His Hull team have displayed a little more style than Bolton ever did though, and they have some real flair in Marney and Hughes. With Frazier Campbell back at Manchester United for the moment though, its hard to think anything other than major re- enforcements being needed to avoidembarrassment.If they can re-sign Campbell that will be a big plus as the kid is clearly a big threat, and he and Folan formed a nice partnership that would worry most Premier League defences. Myhill is a good goalkeeper, and Dawson a good full-back, but they need more pace at the back and better protection from the midfield. To say they need a new team would be harsh, but they need at least six quality signings to make a positive impact on the division.So there you have it, do you agree with my assessments? Where do you think your team needs to improve next season? Who are the liabilities that are unsettling your chances? Who would you realistically want to see signed by August 31st? . With the Patriots’ training camp approaching, the team has been left with some interesting positional battles to monitor and some roster decisions to make.
I’ll try and break down the Pats’ roster, position-by-position, and discuss possible roster cuts, as well as needs.Let’s start with the offense. Quarterback Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, Matt Gutierrez, Kevin O’ConnellOf course, the Pats don’t need much help in the quarterback department: Tom Brady is the best QB in the league.However, it would be ignorant for the front office to ignore the threat of injuries. With that in mind, the Pats have stacked three quarterbacks behind Brady: Matt Cassel, Matt Gutierrez, and Kevin O’Connell.Matt Cassel, the returning No. 2 QB, has the prototypical quarterback build (6′4″, 230lbs), and is quite possibly the best backup quarterback to ever exist (he backed up Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC before coming to the NFL to watch Brady).However, he failed to impress in his few opportunities last year, even with all the offensive weapons a quarterback could ask for. He is also entering the final year of his rookie contract.Next is Matt Gutierrez, who beat out veteran Vinnie Testaverde for a roster spot last year.
He has a decent arm and has above average speed, but he has not distinguished himself in any one way. He was listed as the third QB last season, and started getting more opportunities when Cassel failed to impress.The team’s lack of confidence in Cassel (or lack of confidence in him returning next year) was apparent when they drafted QB Kevin O’Connell 94th overall. O’Connell has great speed, a good arm, and is a natural leader (he led San Diego State in both rushing and passing yards in 2007, while serving as captain for each of his four seasons with the team). He is a great athlete and I would be shocked to see him released by the team.Needs: NoneExpected Cut: None. I expect the Pats to carry four quarterbacks, and use O’Connell in creative ways. However, if they do cut a player, expect it to be Cassel or Gutierrez and expect them to be grabbed before they clear waivers, which would prevent them from being signed to the practice squad. Running BackLaurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-EllisThe Patriots’ running-back situation is a difficult one to analyze: they’re extremely skilled, but they also lack durability.Laurence Maroney has shown steady improvement since being drafted by the Pats, but he has shown a tendency to let his injuries linger.
