The New England Patriots are in the off-season mode now that the 2012 season is over, but the work never stops for the front office and coaches and the biggest questions remain on what direction they’ll take on Free Agency and the NFL Draft.
One of the biggest topics of discussion is how the team will address its needs, and one of the biggest topics among fans has been, “The team needs a big, physical WR who can make the tough catches in the red-zone.” Unless I’ve been mis-reading Twitter for the past two weeks.
One of the issues this team has faced, especially in its playoff losses was consistently scoring in the red-zone. While the onus of this is far from on the shoulders of Wes Welker alone, the fact remains, he isn’t the best target inside the 20 yard line.
Many fans are clamoring for the Patriots to sign Anquan Boldin who is set to become a free agent for the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, who they play out of the slot and split wide. No need…that person is already on the roster.
With the Patriots playing hardball with Wes Welker last year and the possibility of him walking away outright this year, the team may opt to move Aaron Hernandez to a wide out and play him out of the slot as well as move him around, in the backfield as they’ve done in the past.
It may not be as far-fetched as it seems while the cost of Welker being franchised again is upward of $11 million dollars and would probably stop the team from addressing its other needs. Indeed, the prevailing thought among the Patriots beat writers in the media is that the team will let Welker test the market.
And he’s certainly earned it, no one has caught more passes since he’s come to New England than Welker, and he’s been extremely durable, after blowing out an ACL in the 2009 season finale, he never missed a game and was back in time for the 2010 opener.
But with only $18 million remaining under the cap, the team has a few important holes to fill and using a large chunk of that signing Welker may not be in the cards. While possibly reworking a few contracts to get more cap room, re-signing Welker may still not be possible. So what then happens to the Patriots offense?
It’s not like we haven’t seen this scenario before, the Patriots parted ways with Lawyer Milloy, Richard Seymour and Randy Moss under Bill Belichick’s watch. Is it going to happen? No one knows yet but I wouldn’t be shocked.
One possible scenario could be, letting Welker go and sign elsewhere, and re-signing WR Julian Edelman which is much more cost effective. And then by moving Hernandez to WR, it solves the big, physical issue. Hernandez and Edelman can move in and out of the slot and bring you different matchups depending upon the defense. Edelman also would be the primary punt returner which would check that block.
Brandon Lloyd is still on the roster and the team can try to draft one of the many WRs that are available in the draft that can become a vertical threat. Stretching the field with a vertical passing game is still a need and that player would, initially at least come much cheaper if they draft one.
The team is still extremely deep at tight end even with moving Hernandez, the forgotten piece of the puzzle being Jake Ballard who was on IR in 2012. The team scooped him up from the Giants after being placed on waivers last year after the Super Bowl. Ballard will be the second tight end with Rob Gronkowski and backed up Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui.
Gronkowski and Ballard would be an excellent 1-2 punch at tight end, the wide receivers would be Hernandez, Lloyd, and Edelman and a draft pick. If they go after a speed guy it would put a much more explosive type offense on the field. The running game would remain the same with Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden and Jeff Demps, who will return kickoffs. It may free up the money to re-sign Danny Woodhead as well.
If they indeed let Wes Welker walk, it would free up the money to sign a free agent cornerback or safety and draft the other. Because the team needs to either sign at least one corner and draft another and needs a bigger strong safety type player for the secondary.
But with money somewhat limited, the team doesn’t have to go out and spend big money on a big, physical wide receiver…he’s already here. And something else to keep in mind, Aaron Hernandez it was reported this morning just rented an apartment for the off-season in Manhattan Beach, California (great place) to be near Tom Brady for off-season workouts….things that make you go hmmm.
|
|
| |||||||
I agree they need a vertical threat perhaps a Markus Wheaton of Oregon State in the draft but,if they do this and place their eggs in the AH and edelman basket, then they better draft a couple of receivers because both have shown to be injury prone and while lloyd had the stats, his numbers overrate what he actually did for this offense which was catch the ball and fall down immediately with the occasional yac on making a db miss or playaction pass. I just don’t know how many 50/50 balls edelman/AH and lloyd are winning when Brady throws it up. In the AFCC game AH(9-83)and lloyd(7-70) made catches sure, but with gronk out and the Ravens playing physical and they had to step up they didn’t and I’m not sure I want to put all my eggs in that basket with them and edelman,I think we’ll need at least 2 WR’s in your scenario.
Well…in a perfect world…if we could keep the entire team healthy…for the entire year throughout the playoffs…..we might have won the last 2 SB’s. We waited all last off season for what the Patriots were going to unleash on the league with the duo of Gronk and Hernandez, but that really didn’t materialize did it? Edelman out and Woody injured on the first play of the divisionals…..
The Idea of moving Hernandez to the WR position has probably already happened in several game plans over the last several seasons and yes, if Ballard can produce as advertised, then you have a triple threat leaving Fells or Kooman as the odd man (TE) out. The question mark in my mind is LLoyd…..great catches, no YAC, just flopping!
If anyone were to be replace in an “Upgrade” fashion..it be Lloyd…don’t see him as a deep threat or a major play maker……just a taller Branch maybe?
Well…in a perfect world…if we could keep the entire team healthy…for the entire year throughout the playoffs…..we might have won the last 2 SB’s. We waited all last off season for what the Patriots were going to unleash on the league with the duo of Gronk and Hernandez, but that really didn’t materialize did it? Edelman out and Woody injured on the first play of the divisionals…..
The Idea of moving Hernandez to the WR position has probably already happened in several game plans over the last several seasons and yes, if Ballard can produce as advertised, then you have a triple threat leaving Fells or Hooman as the odd man (TE) out. The question mark in my mind is LLoyd…..great catches, no YAC, just flopping!
If anyone were to be replace in an “Upgrade” fashion..it be Lloyd…don’t see him as a deep threat or a major play maker……just a taller Branch maybe?
Pete, they definitely need an upgrade at the WR position and someone who can stretch the field, but at least with AH, Gronkowski and Ballard (assuming he’s healthy) they will have plenty of physicality on the field
[...] 2007. Despite taking numerous big hits, Welker has …Patriots free agents by tiersESPN (blog)Patriots Don't Need A Big Physical WR, He's Already HerePatsFans.comAsk PFW: Looking [...]
[...] My co-host of Patriots Fourth And Two, Steve Balestrieri wrote an article on Pats Pub which includes an explanation on how the offense could work without Welker . Please feel free to read this post. [...]
yeah he is a physical wide receiver…the moment you line him up as one you lose the massive quick TE vs. OLB advantage that the pats want to keep on a weekly basis. In theory your right but in reality you are way off.