This should be everyone's favorite position by the end of the season. With the drafting of D'onta Hightower the Pats now have the potential to have four impact linebackers on the field at the same time. It won't be Bruschi, Willie, Vrabel, and Johnson ... but it could be pretty darn close in a few years.
STARTERS
Jerod Mayo -- if he can stay healthy -- could be the best middle linebacker in the AFC this season. When Mayo is at the top of his game he closes the holes in the middle of the field with speed and ferocity. His return to health in the playoffs last year was a key part of the run to the Super Bowl. Next to him in the middle is Brandon Spikes. Another guy who can only be stopped by injury. Spikes showed his playmaking skills with a great pick in the AFC title game. A full year of these two in the middle will go a long way toward improving the defense. It's likely the Pats will play more 3-4 this year and when they do they have Ninko and Hightower to man the outside. Ninko had a great year last year, recording big play after big play. He's looking more and more like Vrabel every week. Hightower should make an impact right away. He's that good. Nick Saban usually has his players ready for the NFL.
BACK-UPS
Bobby Carpenter -- the former Cowboy, not the former Bruin -- is like offensive lineman Robert Gallery ... a high draft pick who hasn't reached his potential. Carpenter is a good fit as a veteran back-up. Returning vets Dane Fletcher, Tracy White, and Niko Koutouvides along with linebacker/ends Jermaine Cunningham and Trevor Scott are solid depth players.
IN THE MIX
Young linebackers Jeff Tarpinian and Mike Rivera have good size (6-3 and 6-5 respectively) but they will have a tough time making the team.
Bruschi. Vrabel. McGinnest. Johnson. ... Mayo. Spikes. Hightower. Ninkovich. The rebuilding on defense is almost complete.
Showing posts with label Jerod Mayo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jerod Mayo. Show all posts
Friday, July 6, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Starting with defense
The Pats have just about finished their free agent shopping. The draft is now over. Except for a few undrafted free agents and training camp veteran signings the 2012 version of the New England Patriots is pretty much set. When you have gone 27-5 in the last two seasons there's not too many battles in camp.
The offense is loaded again and will threaten the records the team set in '07. The defense was where reinforcements were needed. Reinforcements have arrived.
I'm guessing the Pats will return to playing a 3-4 more this year since they now have four potentially very good linebackers. Here's what the starters in the 3-4 could look like if everyone stays healthy and the new guys reach their potential quickly:
Ras-I Dowling Patrick Chung Devin McCourty Kyle Arrington
I'm counting on a few things. Jonathan Fanene is this year's Andre Carter. Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower earn starting jobs and make impacts like McCourty and Mayo did in their rookie years. Ras-I-Dowling gets healthy and lives up to his draft position.
If those things happen then the transition from the Bruschi-Willie-Rodney-Vrabel-Law-Seymour years to the next championship-caliber defense is in the final stage. Big Vince is one of the dominant forces in the game. Brandon Spikes and Mayo came together at the end of last year to show just how good they can be as a duo in the middle of the field. Chung and a relocated McCourty could be one of the best young safety tandems in the game by mid-season.
It's a very athletic, young, and skilled group of starters with some serious playoff experience and confidence. And as good as the starters look (on paper), the depth of the defense is just as good and experienced. I don't think this defense will be near the bottom in yards allowed next year. No way.
The offense is loaded again and will threaten the records the team set in '07. The defense was where reinforcements were needed. Reinforcements have arrived.
I'm guessing the Pats will return to playing a 3-4 more this year since they now have four potentially very good linebackers. Here's what the starters in the 3-4 could look like if everyone stays healthy and the new guys reach their potential quickly:
DEFENSIVE LINE
LEFT END NOSE TACKLE RIGHT END
Jonathan Fanene Vince Wilfork Chandler Jones
LINEBACKERS
LEFT OUTSIDE MIDDLE MIDDLE RIGHT OUTSIDE
Dont'a Hightower Brandon Spikes Jerod Mayo Rob Ninkovich
CORNERBACK SAFETY SAFETY CORNERBACK
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Ras-I Dowling Patrick Chung Devin McCourty Kyle Arrington
I'm counting on a few things. Jonathan Fanene is this year's Andre Carter. Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower earn starting jobs and make impacts like McCourty and Mayo did in their rookie years. Ras-I-Dowling gets healthy and lives up to his draft position.
If those things happen then the transition from the Bruschi-Willie-Rodney-Vrabel-Law-Seymour years to the next championship-caliber defense is in the final stage. Big Vince is one of the dominant forces in the game. Brandon Spikes and Mayo came together at the end of last year to show just how good they can be as a duo in the middle of the field. Chung and a relocated McCourty could be one of the best young safety tandems in the game by mid-season.
