What's with the sudden panic over the offense?

[IllegalContact]

Woodhead > Blount and Washington

It's a downgrade. The hope is that Vereen improves enough to offset that downgrade.

Vereen > Woodhead

otherwise, the pats would have tried to hold onto woodhead

 

[Sicilian]

I'm not panicked, but if they make it through the first six games of the season without a losing a game due to the offense being seemingly out of sync, I'll be very surprised (and extremely impressed). The talent is there to be a top offense, but given the number of new faces (or old faces expected to take on bigger roles), there's going to be some stumbles early. The hope is that by mid-season, the roles have been defined, they're relatively healthy, and the offense is in stride for the stretch.

 

[Jimke]

Time to at least sign another veteran tight end namely Dwight
Clark or David Thomas.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Don't sleep on special teams either - Edelman is the best punt returner in franchise history and Leon Washington is one of the best kick returners in league history, giving Brady shorter fields to work with will go a long way to helping the offense out if they are struggling.

Edelman is three decent (i.e., 5-6 yards or more) returns away from holding the NFL record for career punt return average (it requires 75 returns, he has 72).

 

[IllegalContact]

massive opportunity for UDFA Mark Harrison.....the offense needs Rutgers players, too

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Yes the offense has downgraded. But it's always been our defense that needs to take that step into a top 10 caliber, playmaking unit more than we need to maintain the offensive weapons. We've had some of the greatest all time offenses the last 6 or 7 years, and regardless of how bad our offense might be this year they can't possibly perform worse than those did in the biggest games each year. There's reason to be worried but for that reason I'm not as concerned anymore. We're making the playoffs barring an injury to Brady, so the team needs to be built for January. We made big strides towards that down the stretch last year after the Talib trade and emergence of Dennard. And this offseason while there is plenty panic over the changes offensively, the defense has been improved or at least potentially improved, and they've been in areas that were lacking the most - interior pass rush, secondary.

 

[IllegalContact]

Yes the offense has downgraded. But it's always been our defense that needs to take that step into a top 10 caliber, playmaking unit more than we need to maintain the offensive weapons. We've had some of the greatest all time offenses the last 6 or 7 years, and regardless of how bad our offense might be this year they can't possibly perform worse than those did in the biggest games each year. There's reason to be worried but for that reason I'm not as concerned anymore. We're making the playoffs barring an injury to Brady, so the team needs to be built for January. We made big strides towards that down the stretch last year after the Talib trade and emergence of Dennard. And this offseason while there is plenty panic over the changes offensively, the defense has been improved or at least potentially improved, and they've been in areas that were lacking the most - interior pass rush, secondary.

I think the offense has the bodies to be at the same point by the end of the year........don't have a choice but to give lots of reps to Dobson and/or Boyce

they will likely frustrate at time, but I think they also give the offense something it has not had for awhile.....the ability to spread the field more helps every other aspect

 

[SVN]

They are going to have their struggles especially in the 1st half of the season. If the new guys signed can improve later in the season it can get better. They usually do every year. so that is something to hold your hat on.

 

[Kontradiction]

Vereen > Woodhead

otherwise, the pats would have tried to hold onto woodhead

Aye. Gerard Warren > Richard Seymour.

Otherwise, the Pats would have tried to hold onto Seymour.

 

[IllegalContact]

Aye. Gerard Warren > Richard Seymour.

Otherwise, the Pats would have tried to hold onto Seymour.

a really bad comparison

 

[BradyFTW!]

Huge downgrades at WR/TE
Downgrade at RB

But we'll read all about Brady declining if the offense suffers.

Downgrade at RB? Because Woodhead's gone?

Respectfully disagree on that one; the only thing that Woodhead has over Vereen is durability, and that's not even a total slam dunk.

 

[Sicilian]

Aye. Gerard Warren > Richard Seymour.

Otherwise, the Pats would have tried to hold onto Seymour.

Not quite an apples to apples comparison. Seymour was traded, and value came back for him. They didn't think that Warren > Seymour. They thought Warren plus a 1st round pick brought more long term value than having Seymour for one more season.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Aye. Gerard Warren > Richard Seymour.

Otherwise, the Pats would have tried to hold onto Seymour.

Not really comparable. Look at Seymour's salary, look at Warren's salary, and then add in the first round pick that they got from the Ravens. That's entirely why the Pats made the move.

If Woodhead had left for big FA bucks, then you'd have a good point. But he signed with SD for 2 years, $3.5 million. The Pats could have easily matched that if they wanted to, but they didn't care to because they knew they could replace him without much difficulty.

 

[Deus Irae]

Downgrade at RB? Because Woodhead's gone?

Absolutely

Respectfully disagree on that one; the only thing that Woodhead has over Vereen is durability, and that's not even a total slam dunk.

You're wrong here, because Woodhead is a better pass blocker as well, but Vereen was on the team last year, so I don't know why you're pointing to him. The change at RB will involve Blount and/or Washington.

 

[jmt57]

Aye. Gerard Warren > Richard Seymour.

Otherwise, the Pats would have tried to hold onto Seymour.

Compare Seymour's contract to Warren's

Now compare Woodhead's contract to Vereen's



The Pats letting Woodhead walk has nothing to do with trading Seymour.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Not really comparable. Look at Seymour's salary, look at Warren's salary, and then add in the first round pick that they got from the Ravens. That's entirely why the Pats made the move.

Raiders, thankfully.

In any case, giving up one last season of Seymour turned into Brady getting Nate Solder to guard his blind side for the rest of his career. I wouldn't call that a net loss.

 

[IllegalContact]

Not really comparable. Look at Seymour's salary, look at Warren's salary, and then add in the first round pick that they got from the Ravens. That's entirely why the Pats made the move.

If Woodhead had left for big FA bucks, then you'd have a good point. But he signed with SD for an easily doable amount of money.

not only that, but warren and Seymour were never on the roster together........vereen replaced woodhead by the end of last season (18 touches to 5 in the playoffs)

vereen is an upgrade.......you don't have to run him out of the shotgun

 

[Sivy]

If I know the Patriots, like I think I do. With all this talk about their downfall and all the crap about the WR/TE..one thing is pretty much for sure, they will be going to the Superbowl this season.

 

[IllegalContact]

Absolutely



You're wrong here, because Woodhead is a better pass blocker as well, but Vereen was on the team last year, so I don't know why you're pointing to him. The change at RB will involve Blount and/or Washington.

that's not what the coaches thought come playoff time last year........

you're wrong......there is so much more to RB than pass blocking

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Right, I have a ton of confidence with our coach who lost his last 20 games in Denver, and then ran the worst offense in the entire league in St. Louis despite Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson.

We'll see how well all these tons of ex-Rams and ex-Broncos do that were brought over here now that Welker, Gronk, and Hernandez are now out.