PatsFans.com Menu
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans

Official 2022 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

For those griping about first down runs, here's a bit of talking fodder:


A familiar Monday conversation here: running the ball on first down. The Chiefs did it extremely well Sunday vs. Bucs -- 19 first-down runs for 107 yards, including nine first-down runs of at least 7 yards. Edwards-Helaire: 7, 9, 8, 8, 8 Pacheco: 8, 8, 8 Mahomes: 9




Bucs, meanwhile, had three first-down runs early, with Fournette getting 3, then minus-4, then minus-2. Rest of the game, the only first-down run they had was Rachaad White on first-and-goal from the 2, and even that got only 1 yard.

 
Last time the Bucs lost a fumble on the opening kickoff of a game was Sept. 3, 2000 -- Karl Williams fumbled kickoff in season opener vs. Patriots. Rookie named Tom Brady didn't play that day for New England, but that was first game of his NFL career.

 








Many bad claims about last night are true, including the above. The DL has a couple of problems. One problem is that Hicks is on the shelf. The other problem, of more long term concern, is that the DEs aren't doing their job.

Vea is nothing special without another manbeast playing beside him, as he can be taken out of a game through double teams. Hicks was a huge gamble due to injury concerns. The safe bet was Suh. A team can't double both Vea and Suh. Together they were quite a force. That's why lots of Buc fans are still clamoring for Suh.
 
Vea is nothing special without another manbeast playing beside him, as he can be taken out of a game through double teams. Hicks was a huge gamble due to injury concerns. The safe bet was Suh. A team can't double both Vea and Suh. Together they were quite a force. That's why lots of Buc fans are still clamoring for Suh.

Put me down as one who thought Suh had a down year last year, but was still plenty good enough to bring back. But you can also put me down as someone who thinks Suh's reported asking price was too high.

As for Vea, he's plenty special. But, like Big Vince, he's only one man. And, like big Vince, he's a tank, not a high-speed sportscar, so he can be gotten around if the help doesn't get it done. Jumbo NTs, whether being played as true NTs or in other fronts, are designed to take the push, not to move laterally all up and down the line post-snap.

And, on that DL, they've got the #2 guy on the shelf, a rookie (Hall) who's not ready to be a full timer yet, last year's first round pick who's undersized/underpowered against the run, and a bunch of rotational/backup guys.
 
Blaming Vita Vea here is like blaming Wilfork in 2011 for the defense being historically bad. What a terrible take.
 
I'd take Vea for the Pats instantly if he were available
 
Blaming Vita Vea here is like blaming Wilfork in 2011 for the defense being historically bad. What a terrible take.

Vea didn't play well last night. He's admitted to that. But that's just one game. He'll be better. That's why he doesn't worry me. It's the rest of the DL.
 
Patterson placed on IR for ATL.
 
Patterson placed on IR for ATL.

He had some work done on his knee. I hope he has a complete recovery. While I try never to wish ill on a player, the timing of this is a lucky break for the Bucs, and the Bucs could use some of those, after all the breaks in the other direction so far this season.
 
He had some work done on his knee. I hope he has a complete recovery. While I try never to wish ill on a player, the timing of this is a lucky break for the Bucs, and the Bucs could use some of those, after all the breaks in the other direction so far this season.
Hey a 2-2 record after the 4 opponents they had to face, all the skill position injuries, the OL meshing, and the hurricane to some extent has them sitting pretty good with the easy portion of their schedule coming up
 


They're feeling good in the locker room by the looks of it
 
Blaming Vita Vea here is like blaming Wilfork in 2011 for the defense being historically bad. What a terrible take.
I'm no expert, most of my knowledge is mostly limited to the Pats and the Bucs but it seems to me that these NT whether it’s Vea or Wilford can be schemed out of games. I recall Brady predicting a big game from Wilford, I believe for the 2011 Giants SB and he didn't do much.

Imo these NT are best when they have a fellow manbeast beside them to be a game wrecker. That's what Suh was. We don't even know if Hicks can be that guy whenever he comes back.
 
Damn @MAC10 shouldn't you be busy changing your username to Zappe 4? Since you don't believe Mac can lead the Pats to a Superbowl
 
Bring back Gronk and Suh.
I think Suh is too proud to come back to the Bucs at a discount, along with hurt feelings for being passed over by Hicks.

Sometimes with Gronk, it's about the money. If they aren't offering Gronk to be the highest paid TE, they aren't doing enough. That would be 16 mil for 2/3 of a season = 10 mil. Doable.
 
I’ll say this. The comparisons to 2019 Brady are crap. This isn’t 2019 or even 2018 Brady who if you had EYES played very differently than now. Maybe looking lazy while down in the fourth, the deep balls to no one as some “f you” to the coach, the screaming AT teammates. Brady was pissed and unhappy because all the crap with Belichick (and he was right)

That wasn’t what happened last night in the fourth quarter.
 
Damn @MAC10 shouldn't you be busy changing your username to Zappe 4? Since you don't believe Mac can lead the Pats to a Superbowl
Who knows, Zappe might prove to be a starting level QB. Someone might already have that user name reserved,.. just in case.
 
I think Suh is too proud to come back to the Bucs at a discount, along with hurt feelings for being passed over by Hicks.

Sometimes with Gronk, it's about the money. If they aren't offering Gronk to be the highest paid TE, they aren't doing enough. That would be 16 mil for 2/3 of a season = 10 mil. Doable.
Well Gronk would make that offense hum. Look how it looked yesterday when they got the TEs involved. They moved the ball
 
BB has 290 regular season wins. Let's say he goes .500 for 15 more wins between this year and next, then retires. That's 305 wins.

Reid has 233 wins. He's 64, so let's say he goes 6 more years to 70 averaging 12 wins a season with the best QB over the next years in Mahomes. That's 305 wins and certainly in the ballpark with BB for regular season records.
I have a tendency to be less clear about my thoughts sometimes. That post was one of those cases.

When I say that Bill's in a league of his own as a coach I meant on the field during games. If he was given the same opportunity for as many years as Don Shula he'd also be way ahead in numbers too. Unfortunately for Belichick, he spent too many years bailing out Parcells.
 
Bucs offense Much more exciting team to watch than the patriots offense

Mike Evans…if only the patriots GM could get Mac a red zone weapon like that
 
MORSE: Patriots Mock Draft 6 – A Week Before the Draft
TRANSCRIPT: Eliot Wolf Pre-Draft Press Conference 4/13
Patriots News 04-12, What To Watch For In The NFL Draft
MORSE: Pre-Draft Patriots News and Notes
MORSE: Patriots Mock Draft 5
MORSE: Patriots Mock Draft 5
Mark Morse
1 week ago
Patriots Part Ways with Another Linebacker as Offseason Roster Shake-Up Continues
Patriots News 04-05, Mock Draft 2.0, Patriots Look For OL Depth
MORSE: 18 Game Schedule and Other Patriots Notes
TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference at the League Meetings 3/31
MORSE: Smokescreens and Misinformation Leading Up to Patriots Draft
Back
Top