BobDigital
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2013
- Messages
- 16,350
- Reaction score
- 15,044
#1 - The 4 key unknowns - There are players that you know can and almost certainly will produce and then there are players that you hope will. This year more than last we need more of these players as we have less vets in key spots. IMO they are Easley, Brown (Pressure up the middle), Jackson (LG) and Butler (CB). We need our front 7 to carry the load this year. That means Easley and Brown need to step up and win their match ups. We need at least one OL to step up and fill the void Connolly left. I think Jackson is the most likely to do this instantly. Some will say we need to upgrade Wendell but I think that is a plus not needed. Butler is IMO the only CB we have that has a chance to cover the top guy and not lose horribly. We need him to be able to do that.
#2 TEs over WRs - BB was looking to maybe add a WR in the off season or in the draft but it did not happen. The spot he did address though is TE with 2 FAs who have starting experience (Chandler being more promising) and drafter a high upside high risk Derby. I don't know if this was the plan from the start but I think it is clear BB is more than willing to invest money and roster spots here. TEs vs WRs actaully save you money and allow for more flexibility from a package standpoint which i am sure BB likes. I could see the Pats going short on WR to carry an extra TE.
#3 Power run is coming back - It seems we are seeing a transition in the offense starting. The Personal (TEs and bigger, stronger OL men) indicate that now and in the future the plan is to transition to a run game that can take pressure off Brady. Yes Brady can carry a team like no other QB with his ability to pass 50 times and dictate the game but they would rather him not do that for much longer. They want to be able to run effectively vs anyone. After this when Mason and Jackson are fully integrated they will have one of the strongest OLs in the NFL with big strong TEs. That was entirely on purpose IMO.
#4 Garoppolo's make or break year - I am not a believe in the sit a QB theory and even less in the developing for multiple years theory. I believe either you have it or you don't and if you sit for a year and learn and then are asked to start and suck it means you don't have it. Garoppolo will "more probable than not" start a few games this year. He needs to show something in those games. He needs to show he has the potential to be a good QB. He needs to put good drives together back to back to back. Rookie mistakes will happen no doubt but he needs to show the ability to do it. If not this year in these games i doubt he has it and the Pats should move on to a new guy cause Brady will not be here forever. If he does show it you don't trade him. Some fans are saying that but i am generally against it (save getting 3 first rounders or something). It is so hard to find promising QBs if you think you have one you hang on to him.
#5 Great Offense beats Great Defense? - For years the montra has been "defense wins championships" in the NFL. This has been true and mostly remained true last year. However last year you had was was arguable the best secondary talent every seen in a SB and it was not a battle of 14-17. It was 28-24 with a few good defensive plays thrown in here and there. They let them play in the playoffs like they usually do but that year it didn't seem to matter. The Patriots lite teams up and were lit up as were other teams. It seems to me there was either good offenses that moved the ball or bad/hurt offenses that were beat up on. It could have been just 1 year but I think maybe we have reached the point that the rules are so stacked to favor the O maybe defense is not as valued as it use to be and that saying might flip to great offense beats great defense (but it needs to be a physical offense). Some of BB's moves this year tell me he might think this too. We will see if that is true this year as well.
#2 TEs over WRs - BB was looking to maybe add a WR in the off season or in the draft but it did not happen. The spot he did address though is TE with 2 FAs who have starting experience (Chandler being more promising) and drafter a high upside high risk Derby. I don't know if this was the plan from the start but I think it is clear BB is more than willing to invest money and roster spots here. TEs vs WRs actaully save you money and allow for more flexibility from a package standpoint which i am sure BB likes. I could see the Pats going short on WR to carry an extra TE.
#3 Power run is coming back - It seems we are seeing a transition in the offense starting. The Personal (TEs and bigger, stronger OL men) indicate that now and in the future the plan is to transition to a run game that can take pressure off Brady. Yes Brady can carry a team like no other QB with his ability to pass 50 times and dictate the game but they would rather him not do that for much longer. They want to be able to run effectively vs anyone. After this when Mason and Jackson are fully integrated they will have one of the strongest OLs in the NFL with big strong TEs. That was entirely on purpose IMO.
#4 Garoppolo's make or break year - I am not a believe in the sit a QB theory and even less in the developing for multiple years theory. I believe either you have it or you don't and if you sit for a year and learn and then are asked to start and suck it means you don't have it. Garoppolo will "more probable than not" start a few games this year. He needs to show something in those games. He needs to show he has the potential to be a good QB. He needs to put good drives together back to back to back. Rookie mistakes will happen no doubt but he needs to show the ability to do it. If not this year in these games i doubt he has it and the Pats should move on to a new guy cause Brady will not be here forever. If he does show it you don't trade him. Some fans are saying that but i am generally against it (save getting 3 first rounders or something). It is so hard to find promising QBs if you think you have one you hang on to him.
#5 Great Offense beats Great Defense? - For years the montra has been "defense wins championships" in the NFL. This has been true and mostly remained true last year. However last year you had was was arguable the best secondary talent every seen in a SB and it was not a battle of 14-17. It was 28-24 with a few good defensive plays thrown in here and there. They let them play in the playoffs like they usually do but that year it didn't seem to matter. The Patriots lite teams up and were lit up as were other teams. It seems to me there was either good offenses that moved the ball or bad/hurt offenses that were beat up on. It could have been just 1 year but I think maybe we have reached the point that the rules are so stacked to favor the O maybe defense is not as valued as it use to be and that saying might flip to great offense beats great defense (but it needs to be a physical offense). Some of BB's moves this year tell me he might think this too. We will see if that is true this year as well.