We'll improve on a great offense

[mgteich]

We have 14 or so pickups to go, but I think that we'll improve on a great offense.
---------------------------------
QB nuff said

RB
All the running backs were injured. We had a playoff season with nobody at RB a lot of the time. We certainly will be better. I look for at least one addition, probably a veteran like Green.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Ashworth and Neal out; LIght and Koppen in. The kids should be better in their sophomore year, and I expect that we'll add a veteran RT. We could also add a draftee if Britt or Mruc or Yates isn't considered a real prospect.
The OL should be much better. We could even add a veteran guard.

RUNNING GAME SHOULD BE MUCH BETTER

RECEIVERS
OK, we have a problem, but certainly one that can be solved. KJ is likely to be MORE productive than Givens. We'll add at least three in free agency ro by trade. Watson and Graham and the 2nd round TE should add targets, and there is always Faulk. Dwight and or Brown could be back. Did we have great receivers last year? Did we have great blocking? Then how did we have such a great passing offense? Why shouldn't we expect the offense to be better?

PASSING GAME SHOULD BE AT LEAST AS GOOD
Brady will be hit less! A better running game will protect him as well as an improved OL.

 

[JR4]

Maybe, but only time will tell. Brady could depend on Givens and Brown
making the right reads. Now there will be a learning curve for the new
WRs to get them dependable in their reads. Potentially Brady could throw
more ints early in the season because WRs make wrong reads.

Certainly the potential for a much better Offense is there depending on
the players they get to fill those critical positions you mentioned,
Oline and WR holes

 

[AzPatsFan]

Yes I agree with that even if we don't add a single FA, (but we will). Bill never relies entirely on rooks to start TC. I expect a #2 WR and a vet ex-starter RB to spell Cory...


Hard to believe this team's oldest offensive player is 31 year old Cory Dillon. And that all 11 positions have an experienced starter (Well maybe not WR, yet; but Troy is still sort of here and sort of not))

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Maybe, but only time will tell. Brady could depend on Givens and Brown making the right reads.

As Felger has been pointing out on NEST (I notices too, I'm not relying solely on Felger) many of the miscomunicated throws were towards Givens. I don't think his play reading ability will be missed. We will miss him, but not that part of his game.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I may be the only loon who thinks this but I see Kaczur moving to RT and Belichick going after Winston Justice in the 1st round as he builds a dominant line for the next 5-7 years. Perhaps Justice plays RG this year.

Call me crazy....but I don't see it any other way. Lines win Super Bowls for Super QB's and LB's.

 

[jczxohn1]

I'm intrigued by the idea of adding another stud TE, too. 3TE's and KJ in the red zone? Would also add insurance for Graham leaving in '07. Leonard Pope will probably be available. I'd really like to see us get away from playing Def. guys on Off. Seymour, Klecko, enough is enough.

On the negative side, our O may be improved, but defenses in general are going to be less easily fooled, and we're going to get a taste of our own medicine as more 3-4's take the field.

 

[Mike the Brit]

mg, I like the idea of countering the let's-all-jump-off-the-bridge posters but you've got to play fair: apples with apples.

It's not fair to compare an injured 2005 with a healthy 2006 --

Ashworth and Neal out; LIght and Koppen in

.

You can't assume that we can replace our free agent losses with people coming back from injury without asking how we will deal with the (inevitable) injuries next season.

Thinking about all our holes and allowing for a similar level of injury as 2004 or 2005 makes it clear that there's a long way to go between now and a successful season. Without that, though, the exercise is pollyanna.

 

[PatsWorldChamps]

We have 14 or so pickups to go, but I think that we'll improve on a great offense.
---------------------------------
QB nuff said

RB
All the running backs were injured. We had a playoff season with nobody at RB a lot of the time. We certainly will be better. I look for at least one addition, probably a veteran like Green.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Ashworth and Neal out; LIght and Koppen in. The kids should be better in their sophomore year, and I expect that we'll add a veteran RT. We could also add a draftee if Britt or Mruc or Yates isn't considered a real prospect.
The OL should be much better. We could even add a veteran guard.

RUNNING GAME SHOULD BE MUCH BETTER

RECEIVERS
OK, we have a problem, but certainly one that can be solved. KJ is likely to be MORE productive than Givens. We'll add at least three in free agency ro by trade. Watson and Graham and the 2nd round TE should add targets, and there is always Faulk. Dwight and or Brown could be back. Did we have great receivers last year? Did we have great blocking? Then how did we have such a great passing offense? Why shouldn't we expect the offense to be better?

PASSING GAME SHOULD BE AT LEAST AS GOOD
Brady will be hit less! A better running game will protect him as well as an improved OL.

mg you usually have some intelligent comments... you think green would help us at RB, wow?
yes, our OL sophs should get better... then, we have koppen and light... zero depth, and we are one dude short of an OL... where do you get we have a "much" (or even better) better OL?
receivers? LOL. we have ONE. so we need at LEAST 2 in FA, and at least 4 total between FA and draft.

wow, drink the koolaid dude, but how do you think our offense is better?

usually i think you are one of the smarter dudes on here, but mg, did you drink a lot tonight?

