How would YOU grade the Patriots offseason?

I see alot of griping about the F that The Sporting News gave us. While I think that an F is a little harsh, it's hard for me to argue with it too much. We have lost far more than we have gained this offseason so far. It doesn't mean we're going to be a far worse team because of it but we just haven't done a good job of replacing what we have lost. If we were to sign Ty Law, I would be willing to bet alot of these writers would change their tune significantly.

If this is discounting the draft (which I believe it is) I gave them a C and would give a C- if that was possible. The question/dilemma is, if we had resigned the big three losses, how much better off would we be not only next year but for the future. I would have to personally say because of the salary cap, we would be worse off in the future, maybe not next year, but in the years to come. So looking at it that way it is a hard grade to give.

I voted "B" but it's really incomplete because we still have cap money and the offseason isn't over yet.

huskeralk said:

We have lost far more than we have gained this offseason so far.

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Givens' loss I discount because I think Jackson and Caldwell will combine to be as good as Givens and Davis.

McGinest is a loss, sure.

Vinatieri is incomplete. I do think Gostkowski has more leg now than Vinatieri but we need to see him kick under pressure so this could go either way.

We still have cap room and may get Law to go with Warfield which would make our CB stronger. Seymour has been re-signed and others might be. Definitely incomplete with the cap room sitting there.

BelichickFan said:

I voted "B" but it's really incomplete because we still have cap money and the offseason isn't over yet.

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I agree, it is still far from complete. I fully expect with our cap room that we'll still bring in at least one quality player before preseason.

huskeralk said:

I agree, it is still far from complete. I fully expect with our cap room that we'll still bring in at least one quality player before preseason.

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Or re-sign some more guys or use the LTBE loophole to move the money to next year, assuming that loophole still exists.

Other than draft and hope, we have done precious little in the offseason to replace lost players. We also hope that all our injured folks will come back healthy, and that our draftees will step up.

The major accomplishments of the offseason was the re-signing of Neal, and the extensions of Seymour and Hochstein. This and the draft might cause us to rate the effect on 2007 and onward as an A.
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But if we are talking about the effect on 2006, then

The bottom line is indeed adds and subtracts. bb doesn't count on draft picks unless he must.

CORNER
OUT Starks and Poole
IN Warfield

WIDE RECEIVER
OUT Givens, Dwight, Davis, Johnson
IN Caldwell

LINEBACKER
OUT McGinist
IN Gardner

KICKER
OUT Vinitieri
IN Gramatica

RETURNER
OUT Dwight, Davis
IN

OFFENSIVE LINE
OUT Ashworth
IN
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No matter how much kool-aid I drink, the above summary is a sad one. We keep waiting for even jag vets to be signed. The best we've gotten recently is Sullivan, a potential backup. I gave a "C". A gentleman's pass (a C-) is probably more in order, as someone else indicated.

Of course, there is plenty of time to pickup Law, a returner and a couple of other free agents.

A very solid, but qualified B, they have done ok so far, but with big bucks left and it only being June, I have all the confidence that this will be a 11-13 win season.

As of today, I say "C-", but I have a feeling there will be at least 2 veterans signed by the end of the summer.

I gave it a B. Time will tell. I agree with MG that we'll really know in future years. Personally, I counted the draft, and I think it was a very good one. I see Free Agency as a definite loss in Willie Mac's case, and there will be at least an early vacuum at 'backer, unless something happens between now and September (the other point here is that you cannot begin to grade an offseason halfway through it.)

WR - I'm okay with the receiving corps, although the depth there is wafer-thin. I'd like to see mo better depth, but think Jackson and Caldwell, while not instant brilliant stars, will look good on the receiving end of Brady strikes. I also think we're hearing a lot of crap about Branch that will turn out to be much ado about nothing. He'll be back and happy by September. Hopefully he won't do something stupid like holding out from camp.

RB, huge upgrade from "nobody" most of last year to Dillon, Maroney, and Faulk now (as of right now, Pass is in there too.)

TE, an upgrade, if one was needed.

DBs, holding steady (as of now)

LBs - big hit from Willie Mac departure. We have no real assurance it'll get any better.

DL - everybody is healthy, some more jumbo bodies coming in. It's not getting any worse, that's for sure, and it was already the best unit in the league. RE-SIGNED THE BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE, in Seymour. Should count for something.

PR/KR - Step right up and try your luck. Anybody could be our returner this year. Looks like we give up a few yards' field position on offense, unless something unusual is planned or happens. Downgrade, with departure of Bethel and Dwight. Maybe they like some of the Jakari Wallace level receiver types, at KR/PR.

QB - Departure of Kliff Kingsbury will be felt sharply. The arrival of Cory Bramlett and the maturation of Matt Cassel border on the significant. Let's be serious - this position is pretty well set.

RB - Huge improvement via the draft. I believe we have two guys here who are worthy of featured back status. Maroney is the future, but in another injury plagued year could carry the team (certainly much more so than Heath Evans, frinstance.)

OL - Improvement via return from injury of Light. Departure of Ashworth. Maturation of last year's starting "freshmen", Mankins and Kaczur. Addition of a lot of possibility via O'Callaghan, if in fact he can be as impressive a run blocker as some believe. If not, they lose nothing significant here, although it was, once again, not addressed in FA.

CAP POSITION: Second best in the league, last article I saw. Use of that money to get Branch done, lock up Graham if he's not on the block, etc. etc. etc., could make this evaluation a lot more clear by September.

Additional thoughts - Trades are in again, cap room is ubiquitous for a couple of years. I feel like I'm a little out of my depth given what looks like a sea change. I don't think BB is... in fact, he inaugurated the use of the new CBA trade ramifications, as I understand it.

