Next Season looks good, with all healthy and a good draft

[jsull87]

19-0 next year is coming. But we are gonna win the SB this year. I don't know why, but I think gronk might be back way sooner then expected.

Love the optomism... but IMO Gronk isn't back until next year.

IMO the pats roster is set. Spikes will go but Hightower is already getting experience in there due to Mayo going out. Collins is forced into playing time. 3 rookie WR's have flashed at various stages this year. Edelman has broken out.

Add in next years Draft picks at the Best player at the possition type deal it's just gravy.

Next year we get back (hypothatically) a healthy. Armstead, Vollmer, Wilfork, Kelly, Mayo, Gronk. Plus hopefully Talib, Amendola, Cannon, Gregory, Dennard e.t.c are 100%

 

[Patjew]

I'm interested in next season's previous season for now.

Or How I learned to stop worrying and love the now.

 

[Joker]

I knew you had feelings for me...:blushing:

 

[Patjew]

Yeah but who are you, or anybody else really, to call someone's attitude "ridiculously misplaced optimism" or "ball washing?"
Seriously?

He has every right to criticize someone's opinion. That's what we do here fella. That is life. Whoever doesn't like that should not offer up any opinions or predictions.

Especially such silly ones.

 

[shmessy]

I think things may be quite limited with the salary cap situation. We currently stand at about 4 million in room at the moment, but have a TON of our own free agents that need to be retained between now and the next 15 months (Feb 2015). Therefore, I don't think it's terribly reasonable to expect a lot of free agent moves.

Obviously, the return to health of a handful of players will go a long way, as will a decent draft. Really, those are going to be the focus--as well as attempting to retain some key players such as Talib, Edelman, etc.

Wilfork
Kelley
Armstead
Mayo

Will be a pretty nice personnel pickup for the D.

Draft a stud C in the first round, move Canon to his natural G position and welcome Seabass back.

Retain Talib at a decent price (injury history may scare off teams - if not, I'm ok with Dennard and Ryan).

 

[ausbacker]

I hate next year threads.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I'm an optimist, and I believe they should be a strong team as always, but consider the following:

- Not sure whether Wilfork will be the same post-injury at this stage.
- Not sure if Talib will be back and even then, will probably get injured again. Jury is still out on Dennard but he hasn't proven to be durable yet (And yes, part of that is due to the fact that he wasn't an active contributor until a month or so into his rookie season. But it still remains he hasn't lasted a season).
- We will have injuries next year too. LIKELY not as many but they'll be there as always. And Gronk hasn't lasted a full season since his rookie year. While none have been of the 'glass' version, you just have to accept his position, role as focal point of our passing attack, and luck to this point has been a consistent problem to his health
- AH cap hit may make it difficult to re-sign Edelman and other key FA, as well as making FA additions
- OL is a mess especially if Solder doesn't bounce back. With Mankins declining as well, lots of ?'s along that line and the one consistent performer has a history of injuries and back issues

We'll likely need a good draft. CB, OG, C, DT are major needs. S may be depending on how Harmon and Gregory play down the stretch. But it's still a chance that the issues that plague us right now could still be an issue next year - pass protection and pass defense. Mayo will definitely help the run D (and Vince if he bounces back).

 

[RayClay]

When the season i actually over, I'd like to trade about half our posters for long suffering Cleveland Browns, Houston Texan etc. etc. posters who don't have the luxury of giving up on their teams 10 or 12 different times during the season then stiil getting to watch them in the playoffs.

I imagine Browns fans would be ecstatic to come from behind with two TDs in 30 seconds.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to have a team better than a lot of it's fanbase rather than a Houston Texan or Indianapolis disgusting fold for the draft pick, but I think some real fans who are stuck with crappy losing ttitude teams might appreciate rooting for a winner.

Suck about gronk, of course, but stuff happens.

 

[RIpats88]

something to note in regards to the passing game next year though is that Dobson, KT, Boyce should all have year #2 jump.

I could easily see Dobson become a 1000+ yard receiver next year.

 

[RayClay]

By the way, the 72 Dolphins perfect season was accomplished mostly after their starting qb broke his leg. Back up Earl Morall came back and won 11 games so Griese could come back in and win the SB.

On December 15, 1990, Simms broke his foot during a game against the Buffalo Bills.

Of course losing their QB this late, Parcells and Belichick started planning fishing trips at warm weather scouting locations...oh wait

The following week, Hostetler, who had thrown only 109 passes in his 7 years with the Giants, took over as the starting quarterback. The Giants won their final two regular seasons games and swept through the playoffs, defeating the Bills in Super Bowl XXV, 20–19. During the game, he completed 20 of 32 passes for 222 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. In 2008, ESPN ranked Hostetler's performance #30 for the best quarterback performances in Super Bowl history.

I guess they decided not to give up and rode the mostly untried backup through the Super Bowl.

 

[unoriginal]

I hate next year threads.

Can't wait till next year when there won't be any.

 

[shmessy]

..... Jury is still out on Dennard but....... .

I see what you did there.....

 

[SHOWTIME15]

a new LT - solder isn't cutting it.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Would love to see this team healthy come playoffs this year with a weak AFC..but won't come close to happening...

 

[CelticPatriot]

I know next year threads are annoying, but this was more to point out how good we would be without injuries.

 

[Froob]

To think if they were healthy this season. Elite defense and elite offense. Such is life....

 

[Sciz]

a new LT - solder isn't cutting it.

This might surprise a lot of people, but Solder has actually been really good this season. His biggest issue right now is some technique lapses, which makes things look worse than they are because these technique issues are easily exploitable. That's all fixable though, and he's only in his second season as a starting left tackle. When he's on his game, he's among the best in the NFL both at pass blocking and run blocking. I think the best way to explain things is that his bad plays are worse than most really good left tackles, but his average plays are just as good or better. It's not as easy as counting up how many mistakes a guy makes, which is what most fans do. Lower floor with the same/better middle and ceiling, if you will.

And I'm convinced that he's taking the blame for quite a few sacks that aren't on him. A good example is the Geno Atkins sack where Mankins flat out said that the OL doesn't pass block there. They go off the assumption that the defender will bite on the run and take himself out of the play, which happens more often than not. When it doesn't happen, then a guy like Solder looks like he messed up, even though he did exactly what he does on every other playaction play.

 

[unoriginal]

I know next year threads are annoying, but this was more to point out how good we would be without injuries.

And how awesome we'll be next year, when injuries stop happening to football players.

 

[captain stone]

Wilfork
Kelley
Armstead
Mayo

Will be a pretty nice personnel pickup for the D.

Draft a stud C in the first round, move Canon to his natural G position and welcome Seabass back.

Retain Talib at a decent price (injury history may scare off teams - if not, I'm ok with Dennard and Ryan).

...and At Least one more Pass-Rusher.

 

[A man named Brady]

Let's wait till this year is over first