders, Meriweather, J. Sanders, Williams

SPECIALISTS (3)
K (1) Gostkowski
P (1) Hanson
DS (1) Paxton

SPECIAL TEAMERS (6)
ST (6) Evans, Washington, Slater, Ventrone, Spann, Redd

BACKUPS (7) often inactive
QB (1) Gutierrez
RB (1) BJGE
OL (2) Yates, Callaghan/Britt
TE (1) DeVree
LB (1) Crable
DL (1) Adams

PRACTICE SQUAD LEVEL PLAYERS
Ruud, Wendell, Connolly, Robertson, Malone, Craig

I have broken it down to the level you have but I am pretty much right there with you. Basically the theme for 2009 will be "prepare to be under whelmed..."

There are some huge free agents after the 2009 season, the Patriots won't have the cap space to lock these players up and sign premium free agents. Especially if Cassell is franchised (I expect them to franchise him).

My guesses

• D Line - Wright leaves, Seymour stays
• CB - middle of the road CB signed, Hayden (Colts), McFadden (Steelers)
• Safety - again middle of the road player Sanders, Sean Jones, etc.
• Extend - Wilfork or Mankins or Seymour
• Try to extend Kaczur and Hobbs

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Why not add BOTH?

That is a possibility I guess. If BB spends most of his 1st through 3rd round picks on defense, he could still grab Unger in the second and Urbik in the fifth or sixth while still loading up on back 8 defenders.

 

[DaBruinz]

I like your idea of picking up a medium-priced WR in FA. Shaun MacDonald would be fine. I also like the idea of Devery Henderson from New Orleans, who is 26 and has a lot of ability. He seems to me like he might be a more athletic version of Deion Branch and would be a good complement to Moss-Welker. Resign Gaffney at a reasonable rate and let him fight it out with Henderson or MacDonald for #3/#4 WR, and we would be set.

Devery Henderson is junk. The guy can't run a route to save his life. Even when Horn was out and then Colston was out, he couldn't pick up the slack. Patten and Lance moore had to..

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I'd just like to know who the idiot was that gave me a negative rep for starting this thread...........at least there was a sizeable amount of real football talk discussed.........

you should at least have the spine to let yourself be known instead of leaving garbage anonymously

that said, I don't see jarvis green being extended.......I think it is much more likely that he and his 2M roster bonus are jettisoned in favor of extending a more versatile mike wright

the terrell suggs thing is a real stretch, but the pats need to acquire that kind of ability at OLB or they are in trouble at that position since outside of thomas, the position is an empty shell now and their prospects don't show much in the overall potential, and there is no immediate impact in the draft.......and if the postition does not get addressed, it is rather pointless to spend big $$ on the secondary since they will get picked apart if the pats dont get a pass rush out of the OLB position

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Devery Henderson is junk. The guy can't run a route to save his life. Even when Horn was out and then Colston was out, he couldn't pick up the slack. Patten and Lance moore had to..

with the QB situation not 100% clear for the start of 2009, outside of moss, the pats need to have the kind of WR core that they had when brady was being developed......even if brady comes back '100%' at the start of 2009, the pats will be better served by scaling back what was done in 2007 in favor of reducing the number of hits on the QB......I would expect more production from the TE postion next year, also

 

[Synovia]

I like a lot of your offseason points, but don't see some happening. Suggs is probably too rich for our blood, and his productivity has been spotty, though BB was clearly a fan of his early on. Tauscher is reasonable, but we could probably do better spending the Suggs $$ on OL. I think Jordan Gross would be a great fit, could play either LT or RT allowing us to eventually move Light to RT and Kaczur as a backup or possibly guard. He has the size profile of a typical pats OL and the versatility that BB loves.

We had one of the best offenses in the league with a QB who hadn't played in years. I don't think the offense should be the priority, and if it is, Guard is the position that we need an upgrade at. KAczur isn't perfect, but hes ok, and hes cheap. Neal, while good, is a straight up liability. Both him and Mankins are coming to the end of their deals, and Mankins has to be the priority. Hes younger, arguably a better player, and doesn't have the injury history.


