Unit by Unit analysis of 2008 squad

[Jimke]

Obviously, we'll have hundreds of threads on the individual units in the next six months. We should save this first post, though. The glasses have never been rosier. I will use your system.
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OVERALL OUTLOOK - OFFENSE
There is no reason why we shouldn't be as good as last year. Both Moss and Gaffney want to come back. That should happen.

QUARTERBACK - UPGRADEABLE
Unless Brady will never, ever have an injury, QB is not all set. I wouldn't want a game depending on Cassell or Gutierrez.

RUNNING BACK - UPGRADEABLE
Morris was injured and is an unknown. I think adding a #5 short yardage back in place of Eckel is a definite possibility.

WIDE RECEIVERS - ALL SET
Without Moss and Gaffney, we would have to keep both Stallworth and Washington. Welker and Jackson would round out a solid four. But Moss is staying. Gaffney probably will also.

TIGHT ENDS - ALL SET
We have three solid tght ends, with Spach available if Brady retires.

OFFENSIVE LINE - UPGRADEABLE
Neal's injury could be serious. O'Callaghan has had concussion issues. A top ten pick could be an OT. But this is NOT a real need. Still Long or Clady look awefully good.
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OVERALL OUTLOOK - DEFENSE
Who are we kidding? We have glaring holes at linebacker and corner!

DEFENSIVE LINE - ALL SET
Wright will be tendered high enough to keep. Moore should be also. LeKevin is the last of the backups for the #2 DL in football.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS - ALL SET
HOPEFULLY, Colvin is at 100% and will want to restructure. I would keep him in any case. We have Vrabel, Colvin and Woods.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS - IN DIRE NEED
We have Alexander and Lua. We could keep Thomas inside. Maybe Bruschi and/or Seau will come back. We will certainly look for a veteran. We may also look for a 1st round draftee to take some reps at OLB, so that Vrabel might be able to take some reps inside.

CORNERBACK - IN DIRE NEED
We have Hobbs and Richardson. Samuel and Gay may both go to the jets. We iwill draft a couple and bring in a couple of free agents. I do wish that we had kept Poteat (that is how bad it is!).

SAFETY - ALL SET
Harrison, Sanders, and Meriweather are plenty. We also have special teamers Andrew and Ventrone and Mitchell will likely return.

You will probably get your wish on Poteat after Samuel and Gay go to

The Jets.

 

[Jimke]

Because there is very little $$ available for free agents, the FO must hit a home run in this year's draft, as opposed to last year's. That includes drafting LBs.

Right On. Three of nine was lousy. The jury is still out on Lua and

Richardson. At least six of our eight 2008 draft choices must make

the team.

 

[mgteich]

Wishing won't make it so. There is no particular reason to believe that we will find six winners in the draft. When was the last year we did so?

And it is not necessarily good if six draftees make the team. It may just mean that we had no one better at the bottom of the roster.

I hope for four contributers; three of the first four and one among the rest.

I suppose I can to six by expected two players to be redshirted on IR like Richardson and Lua.

Right On. Three of nine was lousy. The jury is still out on Lua and

Richardson. At least six of our eight 2008 draft choices must make

the team.

 

[IcyPatriot]

QB: ALL SET
As long as Brady's on the squad, this will be the case
I'd like to see another QB in camp ... I'm not sold on Cassell and I like Gutierrez.

OL: UPGRADEABLE
Sure, one bad game doesn't mean they are in need, but I do think this group gets a lot of credit for Brady being Brady and having such sick pocket presence. If Long makes it to 7, drafting him might make sense, even though OL isn't high on the priority list.
LT is my highest priority ... the right side of our line has killed us for 3 years now.

RB: ALL SET
The absence of Sammy Morris went understated throughout the season. His return, combined with Maroney really becoming a beast, combined with Faulk, we're more than set here.
I think we seriously need a 250+ pound fullback ... every year I think this.
In Lieu of this there are about 10-12 small RB's out there with pass catching
abilities .. how good is tough to tell reading their abilities.
If one catches Belichick's eye I would grab him and cut Eckel ...
Either way I would cut Eckel .. not as much upside as Heath Evans who has become better.

WR: ALL SET* or IN NEED*
It all depends on Moss, who they MUST bring back. If they bring him back, then they're set. I'm going to predict a healthy Chad Jackson ends up making one of the most deadly #3s in the league, and is an upgrade over Stallworth. Hopefully Gaffney is re-signed as a 3/4 as well.
A good WR can be found deep into the draft ... lots of 4.4 smurfs also.

TE: ALL SET
Watson, K. Brady and Thomas. I think we're all excited to see what Dave Thomas can bring to the table.
There's one kid whose name escapes me right now. He's like 6'-4"
and 265 lbs ... FB/TE type of guy ... I'd take him if he there's in 6th or 7th.
I found him ... might be had as a FA out of the draft.
Doug Jones, Cincinnati
Height: 6-4. Weight: 275.
Projected Round: FA.



DLINE: ALL SET
I'm not sure how to evaluate Warren's performance this year, he was certainly quieter, but we've learned that is not a way to judge someone. My feeling is that a 100% Richard Seymour will make this line earn the "one of the best in the league" title that it has.
If we resign Asante I grab a pass rushing specialist in round 2.
A weapon we badly need .. especially in crunch time ... Jarvis is not that guy.

LB: IN NEED

I have given up on Belich drafting an LB .. so no comment.

DB: IN NEED
A prospect Free safety and/or give Kelley Washington a look as FS.
It will take him a year but I think he could do it ... think a way smarter
and just as tough Tebucky Jones.



All in all, we're in good shape for 08.
I agree ... I think the most intrigue will be does
Belichick draft now for a stronger 2008 team or does he draft for the future?

..................

 

[BradyManny]

LT is my highest priority ... the right side of our line has killed us for 3 years now.

As I've said before, I feel our OL is moderately overrated b/c Brady makes them look so much better than they are. I've seen FootballOutsiders rank us as the top run blocking team statistically, which I think is very misleading and inaccurate. I would not characterize the run blocking as a strength of the line.

Overall, I do think the OL is definitely upgradeable. I'm not a real draft follower, but if they can get either Long or Clady presumably, play them at RT and then have them take Light's spot at LT down the road, that would sound great to me on paper. Instant upgrade and building for the future.

Good insights on the other positions.

I would break down the NEEDS/WANTS of the Pats like this:

NEEDS: 1 ILB, 1 CB
WANTS bordering on needs: 1 OT, 1 OLB, 1 CB
WANTS: Anything else is depth/future, IMO, which you address in your post, RB and TE could present some options, and a pass rusher for crunch time (if Jarvis isn't that guy, his price tag is high).

Assuming they re-sign Moss, Asante leaves, two of Seau/Bruschi/Harrison returns, then I see the above 5 personnel needs to be addressed via draft or free agency.

 

[RayClay]

Two affordable ILB types in FA. 2 corners day one draft.

Hobbs moves to nickel. Maybea vet safety too, but probably not.

I could see a replacement tackle, but not a break the banker. Light might be moved to RT.