Welcome back Isaiah Wynn

[luuked]

Bill dropped the ball all right...but not because he didn't draft LBS Jackson, but because he didn't draft Nick Chubb.

Yeah instead he drafted a guy who arguably had the best rookie season in history of a Patriots skill player and was a key component of a SB championship.

What a dropped ball.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

If Wynn is activated and healthy, his presence on the line changes all the pass blocking assignments and free karras to help mason more.

Brady should feel like he’s won the lottery with a healthy Wynn out there!

 

[PatsFan2]

If Wynn is activated and healthy, his presence on the line changes all the pass blocking assignments and free karras to help mason more.

Brady should feel like he’s won the lottery with a healthy Wynn out there!

I wouldn't go that lottery far knowing our WE situation that said who goes when Wynn gets back?? plenty of possibilities. Izzo PS eligibility - LaGlasse name says it all - Korey Cunningham and Marshall Newhouse in the flesh.

 

[Sicilian]

Wynn helps. There shouldn't be any debate about that, and I agree with Deus' point that it can mean a LOT at that position.

But a couple things are also going to have to improve to really see the offense return to what we're used to (or close to it):

1) These WR's need to stay healthy. They're good enough to do some damage when they're all out there. But the lack of consistency in who IS out there and what role they're playing has been devastating. If Dorsett misses time with the concussion and Sanu isn't 100%, Brady's still going to have to hold the ball longer than he'd like.

2) The running backs (specifically Sony) need to respond to the improved OL. I'm assuming here that the line WILL improve across the board with an infusion of talent at LT and a chance to work together for (hopefully) the rest of the season. But Sony needs to trust that OL and hit the holes that are there when that happens. If he continues to hesitate, he's still going to be an afterthought for most defenses we face.

3) We need to find a consistent enough answer at FB, or we need to de-emphasize it completely in this offense. I applaud Bolden and Roberts for doing whatever the team needs, but I'm not at all convinced that they can perform the role, even with more time/practice. If they (or someone else) can't provide confidence there, I would rather have another TE or WR playing in wider sets (which hopefully will be easier with a better OL), than trying to squeeze the square peg into the round hole. This team has always been good at playing to their personnel's strengths. If a winner at FB doesn't emerge in the next few weeks, it's time to admit that isn't going to be one of them.

 

[Keyser Söze]

Thank god. Let’s load Newhouse into a cannon and shoot him into the sun.

 

[Sicilian]

Thank god. Let’s load Newhouse into a cannon and shoot him into the sun.

Bad news for you friend, but he's still our swing tackle after Wynn comes back. Otherwise, Cunningham would have been playing over him, or someone else would have been brought in by now.

 

[mgteich]

fair enough.

I point out that many posters do not have the faith in Newhouse that you do.

BESIDES, as folks have suggested, the line is very different with Wynn holding his own at LT. As has been said, Thuney is now free to help Karras a bit. This help by Thuney also allows Mason to have less responsibility for helping Karras. Adding a competent LT makes a big, big difference to the entire OL.

For 10-20 plays a game... Yes... Think of it more as adding Wynn which makes Newhouse the next blocker off the bench

 

[mgteich]

WR
Sure they need to be healthy. How is that different than at any time, with any team. Sure, there would need to be major adjustments if both Dorsett and Sanu are out. Having said that, we would still have Edelman, Harry, Meyers, White, Bulkhead, Watson, and LeCosee as receiver targets (some would even add Michell).

RB
I have no reason to believe that the RB's won't be helped by an improved OL. I don't understand how that couldn't be the case.

FB
We don't have one, and we won't have one. However, as many teams do, we will have to have someone blocking in certain situations: Bolden and Roberts are the team's choices.

Wynn helps. There shouldn't be any debate about that, and I agree with Deus' point that it can mean a LOT at that position.

But a couple things are also going to have to improve to really see the offense return to what we're used to (or close to it):

1) These WR's need to stay healthy. They're good enough to do some damage when they're all out there. But the lack of consistency in who IS out there and what role they're playing has been devastating. If Dorsett misses time with the concussion and Sanu isn't 100%, Brady's still going to have to hold the ball longer than he'd like.

2) The running backs (specifically Sony) need to respond to the improved OL. I'm assuming here that the line WILL improve across the board with an infusion of talent at LT and a chance to work together for (hopefully) the rest of the season. But Sony needs to trust that OL and hit the holes that are there when that happens. If he continues to hesitate, he's still going to be an afterthought for most defenses we face.

