Today being April 1st, I'm assuming the question is intended to compare the roster to the same time period in 2006? I'll treat it that way for the time being.
QB: Is actually weaker, the Pats had a lad in NFLE who didn't make the cut at the end of pre-season, but still provided depth as far as the roster goes.
RB: This time last year Cory Dillon was a question mark coming off a season limiting injury. Patrick Pass had off-season surgery and was also a question mark. A plurality were still writing death threats to Kevin Faulk. Heath Evans was a journeyman who hadn't blocked very well during the 2005 season. And the kid who had been sent to Europe was on IR. Now Maroney is coming off shoulder surgery with one blog entry predicting his availability in September. Faulk has recovered from a tweaked knee and can walk down the street without as many bodyguards. Dillon asked to be released and is enjoying his kids. Utilityback Sammy Morris is on the roster. Heath Evans is coming off a season where his blocking was leaps and bounds over the 2005 showing. And the kid who finished the season on the Practice Squad was re-signed and kept in town for the off-season program. Faulk, Morris, and Evans put the roster ahead of last year at this time - not as "sexy" a distinction as some might like, but servicable leading up to the draft.
WR: Givens, Davis, Dwightening, and P.K. were gone. Branch was saying the right things in the media and staying away. Caldwell was a new signing getting bashed more then he was praised. Brown hadn't been re-signed. Bam was the man. Zuriel Smith and Rich Musinski were headed to Europe. Now Caldwell and Gaffney are providing continuity, Kight and Bam got called up to play at the end of the season and looked decent in limited roles. Chad and Troy are healing, with the latter yet to be re-signed. Fast Freddie was brought back to get the full off-season work-up, and he is joined by Stallworth, Washington, and Welker. Not to mention Willie Andrews might even get some more cross-training reps. So we have stud blockers (Reche & Kelvin), possession bubbas (Reche, Jabar, Kelvin), deep threats (Donte & Kelly), slippery slot types (Wes & Bam), returners (Wes, FF, & Bam), coverage (Kelvin, Kelly, & FF), and Troy is still an option. Seems like they're ahead of the curve this off-season.
TE: Last year Grahambo was in rehab, Watson was a hero, Vrabel was depth, and Fauria had reluctantly moved south. This year Grahambo is gone, Watson is a fumbler, Vrabel is old, Thomas is the answer, Mills is the question, Kranchick has been recalled for another try, and there's a new Brady in town. More depth, but it seems like a wash on the emotion meter.
OT: Last year Light and Kaczur were in rehab, Ashworth was gone, Gorin was the man, we had a long shot in Europe, and Britt was re-signed from the Practice Squad. Now Gorin is gone, Light and Kaczur are hale and healthy as far as we know - but they both suck and should be upgraded, O'Callaghan is the answer or a walking lobotomy depending on who is typing, Britt is comfortable depth, and Bubin has been re-signed from the Practice Squad. One can only assume that we're doooommmmed.
OG: Last year Mankins was a stud, Neal had or was about to re-sign, Hochstein was comforting depth, Yates was discomforting depth, Mruczkowski was the cellophane sticking to your fingers no matter how you tried to dispose of it, Steitz was headed to Europe, and Tucker was an enigma. This year Mankins is a stud, Neal and Hochstein are comfortable slippers, Yates is rehabbing, Mruczkowski is reprising his role as the cellophane on our fingers, and Tucker is long gone. Seems like a wash.
OC: Last year Koppen was the object of numerous prayers and a land office business for soul resellers. Hochstein was comforting if frequently disparaged depth, and Mruczkowski was almost welcome. This year, Koppen is hale and hearty, Hoch is the subject of the occasional upgrade post, and Mruczkowski is the naughty penny that could while Barthelmes is practicing German. Seems like a slight improvement.
DL: In 2006 Traylor was gone, Seymour was a stud, Wilfork was the next superman, Warren was okay, Green was first alternate, Wright was okay depth, Thomas was re-signed from the Practice Squad, Klecko was a LB, no FB, no WR, no-good, and Hill was the person most likely to be cursed. This season Klecko has a new ring, Seymour is either a stud or big pay check slacker, Wilfork is the next superman, Warren must be re-signed now, now, now, Green is first alternate, Wright must be re-signed now, now, now, Thomas is re-signed from the Practice Squad, Smith is okay depth, and Hill is the person most likely to have voodoo dolls made for him. I guess folks think things are better.
OLB: Last year Bill Belichick should have been fired for letting Willie go, Chatham was a traitor, Vrabel was the man, Colvin was a stud, Brown had been cut then re-signed and TBC was rarely noticed. This year BB looks a little smarter about Willie, Vrabel is old and on his last legs, Colvin is a disappointment, TBC is gone and the going away party was great, Woods is either better then TBC or just another jag, and Thomas will save the franchise. Clearly Thomas alone means all is right in heaven, despite those old guys and young jags he's joining.
ILB: Last year Tedy was washed up, Beisel was a plant for Miami, Davis, Izzo, & Alexander was STs only. This season Tedy is washed up, Seau is old and busted, Gardener is younger and busted (neither have been re-signed yet), Davis has retired, and Izzo, Alexander, and Mays are Special Teams only. Looks like another wash.
CB: Last year Poole and Starks were ridden out on a rail, Samuel and Hobbs were jags, Gay was the great hype hope, Scott was okay depth, Poteat was our rabbit's foot, and Spann was headed to Europe. This year, Samuel is a franchise-tagged pro-bowler, Hobbs sucks, Gay sucks, Scott is old, Spann and Jackson are STs' jags, and only Upstater knows who Gemara Williams might be. I'd call it a slight improvement if it wasn't that Samuel is obviously going to hold out.
S: Last year Rodney was coming back and hell was coming with him, Stone had rolled, Wilson was okay, Hawkins was our savior, Sanders sucked, Scott sucked, and Ventrone was on a European vacation. This year Ventrone and Scott are gone, Rodney's old, Hawkins is old, Wilson sucks, Andrews, Baker, & Sanders are jags. We'd better draft a first round safety or we're doomed.
K: Last year BB was in protective custody for letting Polian steal the franchise. This year BB is just cheap, but the polish kid from Mississippi is okay. A mild improvement.
P: Last year Miller was the man. This year, he's fighting for his life with Saurbrun and two NFLE jags fogging up his rearview mirror while Ken Walter is back on the shadow roster ready to execute a buy order on antacid stocks the moment he is called up. Things might even be a bit worse this year.
LS: Lonnie has a new tattoo, a plus for some.
When you come right down to it, the roster looks like it's April 1st and none of the parts fit. Pretty much the same thing you could have said about the roster on April 1st for most years of the BB era.
