2014 Off-Season Additions for the Offense

[ATippett56]

Now, THAT I can get on board with.

I think we increase our odds a bit with the TE position, because they can have more limited assignments that can increase over the course of the season, much like Gronk/Hernandez in 2010.

I have given up on Thompkins however, so I don't agree with keeping him as you have listed above--unless it's for depth purposes only. I can't imagine any scenario where Thompkins is going to be depended upon as much as this year, and I would think that a good attempt will be made to retain Edelman.

I would prefer to re-sign Julian Edelman than waste time and money in the unrestricted free agent market wondering if player X will be able to grasp the New England Patriots offense.

As for Thompkins, hopefully wide receiver Mark Harrison will provide stiff competition in training camp at the wide receiver position this summer.

Official Website of the New England Patriots | Team - Players

Furthermore, I can foresee the New England Patriots double dipping at the tight end position in the 2014 NFL Draft with the second tight end selection in the sixth round.

NFL Draft - 2014 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[Aßßynormal]

Kenny Britt? Looked to be an absolutely beast before he torn his ACL and MCL...since we've seen many off the field problems and seems to be a douche but if we want a big outside WR cheap maybe ?

I haven't heard much about him 'off the field' lately, maybe we can take a look. Actually, I'm just assuming he's been quiet. Starting with a MRI, we could let him compete for a job but I wouldn't consider him a pick up until he makes the team.

 

[mgteich]

The production of DEN's #3 and #4 receivers is similar within a few yards and within two touchdowns. I can see why one might switch the #3 and #4. Of course Thomas was much, much more reliable, with a much higher percentage rate.

However, it is clear that Decker and D. Thomas are their #1 and #2 receivers.

The Broncos aren't going to cut Julius Thomas, who's their #4 receiver. He's also not making $6m. Their #2 receiver is making $6m. Belichick did a pretty good job of burning any remnants of a bridge with that guy when he stupidly accused him of trying to injure Talib.

 

[Deus Irae]

The production of DEN's #3 and #4 receivers is similar within a few yards and within two touchdowns. I can see why one might switch the #3 and #4. Of course Thomas was much, much more reliable, with a much higher percentage rate.

However, it is clear that Decker and D. Thomas are their #1 and #2 receivers.

Welker had more targets, catches and TDs than Decker prior to the concussion issues. He was the #2.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

This offseason isn't really littered with talented wideouts. Guys like Maclin, Golden Tate, Nicks are going to be overpaid. Have to hope one of the rookies makes a big leap in development.


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[primetime]

As for Thompkins, hopefully wide receiver Mark Harrison will provide stiff competition in training camp at the wide receiver position this summer.

I wouldn't hold my breath. If this team continues to rely on undrafted rookies for production at the wideout position, something is wrong.

 

[Deus Irae]

Personally, assuming (strictly for the hypothetical) that the team doesn't make any moves of significance between now and the draft, I'd like to see DT/OL taken in round 1, and maybe take a TE like Troy Niklas if he's available in round 2.

 

[upstater1]

One thing the Patriots are seeing right now is the downside of sustained success. You're picking at the bottom of the draft for 14 straight years (of course, there was the trade that brought Mayo, that aside).

Solder, Hightower, Chandler Jones, McCourty, Dennard, Jamie Collins, Vollmer, Ridley, Vereen, Dobson, Gronkowski...

These are the fruits of the last several drafts who may pay dividends next year.

But other than Gronk, you don't see that player who tilts the football field by himself.

They do exist all throughout the draft. There are Josh Gordons out there, Richard Shermans, Navorro Bowmans, etc. BUT, most of the time, they are gone in the first 10 picks.

When have the Patriots ever had a chance at drafting, say, a Patrick Peterson? Or a JJ Watt?

 

[primetime]

Any team with a healthy Rob Gronkowski has the potential to win a Super Bowl, so I'm not sure that's a fair assessment. They also had the chance to draft Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas and drafted McCourty instead. McCourty's a great safety for certain, and this argument has been done to death, but those two receivers are field-tilters.

