2014 Secondary Vision: No Draft Need?

[JerseyShore99]

CB: Revis (1 CB), Browner (2 CB/may appear at SS), Dennard (2 CB/Depth), Arrington (Nickel corner, Depth)
FS: McCourty (starting FS), Ryan (may start if BB plays 2 FS's instead of a SS/ nickel corner), Wilson (Depth)
SS: Harmon (starting SS), Chung (depth, ST), Ebner (depth/ST)

That's a 10 man backfield, I also off-topically envision a 2 man QB group, 4 man backfield, a 6-man WR core (not including Slater and Harrison), 4 man TE group (featuring Harrison and TE pick), 7 man O-line group, 9 man D-line group, 6 man LB group, and 4 man ST group coming out to a total of 52 players, one short of league limit.

QB (2): Brady, Draft pick
RB (4): Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Draft pick/James Devlin
WR (6): Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Dobson, Boyce, Thompkins
TE (4): Gronkowski, Draft pick, Harrison, Hooman
OL (7): Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Connolly, Vollmer, Cannon,Draft pick

DL (9): Wilfork, Kelly, Armstead, Jones, Siliga, Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Draft pick
LB (6): Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Beauharnais, Draft pick, Draft pick
CB (4): Revis, Browner, Dennard, Arrington
FS (3): McCourty, Ryan, Wilson
SS (3): Harmon, Chung, Ebner

ST (4): Gostowski, Allen, Aiken, Slater

Any draft need here? Don't really think so but I wouldn't mind drafting a SS or "red-shirting" a CB. The prospect names that come to mind that I like realistically are: Vereen (realistic but don't necessarily love), Sunseri (realistic and absolutely love, think BB will too), and Hakeem Smith (love and realistic) for SS and Aaron Colvin for red-shirting CB although probably not realistic in my opinion.

This roster both shows that I believe Mallett is traded by draft day and that I'm pretty comfortable with our WR and TE groups as well as O-line and DT. With this roster in mind I narrowed down our draft needs to (in nor particular order) back-up QB, a RB (either power or pass-catch ability), a TE (Gronk-like back-up), O-line (tackle most likely), pass-rushing DE, 2 LBs (one of both coverage ability and run-stopping ability), possibly a SS, and simply just talent.

 

[JerseyShore99]

I'd love to plug in McCarron, Shazier, Tuitt, Vinnie Sunseri, Max Bullough, ASJ, Juwuan James, Jeremy Gallon, and a pass-catching RB into this roster

 

[manxman2601]

CB: Revis (1 CB), Browner (2 CB/may appear at SS), Dennard (2 CB/Depth), Arrington (Nickel corner, Depth)
FS: McCourty (starting FS), Ryan (may start if BB plays 2 FS's instead of a SS/ nickel corner), Wilson (Depth)
SS: Harmon (starting SS), Chung (depth, ST), Ebner (depth/ST)

That's a 10 man backfield, I also off-topically envision a 2 man QB group, 4 man backfield, a 6-man WR core (not including Slater and Harrison), 4 man TE group (featuring Harrison and TE pick), 7 man O-line group, 9 man D-line group, 6 man LB group, and 4 man ST group coming out to a total of 52 players, one short of league limit.

QB (2): Brady, Draft pick
RB (4): Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Draft pick/James Devlin
WR (6): Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Dobson, Boyce, Thompkins
TE (4): Gronkowski, Draft pick, Harrison, Hooman
OL (7): Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Connolly, Vollmer, Cannon,Draft pick

DL (9): Wilfork, Kelly, Armstead, Jones, Siliga, Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Draft pick
LB (6): Mayo, Hightower, Collins, Beauharnais, Draft pick, Draft pick
CB (4): Revis, Browner, Dennard, Arrington
FS (3): McCourty, Ryan, Wilson
SS (3): Harmon, Chung, Ebner

ST (4): Gostowski, Allen, Aiken, Slater

Any draft need here? Don't really think so but I wouldn't mind drafting a SS or "red-shirting" a CB. The prospect names that come to mind that I like realistically are: Vereen (realistic but don't necessarily love), Sunseri (realistic and absolutely love, think BB will too), and Hakeem Smith (love and realistic) for SS and Aaron Colvin for red-shirting CB although probably not realistic in my opinion.

This roster both shows that I believe Mallett is traded by draft day and that I'm pretty comfortable with our WR and TE groups as well as O-line and DT. With this roster in mind I narrowed down our draft needs to (in nor particular order) back-up QB, a RB (either power or pass-catch ability), a TE (Gronk-like back-up), O-line (tackle most likely), pass-rushing DE, 2 LBs (one of both coverage ability and run-stopping ability), possibly a SS, and simply just talent.

This is very good analysis which I largely agree with. Some thoughts:

1. Whilst I do think they can go into 2014 at DT as it stands, Wilfork, Kelly and Armstead are all compelling reasons for there still being a draft need there. All three are an injury risk and Wilfork/Kelly are no guarantee to be here beyond this season.

2. Safety becomes very week if McCourty becomes injured.

3. At linebacker I'm not too worried about a run stopper because we have Beauharnais. A LB/S hybrid and a more all round 'backer is the way I'd like to go.

4. Adding more to the DE spot is a big priority. Whether that's by adding a pass rush specialist (Ford), a depth guy (Kareem Martin for example) or greater flexibility on the DL (Tuitt) is open to debate.

5. I hope they're not planning on relying on Bolden too much. I could see two RBs being added.

 

[patchick]

I project the roles a little differently, but I think the key element we see the same is that the minute you write an S next to Logan Ryan's name, the whole secondary seems to fall into place very attractively.

 

[mayoclinic]

I project the roles a little differently, but I think the key element we see the same is that the minute you write an S next to Logan Ryan's name, the whole secondary seems to fall into place very attractively.

I think that the Pats will move towards a secondary with a lot of versatile DBs who can play multiple roles, allowing them to tailor things and create confusion. And I could see value to adding at least 1 more versatile DB like Kyle Fuller or Antone Exum who can play multiple roles. But overall, I agree - Ryan's skill set translates nicely as a coverage safety opposite McCourty, with Harmon backing up both.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I can see arrington as a safety but not ryan. I love ryan and he was one of my draft binkies but I don't think he has the open field tackling required for the job.

 

[State]

It seems dubious to keep both Chung and Wilson, as Chung is a much more capable safety and, if he's willing to excel at ST, then Wilson is likely released. It isn't the money; rather; taking up the roster space. Matthew Slater is already our ST ace. Chung is simply more versatile.

The only way Tavon Wilson starts at safety on a consistent basis is if we have a catastrophic string of injuries to McCourty, Ryan, Harmon, and Chung. And if that were to happen, we might need to make a call to the other Wilson.

 

[patchick]

I think that the Pats will move towards a secondary with a lot of versatile DBs who can play multiple roles, allowing them to tailor things and create confusion. And I could see value to adding at least 1 more versatile DB like Kyle Fuller or Antone Exum who can play multiple roles. But overall, I agree - Ryan's skill set translates nicely as a coverage safety opposite McCourty, with Harmon backing up both.

I agree, and Exum seems like a perfect addition. As good as Fuller is, given this draft class and this roster, I'd rather have Exum 2 or 3 rounds later.

 

[mayoclinic]

I agree, and Exum seems like a perfect addition. As good as Fuller is, given this draft class and this roster, I'd rather have Exum 2 or 3 rounds later.

Fuller is a perfect fit, but I really don't want to go DB that early, so I agree. Exum or a LB/S hybrid like KPL (all Manx's guys, BTW) in the 130-140 range works for me.