At times they reminded us this was the team that set records in 2007 and looked great at other times (mostly in 2nd halves of games) they reminded us of pre BB era.
What happened? Was it the exisdus of our leaders, the Brushis Vrabels of the world? Was it the carusel of coaches over the last 7 years? Was it we all thought this was a better team that they really were? Did the league catch up to BBs schemes? The answer ALL of the above IMO.
It does not end, this off season has as more questions than any other I can remember. Here's my attempt to break down the team and what needs to be addressed.
Lets start where it always should start the QB
- QB-We have the best in the business, he's contract is up after the 2011 season an extension needs to be negotiated this year. We carried one backup (rookie), I don't see the team adding another one.
2010 Roster- Tom Brady offcourse, Bryan Hoyer #2, Edelman emergency QB
- RB-We need help, Fred Taylor should be back, Faulk needs to be back, Morris probably gets hurt again, Laurance will fumble and BJGE is not a #1.
2010 roster Ryan Matthews (rookie 2nd rdn), Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, BJGE (fullback).
- WR-Moss is no longer that #1 guy, Welker should be back but when and at what capacity, Edelman showed improvement but he's not Welker (yet), Aiken is not the answer and Tate is a wildcard which I'm not willing to put any money on.
- TE-The team will be left with one TE, Baker, Watson won't be back. That leaves the team needing help, Baker can block but has not shown to be the answer for a catching TE if the team decides to use that option more often. A middle of the pack FA I think is likely as well as a late rounds pick.
OL-
- LT, Light is on his last year of his contract and that year is worth over 4 mil, Vollmer showed he's the LT of the future. Is that future now? I don't think Light can play LT for the team next year based on one thing "the SCHEDULE" it is brutal and full of top teams with good pass rushers. Release Light, Vollmer at LT so what's next for the right side.
- RT, not really someone on the roster to take it over, Katzur is not the answer here. I believe we need younger here so I am thinking we pick one up in the second round and use Katzur as backup. A FA like Colon (steelers) is an option but at a high cost.
- LG, simple sign Mankins and use 2009 picks as backup
- RG, Neal should retire and that might be the case if not he's not back with team anyways. At RG I like Rich Ohrnberger he fits the mold, athlectic guard that can pull. He is certainly an improvement over Neal.
- C, I move Connolly to center, Koppen has had problems with bigger DT/NTs and with more Ds moving to 34 we need someone to take on those big guys and move them to create running lanes. Koppen moves to a backup role
2010 Roster LT Vollmer, LG Mankins, C Connolly, RG Ohrnberger, RT Tony Washington (rookie 2nd rnd)
Secondary
- CB-Bodden has to be resigned, Butler showed he has upside and should step into #2, Wilhite could improve he's not beat he just doesn't know what to do when the ball is getting there. Wheatley is taking up a spot cut him, there are rummors springs was beginning to be a cancer in the locker room get him out of there. They were improved in 2009 without a pass rush, if this unit can get some help with a pass rush they should improve.
2010 Roster-#1 Bodden, #2 Butler, #3 FA Roderick Hood, #4 Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (rookie), #5 Wilhite,
- SS-no new additions Merriweather starts but i see Chung taking over early in 2010
- FS-Sanders is the starter with a FA as backup, McGowan needs to be released, he does not act "the Patriot way"
2010 Roster-SS Merriweather, Chung in rotation, FS Sanders, Kam Chancellor (rookie 4th rnd)
- MLB-Mayo is solid, had a knee injury which hurt his productivity but he's the starter for years to come. Guyton is not a starter, he was pushed around and teams ran at him. McKenzie I don't expect to be an impact player next year but could develop into one but hard to say by just what he did in college. We need to find a FA to come in and bring some spark and toughness to the LBs. Guyton is released to make room for other ML
2010 Roster-Mayo, FA Karlos Dansby, backup McKenzie, Josh Hull (rookie 6th rnd)
- OLB-weak side- AD is gone, he needs to be traded or needs to be released but he cannot be part of the 2010 roster nobody on current roster to take over that side. strong side-Tully was a nice pickup but he's not a three down LB and he also doesn't scare anyone as a pass rusher and once again nobody on the roster to take over that side. We need playmakers, pass rushers with speed but also ones who are not pushed around against the run. We know about Crabel and other backups we have but here's where I see a greater oportunity for this team to improve so expect my roster to have some big moves.
2010 Roster-Weak Side-FA Rashad Jeanty, Shawn Crable, Eric Alexander, Danny Batten (rookie 7th rnd) Strong Side Ricky Sapp (rookie 2nd rnd), TBC, Derrick Burgess, Bruce Davis
- DT-VW is a must, he has to be signed which most likely will not be the case and he is going to be franshiced. If he is it would get ugly, he has said he does not want to be franshiced. I believe he's been the best player on that D, pay the man. Ron Brace did not show much but has potential to be solid, a very nice surpriced was 6th round pick Myron Pryor who showed great upside and the always solid Mike Wright.
- DE-These guys were pushed around, Seymour was missed more than probably expected. New blood is needed here, mean streak guys who are solid against the run. Green probably will not be back, and Warren IMO is more of a sub.
2010 Roster-weak side-FA Tank Johnson, Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Adrian Grady strong side-Jared Odrick (rookie 2nd rnd), Ty Warren, Mike Wright, Darry Richard
