Pats: Looking Ahead to Next Season

[Smokeeye123]

Regardless of what happens this post season, their defense clearly needs to improve. They should use their first round picks to draft Defensive linemen. to help bolster their D-Line.

In free agency, they should look at available corners and safeties to try and improve their weak secondary.

And finally, for big signings I think they should definitely give Welker his big contract...he deserves it. Cut Ocho, and let Branch walk. In addition. The Pats should try as hard as possible to sign Vincent Jackson. He would instantly give the Patriots a perfect offense and would fit the bill as the deep threat the Pats need. If that fails, they could always get Brandon Lloyd as he already has said he wants to play for McDaniels.

[Cman]

Regardless of what happens this post season, their defense clearly needs to improve. They should use their first round picks to draft Defensive linemen. to help bolster their D-Line.

In free agency, they should look at available corners and safeties to try and improve their weak secondary.

And finally, for big signings I think they should definitely give Welker his big contract...he deserves it. Cut Ocho, and let Branch walk. In addition. The Pats should try as hard as possible to sign Vincent Jackson. He would instantly give the Patriots a perfect offense and would fit the bill as the deep threat the Pats need. If that fails, they could always get Brandon Lloyd as he already has said he wants to play for McDaniels.

I agree the defense needs to improve, but you're not going to like my prescription for the offseason.

(1) Use one of the 1st round picks for either the D-Line or O-Line -- go with whichever is BPA. Again, I agree D-Line is important, but equally important is O-Line because this team's best asset right now is Brady, and Pats need to make sure Brady is safe.
(2) Trade the other 1st round pick for a current 2nd plus future 1st, if possible. I know this isn't popular with fans, but I like this approach. It is a measured approach to building a team for the long run, and I like it.
(3) Give Welker his payday, but not too long of a deal (he's getting old). He's important to bring back bc Brady clearly clicks with him. I think with a big contract to Welker, its unlikely the Pats will spend the money needed to get a player like Vincent Jackson. Instead,
(4) Use a 2nd rounder to get the best WR/KR/PR guy. This will build for the future and address an area of need for the Pats.
(5) Cut Ocho, but bring back Deion Branch. I think his value is not just in his personal stats. As with Welker (but to a lesser degree), Brady just seems to click with Branch, and knowing that Branch is out there working to get free makes Brady that much more comfortable.
(6) Resign Mark Anderson and Andre Carter (assuming healed from injury). These guys impressed me this year.
(7) Use the FA market to get help at the CB and S positions.

[theswitch]

Going position by position, it's pretty obvious what needs to happen this offseason.

QB - Obviously set with Brady and Mallett, Hoyer could be gone in free agency, otherwise bring him back
RB - The future was just drafted with Ridley and Vereen, this position is fine with Woody and Law Firm (if you bring him back - either way it's fine, really)
WR - Welker will probably get franchised but in any case he'll be back in some capacity. I would like a little more size out of another option, so I wouldn't be surprised to see an early draft pick go to one of the stud WRs in this draft. Branch and Ocho will probably make it back at least for camp but I'm not sure they'll make the final roster.
TE - Obviously set with Gronk, Hernandez. Maybe another late-round pick here a la Lee Smith.
LT - Set for the future with Solder.
LG - Set for the future with Mankins.
C - Oh, crap.
RG - Cannon should be the future here.
RT - Vollmer.

