dryheat44
Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2004
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I must admit that I've paid precious little attention to the NCAA season or post-season this year. As a result, I haven't been posting much, because I really don't know what the F I'm talking about. Nevertheless, it strikes me that in spite of our appearance in this year's Super Bowl, this year's edition of the Patriots looks to be in year two of a 3 year retooling. I think there are a few obvious weak spots on the team, and for perhaps the first time in years, I feel pretty confident in where BB's going for re-enforcements. Or maybe it's the booze talking. Anyway, before I get to the projected roster, I'll highlight a few things:
Free agency signings:
1. Reggie Wayne WR -- He's had his paydays (3), the Colts seem ready to build from scratch, and I can't help thinking that between BBs admiration for him, and the unique opportunity to have played with both dominant QBs of this generation, Wayne will be here next year on a fairly small deal -- possibly less than Ochocinco money.
2. LaDainian Tomlinson RB -- Yes, we all hate him. But assuming the Firm heads elsewhere and Faulk is off the roster, there is a need for a been-there, done-that, veteran RB on this team. Also ringless and contemplating retirement, he could possibly be had fairly cheap to play a reserve role and take one more shot at it.
3. Adam Carriker DE -- He seemed to play a lot better in Washington last year than in St. Louis, and that's because he was playing his natural position. I'd like to bring him in to see if he can't work in the DE rotation and give some pass rush in the sub packages.
4. A vet safety -- Probably the weakest position on the team this year. I'd target Michael Griffin first, then Thomas DeCoud.
5. A vet corner -- I'd be calling the agents of Terrell Thomas and Rashean Mathis to see what kind of numbers it would take. Mathis would be more likely cheaper to sign and was once a great cornerback, but I don't know what he has left in the tank.
Draft picks -
I think that it's safe to say that Belichick will trade a #1 for a #2 and next years #1. Again, I'm not one of the more knowledgeable scouts, so to me the positions are more relevant than the names.
1. Rookie DE of your choice. I don't want to guess who'll be available, but I'll say Cox.
2. With the 3 seconds, I'm looking WR and a DB with some positional versatility, depending on where the value hits. I'm okay using the other 2nd to either trade up to get someone, or trade into next year or into the later rounds. Once again, people will clamor for pass rush, but I think BB is OK with Ninkovich, Anderson, Cunningham (assuming we're going back to 3-4 here) and Markell Carter keeps on getting black jerseysFor the sake of putting some names out there, I'm going to say 2A. Floyd or Sanu, 2B. Iloka, Dennard, or Minnifield, the latter two I would try out at safety in addition to CB.
3. The only other thing I want out of the draft is a kick returner. We were horrible this year. After looking at the NCAA statistics, the two guys I'm looking at are TY Hilton WR FIU and Luther Ambrose WR Louisiana-Monroe. Both very productive returners with some WR upside.
4. Oh, I guess a backup QB wouldn't hurt, although he'd probably be a PS guy.
The roster
1. QB Brady
2. QB Hoyer (If Mallett's ready for backup duty, I'd explore the trade market)
3. QB Mallett
4. WR Wayne
5. WR Welker
6. WR Edelman
7. WR Sanu/Floyd
8. WR/ST Slater
9. WR Branch
10. TE Gronkowski
11. TE Hernandez
12. TE ****inson
13. OL Mankins
14. OL Wendell
15. OL Cannon
16. OL Connelly
17. OL Light
18. OL Vollmer
19. OL Solder
20. OL McDonald
21. OL Waters
22. RB Ridley
23. RB Vereen
24. RB Tomlinson
25. RB Woodhead
26. DL Cox
27. DL Carriker / A Carter
28. DL Wilfork
29. DL Love
30. DL Deaderick
31. DL Brace
32. DL Pryor
33. LB Anderson
34. LB Mayo
35. LB Spikes
36. LB Fletcher
37. LB Ninkovich
38. LB Cunningham
39. LB M Carter
40. LB/ST Koutouvides
41. LB/ST Tarpinian
42. CB Arrington
43. CB McCourty
44. CB Mathis/Thomas
45. S Chung
46. S Grifin/DeCoud
47. S Ihedigbo
48. DB Dowling
49. DB Dennard/Minnifield/Iloka
50. KR Hilton
51. K Gostkowski
52. P Mesko
53. LS Aiken
Free agency signings:
1. Reggie Wayne WR -- He's had his paydays (3), the Colts seem ready to build from scratch, and I can't help thinking that between BBs admiration for him, and the unique opportunity to have played with both dominant QBs of this generation, Wayne will be here next year on a fairly small deal -- possibly less than Ochocinco money.
