Season Final Grades 2021

[WhatJustHappened]

Are we grading Mac compared to the rest of the NFL qbs, or based on realistic expectations for the 5th rookie qb taken this draft?

3800 yds 22tds/13int 67.6% completion, led his team to the playoffs WITHOUT a #1 wide receiver.

Compared to Brady/Rodgers, sure a B is fine. Compared to QB rookie years in the history of the NFL, an A at the lowest. Rookie of the year caliber, couldn't expect more from him.

Just a simple what do you think grade OF EVERYONE.

 

[DarrylS]

What we as fans are not always aware of are the extent of injuries.

The Snap counts are telling FYI Judon played 40% less than he did last week and Bentley 52% less... JoeJuan Williams + 40% and Barmore +18%, even Duggar looked like he was having a difficult go of it the cast & wrap on his hand had an impact.

Defense Total snaps: 56

S Devin McCourty (56; 100%), LB Kyle Van Noy (54; 96%), CB J.C. Jackson (51; 91%), S Kyle Dugger (46; 82%), LB Dont’a Hightower (45; 80%), CB JoeJuan Williams (41; 73%), DL Deatrich Wise Jr. (41; 73%), S Adrian Phillips (38; 68%), LB Jamie Collins (34; 61%), DT Davon Godchaux (33; 59%), DT Christian Barmore (33; 59%), DT Lawrence Guy (30; 54%), DB Myles Bryant (23; 41%), LB Matthew Judon (22; 39%), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (18; 32%), DT Daniel Ekuale (16; 29%), CB Justin Bethel (13, 23%), CB D’Angelo Ross (8, 14%), LB Josh Uche (6; 11%), LB Jahlani Tavai (5, 9%), CB De’Vante Bausby (3; 5%)

 

[Family]

Are we grading Mac compared to the rest of the NFL qbs, or based on realistic expectations for the 5th rookie qb taken this draft?

3800 yds 22tds/13int 67.6% completion, led his team to the playoffs WITHOUT a #1 wide receiver.

Compared to Brady/Rodgers, sure a B is fine. Compared to QB rookie years in the history of the NFL, an A at the lowest. Rookie of the year caliber, couldn't expect more from him.

Just a simple what do you think grade OF EVERYONE.

I agree. Exactly what are we grading?

Bolden got a B, but deserves an A based on expectations, but a C as a third down back.

 

[sb1]

Way, way, way too discriminatory of an assessment.

To say Mac Jones regressed based on 5 games is absurd.

Maybe there's a better word than regressed but his performance in the last 5 games was clearly inferior to his season up to that point. Who knows why. I'd say better competition but the Bills were the only playoff team in the last 5 games and he did play the Jags. Maybe he was forced to open it up and take chances more with the team behind in a lot of games. 2 of his INTs were on desperation throws in garbage time.

Before the bye: 70% completion, 16:8 TD:INT 97 rating, 7.47 YPA.
After (including playoff): 60% completion, 8:7 TD:INT, 79 rating, 6.65 YPA

That includes the Jags game and garbage time in the playoff game when the Bills let off the gas on defense.

The sacks did go down at least, 24 sacks in 13 games up to the bye and 7 after in 5 games. 28 sacks for the season isn't too bad for a rookie.

 

[sb1]

Are we grading Mac compared to the rest of the NFL qbs, or based on realistic expectations for the 5th rookie qb taken this draft?

3800 yds 22tds/13int 67.6% completion, led his team to the playoffs WITHOUT a #1 wide receiver.

Compared to Brady/Rodgers, sure a B is fine. Compared to QB rookie years in the history of the NFL, an A at the lowest. Rookie of the year caliber, couldn't expect more from him.

My B was for the QB position, not on a curve or anything. I wish we could have seen what Mac can do when trailing in a tight game with no timeouts and the ball with 2 minutes left. After the bye it seemed the Patriots were usually behind by a big score and the "script" had to be thrown out

 

[RobertWeathers]

Maybe there's a better word than regressed but his performance in the last 5 games was clearly inferior to his season up to that point. Who knows why. I'd say better competition but the Bills were the only playoff team in the last 5 games and he did play the Jags. Maybe he was forced to open it up and take chances more with the team behind in a lot of games. 2 of his INTs were on desperation throws in garbage time.

Before the bye: 70% completion, 16:8 TD:INT 97 rating, 7.47 YPA.
After (including playoff): 60% completion, 8:7 TD:INT, 79 rating, 6.65 YPA

That includes the Jags game and garbage time in the playoff game when the Bills let off the gas on defense.

The sacks did go down at least, 24 sacks in 13 games up to the bye and 7 after in 5 games. 28 sacks for the season isn't too bad for a rookie.

