Rebuilding this Offseason

[supafly]

Rowe is our starting outside corner (along with Gilmore). Hopefully, we sign someone better so that he can be the backup outside corner.

I would like us to have a good nickel back. I suspect that Jones is somewhat of a tweener between playing inside and outside.

IMHO, there needs to be less big nickel and more regular, old-fashsioned nickel. But we need the corner to fill the role, and ideally a backup.

For me the ideal is 9 defensive backs who can play defensive back, 5 corners and 4 safeties. Obviously, one of the corners and one of the safeties needs to a primary player on ST's.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (11)
outside corner (3) - Gilmore, Rowe plus one more
nickel (2) - 1 plus a backup (since this is our base defense)
free safety (2) - McCourty plus a backup
strong safety (2) - Chung plus a backup
special teams specialists (2)

I don’t mind “big nickel” in the sense of using 3 safeties out of the 5 DB alignment, or at least that’s how we’ve been referring to it for a long time, anyway. We’ve been seeing that for years, and having guys like McCourty, Harmon, and Chung allows us to utilize those versatile skill sets.

What I don’t want to see are the 4 safety looks by including Richards in the mix, like we saw in the KC and PHI games. I don’t even know what you’d call it? The “big dime?” 4/6 safeties.

 

[stinkypete]

I believe we are overselling the needs at CB and QB.

A CB group of Gilmore and Rowe on the outside, Jones in the slot, is a decent, middle of the pack group. We are skewed by the recency bias of the Super Bowl butt whooping into thinking it is suddenly a glaring hole. The real issue was lack of starting quality depth in the front 7. If the defense could generate some pass rush, and if the linebackers could make a tackle, the Patriots would win the game.

I expect a DB to be drafted early, but think it will be a safety. There is a greater need there due to the ages of Chung and McCourty.

QB is a case in which Belichick is not going to make a panic pick. I like Lauletta as much as the next guy, but the reality is that most weak-armed QBs don't become the GOAT. I'd pick him round 3, but if we're looking long term, the better solution is to move a pick or two into 2019 and build up a good stockpile of picks to draft in the top 10 in a future year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I don’t mind “big nickel” in the sense of using 3 safeties out of the 5 DB alignment, or at least that’s how we’ve been referring to it for a long time, anyway. We’ve been seeing that for years, and having guys like McCourty, Harmon, and Chung allows us to utilize those versatile skill sets.

What I don’t want to see are the 4 safety looks by including Richards in the mix, like we saw in the KC and PHI games. I don’t even know what you’d call it? The “big dime?” 4/6 safeties.

BBs goal is to clearly have players who can tackle and can cover TEs, RBs etc.

The fundamental problem was Richards could do neither one well.

I can't recall a player in only 16 snaps be abused as much as he was.

 

[Keyser Söze]

BBs goal is to clearly have players who can tackle and can cover TEs, RBs etc.

The fundamental problem was Richards could do neither one well.

I can't recall a player in only 16 snaps be abused as much as he was.

Every time I noticed Richards on the field this year he got burnt or missed a tackle. I’ve never seen him in the correct position, what the hell is BB thinking with this dud. If he makes the roster again I give up.

 

[goheels22002]

Good corners coming off IR? Jonathan Jones is better known for special teams than defense. What the hell has Cyrus Jones done in the NFL to warrant any accolades whatsoever?

2018 NFL Draft
New England Patriots
31st overall - CB
43rd overall - TE
63rd overall - QB (not my choice but the New England Patriots coaching staff)
95th overall - DE or DT or LB
136th overall (compensatory) - CB

Projecting The 2018 Compensatory Picks | Over the Cap

Interesting. CB with the first rounder seems early with Rowe, Bademosi, and Gilmore in the fold. It's not nearly as dire as the early 2010s before BB went all in on Browner and Revis. As my post indicated, I think defensively BB needs to find a couple of front 7 guys.

TE is a draft need only if Gronk hangs 'em up (for which I would not blame him. The man's been through so much physically.) Gronk and Allen is a solid core TE unit.

