Sounding like a broken record: # i don't even know anymore

OK so i have had a few days to process the AFC title game and i want to give my take which will sound all too familiar. Now i could easily blame Bill, the o-line, the o-line coach, Gostowski etc. but i am not because instead i am going to once again blame a big chunk of that loss on what the media is finally starting to pick up on - the deep threat.

I do hope that Sunday finally turned around the pats fans that say not having a go to guy on the outside isn't a problem. Now i understand Brady would have needed the time to find such a receiever if we had one but let's not forget there were actually multiple occasions where he managed to buy some precious seconds but not to throw to a freak like Julio Jones/AJ Green/Megatron, or a deep speed guy like DeSean/Odell/Allen Robinson or even a guy with sick hands like Larry, no instead Brady had to throw the deep ball to none other than little old back up to Dion Lewis RB - James White. Yes that's right Bellichick you have taken the talents of Tom for granted to the extent where you are happy for him to throw a 30+ yard outside pass to one of the smallest guys on the team not just once but MULTIPLE times.

I'm sorry if i have to keep repeating this but it's getting pathetic. How many more years do we have to see practice squad cast offs and scat backs running deep routes when nearly every team in this league (yes, even the s**t teams) has a PROPER go to receiver on the outside?

Now i could blame Bill for many of the failings of this team i.e. @ NYJ OT WTF but this one is so glaring and so long standing that it had to be the stand out reason because i promise that if Tom had someone on the outside to throw to regardless of how much he was getting smacked, that he would have found connected with that guy multiple times and chances are we're going to San Fran as a result.

I will say this again, it's not fair to ask Brady to be perfect ALL THE TIME, he should be allowed to have room for error where he can just throw it up and someone else can do the work for him. So how about instead of wasting high draft picks on injured d-lineman and useless offensive lineman go get a playmaker for Brady to finish his career with in style. Don't let Denver this past Sunday be the norm.

P.S. Alshon Jeffrey is a FA this summer, just sayin, Bill.

I posted this in another thread

We don't need an 80 catch, 1000 yds, 10 Td outside WR. We just need someone who can keep the D honest and who would require safety help on deep routes. Safety's don't respect guys like Lafell and he always gets 1 on 1 deep coverage, and rarely beats it. If we get a guy who requires safety help it will open up routes for Gronk and others.

All these teams with these outside receivers also don't have a Gronk on their team. Let's stop acting like Brady is throwing to nobody. His best receiver is better than almost every other QB's best receiver, and it's really kind of offensive to Gronk that he's completely disregarded in all of these "weapons" arguments.

It seems to be widely believed that Jeffery is going to get in the range of $12 to 14 million per year. Do people actually want the Pats to be the team that pays that?

Boomer B said:

I posted this in another thread

We don't need an 80 catch, 1000 yds, 10 Td outside WR. We just need someone who can keep the D honest and who would require safety help on deep routes. Safety's don't respect guys like Lafell and he always gets 1 on 1 deep coverage, and rarely beats it. If we get a guy who requires safety help it will open up routes for Gronk and others.

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Thank you, thank you and thank you. I get so heated on this topic that i can rarely come up with the words like this that i am actually thinking. People reckon i WANT someone like Megatron, NO i want someone who can actually go get the ball downfield so the game opens up for Tom and the other key parts of this O

Sciz said:

All these teams with these outside receivers also don't have a Gronk on their team. Let's stop acting like Brady is throwing to nobody. His best receiver is better than almost every other QB's best receiver, and it's really kind of offensive to Gronk that he's completely disregarded in all of these "weapons" arguments.

It seems to be widely believed that Jeffery is going to get in the range of $12 to 14 million per year. Do people actually want the Pats to be the team that pays that?

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YES, tell me why Tom Brady the greatest QB of all time doesn't deserve that when Ben up in Pittsburgh has 4 of them that he can't even get the ball to when it really counts. We're only asking for that 1 guy, so why not Jeffrey?

