The 2020 Offense

[Patsgofor4]

I wanna be in play for Trevor Lawrence or fields but unfortunately i see a scenario where this team goes 6-10 or 7-9. They will try and win games but the schedule will be too tough for stidham and this offense.

I will make a $1000 bet (for charity) with anyone on this site that the Pats will finish better than 6-10. Even if they didn't add another player to the team, there is no f*cking was that happens with BB as their head coach.

 

[Patsgofor4]

I'd still like them to take a flier on Rashard Higgins. He's the type of guy in whom they should be interested, now that the compensation formula is no longer in play.

 

[stinkypete]

I will make a $1000 bet (for charity) with anyone on this site that the Pats will finish better than 6-10. Even if they didn't add another player to the team, there is no f*cking was that happens with BB as their head coach.

If the line stays healthy, and the WRs make a typical second year jump, then this offense could be functional enough to win the division. But that's assuming a lot of things break our way.

I see somewhere in the 7 - 9 through 9 - 7 range to be most realistic. The defense/ST is going to be good enough to ensure the team does not finish in the bottom third of the league.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Expectations for Stidham seem to be overly optimistic and too high. He has not shown yet what he can do in NFL is very inexperienced and to expect he will start day one and hit it big this year seems improbbale. I expect Hoyer most likely to start season and possibly Stidham coming on at mid year.

Offense should depend heavily on run game with Michel and Harris leading the way. I do expect Harry to take a big step forward this year and become Anquin Boldin like. Also expect Sanu to play like a man possessed. But I doubt you will see Hoyer or Stidham throwing me than 25 times a game this year. Offense should be about long slow drives and ball control.

If Stidham has a 2001 TB12 year we'll be fine. 10-6 maybe.

If he flops flip the record.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Hyped]

Barring injuries:

OL 2020 > OL 2019: We get Andrews back, presumably Mason/Cannon were hurt, Wynn missed some time, and we got more competition among the backups.

WR 2020 > WR 2019: Edelman, Sanu, and Harry all healthy. Olzewski/Meyers 2nd year and Meyers has reps with Stidham. Plus, I really like some of our UDFA WR's, Marquise Lee, and Byrd.

TE 2020 > TE 2019: Asiasi and Keene really excite me....and I think we keep all 4. LaCosse has reps with Stidham and Izzo is the better blocker of all 4, IMO.

RB 2020 > RB 2019: We still have James White. Michel needs a fullback, IMO. Really high on Harris myself.

FB 2019 > FB 2020: Develin was special....but Vitale looks like he has more wheels....ditto for Jackobi Johnson. Maybe we get Keene here a bit....or use a 6th OL-man.

QB 2019 > QB 2020: Nobody is better than Brady. Stid has more wheels....and probably would trust receivers more and be more unpredictable.....

 

[jah]

I wouldn't underestimate the potential of Stidham being more trusting of young receivers. We might get more turnovers as a result, but I also expect the volume stats for Harry and possibly Meyers to be a big step up from 2019.

 

[oceansizer]

Healthy O-line equals better running game. Adding legit TEs ( I hope both our choices are legit ) equals more efficient WRs.

 

[n6249c]

Top 5 defense? Losing Van Noy, Collins and Shelton and replacing them with what?

They got all 3 of those guys as cast-offs who disappointed with other teams. ...

Be fair. Before Collins was a Browns cast-off he was a Patriots cast-off. Pats drafted him.

 

[n6249c]

Carried the team to the title in 18 so he must be doing something right.

You could have put BenJarvus Green-Ellis behind that line and he might have done the same thing.

Ah but could you put Brandon Bolden or Rex Burkhead behind that line and have them do the same?

 

[n6249c]

More often than not, their defense has collapsed in every Super Bowl appearance. It always will come down to the offense having to make a play eventually.

See how it went for the 9ers in last years Super Bowl.

Like it did when it held the Rams without a TD?

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

I wouldn't underestimate the potential of Stidham being more trusting of young receivers. We might get more turnovers as a result, but I also expect the volume stats for Harry and possibly Meyers to be a big step up from 2019.

They are the biggest beneficiaries of the qb change.

 

[mgteich]

Barring injuries:

OL 2020 > OL 2019: We get Andrews back, presumably Mason/Cannon were hurt, Wynn missed some time, and we got more competition among the backups.

WR 2020 > WR 2019: Edelman, Sanu, and Harry all healthy. Olzewski/Meyers 2nd year and Meyers has reps with Stidham. Plus, I really like some of our UDFA WR's, Marquise Lee, and Byrd.

TE 2020 > TE 2019: Asiasi and Keene really excite me....and I think we keep all 4. LaCosse has reps with Stidham and Izzo is the better blocker of all 4, IMO.

