What positions is the depth of the Pats that much better then the Jets?
I believe in building through the draft, but when the Jets started to rebuild with the 2006 draft they had very little talent on this team across the board.
They used every possible resource to build this team:
Draft
Brick
Mangold
Eric Smith
Brad Smith
Leon Washington
Drew Coleman
Harris
Revis
Keller
Lowery
Sanchez
Greene
Slauson
Kyle Wilson
Ducasse
Connor
Mcknight
Trade
Jenkins
Braylon
Santonio
Cromartie
Free Agent
Woody
Richardson
Bart Scott
Calvin Pace
Pool
Leonhard
Tomlinson
Taylor
UDFA
Devito
Westerman
Ihedibo
Holdovers
Brandon Moore
Shaun Ellis
Cotchery
So while I agree that drafting is the most important aspect of building a team, Mike Tannenbaum has proven that you have to use every possible resource. With the quantity of picks the Pats have had every year they should have more impact players.
I disagree. Belichick knows this is a CAP era even if it's off right now. You cannot build a team of All-stars. You can't afford it. So he doesn't want what he knows he can't keep.
And you can't even mortgage the future for a year or two of All-stars and winning, before you have to dismantle for the CAP. It has all been tried before, and failed numerous times.
What you can do is accumulate a Team of fine players with a few near Allstars, and just enough leavening of All-Pros, and a crew of good reserves capable of starting. He plans on wearing out the opposition over the long season of 16 games and as many as four playoff games. Have you ever considered that?
Why do you think the Patriots get stronger the longer the season is?
Why are the Patriots so tough in the Playoffs?
You think in terms of 22 starters. He thinks in terms of about 70 players.
Belichick plans on a roster of 53 starters, 8 PS guys being groomed, all of whom can be future starters. Another 4 or 5 players who have been injured and are on IR. And a "Shadow Roster" of 5-10 who are a phone call away. Some of the shadow guys actually are brought in in TC, taught the system, so they can be evaluated or scratched; and are sent away to await a phone call.
By the time the Playoffs roll around, he faces Teams composed of stars and scrubs with lots of holes. He still has 22 starting caliber players and no holes, but probably fewer stars (they might be on IR). No Team ever won the Superbowl with 42 player-games missing due to injury. Belichick did. He is crazy like a Fox.
As for a comparison of depth.
The Jets have, or rather had, a good Offensive line. Faneca supposedly got old, so he was shipped off, and a second round draft pick Vladimir Ducasse was given his job at LG. But it turns out that there are two problems. Ducasse from a small school and not a lot of experience playing football, is not ready; and Woody the ex-Pat RT has apparently given in and eaten himself out of a job. The only reserves you have are Slauson, never considered stating material and a 6th round draft pick; and Hunter, a UDFA. Two holes, no answers is a conundrum.
Compare to the Patriots, who also have a vacancy, or potential vacancy, at LG due to a holdout by Probowl LG Logan Mankins.
The first substitute was to move 5 year RT starter Nick Kaczur who is losing his job, to LG. It lasted one week and he went down with a bad back and is likely going to IR.
Insert first reserve 5 year vet G Dan Connelly who has started 5 games last season.
If he doesn't cut it, we pop the stack and
Try Ryan Wendell, three year PS trainee; if he doesn't cut it,
Try one year 4th round draftee Rich Ohrnberger; if he doesn't cut it
Try 42 game ex-starter Eric Guiacuic; if he doesn't cut it,
Try 6th round draftee Ted Larsen.
If he doesn't cut it, get serious.
Move a spare reserve tackle, try one year 5th round draft pick George Bussey; if he doesn't cut it,
Insert reserve/starter tackle Mike Levoir.
Or
Pay the man.
Do you start to get the Picture and the difference between the Jets and Patriots ????
