What's with the sudden panic over the offense?

[fnordcircle]

I'm reading so many stupid posts on other sites about how the Patriots will be lucky to win 10 games, that their offense will be terrible, that we're going to have to rely on the run, etc, etc.

I don't get it.

An offense is more than the Gronk, Hernandez, Welker, Lloyd and Woodhead and Gronk will be back at some point.

I love Woodhead but I think our offense, as whole, will benefit from Leon Washington moreso when you factor in the anticipated impact on offensive starting position due to Leon's superior KR abilities. There's really no overstating how important I believe those extra yards on kick returns will be.

Welker for Amendola is probably a downgrade - but I don't think it will be a major one.

Lloyd was a decent possession receiver and I think between Jones, Dobson and Jenkins one of those players will be able to replace his production.

So the biggest loss is Aaron Hernandez. Nothing can be said or done about that except moving on. The team has played plenty of games without him the past few seasons so it is what it is.

Will we have a #1 passing offense? I dunno, it's hard to make a case that we will. But we still have Brady. We still have a great OL and we still have a damn fine stable of running backs. And we have some interesting prospects in Jones, Boyce, Dobson and some of the PS guys.

The point is - the doom and gloom about the #1 offense becoming awful is extremely premature.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Total up all receptions last year in the NFL by all of the receivers and healthy tight ends now on the New England roster.

Then I think you will have your answer.

I trust BB and TB, but this is asking a lot.

 

[tobias funke]

If we need a #1 offense to make the playoffs again, that means we still have a bad defense.

I'm hoping this is the year our mostly-returning defense turns the corner and bails out the offense (with more than just turnovers that stop coming when we absolutely need them).

On the other hand, it's not really a stretch to think that the offense is going to have some trouble considering that nearly every single pass-catcher from last year is either gone or injured.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Total up all receptions last year in the NFL by all of the receivers and healthy tight ends now on the New England roster.

Then I think you will have your answer.

I trust BB and TB, but this is asking a lot.

The receiving corps just became extremely young. Could backfire, could work out. It's not even TC yet, though. They'll have plenty of opportunity to bring in veterans if the young guys aren't cutting it. They could go re-sign Lloyd yesterday if they wanted to.

 

[Deus Irae]

I'm reading so many stupid posts on other sites about how the Patriots will be lucky to win 10 games, that their offense will be terrible, that we're going to have to rely on the run, etc, etc.

I don't get it.

An offense is more than the Gronk, Hernandez, Welker, Lloyd and Woodhead and Gronk will be back at some point.

I love Woodhead but I think our offense, as whole, will benefit from Leon Washington moreso when you factor in the anticipated impact on offensive starting position due to Leon's superior KR abilities. There's really no overstating how important I believe those extra yards on kick returns will be.

Welker for Amendola is probably a downgrade - but I don't think it will be a major one.

Lloyd was a decent possession receiver and I think between Jones, Dobson and Jenkins one of those players will be able to replace his production.

So the biggest loss is Aaron Hernandez. Nothing can be said or done about that except moving on. The team has played plenty of games without him the past few seasons so it is what it is.

Will we have a #1 passing offense? I dunno, it's hard to make a case that we will. But we still have Brady. We still have a great OL and we still have a damn fine stable of running backs. And we have some interesting prospects in Jones, Boyce, Dobson and some of the PS guys.

The point is - the doom and gloom about the #1 offense becoming awful is extremely premature.

When did you start chugging the Koolaid?

 

[Big-T]

2 Rbs capable of 1000+ yards
Slot receiver who's capable of 1000+ yards
The GOAT at QB
One of the best offensive lines in the game
The best TE in the game

Sure there's inexperienced WRs but everyone starts somewhere don't they? Until we actually see what they're like in an actual game then there's no reason to panic about something we don't know about yet, it isn't even TC yet!

Don't sleep on special teams either - Edelman is the best punt returner in franchise history and Leon Washington is one of the best kick returners in league history, giving Brady shorter fields to work with will go a long way to helping the offense out if they are struggling.

 

[BrickPat]

Gronk could miss games during rehab and will likely not be in game shape or back to the "old Gronk" for a few games after that.

Amendola is a great player but given the injury history and unknown chemistry with Brady you cannot automatically assume he will seamlessly replace Welker.

I still say the two WRs (F/As signed from Buff and Pitt) are this year's version of Gabriel and Caldwell or Joey Galloway of recent times until proven otherwise.

Hernandez was a great and effective TE before he allegedly decided to kill people. In any event there is another missing piece.

Having noted all that, I do think the Brady lead offense will be very good as always but the 'old' good offense hasn't won many playoff games lately and I don't see this years version being any better. I don't think that's panic...just a logical observation.