RB 2020 > RB 2019: We still have James White. Michel needs a fullback, IMO. Really high on Harris myself.

FB 2019 > FB 2020: Develin was special....but Vitale looks like he has more wheels....ditto for Jackobi Johnson. Maybe we get Keene here a bit....or use a 6th OL-man.

QB 2019 > QB 2020: Nobody is better than Brady. Stid has more wheels....and probably would trust receivers more and be more unpredictable.....

OK with everything but keeping a 4th TE. I don't think that Izzo is the best blocker.

 

[sb1]

More often than not, their defense has collapsed in every Super Bowl appearance. It always will come down to the offense having to make a play eventually.

See how it went for the 9ers in last years Super Bowl.

I would argue the defense made the 28-3 comeback possible. Also it wasn’t Brady that intercepted Wilson at the goal line. And the Patriots gave up fewer points in LIII than any team in Super Bowl history.

 

[mgteich]

I wouldn't underestimate the potential of Stidham being more trusting of young receivers. We might get more turnovers as a result, but I also expect the volume stats for Harry and possibly Meyers to be a big step up from 2019.

Is it better to trust Edelman and Sanu (and Byrd and Lee) or to trust Meyers and Gunner?

 

[Hyped]

OK with everything but keeping a 4th TE. I don't think that Izzo is the best blocker.

Interesting physical stats of each TE:

LaCosse - 6'6" and 255 lbs. - 27 years old, 4.64/40
Izzo - 6'5" and 255 lbs. - 24 years old, 4.92/40
Asiasi - 6'3" and 257 lbs. - 22 years old, 4.73/40
Keene - 6'4" and 253 lbs. - 21 years old, 4.71/40

And from this link regarding the TE's blocking grades from last year:

To put that grade into perspective, the three tight ends the Patriots had on their roster last season - Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo - had run blocking grades of 51.5, 59.3 and 44.9, respectively.

I remember complaining about Izzo being a poor blocker in space last year...he never really got squared up and was always blocking off one foot or falling to the side....

 

[Kdo5]

Ah but could you put Brandon Bolden or Rex Burkhead behind that line and have them do the same?

Given as much opportunity as Sony Maroney? Sure. Even if Bolden couldn’t, weeeee a first round pick is better than a career third stringer. What a compliment to Sony.

At least Bolden knows how to run a route or catch a pass.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Like it did when it held the Rams without a TD?

I would argue the defense made the 28-3 comeback possible. Also it wasn’t Brady that intercepted Wilson at the goal line. And the Patriots gave up fewer points in LIII than any team in Super Bowl history.

Ugh....You two are cherry picking.

2001 - Pats up 17-3. 17-7 late in the 4th Q.
2003 - Pats up 21-10. They lost that lead in the 2nd half not once...twice.
2004 - Allowed late game TD cutting it to 24-21, but recovered onside kick.
2007 - 14-10 late in 4th Q. Couldn't make a stop on the Giants final drive and lost 17-14. Arguably the biggest choke in sports history.
2011 - Up 17-9. Lost 21-17.
2014 - After taking a late game lead at 28-24, Seahawks drove all the way down the field with ease and got lucky as hell with the Butler pick.
2016 - Defense was not good to open the game. Brady pick 6 didn't help. They held it down to allow the comeback.
2017 - Pathetic effort. Pathetic game plan.
2018 - Most compete game by the defense.

 

[Kdo5]

He caught a diving pass. I’ve seen Bethel Johnson make that catch a few times. Whoop-dee-doo.

Harry still can emerge, but he left some to be desired when he was on the field. Hopefully with a simplified offense he’ll do better.

 

[sb1]

Ugh....You two are cherry picking.

2001 - Pats up 17-3. 17-7 late in the 4th Q.
2003 - Pats up 21-10. They lost that lead in the 2nd half not once...twice.
2004 - Allowed late game TD cutting it to 24-21, but recovered onside kick.
2007 - 14-10 late in 4th Q. Couldn't make a stop on the Giants final drive and lost 17-14. Arguably the biggest choke in sports history.
2011 - Up 17-9. Lost 21-17.
2014 - After taking a late game lead at 28-24, Seahawks drove all the way down the field with ease and got lucky as hell with the Butler pick.
2016 - Defense was not good to open the game. Brady pick 6 didn't help. They held it down to allow the comeback.
2017 - Pathetic effort. Pathetic game plan.
2018 - Most compete game by the defense.

So...you agree with me then that the comeback wouldn’t happen without the defense doing a great job.

The Seahawks got lucky on the Kearse catch and Butler won that game not Brady.