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Patriots Off-season Preview (February edition)
Previously, I had posted off-season previews on ESPN. These would review the current state of the team and where I thought the team would be going with their off-season moves.
QB - Brady, Cassel, Mortensen - Cassel showed that he has real potential. Mortensen is being sent to NFLE and I think is TC fodder to keep Brady from having to make a lot of throws. I think the Patriots will try to add another free agent veteran, possibly trying to bring back Damon Huard.
RB – Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk, Earl Charles– This is a need area for the Pats. Faulk hasn't been able to stay healthy the last 2 years and this was Dillon's 2nd time in 3 years being hurt. The Pats have a 3 million option on Dillon to make a decision on. If they pick up the option, he's here through 2009. If they don't, he's still here through next year. The Pats worked out a BUNCH of player during the season because of injuries, including Quentin Griffin and Amos Zereoue. Zereoue was signed, but was a dud because of injury. Pats lost Kory Chapman to the Colts who didn’t use the kid hardly at all. Charles was invited to camp last year, but was cut. May just be TC fodder, but he was assigned to NFLE. I would expect either a draft pick or a free agent to be added here. Possibly someone like Jonathan Wells, LaBrandon Toefield, or Chester Taylor. In the draft, LenDale White would be nice. So would Laurence Maroney. Maurice Drew could be a more likely pick since he small, compact, and a bowling ball type player with speed. Drew could possibly return kicks and punts for the Pats.
FB – Patrick Pass – Pass did well, but he will be remembered for putting the ball on the ground during the Denver Game and forcing Dillon to enter and play injured. The Pats could use another H-back type player who is more FB than TE. Possibly someone via the draft like Matt Bernstein. Heath Evans could return because he did well in limited duty.
O-Line – Matt Light, Nick Kaczur, Logan Mankins, Brandon Gorin, Dan Koppen, Russ Hochstein, Jeff Roehl, Nick Steitz, - A starting RG is in order. Whether they draft one, let Hochstein try, Re-sign Neal, or bring in someone else, a RG is in order. A back-up at tackle is also in order. The Pats have shown they need at least 2 back-up tackles. And they have shown this every year BB has been a coach. I don't care for Brandon Gorin. Plus there is no guarantee that Ashworth will be back. A journeyman like him, with experience at RT and LT, could command a decent salary. Bringing in someone who could possibly replace Koppen should he decide to leave after the 2006 season could also be an option. BB did this when he drafted Koppen to replace Woody and Woody bolted after the 2003 season. Players I wouldn’t mind drafting include: Jonathan Scott, Jeremy Trueblood, Pat Ross, Greg Eslinger, Will Montgomery, Daryn Colledge, Charles Spencer, Chris Kuper, Jhari Evans. There aren't a lot of veterans available, yet. But with quite a few teams hurting in the cap (Jets *COUGH*) there could be some rather viable ones who would want a shot at a championship. The Pats could re-sign Yates, Krug and Tucker, designating Krug to NFLE.
TE – Daniel Graham, Ben Watson – Graham and Watson are entrenched as the top 2 TE s for the Pats. Watson should end up being the primary receiver of the two, but Graham has shown to be able to make some BIG plays happen when he’s given a chance. Graham continues to be a monster in blocking, but injuries caught up with him again. I would like to see BB draft another F-Back or H-Back type player (TE/FB combo) who can really throw opponents for a loop because they won’t know WTF is going on when all 3 are on the field. As I mentioned in the full-back section, another H-back or F-back type player would be nice here. Someone like Bernstein or possibly David Thomas would fit nicely on this team. My only concern with Thomas is his blocking abilities.
WR- Deion Branch, Bethel Johnson, “BAMâ€Childress, Rich Mushinski, John Stone – Troy Brown is hinting at the possibility of retirement. David Givens is likely on his way out for a big payday. If the Pats offered 5 years and 13-15 million, Givens should thank his lucky stars and take the deal. Andre Davis could be back. So could Tim Dwight. I honestly think that Bethel will be cut unless BB knows something no one else does about Bethel’s situation. PK Sam could be back since he is still very young and has a ton of potential. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pats signed a free agent like Joe Jurevicius, Peerless Price (longshot), Keenan McCardell, Reche Caldwell (would be a great punt returner for us). In the draft, I like Maurice Stovall, as well as, Jonathan Orr, Todd Watkins (who can ALSO perform kick off duties), Cory Rogers, or possibly another late rounder like a Miles Austin.
