2008 Patriots

[rookBoston]

The foundations are set for a sustained run.

Not enough consideration has been given to the fact that our age profile has been gradually but consistently improving since 2001. All our "old" LBs (TJ, Phifer, McGinest) are gone, replaced by younger (Colvin, Vrable, Beisel) players. Our "old" DL (Pleasant, Washington, Hamilton) are gone and replaced by draft picks. Our "old" OL (Woody, Andruzzi) has been replaced by young guys, too.

Vinatieri was another oldie, and so is Ty Law. The only oldies that are left on the roster are Harrison, Brown and Dillon. And chances are that we have their 2008 replacements already on the roster.

Here's a sneak peak:

Starting Offense -
QB Brady
RB Moroney
OL Light, Mankins, (Koppen), Neal, Kaczur
WR (Branch), Jackson
TE Watson, Thomas

Starting Defense -
DL (Warren), Wilfork, Seymour
LB Vrabel, (Beisel), (Bruschi), Colvin
CB Hobbs, (Wilson)
S Harrison, Sanders

Players in (parens) are not under contract for 2008, as of today.

The good news is that the core is in place, and it is very young, and very talented. The Pats are lined up to be competitive and improving for many years.

Re-signing Koppen, Branch, Warren and Wilson... all solid young players who fit perfectly on the team... has got to be a priority. I'd say, spending money on those players makes more sense than spending cap space on Ty Law-- but of course the Front Office knows value when they see it.

 

[Mike the Brit]

No Grahambo, not even in parentheses.

Beisel still there at ILB?

I only hope he'll show a lot more than he did last season ...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

If you are going to call Ty and Corey old, then you have to include Tedy since he's a year older than they are. And Vrabel will be "old" at that rate by next season.

Extending younger players is all well and good. But none of them play a position of weakness from last season (or play it as well as Ty has). Wilson is a FS not a CB, and he needs to work at that after a lackluster 2005. That you've listed him rather than Asante and Gay should tell you something. Rodney will in all liklihood not be here in 2008 (at age 36) unless he decides to hang around as a veteran backup. Of course Law could take his place by then since he'd only be 34 - same age as Rodney is this season. And while Dillon's replacement better be on this roster, I'm not so sure Harrison's is and I know Brown's isn't - not for all the roles he's filled in the last half dozen seasons. Not at all sure Vinatieri's even is. And try making a case that we have a Tedy in the wings....

You always shape your roster with an eye to the future, but if you ignore the present you watch the playoffs from your couch. That's why Belioli always keeps just as sharp an eye on potential vetran FA's to fill in the blanks. You need that blend of experience, leadership and in some cases hunger, and that also allows you to draft for value and select talent over impending need.

The 2008 team is far from set. But I'm sure by the time we cross that bridge Belioli will have fashioned one. And I'm also sure that no matter how well their talent appears to fit this team, there is no guarantee the 4 you mention will be extended unless they are prepared to take slightly below market deals and forego the chance that in FA someone will likely be willing to overpay for their services - and it won't be NE.

 

[RayClay]

Still a lot of restocking at linebacker. Defensive backfield has youth, but it's uncertain how good they'll be.

On the other hand, the d-line could be legendary.

 

[flutie2phelan]

One GAME at a time ?

One season at a time!

 

[Welker83]

The base is definatly set, but LB will be a big question...
if they stay under contract the ages would be (Start of season/End of season)

Bruschi (35/35)
Vrabel (32/33)
Colvin (30/31)
Beisel (29/30)

By 2008 one would hope that a draft pick bumps one of those guys out of the lineup...