dryheat44
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2004
- Messages
- 6,351
- Reaction score
- 78
I think the 600 lb gorilla in the room is Matt Light. If he decides to retire, offensive tackle shoots up in importance. I like Vollmer and Solder, but not anything that's behind them, and back problems on 6'8" football players usually don't disappear.
Our needs at safety are well documented thoroughout this forum. Probably close to a unanimous #1 need. So getting one becomes a matter of reaching for one in the draft because of need and passing up another player who could help us. I personally think that Martin in the third round is better for the team than Barron in the first. There are probably under the radar free agents around the league that Belichick has been tracking that we don't necessarily know about.
Our needs at WR are well documented also. As productive as it's been the past two years, our offense is playing with one hand tied behind its back because the defense can play a single deep safety and crowd the middle of the field. We have no deep threats that demand anything more than straight man coverage, which they can't reliably beat. Teams have figured out that if they pack linebackers and a safety in the short passing zones, they can force Brady to make perfect throw after perfect throw to get the ball down the field and take their chances with pass deflections and big hits leading to turnovers. Fortunately, WR seems to be the most bountiful position in free agency, so while a young, play-making WR like Floyd is fun to consider, a Lloyd or Wayne or Jackson would work out just fine. And I'd still rather use the first on Mike Wallace than a WR in the draft.
I think most everyone here agrees on the needs of WR and S (or CB if McCourty or Dowling is full-time safety). We need a kick returner badly. That might be the #3 priority when you consider how few times the offense started beyond the 25. With the emphasis that BB puts on special teams, we could be looking at a second round pick on a productive kick returner that doubles as a depth WR (Hilton) or DB (Boykin).
But if Light retires, the need for OT shoots up dramatically. Even if he sticks it out another year, I'd still invest a second-day pick in an OT like Zebrie Sanders. Brady is still the franchise here, and I'd like to think that he'll be motivated by the fact that he didn't play his best in the biggest games last year, and to play well in Martinez's memory. I expect him to hear the criticisms and have one more MVP-caliber year in him. The need to keep him upright cannot be overstated.
Our needs at safety are well documented thoroughout this forum. Probably close to a unanimous #1 need. So getting one becomes a matter of reaching for one in the draft because of need and passing up another player who could help us. I personally think that Martin in the third round is better for the team than Barron in the first. There are probably under the radar free agents around the league that Belichick has been tracking that we don't necessarily know about.
Our needs at WR are well documented also. As productive as it's been the past two years, our offense is playing with one hand tied behind its back because the defense can play a single deep safety and crowd the middle of the field. We have no deep threats that demand anything more than straight man coverage, which they can't reliably beat. Teams have figured out that if they pack linebackers and a safety in the short passing zones, they can force Brady to make perfect throw after perfect throw to get the ball down the field and take their chances with pass deflections and big hits leading to turnovers. Fortunately, WR seems to be the most bountiful position in free agency, so while a young, play-making WR like Floyd is fun to consider, a Lloyd or Wayne or Jackson would work out just fine. And I'd still rather use the first on Mike Wallace than a WR in the draft.
I think most everyone here agrees on the needs of WR and S (or CB if McCourty or Dowling is full-time safety). We need a kick returner badly. That might be the #3 priority when you consider how few times the offense started beyond the 25. With the emphasis that BB puts on special teams, we could be looking at a second round pick on a productive kick returner that doubles as a depth WR (Hilton) or DB (Boykin).
But if Light retires, the need for OT shoots up dramatically. Even if he sticks it out another year, I'd still invest a second-day pick in an OT like Zebrie Sanders. Brady is still the franchise here, and I'd like to think that he'll be motivated by the fact that he didn't play his best in the biggest games last year, and to play well in Martinez's memory. I expect him to hear the criticisms and have one more MVP-caliber year in him. The need to keep him upright cannot be overstated.