Defensively, I'll assume they go with the base 4-3.
LDE - Brandon Deaderick has clearly cemented himself as the LDE of the future.
DT - Wilfork, Love, Brace
RDE - I would assume Carter and Anderson, or at least one of the two, will be back. You've still got Cunningham waiting in the wings - he had a really bad year this year but I wouldn't write the kid off yet after a promising rookie year. And don't forget Markell Carter from the practice squad. Before you laugh, he was given offers to join other team's 54-man rosters throughout the season and turned them down, as he was paid tremendously on our practice squad. I would assume there was some wink-wink saying that if he stuck it out, he'd get a shot next year and that they really like him.
OLB - Mayo and Ninkovich, no real need for an upgrade here, especially with Fletcher backing up. And, the coaches love Jeff Tarpinian.
MLB - Spikes is a stud for the future, as is utility backup Fletcher.
CB - Arrington, McCourty, Dowling, Sterling Moore. Those three guys are the future, and it looks like a pretty bright one. Devin had ups and downs, but I really don't believe he was the problem this year. We'll need to pick up some slot guys but our outside corners are fairly set. Things change a little bit if McCourty moves to safety (or if Edelman moves to corner).
Safety - Chung is a lock at one. This position has been absolutely atrocious this year, and has made life miserable for guys like McCourty. A serious upgrade needs to be made here, and I would be shocked to see any safety on the roster not named Chung still here next fall. I also wouldn't be shocked to see a Chung-McCourty combination, or a Chung-Dowling one.


So, there you have it. There's no real need to draft on the D-Line, as our starting spots are all but locked up. Same thing with the linebacking corps - maybe you go out and get a stud pass rusher if you can but when you need to fix starting positions, you don't worry about a guy who is only going to play 3rd down. In the secondary, we actually have a ton of young depth - it's just a question of where they play. How can you draft more guys when Arrington is a lock, McCourty is a lock, Dowling is a lock, Moore looks like a lock, and you still have Molden and possibly Edelman. You need a slot guy, but you don't spend 1st rounders on that. The safety position opposite Chung is the huge problem on defense, and I assure you it will be addressed - Bill has been looking for an Ed Reed for years. Now, if McCourty moves to safety full-time then you have to draft someone to take his place, but as of right now the only urgent need on the defense is a safety - Digs is just awful.

Offensively, everything is a lock outside of a big wide receiver and a starting center. We'll still have Matt Light next year so there isn't real need for depth for the tackle position, unless we look far to the future, and Connolly/Wendell are serviceable interior linemen backups. If Waters comes back and gives Cannon another year to develop, then there's really no need there either.

After looking at every position, I would break it up like this:

Tier 1, DIRE need - Center, Free Safety
Tier 2, Pretty needed - Big wide receiver, slot corner
Tier 3, Luxury needs - Pass rusher, defensive line depth

I think we'll trade one of the two firsts, but that's how I see it. There aren't that many needs, but the ones we have are pretty huge. Don't forget about the guys on IR, like Tarpinian, Dowling, Cunningham, Barrett.

[Rondo2287]

Use both first round picks to trade up and select Luke Kuechly and move Mayo to the outside linebacker in the 4-3 or have them both in the middle in the 3-4. 

Two of them would reak havoc

[Rondo2287]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh2MyHcxFIA


beast mode

[Smokeeye123]

Use both first round picks to trade up and select Luke Kuechly and move Mayo to the outside linebacker in the 4-3 or have them both in the middle in the 3-4. 

Two of them would reak havoc

Mock drafts have him going all over the place...Some have him in the low teens and even top 10, some have him as high as 26. I'd totally agree with trading up, but the Pats seem to only trade away picks...You'd thing they would just go all in soon and trade up for a dynamic player one of these years, but it never happens...

[theswitch]

Use both first round picks to trade up and select Luke Kuechly and move Mayo to the outside linebacker in the 4-3 or have them both in the middle in the 3-4. 

Two of them would reak havoc

Mock drafts have him going all over the place...Some have him in the low teens and even top 10, some have him as high as 26. I'd totally agree with trading up, but the Pats seem to only trade away picks...You'd thing they would just go all in soon and trade up for a dynamic player one of these years, but it never happens...

Kuechly is a hell of a player, but I'm not quite sure where he'd fit, unless it was in Ninkovich's spot in the 4-3. Spikes and Mayo are entrenched as the MLB and Will in the 4-3 and ILBs in the 3-4. I don't see us going all-in for a guy who, while a terrific prospect, doesn't necessarily do anything for us. With Dane Fletcher as well showing a lot of talent, this is actually one of the deeper positions for us.

