A Comprehensive look at The Patriots as a team

[Fencer]

My thoughts ...

Currently this is how I would rank each group (best to worst).

1. Quarterback – Brady’s in a top 1-3 of starters in NFL; behind him we have two talented and intriguing backups. Agreed.
2. Coaching Staff – Belichick is the best HC in the history of the NFL in my opinion; this group falls into 2nd due to the Patricia’s inexperience as a DC and our struggles on defense overall. Agreed.
3. Offensive Line – Best group of starters in the NFL, I think it will be even stronger with Solder and Wendell entering their 2nd season as starters, Mankins and Vollmer having a full off season to recover from the injuries that nagged them in 2012, and my anticipated addition of Cannon at RG guard giving us more size, youth and athleticism. Behind the starters we have 2 starting caliber players in Connolly and Svitek. Defensible view.
4. Linebacker – Young, versatile and athletic, Hightower should come into his own in his 2nd season and the addition of Jamie Collins should add some exciting playmaking ability. Forecasting some leaps here. Could happen.
5. Running Back – The best stable of back in the NFL when pooled together, Ridley will build on his breakout year last year, and I expect Shane Vereen to be the breakout performer on offense. Adrian Peterson alone is a better stable of backs. Nice middling group. I'd be happier if Ridley's ball security were better, and if Vereen had a better history of staying healthy and producing.
6. Special Teams – Solid group, Washington should add a much needed threat in the kick return game. I still wish we had a prime Lonie Paxton. But yeah, seems like a good group; hopefully Xs & Os will be a little sharper this year.
7. Defensive Back – The best secondary group we’ve had since the early I'd say mid 2000’s; Talib winning an off season performance award could be the writing on his wall for him rising into the top 5 cornerbacks in the NFL. One can hope.
8. Defensive Line – Wilfork is the best defensive tackle in the NFL without question, Jones will take his game to an elite level this season and give us the type of pass rusher we haven’t had since Willie Mcginest. This group comes in low however because lack of depth behind Wilfork is my biggest concern on the team. If Forston can stay healthy, and the DE depth can help a bit, it should be OK. Armstead is also on a shelf somewhere.
9. Tight End – It is second to last right now but if Gronkowski returns healthy it jumps at least to number 4, Ballard will be solid contributor however I have concerns about his knee being 100%. Behind them are 2 JAG’s and 2 unknowns. I think you're overly concerned about everything except Ballard's health.
10. Wide Receiver – I like Amendola a lot, I don’t expect him to be Welker 2.0 but I do expect him to be an excellent receiver for us. I’m excited about Dobson, Thompskins and Boyce but because they’re rookies and still unknown this group is in the basement right now overall. I do expect that to change however. Reasonable.

 

[Off The Grid]

I agree, that was about as bland and superficial of a preview as I have ever seen.

Basically it was something slapped together for casual fans of other NFL teams with zero substance.


To the OP: I hope this doesn't come across as being snarky, but if you delve into threads that go beyond the comments that are (a) strictly a back and forth about a certain backup quarterback, and (b) about the legal process of a certain former tight end, then you will find there has been plenty of discussion on a daily basis in regards to the questions of what challenges do you think the team face and how do you think the team can overcome those challenges and meet their goal this past off-season.

You entirely sure that you weren't trying to be just a little bit snarky??

 

[ATippett56]

Defensive Tackle

Vince Wilfork
Tommy Kelly
Marcus Forston
Armond Armstead (potential PUP candidate)

Potential practice squad candidates:

Cory Grissom
Joe Vellano

 

[Off The Grid]

Patriots report: New challenges, same goal

click link for more info ^

What challenges do you think the team face?

How do you think the team can overcome those challenges and meet their goal?

Christian, the only thing in this Galaxy more bland & bereft of any meaningful Substance than that gaping Vortex of an "Article" that you linked to...was your Post.

It's painfully clear to all ~ if I may presume to speak so broadly, Brother Pats Fans ~ that you're trying really hard to delude the rest'f us into believing that you're an actual FootBall Fan...And it's equally painfully clear, my good man...that the effort is pathetically futile and, frankly, sort of insulting.

***

Hideously Generic sewage like

"What challenges do you think the team face?"

and

"How do you think the team can overcome those challenges and meet their goal?"

...are pathetically transparent attempts to pump us all for a Fundamental FootBall Education 101, all while posing as a FootBall Fan who has the faintest CLUE what he's asking about.

...And I'm pretty sure that every last one'f us can see right through that crap.

 

[Christiancat]

Christian, the only thing in this Galaxy more bland & bereft of any meaningful Substance than that gaping Vortex of an "Article" that you linked to...was your Post.

It's painfully clear to all ~ if I may presume to speak so broadly, Brother Pats Fans ~ that you're trying really hard to delude the rest'f us into believing that you're an actual FootBall Fan...and that the effort is futile and sort of insulting.

Hideously Generic sewage like

"What challenges do you think the team face?"

and

"How do you think the team can overcome those challenges and meet their goal?"

