This is the first in a few, a review of changes, new strengths and weaknesses, etc., drawn from my talent ratings of all players.
coaching.
best mix in the league. Were able to pick through the free agent market last year and score big. Got Some good ones again. The coaching team returns intact, very important feature, and who can deny that last years effort was all coaching?.
QB
- more seasoning and bledsoe issue resolved should mean better. Also has some more talent to throw to. But thus far Brady has been limited in his presense. Expect that diminished role to expand a bit, but offense will continue to pound, not go air express. Although lacking a long arm, strong judgement skills, and accurate.
small upgrade.
RB.
Smith rewarded with long term deal. Underestimated at buff due to major o-line problems there. Above average work horse, with below average backup in Marc Edwards, however, he can catch. Smith showed up to camp out of shape, and players with new contracts don't get any better because of it.
condition stable but watch for Smith.
WR
- Big Upgrades here at TE, with graham first rounder. Also an attempt to reup the career of cam cleeland, former superstar with saints, who has gone down with injuries, ruining his young career. Watch him closely, a reimergence adds huge dimension. Also brought Christian Fauria from seahawks, starter last year. So this position is now big improvement, where last year it didn't exist. Expect 2 TE sets, and more of a pounding type offense. Very sharp coaching, as rb Smith can get to the corner and now has more blocking to help ouside, and it fits with Brady's skills.
Wr has upgraded too with don Hayes brought in from Carolina. Rated very highly in my book. Troy brown will never match last year, but David Patten, the lucky catch out of cleveland still has upside. Group has enough speed to keep defenses honest. 2nd rounder wr dijion Branch is a burner, but too young for immediate help.
All in all, this area is much stronger with added TE dimension.
Oline.
Returned in tact. It was fun last year having to upgrade my rating on this squad almost every game. Can't recall so many upgrades. They were a work in progress all season, young and learning, so the only way is up. Damian Woody and Matt Light could make it to the pro bowl. Limited talent elsewhere.
Stable but One problem is depth.
Dline
Trouble here as they lost Brandon Mitchel, and with Mcguinst often injured and getting old, they look to me like they made a couple of mistakes (I'll eat that later, thank you). They grabbed a couple tossoffs from the terribly poor dline of the jets, backup rick lyle, and former jets starter steve Martin who is slated to start. Might be better to try and get one more year out of anthony pleasants old bones. Bobby Hamilton is a great run stopper but only real bright light is Seymour, who smoked his rookie season, future pro bowler.
Not much depth here to boot. Major downgrade.
Linebackers- Very deep last year, and were the keys to the defense. This year not so much. The reemergence of Roman Phiffer is over, he will step back, too old. Ted Johnson will get injured if we play the odds. However, Bruschi is in full bloom, while mike vrabel and ryan phillips are also. So, depending on injuries, this squad will be better than good or great.
Secondary- Another great off season deal bringing in Tom Knight from Arz. How do they get these guys? I should work for them, our talent ratings are very close. Anyway, Knight, former high first rounder was a near shining star (imho) on a team with no defense, and no defensive coaching. Never able to develop. Pro bowl future, you heard it here first.
That makes otis smith finally a bench warmer. Jones, milloy and Law all back and not too old for decline quite yet. As if thats not enough, they picked up solid starter Victor Green from the jets as well.
DEEP DEEP DEEP
Stable or an upgrade.
Kicking game the same, and although not exceptional for distance, accuracy and clutch performance rates them highly.
Conclusion: I'm seeing a lot of predictions about a big decline for this team, but that will be tough. Major coaching strength, a better oline, better at wr and te, and a developing qb, will make for more points scored. The defense will be weaker, the dline the problem to watch. But the strength at lb and secondary should keep them from falling apart. Reading the tea leaves, they don't look like they are getting the usual inflated spreads of super winners, may wind up the season with a 8-8 ats record.
Fantastic opener with pitt, another team with a good offseason.
Additions welcome.
coaching.
best mix in the league. Were able to pick through the free agent market last year and score big. Got Some good ones again. The coaching team returns intact, very important feature, and who can deny that last years effort was all coaching?.
QB
- more seasoning and bledsoe issue resolved should mean better. Also has some more talent to throw to. But thus far Brady has been limited in his presense. Expect that diminished role to expand a bit, but offense will continue to pound, not go air express. Although lacking a long arm, strong judgement skills, and accurate.
small upgrade.
RB.
Smith rewarded with long term deal. Underestimated at buff due to major o-line problems there. Above average work horse, with below average backup in Marc Edwards, however, he can catch. Smith showed up to camp out of shape, and players with new contracts don't get any better because of it.
condition stable but watch for Smith.
WR
- Big Upgrades here at TE, with graham first rounder. Also an attempt to reup the career of cam cleeland, former superstar with saints, who has gone down with injuries, ruining his young career. Watch him closely, a reimergence adds huge dimension. Also brought Christian Fauria from seahawks, starter last year. So this position is now big improvement, where last year it didn't exist. Expect 2 TE sets, and more of a pounding type offense. Very sharp coaching, as rb Smith can get to the corner and now has more blocking to help ouside, and it fits with Brady's skills.
Wr has upgraded too with don Hayes brought in from Carolina. Rated very highly in my book. Troy brown will never match last year, but David Patten, the lucky catch out of cleveland still has upside. Group has enough speed to keep defenses honest. 2nd rounder wr dijion Branch is a burner, but too young for immediate help.
All in all, this area is much stronger with added TE dimension.
Oline.
Returned in tact. It was fun last year having to upgrade my rating on this squad almost every game. Can't recall so many upgrades. They were a work in progress all season, young and learning, so the only way is up. Damian Woody and Matt Light could make it to the pro bowl. Limited talent elsewhere.
Stable but One problem is depth.
Dline
Trouble here as they lost Brandon Mitchel, and with Mcguinst often injured and getting old, they look to me like they made a couple of mistakes (I'll eat that later, thank you). They grabbed a couple tossoffs from the terribly poor dline of the jets, backup rick lyle, and former jets starter steve Martin who is slated to start. Might be better to try and get one more year out of anthony pleasants old bones. Bobby Hamilton is a great run stopper but only real bright light is Seymour, who smoked his rookie season, future pro bowler.
Not much depth here to boot. Major downgrade.
Linebackers- Very deep last year, and were the keys to the defense. This year not so much. The reemergence of Roman Phiffer is over, he will step back, too old. Ted Johnson will get injured if we play the odds. However, Bruschi is in full bloom, while mike vrabel and ryan phillips are also. So, depending on injuries, this squad will be better than good or great.
Secondary- Another great off season deal bringing in Tom Knight from Arz. How do they get these guys? I should work for them, our talent ratings are very close. Anyway, Knight, former high first rounder was a near shining star (imho) on a team with no defense, and no defensive coaching. Never able to develop. Pro bowl future, you heard it here first.
That makes otis smith finally a bench warmer. Jones, milloy and Law all back and not too old for decline quite yet. As if thats not enough, they picked up solid starter Victor Green from the jets as well.
DEEP DEEP DEEP
Stable or an upgrade.
Kicking game the same, and although not exceptional for distance, accuracy and clutch performance rates them highly.
Conclusion: I'm seeing a lot of predictions about a big decline for this team, but that will be tough. Major coaching strength, a better oline, better at wr and te, and a developing qb, will make for more points scored. The defense will be weaker, the dline the problem to watch. But the strength at lb and secondary should keep them from falling apart. Reading the tea leaves, they don't look like they are getting the usual inflated spreads of super winners, may wind up the season with a 8-8 ats record.
Fantastic opener with pitt, another team with a good offseason.
Additions welcome.
