Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

[Jason A]

The schedule is being released tomorrow, followed by the first round of the draft Thursday night. Needs appear to be plentiful. Here's what they have going in:

Rd 1, Pick 22 (22)
Rd 2, Pick 12 (44)
Rd 2, Pick 15 (47)
Rd 2, Pick 21 (53)
Rd 4, Pick 21 (119)
Rd 6, Pick 21 (190)
Rd 6, Pick 36 (205*)
Rd 7, Pick 22 (229)
Rd 7, Pick 24 (231)
Rd 7, Pick 40 (247*)
Rd 7, Pick 41 (248*)
Rd 7, Pick 43 (250*)
*Compensatory picks can't be traded

Obviously it would be great to have an actual pass rush, so that seems to be the key area most fans/media have focused on this offseason. With four of the first 53 picks but zero picks among the next 65, I would assume they'll trade down with one of those -- unless they can somehow move up by packaging later picks (that might be tough to do given what they have, so if they go this route it would probably be with 2011 choices).

Also, don't forget NE owns the Raiders' 2011 first-rounder.

Looking at last year's draft, even though it's just one year out and still too early to tell, I'm confident it's their best draft since 2005 (unless you include Moss/Welker in the 2007 haul). But they really need another.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

dynasty!?!!?

that ship has sailed long ago....

 

[Priceless]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

What does the Patriots offseason have to do with Miami of Oxford?

 

[Jason A]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

A couple of interesting Jets notes from Mike Lombardi:

1. The Jets recently reworked Santonio Holmes’ contract to lower his base salary, so the amount of money that’s deducted for his upcoming suspension will be less. When Holmes was traded, most of his money due in 2010 was in the form of his base salary, but since he became a Jet, the team shifted the money into roster bonus, reporting bonus and signing bonus so Holmes would pay as little as possible for his fine. This clearly cannot make the NFL league office happy and goes against the spirit of the suspension.

2. Speaking of the Jets, they are actively shopping guard Alan Faneca, defensive end Shaun Ellis and linebacker Bryan Thomas and will probably waive these players after the draft. You might be surprised to read Faneca’s name, but he’s the first to go after the draft.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/DMN-Our-first-look-at-the-NFL-schedule.html

 

[Jason A]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

Tom Curran:

Source confirms ex-Ram and Jaguar WR Torry Holt will be signing with the Patriots.

 

[gusforhobey89]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

Schedule:
Week 1 - vs. CIN
Week 2 - @ NYJ
Week 3 - vs. BUF
Week 4 - @ MIA (Monday)
Week 5 - Bye
Week 6 - vs. BAL
Week 7 - @ SD
Week 8 - vs. MIN
Week 9 - @ CLE
Week 10 - @ PIT
Week 11 - vs. IND
Week 12 - @ DET (Thursday)
Week 13 - vs. NYJ (Monday)
Week 14 - @ CHI
Week 15 - vs. GB
Week 16 - @ BUF
Week 17 - vs. MIA

 

[Jason A]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

145 days away.

Week 1: Cincinnati
Week 2: at New York Jets
Week 3: Buffalo
Week 4: at Miami (Monday night)
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Baltimore
Week 7: at San Diego
Week 8: Minnesota
Week 9: at Cleveland
Week 10: at Pittsburgh (Sunday night)
Week 11: Indianapolis
Week 12: at Lions (Thanksgiving)
Week 13: New York Jets (Monday night)
Week 14: at Chicago
Week 15: Green Bay (Sunday night)
Week 16: at Buffalo
Week 17: Miami

EDIT: You beat me to the punch.

 

[bottomdweller]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

I might be overly optimistic, but I see 11-5 out of there... 4-2 in the division, 7-3 out of it.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

I might be overly optimistic, but I see 11-5 out of there... 4-2 in the division, 7-3 out of it.

really?

i see them losing at nyj wk2 and home vs indy. that's it. anything else they lose it's because they blew it.

not a tough schedule.

SD on the road is no longer tough. MIA will not be that good.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

really?

i see them losing at nyj wk2 and home vs indy. that's it. anything else they lose it's because they blew it.

not a tough schedule.

SD on the road is no longer tough. MIA will not be that good.

With the Patriots of 5 years ago, I'd agree. With last year's team, I'm thinking 8-8.