It's a very athletic, young, and skilled group of starters with some serious playoff experience and confidence. And as good as the starters look (on paper), the depth of the defense is just as good and experienced. I don't think this defense will be near the bottom in yards allowed next year. No way.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Taking stock
The Patriots came so close to entering the 2012 season as defending champs. So close. Now the question is can Bill Belichick make the moves to keep them atop the AFC during the final few years of Tom Brady's career and get them another shot at that fourth Lombardi. A question that is just as important is can Belichick continue to build a team that can compete for a title even after Gisele locks the hall of fame QB away forever in their California mansion.
As the free-agency free-for-all kicks off today -- and with the NFL draft a little more than a month away -- it's time to take a quick look at the roster and identify where the biggest needs are. There aren't many glaring weaknesses, but there is always room for improvement.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Brady is still playing at an MVP level as he enters his mid-30s. That's why it is so surprising when he doesn't make the big pass to win the big game. He had the ball late in the AFC title game and went three-and-out. He had the ball with a chance to wrap up the Super Bowl and missed a wide-open Welker. You could see that he couldn't believe he didn't get it done as much as I couldn't. There's still no other quarterback that I would want. Brian Hoyer and young Ryan Mallett are just fine as backups. Free agency/draft need: LOW.
Wide receiver: There's no other wide receiver I would want over Wes Welker either. 122 catches. All of them clutch. He took all the blame for a drop that was mostly Brady's fault. He's a class act. And a leader. Veteran Deion Branch should be back. He is a solid third or fourth wideout. Problem is that he was often the number two guy. Chad Johnsoncinco will have a full training camp to show that he can no longer play in the NFL. It shouldn't take long. Young guys Slater and Edelman are not going to scare anyone. The thing that made the wideout corp look better last year than it really was was the play of Aaron Hernandez. He may be listed as a tight end, but he was often the second best wide receiver on the field. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.
Tight end: One word: Gronk. Rob Gronkowski had the best year statistically ever for a tight end. The only thing that could -- and did -- slow him down was injury. Gronk had his surgery and should be back to catching TDs and dancing come the start of camp. Hernandez gives Brady two young, talented targets to throw to. It's a heck of a combination that should make the last few years of Brady's career enjoyable. The Pats are pretty set at tight end for years to come, but that never stops Belichick from drafting another one. Free agency/draft need: LOW.
Running back: There's no stud in the group, but the thinking seems to be that since the Pats are a passing team they don't really need one. They have gone 27-5 the last two years with that philosophy so it's hard to argue that. BenJarvus, Woody, and second-year guys Ridley and Vereen are a solid group who know how to get that extra yard and take care of the ball. Ridley showed he could break some big runs. If he can build on that he could end up becoming the lead back, especially if Bennie leaves as a free agent. The Pats finally added a fullback -- my favorite position -- in Lousaka Polite, but they didn't really use him. Football historian Belichick should show more respect to the fullback's role. I'd be surprised if the Pats added another running back unless one slid to them in the draft. Oh, and I look forward to Kevin Faulk's retirement ceremony. Free agency/draft need: MEDIUM.
Offensive line: Is the Pats line overrated? Maybe a bit. Brady was sacked 32 times this year, which put the Pats line at ninth best at protecting their quarterback. But as long as Dante Scarnecchia is coaching 'em up, the offensive line will be solid. Matt Light, who was on the verge of extinction, found the fountain of youth and had a great season. But can he do that again? Logan Mankins continues to be a guy who has great games followed by not-so-great games. Not really worthy of all the holdout noise he made and the giant contract that he got. But I think his best few years are right ahead of him. Dan Koppen -- one of the best centers in the game -- might not be back which would not make me happy. Veteran Brian Waters was one of the best free agent signings last year and should be back for more. Youngsters Vollmer, Solder, and Cannon give the Pats a bright future on the line. Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell provide depth. Among the drafting rules in the NFL ... when in doubt, it's always worth grabbing another O lineman. Free agency/draft need: MEDIUM.
DEFENSE
Defensive line: It all starts with Big Vince. Wilfork signed a huge contract two years ago and has played his best two seasons of his hall of fame career. Not many pro athletes do that. He's the leader that has kept a young, evolving -- sometimes devolving -- defense together. The question, as it was last year when the Pats brought about 25 D lineman to camp, is who will line up on either side of him. Free agent Andre Carter filled one of those spots better than anyone imagined till he went down late in the season. He says he wants to be back. Mark Anderson was also a pleasant surprise, getting stronger as the year went on. After that, there's not a lot to love. Oh, there's Kyle Love. And Shaun Ellis. Gerard Warren. Brandon Deaderick. All had their moments, but as a whole the line once again failed to get any consistent pressure on the quarterback. The Pats still need a pass rusher. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.
