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Well, its sure been an exciting few months since my last off-season review with a lot of changes in the Patriots. Here are my updates.
QB - Brady, Cassel, Mortensen - Cassel showed that he has real potential. Mortensen is playing in NFLE. I think Mortenson is TC fodder to keep Brady from having to make a lot of throws. I also believe that the Pats will bring back Flutie or sign someone like Fiedler to be the #3 and help with the scout team.
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 picked up Dillon’s option and re-structured his deal. 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 who is still available. Rumors have it that Chicago is shopping Thomas Jones for a 3rd rounder. He would be a definite upgrade for the Pats. I used to think that White and Maroney would be potential picks, but I have since changed my mind after re-searching them. Joseph Addai could be a 2nd round option. 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. Late rounders could include P.J. Daniels and Cartlon Jones.
FB – Patrick Pass, Heath Evans – 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 is returning because he did well in limited duty, but he is more likely a RB option.
O-Line – Matt Light, Nick Kaczur, Logan Mankins, Brandon Gorin, Dan Koppen, Russ Hochstein, Jeff Roehl, Nick Steitz, Wesley Britt, Stephen Neal, Ross Tucker, Gene Mruczkowski, Billy Yates – The Pats lost Ashworth and re-signed Stephen Neal. A back-up at tackle is also in order, though Wesley Britt was very highly touted before he got injured prior to the 2005 draft. 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. Bringing in someone who could possibly replace Koppen should he decide to leave after the 2006 season could also be an option. Having Tucker and Mruczkowski around is insurance incase the Pats don’t draft someone. BB did this when he drafted Koppen to replace Woody and Woody bolted after the 2003 season. Box has been giving a good account on the play of Roehl and Steitz in NFLE. The 2 back-up tackle positions will be a heated battle between Gorin, Britt and Roehl and any draft pick the Pats bring in. 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.
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. However, the Patriots have shown they can teach blocking as they did with Graham. The Pats have shown some interest in a college B-Ball player as a developmental pick and they could also bring back Jed Weaver if they feel he could be an adequate 3rd TE. Other players besides Thomas that interest me are Pope, Klopfenstein, Scheffler and Tim Massaquoi.
WR- Deion Branch, Bethel Johnson, “BAM”Childress, Rich Mushinski, John Stone, Reche’ Caldwell, Troy Brown, Mike McGrew, Zuriel Smith– Givens is gone for the big payday, getting a 5 year, 24 million deal. Andre Davis is goen to Buffalo. Tim Dwight to the Jets. P.K. Sam signed with Cincy. I honestly think that Bethel will be cut unless BB knows something no one else does about Bethel’s situation. I have changed who I like in the draft. Previously, in the draft, I liked Maurice Stovall, Jonathan Orr, Todd Watkins (who can ALSO perform kick off duties), Cory Rogers, or possibly another late rounder like a Miles Austin. Now, I still like Stovall, Orr and Watkins, but also like Mike Hass, Jason Avant, Brandon Williams, Jeff Webb and Greg Jennings. Watkins I like because he could be for the Pats was Wes Welker is for the Dolphins. Orr has some height and very good speed. Hass and Williams are hoovers out there and could very well take the #2 spot or #3 spot right out of camp because of their ability to catch most anything thrown to them. Like Box of Rocks, I don't care for Derek Hagen because of the inconsistency he showed when the spotlight was on him. One has to wonder if he can handle the pressure.
QB - Brady, Cassel, Mortensen - Cassel showed that he has real potential. Mortensen is playing in NFLE. I think Mortenson is TC fodder to keep Brady from having to make a lot of throws. I also believe that the Pats will bring back Flutie or sign someone like Fiedler to be the #3 and help with the scout team.
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 picked up Dillon’s option and re-structured his deal. 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 who is still available. Rumors have it that Chicago is shopping Thomas Jones for a 3rd rounder. He would be a definite upgrade for the Pats. I used to think that White and Maroney would be potential picks, but I have since changed my mind after re-searching them. Joseph Addai could be a 2nd round option. 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. Late rounders could include P.J. Daniels and Cartlon Jones.
FB – Patrick Pass, Heath Evans – 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 is returning because he did well in limited duty, but he is more likely a RB option.
O-Line – Matt Light, Nick Kaczur, Logan Mankins, Brandon Gorin, Dan Koppen, Russ Hochstein, Jeff Roehl, Nick Steitz, Wesley Britt, Stephen Neal, Ross Tucker, Gene Mruczkowski, Billy Yates – The Pats lost Ashworth and re-signed Stephen Neal. A back-up at tackle is also in order, though Wesley Britt was very highly touted before he got injured prior to the 2005 draft. 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. Bringing in someone who could possibly replace Koppen should he decide to leave after the 2006 season could also be an option. Having Tucker and Mruczkowski around is insurance incase the Pats don’t draft someone. BB did this when he drafted Koppen to replace Woody and Woody bolted after the 2003 season. Box has been giving a good account on the play of Roehl and Steitz in NFLE. The 2 back-up tackle positions will be a heated battle between Gorin, Britt and Roehl and any draft pick the Pats bring in. 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.
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. However, the Patriots have shown they can teach blocking as they did with Graham. The Pats have shown some interest in a college B-Ball player as a developmental pick and they could also bring back Jed Weaver if they feel he could be an adequate 3rd TE. Other players besides Thomas that interest me are Pope, Klopfenstein, Scheffler and Tim Massaquoi.
WR- Deion Branch, Bethel Johnson, “BAM”Childress, Rich Mushinski, John Stone, Reche’ Caldwell, Troy Brown, Mike McGrew, Zuriel Smith– Givens is gone for the big payday, getting a 5 year, 24 million deal. Andre Davis is goen to Buffalo. Tim Dwight to the Jets. P.K. Sam signed with Cincy. I honestly think that Bethel will be cut unless BB knows something no one else does about Bethel’s situation. I have changed who I like in the draft. Previously, in the draft, I liked Maurice Stovall, Jonathan Orr, Todd Watkins (who can ALSO perform kick off duties), Cory Rogers, or possibly another late rounder like a Miles Austin. Now, I still like Stovall, Orr and Watkins, but also like Mike Hass, Jason Avant, Brandon Williams, Jeff Webb and Greg Jennings. Watkins I like because he could be for the Pats was Wes Welker is for the Dolphins. Orr has some height and very good speed. Hass and Williams are hoovers out there and could very well take the #2 spot or #3 spot right out of camp because of their ability to catch most anything thrown to them. Like Box of Rocks, I don't care for Derek Hagen because of the inconsistency he showed when the spotlight was on him. One has to wonder if he can handle the pressure.
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