new england patriots

The Patriots pass rush racked up 37 sacks this season, placing them in the middle of the pack in that category. Of course, when you go a bit deeper, seven of those 37 sacks were in the regular season finale and the team had one or no sacks in four games this season. The lack of a consistent pass rush played a role in the Patriots ranking 29th against the pass in 2012.

Hard to argue this isn’t a recurring problem that needs to be rectified. Just having Chandler Jones healthy and adding some depth and penetrators along the defensive line will help. Look for Dont’a Hightower to continue to ascend with his pass rush skills as well.

Interesting stuff from Bedard on his offseason plan and surely some stuff that will a lot of Patriots fans won’t agree with. I’ve already said that I think Welker is most likely to walk, as unfortunate as that is.

I’m not as confident as he seems in replacing Vollmer, and I’d lean toward making a bigger push to re-signing him, though right tackle is not the hardest position in the world to fill. The decision to let Brandon Lloyd go as well would be ballsy to say the least, but as I’ve said I’m all for some offensive evolution this offseason.

If I’m the Patriots, I let Welker walk, I don’t pay Brandon Lloyd’s $3 million option (making him a free agent), and I use that money to find the best X receiver on the market to threaten defenses down the left sideline. Lloyd was close, but not quite the right guy. He could also come in the draft if the Patriots can identify, for the first time since Deion Branch and David Givens in 2002, a real talent.

Great list, all fantastic memorable games.

Send me your thoughts on the offseason plan… free agency, draft, scheme changes… what else do you have to do?