In response to WazzuWheatfarmer's comment:
We did lose Mark Anderson but whats his actual worth? If we lose Talib next year they will get a 3rd round pick.

I just read a projection for the 2013 comp picks on "Blogging the Beast" and they have us getting shut out this year.  I have no idea if this is an accurate projection or not, but they seemed pretty credible.  I was hoping for a 6th rounder or so for Green-Ellis, but looks like we may not get it.

well Fenana cancelled out BJGE and I can't really think of anyone else we lost to FA (not released). I wouldn't expect to get any this year. If we loss Wes though and big no big names in I expect at least a 4th next year for Wes

In response to WazzuWheatfarmer's comment:
We did lose Mark Anderson but whats his actual worth? If we lose Talib next year they will get a 3rd round pick.

I just read a projection for the 2013 comp picks on "Blogging the Beast" and they have us getting shut out this year.  I have no idea if this is an accurate projection or not, but they seemed pretty credible.  I was hoping for a 6th rounder or so for Green-Ellis, but looks like we may not get it.

well Fenana cancelled out BJGE and I can't really think of anyone else we lost to FA (not released). I wouldn't expect to get any this year. If we loss Wes though and big no big names in I expect at least a 4th next year for Wes

In response to WazzuWheatfarmer's comment:
We did lose Mark Anderson but whats his actual worth? If we lose Talib next year they will get a 3rd round pick.

I just read a projection for the 2013 comp picks on "Blogging the Beast" and they have us getting shut out this year.  I have no idea if this is an accurate projection or not, but they seemed pretty credible.  I was hoping for a 6th rounder or so for Green-Ellis, but looks like we may not get it.

well Fenana cancelled out BJGE and I can't really think of anyone else we lost to FA (not released). I wouldn't expect to get any this year. If we loss Wes though and big no big names in I expect at least a 4th next year for Wes

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/2013/01/30/what-lies-ahead-for-the-patriots/aqGb4wL0xuU0XqPENmr0BM/story.html?pg=9

According to Boston.com, the Pats need a 3rd down ILB who can cover.  Thoughts on who that could be?

mb,

i see a number of mockers beginning to give one of one of my top receivers (and yours)  hopkins to the pats.

i still have elite pass rusher as #1 need and if not picked up in fa, its #1 in draft.

big cb and big wr (the rest of top 3 needs i see [players at these positions ive listed throughout this thread]).

Another big WR and fast:

The name making the rounds in the scouting community as one of the biggest sleepers at the receiver position is Courtney Gardner of Sierra College.  The 6-foot, 3-inch/220lb pass catcher was expected to play for Oklahoma in 2013 but opted for the NFL draft after academic “difficulties”.  We hear scouts have been raving about the physical skills Gardner brings to the field.  Besides his large frame the big pass catcher also has the speed (10.7 sec in the 100 meters) to match.  Even college coaches in the area are awed by his ability on the field but focusing at the task at hand seems to be an issue.

http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6730

In response to jjdbrasil's comment:

Another big WR and fast:

The name making the rounds in the scouting community as one of the biggest sleepers at the receiver position is Courtney Gardner of Sierra College.  The 6-foot, 3-inch/220lb pass catcher was expected to play for Oklahoma in 2013 but opted for the NFL draft after academic “difficulties”.  We hear scouts have been raving about the physical skills Gardner brings to the field.  Besides his large frame the big pass catcher also has the speed (10.7 sec in the 100 meters) to match.  Even college coaches in the area are awed by his ability on the field but focusing at the task at hand seems to be an issue.

http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6730

Could be a huge issue with NE's complex offense, where NFL veterans can have trouble picking up the nuances.

In response to bredbru's comment:

In response to Army2LT's comment:

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/2013/01/30/what-lies-ahead-for-the-patriots/aqGb4wL0xuU0XqPENmr0BM/story.html?pg=9

According to Boston.com, the Pats need a 3rd down ILB who can cover.  Thoughts on who that could be?

its one of our many needs, i would not use one of our 3 picks for it (its probably last or 2nd to last on my 6 or so needs for pats)

It's not just about having a quick ILB who can cover on 3rd down. The game is changing. The utility of that cover ILB will soon be, if not yet, beyond 3rd down. Who do you want your ILB to be when...

