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Initial Thoughts:
This is now my 4th year with the team and we are still floundering in mediocrity. 8-8 in year one, 7-9 in year two, and 5-11 in year three, we seem to be moving in the wrong direction. I made some changes last year, including spending a large majority of Training Camp in passing offense, and switching mid season to a 4-3 defense.
This year, the roster is starting to look talented all around and we have our gameplan philosophies set in stone. Hopefully this is the year we start an upwards progression in the win column.
Key Retirements:
None
Key signings in FA:
5th yr RB Craig Jacomy (41/41) - with 60s in breakaway and 3rd downs, and low elusiveness this is the kind of guy I'd probably use as a starter. He'll be an ace in the hole for us in case Montano gets hurt.
4th yr RB Edward DeMeester (38/38) - Another 3rd down runner with low breakaway speed, but elusiveness and Special teams skills that Jacomy is lacking.
7th yr OLB Morris Grace (47/47) - He'll be a competent backup or a starter in a pinch.
Trades:
We traded 4th yr RB CJ Shannon to Morgantown for 3rd yr DT Harris Wheeler.
With the addition of two FA RBs, Shannon became expendable. Wheeler was stuck in a backup role in Morgantown, but will likely slide into a starting gig on our defensive front.
The Draft Class of 2024:
This draft class looked great. So good, in fact, that I felt comfortable trading down in the first round in order to add another 2nd rounder and also trade down in the second round to add a bunch of later picks. The big needs this draft are S, CB, WR, and DT. Let's take a look at the picks:
1.13 CB Cory Anastasiades (39/71) - He was our first choice at pick 1.7, so as you can imagine, I was thrilled to see him still available at 1.13. He's a clear stud and will bolster a secondary that's sorely in need of talent.
1.30 DE Archie McElroy (24/60) - I thought enough of McElroy to trade up with Portland here to get him. He has the look of a great DE, with top notch PRT, Run defense, and play diagnosis and the combines to back those ratings up.
2.25 S Levon Schwartz (25/62) - Scwartz looks like a SS type with very good M2M, Run defense, zone, and play diagnosis. He also has excellent Special Teams skills which made me jump on him even though his combines aren't great. If he ends up around 50 with good ST ability, I'll be happy.
2.27 CB Alex Nichols (20/62) - Nichols has very good coverage skills and ST ability, but he's a liability in run defense. At 5'11" 199, he may be switching to FS where we can hide his lack of run D.
3.8 CB Levon Harding (19/55) - With good Man, zone, play diagnosis, and special teams, he should develop into a decent cover corner who I can play at Nickleback as well.
3.16 C Ken Jennings (23/61) - I wasn't looking for a center, as I'm pretty happy with Matt Anthony's play. But I had my eye on Jennings as a very good lineman in the top of the second round, and I felt pretty confident we had addressed our urgent needs by this point in the draft. We had the luxury of taking the best player available even though he's not a need. Jennings is a top notch run blocker and should do well making holes for Montano
4.7 WR Shaun Ingram (17/52) - I thought Shaun was the best player available at this point in the draft. He looks like he could be a nice 3rd or 4th receiver for us. He's also the first player we brought in that wasn't a special teams ace. I felt Ingram had enough talent that he would be worth a roster spot without that utility.
5.20 WR Cedric Moore (16/46) - Moore is less of a sure thing as a receiver. More of a 4th/5th WR type, but he's a special teams man and we like that in Boston.
6.1 DT Marcus McElroy (20/49) - We drafted his brother Archie in the first and he recommended we bring in Marcus as well. He's a bit bigger, so he'll likely be an interior lineman for us, and his skill set is very similar to Archie's. If he works out, it'll make for quite the special interest story to have brothers playing side by side on the Dline.
6.20 TE RJ Tobias (17/48) - He's a below average TE with special teams skills. He'll be competing for the third TE spot with our 7th rounder from last year.
7.7 DT Al Atkins (22/53) - He has the combines to be a pass rusher. He could be a late round gem if that play diagnosis bar is masked.
7.26 CB Gene Sinclair (24/57) - He has some nice bars. Worth taking a shot on him.
Well, I needed secondary help, but I may have gone overboard a bit... We'll be going into camp with 6 rookie defensive backs. Other than that, I'm very pleased with our draft overall.