[jr_3421]

ROLB and DB are our biggest needs IMO. I really like Vinny Curry (Marshall) as maybe a 2nd round pick and Alfonzo Dennard (Nebraska) as a 1st round pick.

[theswitch]

ROLB and DB are our biggest needs IMO. I really like Vinny Curry (Marshall) as maybe a 2nd round pick and Alfonzo Dennard (Nebraska) as a 1st round pick.

ROLB is definitely a need in the 3-4, but not so much in the 4-3. Ninkovich and Fletcher can hold down that fort pretty well. A lot depends on coaching decisions (4-3 v. 3-4, Edelman's future as a WR v. CB, McCourty's future as a CB v. FS).

[Donoghus]

Not that I'm even really thinking about it yet since they're still alive BUT....

-Franchise Welker

-Let go of either Branch or Ochocinco.  Sign Brandon Lloyd.

-Resign the Law Firm if you can get him at a team friendly price.

-Draft an OLB and a CB.  I think you need to upgrade on Arrington if you can.

-Draft another interior OL;  Center/Guard type.

-Continue to address the pass rush through free agency

-Trade one of the first rounders for value possibly for the '13 draft.

[nickagneta]

My plan. Need:

- To keep Welker.
- To add a real down field threat at WR probably through free agency since that position will potentially be stacked with those type of guys. Don't care who has to go but think it will be Ochocinco.
- To get a edge pass rusher. Whether that is a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB doesn't matter but with this young and fairly below average defensive backfield, they need a bona fide pass rush. Somebody like Courtney Upshaw or Sam Montgomery might still be there in the 2nd round
- To draft a LT replacement for Matt Light. He lost a step this year and is getting more and more banged up. Not convinced Solder is that guy so if you can package a couple of 1st rounders to trade up and get a Reiff or Martin that's what I would do.
- To switch Devin McCourty to free safety permanently and have Chung and McCourty be the starting safeties. He's shown that he lacks some basic man on man CB skills but is an excellent tackler, has the speed to play the position and makes great reads when the play is in front of him. Unfortunately, as the #1 CB you need to have the ability to position your man and turn for the ball. You have to read your man. You have to be physical off the line and have that make up speed. I think he's lacking in these things.
- To draft, except for the 1st round LT, and a middle round RB, defense. CBs, OLBs, DL.
- To sign Lardarius Webb to be your #1 CB. Love his game. If not him them Ben Grimes.
- To give the ball to Steven Ridley as the number one RB option. He's the closest thing I have seen to a real RB prospect on the Pats since Curtis Martin. Keep the Law Firm, make Woodhead the third down specialty back but only if his blocking on pass plays gets better.
- Get a real return threat. Woodhead and Edelman were awful as kickoff returners. Woodhead is almost guaranteed a 20 yard return and no more. He just doesn't have the speed for it. Edelman is serviceable as a punt returner but this team could do much better.

[steve]

I'd like to see Ridley and Vereen take over but Benny has the one stat Bill B loves the most... ZERO fumbles ever.  So he'll be back. 

Brandon Loyd is really good, I think he follows McDaniels here.  Next years passing attack will truly be the best the Pats have ever had.  If Welker signs. 

[DKClassic]

Bumping this thread.  One obvious thing to say would be to overhaul the defense.  Can that be done via this year's draft?

Edit - Not overhauled by just this year's draft; I mean more drafting some defensive players as a starting point.

[outcry]

The defense can't be overhauled in one draft unless you have a top 5 pick to snag up a playmaker. You could get lucky in the middle rounds by taking a gamble on some players ie Gronk with his back issues and Hernandez with the off field issues, but that wouldn't take affect until the second year or so. They need to build their defense through this year's free agency.

[ianboyextreme]

What do you guys think is more important this off season- pass rushing or improved secondary?
Also, what guys are free agents or in the draft that can sure up that O line.
Lastly, do you guys think we should go after a deep threat wide reciever? I dont follow the Pats TOO closely so i dont know about free agents or what not this off season but that just hurt pretty bad so let me know what yall think.