Offseason news I heard...

[mayoclinic]

The Pats need to do something about kickoff and punt returns because I can not even remember the last time the returned a kickoff past the 30 yard line (Ellis we mis you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

The first kickoff of the year against Buffalo, Maroney returned the kick 52 yards to the Buffalo 49 yard line. That was our best field position off of a kickoff all year.

Since then, we have had 5 returns of 30 yards or more this season:

1. Week 1 against Buffalo Kevin Faulk returned a kickoff 32 yards to the NE 32.
2. Week 5 against Denver Julian Edelman returned a kockoff 32 yards to the NE 34.
3. Week 9 against Miami Brandon Tate returned a kickoff 34 yards to the NE 37.
4. Week 10 against Indy Matt Slater returned a kickoff 31 yards to the NE 31.
5. Week 12 against NO Matt Slater returned a kickoff 30 yards to the NE 26.

That's it. 6 returns of 30 yards or more all season, only 1 over 35 yards. Only twice did we start a drive with better field position than our own 35 yard line. Those were our best returns all season.

Not very impressive.

 

[Marqui]

The first kickoff of the year against Buffalo, Maroney returned the kick 52 yards to the Buffalo 49 yard line. That was our best field position off of a kickoff all year.

Since then, we have had 5 returns of 30 yards or more this season:

1. Week 1 against Buffalo Kevin Faulk returned a kickoff 32 yards to the NE 32.
2. Week 5 against Denver Julian Edelman returned a kockoff 32 yards to the NE 34.
3. Week 9 against Miami Brandon Tate returned a kickoff 34 yards to the NE 37.
4. Week 10 against Indy Matt Slater returned a kickoff 31 yards to the NE 31.
5. Week 12 against NO Matt Slater returned a kickoff 30 yards to the NE 26.

That's it. 6 returns of 30 yards or more all season, only 1 over 35 yards. Only twice did we start a drive with better field position than our own 35 yard line. Those were our best returns all season.

Not very impressive.

I'm not too worried. A healthy Brandon Tate should supposedly solve that issue next year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm not too worried. A healthy Brandon Tate should supposedly solve that issue next year.

I love the kid but two knee surgeries in two years doesn't get me brimming with confidence that we have lock for the role.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm not too worried. A healthy Brandon Tate should supposedly solve that issue next year.

A healthy Brandon Tate should do wonders for us in several areas. If he's healthy.

 

[Warren94]

I'm not too worried. A healthy Brandon Tate should supposedly solve that issue next year.

key word is healthy

 

[Wax Frog]

2. Week 5 against Denver Julian Edelman returned a kockoff 32 yards to the NE 34.

Now I know what went wrong this year

 

[mgteich]

It seems unreasonable to count on 2nd year players who have had two injuries in to years and no significant game time.

A healthy Brandon Tate should do wonders for us in several areas. If he's healthy.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

I'm not too worried. A healthy Brandon Tate should supposedly solve that issue next year.

You guys need to get over Brandon Tate, he's career is over.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

The first kickoff of the year against Buffalo, Maroney returned the kick 52 yards to the Buffalo 49 yard line. That was our best field position off of a kickoff all year.

Since then, we have had 5 returns of 30 yards or more this season:

1. Week 1 against Buffalo Kevin Faulk returned a kickoff 32 yards to the NE 32.
2. Week 5 against Denver Julian Edelman returned a kockoff 32 yards to the NE 34.
3. Week 9 against Miami Brandon Tate returned a kickoff 34 yards to the NE 37.
4. Week 10 against Indy Matt Slater returned a kickoff 31 yards to the NE 31.
5. Week 12 against NO Matt Slater returned a kickoff 30 yards to the NE 26.

That's it. 6 returns of 30 yards or more all season, only 1 over 35 yards. Only twice did we start a drive with better field position than our own 35 yard line. Those were our best returns all season.

Not very impressive.

Arenas out of Alabama in the second round would solve this problem.

 

[Deus Irae]

The first kickoff of the year against Buffalo, Maroney returned the kick 52 yards to the Buffalo 49 yard line. That was our best field position off of a kickoff all year.

Since then, we have had 5 returns of 30 yards or more this season:

1. Week 1 against Buffalo Kevin Faulk returned a kickoff 32 yards to the NE 32.
2. Week 5 against Denver Julian Edelman returned a kockoff 32 yards to the NE 34.
3. Week 9 against Miami Brandon Tate returned a kickoff 34 yards to the NE 37.
4. Week 10 against Indy Matt Slater returned a kickoff 31 yards to the NE 31.
5. Week 12 against NO Matt Slater returned a kickoff 30 yards to the NE 26.

That's it. 6 returns of 30 yards or more all season, only 1 over 35 yards. Only twice did we start a drive with better field position than our own 35 yard line. Those were our best returns all season.

Not very impressive.

But they got those 5th round picks!

 

[mgteich]

What would have solved this situation was for Belichick to think that returning kicks took some talent. Alternatively, he could hire a coach that could coach up players if top talent is needed.

Belichick traded a perfectly acceptable KR and nickel back for a 4th rounder during this past draft (actually two 5th's that immediately became a 4th).

If Belichick could eb convinced that this aspect of the game is important, there are lots of options.

Arenas out of Alabama in the second round would solve this problem.

 

[Nonentity]

What would have solved this situation was for Belichick to think that returning kicks took some talent. Alternatively, he could hire a coach that could coach up players if top talent is needed.

Belichick traded a perfectly acceptable KR and nickel back for a 4th rounder during this past draft (actually two 5th's that immediately became a 4th).

If Belichick could eb convinced that this aspect of the game is important, there are lots of options.

