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Signings For After Game One

mgteich

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Potential Signings For After Game One

Washington
Fells
Moore
Nick McDonald
 
What's McDonald's current status?
 
Nick McDonald was waived and is an unrestricted free agent. He was injured. I have always thought that we were saving a roster spot for him, to use when he was healthier.

What's McDonald's current status?
 
Potential Signings For After Game One

Washington
Fells
Moore
Nick McDonald

Fells or Ballard are possibilities, both unlikely though in my opinion, if Gronkowski is progressing as quickly as it appears there really is not a need, in 2011 we only carried Gronkowski and Hernandez despite spending a ton of time in a 2 TE set, given that I anticipate a lot less of that formation this season I think 3 TE’s is sufficient.

Who is Moore?

I don’t think McDonald is coming back, at least not Nick McDonald, he is a 26 year old oft injured JAG who has not really developed as they expected him to over the last 3 years, I think and agree with the decision to try and develop someone else such as Cave, Barker, Kline or another one of the these younger interior linemen they’ve had in during camp and the preseason.
 
Apparently Dallas fans are disappointed Sterling Moore was released, he had a good camp by all accounts.
 
Washington seems the most likely out of that group to get re-signed.

I'd rather have Sterling Moore on the roster as CB5 than Marquice Cole.
 
TIGHT END
I think that we gave Ballard every chance. I don't think that he's coming back. To my mind, we need a backup TE. I'm fine with Silvestro, Dan Gronkowski, someone new, or simply waiting for Fells. Also, if we are not going to sign a TE to the 53, then we should have one on the Practice Squad. I would note that the Develin experiment seems to be over.

BACKUP OG/C
If healthy, McDonald is good enough to be active (in case of injury) and even to start. I am all for giving Scar players to develop, and even carrying one on the 53 if we need to. My preference is for us to do as we normally do, carry 3 offensive linemen on the Practice Squad. It is not a matter of McDonald developing. If healthy, he is an immediate available backup. If a center is out for a couple of weeks, I'd much rather have McDonald active than one of the Practice Squad quality players we just signed.

CORNERBACK
Not only was Moore on the starting 53 last year, I believe that he even started a game or two. He's not very good, but fine as an end of the roster, emergency, backup.


Fells or Ballard are possibilities, both unlikely though in my opinion, if Gronkowski is progressing as quickly as it appears there really is not a need, in 2011 we only carried Gronkowski and Hernandez despite spending a ton of time in a 2 TE set, given that I anticipate a lot less of that formation this season I think 3 TE’s is sufficient.

Who is Moore?

I don’t think McDonald is coming back, at least not Nick McDonald, he is a 26 year old oft injured JAG who has not really developed as they expected him to over the last 3 years, I think and agree with the decision to try and develop someone else such as Cave, Barker, Kline or another one of the these younger interior linemen they’ve had in during camp and the preseason.
 
I don’t think McDonald is coming back, at least not Nick McDonald, he is a 26 year old oft injured JAG who has not really developed as they expected him to over the last 3 years, I think and agree with the decision to try and develop someone else such as Cave, Barker, Kline or another one of the these younger interior linemen they’ve had in during camp and the preseason.

I recall McDonald as filling in pretty well when needed (and healthy), both at interior OL and tackle.
 
If McDonald were healthy, there would strong arguments for having him active over Svitek.
 
Washington seems the most likely out of that group to get re-signed.

I'd rather have Sterling Moore on the roster as CB5 than Marquice Cole.

Unless Boyce or someone other than DMC is ready to handle KR duty, I would like to see Leon back as well. DMC is far too important right now given the DB situation. Also agree 100% with the next line, Moore would make us better at CB although it's not saying much.
 
Personally, I think that we would be strong with

IN - Washington, Fells, McDonald, Moore
OUT - Cave (to PS), Barker (to PS), Beauharnais (to PS) or Ebner.
 
