Slater to Return in 2023

[DaBruinz]

If that's all you're talking about then I'll admit that's a hyperbolic statement (which you took literally). However, you realize Marcus had an offensive, defensive and ST TD this season? He already has 2 more TDs than Slater. Plus he won a game for the team on his punt return. Slater has never won a game with a ST play. But no, I'm not saying a rookie is more accomplished than a 15-year veteran. But he's off to a great start.

Also, if we're going to put a Patriots STer into the NFL HOF then I'm making a case for Troy Brown far ahead of Slater. Brown made significant contributions as a returner, including in the postseason, plus he was a good WR, and he even played a little defense (effectively). In the real world Brown's not a HOFer, but with a hypothetical choice between Brown and Slater, it's Brown easily for me.

The fact that you think that Slater hasn't won this team a game with his special teams plays shows the lack of football understanding that you have. Hell. It also begs the question as to whether or not you've actually watched any of the special teams play at all over the past 15 years because I can guarantee you that he has won the Pats games with his play.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

 

[mgteich]

Maybe it's time to move away from players who perform literally one role on the team.

Slater is a HOF but he's not moving the needle for us either way.

Sure, let's have QB's also play DL. NOT

Slater is a top starter on the Special Teams. He needn't play other positions.

 

[crawhammer]

same thing over and over and over... you are as bad a ring6 and dkf...

The pro Slater argument consists primarily of "he's made a bunch of pro bowls so he must be great", and this nebulous connection to hidden yardage (the majority of which he can't be credited with), or the popular crawhammer is an idiot so Slater must be great.

the only thing left to say is suck it up buttercup, cuz he's back whether you see the value or not

I'm not worried about it because frankly I won't notice him until he's curiously named to another pro bowl after 0.8 tackles per game.

The fact that you think that Slater hasn't won this team a game with his special teams plays shows the lack of football understanding that you have. Hell. It also begs the question as to whether or not you've actually watched any of the special teams play at all over the past 15 years because I can guarantee you that he has won the Pats games with his play.

I watch all of the Patriots games, every second, don't miss a play. I understand how the game works and why teams are successful. But that's a much larger conversation.

We're talking about ST and in particular one player. You can't glean someone's full understand of the game from that narrowed discussion.

But back to what you said, which is Slater has won a game(s) with his ST play. In fact I must be a hopeless clod because I can't find one example of it in 15 years. So here's your opportunity to really prove me wrong with an example(s) of an actual game(s) won by Slater with his ST play. Go...

 

[Ian]

Probably. But not for the reason you state.


Seriously, help me out. Tell me specifically where I'm wrong. Where's the justification for qualifying Slater as a great ST player as it relates to the importance and impact of other all time ST players?

I gave you Slater's career highlights. Literally all of them in a few lines. Tell me what I missed.

I'm not saying Slater sucks at what he does. He registers 0.8 tackles a game and downs a punt occasionally (there's not even an official stat for this "important" task). He doesn't do much. On the field. During the game.

Good Lord. I know you don’t get his value and just dismiss it but you’re so off base devaluing his career that it’s just sad. Go back and look at all his tackles pinning opponents deep and closing off lanes where a runner had to change direction and it prevented a longer run back. Those things aren’t flashy, but they make a massive difference in field position. Just let it go and move on.

 

[Ian]

In fact I must be a hopeless clod because I can't find one example of it in 15 years.

That’s because you haven’t looked. You’d have to watch film, you’re not going to see it just looking at the game books.

Again, you’re not going to win because you’re wrong. You’ve got to just let it go.

 

[Pape]

Good Lord. I know you don’t get his value and just dismiss it but you’re so off base devaluing his career that it’s just sad. Go back and look at all his tackles pinning opponents deep and closing off lanes where a runner had to change direction and it prevented a longer run back. Those things aren’t flashy, but they make a massive difference in field position. Just let it go and move on.

The third quarter of Super Bowl LIII, pinning the Rams inside the five on their first possession in the second half...

