Ok, before the playoff games: Patriots player personnel needs for 2012

[DaBruinz]

Please tell me at what point this season you have seen Cannon playing Guard.

He's lined up at guard a couple of times on running plays. Cannon was an OT in college, but, like Mankins, will be moving inside.. This has been stated since he was drafted. The reason he's mainly been lining up at RT is because of the injuries the Pats have had at OT.

 

[DaBruinz]

How about depth purposes? Cannon has never played anything but OT in his entire career. Us having two other competent tackles (btw, we haven't even extended Vollmer yet and next year is the last year of his rookie deal) is not reason enough to switch Cannon to Guard. This was pure speculation from the day he was drafted and has never been proven true. This is like saying "well, the Giants already have Strahan and Osi, let's have Tuck and Kiwanuka play DT."

If Cannon was this Guard in the making wouldn't he have filled in for Mankins when he got hurt? Nope. Seeing is believing folks.

Umm.. No because Cannon was already filling in for Vollmer at OT. DUH..

Also, prior to playing LG for the Pats, Mankins had never played guard before either.

It was not "pure speculation" by anyone that he'd be playing OG. It's what he was drafted as..

 

[DaBruinz]

You'll win this argument when I see footage of Marcus Cannon playing Guard for us. Right now all I see is footage of him playing Tackle and nothing right now convinces me he is going to make that switch. That was pure speculation from the day we drafted him. Seeing is believing. Show me it.

So, basically you are admitting your own ignorance.. Got it. BTW, had you been watching, you'd have seen Cannon out there a few times at guard..

 

[DaBruinz]

Really because on all draft boards the pick is listed as OT. This was speculation by draft analysts as well.

Realy? Because when it was ANNOUNCED during the draft, he was announced as a GUARD..

 

[DaBruinz]

THANK YOU!!:rocker:

Also, as per the official Patriots.com roster:
New England Patriots: Marcus Cannon

Your boy is listed as, drum roll please, a TACKLE!

BTW, that is not the "OFFICIAL" Roster. Just like it's not the official depth chart, either.

 

[DaBruinz]

I love Robert Meachem. Him and Dashon Goldson are my top 2 FAs I'd like to go after. Meachem offers a better price point than Colston and honestly I think Meachem could thrive in a system where he has a better chance to be featured more.

The problem with Meachem is that it's unknown whether or not he can function in the type of passing game the Pats run. IF he can, then sure.

Dashon Goldson may or may not be on the Pats radar. It all depends on why he didn't sign with the Pats previously. Was it because the Pats didn't offer him a contract? Did they offer him too little (in his eyes)? Or did he just give the 49ers right of refusal..

 

[The-Hooded-One]

Lloyd is better than Meachem and is probably already looking for an apartment in the area

 

[Reckedtrek]

In no particular order: OLB, DE, Safety, CB, C, WR.

That's how I see it. I'd like to see them acquire (draft, trade, FA) a monster Center to complete the O line rebuild. A WR would be nice, maybe Lloyd if we can get him. The rest comes in on Defense. Pass Rush and DB's mainly.

We only have two TE's in all practicality. Granted they are both varying shades of great, but it wouldn't surprise me to see BB pick another up through the draft or FA. Not really a need, but for depth. I'd rather they use Solder as O-line and let him become even better there.

I expect to be wrong, as i never can pick what BB will do next in his team building.

 

[DaBruinz]

Lloyd is better than Meachem and is probably already looking for an apartment in the area

I don't know if you can say that Lloyd is better than Meachum. Remember that there are 2 different offenses they are coming from. In St. Louis and in Denver, Lloyd was their #1 WR. In New Orleans, Meachem was the #2WR, but the #4 option behind Colston, Graham and Sproles.

Also, Meachum will only be turning 28 this year while Lloyd will be turning 31.

 

[BradyToAmendola]

1. Safety
2. Corner Back
3. 4-3 Defensive End/3-4 Outside Linebacker
4. Probably another safety for depth
5. Center
6. Another Corner Back
7. Another Linebacker

- I really do not like this defense other than Chung, Mayo, Wilfork, Mark Anderson on passing downs, and Brandon Spikes against the run. Holding out hope for McCourty, still. We desperately need him to have a few solid playoff games.

- Wide Receiver is not a concern of mine at all. Unless of course we don't resign or franchise Welker and Branch. But between those 2 guys, Hernandez, and Gronk, Brady has more than enough quality pass catchers.

- I really would love someone like Brandon Carr or Brent Grimes in FA.

 

[VrabelJr]

Realy? Because when it was ANNOUNCED during the draft, he was announced as a GUARD..

I'm not going to spoon feed you everything. Go Google 2011 NFL Draft orders and tell me what it says next to his position.

 

[patfanken]

This is my instructions for BB. I'll be specific because I don't want any screw ups. If we follow this plan, then it will set us up for the next 4 years will extraordinary talent and scary depth.

OFFENSE

- without adding a single player we will field the best OL in Pats history. Think about it, to one of the better OLs in the league we added just this year - Waters, Solder, and Cannon. Plus Light had perhaps his best year as a Pat and Dan Connolly replaced Dan Koppen seamlessly - Add them all together and its hard to figure who will start.

TE-s We need to add a 3rd TE for depth purposes - What is interesting is that with the depth on the OL, we don't need the prototype "blocking TE" which will widen the possibilities

QB - If Hoyer leaves we should pick up another clone and have him on the PS so we save the roster spot - If Hoyer stays, then it remains the same

RB - Kevin retires, and Vareen takes his place - Woodhead, BJGE, Ridley, and Vareen is a good group, which shouldn't change unless BJGE leaves

WR - I get rid of Branch a year too early - You replace him with Ocho who will thrive with a full off season - Stay with Edelman. Resign Welker, keep working with Underwood, and add a draft pick WR in the 3rd round or FA like Lyodd

The BOTTOM LINE here is that that we a great OL and all the pieces that gave us a top 3 offense - Nothing really HAS to get done - Tweak where opportunities present themselves.

