Idle Thoughts - The new beginnings edition

aluminum seats · Sep 12, 2015

patfanken said:
Who is Portnoy, what should I send him, and why should I be his "guy"?

Really? Figured everybody on this board knew him. Barstool Sports. Jerry Thorton used to do a great weekly recap but he left for WEEI.

aluminum seats · Sep 12, 2015

pencilneckgeek said:
Exactly. I'll shed no tears if Tom doesn't have to go to his 3rd or 4th read more than once or twice a game. Not spreading it around is decidedly a first world problem.

It's definitely true that if the offense is clicking it doesn't much matter if one or two guys get the lion's share of throws.

I do think it's maybe been a minor problem in the past where sometimes Brady will lock too much into a certain guy. And it's never a bad thing for a lot of guys to be involved in the game. Plus Dobson may offer something that maybe other guys don't.

But it's certainly hard to complain lately.

rochrist · Sep 12, 2015

patfanken said:
Interesting question, given how well Andrews played. One would think that Wendell would get the nod. He is an excellent C in the run game, but suffers if he has a big physical nose tackle in pass protection. Not horrible, just not great. He's simply undersized,.

It will be both interesting and telling when he IS ready to come back, what BB will do.

So is Andrews though. Undersized, that is.

aluminum seats · Sep 12, 2015

AzPatsFan said:
Whenever there is a discussion about our "poor" WRs and BB never drafting high, I always group the TEs and the WRs as mere"receivers". BB has used high picks on Watson and Gronk and a TE before Watson whose name escapes me. And traded for others too, like Wright, Hoomanawanui and Chandler.

I agree that JD and Gronk were high on the read list, and often open, so Amendola and Dobson didn't get many looks. But still Both got balls thrown their way, which they caught.

Amendola took a while to earn TB's trust last year, and Dobson will have to do the same, which he is doing. Dobson will not get mnay oportunities as he has been assigned the taskof providing the "deep threat" routes needed ot keep the Defense honest, But these routes are not Brady's Forte`.

I note that many of Dobson's routes were clearouts to open things for Edelmen, just like LaFell's early season routes last year were. Our "receivers" are fine.

I am glad that BB is playing many Offensive line players, rotating them so they all get some experience. So they will not be raw and inexperienced, when needed.

Of all the recent UDFA projects that Dante was grooming, Kline seems to be the sole success. Devey did fetch a draft pick though. BB's comments that the O-line talent is better, is an indication that the young Draft picks will only improve with more playing time and experience. Miquel shows Cam Fleming to be on IR, yet other claim he was cut and not waived-injured. I wonder what is the true story, after Fleming made the cut to 53. (Note that Jon Halapio has made the Cardinal's squad and is playing LG.)

If Easley's hip is only a Hip Pointer I will be relieved. Grissom's call to play has also got be encouraging, since he seemed to be the least productive of the draftees, in TC.

You're probably thinking of Daniel Graham. In case it was bugging you.

strngplyr · Sep 12, 2015

DaBruinz said:
Just an FYI.
Cannon replaced Solder for one series and Vollmer for another series.. I believe it was just to get him some snaps. He held up well.

Regarding Amendola, Dobson and Harper. All 3 were getting separation. The "problem" if you call it that, is that Edelman and Gronk were the first two looks and Brady hit them when they were open instead of going through his progressions because he didn't have to look farther more often than not.

Canon did not hold up at all. In the series he replaced Solder, which I believe lasted 4 plays, he was directly responsible for a sack and a whiff on a run block IIRC, and I believe there was a 3rd negative play, too.

patfanken · Sep 12, 2015

aluminum seats said:
You're probably thinking of Daniel Graham. In case it was bugging you.

That's BB's MO. Usually he wants a guy in the first round who is from the really hard to find positions. Those guys who are simply rare. Guys like special TE's, DT's, and DE's. Now remember we are usually picking in the late 20's at best, so all the real blue chip players are generally long gone by then.

But still, when you look at the times Bill varied from his usual practice, like with Moroney it doesn't usually work out that well. I think with the exception of Moroney, all our first rounders have been DLmen, OLmen, or TE's plus Mayo, and at the time Mayo had that rare combination of speed and power from the LB position that made him rare and very positionally flexible.

History has shown us that at positions like RB, WR, and to a lesser degree, DB there are just a lot more players who can play with that kind of body type, than there are guys who weigh 300lbs and can run. So if one of those guys are there, like Malcolm Brown was, you HAVE to take them.

PatsFan37 · Sep 12, 2015

My only concern on Edelman getting so many targets is that Amendola and Dobson won't be as ready when the time comes, and that it exposes Edelman to a lot of hits. Right now, Edelman is essential to winning close games. It reduces the risk for later in the season if Brady can rely on the other guys for key 3rd down completions.

Perhaps he's already got that with Amendola, but I think it's the kind of thing that has to be renewed every year.

Edit: for that reason, seeing Lewis reliably catch the ball was a great positive sign, along with Brady's 'cult hero' comment.

Idle Thoughts - The new beginnings edition

aluminum seats

Pro Bowl Player

aluminum seats

Pro Bowl Player

rochrist

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

aluminum seats

Pro Bowl Player

strngplyr

In the Starting Line-Up

patfanken

PatsFans.com Supporter

PatsFan37

2nd Team Getting Their First Start