Silver N Blue
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Moving from the rumors/visits/fan speculation/and signings FA brings we are caught in a dead zone as baseball begins and the draft is still several weeks away. Sure we have mock drafts interesting chats on who we should or shouldn't take but real news is hard to come by. Anyway I found this article this morning and the only reason I read it was just because it appeared to be interesting and I was curious enough to read why the Pats made all the right choices in FA. So while the article is giving to the ever dominate Patriots kudos I couldn't help see the same principles in place here. Granted we didn't make any trades but does this team have a Chandler Jones to trade? While I had my own reasons for Miller coming aboard as I sit back I do see the benefits as long as our team hits on the players they select in the draft. So if you take out all the "pats" references in this article and replace it with a "boys" reference you can clearly see the similarities. Just wanted to share something a tad different as we all wait out the dead zone.
The only bummer about the Patriots losing their first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft? No chances to include them in mock drafts.
As for the Patriots themselves, they are fine after being "punished" by the league for Deflategate. They're back to having 11 picks overall in April, too. After making all the right moves during free agency in March, they can do anything they want and know they'll be an improved AFC power.
The biggest move was trading pass rusher Chandler Jones to Arizona for a second second-round pick, saving them from trying to pay him what he would have wanted as a free agent next year. That's a classic forward-thinking New England decision.
This year was another example of the Patriots executing the Bill Belichick blueprint to a tee. Here's a breakdown of their busy offseason so far:
Replacing Chandler Jones with Chris Long. Jones, 26, had 12.5 sacks for the Patriots in his final season with them. Long is 31 and coming off two injury-riddled seasons with the Rams. But for only $2.375 million , it's a good bet he'll outplay his value. He fits their system well and being more of a rotational end will help take the pressure off as he works to stay on the field. Something even as low as six sacks would be great, and that's a reasonable expectation.
Putting 'Pot Roast' on the defensive line, too. Terrance Knighton disappointed the Commanders last year with questions about his conditioning after signing a one-year deal. The Patriots were comfortable paying him more than the $4 million he got in 2015 because they love having massive nose tackles to maintain their run-stopping edge, a la Vince Wilfork. All indications are that Knighton is back on track, and again, New England will benefit more from him.
Getting stronger at tight end. The Patriots did part with one pick, a fourth-rounder, to acquire one-time Pro Bowler Martellus Bennett from the Bears. They also brought in former Jaguar Clay Harbor, a versatile fullback-type. The Patriots moved on from Scott Chandler because he didn't offer much more than decent backup blocking and limited red zone pass-catching. Bennett is a huge upgrade and a truer receiving complement to Rob Gronkowski. Bennett and Harbor also allow them to be a lot more creative in their alignments in playing off Gronkowski.
Getting quicker at wide receiver. They had Julian Edelman, but not much else was reliable at the position in 2015. Former Bill Chris Hogan is a sneaky slot upgrade over injury-prone and now expendable Danny Amendola . Hogan also is capable of taking his quickness to outside routes. Former Texan Nate Washington will give them more as a downfield receiver outside than what Brandon LaFell could. When Tom Brady blows his conch , he has a solid overall group assembled, to the point the Patriots don't need to force a draft pick on the position.
Going for first-round disappointments. The Jones trade also landed them former Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper. In still another move, Belichick got his type of hybrid end/linebacker in former Bear Shea McClellin. Cooper never materialized as a strong run blocker in Arizona, but has the talent to earn another chance to start. McClellin was a man without a steady position in his first four seasons, but Belichick and Matt Patricia will put him in the best situations to rush the passer.
Knowing they can upgrade both backfields in the draft. LeGarrette Blount remains unsigned, and will stay that way. The Patriots made a mild move here in signing former Charger Donald Brown, but at best he's a cheap flyer to back up Dion Lewis as a passing-down back. They were smart to not go with Matt Forte and other big-name backs on the market, which still includes Arian Foster. After they tap into the draft's offensive tackle depth at No. 60 or No. 61, they're in great position to land a true early-down power back — something Blount wasn't — at either No. 91 or No. 96. With their seven picks after that, they have plenty to address the need for depth in the secondary.
