everlong

Please forgive spelling and grammatical mistakes. I got no sleep but this is my catharsis to help get over the loss.

QB - Brady B+

Have to give him the benefit of the doubt when the receiving core was completely rebuilt this year. The chemistry certainly was better as the year went on.

RB - C

They played better at the start of the year but I think the coaching staff got away from the run too much at times.

Dillon - B

He's clearly on the tail end of his career but I thought he played well almost in the same role as the bus from last year. I think he accepted his role and he's certainly slower but I think he can still be an asset on the goal line and in short yardage.

Maroney C-

He missed time with injuries and was never the same back when he returned. He needs to keep his feet moving when there's penetration, once he gets moving he's explosive.

Faulk C-

He had some great games but he also had a lot of drops and a couple of key fumbles. The regular season game against Indy alone he had a killer fumble and a killer tipped pass that killed us.

Evans B

He's a good full back and just not having to use Seymour is worth having him around.

Mills/Pass F/incomplete

Both were hurt and really played no role

O-Line B-

This unit was an A by the end of the year but it took them a long time to get there. They were awful against Denver, Indy, NYJ, and Miami and were a major reason why they lost those games.

Koppen A-

He played every down and was solid.

Mankins A-

Same as Koppen

Neil A-

Same as Mankins

Light C+

Played well at the end but he was awful early especially in the 4 regular season games.

Kaczur C-

He was the weakest link for much of the year not only in the passing game but running as well.

OCallahan C

He played really well but was hurt. I think he's going to be the starting RT next year.

WR C

It took a long time for this group to come together. They were certainly better at the end.

Caldwell B

I think by the end he was David Givens. A solid #2 for next year.

Gaffney B

He didn't get on board until late but his contribution was a major reason why we got that far.

Brown B

At his age he's still a solid contributor.

Jackson F

Was never a factor. Even when he wasn't hurt he never showed any ability to gain separation.

TE C

They were inconsistent a lot of the year.

Graham B

He was hurt but when he played he showed he's still the best blocking TE in the game. He also improved a lot as a receiver. I hope they bring him back.

Watson D

Missed some time being injured. He's still not a great blocker. He fumbled way too much. His hands are suspect. He really needs to improve.

Thomas B

When Watson was out hurt he played really well in the passing game. I would have liked to see him more as a possession receiver in the passing. He also played really well on special teams. I think he has great upside.

Overall I'd give the offense a B- I think they need to get another solid wide out and Jackson, Maroney and Watson need to improve a lot.

D-line B-

Overall they were solid but in all 5 losses they were very suspect.

Seymour C+

I'm sorry but he wasn't a pro bowler and I don't buy that he gets the double teams. Marcus McNeil schooled him in the SD game. He was hurt part of the season but over all not a great campaign.

Wilfork B

He was solid but the Jets and the Indy game he didn't have great games. Indy isn't a great matchup for him but Saturday pancaked him a few times and Mangold more than held his own.

Warren A

Their most consistent player on either side of the ball.

Green B+

Had a solid year as a part time player. He's still great in pass rushing situations.

Wright B+

Solid especially when Wilfork went down, great find.

Hill F

Bust. If he was doing anything right he's be seeing the field at least on special teams.



LB C-

They looked old and tired. They have to address this either in the draft or via free agency. They certainly cannot cover.

TBC D

He is not an every down guy. I think much like Jarvis Green he's a good situational player but clearly he cannot contain the edge. Malamalu (or however you spell that) dominated him in the SD game.

Colvin C+

He was an impact player when rushing the passer but he didn't contain the edge vs the run with consistency and he wasn't great in pass coverage, although the pick against LT was sweet.

Bruschi C+

I think the problem with Tedy is he obviously knows what to do he just gets there a step slower and he doesn't make impact plays like he once did. Instead of stopping a play for no gain it's a two yard gain. In place of stripping the ball he's just making the tackle. I hope he comes back for one more year if for no other reason to teach whoever they draft/pick-up how to play MLB in the 3-4.

Vrabel B-

I think it's much the same as Bruschi but I think he would have been much better playing the entire year at OLB. But I still think he's just a step slower getting every where.

Seau C

He was playing well but was hurt for half the year. Maybe they can bring him back if he's willing to play the Ted Johnson role of run stopper.

