I know its early but do you like what Hickey is doing

So at this point I'm cautiously optimistic. The draft will tell me a lot more but IMO he's having a better FA so far than Ireland did even without hindsight.

Ellerby and Wheeler were huge question marks at their price from the start. I see none of that. I see guys that fit the scheme and overall direction.

 

Yeah, I think what bothers me the most, so far in FA is that other than Albert, they haven't addressed the other 3 open OL spots yet... They may know more about Thomas than we do and have him penciled in somewhere, but that STILL leaves 2 more spots...??

 

Like in Game of Thrones, when Jaime Lannister tells Robb Stark, "Three victories doesn't make you a conqueror." And Robb replies, "Well, it's better than three defeats." (Hopefully, that's where the analogy ends, because Robb Stark... sigh.) That's sort of where we are.

Of course it's too early, but to this point, I'm just glad there haven't been any, "What the heck are you thinking???!!!" moves. We can quibble about whether we paid too much for Albert, but the Dolphins were needing and getting a LT in this FA. They got one. Resigning Grimes prior to FA to what we did looks more and more like a pretty shrewd signing. Earl Mitchell seems like a fit with what we're trying to do. So early returns and all, not so bad.

What I'm hoping is that we can pretty much cover our holes with winnable talent in FA and then be able to go anywhere in the draft. As some have said, we're about a RT and at least one G away. That would be a pretty good offseason start for Dennis Hickey, I'd say.

 

Still too early, we still need starters at LG, RG, RT, CB, RB

You will perhaps get a starter in the draft in round 1, but thats not guaranteed (look at dion jordan and he was number 3!!) in rounds 2, 3 and above, finding a guy who can start straight away is rare.

 

Pass blocking the past two seasons, he certainly is a top 5 LT. He does not grade as well run blocking, but man, when ya watch KC run the ball, they run left a lot and Albert is at the forefront of many positive run plays.

 

This is our major FAs...let's see where Hickey is...


Nolan Carroll, CB Not replaced yet
Chris Clemons, S Replaced with Delmas, not sure if this is an upgrade, but it's not a downgrade.
Tyson Clabo, OL Not replaced
Bryant McKinnie, OL Replaced with Albert, major upgrade, great move
Richie Incognito, OL Not replaced
John Jerry, OL Not replaced
Dimitri Patterson, CB Not replaced, door is open for his return
Paul Soliai, DT Replaced with Mitchell... better fit in Coyle's D, a good move
Randy Starks, DT Resigned, great move.

Other areas that need improvement:
Running Back, a decent blocking 3rd down back at least is needed.
TE - Clay has come on and Sims flashed a bit, but I'd like to see a signing of some sort here (Owens, Keller)?? Someone who may come here cheaply to 'resurrect their careers, as Keller tried to do last year.
CB #2/3. Taylor may be on their list to take on those duties, but some kind of veteran back up help is needed. Patterson could be that person.
Wheeler...what to do with him. Very disappointing performance last year. Is another year in the system the charm ??

There's still some moves to make that could either wow us or "Ireland" us... My biggest concern at this point is that there haven't been more OL signings...

 

No complaints at all so far.

 

Definitely diggin' the early moves. Resigning Grimes and Starks gets two thumbs up from me. If Mitchell as good as Soliai, then that's another great move. Albert has me a little nervous, but if he lives up to his potential they just filled a huge, and glaring hole.

I would like to see another addition to the O-line before the draft, as I think that gives us greater flexibility in the draft.

 

It'd be nice if they brought in a serviceable OG and RT, most of our glaring holes would be filled. If that happens, I can see them going after an ILB early in the draft.

 

Is McKinnie still on the team? If so, can't he play RT?

 

Good: Grimes, Starks

Bad: Albert

Indifferent: Mitchell

 

He's a free agent, but I don't think he likes to play on the right side. I'd be open to bringing him back for LT depth if he signs a team friendly deal.

 

I want to draft joyner from fsu.

 

He's going out and addressing needs. That's what he should be doing.
As a fan, I forgot what that feels like in recent memory.
I'll wait until after the draft to make a full assessment.

 

So far pretty happy with FA. Wouldve liked to keep soliai but money is money. Want to see how he does with lesser name free agents now and then the draft. But so far he gets an A

 

I'm happy. It will be big to see how he does evaluating draft talent and handling the draft itself. Exciting.

