Patriots Agenda
I think that its next to impossible to accurately project the direction in which this team will move. There are so many variables in place currently, that the team building equation is hard to simplify and impossible to solve. The free agents available are intriguing, but we are on the outside looking in. No one really knows. We are inundated with reports that a certain player is "likely to receive the franchise tag." Every week a new reporter reminds us that no new information is available on Wes Welker, but the club is expected to franchise him.
The offseason has reached a point where no one really has any new information because teams are not realeasing any official reports. Everyone is speculating, but we are weeks away from any real activity. Sure, the combine was a nice distraction. In fact, many players have put themselves on the radar with impressive displays. Forums are alight with talk about Dontari Poe, Nick Perry, Whitney Merclius, etc.
Everyone is talking about the cream of the crop, likely the top 25 players entering the draft. The Patriots are sitting at #27, and are "historically unlikely" to trade up to acquire any of these jaw-droppers. Therefore, fans will bitch and moan when Belichick drafts 4 or 5 guys that never made headlines. We will be upset that issues were not addressed, and players were passed over. Everyone will be saying what we should have done.
I do not include myself in this group of "everyone" because I have developed a certain amount of trust in Belichick. I trust that he has made informed decisions about everything relating to his team. Belichick does not make hasty decisions, and I am confident that all angles have been explored before making a move. In hindsight, he has made both good and bad choices. In the moment, I am confident that he has made the smart choice, and I expect this to continue.
So, yeah, we probably won't come away from the draft with any highly touted playmaker, but the guys that do make the team will contribute in very critical ways.
1. Resign Wes Welker - preferrably a long term deal that decreases his base salary by increasing incentives and bonus money
2. Draft interior Offensive Linemen for the future
3. Add size and athleticism to the secondary on Defense
4. Draft for youth and depth along the Defensive Line
5. Add a WR that can beat man-to-man coverage.
6. Allow Ridley and Vereen to emerge by giving them more reps
7. Re-structure Ochocinco's contract or cut him
8. Find a Kick Returner that is not Slater/Woodhead/Edelman
9. Draft a TE with upside that can learn under Gronk and Hernandez
10. Retain Carter and Anderson with 1-2 year deals
The offseason has reached a point where no one really has any new information because teams are not realeasing any official reports. Everyone is speculating, but we are weeks away from any real activity. Sure, the combine was a nice distraction. In fact, many players have put themselves on the radar with impressive displays. Forums are alight with talk about Dontari Poe, Nick Perry, Whitney Merclius, etc.
Everyone is talking about the cream of the crop, likely the top 25 players entering the draft. The Patriots are sitting at #27, and are "historically unlikely" to trade up to acquire any of these jaw-droppers. Therefore, fans will bitch and moan when Belichick drafts 4 or 5 guys that never made headlines. We will be upset that issues were not addressed, and players were passed over. Everyone will be saying what we should have done.
I do not include myself in this group of "everyone" because I have developed a certain amount of trust in Belichick. I trust that he has made informed decisions about everything relating to his team. Belichick does not make hasty decisions, and I am confident that all angles have been explored before making a move. In hindsight, he has made both good and bad choices. In the moment, I am confident that he has made the smart choice, and I expect this to continue.
So, yeah, we probably won't come away from the draft with any highly touted playmaker, but the guys that do make the team will contribute in very critical ways.
1. Resign Wes Welker - preferrably a long term deal that decreases his base salary by increasing incentives and bonus money
2. Draft interior Offensive Linemen for the future
3. Add size and athleticism to the secondary on Defense
4. Draft for youth and depth along the Defensive Line
5. Add a WR that can beat man-to-man coverage.
6. Allow Ridley and Vereen to emerge by giving them more reps
7. Re-structure Ochocinco's contract or cut him
8. Find a Kick Returner that is not Slater/Woodhead/Edelman
9. Draft a TE with upside that can learn under Gronk and Hernandez
10. Retain Carter and Anderson with 1-2 year deals
Comments
Post a Comment