...are pathetically transparent attempts to pump us all for a Fundamental FootBall Education 101, all while posing as a FootBall Fan who has the faintest CLUE what he's asking about.

...And I'm pretty sure that every last one'f us can see right through that crap.

I am a football fan. However, I am doing my best to get a better understanding of the team. Thus, I want all your wonderful opinions about the team. Hence I asked the questions. Can you share with me some of your thoughts to my questions Off the grid.

I don't claim to be an expert or anything. So please throw me a bone. I didn't create this thread to make it seem like I was a football expert. I do watch football and I enjoy it. My point in making this thread was to get conversation going about the Patriots team.

Also I am trying to delve into other topics on this board so I thought I would create this topic.

 

[supafly]

I am a football fan. However, I am doing my best to get a better understanding of the team. Thus, I want all your wonderful opinions about the team. Hence I asked the questions. Can you share with me some of your thoughts to my questions Off the grid.

I don't claim to be an expert or anything. So please throw me a bone.

Also I am trying to delve into other topics on this board so I thought I would create this topic.

I think that everyone's patience level will be a little different due to so many of the trolls that we've seen throughout time, some of which are directly related to the Tebow phenomenon.

That said, if you're genuinely looking to learn more about the team and are interesting in finding out more information about certain topics, then welcome aboard. I personally will be more than willing to discuss certain issues with you.

On another note, don't take anything personally from anyone--as some of those who are responding to you are genuinely very good guys. They are possibly just fed up with some of the Tebow phenomenon lately and our site being infiltrated by those who only "pretend" to care. You'll certainly get the benefit of the doubt from me in the meantime if your intent is what you claim it to be.

Hope I didn't step on anyone's toes or piss anyone off with this response.

 

[Christiancat]

I think that everyone's patience level will be a little different due to so many of the trolls that we've seen throughout time, some of which are directly related to the Tebow phenomenon.

That said, if you're genuinely looking to learn more about the team and are interesting in finding out more information about certain topics, then welcome aboard. I personally will be more than willing to discuss certain issues with you.

On another note, don't take anything personally from anyone--as some of those who are responding to you are genuinely very good guys. They are possibly just fed up with some of the Tebow phenomenon lately and our site being infiltrated by those who only "pretend" to care. You'll certainly get the benefit of the doubt from me in the meantime if your intent is what you claim it to be.

Hope I didn't step on anyone's toes or piss anyone off with this response.

Yes, I created this thread to get conversation going. I might not know as much about football as some here. I am trying to learn more about the game and talk about it.

How else do you think we can make the Pats team stronger. I know we haven't been to the superbowl in awhile.

 

[supafly]

How else do you think we can make the pats team stronger. I know we haven't been to the superbowl in awhile.

I think a lot of it is just repeating the same types of processes that allow the team to compete at a higher level every season, hence the fact that they've won more games as a whole than any other team since the last SB win in the 2004 season.

The past 2 SB losses were just bad luck and the way the ball bounced. There's a lot that needs to go right in order to get back to the big game, let alone win it. I don't know how familiar you are with the "helmet catch" from David Tyree on the final drive of the 2007 SB, but that was literally a once in a lifetime thing that you really can't control.

I don't really think that anything "needs" to be done any differently. The work ethic, knowledge of the coaching staff, and proper technique and experience always goes a long way towards keeping them heading for a playoff berth every year. From there it's basically a crapshoot, but they haven't been able to run the ball very well or cover in the secondary very well--and those have been some of their postseason failures of late that certainly could used to be changed.

 

[manxman2601]

Also I am trying to delve into other topics on this board so I thought I would create this topic.

Struggling to see what's wrong with this - a laudable aim. However, I would agree that more content was needed in the OP. I found it difficult to comment on because it was fairly vague.

Still, considering the new Tebow supporting members have been wrongly criticised for only wanting to talk about Tebow, that they're attempting to broaden their Patriot horizons is to be commended.

 

[Christiancat]

I think a lot of it is just repeating the same types of processes that allow the team to compete at a higher level every season, hence the fact that they've won more games as a whole than any other team since the last SB win in the 2004 season.

The past 2 SB losses were just bad luck and the way the ball bounced. There's a lot that needs to go right in order to get back to the big game, let alone win it. I don't know how familiar you are with the "helmet catch" from David Tyree on the final drive of the 2007 SB, but that was literally a once in a lifetime thing that you really can't control.

I don't really think that anything "needs" to be done any differently. The work ethic, knowledge of the coaching staff, and proper technique and experience always goes a long way towards keeping them heading for a playoff berth every year. From there it's basically a crapshoot, but they haven't been able to run the ball very well or cover in the secondary very well--and those have been some of their postseason failures of late that certainly could used to be changed.

Do you mind elaborating on this part and explain?

 

[manxman2601]

Yes, I created this thread to get conversation going. I might not know as much about football as some here. I am trying to learn more about the game and talk about it.

How else do you think we can make the Pats team stronger. I know we haven't been to the superbowl in awhile.

Firstly, I agree with Supafly in that we're pretty much there as a potential SB winning team anyway.