Linebacker: I love this group. If they can stay healthy (the proverbial BIG IF), this young group could grow into one of the best in the league by year's end. Jerod Mayo. Brandon Spikes. Rob Ninkovich. Mayo and Spikes both were injured at times last year but with both of them on the field, the defense played its best football in the playoffs. Mayo -- when on his game -- is a beast. Spikes's pick in the AFC title game was a huge moment for him. Ninkovich has the playmaking knack of a Bruschi or a Vrabel. However, there's not a lot of depth behind them. Guyton, Fletcher, and White are all replaceable parts. You always need more linebackers. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.
Safety: Now we get to the real problem areas. The defensive backfield. It got so bad that wide receivers Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater took some snaps on the defensive side of the ball. And they were actually better than many of the real defensive backs. Among the group of safeties and cornerbacks there is one great player. Patrick Chung. Check that, he's a really great player. But he can't cover and tackle everyone, although at times last year it felt like he did. James Ihedigbo, a Jets castoff, struggled early but played solid as the playoffs neared. He would make a solid third safety. I'm not going to even mention the other safeties that are still on the roster or passed through during the year. Not going to waste the bold ink on them. The Pats need to get Chung some help at safety. Lots of help. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.
Cornerback: And lots of help at cornerback would be good too. Rookie sensation Devin McCourty took a huge step back in his second year. So far back that he was moved to safety. I kept the faith in him all year so I'm not giving up on him now. I still rank him as a solid NFL defensive back. Kyle Arrington had seven picks last year, among the league leaders. But many of those were of the "ball bounced right into his arms" variety. But he still caught them. That's something. Rookie Ras-I Dowling missed the year with an injury. Will he be the next Wheatley/Wilhite and never play? Like safety, I'm not even mentioning the backup guys. They should be moving on. Except Edelman and Slater. They can stay. They just shouldn't be playing defensive back anymore. Free agency/draft need: SKY HIGH.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pats are set at kicker for years to come with Gosty and Zoltan. They've got the legs. Free agency/draft need: LOW.
Guys that can catch the ball. Guys that can keep old man Brady off his back. Guys that can stop other guys from catching the ball. And guys that can put the other team's quarterback on his back. Those are the priorities. Now we'll see what coach/GM/concessions manager Bill Belichick can do about it.
As the free-agency free-for-all kicks off today -- and with the NFL draft a little more than a month away -- it's time to take a quick look at the roster and identify where the biggest needs are. There aren't many glaring weaknesses, but there is always room for improvement.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Brady is still playing at an MVP level as he enters his mid-30s. That's why it is so surprising when he doesn't make the big pass to win the big game. He had the ball late in the AFC title game and went three-and-out. He had the ball with a chance to wrap up the Super Bowl and missed a wide-open Welker. You could see that he couldn't believe he didn't get it done as much as I couldn't. There's still no other quarterback that I would want. Brian Hoyer and young Ryan Mallett are just fine as backups. Free agency/draft need: LOW.
Wide receiver: There's no other wide receiver I would want over Wes Welker either. 122 catches. All of them clutch. He took all the blame for a drop that was mostly Brady's fault. He's a class act. And a leader. Veteran Deion Branch should be back. He is a solid third or fourth wideout. Problem is that he was often the number two guy. Chad Johnsoncinco will have a full training camp to show that he can no longer play in the NFL. It shouldn't take long. Young guys Slater and Edelman are not going to scare anyone. The thing that made the wideout corp look better last year than it really was was the play of Aaron Hernandez. He may be listed as a tight end, but he was often the second best wide receiver on the field. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.
Tight end: One word: Gronk. Rob Gronkowski had the best year statistically ever for a tight end. The only thing that could -- and did -- slow him down was injury. Gronk had his surgery and should be back to catching TDs and dancing come the start of camp. Hernandez gives Brady two young, talented targets to throw to. It's a heck of a combination that should make the last few years of Brady's career enjoyable. The Pats are pretty set at tight end for years to come, but that never stops Belichick from drafting another one. Free agency/draft need: LOW.
