We're on to the OFF-Season

[Nehalem]

Actually a lot of the players drafted in the last couple of years have flourished under Belichick.

Looking back on the year, I think the big misstep was Patricia trying to institute an outside-zone running system. He knew from a defense perspective that it was hard to defend when well run, but he completely underestimated how hard it is to institute. It's not wham-bang for the OL like they were used to, it's more ballet. The OL players here weren't suited for it and he certainly didn't have the expertise to train them. Then switching Wynn around which clearly pissed him off - he never played well on the other side. Once the OL was undermined, there went the first chunk of the season.

So basically they tried to implement a complicated new blocking scheme with an OL coach who had never coached OL before...

 

[venecol]

They can simply cut him and save $8M in cap space. None of his 2023 or 2024 money is guaranteed. However, he'd then be able to choose his own team as a free agent and get as big of a deal as possible - but then the Cardinals get no trade compensation. Since teams know they can just wait for him to get cut then they may not necessarily be inclined to send seriously high picks in a trade. I think a 2nd probably gets it done.

Hopkins isn't going anywhere w/o a restructure as part of the deal.

 

[mgcolby]

I think that we can't ignore the possibility that the older coaches can't reach these younger kids. We've seen how Bill has softened his approach these last few years. That's not a coincidence. We hear how he's now calling players individually. We've witnessed him putting up w/ un-Patriot like behavior by the players on SM. And now, the last two dinosaurs from the Dynasty are probably retiring, not that they were that effective but they helped. JE11 mentioned how these younger players are "different."

I've been saying this all along. Bill is from the Boomer I generation. His ways no longer work with these kids. I know many believe that coaching is coaching, but in Bill's system it requires buy-in to his ways. Unless Bill jumps into SM, starts having daily individual conversations about their lives, and allows the players time to express their emotions, it won't matter. I don't see him doing even one of these things. It's over. He should dedicate himself to working out of the FO. His football knowledge is still valuable. Bring in a 40- / 50-something yo coach and start over. The sooner the better.

I agree with the overall sentiment. I think this can be done via proxy. Bring in a Kingsbury aged guy to run the offense. Let him relate to the kids on a daily basis.
On D they should be solid when it comes to that with Steve, but bring back Mayo give him the DC and name him the successor or atleast let him know he will be at the top of the considerations list in two years. Then BB Jr gets the DC title all is well.

Like Bedard said earlier bring in a young hotshot coach to be QB coach.

I understand it doesn't resolve every issue with the generational gap. But it should alleviate a lot of it. But Bill isn't going to a front office until his name is on top of Shula's.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Imagine a WR being told he's getting traded to NE?

 

[mgcolby]

Imagine a WR being told he's getting traded to NE?

Wasn't sure if I should have put a laugh or sad emoji. Went with laugh, but maybe confused would have been more appropriate.

 

[venecol]

Imagine a WR being told he's getting traded to NE?

Lol
I think Hopkins gets to approve the team he gets traded to.

Imagine Diggs-Hopkins, Chase-Hopkins, or Kelce-Hopkins.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Lol
I think Hopkins gets to approve the team he gets traded to.

Imagine Diggs-Hopkins, Chase-Hopkins, or Kelce-Hopkins.

Yeah he needs to demand a trade as he's become pretty irrelevant in Arizona.

 

[sb1]

Re-sign the beast? Nobody tell him we are rebuilding lol

 

[Ross12]

Hopkins isn't going anywhere w/o a restructure as part of the deal.

Yeah I wasn't trying to say otherwise, I am sure his contract will be modified when he's moved. Sorry if my post was misleading there.

 

[PatsFan2]

Hopkins age is the only thing that bothers me. But get a good QB like Jimmy G we would be in business.

 

[PatsFan2]

Re-sign the beast? Nobody tell him we are rebuilding lol

Cross Cooks off our list.

 

[RIpats88]

It's concerning to me that supposedly the Patriots have yet to reach out to BOB. Unless they have their sights set on someone else. Kingsbury comes to mind. Also Bill probably likes that he can pay him peanuts because he's still getting a salary from Arizona.

This team can NOT roll back next year with Judge and Patricia in their current roles.

 

[ralmat55]

Patriots sign 11 members of practice squad to futures contracts

Five of whom made in-game appearances during New England’s campaign.

www.patspulpit.com

The first (future) transactions of the 2023 off-season are in the books.

The guy I was happy to see on the list is Quandre Mosely. The Pats have had much success in the past with undrafted CBs. I can’t see why they can’t have success with an UDFA who they didn’t sign after the draft but nonetheless has potential with 4.3 speed and, even better, measuring in at over 6 feet.

 

[Ian]

It's concerning to me that supposedly the Patriots have yet to reach out to BOB. Unless they have their sights set on someone else. Kingsbury comes to mind. Also Bill probably likes that he can pay him peanuts because he's still getting a salary from Arizona.

This team can NOT roll back next year with Judge and Patricia in their current roles.

He supposedly met with Kraft yesterday and those plans were discussed. Definitely makes you wonder what direction they're going to go in if it's not O'Brien.

 

[venecol]

Yeah I wasn't trying to say otherwise, I am sure his contract will be modified when he's moved. Sorry if my post was misleading there.

Np, just didn't know if you knew.

 

[Ring 6]

So basically they tried to implement a complicated new blocking scheme with an OL coach who had never coached OL before...

There was no new blocking scheme. The offense has used zone blocking schemes in varying degrees for many years. They used it a lot more during camp, particularly early, but not nearly as much during the season.

 

[mgteich]

Yep. And bringing back Meyers could take close to half of our estimated 33M or so in cap, which might not be the best use of that money. I get the contract could also be heavily backloaded but that's also not great. Very tough call, as I'd love to have the player back. He's just one of those guys you want to see play their career wire to wire with the Pats, ala Jules, Faulk, and Troy. WR market might make that terribly tough.

Let us look at a contract of $15 AAV. As any other team, the patriots will not sign a contract with salaries of $15M each year.

FOUR YEAR CONTRACT
BONUS: $20M ($5M per year)
SALARIES: $3M, $10M, $12M, $15M
CAPS: $8M, $15M, $17M, $20M

A 3 year contract would result with adding $1.67M a year to the cap numbers.

 

[mgteich]

Remember a few days years ago when people were asking how the Rams could get all those free agents ? They sold their future to contend and made it to 2 Sbs, winning 1

Now McVay is bailing as the wheels start to fall off

Many, many fan groups would be strongly in favor of that record, and approach.

 

[venecol]

Many, many fan groups would be strongly in favor of that record, and approach.

Agree and talking about Bill's tenure in the other thread, that's what we should've done his last few seasons instead of this SOP like he's going to be around for 10 more years. Go all in for elite talent while he's still here and try to squeeze #7 out before he retires, blow it all up and let the new young guys set it up their way for the future. Instead all these half measures are pathetic, getting us nowhere and wasting valuable time.

 

[Patsfan1958]