Previously, I had posted off-season previews on ESPN. These would review the current state of the team and where I thought the team would be going with their off-season moves.
QB - Brady, Cassel, Mortensen - Cassel showed that he has real potential. Mortensen is being sent to NFLE and I think is TC fodder to keep Brady from having to make a lot of throws. I think the Patriots will try to add another free agent veteran, possibly trying to bring back Damon Huard.
RB – Corey Dillon, Kevin Faulk, Earl Charles– This is a need area for the Pats. Faulk hasn't been able to stay healthy the last 2 years and this was Dillon's 2nd time in 3 years being hurt. The Pats have a 3 million option on Dillon to make a decision on. If they pick up the option, he's here through 2009. If they don't, he's still here through next year. The Pats worked out a BUNCH of player during the season because of injuries, including Quentin Griffin and Amos Zereoue. Zereoue was signed, but was a dud because of injury. Pats lost Kory Chapman to the Colts who didn’t use the kid hardly at all. Charles was invited to camp last year, but was cut. May just be TC fodder, but he was assigned to NFLE. I would expect either a draft pick or a free agent to be added here. Possibly someone like Jonathan Wells, LaBrandon Toefield, or Chester Taylor. In the draft, LenDale White would be nice. So would Laurence Maroney. Maurice Drew could be a more likely pick since he small, compact, and a bowling ball type player with speed. Drew could possibly return kicks and punts for the Pats.
FB – Patrick Pass – Pass did well, but he will be remembered for putting the ball on the ground during the Denver Game and forcing Dillon to enter and play injured. The Pats could use another H-back type player who is more FB than TE. Possibly someone via the draft like Matt Bernstein. Heath Evans could return because he did well in limited duty.
O-Line – Matt Light, Nick Kaczur, Logan Mankins, Brandon Gorin, Dan Koppen, Russ Hochstein, Jeff Roehl, Nick Steitz, - A starting RG is in order. Whether they draft one, let Hochstein try, Re-sign Neal, or bring in someone else, a RG is in order. A back-up at tackle is also in order. The Pats have shown they need at least 2 back-up tackles. And they have shown this every year BB has been a coach. I don't care for Brandon Gorin. Plus there is no guarantee that Ashworth will be back. A journeyman like him, with experience at RT and LT, could command a decent salary. Bringing in someone who could possibly replace Koppen should he decide to leave after the 2006 season could also be an option. BB did this when he drafted Koppen to replace Woody and Woody bolted after the 2003 season. Players I wouldn’t mind drafting include: Jonathan Scott, Jeremy Trueblood, Pat Ross, Greg Eslinger, Will Montgomery, Daryn Colledge, Charles Spencer, Chris Kuper, Jhari Evans. There aren't a lot of veterans available, yet. But with quite a few teams hurting in the cap (Jets *COUGH*) there could be some rather viable ones who would want a shot at a championship. The Pats could re-sign Yates, Krug and Tucker, designating Krug to NFLE.
TE – Daniel Graham, Ben Watson – Graham and Watson are entrenched as the top 2 TE s for the Pats. Watson should end up being the primary receiver of the two, but Graham has shown to be able to make some BIG plays happen when he’s given a chance. Graham continues to be a monster in blocking, but injuries caught up with him again. I would like to see BB draft another F-Back or H-Back type player (TE/FB combo) who can really throw opponents for a loop because they won’t know WTF is going on when all 3 are on the field. As I mentioned in the full-back section, another H-back or F-back type player would be nice here. Someone like Bernstein or possibly David Thomas would fit nicely on this team. My only concern with Thomas is his blocking abilities.
WR- Deion Branch, Bethel Johnson, “BAMâ€Childress, Rich Mushinski, John Stone – Troy Brown is hinting at the possibility of retirement. David Givens is likely on his way out for a big payday. If the Pats offered 5 years and 13-15 million, Givens should thank his lucky stars and take the deal. Andre Davis could be back. So could Tim Dwight. I honestly think that Bethel will be cut unless BB knows something no one else does about Bethel’s situation. PK Sam could be back since he is still very young and has a ton of potential. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pats signed a free agent like Joe Jurevicius, Peerless Price (longshot), Keenan McCardell, Reche Caldwell (would be a great punt returner for us). In the draft, I like Maurice Stovall, as well as, Jonathan Orr, Todd Watkins (who can ALSO perform kick off duties), Cory Rogers, or possibly another late rounder like a Miles Austin.
, just throwing it out there. 