TIGHT END
I think that we gave Ballard every chance. I don't think that he's coming back. To my mind, we need a backup TE. I'm fine with Silvestro, Dan Gronkowski, someone new, or simply waiting for Fells. Also, if we are not going to sign a TE to the 53, then we should have one on the Practice Squad. I would note that the Develin experiment seems to be over.

Being that I could of went either way with adding a TE I am inclined to trust your judgment on it being a need, I wouldn’t really be too excited for Dan Gronkowski or Alex Silvestro, so if you feel Fells is an option I’d prefer they go that direction. I am not ready to completely give up on Ballard, he had a very serious knee injury so it may take him additional time to recover, so with that in mind I do not rule out a possible return later in the season, he is still relatively young at 25.

BACKUP OG/C
If healthy, McDonald is good enough to be active (in case of injury) and even to start. I am all for giving Scar players to develop, and even carrying one on the 53 if we need to. My preference is for us to do as we normally do, carry 3 offensive linemen on the Practice Squad. It is not a matter of McDonald developing. If healthy, he is an immediate available backup. If a center is out for a couple of weeks, I'd much rather have McDonald active than one of the Practice Squad quality players we just signed.

I don’t disagree with your assessment of Nick McDonald, however I do not know if he is still the best option, I think you and others are inclined to want him because he is a proven commodity, but Belichick may see more upside with one of the younger players, and I do not think McDonald was anything special so I don’t see that big of a risk in starting fresh with a younger player. That said I am not against the idea of adding Nick McDonald, I just do not see it as a likely scenario, I would probably be more inclined to see his brother as someone we’d add.

CORNERBACK
Not only was Moore on the starting 53 last year, I believe that he even started a game or two. He's not very good, but fine as an end of the roster, emergency, backup.

I only asked who Moore was, I did not see the other posts referring to Sterling Moore being cut until after my post, I agree Moore could be a good signing, he is able to player inside and outside as a CB, as well as some FS. Did Moore clear waivers yet?
 
If McDonald were healthy, there would strong arguments for having him active over Svitek.

Some of that may hinge on how the team views Marcus Cannon: is he better suited to play guard, or tackle? Do they consider Cannon to be Connolly's replacement as the starting RG at some point?


I consider McDonald to be an interior lineman who played tackle in a pinch, an emergency backup at the position due to injuries to others.

Svitek is just the opposite: a backup swing tackle who played guard in a pinch, an emergency backup at the position due to injuries to others.
 
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Potential Signings For After Game One

Washington
Fells
Moore
Nick McDonald

I don't see Washington honestly. Washington did not look good at all on returns. And the fumbles sure didn't help. He also looked pretty bad on blocking for 3rd downs..

Moore might return if the Pats feel he's better than Cole, but I doubt it.

I don't see Fells returning.

McDonald took a step back last year. I don't know if it was injuries or what, but he wasn't nearly as good as he had been when the Pats 1st picked him up off waivers from Green Bay.
 
Some of that may hinge on how the team views Marcus Cannon: is he better suited to play guard, or tackle? Do they consider Cannon to be Connolly's replacement as the starting RG at some point?


I consider McDonald to be an interior lineman who played tackle in a pinch, an emergency backup at the position due to injuries to others.

Svitek is just the opposite: a backup swing tackle who played guard in a pinch, an emergency backup at the position due to injuries to others.


Cannon may have already won the starting RG position if he is healthy. Connolly is a heady self-made Jag from Dante's Academy, and cannot be anything more than an average starter. I think he is a prime interior reserve at both G and C, though. I have heard rumors that Connolly is hurting, thus the urgency to bring in all the reserve C candidates.

Canon's ceiling is much higher. Marcus is bigger, and has demonstrated he has the "feet" to play some tackle. We would not have been so mismatched with the massive Lion's tackles, if Cannon were there, IMHO. He could even have helped outsized Wendell a little bit, too.
 
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