Alexander incomplete

He had ten tackles in the loss to the Colts and only gave up the one big play where he never should have been singled up to begin with. I think it speaks volumes that he saw time and TBC didn't. He might be a factor going forward.

Secondary B-

They got better as the year went on. Injuries clearly hurt this group.

Samuel A

He had a great year. I hope he comes back but it's unlikely at best. I think much like Branch he's not a 1 but he's not a 2. More like a 2+ or 1-. I certainly don't put him in the league of a Bailey. I think he may get the franchise tag and maybe he gets traded for a #1 pick.

Hobbs C+

He was hurt, benched, up, down, in, out. I think he played much better at the end and showed a lot of promise. He had great games against Indy and SD.

Harrison C

Was hurt a lot and that's a huge factor. He hasn't been able to stay on the field.

Hawkins C

Played pretty well in while Harrison was out but he gave up a lot of big plays being out of position.

Sanders C+

He started to come on strong especially in support of the run game.

Scott C

Played very good in spots but gave up some big plays.

Wilson F

Didn't play well and couldn't stay on the field.

Overall the defense was a B- but they clearly need to get younger and get some play makers.

Special teams B

They had some good games and some bad games. Overall I think it was a plus.

Gostkowski A+++++

He really had one bad game and the field was a mess. The national media needs to let this go.

Hobbs/Maroney both had some big returns on kick offs.

Punt returns were just average.

Coverage teams were good overall but they did have a couple of bad games.

Coaching B

The play calling was suspect in certain games and certain situations.

__________________
"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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maverick4

The talent on offense, defense, and special teams was the best we have ever had collectively under Belichick.

The defensive and special teams coaching was superb, but the 2006 Patriots were handicapped by a rookie offensive coordinator who was in over his head all season, and more so in the playoffs.

BlitzFritz

thanks. i cant really disagree with anything much here. although overall, the D was closer to an A, but i for one cannot tell you why they were so tough, since iagree with the component parts

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"If you counted out the Patriots, you just don't get it." Adam Schein, September 2008

“We are building a big, strong, fast, smart, tough and disciplined football team that. consistently competes for championships.” Guess who.

DaBruinz

I think your grade of Matt Light is harsh. A lot of people seem to forget that Light missed much of last year with a broken leg and that he had to have several surgeries to get it fixed.

I think your grade of Maroney is extremely harsh. The kid was a rookie and he was 2nd best in kick returning in the league. I agree that he didn't seem the same after his injury, but a C- is brutal.

How do you know that Jackson still wasn't playing hurt? And he did get seperation from what I saw. But, that's just me.

As for Watson, the kid was the Pats best receiver until he got hurt. Yes, he had 3 fumbles, but he only lost 1. I agree that Watson needs to work on his blocking.

Seymour was hurt for MUCH of the season and had to wear that immobilizing unit on his arm. Its kind of hard to do the things you need to do when you can't bend your arm properly.

Hill isn't a special teams player. How do you figure that he'd be seeing the field?

Punt returns were just average? The Pats increased their return average from 7.9 YPR to 11.7 YPR, good for 3rd in the league. The Pats kick-returning was the TOPS in the league.

I agree that Gost did good, but I think your bias allowed you to over-rate him. He was a B+/A- in my opinion.

everlong

His injury from last year is a good point and probably contributed to him getting off to a slow start but at the end of the day everybody is playing hurt at some point.

He wasn't a factor the last 6 weeks of the season including the playoffs.

He was never a factor even if he was hurt and I don't know where you saw seperation because when they did play him there was a defender on his hip every time.

He had a ton of drops and he also had a couple of tips that went for INTs. The one against the Bears he got drilled but it's still a turnover.

I really don't think he was having a great season before the injury but if you want to cut him some slack for the injury maybe it was a B-. I'm just worried that he relaxed a little now that they showed him the money.

Wright was one of our best special teams players so why isn't Hill a ST player?

You're correct.

I was just making a point because I was so sick of hearing the Vinitieri crap for so long an A- is probably the correct grade but the kid was money in the playoffs and you could see the difference he was making on kickoffs with his hang time. Hobbs was at the 15 before Colts were in the frame and Wilkens was getting drilled by the 15.

