My Blueprint for the Offense

My only reservation on ASJ at 29 is the injury. Fiedorowicz is just a jag. I think he's much more suited to a team like the Steelers or Redskins who really want a block first and sneak out in the pattern TE.

mayoclinic said:

I don't see Fiedorowicz as much more than Matt Mulligan. Sorry. I keep trying to see it, but I just don't. I understand others disagree.

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That's my thing, is finding a happy medium between spending too much to get a 2nd TE and getting one who isn't much better than Mulligan or HooMan. If we can get one in the second round to be a legit TE if Gronk is hurt and allow us to play some two TE sets, great. But it would be a real TE not a flex TE, I think those days are gone. Two TE sets now, IMO, will be two 260 pounders. With the variety of WR we have, Brady will still have plenty of short, over the middle patterns to throw to without one of them being called a TE.

Here is a crazy idea. Or maybe not so crazy considering that BB kinda hinted at it. BB made a comment last year that Mankins can play all 5 O-line positions. What if BB were to take and move Mankins to Center and draft say Zach Martin and Joel Bitonio and put them at either guard position.

They could then cut Connolly or restructure him down to free up some money. They would still have Cannon as a back-up as well as Barker, Kline and Cave.

I know it's off the wall, but it is something that I could see BB doing to beef up the line and protect Brady better.

DaBruinz said:

Here is a crazy idea. Or maybe not so crazy considering that BB kinda hinted at it. BB made a comment last year that Mankins can play all 5 O-line positions. What if BB were to take and move Mankins to Center and draft say Zach Martin and Joel Bitonio and put them at either guard position.

They could then cut Connolly or restructure him down to free up some money. They would still have Cannon as a back-up as well as Barker, Kline and Cave.

I know it's off the wall, but it is something that I could see BB doing to beef up the line and protect Brady better.

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It's an interesting thought.

Bitonio is someone else who can probably also play all 5 OL positions. He worked at as a center for teams during his Pro Day, and also played the position at times during Senior Bowl week. I'm not sure we'd have to get Zach Martin - Bitonio and Trai Turner would work fine for me.

QUOTE] Given these basic areas of focus, some of the potential moves I'd like to see the Patriots make in the remaining FA and the draft include:

- Say goodbye to Ryan Wendell. Much as I’d like to see Alex Mack at the pivot, that’s not happening. Move Dan Connolly to center for now with Marcus Cannon at guard, and draft some quality depth to push them. Brandon Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Marcus Martin, Weston Richburg, Travis Swanson, Russell Bodine, Trai Turner, Billy Turner, Dakota Dozier, Cameron Fleming, Tyler Larsen, Bryan Stork, Spencer Long. You don’t have to use a top 50 pick to get starting caliber talent in a draft this deep.
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Bottom line is the Pats need to re-establish both the OL and DL. We need two DL because Armstead and all of the other backups talent is unknown. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Pats go after two DL in the first four rounds. OL...Mankins and Solder were solid last year and that was it. Vollmer is returning which will help the Pats but they need immediate starters at OG and OC. The idea of moving Connolly may work but I would rather consider Richburg, Swanson or Stork. The more I see Xavier Su'a-Filo the more I like because he is an absolute Mauler. Another option is Ra'Shede Hageman on the DL who reminds me of Richard Seymour with both athletic talent and brute strength. The new 4th round complimentary pick may work out very nicely because Stork, Dozier and Swanson may still be available. This years draft really needs to focus on rebuilding the line because it wasn't just the Broncos who manhandled them last year.

DaBruinz said:

Here is a crazy idea. Or maybe not so crazy considering that BB kinda hinted at it. BB made a comment last year that Mankins can play all 5 O-line positions. What if BB were to take and move Mankins to Center and draft say Zach Martin and Joel Bitonio and put them at either guard position.

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Props for an actual new idea! It's easy to like an approach that lets the team draft the best available Pats-style OL, rather than focusing on center per se. Bitonio would make a natural heir to Mankins at LG.

patchick said:

Props for an actual new idea! It's easy to like an approach that lets the team draft the best available Pats-style OL, rather than focusing on center per se. Bitonio would make a natural heir to Mankins at LG.

