Ranking the units, from what we know now

[BTTA]

Assuming no Mankins:

1. DB
2. QB
3. WR
4. DL
5. TE
6. LB
7. OL
8. RB

QB is just because of the injury vulnerability - just one guy away from being at the bottom.

With Mankins, OL moves up past DL.

Yours?

 

[sbpatfan]

I feel as if it's a little to early to rank, so I'll just go with "feelings."

Confident - Quarterback, Wide Receivers, Defensive Backs
In the middle / Could go either way - Defensive Line, Tight Ends
Worried - Running Backs, Linebackers, Offensive Line

 

[Sicilian]

Assuming no Mankins:

1. DB
2. QB
3. WR
4. DL
5. TE
6. LB
7. OL
8. RB

QB is just because of the injury vulnerability - just one guy away from being at the bottom.

With Mankins, OL moves up past DL.

Yours?

Isn't that just about every team though? There aren't many teams who have a backup that's better than most starters in the league.

I would rank them like this:

1) QB
2/3) DB/WR - Both have veterans who can be counted on, rookies who show promise, and depth. I couldn't rank one over the other.
4) DL - Though if Warren is out for any length of time that hurts.
5) OL - We're strong everywhere but LG (which admittedly is a big hole, but that's 4/5 good starters)
6) LB - The depth of the ILB evens out the weakness of the OLB a bit.
7) TE - Everyone LOOKS good, but it's a 100% turnover from last season, which makes me pause until I see them in a game.
8) RB - They're good enough (not great) when healthy. Unfortunately, you can count on missing plenty of man games with this group.

 

[signbabybrady]

Assuming no Mankins:

1. DB
2. QB
3. WR
4. DL
5. TE
6. LB
7. OL
8. RB

QB is just because of the injury vulnerability - just one guy away from being at the bottom.

With Mankins, OL moves up past DL.

Yours?

Not putting QB at one is rediculous IMO. Brady and if you need anything else said Hoyer was a rookie last year the team thought enough of him to carry no one else at the position.

1. QB (TOM)
2. WR (Moss & Welker)
3. DB (While I am close to as confident about DB as WR they dont have Moss and Welker at the Top)
4. TE (I am really confident with the production we have received the last few years this will be much mproved and I didn't think it was a problem in the past just not a focus)
5. DL (Starters are all solid some good rotational pieces but only the NT is spectacular)
6. OL (All are more than just good except one big hole at LG)
7. RB (similar to DL all are Solid though in this case nothing would seem spectacular)
8. LB (The inside looks really good and the outside looks really thin 3 out of the 6 or 7 we expect contributions from have not seen an NFL snap another one of them is coming off a career year and as much as I like Tully you have to wonder if he can replicate it. Really only one guy who you can truly rely on for 3 downs)

 

[Buchanty]

I feel as if it's a little to early to rank, so I'll just go with "feelings."

Confident - Quarterback, Wide Receivers, Defensive Backs
In the middle / Could go either way - Defensive Line, Tight Ends
Worried - Running Backs, Linebackers, Offensive Line

Confident - QB, WR DBs
In the middle - DL, TE, ILB
Not Confident - RB, OL, ST
Worried - OLB

The last two categories are hard to determine without some game experience, especially Special Teams, they weren't great last year and although we have good reports on the returners there is no info on gunners and blockers.

 

[Deus Irae]

1. QB
2. RB
3. DB
4. WR (Welker percentage unknown, WR3 unknown)
5. OL (LG train wreck)
6. DL (Warren issue unknown, RDE a major question mark)
7. LB (2 unknowns + 1 coming off a disappointing season, 1 off a career year)




INC. TE

 

[Sicilian]

1. QB
2. RB
3. DB
4. WR (Welker percentage unknown, WR3 unknown)
5. OL (LG train wreck)
6. DL (Warren issue unknown, RDE a major question mark)
7. LB (2 unknowns + 1 coming off a disappointing season, 1 off a career year)




INC. TE

Interesting that you put RB's that high. The injuries concern me enough to keep them lower.

 

[Deus Irae]

Interesting that you put RB's that high. The injuries concern me enough to keep them lower.

I didn't take injury into account, but WR, OL, DL and LB all have dealt with injuries in recent years, so I'm not sure how much that would have impacted my rankings. If I've got Taylor/Morris/Faulk, or Maroney/Morris/Faulk, or Maroney/Taylor/Faulk, I'm still feeling alright.

Now, take Faulk away and I'd definitely have to re-assess. I know the early camp reports are that Maroney looks good in blitz pickup, but I can't buy into Maroney as the 3rd down back until I see it working on the field.

 

[JackBauer]

1. QB
2. WR
3. RB
4. DB
5. DL
6. OL
7. LB

?. TE

Doesn't really mean much right now. I expect TE and LB to rank a bit higher, but we shall see.

 

[jah]

1. Wr
2. Qb
3. Db
4. Te
5. Dl
6. Ol
7. Lb
8. Rb

...why the hell are my letters not capitalizing?

 

[BlueThunder]

Shift or Cap LOCK...typing 101




(or your keyboard is broke) :bricks:

 

[patsfan-1982]

QB A+ one of the best QB's of all time
WR A moss, welker, and some nice back ups
DB B+ the pats are good young and deep at DB
DL B any line that has wilfork, on it has to be at lest above average
OL B- not haveing mankins, is going to be a big problem all year. just like the seymour trade was last year.
RB C+ they are not great but they can get the job done
LB C any 3-4 that is as weak as the pats are at OLB will have a hard time geting to the QB
TE C- they should be good at blocking but im not sure they will have a impact in the passing game.

