Which player are you most excited about?

ripatsfan91 · Jun 27, 2014

I think a lot of people are sleeping on Thompkins... if he learned he doesn't have to leave his feet to make a catch he could be really good. Let's hope his cousin, Antonio Brown, taught him something. They are very similar in playing style/skill set IMO

That being said:

1. Gronk - the return of the best TE in the game. Stays healthy entire season; our offense was too reliant on him last year. Just as good as decoy to draw attention, but don't target him 20 times a game like the Jets game last year.

2. Easley - Finally a guy who can penetrate the middle.

3. Collins - Freak do it all LB? Hope the extra size didn't slow him down. Starting to think we'll see Collins as the SAM with Hightower as the Mike and Mayo as the Will.

4. Revis - Kind of expecting him to be what he has been, potential put Collins and Easley in front.

5. Brady - think he will be extra motivated with all the decline talk and people doubting him.

6. Chandler Jones - Takes the next step in 3rd year and becomes Robert Quinn-esque.

7. McCourty - center field with Revis and Browner = big year.

8. Hightower - definitely a crossroads in his career either average or pro bowl.

9. Thompkins/Dobson/Boyce - One if not two will improve significantly. Thompkins/Dobson are my bets. Would like to see them use Boyce as a weapon similar to hernandez; line him up every where backfield/slot/out wide/

10.Ridley - Hang onto the ball. Reiss said he thinks he could be cut but I say no shot. Explosive. Contract year is 1300 yd rusher.

HM: Bequette - can't wait to see his face before final cuts. Does he make it?

AzorianPats · Jun 27, 2014

In no order...

Easley, Revis, Gronk, Collins

SacPete1 · Jun 27, 2014

3rd down pass rush which I'm hoping is some combination of:

Jones, Smith, Easley, Ninko, Buchanon

BlueThunder · Jun 27, 2014

Everytime a choose a player I'm excited about seeing what he can do he gets cut.....

This year it's Armstead ........ buh bye

mayoclinic · Jun 27, 2014

BlueThunder said:
Everytime a choose a player I'm excited about seeing what he can do he gets cut.....

This year it's Armstead ........ buh bye

Armstead is something of a unique case. There's no doubt that he has the talent to contribute, possibly significantly. BB's comments suggest that he's a hard worker and has the drive and work ethic necessary. And finally, his health situation is not a case of lingering injuries, but of legitimate problems not of his own making. Armstead's lawyer apparently said during an April hearing that Armstead was having ongoing blood clotting issues (which could be related to either his previous heart attack or his infection from last year, or both), which would certainly be an issue in playing a contract sport.

An Added Wrinkle in the Armstead Mystery - Extra Points - Boston.com

Obviously, you can't make the club from the tub, and if Armstead can't get medical clearance to get on the field, the team will eventually move on in some fashion. I agree that the odds aren't in his favor at this point. But this is a different situation than most, and I'm still hoping that Armstead can somehow get clearance to get on the field and show what he can do.

mgteich · Jun 27, 2014

Revis and Browner (not close)

If one can only use "excited" about the offense, then Brady and Gronkowski.

FreeTedWilliams · Jun 27, 2014

Did y'all see the chart of the Patriots redzone effectiveness with and without the Gronk?

Patriots 2013 Red Zone Efficiency
Weeks Pct.
Weeks 1-6 41%
Weeks 7-14 69%*
Weeks 15-17 46%
* Rob Gronkowski active
Source: ESPN Stats & Information

That is incredible! I'm ready for a full season of the Gronk!

SalemPats · Jun 27, 2014

For me it's:

1. Revis - We all know he's a shutdown corner, but i don't think people know how good he actually is. Watch him live and see how he dominates on every play.

