2010 Patriots Off Season Thread.

[mtbykr]

The Lions released Dre Bly. That's a veteran guy that has been pretty good in the past. Not sure why Detroit released him but he may be worth taking a flier on.

 

Bly seems real slow. If the pats take a flier on anyone like that I wouldn't mind seeing them pick up Nathan Vasher.

[mtbykr]

Patriots have not reached out to Jarvis Green at this point. I don't see it happening now, if at all.

 

 

--Per Reiss

[mtbykr]

Bruschi said it best:

 

Tedy: In my opinion, this preseason couldn't have gone any worse for the New England Patriots. It started off on the wrong foot with Logan Mankins not reporting to camp and he is still AWOL. The Nick Kaczur experiment at left guard failed miserably with a severe back injury. You lose cornerback Leigh Bodden as he's put on injured reserve. Defensive end Ty Warren is put on IR. That's three legitimate starters and then you make it four with Mankins. One of the main goals in the preseason is to stay healthy and keep your team intact going into the season opener. The Patriots don't have that now.

[TheKilo]

A look atthe Pats from an outsider perspective:

 

Truth be told, I see the ceiling for this team to be ten wins. Their offense is legitimate and every time you have #12 in the backfield playing for you you're going to have a chance, but it just seems there are too many holes to plug for this team to be a legitimate contender. Their receiving corps are among the best in the league and they'll get enough production out of their RBs, but they're razor thin at the OL position. With this defense, Brady is going to be throwing the ball A LOT and I'd be worried about him taking some shots from opposing defenses.

 

There still is not pass rush to speak of and while Spikes/Mayo have the makings of a solid ILB corps, the fact that Tully Banta Cain is their best pass rusher has to be worrisome. The secondary has talent but they're very young with the injury to Bodden and will be exposed due to the lack of QB pressure.

 

Also, their schedule is absolutely brutal. I think talent ways they're a 10 win team, but injuries, flaws, and the schedule will prove damning. My brain says 8-8 but Brady will steal one...I'll go 9-7, which still might be good enough in that division.

[jacksonianmarch]

NE didnt upgrade as much as NYJ and MIA did in the division and their preseason was abysmal. I agree, I think they end up 8-8 or 9-7. The bloom might be off the rose in Bellichek-ville. The local media pundits are really starting to lay it on thick about how the Pats are cheap.

[mtbykr]

This season is a head scratcher. I could easily see them go .500, or they could win 11 or 12 if their D gels. However that's very unlikely given their age and the fact that there are still gaps in talent and injuries. I don't think we will really know what this team is until the 2nd half of the season.

 

The pats aren't cheap, they just put a value on a player and don't go above that. They prefer to spread the money out to create depth. The Jets have spent like drunken sailors on thier #1's.....and have a ton of talent. However once you get past the 1's their 2's and 3's are terrible. If the Jets sustain a couple key injuries their season will circle the drain real quick. The pats won't pay top dollar, (Brady and Wilfork being the exception) but they will spread the money around so they have depth.

 

If you could point the finger at one area of weakness it's the draft 2006 and beyond. When the pats have stayed put and drafted high they generally do pretty good (Seymore, Mayo, Mankins, ect....) however when they don't they trade down to get multiple picks. This has typically been where they have bitten the dust.......quantity over quality hasn't worked recently.

[SCM33]

Hopefully the Pats discussion tomorrow is focused on talkpats.com rather than here.