If I remember right, however, he was a UFA after the 2009 season (ignoring the CBA issues) and wouldn't have re-signed here for anything other than starting corner money. The trade made sense at the time, this is just the magic of hindsight speaking.

 

[WhiZa]

Re: OT: Offseason news I heard...

Although I posted a lot of NEInsider's posts from ESPN on this site. I always doubted he was real. Looking at this post, here are some gems he predicted:

- "This is hands down the deepest and potentially most physically gifted set of DB's we have ever had" - Neither was las year's set of DBs the deepest or most talented the Pats had ever had.

- (Fenandor)"Bryant is an excellent corner and will thrive here" - Not an excellent CB nor did he thrive with the Pats nor make the final 53 man roster cut

- "With Bruischi, Seau, Hobson, Woods, and Mayo we are set at ILB. I would not be surprised to see a constant rotation of the four inside until Mayo certainly takes over by mid-season if not in training camp. keep an eye on Hobson. he might be the biggest surprise pickup and a really good kid. " - Woods never played a down as an ILB nor took reps in the preseason. Hobson quickly fell down the dept chart in the opening weeks of camp. He was cut before the final 53 man cutdown.

- "Film does not do O'Connell justice. He is raw for lack of coaching but lord does he have a big-time gun and is extremely coachable. A few coaching tips and his accuracy improved instantly." - I gotta see the film on O'Connell if they didn't do him justice. It must be the funniest thing ever. I'm sure he was cut after one season by the Pats because he was too coachable.

Maybe he really is an insider and he got this information from scouts. If he is and did, I worry about this team.

That's not even insider info. It's just someone's opinion. Insider info is calling a transaction before it happens.

 

[mgteich]

There is no hindsight involved. I did not want to trade Hobbs. I would have gladly traded a 4th for a proven young top kick returner who could be our nickel back, or even start as needed.

If I remember right, however, he was a UFA after the 2009 season (ignoring the CBA issues) and wouldn't have re-signed here for anything other than starting corner money. The trade made sense at the time, this is just the magic of hindsight speaking.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I want Hughes from SCU in the first round,Seems like a stud for pass pressure.

 

[supafly]

If I remember right, however, he was a UFA after the 2009 season (ignoring the CBA issues) and wouldn't have re-signed here for anything other than starting corner money. The trade made sense at the time, this is just the magic of hindsight speaking.

I thought Ellis Hobbs was a RFA, meaning he could've played for 2 more yrs, not 1--or we could've received a decent draft pick for him.

Considering he was under cheap money still, I saw no reason to get rid of him this yr either, although I agreed with bringing in Bodden and Springs + the drafting of Butler.

I still feel Hobbs could've been used for one more yr as a very decent option at nickel + his great KR abilities.

I don't think he's a great #1 or even #2, but certainly a decent #3 CB, and he could've stayed on the cheap another yr, IMO.

Now, if he was going to be a UFA like you said, then the deal makes more sense, but I thought he was a RFA.

 

[Deus Irae]

If I remember right, however, he was a UFA after the 2009 season (ignoring the CBA issues) and wouldn't have re-signed here for anything other than starting corner money. The trade made sense at the time, this is just the magic of hindsight speaking.

People need to stop with the "hindsight" crap. The trade was discussed at the time and throughout the year, and not everyone was on board with it. I know this because I didn't think the compensation was enough, and I thought it was a trade made too soon even though I understood the trade. The concerns were that the return game would suffer and that the new corners would end up not being good enough to warrant the move. The concerns were, clearly, valid.

Immediate reaction:

I'm a Hobbs defender, but I understand it. Now, I'm not sure that they got the kind of value I'd have liked, but that's a BB issue.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/232912-official-day-2-patriots-draft-thread-page15.html#post1362343

Follow up reactions after having time to assess the move a bit more:

Springs doesn't play hurt and Bodden stunk last year. If Springs goes down and the puppies aren't ready, this past season's defensive backfield could start to look like "the good ol' days" in a hurry.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/233116-donaldson-dont-expect-much-improvement-patriots-defense.html#post1366268

I don't like the Hobbs trade BECAUSE I don't think things have shaken out yet, but I understand the logic behind the move and don't have any real problem with it, since I don't think BB would have made it if he wasn't confident that things would shake out in a positive manner.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/233116-donaldson-dont-expect-much-improvement-patriots-defense-page2.html#post1367257

*

That's prior to training camp even beginning, so it's not post-2009 hindsight. In fact, that whole second thread really deserves to be bumped.

*Homers should take note of the fact that I was giving BB the benefit of the doubt even at that point in this past offseason.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

If I remember right, however, he was a UFA after the 2009 season (ignoring the CBA issues) and wouldn't have re-signed here for anything other than starting corner money. The trade made sense at the time, this is just the magic of hindsight speaking.

Yeah, not to mention potential foresight since he ended his season as a nickle corner and KR on IR in Philly and he faces an apparent career threatening injury.

 

[supafly]

I want Hughes from SCU in the first round,Seems like a stud for pass pressure.

I haven't looked at many recent draft projections, but what do you think of Greg Romeus from Pitt?

Depending of course, on where he's projected.

Only reason I brought him up was your post re: pass pressure, was curious since I assumed you watched at least several Pitt games this yr.

 

[supafly]

I haven't looked at many recent draft projections, but what do you think of Greg Romeus from Pitt?

Depending of course, on where he's projected.

Only reason I brought him up was your post re: pass pressure, was curious since I assumed you watched at least several Pitt games this yr.

Nevermind, I guess he announced Wednesday or Thursday that he's actually staying at Pitt for another year. There was a lot of talk regarding him coming out this yr.