The Patriots have a long-established identity on both sides of the ball, and with Brady around, they haven't needed much more flash to be Super Bowl contenders. Once again, going for substance over style to fill the roster should have Belichick shrugging with happiness.
The only bummer about the Patriots losing their first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft? No chances to include them in mock drafts.
As for the Patriots themselves, they are fine after being "punished" by the league for Deflategate. They're back to having 11 picks overall in April, too. After making all the right moves during free agency in March, they can do anything they want and know they'll be an improved AFC power.
The biggest move was trading pass rusher Chandler Jones to Arizona for a second second-round pick, saving them from trying to pay him what he would have wanted as a free agent next year. That's a classic forward-thinking New England decision.
This year was another example of the Patriots executing the Bill Belichick blueprint to a tee. Here's a breakdown of their busy offseason so far:
Replacing Chandler Jones with Chris Long. Jones, 26, had 12.5 sacks for the Patriots in his final season with them. Long is 31 and coming off two injury-riddled seasons with the Rams. But for only $2.375 million , it's a good bet he'll outplay his value. He fits their system well and being more of a rotational end will help take the pressure off as he works to stay on the field. Something even as low as six sacks would be great, and that's a reasonable expectation.
Putting 'Pot Roast' on the defensive line, too. Terrance Knighton disappointed the Commanders last year with questions about his conditioning after signing a one-year deal. The Patriots were comfortable paying him more than the $4 million he got in 2015 because they love having massive nose tackles to maintain their run-stopping edge, a la Vince Wilfork. All indications are that Knighton is back on track, and again, New England will benefit more from him.
Getting stronger at tight end. The Patriots did part with one pick, a fourth-rounder, to acquire one-time Pro Bowler Martellus Bennett from the Bears. They also brought in former Jaguar Clay Harbor, a versatile fullback-type. The Patriots moved on from Scott Chandler because he didn't offer much more than decent backup blocking and limited red zone pass-catching. Bennett is a huge upgrade and a truer receiving complement to Rob Gronkowski. Bennett and Harbor also allow them to be a lot more creative in their alignments in playing off Gronkowski.
Getting quicker at wide receiver. They had Julian Edelman, but not much else was reliable at the position in 2015. Former Bill Chris Hogan is a sneaky slot upgrade over injury-prone and now expendable Danny Amendola . Hogan also is capable of taking his quickness to outside routes. Former Texan Nate Washington will give them more as a downfield receiver outside than what Brandon LaFell could. When Tom Brady blows his conch , he has a solid overall group assembled, to the point the Patriots don't need to force a draft pick on the position.
Going for first-round disappointments. The Jones trade also landed them former Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper. In still another move, Belichick got his type of hybrid end/linebacker in former Bear Shea McClellin. Cooper never materialized as a strong run blocker in Arizona, but has the talent to earn another chance to start. McClellin was a man without a steady position in his first four seasons, but Belichick and Matt Patricia will put him in the best situations to rush the passer.
Knowing they can upgrade both backfields in the draft. LeGarrette Blount remains unsigned, and will stay that way. The Patriots made a mild move here in signing former Charger Donald Brown, but at best he's a cheap flyer to back up Dion Lewis as a passing-down back. They were smart to not go with Matt Forte and other big-name backs on the market, which still includes Arian Foster. After they tap into the draft's offensive tackle depth at No. 60 or No. 61, they're in great position to land a true early-down power back — something Blount wasn't — at either No. 91 or No. 96. With their seven picks after that, they have plenty to address the need for depth in the secondary.
The Patriots have a long-established identity on both sides of the ball, and with Brady around, they haven't needed much more flash to be Super Bowl contenders. Once again, going for substance over style to fill the roster should have Belichick shrugging with happiness.
