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- Sep 13, 2004
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KEEPING OUR OWN COUNTS
We didn't think that we'd keep McCourty and Thuney. These are major additions to the team that we had signed a couple of days ago. And Slater and Butler help also.
DEFENSE
We had a top 5 defense by late last year. I have no reason to expect anything different this year. We will surely add a couple of LB's, and a DL. The draft will almost assuredly include a front 7 player or two. But, as far as planning, IMO the key is to add a LB to have approximately what we had last year. Anything else is gravy (a good idea) that could lead to a better defense than we had last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
We lost Ebner. We will bring back King, Slater and Bethel. We just added Phillips and returner Byrd. We have a decision to make on Gostkowski.
OFFENSE
All I can say is that it is early.
OL
Bringing back Thuney is huge. A healthy Andrews would be huge, as well as a healthy fullback (hopefully Develin, but could be Johnson). We hope for something from Froholdt and Cajuste. We will likely add a couple of draftees plus Newhouse.
RUNNING GAME
The running game is the running game that Belichick chose, including the addition of Harris. I see no changes except for running behind better blocking. The RB's will again be a major part of the passing game. We might cut and replace Cannon (no cap effect), or not, or even redo his contract.
PASSING GAME
????
It's two days into free agency, and we have one of the worst passing offense in the NFL. Thankfully, we don't play the season in March, if we play it at all.
I suppose that I am OK with our #3, #4 and #5 WR's (Sanu, Harry and Byrd in some order). We even have a couple of 2019 UFA also competing for those roster spots. We also have a #3 TE in LeCosse. I'm not saying they we shouldn't consider upgrading Sanu and LeCosse. It's just that, for me, Sanu is an OK roster player, if we consider that he is competing for reps with Harry. Obviously, either of these players could be better than #3, or not.
We have a QB who we expect to compete for one of our QB positions.
That leaves us with 5 VERY MAJOR needs: QB, #1 WR, #2WR, #1TE, and #2TE. I suppose that we've had this many needs before, especially in the first couple of days of three agency. However, this year the needs are very focused to one aspect of the game.
We aren't in good cap shape, but we've been here before. We have many ways to add cap space, $20M with no players to replace. We also could use draft choices to trade for players.
We didn't think that we'd keep McCourty and Thuney. These are major additions to the team that we had signed a couple of days ago. And Slater and Butler help also.
DEFENSE
We had a top 5 defense by late last year. I have no reason to expect anything different this year. We will surely add a couple of LB's, and a DL. The draft will almost assuredly include a front 7 player or two. But, as far as planning, IMO the key is to add a LB to have approximately what we had last year. Anything else is gravy (a good idea) that could lead to a better defense than we had last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
We lost Ebner. We will bring back King, Slater and Bethel. We just added Phillips and returner Byrd. We have a decision to make on Gostkowski.
OFFENSE
All I can say is that it is early.
OL
Bringing back Thuney is huge. A healthy Andrews would be huge, as well as a healthy fullback (hopefully Develin, but could be Johnson). We hope for something from Froholdt and Cajuste. We will likely add a couple of draftees plus Newhouse.
RUNNING GAME
The running game is the running game that Belichick chose, including the addition of Harris. I see no changes except for running behind better blocking. The RB's will again be a major part of the passing game. We might cut and replace Cannon (no cap effect), or not, or even redo his contract.
PASSING GAME
????
It's two days into free agency, and we have one of the worst passing offense in the NFL. Thankfully, we don't play the season in March, if we play it at all.
I suppose that I am OK with our #3, #4 and #5 WR's (Sanu, Harry and Byrd in some order). We even have a couple of 2019 UFA also competing for those roster spots. We also have a #3 TE in LeCosse. I'm not saying they we shouldn't consider upgrading Sanu and LeCosse. It's just that, for me, Sanu is an OK roster player, if we consider that he is competing for reps with Harry. Obviously, either of these players could be better than #3, or not.
We have a QB who we expect to compete for one of our QB positions.
That leaves us with 5 VERY MAJOR needs: QB, #1 WR, #2WR, #1TE, and #2TE. I suppose that we've had this many needs before, especially in the first couple of days of three agency. However, this year the needs are very focused to one aspect of the game.
We aren't in good cap shape, but we've been here before. We have many ways to add cap space, $20M with no players to replace. We also could use draft choices to trade for players.
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