Are you looking at someone in particular with the 63rd pick at QB? I haven't really looked closely at the second round possibilities and mid-major guys. It would be great to find another diamond in the rough like Jimmy G.

 

[goheels22002]

Rowe is our starting outside corner (along with Gilmore). Hopefully, we sign someone better so that he can be the backup outside corner.

I would like us to have a good nickel back. I suspect that Jones is somewhat of a tweener between playing inside and outside.

IMHO, there needs to be less big nickel and more regular, old-fashsioned nickel. But we need the corner to fill the role, and ideally a backup.

For me the ideal is 9 defensive backs who can play defensive back, 5 corners and 4 safeties. Obviously, one of the corners and one of the safeties needs to a primary player on ST's.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (11)
outside corner (3) - Gilmore, Rowe plus one more
nickel (2) - 1 plus a backup (since this is our base defense)
free safety (2) - McCourty plus a backup
strong safety (2) - Chung plus a backup
special teams specialists (2)

I agree with you on secondary. I think they need to focus on more pressure on the QBs which makes the secondary better. The lack of consistent pressure made it possible for capable but not elite QBs like Foles to have the time for routes to develop. Foles was spectacular in the Super Bowl, but it could have been different if he'd been smacked around a little or sacked early. He was not great under pressure at the end of the regular season.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

Trade up for elite pass rushers
We always do well filling running back out later we need to get to the QB.
Dante Scarnechia does a other worldly job coaching the o line we need pass rush.
My guess is we trade up for a top 10 guy using that those 2 second round picks.
Could we see something like Patriots trade in the top 5 for Chubb using the 2 seconds and first and get back a 4th and 5th in return.
Or if Veta falls out of the top 10?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Every time I noticed Richards on the field this year he got burnt or missed a tackle. I’ve never seen him in the correct position, what the hell is BB thinking with this dud. If he makes the roster again I give up.

He's friggan terrible. Only thing I can think is he's really good at STs.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

He's friggan terrible. Only thing I can think is he's really good at STs.

Who cares If he's gives as many third downs as Cosby gives rape drinks.

 

[Chris Stevenson]

He's friggan terrible. Only thing I can think is he's really good at STs.

It's the Jake Bequette-level of mystery. Like I've said, if it was 1955, and you just needed a psotionally sound SS in the box who can tackle downhill, that's really all he can do.

In a passing league like this, he has zero range, is not fast and he's also small.

Chung is an outlier example. I'd say the same thing about him, but he's so locked in running the same routes as the guy he's guarding, he's literally (arguably) the best in the conference (if not league), at the Rover role.

The drop off was far too big and it shows how much Chung is taken for granted. Said it all along.

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

Hitchens
Williamson
Bradham
Brown
That's the key to fixing your defense right there.
We should be able to get 2 of them if BB thinks linebacker is much a priority as we do.
It's super tricky because you have Hightower coming back but he is injured as much as he plays you have Mcclein cheap don't know what he is physically capable of and for how long.
You also have Derek Rivers coming back who knows what we have there if he can make a complete recovery and we have mid season hero Eric LEE not Moore as I always goof lol LEE.
Grigsby who I like and Keionta Davis may do something.
However I look at a guy like Williamson who always performs is just coming into his prime and healthy.
I look at Hitchens who always is around the ball every Dallas game I've seen he's making a impact he's the anti Jordan Richards.
Then I think about poaching the Bills for their linebacker but I doubt he defects like Gilmore did.
So it's a tough evaluation we have guys coming back guys developing who were unheralded and the draft only so much cap resources.
If we look at BBs history when the defense is embarrassed he overcompensates and makes changes.
Insert Roosevelt Colvin one of my favorite signings
Insert Adalius Thomas ah it looked so great on paper and in Madden if only we listened to Ray Ray about Thomas's work ethic.
Insert Revis and Browner
So history shows there will be at least 2 new players on the front 7 I would bet to make the Quarterback a little Leary about making a cup of coffee before he throws the ball.

 

[DW Toys]

Dump Jordan Richards and convert Eric Rowe safety. Maybe Rowe will have better luck covering tight ends and running backs in dime packages than Jordan Richards.