2. LaDainian Tomlinson RB -- Yes, we all hate him. But assuming the Firm heads elsewhere and Faulk is off the roster, there is a need for a been-there, done-that, veteran RB on this team. Also ringless and contemplating retirement, he could possibly be had fairly cheap to play a reserve role and take one more shot at it.
3. Adam Carriker DE -- He seemed to play a lot better in Washington last year than in St. Louis, and that's because he was playing his natural position. I'd like to bring him in to see if he can't work in the DE rotation and give some pass rush in the sub packages.
4. A vet safety -- Probably the weakest position on the team this year. I'd target Michael Griffin first, then Thomas DeCoud.
5. A vet corner -- I'd be calling the agents of Terrell Thomas and Rashean Mathis to see what kind of numbers it would take. Mathis would be more likely cheaper to sign and was once a great cornerback, but I don't know what he has left in the tank.
Draft picks -
I think that it's safe to say that Belichick will trade a #1 for a #2 and next years #1. Again, I'm not one of the more knowledgeable scouts, so to me the positions are more relevant than the names.
1. Rookie DE of your choice. I don't want to guess who'll be available, but I'll say Cox.
2. With the 3 seconds, I'm looking WR and a DB with some positional versatility, depending on where the value hits. I'm okay using the other 2nd to either trade up to get someone, or trade into next year or into the later rounds. Once again, people will clamor for pass rush, but I think BB is OK with Ninkovich, Anderson, Cunningham (assuming we're going back to 3-4 here) and Markell Carter keeps on getting black jerseysFor the sake of putting some names out there, I'm going to say 2A. Floyd or Sanu, 2B. Iloka, Dennard, or Minnifield, the latter two I would try out at safety in addition to CB.
3. The only other thing I want out of the draft is a kick returner. We were horrible this year. After looking at the NCAA statistics, the two guys I'm looking at are TY Hilton WR FIU and Luther Ambrose WR Louisiana-Monroe. Both very productive returners with some WR upside.
4. Oh, I guess a backup QB wouldn't hurt, although he'd probably be a PS guy.
The roster
1. QB Brady
2. QB Hoyer (If Mallett's ready for backup duty, I'd explore the trade market)
3. QB Mallett
4. WR Wayne
5. WR Welker
6. WR Edelman
7. WR Sanu/Floyd
8. WR/ST Slater
9. WR Branch
10. TE Gronkowski
11. TE Hernandez
12. TE ****inson
13. OL Mankins
14. OL Wendell
15. OL Cannon
16. OL Connelly
17. OL Light
18. OL Vollmer
19. OL Solder
20. OL McDonald
21. OL Waters
22. RB Ridley
23. RB Vereen
24. RB Tomlinson
25. RB Woodhead
26. DL Cox
27. DL Carriker / A Carter
28. DL Wilfork
29. DL Love
30. DL Deaderick
31. DL Brace
32. DL Pryor
33. LB Anderson
34. LB Mayo
35. LB Spikes
36. LB Fletcher
37. LB Ninkovich
38. LB Cunningham
39. LB M Carter
40. LB/ST Koutouvides
41. LB/ST Tarpinian
42. CB Arrington
43. CB McCourty
44. CB Mathis/Thomas
45. S Chung
46. S Grifin/DeCoud
47. S Ihedigbo
48. DB Dowling
49. DB Dennard/Minnifield/Iloka
50. KR Hilton
51. K Gostkowski
52. P Mesko
53. LS Aiken