Quick benefits to the offense

[Fencer]

A sufficiently good rookie OG could start Day 1.

RBs can be highly productive as rookies. Ingram, by all accounts, is quite polished, even in the passing game (receiving and blocking alike).

Rookie WR success, of course, would be a longshot.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

A sufficiently good rookie OG could start Day 1.

RBs can be highly productive as rookies. Ingram, by all accounts, is quite polished, even in the passing game (receiving and blocking alike).

Rookie WR success, of course, would be a longshot.

I personally don't want to see a WR taken at all if it's not one of the top 5 pass catchers. No late round flyers! We have a talented speedster in Taylor price waiting and i want to see what this kid can do with more reps.

 

[patchick]

I personally don't want to see a WR taken at all if it's not one of the top 5 pass catchers. No late round flyers!

From this, I gather that you see a clear set of 5 WRs who stand out above the pack this year? I don't see that at all. There's Jones and Green, then a lot of confusion. Torrey Smith has tiny hands. Jon Baldwin and Titus Young are problem children. Jerrel Jernigan weighs 185 lbs. Etc.

I'd be happy to welcome Hankerson, Cobb, Gates or Moore aboard.

 

[BlueThunder]

I'd rather see a RB in round 3 or 4 than a WR......BJGE and Woody are fine as is.....pick up a vet RB if neither Faulk,Morris or Taylor return....my guess is 2 out of 3 will be gone .....

Shore up the OL an get a DE and OLB that can get to the QB... TB with his current offensive lineup put up plenty of points last season....most will be back when the season starts...(Let's hope it starts)

 

[West Philly Patriot]

From this, I gather that you see a clear set of 5 WRs who stand out above the pack this year? I don't see that at all. There's Jones and Green, then a lot of confusion. Torrey Smith has tiny hands. Jon Baldwin and Titus Young are problem children. Jerrel Jernigan weighs 185 lbs. Etc.

I'd be happy to welcome Hankerson, Cobb, Gates or Moore aboard.

Your right I should have written my top 5

1) A.J Green
2) Julio jones
3) Leonard hankerson
4) Tex Cobb
5) Torrey smith- despite his hand size i have a good feeling about this kid. I really love his athleticism. He was my number 3 before I knew about the hand thing though.

 

[Fencer]

The problem, as always in these analyses, is that the offense was successful and aging, while the defense was young and shaky. So which is more important to shore up via the draft?

My views on the offensive side are:

QB: No need to shore up.
TE: Ditto.
WR: Ditto. We have three young guys who could still develop, and 2 vets who were pretty effective.
OG: Urgent need
OT/C: Need to be addressed fairly soon, or urgently if Light isn't re-signed.
RB: A stud RB would be very nice to have, but there's no actual need for more than depth.

Of course, one can justify later-pick fliers at almost any position.

 

[Water Boy]

My thoughts:


1. We should draft an effective change of pace back to compliment BJGE & Woodhead and maybe push BJGE to be the feature back

2. Not sure you can bank on any rookie WR in the draft to make a significant impact with the offense in 2011.

3. It is likely that the offensive line will take a step back in 2011 regardless of who is drafted and who does or doesn't return.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

The problem, as always in these analyses, is that the offense was successful and aging, while the defense was young and shaky. So which is more important to shore up via the draft?

My views on the offensive side are:

QB: No need to shore up.
TE: Ditto.
WR: Ditto. We have three young guys who could still develop, and 2 vets who were pretty effective.
OG: Urgent need
OT/C: Need to be addressed fairly soon, or urgently if Light isn't re-signed.
RB: A stud RB would be very nice to have, but there's no actual need for more than depth.

Of course, one can justify later-pick fliers at almost any position.

To be fair, the offense had it's fair share of issues in that playoff loss to the jets as well. In the beginning of the season how many of you based on our roster predicted 14-2. Brady had the best year of any QB in NFL history, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say we cannot assume he will repeat that.

The jets showed us in the postseason how one dimensional our passing attack actually was, we had no answer for their gameplan. We elected not to go to the ground game more when it seemed it would've behooved us to do so. Lack of confidence in personnel? We couldn't make them pay on the backside because we just simply don't have to horses to play long ball.

Some offensive positions could be drafted for and/or we could use the players we have in different ways or trust certain players with a bigger workload. Either way the offense is in no way untouchable. No matter how they do it, they need to take a little pressure off Brady to be the sole provider of big plays for this Offense. Wether thats a guy that can beat the brakes off his defender on the fly route or a running back that can bounce off a few tackles and still get to daylight.

