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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.No prob. I didn't want people to think we had that much money and see a slew of let's sign Suh proposalsThat's what "some of it will be required to get under the cap" was meant to convey. My bad if I wasn't clear.
No dt available at the end of the first round in this draft could step in and start from day one. But some could contribute in 2015.
We are drafting a dt for 2016.
While I agree we need more pass rushers, if we can not stop the run, why would teams pass against us.
FWIW I've taken Mbu off my board. Tested horribly at the combine -was last or second last in almost every category amongst DTs. I'm starting to orient towards Simon, Leterrius Walton or Angelo Blackson for a run-stopping DT.Would like to sign Branch since we let VW go. He seemed productive whenever he played. The question to me is do we go for a guy like; Mbu, Hardison or McCarthy at 96,97 or 102? They might be as good as a dt you get at 32. Though, I would take Goldman if he is there.
Alan Branch (picked up as a free agent in whom no other team seemed to have any interest) played 11 games for the Patriots in 2014. He was signed expressly and only to improve the interior run defense. In those 11 games, he amassed 13 tackles, none for a loss, and managed to see the field on 14.8% of the defensive snaps. Despite his only asset being a supposed ability to stop the run, the Patriots interior run defense remained porous throughout the rest of the year and he had trouble even getting on the field. He wasn't even remotely mediocre, never mind productive. Now we have lost VW to further weaken the position. Yet our plan for next year to fortify our biggest defensive deficiency is to resign Branch and further bolster the position with a rookie taken at the end of the third round? Which of us is dreaming?
He had 13 tackles in less than 15 pct of snaps. He can play more if he's put in there. Wilfork played over 70pct of the snaps and had 28 tackles. Produced at a much better clip than VW. You can't mix percentages and then totals when using stats.
I'm hoping the pats can somehow get Kendrick Ellis or Dan Williams on the cheap. I think if we're able to plug in one maybe even both(doubt it) then that should truly mitigate the loss of VW. Hopefully an early draft pick can help. I think the where the loss of VW is going to be felt is when it comes to leadership. Hopefully we can resign D-Mac and mayo( if he returns, and restructures) can lessen that problem.
Also idk if it was mayock or kiper who did the latest mock, but they didnt have bud Dupree in the first. Now they had the pats taking Carl Davis. Would you guys rather have Davis or Dupree? I personally would take Dupree. I think he would be able to replace ayers production and possibly do it better then he did.
He had 13 tackles in less than 15 pct of snaps. He can play more if he's put in there. Wilfork played over 70pct of the snaps and had 28 tackles. Produced at a much better clip than VW. You can't mix percentages and then totals when using stats.
I'm real high on them bringing in Kenrick Ellis.
He's 6'5 345 of our run stuffing goodness. PFF Highlighted him in their 2014 "Secret Superstar series" saying
"Despite never playing more than 16 snaps against the run in a game all season, he definitely made the most of his opportunity. In his first game despite playing just 18 snaps, he had three highly-graded plays thanks to beating his block to make run stops. There was not a single game where he had a negative rating in run defense all season.
He ended up making 17 run stops on 114 run snaps on the season, which gave him a Run Stop Percentage of 14.9%. Over the last six years, John Henderson in 2010 was the only defensive or nose tackle with at least 100 snaps against the run and a better Run Stop Percentage."
His 2014 production was almost identical, go look at his 2014 PFF grades. He looks like the perfect cheap player to replace Wilfork.
Boy, I'm surprised by this. The Pats secondary looks in real danger of getting weaker next year and the line has lost it's only reliable interior player yet we are comfortable with those four question marks. To recap, Saliga has looked promising but, after bouncing around a couple practice squads, has been injured as often as not playing five games in 2013 and seven last year. Easley has great potential but obviously represents a significant injury risk as well as uncertain playing ability especially against the run. Ellis has been a part time player for three seasons after going later in the draft than he seemed to merit due to character concerns and questions regarding work ethic. Then add bright shiny new toy Marcus Hardison and the aforementioned Alan Branch round out the list. Not a single player who can be penciled in as even reliable never mind an upgrade,or provide interior pressure on the qb, but you think it's a solid approach.... The irony is that Chris Jones, who is pretty weak overall, has been the most reliable member of the group and he's the one getting jettisoned.
It obviously doesn't have to be Suh, but really?
Boy, I'm surprised by this. The Pats secondary looks in real danger of getting weaker next year and the line has lost it's only reliable interior player yet we are comfortable with those four question marks. To recap, Saliga has looked promising but, after bouncing around a couple practice squads, has been injured as often as not playing five games in 2013 and seven last year. Easley has great potential but obviously represents a significant injury risk as well as uncertain playing ability especially against the run. Ellis has been a part time player for three seasons after going later in the draft than he seemed to merit due to character concerns and questions regarding work ethic. Then add bright shiny new toy Marcus Hardison and the aforementioned Alan Branch round out the list. Not a single player who can be penciled in as even reliable never mind an upgrade,or provide interior pressure on the qb, but you think it's a solid approach.... The irony is that Chris Jones, who is pretty weak overall, has been the most reliable member of the group and he's the one getting jettisoned.
It obviously doesn't have to be Suh, but really?
I think Kendrick Ellis plus re-signing Alan Branch in addition to Sealver Siliga would give the Pats a nice rotation of big DTs to go heavy, at very reasonable cost. Upgrade Chris Jones with Marcus Hardison in the draft, and add a healthy Easley, and the Pats would have a very decent young DT rotation with a variety of skill sets.
Dan Williams would also be a nice fit, but I think he'd be much more pricy than Ellis.
I think you have to put together the best defense that you can within your budget. Personally, I think Suh is a pipe dream. He's looking for $16M+, and I'm pretty sure he won't take a discount for the Pats.
I'm still hoping that at least one of Revis and McCourty can be kept, and I haven't given up hope for both. I'm assuming that the money to spend on a DT will be limited. Probably my top options to replace VW would be Dan Williams or Terrance Knighton, but there are a lot of teams who could use a good run stuffing NT. If either is affordable within our budget I'd make a run. Ellis would be my next option. I think Branch can probably be kept fairly cheaply, and provides useful depth, but I'd like someone younger to build around.
If Revis and McCourty both go elsewhere then I'd certainly like a more dominant DT, but other than Suh I don't see anyone who fits that description. Jared Odrick would be a nice pickup, but he's not a consistently dominant player.
First I just want to say, I always read and listen to anyone who's post's opinion, including yours. With that being said, I think your overreacting a little. On top of that, I'm not sure you understand different formations and how the Patriots and BB tend to use them, and also tend to switch them on a yearly, or even weekly basis. To top it off, you have nothing but negative things to say, yet offer no real solution.
Tell me, what do you think we should do? Try to bring in Suh? Because let me tell you, I'm almost willing to bet my house that isn't going to happen. Its nice to fantasize, but you have to look at things from a more realistic salary cap approach.
Also BJ raji is another highly versatile option who might come cheap. Although, reports are saying he's going back to GB