This is now my 4th year with the team and we are still floundering in mediocrity. 8-8 in year one, 7-9 in year two, and 5-11 in year three, we seem to be moving in the wrong direction. I made some changes last year, including spending a large majority of Training Camp in passing offense, and switching mid season to a 4-3 defense.
This year, the roster is starting to look talented all around and we have our gameplan philosophies set in stone. Hopefully this is the year we start an upwards progression in the win column.
Key Retirements:
None
Key signings in FA:
5th yr RB Craig Jacomy (41/41) - with 60s in breakaway and 3rd downs, and low elusiveness this is the kind of guy I'd probably use as a starter. He'll be an ace in the hole for us in case Montano gets hurt.
4th yr RB Edward DeMeester (38/38) - Another 3rd down runner with low breakaway speed, but elusiveness and Special teams skills that Jacomy is lacking.
7th yr OLB Morris Grace (47/47) - He'll be a competent backup or a starter in a pinch.
Trades:
We traded 4th yr RB CJ Shannon to Morgantown for 3rd yr DT Harris Wheeler.
With the addition of two FA RBs, Shannon became expendable. Wheeler was stuck in a backup role in Morgantown, but will likely slide into a starting gig on our defensive front.
The Draft Class of 2024:
This draft class looked great. So good, in fact, that I felt comfortable trading down in the first round in order to add another 2nd rounder and also trade down in the second round to add a bunch of later picks. The big needs this draft are S, CB, WR, and DT. Let's take a look at the picks:
1.13 CB Cory Anastasiades (39/71) - He was our first choice at pick 1.7, so as you can imagine, I was thrilled to see him still available at 1.13. He's a clear stud and will bolster a secondary that's sorely in need of talent.
1.30 DE Archie McElroy (24/60) - I thought enough of McElroy to trade up with Portland here to get him. He has the look of a great DE, with top notch PRT, Run defense, and play diagnosis and the combines to back those ratings up.
2.25 S Levon Schwartz (25/62) - Scwartz looks like a SS type with very good M2M, Run defense, zone, and play diagnosis. He also has excellent Special Teams skills which made me jump on him even though his combines aren't great. If he ends up around 50 with good ST ability, I'll be happy.
2.27 CB Alex Nichols (20/62) - Nichols has very good coverage skills and ST ability, but he's a liability in run defense. At 5'11" 199, he may be switching to FS where we can hide his lack of run D.
3.8 CB Levon Harding (19/55) - With good Man, zone, play diagnosis, and special teams, he should develop into a decent cover corner who I can play at Nickleback as well.
3.16 C Ken Jennings (23/61) - I wasn't looking for a center, as I'm pretty happy with Matt Anthony's play. But I had my eye on Jennings as a very good lineman in the top of the second round, and I felt pretty confident we had addressed our urgent needs by this point in the draft. We had the luxury of taking the best player available even though he's not a need. Jennings is a top notch run blocker and should do well making holes for Montano
4.7 WR Shaun Ingram (17/52) - I thought Shaun was the best player available at this point in the draft. He looks like he could be a nice 3rd or 4th receiver for us. He's also the first player we brought in that wasn't a special teams ace. I felt Ingram had enough talent that he would be worth a roster spot without that utility.
5.20 WR Cedric Moore (16/46) - Moore is less of a sure thing as a receiver. More of a 4th/5th WR type, but he's a special teams man and we like that in Boston.
6.1 DT Marcus McElroy (20/49) - We drafted his brother Archie in the first and he recommended we bring in Marcus as well. He's a bit bigger, so he'll likely be an interior lineman for us, and his skill set is very similar to Archie's. If he works out, it'll make for quite the special interest story to have brothers playing side by side on the Dline.
6.20 TE RJ Tobias (17/48) - He's a below average TE with special teams skills. He'll be competing for the third TE spot with our 7th rounder from last year.
7.7 DT Al Atkins (22/53) - He has the combines to be a pass rusher. He could be a late round gem if that play diagnosis bar is masked.
7.26 CB Gene Sinclair (24/57) - He has some nice bars. Worth taking a shot on him.
Well, I needed secondary help, but I may have gone overboard a bit... We'll be going into camp with 6 rookie defensive backs. Other than that, I'm very pleased with our draft overall.
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