But secondly, I think we just need to get older and more experienced. There are players like McCourty, Chandler Jones, Hightower, Ridley, Vereen and some of the young depth we've drafted that will make this team better and better as they mature as football players.

 

[Christiancat]

Struggling to see what's wrong with this - a laudable aim. However, I would agree that more content was needed in the OP. I found it difficult to comment on because it was fairly vague.

Still, considering the new Tebow supporting members have been wrongly criticised for only wanting to talk about Tebow, that they're attempting to broaden their Patriot horizons is to be commended.

Thanks, Manx.

What are your thoughts about the Patriots team as it is right now as a whole?

 

[supafly]

But secondly, I think we just need to get older and more experienced. There are players like McCourty, Chandler Jones, Hightower, Ridley, Vereen and some of the young depth we've drafted that will make this team better and better as they mature as football players.

I'll tell you what---if these younger players pan out more than they fail we will be set up pretty nicely in the coming years again.

It's the players that you didn't include for obvious reasons that I am intrigued with, those like T.Wilson, L.Ryan, D.Harmon, the new TE's and the rookie WR's. Obviously the same logic applies. If we can hit a couple of homeruns in that list things will be looking nicely.

Those barren cupboard years of the draft from 2006-2008 (even 2009 on some level with Chung, Brace etc) have really made things more challenging for sure. Hopefully we're over that hump.

 

[Christiancat]

Firstly, I agree with Supafly in that we're pretty much there as a potential SB winning team anyway.

But secondly, I think we just need to get older and more experienced. There are players like McCourty, Chandler Jones, Hightower, Ridley, Vereen and some of the young depth we've drafted that will make this team better and better as they mature as football players.

Do you think that they need to focus on getting more players with experience?

 

[Christiancat]

I think a lot of it is just repeating the same types of processes that allow the team to compete at a higher level every season, hence the fact that they've won more games as a whole than any other team since the last SB win in the 2004 season.

The past 2 SB losses were just bad luck and the way the ball bounced. There's a lot that needs to go right in order to get back to the big game, let alone win it. I don't know how familiar you are with the "helmet catch" from David Tyree on the final drive of the 2007 SB, but that was literally a once in a lifetime thing that you really can't control.

I don't really think that anything "needs" to be done any differently. The work ethic, knowledge of the coaching staff, and proper technique and experience always goes a long way towards keeping them heading for a playoff berth every year. From there it's basically a crapshoot, but they haven't been able to run the ball very well or cover in the secondary very well--and those have been some of their postseason failures of late that certainly could used to be changed.

not to familiar with helmet catch. Do you want to elaborate on that.

Also do you think spygate from a few years ago had damaging effects on the team?

 

[ATippett56]

Defensive End

Rob Ninkovich
Chandler Jones

A whole lot of question marks thereafter

Potential practice squad candidates:

Michael Buchanan
Jason Vega

http://www.patriots.com/team/roster.html

 

[manxman2601]

I'll tell you what---if these younger players pan out more than they fail we will be set up pretty nicely in the coming years again.

It's the players that you didn't include for obvious reasons that I am intrigued with, those like T.Wilson, L.Ryan, D.Harmon, the new TE's and the rookie WR's. Obviously the same logic applies. If we can hit a couple of homeruns in that list things will be looking nicely.

Those barren cupboard years of the draft from 2006-2008 (even 2009 on some level with Chung, Brace etc) have really made things more challenging for sure. Hopefully we're over that hump.

I went back and looked at the early nineties picks and whilst these recent picks aren't up to that level:

1993: Drew Bledsoe
1994: Willie McGinest
1995: Ty Law, Ted Johnson, Curtis Martin
1996: Terry Glenn, Lawyer Milloy, Tedy Bruschi

Just

or the early noughties: Brady, Seymour, Wilfork, etc, I do think the recent draft classes do have that similar epoch building feel to them. particularly if this class pans out as early camp is tantalising us with. Not only are there some very good starters, there is potentially good young depth - I really do believe we are in the early stages of building a potentially outstanding team depending upon the QB situation.

 

[ATippett56]

Linebacker

Jerod Mayo
Brandon Spikes
Dont'a Hightower
Steve Beauharnais
Jamie Collins
Dane Fletcher

Potential practice squad candidates:

Jeff Tarpinian

Official Website of the New England Patriots | Team - Players

 

[ATippett56]

Cornerback

Aqib Talib
Alfonzo Dennard
Kyle Arrington
Logan Ryan
Ras-I Dowling (on the bubble)

Potential practice squad candidates:

Justin Green
Brandon Jones

Official Website of the New England Patriots | Team - Players

 

[manxman2601]

not to familiar with helmet catch. Do you want to elaborate on that.

Also do you think spygate from a few years ago had damaging effects on the team?

NY Giants-David Tyree catch in Super Bowl - YouTube


And *cough* Don't mention Spygate or that catch again *cough*

Don't Mention The War!!

Basil Fawlty waits on the Germans - Fawlty Towers - BBC - YouTube