__________________
"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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Patriot Missile

Pretty dead on assesment. Not bad at all but if you were to grade vs other teams we would be in the top 3 or 4.

I wouldn't change a thing about the offensive or defensive line. Magnificent this season.

Our LBs are capable but slowing down for sure. FA or draft for sure.

Secondary was hard to gauge all year long. Towards the latter 1/2 they played A-. That being said it will weaken with Samuels departure. I don't work for the Pat's ofcourse but his return looks bleak at best. I still can't gauge Hobb's. He's up and down.

My one prediction that Watson would be a monster didn't come through. All the physical ability in the world with suspect route running and shaky hands. Graham was solid as usual and Dave Thomas was a bright suprise.

Special teams was very good,always disciplined for the most part and came through a few times.

I've come to the conclusion that we have very capable 2,3,4 wrs but as usual no clear cut #1 guy. We haven't had one since Troys magical season a few years back. Priority imo of finding another one.

Dillon and Maroney paired well. Dillon didn't seem ready to give his job up to the rookie because the rookie just didn't seem to want the starting role. Maroney is good but I have come to question his hunger to be elite.

Brady was excellent this season,I feel for Brady in the sense that every single time the game is on the line they expect him to pull miracles out of his helmet.It's just not gonna happen everytime and it didn't for this one game. In a very strange way I'm glad it's over and he failed. Not glad that they lost by no means,just glad to know he is human. As a fan I would feel a unnatural pressure along with TB for him to succeed in these situations. I wonder how he must feel being put on a gigantic pedestal everytime the game is close in the 4th quarter? That's too much to ask of anyone,I don't care how much he is paid,that's too much. He played really good yesterday,good enough to win on any other day. He is the best QB on the planet.

Coaches did a good job. They blew a couple of big games we should of won this season including the last one. They played Marty ball and lost not running the ball. I would like to see a new offensive coordinator in there. Somebody who can get the running game better than it was this season. It wasn't bad by no means but I think it could be alot better.

Anyway I didn't grade anything here. Just not in the mood today.

Box_O_Rocks

TBC grades higher than you gave him credit - he started against the running team while Alexander started against the passing team - he also played alongside Seymour whom you rightly graded down, that makes a difference - we also need to remember that this was his first 1/2 season of drawing starts.

I think Hobbs was graded too low also, people still threw more balls at Asante - I wish Reiss would see if the team will share some of their stats on tackles, passes defended, pass attempts per player, etc. I think it would be eye opening on many players.

Both Light and Kaczur came back off injuries and slowly improved as the season progressed.

I don't see how Hawkins gets a C and Wilson an F - I disagree with your practice of taking off for injuries - when I watched tape I did not see Wilson playing poorly, mistakes yes, the same as other players, but poorly no. When he was available he got the start over Hawkins whom you at least gave a C (which seems right).

Jackson is a rookie with limited playing time, INC at worst - he was doing some nice blocking as he got more time in after the second injury break, and he was in on a STs tackle last night. The kid is learning how to do the little things and I think being groomed to overcome some of his WR co(c)kiness (darned cuss blockers). I like the prospect better now then last Spring with all the fan hype.

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JackBauer

Jackson deserves an incomplete, IMO.

You're giving Colvin a C+? WTF? He was our best LB this year.

Sanders a C+, too?

Whatever.

SWelker

haha, some of these grades are unreal, it's obvious this is the day after a playoff loss, i'll tell you that.

everlong

I'm sure there may be some of that but I gave Caldwell a B and he was awful yesterday. Wilfork didn't have a great game and he also got a B. Light had an outstanding game and he was a C+.

I think if you go back over the course of the season and break players performance down you might be able to move players up and down half a grade but that's always open to interpretation.

The one grade looking back on this mornings post I'd probably change is moving Colvin up to a B from a C+. He had a good year but I still think he gives up contain too much in the run game. McGinist when he was on was superior in doing this but Colvin did switch sides when Junior went down so I'd cut him more slack for that.

__________________
"When Peyton Manning was a kid he used to go to bed at night and dream about throwing the winning touchdown for the Saints in the Superbowl. And on Sunday he did."

There's only two conclusions for Patriots fans on rookies. They are either a bust or being fitted for their bust in Canton.


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