 

[VrabelJr]

I expect Shane Vereen to have a huge year. 600-700 yards rushing, another 400-800 receiving.

 

[Mack Herron]

Total up all receptions last year in the NFL by all of the receivers and healthy tight ends now on the New England roster.

Then I think you will have your answer.

I trust BB and TB, but this is asking a lot.

Yes--then compare side by side with the production of those who will not be suiting up. Biggest coaching challeege for BB in quite some time here.

 

[Deus Irae]

Total up all receptions last year in the NFL by all of the receivers and healthy tight ends now on the New England roster.

Then I think you will have your answer.

I trust BB and TB, but this is asking a lot.

Huge downgrades at WR/TE
Downgrade at RB

But we'll read all about Brady declining if the offense suffers.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I expect Shane Vereen to have a huge year. 600-700 yards rushing, another 400-800 receiving.

I'd love to see us start to feature him as a receiver out of the backfield on a regular basis.

 

[thenepatsrule]

But we'll read all about Brady declining if the offense suffers.

LOL........... I can already see the headlines, A Hern made Brady great... blah blah blah

 

[JMC00]

Downgrade at RB

I disagree with that tremendously. Woodhead leaving opens more of a spot for Vereen who with the ball in his hands can bring more than Woodhead.

Not to mention the addition of Leon Washington

And Blount, Bolden and Winn battling it out for the 4th and now with the Hernandez release possibly 5th spot.

The RB position has been upgraded.

 

[kennyb]

Ballard and sudfeld two large tes who can catch.

Dobson and Boyce add a deep threat and great hands. Just have to learn the playbook.

Jenkins smart enough to learn the play book and large enough for mismatches.

Plenty of time for new guys to get experience while gronkowski is out for a spell.

Amendola will be more versatile than welker was. Offense won't be a welker first offense. More unpredictable.

Don't see how they're not better.

 

[Deus Irae]

I disagree with that tremendously. Woodhead leaving opens more of a spot for Vereen who with the ball in his hands can bring more than Woodhead.

Not to mention the addition of Leon Washington

And Blount, Bolden and Winn battling it out for the 4th and now with the Hernandez release 5th spot.

The RB position has been upgraded.

Woodhead > Blount and Washington

It's a downgrade. The hope is that Vereen improves enough to offset that downgrade.

 

[JMC00]

Woodhead > Blount and Washington

It's a downgrade. The hope is that Vereen improves enough to offset that downgrade.

That's laughable

 

[FCB02062]

This is thread, for the most part, is the definition of unabashed fanboyism....banking on leon washington being a big part of the offense? calling the pats offensive line "one of the best in the league?" - they were good because brady throws short passes and they don't have to protect long, and now his three main targets inside 15 yards are gone. the running game will be the focal part of the offense! this is a PASSING league people!!!!! UNLESS the defense suddenly becomes one of the shutdown variety and allows 14-17 points a game, the Pats are going to struggle and all those rosy 12-14 win predictions are going down the schitter.....this offense has way too many holes to be counted on right now.

 

[jmt57]

Looking at what Welker signed for makes me feel that the Patriots are comfortable in their belief that they will obtain comparable production from Amendola.

Looking at what Woodhead signed for makes me feel that the Patriots are comfortable in their belief that they will obtain comparable (if not better) production from Vereen.

With an additional year's worth of experience Ridley should be just as good, if not better.

Gronk is a big question mark, but let's not forget that he missed part or all of eight games last year; is it really a stretch to believe he will be available for at least the same amount of time in 2013?

Lloyd was universally detested when he was on the team last year; yet now that he is gone we are supposed to believe he cannot possibly be replaced? While he did indeed have 911 yards and a couple of statistically big games, he only had two other games with at least 70 yards receiving. Nearly a third of his production came in those two games - and for what it is worth the Pats lost both of those games.

While there is no shiny bright new toy at either WR, I think there are enough options to be cautiously optimistic that at least one or more of Jenkins, Jones, Dobson, Boyce and the rest will step up and fill in adequately. Same goes for the TE position between Ballard, Fells, Hoomanawanui, Sudfeld, Ford, and a likely soon to be signed veteran free agent.

Is it unreasonable to believe that whatever steps backward the offense takes in 2013, that will be offset by an improved defense?



Is there a reason to be concerned about the offense?

Yes, of course there is.



Is the sky falling and the Pats season doomed?

No, absolutely not.

 

[Deus Irae]

That's laughable

Keep telling yourself that.

 

[Dutchmaster617]

I am excited as hell to see Brady forced to not focus on Gronk/Welker, losing Hernandez talent sucks but we might get some emerging WRs by spreading the ball more.