http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...-leaves-patriots-searching-for-olb/#more-2441 Interesting, it appears to me that giving away Vrabel and Cassel and not drafting a OLB/pass rusher is coming back to haunt the pats. "Normally" we are on the losing end of these sorts of transactions..
The only guy they have to fillin at OLB who has some upside is Brian Crable, and he is coming back from a new injury, and they lost McKenzie their #3 pick this year. Could be the Patriots are beginning to show some cracks?
Man, I'm gonna be the last guy to proclaim that the Pats are in any type of "lurch" or distress. These dudes went 11-5 with MATT FREAKING CASSELL at QB!!!!!! A dude who's last game starting was in high-school. If they can go 11-5 with Cassel, they can surely best that record with Tully Banta-Cain at OLB. I've wrongly counted out the Patriots one too many times. I will continue to assume they will dominate every year until Bellichek is dead and gone. I mean that out of respect, cause I damn sure hate the Pats.
What! The Patriots made a mistake? How could that be? Belechek must have a secret plan because we all know he and the Patriots don't make mistakes. The media and the NFL will find someway to make this look like a brilliant move.
Shawn Crable is a candidate to start but I'd say that Pierre Woods would probably start. While he doesn't have great career statistics, he's a pretty good player and I could be wrong here but I believe that they placed a second round tender tag on him only a year ago when he was a FA. They'll be fine IMO. The injury of Tyrone McKenzie is difficult in my opinion because he's versatile and he's a good player. I think he's a ILB though.
I'm not as certain (and thanks for the Shawn not Brian Crable), Pierre Woods is a okay subsittute, but he doesn't offer a ton of passrushing upside.
An article in the Boston Herald (I think?) suggested the Pats chose not to draft a DE/OLB in a attempt to woo Taylor. This is completely speculative of course, but it's unlike BB to leave himself on an island like this. The article went on to say the Pats are hoping for large contributions from Shawn Crable, who was drafted last year but missed the entire season with a shin injury and Tully Banta-Cain, a re-tread who the Pats resigned after he sucked it up in San Francisco.
Maybe they could fill that void next year in the draft with one of the billion 2nd round picks they have But they wont be hurt by missing one player. They have a great offense.
Right before the 2007 draft, the Patriots had NOBODY at WR. On March 5, they traded a 2nd rounder for Wes Welker. A few days later, they signed Donte Stallworth. On April 30, 2007, they traded a 4th rounder for Randy Moss. And then they went 18-1. I'm telling y'all, Bellichek will get it done. I hate him.
I will never count the pats out with Belicheck there. I used to say belly and brady, but last year changed that. They were supposed to falter after weiss left. then crennel. Then brady etc.
Only thing that would make this even sweeter was if Tom Brady's knee wasn't ready this season... Even though Im sure Belicheat would find a way to bring in Brooks Bollinger and make him a MVP and win a Super Bowl...
The thing of it is, passrushers always command a premium, the Vikes gave up a #1 for Jared Allen. I like the fact that we made moves to try and deal with Patsies offense, we added 2 pass rushers and used a 1 and a 3 on Cb's and signed G Wilson.
I wonder how BB will fare without his scouting/talent evaluating genius in Scott Pioli who left to work for the KC Chiefs
Actually they did/have faltered since then. It's been that long since they won a Super Bowl. While they were been good through the subsequent seasons, one thing that has had a significant impact on their prolonged dominance is the shape the rest of the division was in for all those years. Last year was the first in a long time where the Pats have actually faced real competition within our division and they missed the playoffs.
Good point, the rest of us have been fighting over the basement for damn near 10 years, it's no wonder they've done so well.
I don't. I'm so sick of hearing about them and how good their going to be this year with whats his face back.
Some one with intelligence has to tell them whats what. They sure can't figure it out on their own. So, the Dolphin fans have to keep them straight.
To tell the truth, I don't remember. (they say memory is the first thing to go) Maybe some of the guys can tell you.
Make no mistake about it, we have to go through the Pats again to win the division. The offseason is young they will fill their holes and be right there down to the end again.
Anyone who is counting the Patriots out or who thinks that they won't look to fill that need and do it successfully, is kidding themselves. Taylor at this point is a situational pass rusher, it seems as if some folks here think we kept them from picking up the Jason Taylor of a few years ago. The Pats will fill the need, we'll all complain and worry about how it will help them and impact us, then the season will start. That's how it has been every year, and until something changes, that's how it will always be. Like it or not, the Pats do a great job of finding talent.
Not really, Patsies fans are pretty....for the lack of a better term..."smug"...and tend to keep to themselves.
I couldn't disagree more. They went 18-1 in 2007. Yes, they lost the Super Bowl, but sometimes the better team loses. I believe the 2007 Pats was the best Pats team ever. Yeah, they lost the Super Bowl cause some dude caught the football off his freaking helmet! That don't mean the 2007 Pats were not one of the most dominant team in recent history. Surely, you remember Randy Moss raping our DBs in that first game. I do. They went 11-5 without Tom Brady in 2008. Don't count out the Pats. That's a rookie mistake.
I give Belichick his due, but I won't give him more than that. Without Tom Brady as his starting QB, Belichick has missed the playoffs more times than he has made it. Thats just a fact. Anyway...
I'm not counting them out. I'm also not conceding the division to them. Tom Brady is coming back from a serious knee injury. He might not be back to his 2007 form. Also they have serious concerns about their LB corps. The patriots have weaknesses. And we got better at OL, WR, LB, Secondary, Special Teams. We have the Ronnie and Ricky show running behind an improved line. We have Chad Pennington returning with new weapons. I'm not counting the Patriots out but they really should not be counting us out either. Patriots fans are already planning their superbowl celebration. I think we have the tools to end their party early.