Running back: There's no stud in the group, but the thinking seems to be that since the Pats are a passing team they don't really need one. They have gone 27-5 the last two years with that philosophy so it's hard to argue that. BenJarvus, Woody, and second-year guys Ridley and Vereen are a solid group who know how to get that extra yard and take care of the ball. Ridley showed he could break some big runs. If he can build on that he could end up becoming the lead back, especially if Bennie leaves as a free agent. The Pats finally added a fullback -- my favorite position -- in Lousaka Polite, but they didn't really use him. Football historian Belichick should show more respect to the fullback's role. I'd be surprised if the Pats added another running back unless one slid to them in the draft. Oh, and I look forward to Kevin Faulk's retirement ceremony. Free agency/draft need: MEDIUM.
Offensive line: Is the Pats line overrated? Maybe a bit. Brady was sacked 32 times this year, which put the Pats line at ninth best at protecting their quarterback. But as long as Dante Scarnecchia is coaching 'em up, the offensive line will be solid. Matt Light, who was on the verge of extinction, found the fountain of youth and had a great season. But can he do that again? Logan Mankins continues to be a guy who has great games followed by not-so-great games. Not really worthy of all the holdout noise he made and the giant contract that he got. But I think his best few years are right ahead of him. Dan Koppen -- one of the best centers in the game -- might not be back which would not make me happy. Veteran Brian Waters was one of the best free agent signings last year and should be back for more. Youngsters Vollmer, Solder, and Cannon give the Pats a bright future on the line. Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell provide depth. Among the drafting rules in the NFL ... when in doubt, it's always worth grabbing another O lineman. Free agency/draft need: MEDIUM.
DEFENSE
Defensive line: It all starts with Big Vince. Wilfork signed a huge contract two years ago and has played his best two seasons of his hall of fame career. Not many pro athletes do that. He's the leader that has kept a young, evolving -- sometimes devolving -- defense together. The question, as it was last year when the Pats brought about 25 D lineman to camp, is who will line up on either side of him. Free agent Andre Carter filled one of those spots better than anyone imagined till he went down late in the season. He says he wants to be back. Mark Anderson was also a pleasant surprise, getting stronger as the year went on. After that, there's not a lot to love. Oh, there's Kyle Love. And Shaun Ellis. Gerard Warren. Brandon Deaderick. All had their moments, but as a whole the line once again failed to get any consistent pressure on the quarterback. The Pats still need a pass rusher. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.
Linebacker: I love this group. If they can stay healthy (the proverbial BIG IF), this young group could grow into one of the best in the league by year's end. Jerod Mayo. Brandon Spikes. Rob Ninkovich. Mayo and Spikes both were injured at times last year but with both of them on the field, the defense played its best football in the playoffs. Mayo -- when on his game -- is a beast. Spikes's pick in the AFC title game was a huge moment for him. Ninkovich has the playmaking knack of a Bruschi or a Vrabel. However, there's not a lot of depth behind them. Guyton, Fletcher, and White are all replaceable parts. You always need more linebackers. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.
Safety: Now we get to the real problem areas. The defensive backfield. It got so bad that wide receivers Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater took some snaps on the defensive side of the ball. And they were actually better than many of the real defensive backs. Among the group of safeties and cornerbacks there is one great player. Patrick Chung. Check that, he's a really great player. But he can't cover and tackle everyone, although at times last year it felt like he did. James Ihedigbo, a Jets castoff, struggled early but played solid as the playoffs neared. He would make a solid third safety. I'm not going to even mention the other safeties that are still on the roster or passed through during the year. Not going to waste the bold ink on them. The Pats need to get Chung some help at safety. Lots of help. Free agency/draft need: HIGH.
Cornerback: And lots of help at cornerback would be good too. Rookie sensation Devin McCourty took a huge step back in his second year. So far back that he was moved to safety. I kept the faith in him all year so I'm not giving up on him now. I still rank him as a solid NFL defensive back. Kyle Arrington had seven picks last year, among the league leaders. But many of those were of the "ball bounced right into his arms" variety. But he still caught them. That's something. Rookie Ras-I Dowling missed the year with an injury. Will he be the next Wheatley/Wilhite and never play? Like safety, I'm not even mentioning the backup guys. They should be moving on. Except Edelman and Slater. They can stay. They just shouldn't be playing defensive back anymore. Free agency/draft need: SKY HIGH.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Pats are set at kicker for years to come with Gosty and Zoltan. They've got the legs. Free agency/draft need: LOW.
Guys that can catch the ball. Guys that can keep old man Brady off his back. Guys that can stop other guys from catching the ball. And guys that can put the other team's quarterback on his back. Those are the priorities. Now we'll see what coach/GM/concessions manager Bill Belichick can do about it.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Makin' plays
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2009: Not a pretty sight. |
"I just can't get this team to play the way we need to play. I just can't do it. It's so frustrating."
