You be the GM: 2008 Pats edition

[VJCPatriot]

The #7 pick for Deangel Hall? That's got to be the most questionable move suggested so far. Hall is worth no more than a 3rd round pick imo, especially when you factor in his attitude problem and lack of recent production.

I'd rather pick up a brand new corner in the 1st round of the draft such as Talib, Rodgers-Cromartie, or McKelvin. Other names to look for include Jenkins and Cason.

Sure if the Pats can draft a dominant pass rusher, they should do so, but will that kind of guy make it to #7, and if he did, would he be worth the gamble/money?

The Pats main questionmarks are at CB and ILB imo. And most ILB's don't go in the 1st round. You can pick up a guy like Goff of Vandy in the 3rd.

 

[Rob0729]

Here's what I would do (in no particular order). Note I don't think we will be able to do all these moves, but some of them would be really nice.

1.) If Terrell Suggs is not franchised, he would be a top priority. If we get him we can consider letting Colvin go or if he renegotiates for a decent contract, use Suggs, Colvin, and Vrabel in a rotation.
2.) Sign Victor Hobson. He would be a solid ILB with intimate knowledge of the Pats' defense. Also, would hurt the Jets.
3.) Sign Nnamdi Asomugha if he isn't franchised. He will probably not cost as much as Asante Samuel, but may in fact be a better CB. He's a tall CB too to match up better with the big WRs. Even if he is franchised, I would much rather try to trade for him than DeAngelo Hall. He is a better CB in my opinion and the Pats could probably get him for the same price in trade as Hall. Besides, the Pats and Raiders have a history of trading.
4.) Try to trade down in the first round. Unless the Pats are absolutely in love with someone, there is no point in drafting in the top 10. We could trade just outside the top 10 and pick up a top 2nd round pick too boot.
5.) Try to sign Dallas Clark if not franchised. He would be a big upgrade in that area and hurt the Colts too boot. I don't know if Watson is our long term future for the team and Clark has hurt us so many times.
6.) Cut both Stallworth and Washington. Love to keep both, but not at the prices they have now. I see Stallworth looking for a big deal and opportunity to start. I can't see him staying. Washington is far too expensive for a special teams specialist. He might not get any good offers and come back.
7.) Resign Moss and Gaffney. Gaffney shouldn't cost too much.
8.) Let Samuel go. I would like him back, but he is looking to be paid like the best CB in the league. Too much for a position that is fairly plug and play.
9.) Sign Ty Law. He can play either CB or FS for us. Even if short term he is a CB, he would move to FS when Harrison retired next year (which is likely). Law has talked about going the Rod Woodson route and try to be a top FS when his CB skills started to erode. Personally I would like to see him starting at FS right away because Harrison really shouldn't be a full time starter anymore and can be far more effective in situation since he can be a liability in coverage these days. A four man rotation of Harrison, Law, Sanders, and Meriweather could be dangerous.
10.) I think the focus of our draft should be defense. We are young and solid everywhere on the starting offensive side except for WR (assuming Jackson never emerges) and RT. With the plug and play nature of the o-line in the past, I wouldn't spend a high pick on an o-lineman. We do need to be concerned about replacing Moss in a couple of years assuming he resigns, but not a pressing need. Other than the d-line, I don't think we are set on defense with any position past 2008 or 2009 and we can certainly upgrade the secondary.

Ok, I know doing all of these would be impossible. But some would be nice.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

How about they just got beat because the Giants guys were better?

There is some bizarre belief on this board that there is always a coaching answer to their guy being better than your guy and outplaying him on a particular Sunday.

Because the Giants ARENT better than us.

 

[BradyManny]

Here's what I would do (in no particular order). Note I don't think we will be able to do all these moves, but some of them would be really nice.