 

[patchick]

Your right I should have written my top 5

1) A.J Green
2) Julio jones
3) Leonard hankerson
4) Tex Cobb
5) Torrey smith- despite his hand size i have a good feeling about this kid. I really love his athleticism. He was my number 3 before I knew about the hand thing though.

Nice list, thanks!

 

[MaineMan]

BGE always seemed to need at least one TE in the set, if not two, just to make any headway at all. Out of a 4WR set, he couldn't really do much besides passpro. Kinda shot our play-action all to hell.

I'd say an RB who's a fairly consistent threat to do some damage out of a 4WR set might represent the quickest benefit to the offense. Probably have to be a 2nd-rounder, though.

Second would be a WR who can stretch the field horizontally - someone besides Branch who can be consistently effective outside the numbers at intermediate ranges (we seem to have a surplus of guys who are really at their best only over the middle and down the seams). Hernandez could help in that regard if he expands his route tree in his second season. Tate, too, perhaps (and might also enhance his deep threat capabilities). No way to tell about Price, of course. If Price isn't "that guy" in the coaches' eyes, Austin Pettis seems capable and might be available in the 3rd. Hankerson seems like a guy who can work the sidelines well, and also seems to know how to make himself available to a QB who's in trouble. But he'd also probably have to be taken in the 2nd.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

BGE always seemed to need at least one TE in the set, if not two, just to make any headway at all. Out of a 4WR set, he couldn't really do much besides passpro. Kinda shot our play-action all to hell.

I'd say an RB who's a fairly consistent threat to do some damage out of a 4WR set might represent the quickest benefit to the offense. Probably have to be a 2nd-rounder, though.

How often are you going to see four-wide sets now that the Pats have real TEs (especially, of course, GRONK)?

 

[West Philly Patriot]

BGE always seemed to need at least one TE in the set, if not two, just to make any headway at all. Out of a 4WR set, he couldn't really do much besides passpro. Kinda shot our play-action all to hell.

I'd say an RB who's a fairly consistent threat to do some damage out of a 4WR set might represent the quickest benefit to the offense. Probably have to be a 2nd-rounder, though.

Second would be a WR who can stretch the field horizontally - someone besides Branch who can be consistently effective outside the numbers at intermediate ranges (we seem to have a surplus of guys who are really at their best only over the middle and down the seams). Hernandez could help in that regard if he expands his route tree in his second season. Tate, too, perhaps (and might also enhance his deep threat capabilities). No way to tell about Price, of course. If Price isn't "that guy" in the coaches' eyes, Austin Pettis seems capable and might be available in the 3rd. Hankerson seems like a guy who can work the sidelines well, and also seems to know how to make himself available to a QB who's in trouble. But he'd also probably have to be taken in the 2nd.

As usual I'm with you here, I'm starting to think we shouldn't be looking for a change of pace guy we may already have him in BJGE. He could be the 4Q closer if you will. I think he would be excellent in that role. The roster is ripe for a RB to be choosen between rounds 2-4. I want us to address the line of scrimmage no doubt, but i also think it is going to be paramount to brady's career and our overall versatility going forward that we get our guy in this draft if he is available. we could've used a playmaker out of the backfield in that game last year. Also a mauler @ RG but i digress.

 

[West Philly Patriot]

How often are you going to see four-wide sets now that the Pats have real TEs (especially, of course, GRONK)?

We could've used an effective playaction out of a 4-wide set last january. No? Hell you could make gronk one of the wide outs and run to his side, or match him up on a small corner and throw inside and force that corner to come up and tackle. Would love to see a slot corner trying to make shoelace tackle on drago.

 

[supafly]

To be fair, the offense had it's fair share of issues in that playoff loss to the jets as well. In the beginning of the season how many of you based on our roster predicted 14-2. Brady had the best year of any QB in NFL history, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say we cannot assume he will repeat that.

The jets showed us in the postseason how one dimensional our passing attack actually was, we had no answer for their gameplan. We elected not to go to the ground game more when it seemed it would've behooved us to do so. Lack of confidence in personnel? We couldn't make them pay on the backside because we just simply don't have to horses to play long ball.

Some offensive positions could be drafted for and/or we could use the players we have in different ways or trust certain players with a bigger workload. Either way the offense is in no way untouchable. No matter how they do it, they need to take a little pressure off Brady to be the sole provider of big plays for this Offense. Wether thats a guy that can beat the brakes off his defender on the fly route or a running back that can bounce off a few tackles and still get to daylight.

I agree, and have been thinking the same thing.

 

[MaineMan]

How often are you going to see four-wide sets now that the Pats have real TEs (especially, of course, GRONK)?

