Antonio Brown

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I'm rooting for him! Obviously they can't go back in time.

But even if he looked good in the playoffs last year - and he did, not denying that - it hasn't carried into this year. He's being outplayed by Burkhead as a runner and they'd rather use Bolden to run routes. I thought with a full camp with Brady that Sony would be emerging into a dual-threat, which is basically a strict requirement to justify a 1st round back, but in three games (one without White) he has zero receptions on a single target.

Big time yes on bolded. You GoTs to be special.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Which is why Burkhead has been getting more carries as of late. I wonder if Bill could go back in time he'd pick Nick Chubb instead?

I’d rather go back in time and pick kamara.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

It appears that Sony isn't much for getting yards on his own but shines at instinctively following blockers. The OL situation has set back his effectiveness.

OL has nothing to do w his elusivenss.
He's simply not the same player as he was at Georgia. Year 1 he gets a pass.

Yet to see this guy

 

[SBLIII]

OL has nothing to do w his elusivenss.
He's simply not the same player as he was at Georgia. Year 1 he gets a pass.

Yet to see this guy

where is the issue? did he forget how to play football?

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

where is the issue? did he forget how to play football?

Coming out I said he was Kamara but more of a bull in the run game & watching his college tape that wasn't a stretch at all.

Idk just not the same player & its not debatable. Injuries + usage? Idk?

I do know all the talk abt catching teams by surprise in terms of throwing to him makes me smile each time I hear that.

Not exactly reinventing the wheel by throwing to a guy who is supposed to catch passes.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Now watch all of talk about Sony and he goes for 100 with a touch. (A receiving td would be hilarious)

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Patriots fans need to get the f.uck over it already. It’s not your money being wasted.

This online forum and particular thread seems like an inappropriate place to opine about the the Patriots decision to release Brown, especially in light of the fact that perceived fan opinion plays a part in these decisions. Good post.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

It appears that Sony isn't much for getting yards on his own but shines at instinctively following blockers. The OL situation has set back his effectiveness.

That describes about 99% of NFL running backs, with the exceptions being guys like Barry Sanders and prime Adrian Peterson. If you don’t have a heavy reliance on your blockers to be successful, you’re likely a hall of fame RB.

 

[rochrist]

I'm rooting for him! Obviously they can't go back in time.

But even if he looked good in the playoffs last year - and he did, not denying that - it hasn't carried into this year. He's being outplayed by Burkhead as a runner and they'd rather use Bolden to run routes. I thought with a full camp with Brady that Sony would be emerging into a dual-threat, which is basically a strict requirement to justify a 1st round back, but in three games (one without White) he has zero receptions on a single target.

How did he start last year? Oh, and what's the current state of the O line? We running 5 returning starters out there? No?

 

[Kdo5]

It appears that Sony isn't much for getting yards on his own but shines at instinctively following blockers. The OL situation has set back his effectiveness.

So he is an above average back. I’ll take it.

 

[rochrist]

OL has nothing to do w his elusivenss.
He's simply not the same player as he was at Georgia. Year 1 he gets a pass.

Yet to see this guy

Year 1 he gets a pass for being in the conversation for SB MVP. Tough room.

 

[Joker]

Coming out I said he was Kamara but more of a bull in the run game & watching his college tape that wasn't a stretch at all.

Idk just not the same player & its not debatable. Injuries + usage? Idk?

I do know all the talk abt catching teams by surprise in terms of throwing to him makes me smile each time I hear that.

Not exactly reinventing the wheel by throwing to a guy who is supposed to catch passes.

You declared the Patriots out of it in November last season. What happened...you remember? Please STFU about YOUR unbelievable skills at evaluating players. In the end you're just another message board mook with a streak of convenient amnesia when you trip over your lower unit. Here's hoping THIS post makes you smile, Gnarr C. Sist.

 

[Tunescribe]

OL has nothing to do w his elusivenss.
He's simply not the same player as he was at Georgia. Year 1 he gets a pass.

Yet to see this guy

And your response has nothing to do with my post. I was addressing his performance as a Patriot, not with Georgia. Year one as a Patriot he performed well behind a strong, cohesive offensive line. This year the line he's trying to run behind is much different. No idea what "gets a pass" in year one is all about unless you're trying to say he failed while learning on the job.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Come on guys, these arguments are deeply dishonest. Not to mention that, when push came to shove against the Chiefs and Rams - when it was time to close out the game - it was Burkhead, not Michel, who got the carries.

When NE needed to slam it in for the TD in SB53 - Michel. When NE was on its own 3 after the Gilmore INT and needed to get out from under the shadow of the goalposts - Michel.

 

[Kdo5]

When NE needed to slam it in for the TD in SB53 - Michel. When NE was on its own 3 after the Gilmore INT and needed to get out from under the shadow of the goalposts - Michel.

Legarette Blount would have done the same. Rex Burkhead did in the AFCCG AND the SB. Let’s not pretend it was something special Michel did. Great blocking, competent running. Don’t make it out to be more than it was.

“Slam it in” is a bit of an exaggeration when Burkhead, BJGE, Maroney, Mike Cloud, you and me could have. They all can fall into an end zone behind great blocking.

 

[Tunescribe]

Mike Cloud

There's a one-hit wonder if ever there was one. Jonas Gray was in the same category.

 

[catent]

@BaconGrundleCandy - I agree with your assessment. Michel was an explosive, dynamic college runner and something changed since he was drafted, I'm not sure what.

I have a hunch it's a mental/coaching thing, like a focus on ball security, because he looked like his old self in the preseason game against the Panthers, and was really flashing.

Check out some of his initial highlights in this video - looks special, I remember everyone being blown away by how explosive he looked. I was really excited to watch him after seeing that, but he hasn't been the same in the regular season.

 

[sieglo]

Now watch all of talk about Sony and he goes for 100 with a touch. (A receiving td would be hilarious)

Considering that Belichick and the coaching staff read this board consistently, you never know. But I’m not sure they are going to make it 550 pages into the Antonio Brown megathread, so I’m worried.

 

[primetime]

How did he start last year? Oh, and what's the current state of the O line? We running 5 returning starters out there? No?

Burkhead's averaging 2 yards more per carry behind the same ineffective line, and Michel has heretofore offered less than nothing in the passing game. The Patriots line still features three of the better linemen in the game, so it's not like it's some Giants-like complete disaster.

 

[primetime]

@BaconGrundleCandy - I agree with your assessment. Michel was an explosive, dynamic college runner and something changed since he was drafted, I'm not sure what.

I have a hunch it's a mental/coaching thing, like a focus on ball security, because he looked like his old self in the preseason game against the Panthers, and was really flashing.

Check out some of his initial highlights in this video - looks special, I remember everyone being blown away by how explosive he looked. I was really excited to watch him after seeing that, but he hasn't been the same in the regular season.

I don't disagree that there's a coaching aspect. The fact he's not used in the passing game does allow teams to key him when he's in there. It's not like he can't catch the ball, he did it in college. So not sure if it's a coaching or mental hangup there.