Oh and also Gronk being the only big downfield target is also a reason why he is damn near murdered every game by 3 defensive players at the same time! I'm thinking big picture here not just 'oh let's get a deep threat for the sake of it'

Sciz said:

All these teams with these outside receivers also don't have a Gronk on their team. Let's stop acting like Brady is throwing to nobody. His best receiver is better than almost every other QB's best receiver, and it's really kind of offensive to Gronk that he's completely disregarded in all of these "weapons" arguments.

It seems to be widely believed that Jeffery is going to get in the range of $12 to 14 million per year. Do people actually want the Pats to be the team that pays that?

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I'm not saying we need Jeffrey or any other $10m WR, just someone who commands safety help. That will open things up for others. We have no WR who can beat 1 on 1 coverage on deep routes.

We need 2014 Lafell. Find someone who can give us that and we are good at WR.

Gosh...sometimes people just over analyze things that are so obvious. The offensive line was the huge, major, glaring, second-to-none, eye-popping issue against the Broncos. The Patriots could have had Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant, and Odell Beckham out there, and it would have made zero difference. When the quarterback literally has less than a second before the pocket is collapsing into him, no QB and receivers are going to move the chains. I do think the coaching staff should have adjusted by putting more blockers on the line (of course, that means less threats downfield) to at least try a new strategy, but the offensive line's complete inability to play at a professional level is the reason for the offensive meltdown in Denver. No if ands or buts about it.

The fact they fired their line coach the day after the game is very telling. When is the last time they made a move like that?

Patriots really need to get some good value on the offensive line, and the interior defensive line to a lesser degree, during the offseason, while working on a modest budget. They need to have guys that are at least capable of playing the position...I understand Denver's pass rush is good, but it looked they were doing drills against padded dummies.

Boomer B said:

I'm not saying we need Jeffrey or any other $10m WR, just someone who commands safety help. That will open things up for others. We have no WR who can beat 1 on 1 coverage on deep routes.

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Right, but this hypothetical guy people keep describing is at least an $8M wide receiver. It's what other teams would refer to as a high end #2 WR, and Michael Crabtree just got a $35M/4yr extension in that role. That's probably the starting point for a guy like Marvin Jones in free agency. Guys who are expected to consistently put up 2014 LaFell seasons are expensive.

Sciz said:

All these teams with these outside receivers also don't have a Gronk on their team. Let's stop acting like Brady is throwing to nobody. His best receiver is better than almost every other QB's best receiver, and it's really kind of offensive to Gronk that he's completely disregarded in all of these "weapons" arguments.

It seems to be widely believed that Jeffery is going to get in the range of $12 to 14 million per year. Do people actually want the Pats to be the team that pays that?

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Ice_Ice_Brady said:

Gosh...sometimes people just over analyze things that are so obvious. The offensive line was the huge, major, glaring, second-to-none, eye-popping issue against the Broncos. The Patriots could have had Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant, and Odell Beckham out there, and it would have made zero difference. When the quarterback literally has less than a second before the pocket is collapsing into him, no QB and receivers are going to move the chains. I do think the coaching staff should have adjusted by putting more blockers on the line (of course, that means less threats downfield) to at least try a new strategy, but the offensive line's complete inability to play at a professional level is the reason for the offensive meltdown in Denver. No if ands or buts about it.

The fact they fired their line coach the day after the game is very telling. When is the last time they made a move like that?

Patriots really need to get some good value on the offensive line, and the interior defensive line to a lesser degree, during the offseason, while working on a modest budget. They need to have guys that are at least capable of playing the position...I understand Denver's pass rush is good, but it looked they were doing drills against padded dummies.

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It makes a difference when the guy leaping for the deep pass is not a under sized running back which was the case on Sunday. The one where White dived but knew he was too short was so agonizing in slow mo, it sort of compounded my whole point.