Well played.
DW Toys

 

[DW Toys]

Here's my Patriots needs and predictions:

Patriots only have 5 picks in 2018 Draft: Round 1 - OT, Round 2 from SF- QB, Round 2 - LB, Round 3 - DE, Round 4 - None, Round 5 - None, Round 6 - CB, Round 7- None

OL: Belichick will draft the best tackle on the board with the 1st round pick and send him to Scar School to be Solder's replacement in 2019, and I think we'll see a versatile veteran brought in at good money to provide depth

DE: Belichick will re-sign Harrison to a modest, incentive laden contract and bring in other UFAs and undrafted rookies

LB: Belichick will re-sign Roberts, draft a good LB in the 2nd round, and bring in several veterans for a look

QB: Belichick will draft a QB in the 2nd round and bring in a couple of veterans ( I like Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater who can be had for $6M for one season, or $10M for two seasons according reports.)

CB: Belichick has some good corners coming off of IR, especially Jonathan Joseph, but I expect one draft pick and a couple of UFAs in camp for a crowded competition.

Solder stays Why? His child Hudson is being treated at Children's in Boston. He has stated he wants to play in 2018. Be hard for the family to move and change that little boy's routine.

We have one maybe two Comp. picks in Round 4. So that is seven (better than a fifth and seventh rounder)

Agree on Harrison. We were the only Team that showed him love. He wants one more season.

Roberts?

Draft a starting LB? What LB in the Draft is a starting 3 down player at this point in their young career? Need a fast vet FA and an LB that is better than Roberts or Flowers to learn. Brown or Hitchens. A BB move at LB might be Derrick Johnson who is in great shape at 34. Smart, savvy and can still cover (7 PDF in 2017 vs 2 for Van Noy). Cheap veteran signing.

Jonathan Jones I expect you mean? Decent. Rowe is good as a back up not starter. If Talib gets cut it would be a good reunite for the Pats. He knows the system and plays at a high level still. He and Gilmore would be a great tandem.

Bradford will vie for a starter job (Cards?) Bridgewater resigns as he and Keenum are the Vikes QB best case scenario(unless they bid for Cousins).
DW Toys

 

[Bourne Again Christian]

Vikes are getting Cousins or Foles I'd bet.
AJ Mccarron is somehow going to get a contract in 10 million a season range more than likely from Denver.
Or Denver trades for Foles.
Makes sense keeps Foles far out of the divison he's a Superbowl MVP and has stuck it to the Pats I bet Elway can get him for a third and a player maybe Talib to Philly for Foles and a third.

 

[jam757]

I would love to finally land a Wilfork type replacement and run almost entirely a 3-4. Build a fearsome run D and it can also improve the back end. I dream of the Wilfork and/or Ted Washington days. Either way I would draft entirely defense, possibly a late pick on a TE and draft a QB next year.

 

[goheels22002]

Solder stays Why? His child Hudson is being treated at Children's in Boston. He has stated he wants to play in 2018. Be hard for the family to move and change that little boy's routine.

We have one maybe two Comp. picks in Round 4. So that is seven (better than a fifth and seventh rounder)

Agree on Harrison. We were the only Team that showed him love. He wants one more season.

Roberts?

Draft a starting LB? What LB in the Draft is a starting 3 down player at this point in their young career? Need a fast vet FA and an LB that is better than Roberts or Flowers to learn. Brown or Hitchens. A BB move at LB might be Derrick Johnson who is in great shape at 34. Smart, savvy and can still cover (7 PDF in 2017 vs 2 for Van Noy). Cheap veteran signing.

Jonathan Jones I expect you mean? Decent. Rowe is good as a back up not starter. If Talib gets cut it would be a good reunite for the Pats. He knows the system and plays at a high level still. He and Gilmore would be a great tandem.

Bradford will vie for a starter job (Cards?) Bridgewater resigns as he and Keenum are the Vikes QB best case scenario(unless they bid for Cousins).
DW Toys

Solder is at the end of the line. I believe the Patriots need to draft a tackle and let him develop for at least a year. DEs and LB/DEs eat rookies alive in the NFL. No matter how good a rookie left tackle is, he'll need at least a year before he becomes a full-time starter. See: Cannon, Marcus. Cannon looked like a disaster until 2016 when he came into his own physically and had Dante Scarnecchia get the most out of his talents and size.