 

[jah]

QB A+ one of the best QB's of all time
WR A moss, welker, and some nice back ups
DB B+ the pats are good young and deep at DB
DL B any line that has wilfork, on it has to be at lest above average
OL B- not haveing mankins, is going to be a big problem all year. just like the seymour trade was last year.
RB C+ they are not great but they can get the job done
LB C any 3-4 that is as weak as the pats are at OLB will have a hard time geting to the QB
TE C- they should be good at blocking but im not sure they will have a impact in the passing game.

You've heard of Aaron Hernandez, right?

 

[patsfan-1982]

You've heard of Aaron Hernandez, right?

i heard he is a rookie 4th round pick that has yet to catch a pass in the NFL i got high hops for him but he is still unproven

 

[Fencer]

QB A+ one of the best QB's of all time
WR A moss, welker, and some nice back ups
DB B+ the pats are good young and deep at DB
DL B any line that has wilfork, on it has to be at lest above average
OL B- not haveing mankins, is going to be a big problem all year. just like the seymour trade was last year.
RB C+ they are not great but they can get the job done
LB C any 3-4 that is as weak as the pats are at OLB will have a hard time geting to the QB
TE C- they should be good at blocking but im not sure they will have a impact in the passing game.

I agree with most of that, although one can always quibble about exact grades. Here are my exceptions.

Rookie TEs are a lot more likely to perform well than rookie WRs. So the grade should be higher.

Faulk is an A-, last season notwithstanding, and he gets a lot of the snaps. So shade that grade up a bit just for him.

With Welker coming back from injury and the #3 WR a virtual rookie, shade WR down to A- or something.

 

[DarrylS]

I always considered that Welker is as much a part of our running game, as he is our passing game.. Edelman can fill part of this role as well..

Thus our Running Game deserves pretty good grades...

LB is unproven, and there has been much discussion about the lack of pass rush.. there are high hopes for our MLB corps and a pass rush can come from the middle and from the safety or cb position.. gotta move away from the OLB's suck mood, pretty confident that BB is dreaming and scheming on how to hide what we view as an apparent weakness..

Our TE's have not been proven, but look as though this area is an upgrade.. Zoltan can boom some big punts and last year this was viewed as a weakness... ST's should improve.

My concern right now is the OL, with Mankins chasing cows and other injuries it is worrisome.. the Dante Scarnecchia school of O lineman has produced quite a few "trench" scholars...

 

[JoeShmoe]

My concern right now is the OL, with Mankins chasing cows and other injuries it is worrisome.. the Dante Scarnecchia school of O lineman has produced quite a few "trench" scholars...

Agreed. If QB is top of the list, the fact this is so low down should be very worrying esp as last year Koppen and Light very much looked like they were showing their age

 

[ivanvamp]

Assuming no Mankins:

1. DB
2. QB
3. WR
4. DL
5. TE
6. LB
7. OL
8. RB

QB is just because of the injury vulnerability - just one guy away from being at the bottom.

With Mankins, OL moves up past DL.

Yours?

I won't quibble with much on this list, except that I'd alter the first three spots. Brady is, of course, a premier player so as long as he's healthy, that "unit" goes to the top. I also would put WR over DB, because - assuming Welker is Welker - the top WR combo is as good as it gets in the league, and Holt is a very nice addition (in my opinion).

This season is going to be very interesting. I can see some serious concerns (pass rush, O-line, RB situation worries me a little)....but I also see a lot of promise. They have some excellent young talent and this team, especially if they can generate a pass rush (hello Mr. Schobel?), has the potential to be very, very good.

 

[Armen Da Pats Fan]

Cool approach to judging the roster...

I see them like this:

1. QB - When you have one of the top QBs in the history of the game, this position has to be #1, although I get the fear that if Tom goes down, we could be in trouble here. But, judging as it currently stands, QB is the top dog.

2. ST - Gostkowski is as solid as they come. And we get to say "Zoltan" every time we have to punt all year, so that's a good thing.

3. WR - Welker, Moss & Holt will be a strong group, especially considering that Moss is in a contract year and he is, traditionally, one of those guys that actually thinks of such things and they make a difference for him. Edelman and Taylor Price round out a solid group.

4. DL - This is an underrated group, in my opinion. Wilfork is a premier NT and Mike Wright has proven he can be a force, as well. Even if Ty Warren (injury) and Derrick Burgess (head case) are out, I think two of the most underrated signings of the offseason were Gerard Warren and Damione Lewis. Jermaine Cunningham is going to be a lot of fun to watch, too. The big swing guys are Ron Brace and Myron Pryor. Are they hits or misses? We'll find out in 2010.

5. LB - I love Brandon Spikes and I think Mayo and Guyton are both set for big years. It would cool to see Aaron Schoebel in a hybrid DE/LB role in this unit. At 6'3"/260, could Jermaine Cunningham do some of that, too?

6. TE - This group excites me about our TE for the first time in many years, probably since the Graham & Watson years. Crumpler, Hernandez and Gronk will be a solid unit.

7. DB - I am digging the youth movement in the defensive backfield and all, but right now it is a "lots of promise, very little delivery" group. Once I see them blossom into what I think they can become, they will move up the list.

8. OL - This group worries the kaka out of me. Especially with Kazcur going down. I don't think Mankins ever plays another down as a Patriot, but he sure would help right now. Tom Brady better grow some mobililty on his backside!

9. RB - What can you say about this mediocre bunch of bums. It seems like we have been stuck with half-assed group for 10 years. Maroney is a bust. We all know it. Some of us just haven't accepted it yet. Morris and Taylor try real hard, but they both have AARP cards, for God's sake. I would like to see more of BenJarvus Shockmain Green Davis Ellis early so we can find out if this kid can maybe be an every down NFL back. God, I miss Corey Dillon and Antowain Smith!