Pats backroom let down Brady AGAIN

I can't comment on the players drafted other than to say that .... hopefully Easley regains his health and becomes the disruptive force the Pats believe he can be.

At least they're going to serenade Tom by putting together a choir:

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2014/05/tight_end_justin_jones_among_n.html

Deus Irae said:

I'll probably lead the board in negative responses (disagree/dislike), and I don't care. I post on another board that uses negative rep, so it's going to be water off a duck's back, as far as I'm concerened. Others will care though, and it can get frustrating to see a negative on things that obviously don't call for it, even if you don't generally give a damn. Just to use an extreme example, posting "The Patriots won the game" after a win, and getting a bunch of disagrees, is not conducive to a good board. That's why I brought this up in an earlier thread.

Also, every post that disagrees with another is contrarian. That's a meaningless term. On this board, which is very homer-centric, any disagreement with team moves is often attacked as contrarian.

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It's not that you are a contrarian that people don't like you. It is because you are an arrogant know-it-all who demeans anyone who disagrees with you.

Personally, I have no problems with contrarians and people are critical of the Pats. I have problem with people like you who ram your opinions down other people throats and dismiss anyone who disagree with you as homers.

And for the record, I really don't care for the like or dislike feature and would be for doing away with both.

Snake Eyes said:

Please tell me where I said that, if you can't than you shouldn't lump me in with other posters. The defense failed but the offense also failed to put up points in the playoffs, as they have for years.
Like it or not, they're a finesse team built for the regular reason..........

A physical team can run when they want to run, when the defense knows it's coming and still can't stop it. That's what physical means, you can impose your will on your opponent.

How did running work against the Broncos?

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AFC Divisional against Colts: 46 car 234 yds 5.1 avg
AFCCG against Broncos: 16 car 64 yds 4.0 avg.

Seems obvious that a major problem was Mcdaniels wetting the bed (as he did in the incredibly mismanaged Miami game that cost HFA) and abandoning the run in the AFCCG. Blount didn't get it done

Texxx said:

Finally someone in here who doesn't have Bellicheck's thump up their ass.

Preaching to the choir brother. Don't worry about the homers bashing you in here. They bash me relentlessly, but always end up with pie in their face at the end of the season when those problems I mention end up surfacing. It's the internet and most people rep everything their franchise does as the correct thing for some reason and when things go wrong, they end up knee jerking on the players who weren't fit to carry the load any way.

Yes this was a horrible draft. It's not like they needed a ton on offense, but Brady definitely needs help. People who actually think that Lefell is the answer have no clue about the NFL, so don't even respond to those comments. I really don't understand why they didn't bring in Jackson when he was a free agent. This team could discipline him I think, but that's over. No point in discussing that. I think at this point we have to hope that Gronk can stay healthy which is very doubtful and that Dobson can learn how to catch a football more than twice in one game. But I don't understand at all why they aren't doing everything possible to build a SB winner right now when you see what the Broncos are doing. It's mind boggling actually.

Another thing to mention is that people seem to have amnesia as to how injury prone Edelman is. Sure, he lasted last season but his history says he might be an injury waiting to happen. Hopefully not, but I'd be a fool to expect Amendola to stagy healthy for more than 4 games at a time. Brittles simply can't be counted on to play Welker. It's amazing at how under appreciated Welker was in this place.

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Worst record in the NFL, a QB roster of Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, T.J Yates and the "braintrust" of your team waits until the 4th round to pick "Tom Savage"??????

And you have the temerity to come here and criticize a 12-4, AFC Championship game team??????

Great entertainment!!!!!

English Patriot said:

Did they not get the memo? Tom needs help! Forehead over in Denver is throwing to all pros but once again when needing to get receiving help Brady will be asked to throw to UFA rookies like Kenbrell Thompkins for miracle game winning TD's.

They had stud tight ends and abundance of good college receivers sitting there at every pick waiting to be taken but instead decide to take a player that could have been had later on.

They must be expecting some serious year 2 jumps from what they already have and think Amendola is going to REALLY turn into Welker this time because without even knowing if Gronk will be 100% ready to go they did nothing in free agency to help and nothing in the draft either.