That same year in the afccg, Slater getting to Hill on the first punt, fair catch... on a 3rd quarter punt, flushing him out, so he's tackled for -12 yards, KC starts their drive on the 4, has to punt...

took about 2 minutes to find big time plays in big games that don't rightly show on the Stat sheet

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Super Bowl LIII was Matt Slater’s signature Patriots moment

By my untrained eye’s count, Slate had four, count ‘em, FOUR plays on special teams that are a master class in what a BAMF he can be when all the chips are down, and in this Super Bowl where you may have heard the fewest points were scored in Super Bowl history, Matt just kept finding ways to pin the Rams waaaaaaaaaaaay back in “FML” field position.

While logging only 1 solo tackle and 1 combined tackle on the box score.

 

[Steve102]

Super Bowl LIII was Matt Slater’s signature Patriots moment

Good stuff, nice find. There's a lot of folks that have a lack of understanding some of the nuances of the game. None of these plays make a hill of beans difference to fantasy football stats, or even on a draft kings prop bet or something similar, unless of course you bet the Pats to win. Here's the thing that folks miss: you can fill a highlight video full of plays like this from his career, not just that one game. The guy is a difference maker much like Steve Tasker was.

 

[TheRainMaker]

When people are arguing with Crawhammer .....

Why this has gone on for 8 pages is bizarre.

 

[Steve102]

Why this has gone on for 8 pages is bizarre.

it's like you keep hitting yourself with a hammer and wonder why it hurts so much.

 

[RobertWeathers]

it's like you keep hitting yourself with a crawhammer and wonder why it hurts so much.

FIFY

 

[Steve102]

FIFY

 

[cmasspatsfan]

That’s because you haven’t looked. You’d have to watch film, you’re not going to see it just looking at the game books.

Again, you’re not going to win because you’re wrong. You’ve got to just let it go.

He didn't answer my question but he seems like an engineer, they like to quantify everything with numbers.

 

[crawhammer]

Good Lord. I know you don’t get his value and just dismiss it but you’re so off base devaluing his career that it’s just sad. Go back and look at all his tackles pinning opponents deep and closing off lanes where a runner had to change direction and it prevented a longer run back. Those things aren’t flashy, but they make a massive difference in field position. Just let it go and move on.

I get his value. It's not what you and the groupthink make it out to be.

You're overvaluing his career. He's done his job well on ST. But, unlike many other ST players, he has contributed nothing directly to the other (more impactful) two phases.

He's not a "massive difference maker" in the 60-minute game. How many minutes of game clock is he even occupying on average per game? Since it's miniscule I'll be told that's an unfair question or I'm disregarding 'hidden minutes.'

That’s because you haven’t looked. You’d have to watch film, you’re not going to see it just looking at the game books.

Again, you’re not going to win because you’re wrong. You’ve got to just let it go.

I'll let it go when I've got nothing left to reply to.

I asked a simple question... can anyone name a game that Slater has won with his ST play? Where's the answer? I don't have to look for one because it doesn't exist. If I'm wrong then I should be reading the examples.

The third quarter of Super Bowl LIII, pinning the Rams inside the five on their first possession in the second half...

This won the game? How many SB MVP votes did Slater receive? I forget.

That same year in the afccg, Slater getting to Hill on the first punt, fair catch...

Seriously? Did the hangtime on the punt have anything to do with it? A fair catch, good God.

on a 3rd quarter punt, flushing him out, so he's tackled for -12 yards, KC starts their drive on the 4, has to punt...

Who made the actual tackle for the loss? I'm pretty sure too the defense forces the punt.

I just watched the 16-minute NFL films of that AFCCG. Many, many memorable moments. Insane 4th quarter and OT capped off with the 3 consecutive 3rd-10 conversions. But alas, no mention or sighting of Slater.

 

[Pape]

I get his value. It's not what you and the groupthink make it out to be.

You're overvaluing his career. He's done his job well on ST. But, unlike many other ST players, he has contributed nothing directly to the other (more impactful) two phases.

He's not a "massive difference maker" in the 60-minute game. How many minutes of game clock is he even occupying on average per game? Since it's miniscule I'll be told that's an unfair question or I'm disregarding 'hidden minutes.'


