Pats Off Season (1 Viewer)

[PMENFAN]

Here we are again. Seasons over, still stinging a bit, but time to look forward.

WROffensively, they were jelling. Caldwell? Is he going to freeze up like that in big situations? I think they have to ask themselves that? Bring him back again, but man. Gaffney. Get him under contract for 2-3 years. Jackson has to hit the mini's healthy and stay that way. Maybe a full off season of action will help. Troy will be back. Kelvin Kight as the fifth? Maybe a FA run? Or late flier?

TE's. All set here. Keep Watson away from Caldwell. They don't need to know each other. That behavior can be contagious. Sick potential, but he just never seems to take the next step, and he has a lot of drops. too. Sign Graham, and they're set here.

RB-all set. Pass will be back All set

OL, QB-NO worries.

ON the whole O side of the ball, really WR is the only overt concern, and that's not too much of a concern. Get a playmaker if they can. But, y concern is defense.

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D-Line. Alway look for depth to develop.

LB. It's almost getting to desperation time here. Losing Seau really hurt here. Alexander showed potential., but pass coverage was ugly. Bruschi looks like he might be done, or move to a Seau role. It was great to Banta-Cain finally on the field, though he still needs to improve. This is where I expect us to be active in the first round, if there's value, and FAgency. It's the biggest need.

DB's. Vitamins? Is that what they need?

I think the injuries in the secondary were the biggest factor. WE were essentially on the 4th string safety in yesterdays game. That hurts. The run of bad luck there has to stop. Geno comes back, as does Harrison, TBuck, Gay, Scott. I think they lock up Samuel. It's really a great unit, that most people didn't see, because of injuries. Hobbs and Sanders are good looking youg players.

Kicker? Gostkowski looks great. Punter. Miller or Sauerbrun. Both can get the job done. BUt, have you ever seen guns on a punter like Sauerbrun has? Do you risk a punter like that, and a suspension? I don't know.

 

[nerangers]

we got you covered PMENFAN

New England Patriots Offseason Discussion Thread



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[msommer]

Biggest issue in my mind are LBs

Dallas Clark got, what 130 yards against mostly the middle LBs - ouch.

The Pioli/Belichick formula is to find some cast offs and make superstars out of them - only in the last couple of years this hasn't worked out so well. Seau might return, but probably not.

Who would have thought that Vrabel would be the best LB on the team? The Colvin contract looks a bit spicy, 4.6M base salary...

Did Banta-Cain sign an extension? If not he needs to be resigned

For a team that runs mostly 3-4 the cupboard is starting to look like it could need to be restocked

 

[Serenity Now]

Isn't Samuel a FA...I'd say that would be a big priority. Unfortunately for the Pats, he had quite the season with interceptions and he's going to be looking for a big paycheck. Also, Mangini has lots of money to spend and he's said to be targeting a few Pats for possible defection to the Jets.

 

[AB in DC]

Linebackers, linebackers, linebackers.

Besides that, either re-sign Samuel and a decent WR, or get some other good corner and invest the money on a top-flight WR (if one's available...haven't seen a list of UFAs this year.)

 

[The Moz]

New England

needs: SPEED ! on defense. They NEEED to franchise Assante and add speed to the defense. Keep Bruschi in the middle but the rest need to be upgraded !

 

[David Yudkin]

Sadly, I think they let Samuel walk. He will want more than they are willing to pay, and franchising him will be a ton of money for a single year.

I suspect that Assante will command premium dollars, and his spotlight pick and return for a TD from yesterday just drove his price through the roof.

He'll want Ty Law money (from several years ago) and I'm not sure that the Pats will want to give it to him (and he may not be worth it).