So what's the master plan now? Dustin Keller? The dude whose leg bent in half less than a year ago?

What a let down once again, but it's OK right? Tom is Tom and will find a way won't he. Pathetic if you ask me.

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They drafted a Center and two offensive linemen; not sexy picks, but definitely intended to help Brady. There were no slam dunk candidates at WR or TE left of which I'm aware when they were on the clock (emphasis on "slam dunk"); those often are dangerous picks, as the Pats have learned over the years. With their first round pick they elected to take a reasonable but calculated risk at an important position. I think someone could ask reasonable questions about their second rounder, but otherwise I completely disagree with your post.

FourierSeries said:

He's not right at all. Denver had the best offense in NFL history last year and scored only 8 points in the SB. The reason they beat us was because they dominated in the trenches. The reason they lost in the SB was because they got dominated in the trenches by Seattle. Notice a theme?

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Texxx wouldn't notice any theme. He wouldn't notice an earthquake in his backyard.

His (worst record in the NFL) team's QB roster is Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum and TJ Yates - - and their front office waited 4 rounds to pick someone named Tom Savage.

The only way to avoid debilitating depression must be to come here and criticize the perennial 11-14 win model franchise of this century.

So, yes, he's someone who isn't exactly posting reality-based material. Evidently, it is therapy.

Brady6 said:

That's true, and if we had drafted Joel Bitonio, Xavier Su'a-Filo, Marcus Martin, or another top OL prospect I would have been extremely pleased with the draft. We didn't however we drafted Stork and Halapio who were

both graded out as 7th round - UDFA.

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You continually quote 'the graders' as if quoting the Bible. Do you close your eyes and thump your chest then raise your hands while doing so?

WHO graded them there? Charlie Casserly????

With apologies to teachers everywhere, 'Those who can't do, write scouting blogs'.

You may as well rely on celebrity stock picks.

shmessy said:

AFC Divisional against Colts: 46 car 234 yds 5.1 avg
AFCCG against Broncos: 16 car 64 yds 4.0 avg.

Seems obvious that a major problem was Mcdaniels wetting the bed (as he did in the incredibly mismanaged Miami game that cost HFA) and abandoning the run in the AFCCG. Blount didn't get it done

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First half runs from all 5 drives:

2nd and 5 - no gain
2nd and 4 - 1 yard
2nd and 10 - 5 yards, followed by 1st and 10 - 0 yards
1st and 10 - 3 yards, followed by 1st and 10 - 2 yards and 1st and 10 - 0 yards
last drive, 25 seconds on clock, 2 passes followed by an end of half run for 5 yards


By the time the Patriots got the ball again in the second half, the score was already 20-3.

First drive of 2nd half had 5 runs, as the Patriots moved the ball from their 20 to the Denver 29, but failed to convert on 4th down.

After that, it was 23-3 with 12 minutes left in the game, and no time to keep screwing around with a struggling run game.

You must have been watching some other AFCCG.

Brady6 said:

Logan Mankins is the best OG we have had in recent memory, take look at his athletic ability compared to Halapio and Stork.

Logan Mankins
Combine Invite: yes
Height: 6041
Weight: 307
40 Yrd Dash: 5.06
20 Yrd Dash: 3.00
10 Yrd Dash: 1.85
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 21
Vertical Jump: 31 1/2
Broad Jump: 07'11"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.45
3-Cone Drill: 7.54

Jon Halapio
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6034
Weight: 323
40 Yrd Dash: 5.29
20 Yrd Dash: 3.06
10 Yrd Dash: 1.83
225 Lb. Bench Reps: N/A
Vertical Jump: 21 1/2
Broad Jump: 08'04"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.83
3-Cone Drill: 8.26

Bryan Stork
Dates: 03/18/14
Height: 6037
Weight: 315
40 Yrd Dash: 5.44
20 Yrd Dash: 3.09
10 Yrd Dash: 1.81
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 21
Vertical Jump: 26
Broad Jump: 08'01"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 5.02
3-Cone Drill: 7.90

Take a look at Marcus Cannon for good measure, at 358 lbs.

