PatsPropaganda

An Independent Patriots Blog

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Not much to remember from this one but here’s a few nice plays. Too few too late, but nothing can hurt the memory of the 2013 Patriots in my mind.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/not-much-to-remember-from-this-one-but-heres-a/

20 random thoughts about the Patriots’ 2014 offseason

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Put together my offseason depth chart and from there determined what the needs are going to be. From that comes these 20 questions that are kicking around in my mind.

  1. Will another team jump at Edelman or does the fact that he played in the Patriots’ system scare some teams off? As James Christensen pointed out, Houston would make a lot of sense. Edelman between Johnson and Hopkins would make a tough receiving corps. Pats have Amendola and TJ Moe if they have to replace Edelman. Not ideal, but not dead in the water either.
  2. What will become of the Tampa Two – Talib & Blount. They’ve been headline players this season, will they want to stick around? Likely Blount is the easier to re-sign and Talib’s injuries had to drop his price a bit.
  3. There’s some depth built up at defensive tackle with Vellano, Siliga and Chris Jones getting a good amount of experience this season. Add them to Wilfork/Kelly/Armstead and that’s not a bad group, but I still think they’d go after a top defensive tackle in the draft if one fell.
  4. What can we count on Wilfork, Tommy Kelly and Gronk for? Both are coming off major surgeries. So hard to plan the offseason with major players doing major rehab.
  5. Now might be a good time to draft another quarterback to start grooming, especially if you’re not sold on Mallett like I am not sold on him. But do they go with a pocket passer like Brady/Mallet? Or take a look at more of an athlete to develop under Brady’s final years?
  6. How much of  a jump can Amendola make in Year Two with the Pats? Enough to make Edelman expendable? They didn’t pay Amendola that much dough to back up Edelman, but he’s more expensive to cut this year that to keep. In a do over the Pats would likely just give Edelman the Amendola deal, but it’s too late for that now. But it’s not crazy to think he’ll progress with healthy (however temporary) and more time with Brady. 
  7. Could Logan Ryan take over for Talib? It would likely put the Pats back into a zone team, and that is a step back as I see it.
  8. Has Wendell shown enough to merit a long-term commitment this offseason? Or do they try to upgrade him? His pass protection deficiencies were clear for a second year in a row. 
  9. What about Connolly? He’s slated to make $4 million this year in the final year of his contract. I think you restructure him and keep him with the expectation to make him the interior backup. If he has to start at center or guard so be it. 
  10. Are Dobson/Thompkins answers at the X-receiver spot? Or could they take some more shots on other potential guys? Not saying a high-priced free agent or high-round pick. Maybe Mark Harrison gets in the mix there. The rookies need to make a jump for this offense to take strides.
  11. What about the F-TE spot? They never had a Hernandez replacement this season, they should target a move tight end this offseason. Though technically I think this is more of a luxury position and to think you need a multi-tool like Hernandez in this role is a little unrealistic. If they can find a move tight end, great. If not, they can manage.
  12. A lot of good pieces in place on defense. They could do nothing outside of figuring out the middle linebacker spot and they’d be okay. I do think Hightower goes to MLB now. Him, Mayo and Collins are an athletic group that should really shine in 2014.
  13. Can Michael Buchanan take over the backup defensive end/designated pass rusher role he held early in the season but lost to Andre Carter later? He needs to make a jump.
  14. Is it even worth wondering about Jake Bequette anymore?
  15. If the Pats can’t keep Blount how do they look for a lead back over Ridley? Mid-round draft pick sounds about right. But I think they’ll keep Blount.
  16. Anyone else wondering what happened to Shane Vereen down the stretch? Were our expectations too high? Or were teams focusing on him? He and Amendola didn’t play like we needed them to for a Super Bowl run.
  17. Pats should look at extending McCourty and Solder this offseason. Maybe even Gostkowski too.
  18. Wilfork’s due to make $11.6 million this season. If he’s not his same old self all options will be on the table (unfortunately).
  19. Same thing with Tommy Kelly ($3 million).
  20. It will be a tough offseason to plan and project. A lot of guys coming back from injuries and a lot of interesting internal free agents. Should be fascinating to see how BB attacks it.

how does the presence of Vellano, Jones, and Siliga change Patriots needs at DT assuming Armstead also becomes a contributor?

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I think so, primarily Chris Jones and Siliga, who are different tackle types and good compliments to Wilfork/Kelly/Armstead, if they’re all able to return to form.

That’s a big “if’ though so it’s hard to really project. But if they do all come back healthy, I don’t think defensive tackle is the huge need a lot think it will be.

If a defensive tackle they love falls to them they should definitely take him, but the Pats built up some good young depth and experience after all the injuries this year and Jones/Siliga and somewhat Vellano showed a lot of promise.

If 100%, I’d roll into the 2014 season with Wilfork/Kelly/Siliga/Armstead/Jones and be excited about it. Still, a game-changer inside is always on the need list.

With talib showing that he is a tad bit injury prone, what do you think belichick will do

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I think the injuries should ensure the Pats can get him at a reasonable price. Even if it’s at the high end of reasonable I think it’s worth it. For two years we’ve seen how different the secondary is without Talib. He’s a solid player by himself, but it’s the trickle-down effect of having him be able to man-up any wide receiver that is most important.

Once he left the game against the Broncos the Pats were dead in the water. They went to zone coverage and were shredded as they usually are.

Corners like Talib are either high-round picks or expensive free agents. They’re hard to find and neither method matches up with the Pats’ spending or draft position. The Pats need to keep him instead of starting all over trying to find an #1 cover corner.

Think they let Wendell go, move Connolly to center and cannon to right guard next to a returning vollmer

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I think you bring back Connolly on a new backup-money contract and make him the swing guy. I’d even take Wendell back on a team-friendly option-filled deal as well. But I think at least one of them has to be upgraded. This is a passing league and they are limited in pass protection. 

Wendell is solid enough I’d like to keep him around, and Connolly is a good swing guy for inside, but if both are starting again in 2014 I won’t feel great about it.