That's Bill Belichick talking to Tom Brady in 2009 as the two stood on the sidelines together in the final stages of the Saints crushing the Pats on a Monday night. It's my favorite scene from "A Football Life.'' Belichick is often portrayed as an egomaniac who takes all the credit when the team wins and dumps all the blame when the team loses. Which is about as far from the truth as you can get. He knows that a coach is only as good as the players on the roster. In 2009, the players just weren't good enough. And the coaching wasn't good enough to help them improve. The 2009 Patriots just couldn't make the plays when they needed to.
That's what winning and losing comes down to in the NFL. Which team can make the plays at the key moments in the game. It's always been that way. That's what makes football so fun to watch. It's like watching a violent chess match. And there are moves in each game that change the momentum. The teams that win are the ones that have more players who can step up and make those plays.
The 2009 Patriots did not have nearly enough of them. The 2001, '03, and '04 Pats had more than I can quickly count. The 2011 Patriots -- like last year's team -- has what seems like a large number of playmakers. In a stat from last year that is often lost among the offensive numbers, the Pats D lead the league in picks and were second in total turnovers. That's making plays.
The playmaking starts with Brady, of course. He has a lot of help on offense. A lot. Welker. Branch. Woody. Bennie. The two-headed tight end monster. On defense the Pats have had Big Vince and Mayo leading the way for a few years. But in '09 there wasn't much else. Now, with players like Chung, Wright, Bodden, Haynesworth (when he actually plays), Ellis, Spikes, and Ninko, Vince and Mayo have lots of help. The defense is still giving up too many yards, but they are making the plays when they have to. That's a combination of a good game plan and having guys that can get the job done when put in the right spot.
The 2-0 Pats go into Buffalo in what is an unexpectedly big divisional battle. It's big because the 2-0 Bills have been making plays for the first time in a long time.
It's all about making plays.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Taking stock
The Patriots have a dozen picks in this month's NFL draft. How many of them will Bill Belichick actually use? That's the $64,000 question. The thinking is that the team should use all of them to fill the many holes on the roster. A quick look at the position-by-position depth chart shows, to me, that this is still a top five AFC team without too many glaring weaknesses. OK, pass rush is a big one. But other than that ...
QUARTERBACK
Tom Brady: The future hall of famer is now a full season removed from his knee being blown out at the start of '08. He looked very ordinary in the team's playoff disaster against the Ravens, but he's still Brady. I'll take #12 at the QB position for as long as he can stand. I don't care how many mansions he builds. Backups: Fill in name of rookie/journeyman here.
RUNNING BACK
Laurence Maroney/Fred Taylor/Sammy Morris/Kevin Faulk: Missing among those four names is the stud back that can control and flat-out win games for you. That said this is still a very solid group. The Pats, despite lacking that lead back, have been a very good running team the past few years. If the team added a solid fullback and put Maroney or Taylor behind him and pounded the ball... well I'd sure be happy. But that's unlikely. If Taylor and/or Morris can stay healthy the Pats ground game will be fine. Backups: BenJarvis Green-Ellis and Chris Taylor.
WIDE RECEIVER
Randy Moss/Wes Welker/Julian Edelman: Welker's injury is the big question mark here. As is who will play the other wideout spot opposite Moss. Edelman seems more than capable of holding down the slot position till Welker returns. The verdict is out on whether we will see the '07 Moss who was unstoppable or the one of the last two seasons when he was merely unreliable. My fantasy team's name is Moss Racing. I'm not changing it. The team needs to add some depth here and hope for a return to form by Moss. I expect both to happen. Backups: David Patten, Sam Aiken, Matthew Slater, Brandon Tate, Darnell Jenkins.
TIGHT END
Alge Crumpler: The team has a veteran tight end who hopefully won't have bad drops or fumbles. That's good enough at this position. Backups: Like I said, one tight end is plenty. (See: http://tjtailgatetales.blogspot.com/2010/06/tighten-up.html)
OFFENSIVE LINE
Matt Light (LT), Logan Mankins (LG), Dan Koppen (C), Stephen Neal (RG), Nick Kaczur (RT): This starting five is so strong that LT Sebastian Vollmer -- maybe Belichick's best draft pick of the past several years -- is a backup. They protect the quarterback very well. When your quarterback is Tom Brady that is job one. If given the chance to pin their ears back I think they would be a solid run blocking line too. Backups: Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Mark LeVoir, Rich Ohrnberger, Ryan Wendell.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Ty Warren (LE), Vince Wilfork (NT), ???????? (RE): It still seems weird to not write Richard Seymour on that list. Maybe it won't feel as weird after the Pats come away with a top 10 pick from the Raiders next year. Wilfork and Ty Warren make this still one of the best D lines against the run. Wilfork alone does that. With the loss of Jarvis Green the Pats will be looking for someone to play right end. Hopefully someone with a motor who can get after the quarterback. Who fills that spot should be a focus of the draft and will be a key to the team's success on '10. There's also some solid talent in the reserves with Mike Wright and Ron Brace. Backups: Wright, Brace, Myron Pryor.