 

We're not going to get a top notch line starting from scratch in one year. Needing 4 we got 1. We can improve by getting a good run blocking back. I see Clabo and or Jerry returning to start. So far I like the moves as long as we limit our future FA acquisitions to LB and RB/FB. I don't want to see any more big free agent signings.

 

This is rounding in to form. I like the majority of his moves so far.

I think he needs another LB, maybe DB, and an OG or T before the draft.

Then we draft the other.

Agree?

 

He's doing what he can at this point IMO, the draft will be very important for him and this organization. Can't afford any Jason Allen type guys who basically waste everyone's time and resources.

 

You're saying we pick up another free agent and then address the rest in the draft correct? I agree.

 

Didn't waste any time making his mark on the franchise, that Hickey.

 

I wonder if we could get some picks for Thomas and miller.

 

It is too early to judge, but I think we should be thankful to Aponte and Ireland for putting Hickey a in position to succeed.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...cap-situation-after-first-wave-of-free-agency

http://www.patriots.com/news/articl...-Tracker/c39d150c-9245-4a2b-902d-f32543ab0ca5

 

I like what he's done so far. It seems like just about everyone that we have really targeted we have signed. You aren't going to get them all but we got enough of them to say the offseason has been successful so far at this point. He still has a draft that he could screw up lol. I do like where we are all things considered. I think the talent is there to make a serious run at the playoffs.

 

Solid B so far IMO. They paid a lot for Albert, but that's due more to being so desperate for a solid LT. Love the resigning of Grimes and Starks. The Moreno signing is also encouraging, as was Mitchell. Finnegan? Well, we'll see.

The draft will be the real test.

 

If the draft is going to cost us about $6 million how much does that leave us right now? We're in good shape financially.

 

lol

 

Not impressed with Hickey at all so far. He's been meh, and I have a sense the draft will be a disaster too based on players he likes and chose in the FA.

 

I think he's done "OK" to good. I like many of the signings. What I REALLY like is the fact he's bringing in some high-fire type of players also...I think we need 'em. If Finnegan can piss off other teams' receivers and get 'em out of their game, and manage to stay out of trouble, I'd be VERY happy with that signing.

REALLY looking forward to the draft...

 

I think there has way too much criticism on 29 and 30 year old players for being just that, and not enough foresight as to what they possibly could become..

If healthy, Finnegan has more of a chance of rebounding into form that what the narrative is being talked about..

This is football, players play, even in their late twenties and very early thirties..

 

Finnegan is my only complaint. Hopefully I have to eat these words.

 

We sign one of the top left tackles in the league, arguably top 5 no less, and it's bad to you?

 

Mine too. Especially when I see Verner signed for about $1.5 mil more per year, and Tarell Brown and Walter Thurmond combined could have been signed for a little more.

 

Finnegan is our new Incognito. You know there's going to be a penalty or two almost every game you just hope its in our favor.

 

Finnegan has not really drawn that many penalties. In 2010 and 2011 he had 5 each year. In 2012 he had 2. In 2013 though he had 6 in 7 games but 3 of them came in week 1, and 3 of his penalties were declined. Compared to his peers, he does not rank very high for most penalties.
Over the same seasons, Incognito had 3, 9, 6, and 0.

 

It certainly seems like other teams got corners that are on the upswing for comparable costs while we gave a guy clearly in decline a truckload of guaranteed money. Don't forget that Finnegan was one of Fisher's "guys", and one of the biggest FA signings they made when Fisher took that job. For him to get benched and then released does not bode well. And I hope we aren't planning to put all of our eggs in the Delmas-will-stay-healthy basket.

 

come on now guys Ireland was horrible and was the source of most of our troubles . cant we enjoy the freedom of not having the ******** Ireland overpaying for some slug.

it is too early but cant we feel good for a change afterall we suffered enough .

I am anxious to see what the draft brings us . and with the new gm I don't have to have that sinking feeling and when was the last time we could feel good about ourselves ?

 

I used to think that way as well, but after thinking back about last season and all the talent that we had on the team, specifically on defense, and the fact it was as horrid as it was points to coaching as just as big of an issue, IMO. We had the defensive talent to be in the Top 10, and we weren't close.

Of all of Ireland's problems, I don't recall him overpaying for slugs as being the major issue. What are these slugs that he overpaid for that you are referring to?

 

comments like that is how the history books will be rewritten

Don't you guys remember? We **** the bed in the last two games and it was all Ireland's fault. One game , ----one game and Ireland is probably still here.

 

i just go this. holy **** am i slow