English Patriot said:

It makes a difference when the guy leaping for the deep pass is not a under sized running back which was the case on Sunday. The one where White dived but knew he was too short was so agonizing in slow mo, it sort of compounded my whole point.

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For years and years, the Patriots have targeted running backs that are being covered by linebackers. It is often a great matchup to exploit down the field. It has nothing to do with the lack of an outside receiver.

Sciz said:

For years and years, the Patriots have targeted running backs that are being covered by linebackers. It is often a great matchup to exploit down the field. It has nothing to do with the lack of an outside receiver.

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Yes it does. You see the Pats do it because they don't have THAT guy to do otherwise.

I don't know that Jeffrey would jell in this offense. If you added Deion Branch or David Givens circa 2004 they would each in their own way be perfect complements to the existing core.

everlong said:

I don't know that Jeffrey would jell in this offense. If you added Deion Branch or David Givens circa 2004 they would each in their own way be perfect complements to the existing core.

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Again, Jeffrey is a starting point. I just want someone who can take the pressure of off Tom, Gronk and Jules and as posted by someone above, keep the opposition honest.

English Patriot said:

Again, Jeffrey is a starting point. I just want someone who can take the pressure of off Tom, Gronk and Jules and as posted by someone above, keep the opposition honest.

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There was another FA thread more generalized to position and Marvin Jones was brought up and I loved him coming out of college. As I posted there my one fear is that playing in a number system that's super easy to learn can he pickup the Patriot's verbose methodology or does he have Ocho-Cinco learning disorder. If they could get him to hang with Tom for a day that would be awesome. Really any FA should have to.

everlong said:

There was another FA thread more generalized to position and Marvin Jones was brought up and I loved him coming out of college. As I posted there my one fear is that playing in a number system that's super easy to learn can he pickup the Patriot's verbose methodology or does he have Ocho-Cinco learning disorder. If they could get him to hang with Tom for a day that would be awesome. Really any FA should have to.

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Is he worth double what Edelman is making? That seems to be what people are projecting. I'd expect the Browns (now coached by his old OC) to be throwing a lot of money at him to be their borderline #1 or #2 receiver as they see if Gordon is ready to be a #1 again. It's really hard to sign a free agent when another team values him like a possible #1 and the Pats just need a guy to clear things out for Gronk and Edelman.

The way Edelman and Gronk Plays...its a matter of time before Edelman start having concussion symtoms *taking those shots over the middle*. Also every time Gronk gets tackled below the waist we all cringe. Edelman and Gronk need capable players to help take the pressure off them. It's not like we haven't tried especially at TE but we need more at WR.

Like a broken record, indeed.

The Patriots DO NOT need a "deep threat" outside receiver. What they need is a competent OL, #2 TE and a 1000 yard a year RB. Brady will be 39 next season, you don't want him standing in the pocket for 3+ seconds to get the ball 20-30 yards down field. Strong running game and a return to the up tempo no huddle 2 TE offense will be more than enough.

Edelman, the 2014 version of LaFell (or another receiver who can replicate that), Amendola (on less money), Gronk and a new #2 TE will be enough.

Those deep shots to White were straight up misses by Brady too, White was wide open every time and Brady overthrew him every time. Alshon Jeffery wouldn't change that, nor would he stop the QB getting hit under 2 seconds after receiving the snap.

Let's be serious here...the salary cap money is rightfully going to go to Collins, Hightower & Jones, so any Offensive upgrades are going to be the serviceable, nothing flashy types.

If he doesn't cost too much, someone like Mohamed Sanu would fit right in with what the Patriots do, same goes for Jermaine Kearse, At TE there's the likes of Dwayne Allen, Jermaine Gresham, Rob Housler & Zach Miller.

Death by 1000 paper cuts is the Offensive system that works and has worked for a long time in NE...the line and depth were issues in the AFCCG.

It's criminal not giving an aging Brady an outside weapon. Yes, salary cap, blah, blah. So sick of watching WRs on every other team having a guy that can go up and get the ball.