2. Lafell - I liked him in Carolina, i think he can be an impact player.

3. Mini-tron - I love this guy, i think he'll be top 5 in receptions/yards this year.

Brady6 · Jun 27, 2014

mayoclinic said:
Armstead is something of a unique case. There's no doubt that he has the talent to contribute, possibly significantly. BB's comments suggest that he's a hard worker and has the drive and work ethic necessary. And finally, his health situation is not a case of lingering injuries, but of legitimate problems not of his own making. Armstead's lawyer apparently said during an April hearing that Armstead was having ongoing blood clotting issues (which could be related to either his previous heart attack or his infection from last year, or both), which would certainly be an issue in playing a contract sport.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2014/06/an_added_wrinkle_in_the_armond_armstead_mystery.html

Obviously, you can't make the club from the tub, and if Armstead can't get medical clearance to get on the field, the team will eventually move on in some fashion. I agree that the odds aren't in his favor at this point. But this is a different situation than most, and I'm still hoping that Armstead can somehow get clearance to get on the field and show what he can do.

Unless Armstead plays and shows poorly in the preseason I cannot see any reason to cut him. I would PUP him, the team saves only $170K cutting Armstead. I would hang onto him and give things another shot in 2015 if he isn't ready this year, he still only 23 years old.

mayoclinic · Jun 27, 2014

Brady6 said:
Unless Armstead plays and shows poorly in the preseason I cannot see any reason to cut him. I would PUP him, the team saves only $170K cutting Armstead. I would hang onto him and give things another shot in 2015 if he isn't ready this year, he still only 23 years old.

I agree. That's part of why I was deliberately vague with the terms "eventually" and "move on in some fashion".

Joker · Jun 27, 2014

Hey...off topic but...whaddya call a fish with 2 knees??????

Zeus · Jun 27, 2014

Joker said:
Hey...off topic but...whaddya call a fish with 2 knees??????

a two-knee fish

Kontradiction · Jun 27, 2014

Zeus said:
a two-knee fish

Nyuck nyuck nyuck.

jah · Jun 27, 2014

Revis, Collins, Dobson/Thompkins (I'm guessing one will take the leap and the other will disappoint). Can't really rank them.

EDIT: Harmon (or whoever else plays safety next to McCourty) as well.

Kontradiction · Jun 27, 2014

Not that many people are getting excited about Buchanan. Buchanan was a guy that could have been a second round talent had he not broken his jaw in a fist fight. He flashed some serious ability to get to the quarterback last year but also made mental lapses that you would expect of a rookie. He's since bulked up to try to become a three down DE. If he can fine tune his technique and situational awareness, he could potentially be a force in that rotation.

jays52 · Jun 27, 2014

For me it's not so much about a player but as position groupings as a whole, specifically ones that have been desperately needed for quite some time.

1) Linebacker. This team hasn't had a group of linebackers this good playing in position since 2004. Mayo is a natural weakside guy in the 43, and one hell of a pursuit player. Hightower will play where he belongs in the middle and most significantly contribute his exceptional timing into the blitz game. They haven't had a good inside blitzer since Bruschi. Collins is obvious and immense at a very important and diverse position in the 43, particularly the 43 under. The amount of high level versatility he presents (especially compounded by the nature of the sam) makes him the premier piece on the board. Oddly enough, I'm perhaps most excited by James Anderson. They've needed a legitimate inside sub linebacker in quite some time. Now they have three guys who can all play at a high level in sub. It opens up endless permutations and the ability to essentially pick their mismatch along the defensive line to exploit.

2) Secondary and the strength of it's personnel. When's the last time you looked at the depth chart of the defensive backs, blinked, and said, "yeah, that's pretty damn good"? Perhaps most important in all of this is how the outside and (to a lesser extent) inside guys are physical, in-your-face press corners. Combine that with fast, athletic linebackers who can both cover and blitz. Now add good linemen and a safety with corner range and best in position field vision. This defense is going to be fast, upfield, and create all kinds of turnovers and negative plays. It is, without question, the most athletic group Belichick has ever fielded. It's going to be a freaking joy to watch them.

3) Red Zone offense. Football 101 states that when the field shrinks it must elevate. That's why with Gronk on the field last year red zone efficiency skyrocketed. A guy who can win with body positioning and height is invaluable in the red zone. Adding another big body in LaFell in addition to two taller outside receivers changes, literally, everything.

For three years the Patriots were a final-4 quality team with three achilles heels that proved to be fatal. Those three fatal flaws have become elite strengths and that alone is enough to make any fan giddy.

mayoclinic · Jun 27, 2014

jays52 said:
For me it's not so much about a player but as position groupings as a whole, specifically ones that have been desperately needed for quite some time.