 

[PatsWorldChamps]

just to continue
our OL is ok, if light can come back (we'd still be one man short, we can draft or FA the 5th guy)
depth is still a concern

QB. set, but we could use a 2, or 3 (vet), depending on where we think MC is.. i think MC is a 2 now (way ahead of schedule) and we only need a 3 vet.

RB. who knows? in KF we have the best 3rd down back in the NFL.. is CD ok or done? either way, we need a fulltime RB for 07 (or 06)

WR: LOL. maybe the worst wr preseason roster of all time? we got one dude. period. he is great (and yes, he IS a #1... watch). but who's yer #2, #3, #4, or #5?

TE: we have the best TE duo in the NFL... both guys are great blockers, and both are downfield threats. just need to sign/draft a #3

 

[mgteich]

We lose Ashworth and Neal
We pick up Light and Koppen
and we're a man short?

Light,Mankins,Koppen,Hochstein,Gorin
Kaycur,Mruc,Tucker,Yates
Obviously Kaycur could be a starter again.

This OL would be better than last year.

However, I agree with you that we should updgrade the OL. I expect Runyan or another veteran OT. If not, we'd probably trade up for Justice if we can.

just to continue
our OL is ok, if light can come back (we'd still be one man short, we can draft or FA the 5th guy)
depth is still a concern

QB. set, but we could use a 2, or 3 (vet), depending on where we think MC is.. i think MC is a 2 now (way ahead of schedule) and we only need a 3 vet.

RB. who knows? in KF we have the best 3rd down back in the NFL.. is CD ok or done? either way, we need a fulltime RB for 07 (or 06)

WR: LOL. maybe the worst wr preseason roster of all time? we got one dude. period. he is great (and yes, he IS a #1... watch). but who's yer #2, #3, #4, or #5?

TE: we have the best TE duo in the NFL... both guys are great blockers, and both are downfield threats. just need to sign/draft a #3

 

[mgteich]

I beleive tha Dillon is our #1 RB and will carry the ball 25-30 times a game. Faulk will carry the ball a few times a game. Pass is an OK #3. We need a #4 in case of injury, who could be a rookie. I chose Green. bb might choose someone else. What we will not do is bring in another #1 runner to compete with Dillon.

Our playoff OL will replace a starter and a backup with two returning starter, add a free agant and possibly a draftee. You can believe that makes them worse.

mg you usually have some intelligent comments... you think green would help us at RB, wow?
yes, our OL sophs should get better... then, we have koppen and light... zero depth, and we are one dude short of an OL... where do you get we have a "much" (or even better) better OL?
receivers? LOL. we have ONE. so we need at LEAST 2 in FA, and at least 4 total between FA and draft.

wow, drink the koolaid dude, but how do you think our offense is better?

usually i think you are one of the smarter dudes on here, but mg, did you drink a lot tonight?

 

[mgteich]

I agree that we need to have depth. In addition to Koppen and Light, I expect a mid-level free agent like Runyan. This would reduce Hochstein, Gorin and Kayzur to competing for one starting spot. The other two would be game day backups. This must be improvement, when three starters are competing for one spot. How many more than 7 do we need. We should be able to get last spot or two from Mruc, Yates, and Brit. If not, we should draft an additional player.

mg, I like the idea of countering the let's-all-jump-off-the-bridge posters but you've got to play fair: apples with apples.

It's not fair to compare an injured 2005 with a healthy 2006 -- .

You can't assume that we can replace our free agent losses with people coming back from injury without asking how we will deal with the (inevitable) injuries next season.

Thinking about all our holes and allowing for a similar level of injury as 2004 or 2005 makes it clear that there's a long way to go between now and a successful season. Without that, though, the exercise is pollyanna.

 

[mgteich]

Dillon is NOT a washed up old starter. Faulk will take reps to "spell" Dillon. Pass can also. But I do agree that we need a running back in case of injury and/or one for the future.

Yes I agree with that even if we don't add a single FA, (but we will). Bill never relies entirely on rooks to start TC. I expect a #2 WR and a vet ex-starter RB to spell Cory...


Hard to believe this team's oldest offensive player is 31 year old Cory Dillon. And that all 11 positions have an experienced starter (Well maybe not WR, yet; but Troy is still sort of here and sort of not))

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

With the changing face of the first round after all the QB signings, I expect the demand for athletic left tackles to be higher in the top 15.

D'Brickashaw Fergusen - I expect him to go to Houston at #1, Kubiak has a RB and comes from a system that knows RBs are a dime a dozen.

Winston Justice - He is listed as the second LT to be taken on most mocks.(He was also suspended from the team for a year for a gun waving incident....)
Eric Winston - Tends to be rated third.
- NO, Tenn, NYJ, SF, Buff, Balt, Atl, and Mia all need a LT before NE is on the board.

