Belichick: "We need more production offensively, period"

[sb1]

Brady would have been horrible in this offense...with a makeshift offensive line and no weapons, are you kidding? Tampa has everything he needs - a great defense and good playrs around him on offense. He doesn't have to carry that team on his back like he would have here...

I think the Bucs have a top 3 defense in the league. At least. Best they’ve had since they won the SB. Brady really is in a very good spot for him.

 

[Vindicate]

I wonder how much CoVID has affected Bill's trading approach. Makes me wonder if the dearth of trades is connected to:

1) teams knowing we're desperate, so they have all the leverage

and

2) with that in mind, spending a lot of capital on a player that's only here for half a season is a tough trigger to pull knowing they could get coVID on the plane ride over and be out for another week or two.

I'm just spitballin' here, trying to pass time until something finally happens lol.

 

[sb1]

While he left by his own choice, he did so because they would not meet his reasonable demand two years ago that they sign him to a two year deal. They treated him "like every other player" and he deserved better, not to mention that they did not have a viable player at the position with which to replace him. Then, to top it all off, they still didn't upgrade our WR or TE positions, knowing those were horrible last year. Some trades better be coming.

Well they did try to accommodate him with weapons like AB. Didn’t exactly work out.

As for a viable backup- they did have one. Then they traded him, reportedly at Brady’s request. We play him this week.

Brady didn’t have to leave. I really doubt an extension really mattered. He knew this team wasn’t giving a 42 year old QB an multi year extension. No for sure he had enough and wanted to go. He can do what he wants. But it’s false to say anyone forced him out or let him go.

 

[sb1]

I wonder how much CoVID has affected Bill's trading approach. Makes me wonder if the dearth of trades is connected to:

1) teams knowing we're desperate, so they have all the leverage

and

2) with that in mind, spending a lot of capital on a player that's only here for half a season is a tough trigger to pull knowing they could get coVID on the plane ride over and be out for another week or two.

I'm just spitballin' here, trying to pass time until something finally happens lol.

It was interesting that Bill was vocal about the offense. This isnt his MO.

 

[Ring 6]

It was interesting that Bill was vocal about the offense. This isnt his MO.

Of course it’s his MO. When the team struggles he consistently acknowledges and doesn’t try to sugar coat it.

 

[sb1]

Of course it’s his MO. When the team struggles he consistently acknowledges and doesn’t try to sugar coat it.

I’ve never heard him say publicly anything like what he said in the OP. Publicly calling out his offense.

 

[Ring 6]

I’ve never heard him say publicly anything like what he said in the OP. Publicly calling out his offense.

Did you even read it? He didn’t “publicly call out his offense”. He was asked about TE production and said

“Overall, we need more production offensively, period,” Belichick said. “We only had 14 first downs (in Sunday’s 18-12 loss to the Denver Broncos). I think we probably had more production out of the tight end position in this game than we’ve had all year.”

That is 100% consistent with what he has said for 20 years.

 

[PatsDeb]

Brady would have been horrible in this offense...with a makeshift offensive line and no weapons, are you kidding? Tampa has everything he needs - a great defense and good playrs around him on offense. He doesn't have to carry that team on his back like he would have here...

I don't disagree. It turns out he's lucky he got out when he did. Let's face it, all we did on O in the offseason was let Brady walk (voluntarily as sb1 points out) and get a lesser QB who doesn't really fit our style of play. That's it. Maddening.

 

[Biffins]

This Bill Belichick Quote Underscores One Of Patriots' Biggest Problems - NESN.com

Bill Belichick was asked about the New England Patriots' lack of production from the tight end position. The coach's response was telling.

nesn.com

He also called out the TE position in particular.

If he's saying this in public... then I'd like to think the trade wheels are already in motion. Looking forward to seeing what happens.

Sounds like Bill wished he had a good pocket passer and a TE who could block and run seam routes...............

hmmmmmmmmmmm..................

 

[sb1]

I don't disagree. It turns out he's lucky he got out when he did. Let's face it, all we did on O in the offseason was let Brady walk (voluntarily as sb1 points out) and get a lesser QB who doesn't really fit our style of play. That's it. Maddening.

For me I'm trying not to compare it to Brady's offense otherwise the lack of weapons becomes very apparent and frustrating. I'm ok with thinking this is a run first team like the Ravens were last year. We're pretty good at it. How good remains to be seen.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Sounds like Bill wished he had a good pocket passer and a TE who could block and run seam routes...............

hmmmmmmmmmmm..................

Look, Gronk and Brady didn't want to be here. Brady wanted to go elsewhere because of our lack of talent. He wanted more rings instead of sticking with our fanbase. It is what it is.

 

[sb1]

Look, Gronk and Brady didn't want to be here. Brady wanted to go elsewhere because of our lack of talent. He wanted more rings instead of sticking with our fanbase. It is what it is.

Yeah. Gronk was out of football. There was zero chance he would come back to the game to come here. So no point handwringing over that.

 

[Vindicate]

I don't disagree. It turns out he's lucky he got out when he did. Let's face it, all we did on O in the offseason was let Brady walk (voluntarily as sb1 points out) and get a lesser QB who doesn't really fit our style of play. That's it. Maddening.

I think that's simplifying it, really... It is maddening, I'll give you that - but just because, well, it sucks to see a bad offense haha.

Before a CoVID policy was in place, we had absolutely no cap space - especially after franchising Thuney (which was a BIG move to make on O - we literally allotted most of our cap to offense this off-season).

By the time there was a policy, most of the worthwhile offensive playmakers had been picked. I wish there was a list so I could confirm this, but if I remember correctly there wasn't any FA worthwhile, or they were too expensive (still) and what's left to explore are trades. Which ties back to the whole "welp, teams know we need it, so they have all the leverage." I don't think Bill wants another Sanu situation.