LINEBACKERS
Jerod Mayo, Tully Banta-Cain, Gary Guyton, Derrick Burgess: Oh how the names have changed. No more Bruschi, McGinnest, Vrabel, Johnson. That was a foursome that won three Super Bowl titles. One of the best ever. You can't replace guys like that quickly. It's a process that the Pats are probably at the midpoint of entering this season. Mayo's injury was a large reason for the Pats 10-6 record last year. A return to the way he was playing down the stretch of his rookie season should be expected. Banta-Cain, Guyton, and Burgess (if and when he re-signs) are all solid players but the linebacking corp needs another young potential star like Mayo. A drafting priority. Backups: Pierre Woods, Eric Alexander, Shawn Crable, Rob Ninkovich, Tyrone McKenzie.
CORNERBACK
Leigh Bodden, Darius Butler: The veteran Bodden brought back some consistency to the cornerback spot. Butler showed flashes as a rookie, but just flashes. This is another position where a young impact player who exceeds expectations and plays for a low salary for five years is sorely needed. No more Shawn Springs-type players need apply. Backups: The young duo of Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Whilhite may step to the fore this season. The potential is there.
SAFETY
Brandon Meriweather, Brandon McGowan: Meriweather made it to the Pro Bowl in just his third season with the team. When he is good he's very good. He's just not that good often enough yet. McGowan played better than the journeyman he had looked like his first three years in Chicago. I'd prefer to see backup James Sanders as the starter. Backups: Sanders, Pat Chung.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Stephen Gostkowski: The team has no punter at the moment but there are always veteran legs out there you can rent for a season. Gostkowski is the best young kicker in the game. Almost makes me a little less bitter about letting Vinatieri go to Indy.
Scanning the depth chart two things stand out. First, the players at the offensive skill positions are not a young group. Brady, Faulk, Moss, Taylor, Patten. The team is in need of one or two young skills guys who can be the playmakers for years to come. Dez Bryant or Golden Tate maybe? The second thing? No pass rush. Those two issues will have to be priorities on April 22.
QUARTERBACK
Tom Brady: The future hall of famer is now a full season removed from his knee being blown out at the start of '08. He looked very ordinary in the team's playoff disaster against the Ravens, but he's still Brady. I'll take #12 at the QB position for as long as he can stand. I don't care how many mansions he builds. Backups: Fill in name of rookie/journeyman here.
RUNNING BACK
Laurence Maroney/Fred Taylor/Sammy Morris/Kevin Faulk: Missing among those four names is the stud back that can control and flat-out win games for you. That said this is still a very solid group. The Pats, despite lacking that lead back, have been a very good running team the past few years. If the team added a solid fullback and put Maroney or Taylor behind him and pounded the ball... well I'd sure be happy. But that's unlikely. If Taylor and/or Morris can stay healthy the Pats ground game will be fine. Backups: BenJarvis Green-Ellis and Chris Taylor.
WIDE RECEIVER
Randy Moss/Wes Welker/Julian Edelman: Welker's injury is the big question mark here. As is who will play the other wideout spot opposite Moss. Edelman seems more than capable of holding down the slot position till Welker returns. The verdict is out on whether we will see the '07 Moss who was unstoppable or the one of the last two seasons when he was merely unreliable. My fantasy team's name is Moss Racing. I'm not changing it. The team needs to add some depth here and hope for a return to form by Moss. I expect both to happen. Backups: David Patten, Sam Aiken, Matthew Slater, Brandon Tate, Darnell Jenkins.