Marcus Cannon
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6050
Weight: 358
40 Yrd Dash: 5.26
20 Yrd Dash: 3.07
10 Yrd Dash: 1.84
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 33
Vertical Jump: 30 1/2
Broad Jump: 08'09"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.97
3-Cone Drill: 8.07
5.22/5.34/5.43 40 range before Combine


Unless we are changing are OL scheme I cannot see how Stork and Halapio fit.

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Unbelievable.

A fan of a team that has had Tom Brady at QB for 14 years is quoting 3 cone drill and 20 yard shuttle measurements...........

Shakes head...........

English Patriot said:

Because plenty of teams have GREAT lines that protect their QB but don't have receivers worth a lick that can get open and catch the football.

Honestly even with the potentially improved 0-line if Amendola doesn't step up, Edelman doesn't keep up that pace and those rookies don't make a jump to go along with Gronk having to be there for it work then you are going to see the same thing as last year.

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The English generals kept preparing for WWI even when Adoph was waging Blitzkreig on them, as he did to Poland the year before.

You are doing the same. This WR crew is much different from the raw rookies, of last year, plus two or three stars are returning from injuries. This draft was almost exclusively devoted to the Offense, aside from the un-characterisitic Easly Gamble on Greatness.

You should be happy they are trying to keep Brady off the IR list. If he gets sacked another 40 times like last season, on IR he Will be.

I like BB's approach of always building long term instead of putting everything into a year or two. Denver is 0-2 with manning and this approach.

That being said I do wish he would have gotten a pass catcher in the draft, but we will see how the UDFA's look. I was hoping ASJ would fall more than he did. Oh well.

Snake Eyes said:

Hmmm, so if we got to Manning more, and if they got to Brady less, would that have made a difference?

The Giants dared us to run but because Maroney could not break arm tackles the running game was weak and the Giants didn't bother to defend it, if they did the D-line would have been in far less of a position to tee off on Brady.

Would the game have been less equal?

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Maroney ran for a 100 yards in the other two playoff games. Other than when the Giants were missing 2 of the 4 starting defensive linemen, did any running back torch that line? I don't think so. It was outstanding.

And the same scenario would be true if the Giants key defensive linemen did not return from injuries at just the right time. That is luck, not skill. The fact the timing of the Pats' injuries prevented completely healthy players from taking the field is similarly luck.

Salary caps impose limitations. Plain and simple. You give to one side of the ball, and take from the other. The Pats tried to upgrade the D with Adalius Thomas that year (a very high profile transaction lost in memory with Moss's addition), but it didn't pan out to the degree hoped. They added Welker and Moss, and that did pan out. The D was typically spotted lots of points and could use defenses directed to predictable passing situations, but it was aging. But the Pats could have added another player on the D and not signed Moss. A better team? Probably not. Win the title? Maybe not even find the way to the title game as the Chargers and Jaguars were not huge blowouts and the schedule was sufficiently tough that a few more losses might have made the road that much more difficult to clear.

The end result was 18-1 with a close loss at the end of the year. Anyone claiming to know how the Pats could magically have ended at 19-0 under the salary cap with the available transactions probably never appreciated the difficulty level in clearing 12-0, 16-0 or 18-0 in the NFL as it is now. If you want to believe the Giants took that game from the Pats by force and luck had nothing to do with it, then you never watched the winning drive. Luck, luck and more luck.

Brady6 said:

It is more hilarious that the Patriots lost a player that they valued at $40M and have not replaced him and you do not have any concerns and keep coming back to Brandon LaFell who is not going to fill that role, he is a 6'3" 210lb WR I'm not sure where this idea came from that he could play tight end, LaFell put up 11 reps at the combine in 2010 so unless he has been hitting the juice he does not have the strength to play TE.

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"I'm not sure where this idea came from that he could play tight end....."
--------------------------------

Golly gee, 6, I dunno. WHERE oh WHERE could that have come from..........:

http://nesn.com/2014/03/ron-rivera-brandon-lafell-knows-how-to-play-tight-end/

But what does an actual NFL HC who coached him know compared to some "scouting blogger" who cannot get a job with any one of 32 NFL teams?

Triumph said:

Vereens a 3rd down RB. How many does McDaniels need? Bolden can contribute on 3rd down.