 

[primetime]

Personally, assuming (strictly for the hypothetical) that the team doesn't make any moves of significance between now and the draft, I'd like to see DT/OL taken in round 1, and maybe take a TE like Troy Niklas if he's available in round 2.

If a potential stud TE like Ebron or Amaro is on the board when they pick in round 1, I think you have to take him. I like Niklas as a big blocker with soft hands, but I'd prefer lightning to Gronkowski's thunder. Still, if those guys are gone in round 1, there's guys like Seferian-Jenkins and Niklas in rounds 2 and 3. Good draft for tight ends, easily the best since the Gronk/Hernandez/Graham year.

 

[Deus Irae]

If a potential stud TE like Ebron or Amaro is on the board when they pick in round 1, I think you have to take him. I like Niklas as a big blocker with soft hands, but I'd prefer lightning to Gronkowski's thunder. Still, if those guys are gone in round 1, there's guys like Seferian-Jenkins and Niklas in rounds 2 and 3. Good draft for tight ends, easily the best since the Gronk/Hernandez/Graham year.

I've said it elsewhere, and I'll repeat it here:

If the Patriots draft a TE in the first round, the GM should be fired before the team makes its next pick. There is too much need elsewhere (DT/OL/S) to be taking either TE or WR in round 1, given the depth of those positions this year.

You obviously disagree, and I'm sure most other posters here will as well, but I look at it in much the same way that I looked at last year, where taking the LB while the need was S was really, really stupid. This would be absolutely 3 terrible decisions in 3 years (Tavon Wilson, anyone?), and it would be time to change GMs.

 

[upstater1]

Any team with a healthy Rob Gronkowski has the potential to win a Super Bowl, so I'm not sure that's a fair assessment. They also had the chance to draft Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas and drafted McCourty instead. McCourty's a great safety for certain, and this argument has been done to death, but those two receivers are field-tilters.

That's why I wrote that Gronk is a field-tilter.

I too would have liked Demaryious instead, but again there's a reason both were available that late.

 

[mgteich]

I suspect that most are satisfied with choice of Collins (LB) over Swearanger (S) last year. I suspect that this will also be true after a couple of years more of seeing their production.

It is curious, you criticize Belichick for picking according to value instead of need in 2013.

You criticize Belichick because he picked according to need instead of value in 2012 (Wilson).

You are consistent. You criticize Belichick in both cases.

I've said it elsewhere, and I'll repeat it here:

If the Patriots draft a TE in the first round, the GM should be fired before the team makes its next pick. There is too much need elsewhere (DT/OL/S) to be taking either TE or WR in round 1, given the depth of those positions this year.

You obviously disagree, and I'm sure most other posters here will as well, but I look at it in much the same way that I looked at last year, where taking the LB while the need was S was really, really stupid. This would be absolutely 3 terrible decisions in 3 years (Tavon Wilson, anyone?), and it would be time to change GMs.

 

[Deus Irae]

I suspect that most are satisfied with choice of Collins (LB) over Swearanger (S) last year. I suspect that this will also be true after a couple of years more of seeing their production.

It is curious, you criticize Belichick for picking according to value instead of need in 2013.

You criticize Belichick because he picked according to need instead of value in 2012 (Wilson).

You are consistent. You criticize Belichick in both cases.

According to BB himself, need is a component of value. Last year, safety was a huge need, and LB was not. This year, DT/OL is a huge need, and TE is a lesser need (A/K/A draft a TE in round 2 as I've already mentioned). As for Wilson, if they'd have played things out smarter, they could have gone with either WR or LB instead of Tavon, in year where the talent at those spots was greater than the talent at safety, and those positions would have already been better off going into last year. You've chosen to ignore those elements of the equation, for some reason. I wonder what that reason could possibly be....

