2019 Draft - where do you even start?

[maineman209]

Depends on the FA strategy. However in the first rounds I would definitely bolster DT and LB position. Horrible defense against the running has been killing us. Today I cannot see any gems,any pro bowl players on DT or LB positions. Some solid players including Hightower but any future stars.

While it would be nice to have a blue-chipper among the LBs, I'd be comfortable just having another red-chipper to add depth to KVN, Bentley and Roberts (while not really yet knowing HT's off-season fate). In the current 5-DB base scheme, the Pats are only using 2 LBs 50%+ of the time anyway. However, the other consideration is that 2019 is the contract year for both KVN (28 in March) and Roberts (25 in April).

The whole DL has been a hodgepodge, with Brown (DT) and Shelton (NT) almost exclusively on the interior, but with "heavy DE" types (3-4 suitable) playing a lot of the interior snaps, and then a with highly variable mix of 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB types manning the edges.

The entire arrangement has been highly-variable from week-to-week, which is certainly partly the opponent-specific game plan, but also has seemed somewhat experimental - figuring out which group responds best to the various situations that come up over the course of a game. It's been difficult for me to suss out what the roles and assignments are, much less who might be succeeding or not (from the perspective of the coaches). It's difficult to know how they might want to re-configure this for next season.

So, it's difficult to know how the coaches perceive the needs going forward. The only thing that's easy to see is that the minimal-front that's required when the defense is in dime has not been effective against the run at all. Fixing that may require just one or two personnel changes and some scheme tweaks, or it might require a broader overhaul of both.

In any case, it will be fascinating to see how they address the situation. In turn, that may reveal something about the direction the scheme is headed in.

 

[everlong]

Not related

So that's what I get for trusting the internet. I read this back when it happened and it's not the only source out there with this fase information.

Nebraska WR Stanley Morgan Jr. arrested on marijuana charge

Morgan’s father, Stanley Morgan, was an All-Pro receiver for the New England Patriots.

 

[reflexblue]

So that's what I get for trusting the internet. I read this back when it happened and it's not the only source out there with this fase information.

Nebraska WR Stanley Morgan Jr. arrested on marijuana charge

Morgan’s father, Stanley Morgan, was an All-Pro receiver for the New England Patriots.

I watched stanley steamer back in the day, i believe he averaged 20 yards a catch.

 

[borg]

Dude, did you just include Cannon with the only player (singular) on the team who could fetch a first round pick?

(rubs eyes)

Marcus Cannon?

In my mind, only Gilmore would fetch a 1st.
Adding Cannon (with a question mark) was a rare "glass half full" attempt by me to APPEAR less negative than I really am.
The roster:
It's JAG Central
Island of Misfit Toys

A moment of weakness took over me. I will do better

 

[supafly]

In my mind, only Gilmore would fetch a 1st.
Adding Cannon (with a question mark) was a rare "glass half full" attempt by me to APPEAR less negative than I really am.
The roster:
It's JAG Central
Island of Misfit Toys

A moment of weakness took over me. I will do better

I’m not a terribly optimistic person, but I do believe that we’ll see a better roster next year. Part of my reasoning is that I agree with you about the current lack of talent. We need more playmakers.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

I’m not a terribly optimistic person, but I do believe that we’ll see a better roster next year. Part of my reasoning is that I agree with you about the current lack of talent. We need more playmakers.

I’m trying to find ways other than the draft where we end up with better skill position players and I’m not seeing it. 2 of our first 6 need to be at Wr and TE.

 

[maineman209]

I’m trying to find ways other than the draft where we end up with better skill position players and I’m not seeing it. 2 of our first 6 need to be at Wr and TE.

IDK.

The Pats have a lot of draft picks, and they've gotten hits out of late-rounders and UDFAs as often as any other team, if not a bit more.

While there certainly have been many FA and trade acquisitions who have disappointed, there have also been many who surpassed my expectations.

Regardless, as always, it will be fascinating to see what BB does in the spring and how it all works out.

 

[everlong]

I watched stanley steamer back in the day, i believe he averaged 20 yards a catch.

I'm old enough that I did too. Not that it would have turned the tide but the drop in the SB is the one I remember. That would have been a TD.

 

[scott99]

So that's what I get for trusting the internet. I read this back when it happened and it's not the only source out there with this fase information.

Nebraska WR Stanley Morgan Jr. arrested on marijuana charge

Morgan’s father, Stanley Morgan, was an All-Pro receiver for the New England Patriots.

I believe they are not related. I thought I read that somewhere. Stanley Morgan has 2 daughters no sons. Nebraska’s Stanley Morgan, his dad, is serving 30 years in prison currently. I believe our Stanley Morgan is not in prison.

 

[scott99]

I watched stanley steamer back in the day, i believe he averaged 20 yards a catch.

One of my all time favorites. He just missed averaging 20 yards a catch, for his CAREER. That’s crazy, 19.9 yards per catch for his career, over 500 catches. Amazing deep threat.