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I agree.

If you extended Connolly to lower his cap cost and made him the backup OL option at all 3 positions, while moving Mankins to center and Cannon to RG, then you would be one good LG prospect and one backup tackle away from an outstanding line. Someone like Brandon Thomas or Joel Bitonio could probably start right away (not to mention Zach Martin), especially sandwiched between Mankins and Solder. And you could probably find a backup tackle day 3 of the draft (and possibly re-sign Will Svitek).

Moving Mankins to center might also provide a longer career path for him to stay with the team.

But other than a comment to the effect that Mankins could probably play all 5 OL positions, has he ever played the position before to anyone's knowledge?

This is a brilliant ide and something no1 have considered. I might be the front runner on John Urschel. Use him at RG while he learn the O with Bitonio takeing care of LG. Then Patriots, not only have the long term LG answer in Bitonio, but also at center in Urschel. Would leave RG without a long term answer unless they pick up Spencer Long later day 3.

With respect to DaBruinz, I am struggling to see the benefit of taking arguably the best LG in the game and moving him to a position he's never played before whilst drafting someone to play his position, something the draftee hasn't done in the NFL.

Off the wall ideas are fine, but this one potentially weakens us at three spots on the OL in the short term.

I think ASJ is worth a 1st round pick because he can start from day one and impact the game. That's what 1st round picks do. Analyzing in terms of BPA you probably have better players overall to spend a 1st round pick but if BB elects the TE position as the #1 need then drafting him at #29 would not be a reach, it's a mix of drafting bpa with drafting for need. He's definitely one of the bpa at TE after Ebron. I'm not really sold on Jace Amaro.

I can see BB trading down and getting him early (or other TE, I don't know his preferences) in the 2nd round if there's a trade available. I don't think ASJ will last until #40 though. So if they have him high on their board, is risky business wait too long. But in this case, who would we pass with the #29, what's the opportunity cost in this case?

Is it time to accumulate picks, add depth, or pull the trigger? I still don't have a formed opinion on this.

manxman2601 said:

I think last year soured BB on drafting WRs and expecting them to contribute early:

Simplistic college offenses have created new hurdles for NFL teams | masslive.com

quickly hurries to take Kelvin Benjamin and Brandon Coleman off his big board

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He says "Coming out of one of the more simplified college offenses isn't necessarily viewed as a bad thing by NFL teams." but I disagree. Every team tries to make things as simple as possible, but not all offenses can be described as simple. I bet the Patriots look at it as a bad thing. Their interest in WRs from the Panthers and Steelers could suggest that. It's not just WRs but TEs too.

So which players does this affect? Benjamin yes, but I don't know about Coleman. I would have to think this hurts Air Raid players such as Mike Evans, Jace Amaro, and anyone from Baylor. I think it also hurts Fresno State and Oregon State players. It should help Allen Robinson, Jordan Matthews, Chris Boyd, and anyone else from Vanderbilt or Penn State. It's not exactly like the Patriots offense but Washington runs diverse looks and concepts. So maybe that helps ASJ.

manxman2601 said:

With respect to DaBruinz, I am struggling to see the benefit of taking arguably the best LG in the game and moving him to a position he's never played before whilst drafting someone to play his position, something the draftee hasn't done in the NFL.

Off the wall ideas are fine, but this one potentially weakens us at three spots on the OL in the short term.

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That certainly is arguable.

Detailed profile on Notre Dame TE Troy Niklas:

Niklas is one of the most complete tight ends in the draft. Personally, I believe that he is the best in-line blocker out of all of the tight ends in this draft class. Notre Dame consistently ran behind him, and it was obvious why when watching him on film. Niklas is a physical blocker and a strong striker with his upper body. He delivers a violent punch to the defender before sticking onto his opponent or drives them back. He also delivers a powerful chip block when he is asked, before getting into his passing route.

