At Least Eight Openings For Rookies

[bucky]

Crable had a solid preseason, he was held inactive because he was just too light to hold up in the game and they apparently didn't consider him to be the best option for Special Teams. When he injured himself in Practice it just made more sense to IR him and allow him to work with the Strength and Conditioning folks. He's was off to as good a start as you'd expect for a young OLB. A fair reason for hope.

This is all true. At the same time, if Crable doesn't move up the depth chart, is surpassed by a rookie (even if it's a 1st rounder) and still doesn't make a contribution on ST, he may well not have a roster spot. BB isn't afraid to admit a mistake and move on.

TBC and Alexander, IMO, are battling for a single ST/backup LB slot. I think Woods has surpassed TBC at this point and would hope that there will be other players ahead of him when TC breaks (like hopefully Jason Taylor).

Finally, I completely agree that all the players listed in this thread can be improved on and it doesn't necessarily have to be at that same position. BB could elect to go with 2 QBs, ore 4 RBs, or 7 WRs. Then if you consider injuries and the fact that some draftees just don't make it, I think there's easily room on this team for 10 draftees plus another half dozen UDFAs or so.

 

[14thDragon]

What do you base this on, though? I mean, I REALLY hope he shows up out of nowhere erasing the biggest remaining concern of the year, but I don't know how to justify this hope.

Maybe I missed the preseason game where he was getting killed in setting the edge, but to my poor eyes he was plays when he was on the field. Sacks, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries. Tell me when you saw TBC getting that kind of production?

Crable was 4th on the depth chart last year, and thus did not make it onto the field, he got sent to IR when the roster was down two a couple of healthy DB and room needed to be made. Before the team lost everyone at OLB.

As I said, I am in the minority, but I do not say the guy can't produce because his legs are too skinny. Not when I see him producing when he was on the field.

 

[BradyManny]

And yes I now that free agency isn't over. I still think a FB, a SS and/or a QB are all possible.

That being said, Belichick has brought the team to where he always hopes to be before the draft. He has a completed team that, with reasonable health, could do very well, with no rookie contributions.
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I still see eight easy possbilities for upgrade, all over bottom of the roster players.

QB Gutierrez
RB/FB Green-Ellis
OT O'Callaghan
OG Yates
OLB Redd
ILB Rudd/Alexander
SS the current roster spot is held by CB Richardson
FS/swing DB Spann

PRACTICE SQUAD
Wendell, Listorti, DeVree, Craig, Malone

Good stuff. No arguments here.

Positions I want to address in the draft:

Number denotes spot on the depth chart, "future" denotes if I am hoping it could be a starter in the future

WR5/future
OG3/future
OT3/future
DT2
S-utlity/future
SILB2/future
OLB5/future

I'll take a CB at any given spot if its value, but those are my revised priorities at this point.

 

[mgteich]

Let's focus on the defensive line, since in your previous post you drafted everal marginal needs and no DE.

WILFORK will likely be more likely to stay than Seymour. We will franchise him twice if necessary.

SEYMOUR could stay as the second franchisee if there is no cap, but could be gone.

WARREN is here through 2013.

GREEN is likely to be gone next year.

WRIGHT is a fine long-term back-up.

SMITH is a backup DE who could be upgraded or stay (he is an RFA next year). However, last I heard, no one is calling him a future starter.

BOTTOM LINE
We need a top DE to get major reps in 2010.

I also wanted to observe that it's no sure thing that Seymour will be re-signed. I think Wilfork, Mankins and Gostkowski are all top-priorities, and well ahead of him in terms of urgency. I even think Warren is more likely to return than Seymour.

With that in mind, maybe someone like Evander Hood makes sense...

 

[Synovia]

I agree on all of these players. By most accounts, Ventrone was the absolute ace of the Pats ST coverage teams last season. Wouldn't even be a shock if he became the captain this year.

Isn't Ventrone essentially the "fullback" on kick returns too, IE the lead blocker?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Isn't Ventrone essentially the "fullback" on kick returns too, IE the lead blocker?

No, though he's a blocker. Last season Slater was the primary up returner/lead blocker.