Mountain_Commando
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2008
- Messages
- 1,138
- Reaction score
- 962
I just spent the last 2 hours watching the highlights of all 19 games from last season, as well as the highlights of our 3 SB wins (for feel good measure). What I took away from it it has prompted me to make this thread.
First, lets get my rant out of the way. Like you all, I am pumped for the season to begin. As the Gods of football would have it, the Pats have had their last 6 seasons end with vicious d**k punches. 6. FRICKIN. YEARS. Yeah 31 teams end each season with heartache, but no one other team has had to suffer the kind of brutal endings that we've had, and that for 6 damn seasons in a row. Maybe it was karma for our early success and the arrogance that it fertilized, maybe it was the fate. All the same, redemption is the word. I don't need to preach to the choir that the 4th ring is New England's holy grail, and it's not a pipe dream but an objectively tangible, reachable, realistic goal while we have the one in a lifetime combo of Brady and Belichick.
Now, eeping things simple, I don't think even the most pessimistic members of this board would argue against the fact the putrid defense of last season has seen a marked upgrade via the draft. On the other side of the ball the acquisitions of B Lloyd, J Gaffney, Stallworth, and the draft pick WR's is a significant upgrade what was already an elite offense. Now with the departure of Matt Light, I think we have some concerns about the O-line. I hope that will be addressed via FA to at least increase our OL depth. But overall, we're in great shape on the O.
But, one aspect that seems lacking to me...what about our RB situation? We just lost BJGE, who, despite his many critics, was a tried and tested work horse who gave us a 1k yard season and was fumble proof. Who does that leave us with? I love Woodhead and he's a scurrying little hamster, but he's definitely not an every down running back. Ridley showed flashes of promise last season, but he is after all just a second year kid with just a few games of (non-starter) experience and an acute case of fumblitis. Vereen, lets face it has been a disappointment and we can only hope he keeps healthy next season. Even so, he doesn't hardly have the experience to be the no 1 RB. And Addai? I could probably run faster than him.
So? Now I know that the Pats will continue with the tried and tested formula of a pass favored game, which makes perfect sense when you have a GOAT level QB. But of course that needs to be balanced with a strong running game, in fact may would argue that the lack of an elite RB has held this offense back from being truly unstoppable. So do you guys thinks the Pats are thinking about adding a veteran, stud RB via FA (considering one is available and our cap status)? Or are we just planning on relying on the personnel mentioned in the previous paragraph? Is that good enough? Thoughts?
First, lets get my rant out of the way. Like you all, I am pumped for the season to begin. As the Gods of football would have it, the Pats have had their last 6 seasons end with vicious d**k punches. 6. FRICKIN. YEARS. Yeah 31 teams end each season with heartache, but no one other team has had to suffer the kind of brutal endings that we've had, and that for 6 damn seasons in a row. Maybe it was karma for our early success and the arrogance that it fertilized, maybe it was the fate. All the same, redemption is the word. I don't need to preach to the choir that the 4th ring is New England's holy grail, and it's not a pipe dream but an objectively tangible, reachable, realistic goal while we have the one in a lifetime combo of Brady and Belichick.
Now, eeping things simple, I don't think even the most pessimistic members of this board would argue against the fact the putrid defense of last season has seen a marked upgrade via the draft. On the other side of the ball the acquisitions of B Lloyd, J Gaffney, Stallworth, and the draft pick WR's is a significant upgrade what was already an elite offense. Now with the departure of Matt Light, I think we have some concerns about the O-line. I hope that will be addressed via FA to at least increase our OL depth. But overall, we're in great shape on the O.
But, one aspect that seems lacking to me...what about our RB situation? We just lost BJGE, who, despite his many critics, was a tried and tested work horse who gave us a 1k yard season and was fumble proof. Who does that leave us with? I love Woodhead and he's a scurrying little hamster, but he's definitely not an every down running back. Ridley showed flashes of promise last season, but he is after all just a second year kid with just a few games of (non-starter) experience and an acute case of fumblitis. Vereen, lets face it has been a disappointment and we can only hope he keeps healthy next season. Even so, he doesn't hardly have the experience to be the no 1 RB. And Addai? I could probably run faster than him.
So? Now I know that the Pats will continue with the tried and tested formula of a pass favored game, which makes perfect sense when you have a GOAT level QB. But of course that needs to be balanced with a strong running game, in fact may would argue that the lack of an elite RB has held this offense back from being truly unstoppable. So do you guys thinks the Pats are thinking about adding a veteran, stud RB via FA (considering one is available and our cap status)? Or are we just planning on relying on the personnel mentioned in the previous paragraph? Is that good enough? Thoughts?