DEFENSE

!. Add the best FA Safety we can get and spare no $ - That would seem to be either Mathis or Landry This is a MUST

2. Add a mid level FA OLB - Manny Lawson is my first choice

3. Keep all the picks this year and draft the following players with the first 5 picks

1a - Upshaw OLB
1b - Minnefield CB
2a - Lester - S
2b - some DT who has potential as an interior pass rusher
3 - The best WR available - with speed being a critical factor

If we add these players to all the guys coming back from IR (Pryor, Cunningham, Barrett, and Dowling) and we will see a stark improvement to the defense.

Understand additions like this and we can see our defense making the same kind of stat improvement we saw this year with the Texans. However if we even move down to the middle of the pack, image the effect it will have, given our prolific offense.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Just making a notable comment.

The patriots have made more than 150 player transactions since the Sept. 3 cut-down day. It amazes me that practice squad defensive end/outside linebacker Markell Carter was never apart of a roster move.

Not only that, Carter is the highest paid member of the Patriots' practice squad @ $306,000.

This kid might have something special about him.

147 of those transactions involved Ross Ventrone.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

Draft the entire Alabama defense?

 

[BlueThunder]

I think BB drafts a Bama defensive player after a chat with his old friend Nick Saban....

Then again it seems too obvious so it probably never happens

 

[patsfaninpa]

This is my instructions for BB. I'll be specific because I don't want any screw ups. If we follow this plan, then it will set us up for the next 4 years will extraordinary talent and scary depth.

OFFENSE

- without adding a single player we will field the best OL in Pats history. Think about it, to one of the better OLs in the league we added just this year - Waters, Solder, and Cannon. Plus Light had perhaps his best year as a Pat and Dan Connolly replaced Dan Koppen seamlessly - Add them all together and its hard to figure who will start.

TE-s We need to add a 3rd TE for depth purposes - What is interesting is that with the depth on the OL, we don't need the prototype "blocking TE" which will widen the possibilities

QB - If Hoyer leaves we should pick up another clone and have him on the PS so we save the roster spot - If Hoyer stays, then it remains the same

RB - Kevin retires, and Vareen takes his place - Woodhead, BJGE, Ridley, and Vareen is a good group, which shouldn't change unless BJGE leaves

WR - I get rid of Branch a year too early - You replace him with Ocho who will thrive with a full off season - Stay with Edelman. Resign Welker, keep working with Underwood, and add a draft pick WR in the 3rd round or FA like Lyodd

The BOTTOM LINE here is that that we a great OL and all the pieces that gave us a top 3 offense - Nothing really HAS to get done - Tweak where opportunities present themselves.

DEFENSE

!. Add the best FA Safety we can get and spare no $ - That would seem to be either Mathis or Landry This is a MUST

2. Add a mid level FA OLB - Manny Lawson is my first choice

3. Keep all the picks this year and draft the following players with the first 5 picks

1a - Upshaw OLB
1b - Minnefield CB
2a - Lester - S
2b - some DT who has potential as an interior pass rusher
3 - The best WR available - with speed being a critical factor

If we add these players to all the guys coming back from IR (Pryor, Cunningham, Barrett, and Dowling) and we will see a stark improvement to the defense.

Understand additions like this and we can see our defense making the same kind of stat improvement we saw this year with the Texans. However if we even move down to the middle of the pack, image the effect it will have, given our prolific offense.

Lester is returning to Alabama. No way in hell does Upshaw fall to 28-32. Could go to Buffalo around 10th. How bout no to Ocho. And, sign Brandon Lloyd? Re-up Deion Branch for a lower salary because he'd be the 3rd wr and not always on the field. Kind of like Troy Brown in 03 and 04.

 

[VrabelJr]

I think BB drafts a Bama defensive player after a chat with his old friend Nick Saban....

Then again it seems too obvious so it probably never happens

Nick Saban is brutally honest when it comes to his players. He has a ton of respect for BB. Proof of this is instead of drafting Mark Ingram we drafted Stevan Ridley. We will get 'Bama players if Saban believes their legit.

 

[Lurks_All_Day]

I'd thought about waiting on this until after the season, but that would just result in people being happier/sadder about players based upon how the playoffs went. So....

Where do people see the team's player personnel needs for next season?

Atlanta has several free agents available. I'd look at Brent Grimes (cb) and Thomas DeCloud (s); they both were solid contributors in 2011.

I'd say we're set on offense. BB stocked up on TE and RB and we've got some awesome youth on the line.... Lots of folks want a field-stretching WR, but until the rest of the division/ league solves Gronk and Hernandez and Welker, I'm confident that the Pats will continue to move the chains and score pretty much at will.

BB needs to work on his defensive personnel and depth. We can't have WR personnel acting as DB's as the norm, it's dangerous. I like what he has available for the most part, and I expect McCourty to bounce back next year.

There are enough choices on D this coming year, BB loves the FA market especially on D, so I think we'll improve quite a bit on that side of the LOS.

 

[strngplyr]

Nick Saban is brutally honest when it comes to his players. He has a ton of respect for BB. Proof of this is instead of drafting Mark Ingram we drafted Stevan Ridley. We will get 'Bama players if Saban believes their legit.

You have a real funny definition of proof.