Notre Dame moved Niklas all over the field, creating mismatches for their opponents. He would lineup on the line, in a tight end flex position, in the slot or out wide. Against Southern California, there was a play where he lined up in the slot, ran a wheel route and made a fingertip, over-the-shoulder catch for a first down.

In the passing game, Niklas was under-utilized last season. Out of his 32 receptions, only three of them came inside the opponents red zone. With a Rob Gronkowski-like frame and good enough hands, I would expect him to be a red zone monster in the NFL. He does not run the most crisp routes but he uses his size to gain leverage. Once he develops as a route runner, expect him to be a major mismatch on the next level. His straight line speed has been questioned by NFL scouts, but he runs the seam pattern pretty well, which is key to a tight end of his size.

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New England Patriots 2014 NFL Draft Prospects: Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas has the tools to be great - he just needs the time | masslive.com

mayoclinic said:

Detailed profile on Notre Dame TE Troy Niklas:



New England Patriots 2014 NFL Draft Prospects: Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas has the tools to be great - he just needs the time | masslive.com

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I would not at all be opposed to taking Niklas is ASJ does not fall low enough. Personally I have liked Niklas better than Amaro all along. Niklas is more versatile and physical than him. Niklas' upside is tantalizing for sure.

manxman2601 said:

I think last year soured BB on drafting WRs and expecting them to contribute early:

Simplistic college offenses have created new hurdles for NFL teams | masslive.com

quickly hurries to take Kelvin Benjamin and Brandon Coleman off his big board

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Merril Hoge's Tie Knot said:

He says "Coming out of one of the more simplified college offenses isn't necessarily viewed as a bad thing by NFL teams." but I disagree. Every team tries to make things as simple as possible, but not all offenses can be described as simple. I bet the Patriots look at it as a bad thing. Their interest in WRs from the Panthers and Steelers could suggest that. It's not just WRs but TEs too.

So which players does this affect? Benjamin yes, but I don't know about Coleman. I would have to think this hurts Air Raid players such as Mike Evans, Jace Amaro, and anyone from Baylor. I think it also hurts Fresno State and Oregon State players. It should help Allen Robinson, Jordan Matthews, Chris Boyd, and anyone else from Vanderbilt or Penn State. It's not exactly like the Patriots offense but Washington runs diverse looks and concepts. So maybe that helps ASJ.

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No one wants to discuss this?

Manxman, why did you put Coleman in with Benjamin?

Merril Hoge's Tie Knot said:

No one wants to discuss this?

Manxman, why did you put Coleman in with Benjamin?

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Size. Benjamin, Coleman and Evans are all of a type.

manxman2601 said:

Size. Benjamin, Coleman and Evans are all of a type.

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What does size have to do with anything? My understanding of the article is that it's only about the player's college playbook/offense and how that affects his ability to understand the Patriots playbook/offense.

Merril Hoge's Tie Knot said:

What does size have to do with anything? My understanding of the article is that it's only about the player's college playbook/offense and how that affects his ability to understand the Patriots playbook/offense.

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They were on my board because of their size.

Per Mayo's idea of an all D draft here is my all Offense draft.

#16 Ebron - TE (Trade 29th and 62nd)
-TRADE Mallet for #33 & Trade it for #47 and 79
#47 ASJ - TE
-TRADE #79th and 130th for 66th
#66 Bontonio - OG/OT
#93 Swanson - C
#140 - Gaffney - RB
#198 - Henderson - OT
#206 - De Anthony Thomas - RB
#244 - Boyd - QB

For FAs pick up Gabe Ikard, Gator Hoskins & WRs. The usual suspects.

manxman2601 said:

They were on my board because of their size.

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Oh. So crossing them off your board didn't have to do with that article?

Merril Hoge's Tie Knot said:

Oh. So crossing them off your board didn't have to do with that article?

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I was joking about taking receivers off my board because of that article. It just so happened that Coleman and Benjamin were the only significant receivers that were on my board because I believed we were largely set at the receiver position.

I am changing that view a little because of the pre-draft interest in the shorter faster receivers we've been seeing.