I can't see evaluating by who went out the door and who came in, in FA alone. All I can see is determining whether the team is more or less able to do what it needs to do, whether by draft or FA.

So far, it looks pretty good to me.

PFnV

Well, this is kinda like grading only on the multiple choice section of the test. And half way through as well. But I will go with C right now. But then again most offseasons by this point (sans draft, which really can't be graded right now) the BB SP regime has gotten solid C's.

But they are much better on the written portion and left themselves plenty to work with on it.

huskeralk said:

We have lost far more than we have gained this offseason so far.

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That's probably correct - though it is impossible to fully assess the help or lack thereof from the draft at this point.

What is quickly forgotten is the fact that nearly all of those "losses" when looked at as individual moves, were unquestionably the "right" moves

Not overpaying for McGinest was the right move.
Not overpaying for Givens was the right move.

Letting AV go (franchise player was an option) and Dwight are might be cause for debate but the rest don't strike me as crucial.

So how that, along with a great draft, and the re-signing of some key players - with hopefully more to come - ranks as an F makes no sense. I give us a B.

While I still think it's too early for a final grade, I would say right now, not counting the draft picks, we've got a C. I still think the addition of one or two more veterans is possible.

My biggest feeling from this offseason is that it is sometimes necessary to take a half-step back in order to take two steps forward. While the departures of some, specifically AV and Willie, might be tough to swallow we need to allow the younger guys more chances to get on the field. Maybe we will have some growing pains early on in the season due to their losses. But I strongly believe that the Patriots are determined to not suffer the same fate as previous dynasties. While I would've loved to see Willie and AV retire as Pats, I would much rather watch younger, less expensive and more talented players winning games for us than slowly watch the older guys fade away before our eyes.

When you look at the key pieces of the Patriots puzzle, most especially with the Offensive Line and young weapons we have surrounded Brady with, along with the the big three on the DL, I strongly believe that we will be in contention for the Super Bowl for the next 3-4 years at the very least.

not counting draft picks?

While I fully understand that draft picks are basically a relatively 'unknown' quality, to not factor them into the equation of off-season moves is silly. (Are they going to be kept in a freezer for a year?)

"bb doesn't count on draft picks unless he must." (quoted earlier)

Sorry to single out someone but others have also implied similar thoughts. BB will and has used his first day draft picks basically every year he has been here. Yes, their production will be limited - but don't forget the added benefit that the rookies give the vet's bodies a rest - possible avoiding injury and diminishing late season fatigue. The problem with rookies is when you are a crappy team and your fans expect them to be saviors - which 99% are not (at least not in their first year). The Pats don't expect that and the fans don't put the added pressure on them to be saviors which helps them (rookies). The first draft day rookies will play and will contribute. Just check our last many years first day draft picks. The real surprise is not that they played - the surprise is that how few busts there have been (thanks Bill and Scott!) Their low cap cost will free up money to get FA's (Hi Ty), and I think most people would agree that this looks like a good draft year.

Look back at last years offseason (lost Adruzzi, lost Law, lost Klemm, lost Patton, let go Phifer, others....). People weren't too happy then either....The thing that can and will sink a ship is the roll of the dice called injuries. (Knock on wood). I give this offseason a 'B' considering the draft plus resigning Seymore and Neil.

I agree. While BB might not LIKE to count on rookies, he does so often - last year was not an exception.

Breaking it down, as of now I'd say the Patriots get a C/C- for the offseason if you don't include the draft. If you do, I give them a solid B (which is how I voted.)

..........inc

I gave it a B. It has been a very solid off season and an excellent draft for us.

Losses of Vinatieri, Givens, McGinnest, Dwight, Fauria, Ashworth & Andre Davis. Givens was the big loss. Vinatieri the second biggest.

The Patriots sign Reche Caldwell. Could he turn out to be a good player in New England, turn his career into something impressive? I'm willing to give this guy a chance.

Grade: B

Pats re sign Brown and Neal.
Re signing Troy Brown wasnt very necesary but the fans want him back and its good to have some experience still in the Recieving corps. Neal was a very necesary re signing.

Grade for Brown: C+ to B-
Grade for re signing Neal: A

Pats sign Gramatica and Tebucky Jones

Gramatica Grade: C. We needed a kicker for the time being so it wasnt terrible, but I figure Gostwowski will get the job.

Tebucky Grade: B-. It was a good move, brining good ole Tebucky back. We have some Safeties, Harrison, Wilson and Sanders being the top three. But having Tebucky back as well is nice.

Re signing Randall Gay and Chad Scott

Both: A-. I really think Randall Gay can become a very good cornerback. Signing Scott back only added us some more good depth at Cornerback.

Signing Warfield: B+. Not bad! Samuel, Hobbs, Gay, Scott and Warfield seems like a pretty good group of corners.

One more...

Extending Seymour: A++++ Obviously.

I went for a B....... Including the draft (which I was totally thrilled with). A solid team with many rehabbing starters and few glaring holes doesn't need to be signing lots of FA's..... That said I would like to see Ty Law back and a WR/KR added. They can go 8-8 and I won't complain after the 3 of 4 run! Incedentally, I refer to the championships titles as Destiny(2001), Determination(2003) and Dynasty(2004).... :rocker:

I give them a solid Ray Clay, with maybe a Space Crime in time or even a Digger but definitely NOT an NEM

I gave it a C, not counting the draft. Probably go with a B with the draft.

But in terms of our overall improvement this off season, I'd give it at least a B+ simply because we'll have so many players coming off of injuries to contribute. Our DBs and RBs were decimated by injury last year, and Tedy took off half the season. To me we start out well ahead of the end of last year just by getting those guys back.