New England Patriots Discussion

[Matthew Jones]

New Potential Patriots article is up on NEPatriotsDraft:

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2012/...tml#more-20419

[Razor]

Grest write-up, Matt. I love Wilson and I'm hoping we'll have a shot at drafting him. However, I think he might be long gone when the Patriots are making their first selection. I think he's a top 15 pick at this point. I like that you noticed that he really hasn't got any experience playing against press coverage. Do you think he'll see any press coverage this year?

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by Razor

Grest write-up, Matt. I love Wilson and I'm hoping we'll have a shot at drafting him. However, I think he might be long gone when the Patriots are making their first selection. I think he's a top 15 pick at this point. I like that you noticed that he really hasn't got any experience playing against press coverage. Do you think he'll see any press coverage this year?

Thanks man! I'm not sure if Wilson will see a lot of press in college, in part because press coverage isn't taught very much at the college level and also because Wilson's ability to challenge secondaries downfield may prevent them from being very aggressive at the line of scrimmage.

[descendency]

The Patriots should swoop in and sign LB Bryan Thomas before the Jets have an opportunity on Monday since we have an empty roster spot with a decent amount of need at LB given Fletcher's injury as well as Rivera's and Carpenter's releases.

Plus, anything to piss off the Jets.

[Matthew Jones]

Originally Posted by descendency

The Patriots should swoop in and sign LB Bryan Thomas before the Jets have an opportunity on Monday since we have an empty roster spot with a decent amount of need at LB given Fletcher's injury as well as Rivera's and Carpenter's releases.

Plus, anything to piss off the Jets.

Niko Koutouvides took Rivera's spot. Bryan Thomas is also more of 3-4 OLB who hasn't really played in two years.

[Matthew Jones]

Patriots/Ravens preview:

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2012/...eek-three.html

[Matthew Jones]

Excluding the practice squad, here's who New England has signed through at least next season:

QB: Brady - Mallett

RB: Ridley - Vereen - Bolden (ERFA) - Demps

FB: Larsen

WR: Lloyd - Slater

TE: Gronkowski - Hernandez - Fells - Ballard (ERFA) - Herman

OT: Solder - Cannon - Zusevics

OG: Mankins - Connolly

C: Wendell

DT: Wilfork - Love - Deaderick - Forston

DE: Jones - Ninkovich - Cunningham - Francis - Bequette

OB: Mayo - Hightower

IB: Spikes - Fletcher (RFA)

CB: McCourty - Dowling - Moore (ERFA) - Dennard

FS: Gregory - Wilson

SS: Ebner

K: Gostkowski

P: Mesko

LS: Aiken

Free agents:

RB Danny Woodhead

FB Tony Fiammetta

WR Deion Branch

WR Julian Edelman

WR Wes Welker

TE Michael Hoomananwaui

TE Visanthe Shiancoe

TE Kellen Winslow

OT Sebastian Vollmer

OG Nick McDonald

OG Jamey Richard

OG Donald Thomas

OG Brian Waters

DT Ron Brace

DT Myron Pryor

DE Trevor Scott

LB Niko Koutouvides

LB Tracy White

CB Will Allen

CB Kyle Arrington

CB Marquice Cole

SS Josh Barrett

SS Patrick Chung

[Matthew Jones]

How about this for free agency:

Returning:

RB Brandon Bolden (ERFA), WR Julian Edelman, WR Greg Salas, TE Jake Ballard (ERFA), OG Donald Thomas, OB Jeff Tarpinian, IB Dane Fletcher (RFA), IB Niko Koutouvides, CB Kyle Arrington, CB Sterling Moore (ERFA), SS Patrick Chung.

Departing:

RB Danny Woodhead, FB Tony Fiammetta, WR Deion Branch, WR Wes Welker, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, TE Kellen Winslow, OT Sebastian Vollmer, OG Jamey Richard, OG Brian Waters, C Nick McDonald, DT Ron Brace, DT Myron Pryor, DE Trevor Scott, LB Tracy White, CB Will Allen, CB Marquice Cole, SS Josh Barrett

[Matthew Jones]

Based on CBS Sports' prospect round projections, this draft would leave the Patriots with four roster spots if no impending free agents were re-signed:

1. OL Barrett Jones, Alabama
2. WR Marquess Wilson, Washington St.*
3. WR Tavon Austin, West Virginia
4. WR Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas
7. WR Tavarres King, Georgia

Drafting four wide receivers would be surprising, but the values were too good to pass up. Lloyd - Wilson - Austin - Hamilton - King - Slater would be an exciting group.