The best LT likely to be around at 21 is Darryn Colledge, Boise State.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

A couple of things I would add are :

- Brady should (that's should) he healthier after having the sports hernia the second half of last year.

- Josh McDaniels will probably be better a year into the job. I didn't have any real complaints about him last year but for a big job like OC, you can't help but improve over your first few years.

I agree with a lot of the talk here that beefing up the OL is what's needed. We'll get competent complimentary WR and Dillon/Faulk will be good enough, or better. But they need top of the line blocking to be the best they can be and we need to protect Brady.

 

[Pats726]

We have 14 or so pickups to go, but I think that we'll improve on a great offense.
---------------------------------
QB nuff said

RB
All the running backs were injured. We had a playoff season with nobody at RB a lot of the time. We certainly will be better. I look for at least one addition, probably a veteran like Green.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Ashworth and Neal out; LIght and Koppen in. The kids should be better in their sophomore year, and I expect that we'll add a veteran RT. We could also add a draftee if Britt or Mruc or Yates isn't considered a real prospect.
The OL should be much better. We could even add a veteran guard.

RUNNING GAME SHOULD BE MUCH BETTER

RECEIVERS
OK, we have a problem, but certainly one that can be solved. KJ is likely to be MORE productive than Givens. We'll add at least three in free agency ro by trade. Watson and Graham and the 2nd round TE should add targets, and there is always Faulk. Dwight and or Brown could be back. Did we have great receivers last year? Did we have great blocking? Then how did we have such a great passing offense? Why shouldn't we expect the offense to be better?

PASSING GAME SHOULD BE AT LEAST AS GOOD
Brady will be hit less! A better running game will protect him as well as an improved OL.

Another Good post away from the gloom and doom.
QB----Actually we;ll get a vet in here..one is needed..Only 3 are signed..so the vet backup is slot empty at this time.
RB----Very true at times all were injured...Dillon, Faulk, Pass, that is a solid group. I think a young RB would be a pleasant surprise..not a Cobbs nor a Chapman but someone to look for to take reps and give CD a break at times.
WR-----It's here that there is more of a problem. The team will bring in some WRS, either by the draft or FA...a taller posession receiver and a speedster.
And it is her ethat a Dwight Brown will be good. Even someone liek a ZSmith could be in the mix as well. A big splash at a 2 and some compitent receivers will do just fine with this offense. They never had a lot of bling really and had great production. A vet or draftee as a 3rd TE and all will be well.
OFFENSIVE LINE-----I'm not too quick to discard Neal...it may happen that he signs elsewhere..but even if he does, the line is young. A vet tackle would be a good addition and add some more flexibility to it all. Thre are plenty in the mix already and add vet or two and a draftee and this line will be solid. Brady was not protected as well, but there were reasons..many injuries. Should even be younger and stronger..and if they can get a nasty streak..much better.
Agreed...a much better offense...the caveat is WR though they need a few solid players..that right now is the weakness.

 

[texpat]

We lose Ashworth and Neal
We pick up Light and Koppen
and we're a man short?

Light,Mankins,Koppen,Hochstein,Gorin
Kaycur,Mruc,Tucker,Yates
Obviously Kaycur could be a starter again.

This OL would be better than last year.

However, I agree with you that we should updgrade the OL. I expect Runyan or another veteran OT. If not, we'd probably trade up for Justice if we can.

We went 8 deep last year, so Mruc & Tucker replace Neal & Ashworth. I don't think so.

Nope, we're not better yet.

I'm not convinced Light comes back equal to where he was. Nearly a full year off, lost weight & strength while out, a year older. I hope he proves my doubts as foolish.

 

[mgteich]

Light and Koppen are replacing Ashworth and Neal. I agree that we should upgrade even further. You are also right about Light. We don't know whether he'll be 100% of what he was. But I still like Light, Runyan, Kaycur and Gorin at OT (with Brit on the PS). Light should be at least the swing OT.

We went 8 deep last year, so Mruc & Tucker replace Neal & Ashworth. I don't think so.

Nope, we're not better yet.

I'm not convinced Light comes back equal to where he was. Nearly a full year off, lost weight & strength while out, a year older. I hope he proves my doubts as foolish.

 

[IcyPatriot]

We lose Ashworth and Neal
We pick up Light and Koppen
and we're a man short?

Light,Mankins,Koppen,Hochstein,Gorin
Kaycur,Mruc,Tucker,Yates
Obviously Kaycur could be a starter again.

This OL would be better than last year.

However, I agree with you that we should updgrade the OL. I expect Runyan or another veteran OT. If not, we'd probably trade up for Justice if we can.

Finally, someone else who sees this scenario as possible. I would be estatic if we made a play for Justice...it would be a small jump up so it wouldn't cost too much. Belichick will recoup the pick he loses anyways.

If Ferguson drops (which I doubt) I bet Belichick would make a play for him also.