1) Linebacker. This team hasn't had a group of linebackers this good playing in position since 2004. Mayo is a natural weakside guy in the 43, and one hell of a pursuit player. Hightower will play where he belongs in the middle and most significantly contribute his exceptional timing into the blitz game. They haven't had a good inside blitzer since Bruschi. Collins is obvious and immense at a very important and diverse position in the 43, particularly the 43 under. The amount of high level versatility he presents (especially compounded by the nature of the sam) makes him the premier piece on the board. Oddly enough, I'm perhaps most excited by James Anderson. They've needed a legitimate inside sub linebacker in quite some time. Now they have three guys who can all play at a high level in sub. It opens up endless permutations and the ability to essentially pick their mismatch along the defensive line to exploit.

2) Secondary and the strength of it's personnel. When's the last time you looked at the depth chart of the defensive backs, blinked, and said, "yeah, that's pretty damn good"? Perhaps most important in all of this is how the outside and (to a lesser extent) inside guys are physical, in-your-face press corners. Combine that with fast, athletic linebackers who can both cover and blitz. Now add good linemen and a safety with corner range and best in position field vision. This defense is going to be fast, upfield, and create all kinds of turnovers and negative plays. It is, without question, the most athletic group Belichick has ever fielded. It's going to be a freaking joy to watch them.

3) Red Zone offense. Football 101 states that when the field shrinks it must elevate. That's why with Gronk on the field last year red zone efficiency skyrocketed. A guy who can win with body positioning and height is invaluable in the red zone. Adding another big body in LaFell in addition to two taller outside receivers changes, literally, everything.

For three years the Patriots were a final-4 quality team with three achilles heels that proved to be fatal. Those three fatal flaws have become elite strengths and that alone is enough to make any fan giddy.

Great post as always, Jay. Personally, I'm not ready to declare that the red zone offense has become an "elite strength". A healthy Gronk will obviously help, but I need to see more before I can buy into the "elite" label. It's clearly one of the most key areas. Most of the time, things seem to come down to:

1. Third down offense / defense
2. Red zone offense / defense
3. Turnovers (+ / -)

Sicilian · Jun 27, 2014

KontradictioN said:
Not that many people are getting excited about Buchanan. Buchanan was a guy that could have been a second round talent had he not broken his jaw in a fist fight. He flashed some serious ability to get to the quarterback last year but also made mental lapses that you would expect of a rookie. He's since bulked up to try to become a three down DE. If he can fine tune his technique and situational awareness, he could potentially be a force in that rotation.

I think for me I hesitate with Buchanan because I didn't see improvement as the season went on. Now that may not be exactly fair, because I think we saw him played more than he should have been early in the season because we were lacking other options. But where he contributed on a few plays early on, he all but disappeared as the season wore on and offenses got a bit of a book on him. I have high hopes for the kid too, I think he can learn to adapt and grow as a player, but having not seen that towards the end of last season (as we did see with Collins), I have a hard time getting "excited" about him yet.

PatsWickedPissah · Jun 27, 2014

KontradictioN said:
Not that many people are getting excited about Buchanan. Buchanan was a guy that could have been a second round talent had he not broken his jaw in a fist fight. He flashed some serious ability to get to the quarterback last year but also made mental lapses that you would expect of a rookie. He's since bulked up to try to become a three down DE. If he can fine tune his technique and situational awareness, he could potentially be a force in that rotation.

I'm noticing some serious bro love here from you over Buch.
I'm curious, do you have pictures of him all over your bedroom walls?
Enquiring minds need to know.

Kontradiction · Jun 27, 2014

PatsWickedPissah said:
I'm noticing some serious bro love here from you over Buch.
I'm curious, do you have pictures of him all over your bedroom walls?
Enquiring minds need to know.

I have his head cut and pasted onto a poster with Adriana Lima's body on my roof.

Which player are you most excited about?

On the Game Day Roster

In the Starting Line-Up

On the Game Day Roster

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Veteran

RIP NEM

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Pro Bowl Player

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

On my retirement tour.

Degeneracy Expert

On my retirement tour.

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFans.com Supporter

On my retirement tour.

Similar threads