The defense needs to be the priority

 

[Synovia]

the terrell suggs thing is a real stretch, but the pats need to acquire that kind of ability at OLB or they are in trouble at that position since outside of thomas, the position is an empty shell now and their prospects don't show much in the overall potential, and there is no immediate impact in the draft.......and if the postition does not get addressed, it is rather pointless to spend big $$ on the secondary since they will get picked apart if the pats dont get a pass rush out of the OLB position

I disagree that the prospects don't show potential. I think Crable and Redd show a ton of potential. The problem is they're both projects, and a couple years off. I'd be looking at one of them to replace Thomas in 2011 or 2012. We need someone to replace Vrable now.

 

[mgteich]

Would defense be THE priority if we re-signed Wright, Sanders, Sanders, Woods AND extended Wilfork, Hobbs and Seymour or Green? Personally, I don't think so. Sure, I would still want a CB, a S and an ILB, but the priority would be much, much less depending on which OL's were re-signed, acquired or extended.

There is more than the situation at OG. Last I noticed, our starting slot WR receiver was Welker with no backups. And the outside receivers are Moss, Aiken and Washington. Our weak TE group are all signed on through 2009 and no further (as well deserved). Some would think that acquiring receivers is a priority.

We had one of the best offenses in the league with a QB who hadn't played in years. I don't think the offense should be the priority, and if it is, Guard is the position that we need an upgrade at. KAczur isn't perfect, but hes ok, and hes cheap. Neal, while good, is a straight up liability. Both him and Mankins are coming to the end of their deals, and Mankins has to be the priority. Hes younger, arguably a better player, and doesn't have the injury history.


The defense needs to be the priority

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I disagree that the prospects don't show potential. I think Crable and Redd show a ton of potential. The problem is they're both projects, and a couple years off. I'd be looking at one of them to replace Thomas in 2011 or 2012. We need someone to replace Vrable now.

redd is still an unknown.......crable is OK, but he'd be the lightest OLB the pats have ever put out there and I have serious reservations about how well he can support the run.....right now, OL's will basically crush him.......

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Last I noticed, our starting slot WR receiver was Welker with no backups. And the outside receivers are Moss, Aiken and Washington. Our weak TE group are all signed on through 2009 and no further (as well deserved). Some would think that acquiring receivers is a priority.

Bubba is in training to backstop Welker, Gaffney was primary backstop last season, Washington could also play out of the slot. That said, I'm on record advocating a WR on Day One to develop behind Moss.

 

[mayoclinic]

We had one of the best offenses in the league with a QB who hadn't played in years. I don't think the offense should be the priority, and if it is, Guard is the position that we need an upgrade at. KAczur isn't perfect, but hes ok, and hes cheap. Neal, while good, is a straight up liability. Both him and Mankins are coming to the end of their deals, and Mankins has to be the priority. Hes younger, arguably a better player, and doesn't have the injury history.


The defense needs to be the priority

The defense should definitely be the priority. Personally, I would like to see us cover a few holes in FA (ideally OT/G, TE/WR, and a midrange CB, though that may be a bit much) and then rebuild the defense through the draft. I would love to see us become more of an attacking, disruptive kind of defense such as Pittsburgh or Baltimore, and would love to see us load up on players who might be able to wreak havoc - Greg Hardy (who I think will be a Jared Allen clone in a few years) and Connor Barwin are my personal favorites. Crable and Redd definitely have potential, and Robertson may as well, but I kind of like the Giants' philosophy that you can't have too many pass rushers.

Signing a mid-range CB in FA such as Jabari Greer or Bryant McFadden and either resigning James Sanders or signing a comparable replacement (e.g., Sean Jones from Cleveland) would allow us to focus on DE/LB and pass rushers. We need to get much more pressure on the QB. Looking at defensive stats from 2008 we were reasonable in terms of our overall defense, run defense, and pass defense, but terrible in the red zone, giving up 27 TDs (compared to 6 for Indy). Our overall opponent percentage passes completed was around 60%, but our opponent QB rating was a whopping 89 because of our red zone defense. I think that this reflects the lack of pressure that we put on opposing QBs. We need a defense that pressures the passer, disrupts opponents' gameplans, and causes turnovers much more frequently.