TE is weak. WR is questionable hoping that Almendola can stay healthy and that the 3 rookie WRs improve. If Gronk does not stay healty, the gameplan hasnt changed to defend the NE dink and dunk offense.

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How can TE be "weak" when you own the best TE in the League?

james87654 said:

I like BB's approach of always building long term instead of putting everything into a year or two. Denver is 0-2 with manning and this approach.

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BB is currently on an 0-9 run with his approach. We can stop pretending he's found THE WAY. He clearly hasn't.

shmessy said:

Unbelievable.

A fan of a team that has had Tom Brady at QB for 14 years is quoting 3 cone drill and 20 yard shuttle measurements...........

Shakes head...........

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Tom Brady had a 7.20 3-cone time and 4.38 20-yard shuffle; both those times are respectable for a pocket QB.

Deus Irae said:

I'll probably lead the board in negative responses (disagree/dislike), and I don't care. I post on another board that uses negative rep, so it's going to be water off a duck's back, as far as I'm concerened. Others will care though, and it can get frustrating to see a negative on things that obviously don't call for it, even if you don't generally give a damn. Just to use an extreme example, posting "The Patriots won the game" after a win, and getting a bunch of disagrees, is not conducive to a good board. That's why I brought this up in an earlier thread.

Also, every post that disagrees with another is contrarian. That's a meaningless term. On this board, which is very homer-centric, any disagreement with team moves is often attacked as contrarian.

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Maybe but I don't think it's that hard to tell the difference between a poster who is being honest and objective, and one just trying to troll/stir the pot by being negative. That's what I mean by contrarian. Every board has them....

shmessy said:

"I'm not sure where this idea came from that he could play tight end....."
--------------------------------

Golly gee, 6, I dunno. WHERE oh WHERE could that have come from..........:

http://nesn.com/2014/03/ron-rivera-brandon-lafell-knows-how-to-play-tight-end/

But what does an actual NFL HC who coached him know compared to some "scouting blogger" who cannot get a job with any one of 32 NFL teams?

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Ron Rivera said he knows how to play tight end that is good, I know how to play tight end too; it does not mean I can play the position in the NFL.

He does not have the size or strength to play the tight end position in the NFL, he may be able to do some of the things in terms of routes and alignment that we did with Hernandez, but he does not create the matchup opportunities that Hernandez did.

Deus Irae said:

First half runs from all 5 drives:

2nd and 5 - no gain
2nd and 4 - 1 yard
2nd and 10 - 5 yards, followed by 1st and 10 - 0 yards
1st and 10 - 3 yards, followed by 1st and 10 - 2 yards and 1st and 10 - 0 yards
last drive, 25 seconds on clock, 2 passes followed by an end of half run for 5 yards


By the time the Patriots got the ball again in the second half, the score was already 20-3.

First drive of 2nd half had 5 runs, as the Patriots moved the ball from their 20 to the Denver 29, but failed to convert on 4th down.

After that, it was 23-3 with 12 minutes left in the game, and no time to keep screwing around with a struggling run game.

You must have been watching some other AFCCG.

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Whoa!!!!!!!

You gave a rush-by-rush summary of the first half runs. Then you quickly say "First drive of 2nd half had 5 runs, as the Patriots moved the ball from their 20 to the Denver 29, but failed to convert on 4th down. After that, it was 23-3 with 12 minutes left in the game, and no time to keep screwing around with a struggling run game."

Why the difference in detail there, Deus? Could it have been that those 5 runs were for 23 yards (4.6 avg) and that one of them was merely a botched Brady fall forward for 2 yards - -without that one it was 4 for 21 (5.25 avg).

I can't imagine you didn't use the same detail there that you did for the first half runs in an attempt to massage the point or anything.........

Brady6 said:

It is more hilarious that the Patriots lost a player that they valued at $40M and have not replaced him and you do not have any concerns and keep coming back to Brandon LaFell who is not going to fill that role, he is a 6'3" 210lb WR I'm not sure where this idea came from that he could play tight end, LaFell put up 11 reps at the combine in 2010 so unless he has been hitting the juice he does not have the strength to play TE.

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Where did I say LaFell was going to play TE or fill that specific role? My point was production wise he will probably give more than any WR or TE they could have drafted.