3) We need to find a consistent enough answer at FB, or we need to de-emphasize it completely in this offense. I applaud Bolden and Roberts for doing whatever the team needs, but I'm not at all convinced that they can perform the role, even with more time/practice. If they (or someone else) can't provide confidence there, I would rather have another TE or WR playing in wider sets (which hopefully will be easier with a better OL), than trying to squeeze the square peg into the round hole. This team has always been good at playing to their personnel's strengths. If a winner at FB doesn't emerge in the next few weeks, it's time to admit that isn't going to be one of them.

 

[Sicilian]

WR
Sure they need to be healthy. How is that different than at any time, with any team. Sure, there would need to be major adjustments if both Dorsett and Sanu are out. Having said that, we would still have Edelman, Harry, Meyers, White, Bulkhead, Watson, and LeCosee as receiver targets (some would even add Michell).

It's different because, unlike many recent years, we don't have viable threats at TE to help mitigate the loss of those receivers. Like it or not, the WR are the strength of this offense right now (plus White). If they are depleted, Watson/Izzo/Lacosse aren't going to carry this team the way Gronk did, and the running game (though improved by Wynn) isn't going to magically get two great blocking TE's and an actual FB back. So switching to the power run like we did last year isn't likely to happen either. Our best bet is to have our best WR's healthy and run the offense through them.

RB
I have no reason to believe that the RB's won't be helped by an improved OL. I don't understand how that couldn't be the case.

You're right, it should... but I'm not counting that chicken before it hatches. Bad habits develop when you're trying to do too much to compensate for a deficiency around you. Should Sony and the RB's improve as soon as the line does? Yes. But I want to see it first.

FB
We don't have one, and we won't have one. However, as many teams do, we will have to have someone blocking in certain situations: Bolden and Roberts are the team's choices.

Fair enough, I agree with this.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

fair enough.

I point out that many posters do not have the faith in Newhouse that you do.

BESIDES, as folks have suggested, the line is very different with Wynn holding his own at LT. As has been said, Thuney is now free to help Karras a bit. This help by Thuney also allows Mason to have less responsibility for helping Karras. Adding a competent LT makes a big, big difference to the entire OL.

Mine come more lack of faith in tightends and no fullbacks... Brady needs more protection

 

[Keyser Söze]

Let’s not let Cannon off the hook either. As bad as Newhouse has been, Cannon is having a horrid year.

 

[mgteich]

Running more 2 RB sets would accomplish that goal.

Mine come more lack of faith in tightends and no fullbacks... Brady needs more protection

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Crossing fingers that Wynn's turf toe isn't reaggravated.

Regards,
Chris

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Yeah instead he drafted a guy who arguably had the best rookie season in history of a Patriots skill player and was a key component of a SB championship.

What a dropped ball.

Ehhh, I think he's got a point, and I'm a huge fan of Michel. If I'd known we wanted an early-down, bell-cow type of back, then I would have advocated for Chubb. You can check my post history in the draft forum on that -- I thought Michel was the best fit for a multi-dimensional weapon on offense as an excellent change-of-pace back with the ability to pass-block and run occasional routes. I thought he'd be a bigger Dion Lewis, trading off some agility for power. I also said that there was a reason that Chubb was the starter at UGA.

The way we've used Michel hasn't been the optimal fit for his projections; it may be that he's gained weight, or his knees have sapped his explosiveness, or that he's not as good as he appeared, but the player and the role he has currently don't seem to be a perfect mesh.

That said, both teams can come out as winners, even if one player is better than the other. Michel was instrumental to last year's playoff run. Chubb may have been able to do the same. Maybe not behind our line. We'll never truly know. But it seems presumptuous to demean people for preferring Chubb. He's been the superior player thus far in their careers, even though Michel has had big moments in key games. It's okay to say we got a "B" player and they got the "A+" player in this scenario. The overall team success is what I care about, anyway, not the individual contributions.

 

[PatsFan2]

@ Reamer thanks for your objective voice of reason I see you are not influence my personal feelings or opinions like some people. P.s. really liked what I saw from Dirty Harry Sunday lets hope he gets more moving forward and get in sync with Brady.

 

[Uncle Rico]

 

[PP2]

Let's not expect Wynn to walk on water just yet.. he might get hurt doing so.

 

[PatsFan2]

This can't be real have any insignificant players like Ryan Izzo and Matt LaGlasse done more Phew! High Fives with each-other.

 

[Kontradiction]

Let's not expect Wynn to walk on water just yet.. he might get hurt doing so.

God damnit.

 

[PatsFan2]

Let's not expect Wynn to walk on water just yet.. he might get hurt doing so.

Yeah and lets not put him in Canton after Brady's First clean Pocket either.