1.) If Terrell Suggs is not franchised, he would be a top priority. If we get him we can consider letting Colvin go or if he renegotiates for a decent contract, use Suggs, Colvin, and Vrabel in a rotation.
2.) Sign Victor Hobson. He would be a solid ILB with intimate knowledge of the Pats' defense. Also, would hurt the Jets.
3.) Sign Nnamdi Asomugha if he isn't franchised. He will probably not cost as much as Asante Samuel, but may in fact be a better CB. He's a tall CB too to match up better with the big WRs. Even if he is franchised, I would much rather try to trade for him than DeAngelo Hall. He is a better CB in my opinion and the Pats could probably get him for the same price in trade as Hall. Besides, the Pats and Raiders have a history of trading.
4.) Try to trade down in the first round. Unless the Pats are absolutely in love with someone, there is no point in drafting in the top 10. We could trade just outside the top 10 and pick up a top 2nd round pick too boot.
5.) Try to sign Dallas Clark if not franchised. He would be a big upgrade in that area and hurt the Colts too boot. I don't know if Watson is our long term future for the team and Clark has hurt us so many times.
6.) Cut both Stallworth and Washington. Love to keep both, but not at the prices they have now. I see Stallworth looking for a big deal and opportunity to start. I can't see him staying. Washington is far too expensive for a special teams specialist. He might not get any good offers and come back.
7.) Resign Moss and Gaffney. Gaffney shouldn't cost too much.
8.) Let Samuel go. I would like him back, but he is looking to be paid like the best CB in the league. Too much for a position that is fairly plug and play.
9.) Sign Ty Law. He can play either CB or FS for us. Even if short term he is a CB, he would move to FS when Harrison retired next year (which is likely). Law has talked about going the Rod Woodson route and try to be a top FS when his CB skills started to erode. Personally I would like to see him starting at FS right away because Harrison really shouldn't be a full time starter anymore and can be far more effective in situation since he can be a liability in coverage these days. A four man rotation of Harrison, Law, Sanders, and Meriweather could be dangerous.
10.) I think the focus of our draft should be defense. We are young and solid everywhere on the starting offensive side except for WR (assuming Jackson never emerges) and RT. With the plug and play nature of the o-line in the past, I wouldn't spend a high pick on an o-lineman. We do need to be concerned about replacing Moss in a couple of years assuming he resigns, but not a pressing need. Other than the d-line, I don't think we are set on defense with any position past 2008 or 2009 and we can certainly upgrade the secondary.

Ok, I know doing all of these would be impossible. But some would be nice.

I like the majority of your ideas...but how many are possible? Very few given our limited cap space, I'd say.

I like the idea of signing a vet or two if we have room, ie Hobson or Law. I'd love to have Law back. I've read Chiefs forums, they seem to think he's declined, but the Chiefs defense typically has bigger problems than the corner, and I still have a lot of respect for Law. He was always one of my favorite Pats.

I mentioned Reche Caldwell in another thread - sure, I know everyone is thinking we dropped him once, why would we pick him back up? Well, we won't have the surplus at receiver this season. I don't think we'll even be able to retain Gaffney looking at our cap situation, it's Moss, and then anyone else we can get is a bonus. Moss, Welker, Jackson, Caldwell and then maybe we keep Washington around, maybe we don't. I'd like that.

In terms of spending $$, I think that's about it. That's about all we can do. But folks need not panic, the reason we have so little $$ to spend is b/c we already have a great team assembled, and we've already acquired big name players that other teams would kill for, Brady, Big Sey, Colvin, AD. A healthy Seymour next season elevates our defense considerably, as does Thomas being in his second season in the system, and as long as these guys earn their $$, we are in great shape.

 

[chunkypony]

Did you see the Pats drive that resulted in the touchdown? That was consistent with their first game against the Giants as well. Shotgun, hurry up spread 'em out. The COACHES refused to go to that until late in the game.

and this is Dante Scarnecchia's fault in what way again? I'd say this is on McDaniels, wouldn't you?

 

[Seymour93]

Re-sign Moss, Bruschi, Seau, Gay, Gaffney, Moore, Scott, and Paxton.

Release Stallworth and Kyle Brady.

Renegotiate Colvin's deal.

Sign Kawika Mitchell and a CB.

Draft DE/LB at #7 and OL at #62.

 

[dhamz]

Because the Giants ARENT better than us.

Their Dline was clearly better than our Oline that Sunday. It wasn't the scheme, their guys just won the match-ups.

If you think there is a coaching answer for Justin Tuck repeatedly beating our best lineman and then beating double teams by our 2 best Offensive lineman, you are crazy.