It's not Gronk I'm concerned about being "forced" to use in order to run the ball, it's Crumpler (no longer much of a receiving threat) replacing Hernandez (who's not much of a run-blocker, yet). With Gronk and Crump in the set, you're down to only 2 of your (hypothetically) best pass-catchers. And with BGE in the backfield, Brady basically only has three legit targets - Gronk and the 2 WRs. And, if you motion Gronk out to the slot, you're limiting your ability to run with BGE and then play-action is still rendered less effective.

However, with a back who's a bit more "self-sufficient", you can start with Gronk and Hernandez in a 2 TE "look", motion them BOTH out into receiving positions (a "4-WR set", more or less), and still be a threat to run the ball successfully.

The point is, that with an RB who doesn't need extra blocking almost all the time to do damage, your tactical options are immediately increased.

 

[Off The Grid]

BGE always seemed to need at least one TE in the set, if not two, just to make any headway at all. Out of a 4WR set, he couldn't really do much besides passpro. Kinda shot our play-action all to hell.

There it is.

I've said it 20 times, and I'll say it 20 more: BenJarvus Green needs to GO.

Give me a stable of young RB's with Speed + Power, who can Block or Catch or both.

I cannot FATHOM why Coach Bill the Mad hasn't spent the PENNIES in Draft Capital that it would've cost, over the last decade, to load up and occasionally replenish that stable, rather than bringing in DINOSAURS like Fred Taylor and SLUGS like BenJarvus Green.

Here's hoping he finally wises up, this year.

 

[stinkypete]

1) A.J Green
2) Julio jones
3) Leonard hankerson
4) Tex Cobb
5) Torrey smith

Randall "Tex" Cobb! Nice! How'd I not make that connection before?

 

[MaineMan]

There it is.

I've said it 20 times, and I'll say it 20 more: BenJarvus Green needs to GO.

Give me a stable of young RB's with Speed + Power, who can Block or Catch or both.

I cannot FATHOM why Coach Bill the Mad hasn't spent the PENNIES in Draft Capital that it would've cost, over the last decade, to load up and occasionally replenish that stable, rather than bringing in DINOSAURS like Fred Taylor and SLUGS like BenJarvus Green.

Here's hoping he finally wises up, this year.

In he words of The Duke, "WHOA! Hold your horses there, Big Fella!"

I'm NOT advocating dumping BGE, just changing his role. In 2010, our offense STILL generated huge Q3 leads in at least 5 games. Presumably, with more tactical options, we can increase this number significantly. With a defense whose run-crushing capability is fully restored, we should be able to hold on to those margins more reliably in Q4. Then, it's a matter of chewing up the clock when we have the ball.

What better way to do that than with the zero-turnover BGE running nearly every down behind Gronk and Crump, pounding it down their throats a few yards at a time and daring them to stop us? (and giving our shiny new "feature back" a well-deserved breather)

Of course, as soon as their defense commits sufficient resources to do so - Hello play-action! (at THAT point, it works, even with only a couple WRs in the set) Kill-shot bomb to the previously quiet Tate. Lights out. Party over. Thanks for playing! Better luck next time ..... Mr. Sanchez.

 

[Snake Eyes]

There it is.

I've said it 20 times, and I'll say it 20 more: BenJarvus Green needs to GO.

Give me a stable of young RB's with Speed + Power, who can Block or Catch or both.

I cannot FATHOM why Coach Bill the Mad hasn't spent the PENNIES in Draft Capital that it would've cost, over the last decade, to load up and occasionally replenish that stable, rather than bringing in DINOSAURS like Fred Taylor and SLUGS like BenJarvus Green.

Here's hoping he finally wises up, this year.

LawFirm averaged 4.4 yds/carry this past season, with 0 fumbles. While he doesnt set the field on fire he offers consistent, mistake-free production, THAT'S why BB keeps him on the roster. That's not to say that we shouldnt upgrade the running corp, we certainly should, but if you want a power & speed RB, that can run around or run over someone, who can also block and catch, there aren't too many of those out there and they cost a pretty penny.

If you can strike gold on a UDFA like Pierre Thomas or Arian Foster then more power to you but their success usually takes people by surprise. Even BB said he would have drafted Peyton Hillis if he could do it all over again.

 

[manxman2601]

Question: What type of back would provide a good compliment to LawFirm?

I get the feeling that a shiftier back like a Ryan Williams, Shane Vereen is a little too predictable for defensive coaches who would be expecting outside off tackle runs when they come in to the game instead of Green-Ellis. On the other hand, a runner like Leshoure could be an ideal compliment. His game is similar-hard inside runner that can gain hard yardage inside, breaks through and falls forward on contact, but also has the ability to run outside and when he gets the big hole, has the pace to gain big yards. And no fumbles too.