1) ...Playing a team who throws 35+ or even 40+ a game? I am pretty sure that even a team that does not throw much will try to challenge NE's passing D, throwing more than they normally do. Last year 4 teams averaged more than 40 passes a game; 15 averaged more than 35. Just below 35 a game are GBP, HOU and STL - teams whose QBs are not bad. 

2) ...Playing a team who has a good receiving TE? Note that in previous years, you'd seldom have more than 3 TEs in the top 20 receivers (on yards). Last year, there were there were three in the top 10. Gronk was not even there. If that does not concern you, look at the crop of TEs entering the draft this year. They're pretty good. 

Actually, let me ask you guys this...

Who would he Pats have on our front 7 if the Pats knew that the other team will be throwing 40+ times?

I think Fresno State's Phillip Thomas could be the most complete FS in the draft, and exactly what BB is looking for at that position.  At 6'1"  215 he has the frame to be a physical defender, but he has also shown tremendous ball skills and coverage skills.  He was also a team captain for Fresno.  Getting him late 2nd round would be very good value.  The only reason he could even fall that far is because he isn't known as a great open-field tackler.

Interesting numbers from PFF via Boston Globe:

QB rating against coverage by:

Spikes: 116.1 Mayo: 98.9 (82.7% completions)

Not sure where Hightower came in or if he had enough plays to be rated in pass coverage, but these numbers point to a big area of concern. Whether in man to man or zone the Pats underneath coverage was not good enough. So my question for the gurus here:

Anybody seeing prospects in the Pats range of picks for good coverage LBs. Or any FAs?

We seem to be at the start of an explosion in receiving TEs, and the continued use of RBs as receiving threats and the Pats need to counter that.

Watching some old Patriots games (SB2005) and looking at this year.  What stands out is the push from the DL and the edge rushing back then.  The other is outstanding safety play.  That was the year Troy Brown played CB and it seem Wilson and Harrison were everywhere always helping the CBs.  The DL always had a push and would always try to move the QB out of his comfort zone.  The Safeties didn't let anything get behind them.  Another was the chipping and hitting within 5 yards of the LOS.  Every play some one was doing that.  

With that, I think a Safety and DT/DE will have to be #1 and#2 priority either in FA or Draft. I know some people want a WR, but I think the impact will be greater if these two are filled with quality players. This defense is very young, but not far off.

In the first 3 rounds in the Patriots range:(no order on players)

SAFETY                             DT                             DE or OLB34

Reid                              Jenkins                       Montgomery

Elam                             Williams, S                  Hunt

Thomas                         Williams, B                  Goodman

Rambo                          Short                          Carradine, Tank

Jefferson                                                         Jenkins, B

Cyprien                                                           Simon, J

There is probably more, I'll keep looking.  There will also be risers and fallers, for sure.

Interesting numbers from PFF via Boston Globe:

QB rating against coverage by:

Spikes: 116.1 Mayo: 98.9 (82.7% completions)

Not sure where Hightower came in or if he had enough plays to be rated in pass coverage, but these numbers point to a big area of concern. Whether in man to man or zone the Pats underneath coverage was not good enough. So my question for the gurus here:

Anybody seeing prospects in the Pats range of picks for good coverage LBs. Or any FAs?

We seem to be at the start of an explosion in receiving TEs, and the continued use of RBs as receiving threats and the Pats need to counter that.

In response to mia76's comment:

Interesting numbers from PFF via Boston Globe:

QB rating against coverage by:

Spikes: 116.1 Mayo: 98.9 (82.7% completions)

Not sure where Hightower came in or if he had enough plays to be rated in pass coverage, but these numbers point to a big area of concern. Whether in man to man or zone the Pats underneath coverage was not good enough. So my question for the gurus here:

Anybody seeing prospects in the Pats range of picks for good coverage LBs. Or any FAs?

We seem to be at the start of an explosion in receiving TEs, and the continued use of RBs as receiving threats and the Pats need to counter that.

Did the article provide a league average for both QB rating against and completion % against for LB's?  Did they also provide yards per completion against?