 

[primetime]

I've said it elsewhere, and I'll repeat it here:

If the Patriots draft a TE in the first round, the GM should be fired before the team makes its next pick. There is too much need elsewhere (DT/OL/S) to be taking either TE or WR in round 1, given the depth of those positions this year.

You obviously disagree, and I'm sure most other posters here will as well, but I look at it in much the same way that I looked at last year, where taking the LB while the need was S was really, really stupid. This would be absolutely 3 terrible decisions in 3 years (Tavon Wilson, anyone?), and it would be time to change GMs.

I agree that DT is a big area of need (less certain about OL), though I'll disagree somewhat with your assessment of previous drafts. I'll agree that Wilson was a huge, indefensible mistake, but a fast cover LB was as much a need as a safety last season, especially since the team had signed Adrian Wilson and then they did draft Harmon, who acquitted himself fairly well as a rookie.

I don't think they need to draft a WR, but a TE is an absolute area of need. There are also many productive defensive tackles potentially available in free agency this season (Melton, Joseph, Starks, Soliai, Babineaux, Hatcher, Raji).

 

[JackBauer]

The assertion that a coverage LB wasn't a huge need going into the last draft simply beggars belief. And the complaint that S was a huge need is somewhat obviated by the fact that they, well, drafted one in the third round.

 

[Deus Irae]

I agree that DT is a big area of need (less certain about OL), though I'll disagree somewhat with your assessment of previous drafts. I'll agree that Wilson was a huge, indefensible mistake, but a fast cover LB was as much a need as a safety last season, especially since the team had signed Adrian Wilson and then they did draft Harmon, who acquitted himself fairly well as a rookie.

I don't think they need to draft a WR, but a TE is an absolute area of need. There are also many productive defensive tackles potentially available in free agency this season (Melton, Joseph, Starks, Soliai, Babineaux, Hatcher, Raji).

Wilson was done, and was a waste of money. As for Harmon, even if you're willing to wildly overrate him, like many on this board did this past season, since when did doubling up at a position become a bad thing?

 

[primetime]

Wilson was done, and was a waste of money. As for Harmon, even if you're willing to wildly overrate him, like many on this board did this past season, since when did doubling up at a position become a bad thing?

There's nothing wrong with doubling up at a position (after all, it worked with Gronk/Hernandez and Ridley/Vereen) but you only have so many draft picks.

 

[goheels22002]

Wilson was done, and was a waste of money. As for Harmon, even if you're willing to wildly overrate him, like many on this board did this past season, since when did doubling up at a position become a bad thing?

I like the way the Patriots address position groups with multiple draftees and free agents. I really liked the Adrian Wilson signing at the time and at 2013 camp early when it appeared he could move fairly well. The Harmon selection may turn out to be a good one. Of all the positions on the field, safety is the one that takes at least a couple of years to discover what you've got.

Pro defenses are unlike anything these guys have played before, and it takes experience to see an offensive set and have the knowledge and instinct to get your self and other guys in the right place. Gregory has that ability. I think he's going to be a defensive coach one day in the NFL.

 

[Deus Irae]

There's nothing wrong with doubling up at a position (after all, it worked with Gronk/Hernandez and Ridley/Vereen) but you only have so many draft picks.

Here's a simple, and reasonable (given players taken at the position) version of how things could have gone had BB not screwed the pooch with T. Wilson:

Instead of Wilson, the next 3 LBs available and taken were Zach Brown, Lavonte David, Davis. Had the Patriots taken one of them, (Let's say Brown, because he was chosen first), the Patriots could have stayed pat in 2013, and taken Elam. That would give the Patriots the current defensive lineup (assuming injury returns, Talib re-signing and Spikes' departure):

Nink
Kelly
Wilfork
Jones
Mayo
Hightower
Brown
Talib
Dennard
McCourty
Elam


with the only "losses" because of draft picks not being accumulated being Boyce and Ryan.

Instead of trying to outthink the whole freakin' room again this year, BB needs to make the smart picks. Wilson and Collins (nothing against Collins other than his position) are not those picks.