[Nalej]

Great write up on the preview and then we're looking solid next year. OL, S and WR and seem to be our weakest spots.

[AntoinCD]

I have some pretty serious concerns over the offensive line and at WR for next year. Other than that I think we have a very good, young team here.

As for the draft Matthew, I would love both Austin and Hamilton in NE, not sure about Wilson though.

Barrett Jones seems like an ideal Pats lineman too

[descendency]

Vollmer and Brace are the only two I could see returning that you have leaving and I understand why both are on the outside. The rest seem good. Pat Chung needs to show he isn't made of glass or the Patriots might want to invest into Robert Lester (or someone similar).

I wonder how NE will approach revamping their WR core. It clearly will need a clean slate wipe (save Lloyd, maybe...) after this season.

I also think Barrett Jones is being seriously underrated by too many people. I see him as more of a top 20 talent. Someone will draft him high as a center. I doubt he goes top 20 as a guard. He might go top 20 as a RT. If someone thinks he can start at LT (I don't), he definitely goes top 20. But he's the kind of guy you can plug into any spot on the line (save LT) and feel good about what he will give you.

[descendency]

Originally Posted by AntoinCD

Barrett Jones seems like an ideal Pats lineman too

I could see BB trying to trade up and get a guy like him, especially if Vollmer is left to walk.

[AntoinCD]

Assuming that Torrey Smith does play tonight after the tragic news of his brother dying this morning, I think one thing the Pats defense needs to be wary of his Flacco using play action early and going deep.

He did it on the first play against Cincinnati. We really need the safeties to be disciplined and reading their keys against this offense. I still don't trust Flacco to lead a team methodically down the field, but he can hurt us with big plays.

[Jvig43]

I am pretty worried about this game.

Either way I think we'll learn alot about this team tonight, despite it only being week 3. We need to bounce back hard after that loss.

[Jvig43]

Also after seeing the Eagles getting trampled by the Cards, I'm starting to feel a little less bad about that loss. Fitz is ripping their vaunted secondary apart and he had what, one catch for four yards against us?

[AntoinCD]

So, over/under on weeks into the season before Shane Vereen is cut?

6.5

Im going under

[Jvig43]

Alright started off on a strong note but that PI call on Mayo to stop us from getting another three and out hurt us, as that led to two sustained drives. If the Pats offense can continue to protect Brady and stop trying to get cute we'll have more success. Defensively, we have to stop the run, the coverage has been relatively tight tonight but we need to stop the run.

[FlyingElvis]

I realize keeping Brady upright is important. However, a game plan that takes our best offensive weapon out of pass routes on all but 6 plays is pretty ******* dumb.

Especially on those goal line plays. Let Gronk release right up the middle for a quick hit and run over the safety.

[cmarq83]

I'm really upset about the performance of the front 7 tonight. Wilfork was dominated by Yanda, and they got no pressure at all. Yes, the officials sucked, but the team needed to get it together defensively. McCourty sucks, he's really terrible. 2 dropped interceptions, and got beat deep multiple times. God this is awful.

[Jvig43]

Eh I am not upset with McCourty, coverage for the most part was fine, FLacco had all day to throw it.

Now the play calling and the woodhead plays were what pissed me off the most.

[cmarq83]

Originally Posted by Jvig43

Eh I am not upset with McCourty, coverage for the most part was fine, FLacco had all day to throw it.

Now the play calling and the woodhead plays were what pissed me off the most.

He has to make that 2nd interception, has to. He played well for awhile, but he folded like a lawn chair in the 2nd half.

Still Woodhead's new found emphasis in our offense is killing us. We're so productive in every other area besides when we give him touches. Throw it to freaking Gronk. Good things happen, I don't know why this is so hard.

[Nalej]

Don't know what to say... That game was brutal to watch.
I will say that McCourty played well but his two biggest mistakes were game changers though. (dropped INT, PI)

[cmarq83]

There is a fundamental flaw with this team in terms of finishing games out. We've found every way to lose for the most part recently, and the only games we win at the are when other teams **** the bed. Brady failing to read those all out blitzes, McCourty dropping interceptions, Danny F****** Woodhead.

It's a big problem which has killed the Pats over their last 4 games.

[descendency]

https://twitter.com/BrandonSpikes55/...93190739279872

Originally Posted by @BrandonSpikes55

Can someone please tell these ******* zebras foot locker called and they’re needed Back at work !!!! #BreakingPoint