People are bashing Roberts, but I really like his nose for the ball and his ability to rip through traffic. He's entering his third year in 2018, and paired with guys like Hightower and Van Noy, he brings a big safety skill set to the linebacker position.

On the QB backup role, Bradford is not a full-time starter, but has proven he can step in and deliver quality starts better than Hoyer. Teddy Bridgewater is not going to be in Minnesota this year. That ship sailed with Keenum. Either guy is in a better place behind 41-year-old starter on an elite team that is still the class of the AFC.

 

[goheels22002]

I would love to finally land a Wilfork type replacement and run almost entirely a 3-4. Build a fearsome run D and it can also improve the back end. I dream of the Wilfork and/or Ted Washington days. Either way I would draft entirely defense, possibly a late pick on a TE and draft a QB next year.

I agree that it would great to have the big, quick NT in the middle of the line. Branch had the job but wasn't quick enough to handle his gap by himself in 2017. Big Vince was a once-in-lifetime HOFer. I think he gets in on the first ballot.

Offenses have changed since the early to middle 2000s. Everybody is running some type of a hybrid 3-4/4-3 depending on the down/distance and even the look of a particular play. The Pats do a great job of showing one thing and dropping different guys into coverage. The biggest change is teams having a dedicated slot receiver and a committee of backs that play multiple roles. The Pats continued to innovate this past year with White, Lewis, Burkhead, Develin and initially, Gillislee. Gillislee didn't have the skill set to be as versatile as the first three. If you show a defense that is all 3-4 or 4-3 teams can now adjust to create mismatches . The Steelers are a good example of a team that plays its defense and doesn't adjust much, although even they ran a hybrid 4-3 this year.

 

[mgteich]

I agree with both statements.

THEREFORE, I think that we need to add a couple of corners, and a safety.

This year, the secondary was our strength, the strength of a SB team, with a defense that was among the very best at not allowing points for the last 10 games of the season. I, for one, DO NOT want a "decent, middle of the pack group"

That being said, I am fine with Gilmore and Rowe.

Other than here, I've haven't many calling Jones a top nickel/slot back.

I believe we are overselling the needs at CB and QB.

A CB group of Gilmore and Rowe on the outside, Jones in the slot, is a decent, middle of the pack group.

 

[mgteich]

I think the DE's are already on the roster. Rivers, A. Butler, Wise etc... but they need a solid NT/DT to balance the front four out.

Agree with the rest.

Brown, Valentine and Guy are our DT's. Francois should come to camp.

I agree that an upgrade would be a good idea.

 

[ATippett56]

Interesting. CB with the first rounder seems early with Rowe, Bademosi, and Gilmore in the fold. It's not nearly as dire as the early 2010s before BB went all in on Browner and Revis. As my post indicated, I think defensively BB needs to find a couple of front 7 guys.

TE is a draft need only if Gronk hangs 'em up (for which I would not blame him. The man's been through so much physically.) Gronk and Allen is a solid core TE unit.

Are you looking at someone in particular with the 63rd pick at QB? I haven't really looked closely at the second round possibilities and mid-major guys. It would be great to find another diamond in the rough like Jimmy G.

First, Johnson Bademosi is an unrestricted free agent. Second, Johnson Bademosi is better known for his special teams play not defense. If Johnson Bademosi was a competent cornerback, Johnson Bademosi would have covered Nelson Agholor in the slot not Patrick Chung in Super Bowl LII.

You must be impressed by Rowe's 131.3 defensive passer rating in Super Bowl LII.

Advanced Stats Report: Tom Brady’s mastery marred by defensive implosion

Dwayne Allen
2017 NFL Season.
10 receptions, 22 targets, 86 receiving yards

Dwayne Allen 2017 Game Log | Pro-Football-Reference.com

The performance, or lack thereof, speaks for itself.

43rd overall or 63rd overall, I'm the least concerned who the New England Patriots select at quarterback with all the impending unrestricted free agents.