I'll let it go when I've got nothing left to reply to.

I asked a simple question... can anyone name a game that Slater has won with his ST play? Where's the answer? I don't have to look for one because it doesn't exist. If I'm wrong then I should be reading the examples.


This won the game? How many SB MVP votes did Slater receive? I forget.


Seriously? Did the hangtime on the punt have anything to do with it? A fair catch, good God.


Who made the actual tackle for the loss? I'm pretty sure too the defense forces the punt.

I just watched the 16-minute NFL films of that AFCCG. Many, many memorable moments. Insane 4th quarter and OT capped off with the 3 consecutive 3rd-10 conversions. But alas, no mention or sighting of Slater.

I am now convinced you do not understand the how and why of special teams play.

And you watched a whole 16 minutes, did you? Wow, impressive /s

the fair catch? why wasnt there a return? oh yeah, slater out ran the punt and was in Hills face... not chance of a return... and with a guy as dangerous as he was? it was a big deal... its baffling you can't seem to understand that...

here's the3rd quarter play... the video is set to start on/just before the punt, to make it easier for you



amazing what you can learn when you actually watch the plays...every time we stopped the cheefs and forced them to punt helped win the game.

 

[Tunescribe]

I get his value. It's not what you and the groupthink make it out to be.

You're overvaluing his career. He's done his job well on ST. But, unlike many other ST players, he has contributed nothing directly to the other (more impactful) two phases.

He's not a "massive difference maker" in the 60-minute game. How many minutes of game clock is he even occupying on average per game? Since it's miniscule I'll be told that's an unfair question or I'm disregarding 'hidden minutes.'


I'll let it go when I've got nothing left to reply to.

I asked a simple question... can anyone name a game that Slater has won with his ST play? Where's the answer? I don't have to look for one because it doesn't exist. If I'm wrong then I should be reading the examples.


This won the game? How many SB MVP votes did Slater receive? I forget.


Seriously? Did the hangtime on the punt have anything to do with it? A fair catch, good God.


Who made the actual tackle for the loss? I'm pretty sure too the defense forces the punt.

I just watched the 16-minute NFL films of that AFCCG. Many, many memorable moments. Insane 4th quarter and OT capped off with the 3 consecutive 3rd-10 conversions. But alas, no mention or sighting of Slater.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I get his value.

No...you don't.

 

[Ian]

I'll let it go when I've got nothing left to reply to.

There were examples cited by @Pape and others (the one from @Hammer of Thor has videos that show what he did in that Super Bowl) that you ignored. In fact, you completely dismissed them and added the sarcastic "Super Bowl MVP" thing, which really killed it for me.

I'm not going to spend time going back through game film to find others and point them out to you, because you'll just dismiss them with whatever the next excuse is for why you don't wish to acknowledge his impact. I made the same mistake probably 10+ years ago because I was irritated with the fact he was taking up space on the WR depth chart when they were thin at the time. Then someone else pointed his impact out, and I went back and watched the film and realized I was wrong, and I'm definitely glad I was.

It's disappointing that you choose to be argumentative and set in our opinions, which keeps you from appreciating the little nuances that make this game great. You'd rather insist you're right even when this happens to be something that you've clearly missed. It's O.K. to be open-minded. That's how we all grow.

Instead, this tendency to not want to listen to others and acting like everyone else is stupid and you're the genius is certainly not helping your standing here. And as you know, I've gone to bat for you in the past when you were getting shut down - so I'm just giving it to you straight. At the rate you're going, in the future, instead of getting answers, you're probably going to start getting frustrated when your posts begin to garner no responses for reasons just like your responses in this thread.

 

[Ian]

or the popular crawhammer is an idiot so Slater must be great.

And the issue isn't that people think you're an idiot. People have an issue with you because you think you're never wrong.

Try, one time saying, "that's a good point - I didn't know that." You'll get more people giving you information, rather than just dismissing what everyone says and arguing about everything. From someone who knows, because it's certainly happened plenty of times over the years - it's O.K. to be wrong