Furthermore, there is absolutely no guarantee of a season finishing. Long term, that makes it difficult to pull a trade and feel good about it. Before the Cam signing, this was a rebuilding year and I'd say a decent chunk of this board just accepted it. It was bound to happen. And it made sense that not a lot of moves were made when there was little to do with the resources available.

Cam coming in was only because he was so damn cheap, like... Absurdly cheap for what his ceiling is. And contrary to your "style of play" issue, his strengths work with how the offense is currently built, far better than Brady. (Obviously, in no way am I saying Cam is better than Brady as a QB. Brady is the literal best of all time. But not in this offense.)

Whether we like it or not, in terms of the offseason market and the context behind our cap, Bill made the most logical and sound decisions for the team with the long-term in mind. Cam immediately made what little potency we had on offense a decent amount more potent.

 

[PScottman]

We have all we need here...

Already said lesser talent on offense. Defensively pretty solid. Good Special teams. Can they improve the offense - of course, but do they need to make the splashy WR signing at the big money it would take to do so? Or trade away future capital for the same (i.e Sanu last year)?

Luckily this franchise isn't seduced by the "Draft Kings" mentality of fantasy statistics ignoring realities of cap management and long term stability. This team doesn't even know if it has its QB for the future which is the MOST expensive and critical piece of an offense. They've been decimated on the offense by COVID killing practice and other injuries for the second straight year across the OL. Without being able to see what they have changing the skill positions doesn't give you any more information about the actual skill level of the team as a WHOLE UNIT and wastes the assets you have to try and make those changes.

 

[Conflicted Panthers fan]

I think that's simplifying it, really... It is maddening, I'll give you that - but just because, well, it sucks to see a bad offense haha.

Before a CoVID policy was in place, we had absolutely no cap space - especially after franchising Thuney (which was a BIG move to make on O - we literally allotted most of our cap to offense this off-season).

By the time there was a policy, most of the worthwhile offensive playmakers had been picked. I wish there was a list so I could confirm this, but if I remember correctly there wasn't any FA worthwhile, or they were too expensive (still) and what's left to explore are trades. Which ties back to the whole "welp, teams know we need it, so they have all the leverage." I don't think Bill wants another Sanu situation.

Furthermore, there is absolutely no guarantee of a season finishing. Long term, that makes it difficult to pull a trade and feel good about it. Before the Cam signing, this was a rebuilding year and I'd say a decent chunk of this board just accepted it. It was bound to happen. And it made sense that not a lot of moves were made when there was little to do with the resources available.

Cam coming in was only because he was so damn cheap, like... Absurdly cheap for what his ceiling is. And contrary to your "style of play" issue, his strengths work with how the offense is currently built, far better than Brady. (Obviously, in no way am I saying Cam is better than Brady as a QB. Brady is the literal best of all time. But not in this offense.)

Whether we like it or not, in terms of the offseason market and the context behind our cap, Bill made the most logical and sound decisions for the team with the long-term in mind. Cam immediately made what little potency we had on offense a decent amount more potent.

Well said. Cam certainly gave a boost to the offense which would otherwise be among the league’s worst, and with a healthy offensive line the first few games they exceeded expectations. Now with a few injuries to the line and an ugly offensive performance, albeit after only one practice with a rusty QB, it seems the sky is falling.

It will be interesting to see how the team and coaches respond. It seems Cam will need to be Superman to carry this offense, but I’m not sure if Joe Montana/Brady/insert-whichever-goat-QB would have faired much better given the circumstances last week.

 

[Ghost_Rush02]

Look, Gronk and Brady didn't want to be here. Brady wanted to go elsewhere because of our lack of talent. He wanted more rings instead of sticking with our fanbase. It is what it is.

I keep seeing this..that is not the truth. He left because BB purposely low-balled him when they had a meeting about what he would get if stayed with the pats. That's why he left.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Is this quote from after the playoff loss to the Titans last season? The offense has gotten worse not better! Stop blaming The Covid! This teams issues were not addressed!

 

[Wozzy]

When opponents stack the box to stop the run, corral Cam in the pocket and dare him to pass... he can't.

This has been his Achilles heel his entire career.

 

[Boomer B]

Well they did try to accommodate him with weapons like AB. Didn’t exactly work out.

As for a viable backup- they did have one. Then they traded him, reportedly at Brady’s request. We play him this week.

Brady didn’t have to leave. I really doubt an extension really mattered. He knew this team wasn’t giving a 42 year old QB an multi year extension. No for sure he had enough and wanted to go. He can do what he wants. But it’s false to say anyone forced him out or let him go.

Do you follow the team outside of watching the games? It has been widely reported since the Eagles SB that Brady wanted a multi year deal and each off season he could only get 1 year incentive laden deals from Bill. If the Pats wanted Brady he would still be here.

 

[sb1]

Do you follow the team outside of watching the games? It has been widely reported since the Eagles SB that Brady wanted a multi year deal and each off season he could only get 1 year incentive laden deals from Bill. If the Pats wanted Brady he would still be here.

"Wanted Brady" doesn't mean being forced to give him what he wants. Yes I understand what happened after the Eagles SB- but if he really wanted to stay he would have been fine going year to year. And they did want him to stay so the talk that the Pats forced him to leave is nonsense. I'm not going to blame them for not offering a multi year extension for a 41 year old QB. If they back up the brinks truck out of nostalgia, that's how we quickly become like the Jets.

And I can't blame Brady either. I think the real lure in TB was a better offense, a more players-coach in Arians, and a chance to silence the critics that said he was a product of the Patriots. Was never going to find that here.