And the Pats always have trouble with Miami.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

With the Patriots of 5 years ago, I'd agree. With last year's team, I'm thinking 8-8.

And the Pats always have trouble with Miami.

there are no, zero, tough road games out of division. pit will be horrible with the fiasco there. cleve?!?! det??!! chi?!?!?! sd (already brought up).

home games they should take care of business. indy will win that as it'll be their SB (since they can't win IT). minny and gb would be tough, but both are at home. cincy blows. and balt defense is too old now-tommy will light them up.

 

[Bigus Paulus]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

I'm surprised that they are getting another Thanksgiving game with Detroit so soon. Well, I won't complain seeing the Pats play on turkey day.

 

[pirate]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

I might be overly optimistic, but I see 11-5 out of there... 4-2 in the division, 7-3 out of it.

I got 4 and then throw in one upset to also get 11-5, still wins the division though

 

[Jason A]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

Mookie, this team just isn't that good anymore. I wish they were. Their talent isn't exceptional and the coaching/preparation has fallen off.

But we'll see what they come up with Thursday and Friday. They could hit the jackpot and then it's a different story. It's a team game and adding a couple of top players could make everyone else around them look a little better.

 

[NMU8405]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

With the Patriots of 5 years ago, I'd agree. With last year's team, I'm thinking 8-8.

And the Pats always have trouble with Miami.

Miami...in October....I'll put it down as a loss. Brady always struggles in the early season games down there.

Miami in January (in a blizzard ) I'll put that down as a W.

 

[Double Eagle]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

I'm surprised that they are getting another Thanksgiving game with Detroit so soon. Well, I won't complain seeing the Pats play on turkey day.

The NFL needs to have one AFC team involved to put the game on CBS. The Lions and Cowboys alternate years playing an AFC opponent, with the Lions taking the even numbered years. This year, the only two AFC teams the Lions are playing at home are the Jets and Patriots. So it was a 50-50 chance of the Patriots playing.

Looking ahead, unless expansion changes the schedule rotation:
1) Jets or Pats will be playing in Dallas in 2015 and Detroit in 2018.
2) Interesting sidenote: With the current rotation, the AFC North will never be playing Dallas or Detroit on Thanksgiving.

 

[neshl05]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

Mookie, this team just isn't that good anymore. I wish they were. Their talent isn't exceptional and the coaching/preparation has fallen off.

But we'll see what they come up with Thursday and Friday. They could hit the jackpot and then it's a different story. It's a team game and adding a couple of top players could make everyone else around them look a little better.

100% correct. They don't have that much talent... They have lost a ton of coaches-staff the last few years. This team is going down unless they knock it out of the park the next couple years with picks.. If they miss this year, the pats will be done winning SB under Brady/Bill. They might be done anyway.

 

[bottomdweller]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

I have them splitting against the Jets and Miami. For some reason, playing @ Miami is never a good thing.

The SD game will be tough, especially if the Pats don't improve the secondary and their pass rush. Depending on the QB, the Vikings game will be tough. AP is a helluva RB and they got some decent WRs now. Indy is always a tough game, but I do think this Pats team will be better talent wise than last year's (I don't know why, but I just got a feeling).

Now for the draft. I want defense with 2 of the first 4 picks (unless they decide to trade one for a 1st next year - crazy). Need an OLB and a DE. They just don't have the depth on the roster, and there are a bunch of good ones in this draft. Alot of people are high on Kindle, and he seems to be a legit rusher. For the end, if Everson Griffin from USC would be good value in the 2nd round. The only two players I would want to take in the 1st round over a Kindle or even the kid from Penn St. (who's name is escaping me at the moment) would be Dez Bryant (would need a Wilfork like drop) or Gresham from Oklahoma. TE is a need, and I don't think you can pass up on the next Antonio Gates/Tony Gonzalez.

 

[bottomdweller]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

Big Ben gone for 6 games. I see him getting traded to Oakland.

 

[Jason A]

Re: Patriots' Offseason: Last Days of the Dynasty?

Based on where they are now (at 22), at this point my favorite pick is S Earl Thomas of Texas. Gosselin has him going to NE, but many mocks now have him moving up higher.

They have enough needs that position isn't a concern. I just hope they find someone who can play. IMO, they need at least two immediate starters from their four picks in the top 53.