I'm not disagreeing that his play fell off. It absolutely did. There is no question about it.

Only point is we need a larger data set to see he regressed.

For example if he comes out in Year 2 and ****s the bed, he most certainly regressed.

 

[sb1]

I'm not disagreeing that his play fell off. It absolutely did. There is no question about it.

Only point is we need a larger data set to see he regressed.

For example if he comes out in Year 2 and ****s the bed, he most certainly regressed.

Agreed. Regressed probably wasn't the best word... regressed really means he is not as good.

If he does regress in year 2 the Pats have a bigger problem. The outcome of the season and why it was a success to me is I believe we found our QB in just one draft. Most teams don't after they lose their franchise QB. Took the Bills two decades to find theirs.

 

[Kontradiction]

Hoping he'll stay...we'll see....we filled a lot of holes last year, hoping we do the same this year as there aren't as many...he would be welcomed!!!

He’s going to price himself as a CB1 due to the INTs he was able to haul in. When he’s not getting the ball in his hands, he’s not an elite cover corner. He’s a very good CB2, but he’s not in Gilmore’s universe. I think he prices himself out of here as well (though I’d love to be wrong).

 

[203Pat]

I think I would give Mac a B- overall. Had some ups and downs. He looked poised at times and looked frantic at time but it is to be expected for a rookie QB. Going forward I would like to see him stop throwing to guys who are covered like a blanket and work on his arm strength on those out routes. I am still holding out hope we can draft a legitimate number 1 receiver who can win one on one matchups. That would allow the other receivers to slide down the depth chart into spots where they can be more successful.

 

[farn]

Bryant.

How are we grading ? He got schooled by a team currently in the final 8. Otherwise, he is a 24 year old UDFA from last year’s draft who worked hard, played significant minutes when the starter JJ was lost for the season, and he made one massively huge play to seal the win and get NE the (then) #1 seed in the AFC…

Did he have a hard go during that BUF loss ? Yes.

 

[farn]

I think I would give Mac a B- overall. Had some ups and downs. He looked poised at times and looked frantic at time but it is to be expected for a rookie QB. Going forward I would like to see him stop throwing to guys who are covered like a blanket and work on his arm strength on those out routes. I am still holding out hope we can draft a legitimate number 1 receiver who can win one on one matchups. That would allow the other receivers to slide down the depth chart into spots where they can be more successful.

I’d give him an A.

5th QB taken, yet leads all rookies in every stat. Shows leadership on and off the field as vet players who were supposedly loyal to Cam realized this guy was easily surpassing the former MVP. Leads his team to a 10-7 season and a playoff appearance. Shows grit and guts in every loss, making some games closer than they should’ve been.

Since 2000, how many rookie QBs have had a better season than Mac ? Since 1980 ?

Again, are we grading him on “who he is and where he’s at” or is this in comparison to Stafford and Mahomes ?

 

[oceansizer]

I recommend one more award: DOY - Disappearance of the year....and the winner is Winovich.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agreed. Regressed probably wasn't the best word... regressed really means he is not as good.

If he does regress in year 2 the Pats have a bigger problem. The outcome of the season and why it was a success to me is I believe we found our QB in just one draft. Most teams don't after they lose their franchise QB. Took the Bills two decades to find theirs.

If Mac regresses in Year 2 we are fu_ked.

 

[archstanton543]

I recommend one more award: DOY - Disappearance of the year....and the winner is Winovich.

That's a tough one. What of the Tight End Twins Keene and Asiasi? I think they were more invisible than Wino.

 

[oceansizer]

That's a tough one. What of the Tight End Twins Keene and Asiasi? I think they were more invisible than Wino.

Indeed, strong candidates

 

[TomPatriot]

No way Agholor is cut, unless there are extenuating circumstances. His dead cap is $10m.

I don't think Wino or Uche get grades because they never see the field.

My feeling is the Pats have a lot of special teams specialists who can't really do much else. If your special teams are going to be mediocre, can't you acquire players who can play a position reasonably well and play STs?

 

[203Pat]

I’d give him an A.

5th QB taken, yet leads all rookies in every stat. Shows leadership on and off the field as vet players who were supposedly loyal to Cam realized this guy was easily surpassing the former MVP. Leads his team to a 10-7 season and a playoff appearance. Shows grit and guts in every loss, making some games closer than they should’ve been.

Since 2000, how many rookie QBs have had a better season than Mac ? Since 1980 ?

Again, are we grading him on “who he is and where he’s at” or is this in comparison to Stafford and Mahomes ?

