Folks thought that this needed a lot work. Belichick agreed, and acted. Let's see what we have. Obviously, we can keep more or less than my guesses for the most likely to make (NOT locks). This isn't a way too early roster prediction. It is more of a status quo assessment. Lots can happen. However, I do think that we are in very good shape.
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(5) DT/DE (excluding edge rushers)
Guy
Barnmore
Godchaux
Wise
Anderson
(Cowart/Adams/Spence/Thurman/Davis/Bower)
(3) LB LOCKS (barring retirement); Hightower and Van Noy can play ILB or OLB
Van Noy
Judon
Hightower
(3) ADDITIONAL EDGE
Perkins
Uche
Winovich
(2) ADDITIONAL ILB
McMillan
Jennings
(Bentley)
(Hall)
(1) SPECIAL TEAMS
Reynolds
INJURY LIST
McGrone
Thanks for putting this together. It's good to get an overview at this moment in time (lots of FA time left before camp)
What I see that I like the most when I look at this is COMPETITION and I don't just mean competition for snaps, I mean competition for ROSTER spots. When the get to camp, there are a LOT of players on this list who will be fight for their football careers (at lest in NE). This goes especially for all those DLmen listed. That was a LOT of names and every few roster spots. Same goes for the LB's
But here's the thing. What I see when I look at these names are a lot of players who are either position flexible, or are plug and play within specific schemes. There will be enough DLmen that Bill will be able to play some 3-4 with true 300lb DE's (or very close to that). Same goes for when he wants a 4 or 2 man front.
....and as far as Barmore goes, I'd be treating him like a rookie QB or WR. In games, if it were my call, he wouldn't see the field on a run down for the entire season. I'd spend this entire year working on his take off and refining his almost non-existent pass rush moves. Maybe in practice you start to work a bit on his run game techniques, but for the most part, I'd just work on what he does best now, and make it better. Show the kid some immediate success, rather than bury him with techniques and hope he digs his way out of it. He doesn't sound that the latter would be a good approach, to a great talent that you have to build from the ground up and keep him supervised and happy like a 3 year old.
Let him provide some inside push as a situational pass rusher get his 5 sacks and multiple hurries and hits. He has quick feet and should be effective running around in all those DL/LB stunts the Pats use to create a pass rush.
Finally, my one prognostication. Look to see Uche be used as an ILB. He has the speed and athleticism to be our Michah Parsons-lite.