TIGHT END
Alge Crumpler: The team has a veteran tight end who hopefully won't have bad drops or fumbles. That's good enough at this position. Backups: Like I said, one tight end is plenty. (See: http://tjtailgatetales.blogspot.com/2010/06/tighten-up.html)
OFFENSIVE LINE
Matt Light (LT), Logan Mankins (LG), Dan Koppen (C), Stephen Neal (RG), Nick Kaczur (RT): This starting five is so strong that LT Sebastian Vollmer -- maybe Belichick's best draft pick of the past several years -- is a backup. They protect the quarterback very well. When your quarterback is Tom Brady that is job one. If given the chance to pin their ears back I think they would be a solid run blocking line too. Backups: Vollmer, Dan Connolly, Mark LeVoir, Rich Ohrnberger, Ryan Wendell.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Ty Warren (LE), Vince Wilfork (NT), ???????? (RE): It still seems weird to not write Richard Seymour on that list. Maybe it won't feel as weird after the Pats come away with a top 10 pick from the Raiders next year. Wilfork and Ty Warren make this still one of the best D lines against the run. Wilfork alone does that. With the loss of Jarvis Green the Pats will be looking for someone to play right end. Hopefully someone with a motor who can get after the quarterback. Who fills that spot should be a focus of the draft and will be a key to the team's success on '10. There's also some solid talent in the reserves with Mike Wright and Ron Brace. Backups: Wright, Brace, Myron Pryor.
LINEBACKERS
Jerod Mayo, Tully Banta-Cain, Gary Guyton, Derrick Burgess: Oh how the names have changed. No more Bruschi, McGinnest, Vrabel, Johnson. That was a foursome that won three Super Bowl titles. One of the best ever. You can't replace guys like that quickly. It's a process that the Pats are probably at the midpoint of entering this season. Mayo's injury was a large reason for the Pats 10-6 record last year. A return to the way he was playing down the stretch of his rookie season should be expected. Banta-Cain, Guyton, and Burgess (if and when he re-signs) are all solid players but the linebacking corp needs another young potential star like Mayo. A drafting priority. Backups: Pierre Woods, Eric Alexander, Shawn Crable, Rob Ninkovich, Tyrone McKenzie.
CORNERBACK
Leigh Bodden, Darius Butler: The veteran Bodden brought back some consistency to the cornerback spot. Butler showed flashes as a rookie, but just flashes. This is another position where a young impact player who exceeds expectations and plays for a low salary for five years is sorely needed. No more Shawn Springs-type players need apply. Backups: The young duo of Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Whilhite may step to the fore this season. The potential is there.
SAFETY
Brandon Meriweather, Brandon McGowan: Meriweather made it to the Pro Bowl in just his third season with the team. When he is good he's very good. He's just not that good often enough yet. McGowan played better than the journeyman he had looked like his first three years in Chicago. I'd prefer to see backup James Sanders as the starter. Backups: Sanders, Pat Chung.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Stephen Gostkowski: The team has no punter at the moment but there are always veteran legs out there you can rent for a season. Gostkowski is the best young kicker in the game. Almost makes me a little less bitter about letting Vinatieri go to Indy.
Scanning the depth chart two things stand out. First, the players at the offensive skill positions are not a young group. Brady, Faulk, Moss, Taylor, Patten. The team is in need of one or two young skills guys who can be the playmakers for years to come. Dez Bryant or Golden Tate maybe? The second thing? No pass rush. Those two issues will have to be priorities on April 22.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Accentuate the positive
The Patriots head to Miami for a huge divisional game licking their wounds from the Monday night beating the Saints put on them. If the Pats lose to the Wildcats -- and it's a definite possibility -- then we can all stop talking about playoff seedings and start talking about simply making the playoffs.
The Saints exposed a lot of negatives about the Pats. The red zone offense continues to struggle. There is almost no pass rush. The secondary is prone to giving up the big play at the wrong time. When defenses contain Wes Welker the Pats's offense is a lot less dangerous. There is almost no pass rush!
But there are some positives to look at as the team heads into the final month of the regular season.
Laurence Maroney: Yes, I still cringe every time he gets the ball because I'm waiting to see it rolling loose on the ground.
But he is beginning to look like he did at the start of his rookie year before all the injuries and bad dance moves at the line of scrimmage started. He has scored a touchdown in six straight games and looks a lot stronger hitting the hole. Now if the Pats would just hand him the ball more when they have a lead in the second half.
Getting healthy: The Pats have had their share of injuries but they are starting to get those guys back. O linemen Matt Light and Nick Kazcur are back and their replacements -- Sebastian Vollmer in particular -- did a solid job while they were gone showing that the position has a lot of depth. The key now will be to pick the five guys (Vollmer should start) they want to go with the rest of the way and let them get in a groove. The other important name returning from injury is Fred Taylor. The veteran was just hitting his stride when he went down in October. His return, along with Sammy Morris, give the Pats what they had at the start of the season -- a varied and deep running attack.
Mayo and Brady: Speaking of health, the best playmakers on either side of the ball are still working their way back from major injuries. Brady seems almost all the way back while Mayo continues to be a step or two slower than when he was the AFC defensive rookie of the year but hopefully he can be closer to top speed come playoff time.