I don't know how much leadership he displayed (which I am not faulting him for he is a rookie) outside of whatever small level of leadership he inherited by default just because he is a QB. One of the things I think he needs to work on was not getting too down if things aren't going well. I think it was his high school coach who mentioned that Mac was overly hard on himself and had to snap out of it and we saw a little of that when Bill had to basically usher him off the bench at the end of the Saints game. As far as loyalty to Cam the players didn't really have a choice. Cam was cut so they couldn't really follow a guy who wasn't on the team.

I like Mac so I don't want this to seem like a Mac bashing post but people seem to be acting like he lit the world on fire this year. He was solid and had a good rookie year overall. If this was his third year and he had these stats I would probably give him a C so I am grading on a curve based on the fact he is a rookie. Statistically he was generally right in the middle of the pack. 13th in yards, 15th in TDs, and 15th in QB rating. Good numbers for a rookie but as a starting QB pretty average.

 

[Boomer B]

If Mac is as promising as everybody is clamoring to say he is…

then all the receivers will stay and have slightly better seasons anyway. What happen to the qb makes everybody better? What happened to “tb on the jets takes them to the playoffs”? It’s on Mac next season none of the harry projection ********.

…so offense is better if Mac’s good.

so given that, why not load up on d and figure out who’s gonna replace the stars?

remember what happened to Seattle after chancellor, Sherman*, Thomas were gone? It’s happening here with us.

let the wr fantasies go and force Mac to prove he can carry the team. He’s on all the merchandise and the tv shows time to prove it.

Not really how it works in the NFL. Take a look at the teams left and their playmakers:

Rams: Kupp, Beckham Jr
49ers: Deebo
Packers: Adams
Bucs: Evans, Gronk
Chiefs: Hill, Kelce
Bills: Diggs
Titans: Brown
Cincy: Chase

Every team left has a number 1 WR. You want us to let Mac throw to a bunch of #3’s so he can prove himself?

 

[‘Mondre]

Not really how it works in the NFL. Take a look at the teams left and their playmakers:

Rams: Kupp, Beckham Jr
49ers: Deebo
Packers: Adams
Bucs: Evans, Gronk
Chiefs: Hill, Kelce
Bills: Diggs
Titans: Brown
Cincy: Chase

Every team left has a number 1 WR. You want us to let Mac throw to a bunch of #3’s so he can prove himself?

So is it t that the qb is the piece of the wr is the piece?

if the answers both, then you have to ask why isn’t the defense a factor?

then you remember that ours is old and slow.

what’s the priority? Paying a true #1? Or buttressing an average but improving offense with a defense that, if we put money into it, could go from regressing to maybe average-above average in a season?

the bills and bengals and packers had the luxury of getting #1s because they had fundamental pieces before that. We don’t. We’re not trying to be Green Bay yet because we’re rebuilding.

we can’t become one of those teams yet we aren’t there.

drafting a wr in rounds 1 or 2, or paying a top 15 contract to one this off-season would put us back in the future. It would be putting off the necessary work of team building. We have just enough for the offense to get better next season. If anything figure out what to do about Trent brown.

mind you when obj was floated around as potentially coming here and he went to la, it made perfect sense cause they were contending without him. He’s a cherry on top.

when We got ocho, moss, lafell even… we had elite teams without them. No such n now and I feel our fanbase is falling into the trap of overvaluing ourselves cause… itsthapatriots! Reality is we’re a couple bad drafts away from being down with the jets, giants, etc. the bottom could very well fall out and then y’all are trying to find somebody to blame.

 

[Boomer B]

So is it t that the qb is the piece of the wr is the piece?

if the answers both, then you have to ask why isn’t the defense a factor?

then you remember that ours is old and slow.

what’s the priority? Paying a true #1? Or buttressing an average but improving offense with a defense that, if we put money into it, could go from regressing to maybe average-above average in a season?

the bills and bengals and packers had the luxury of getting #1s because they had fundamental pieces before that. We don’t. We’re not trying to be Green Bay yet because we’re rebuilding.

we can’t become one of those teams yet we aren’t there.

drafting a wr in rounds 1 or 2, or paying a top 15 contract to one this off-season would put us back in the future. It would be putting off the necessary work of team building. We have just enough for the offense to get better next season. If anything figure out what to do about Trent brown.

mind you when obj was floated around as potentially coming here and he went to la, it made perfect sense cause they were contending without him. He’s a cherry on top.

I’m not saying we don’t address other needs, but how do you truly judge Mac against other QBs when Mac is throwing to the Nelson Agholor’s of the world while the top QBs are throwing to true number 1’s, and in most cases better number 2’s then what we have.

Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert will be in the AFC for the next decade or more. They will put up points. We will need to be able to get to 30 pts to win some of these games. We will also have to improve defensively so we aren’t giving up over 40. Both areas need improvement.