Wes Welker: Simply put, he's the most reliable and effective WR in the game. He seems to have 10 or more catches every game. Moss is a threat to haul in a 70-yard touchdown on every play (at least on the plays he's putting in the effort) but it's Welker who makes this team go. Some may see having your slot receiver as your best offensive weapon as a weakness, but not me. Look at the guy. He's as tough as any fullback and as dangerous as any wideout. When he's making yards-after-the-catch the Pats are tough to stop.
Tuly Banta-Cain: A two year vacation in SF has not hurt his game. He leads the team in sacks and has become a presence on the edge with his speed and size. He's the best pass rusher the team has and -- no offense Tuly -- but that's the problem. He would be a good second or third pass rusher. The Pats need someone (Green? Mayo?) to step up and give Banta-Cain some help getting after the QB.
Special teams: This is a lot about Welker too. He's had several big returns in the past month and seems to be getting stronger. Add that to a solid punting game and Gostkowski having another great year and special teams looks like a positive heading into the playoffs where it plays an even bigger role.
The schedule: After traveling to Miami the Pats finish with games against Carolina, at Buffalo, Jacksonville, and at Houston. The last two will be difficult. The Jets have to play Indy and Cincy so, even though they outlasted the Bills last night, they are looking at 9-7 at best. Miami has to play the red-hot Titans and finish up against the Steelers. Two tough games. Barring a complete collapse, the schedule should allow the Pats to take the AFC East and host a first-round playoff game. Most likely against Denver. Now that would be fun.
The Saints exposed a lot of negatives about the Pats. The red zone offense continues to struggle. There is almost no pass rush. The secondary is prone to giving up the big play at the wrong time. When defenses contain Wes Welker the Pats's offense is a lot less dangerous. There is almost no pass rush!
But there are some positives to look at as the team heads into the final month of the regular season.
Laurence Maroney: Yes, I still cringe every time he gets the ball because I'm waiting to see it rolling loose on the ground.
But he is beginning to look like he did at the start of his rookie year before all the injuries and bad dance moves at the line of scrimmage started. He has scored a touchdown in six straight games and looks a lot stronger hitting the hole. Now if the Pats would just hand him the ball more when they have a lead in the second half.Getting healthy: The Pats have had their share of injuries but they are starting to get those guys back. O linemen Matt Light and Nick Kazcur are back and their replacements -- Sebastian Vollmer in particular -- did a solid job while they were gone showing that the position has a lot of depth. The key now will be to pick the five guys (Vollmer should start) they want to go with the rest of the way and let them get in a groove. The other important name returning from injury is Fred Taylor. The veteran was just hitting his stride when he went down in October. His return, along with Sammy Morris, give the Pats what they had at the start of the season -- a varied and deep running attack.
Mayo and Brady: Speaking of health, the best playmakers on either side of the ball are still working their way back from major injuries. Brady seems almost all the way back while Mayo continues to be a step or two slower than when he was the AFC defensive rookie of the year but hopefully he can be closer to top speed come playoff time.
Wes Welker: Simply put, he's the most reliable and effective WR in the game. He seems to have 10 or more catches every game. Moss is a threat to haul in a 70-yard touchdown on every play (at least on the plays he's putting in the effort) but it's Welker who makes this team go. Some may see having your slot receiver as your best offensive weapon as a weakness, but not me. Look at the guy. He's as tough as any fullback and as dangerous as any wideout. When he's making yards-after-the-catch the Pats are tough to stop.
Tuly Banta-Cain: A two year vacation in SF has not hurt his game. He leads the team in sacks and has become a presence on the edge with his speed and size. He's the best pass rusher the team has and -- no offense Tuly -- but that's the problem. He would be a good second or third pass rusher. The Pats need someone (Green? Mayo?) to step up and give Banta-Cain some help getting after the QB.
Special teams: This is a lot about Welker too. He's had several big returns in the past month and seems to be getting stronger. Add that to a solid punting game and Gostkowski having another great year and special teams looks like a positive heading into the playoffs where it plays an even bigger role.
The schedule: After traveling to Miami the Pats finish with games against Carolina, at Buffalo, Jacksonville, and at Houston. The last two will be difficult. The Jets have to play Indy and Cincy so, even though they outlasted the Bills last night, they are looking at 9-7 at best. Miami has to play the red-hot Titans and finish up against the Steelers. Two tough games. Barring a complete collapse, the schedule should allow the Pats to take the AFC East and host a first-round playoff game. Most likely against Denver. Now that would be fun.
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