PATRIOTS NEWS Patriots Rookie Minicamp Thread

[Clonamery]

The media must be thrilled at all the positivity and access.

 

[moosekill]

We will find out soon, he’s practicing there already so they definitely want him playing there. Even if he’s slightly below average, it’ll be fine as long as the rest of the line is decent (which it should be - Andrews/Sow/Onwenu are good to great and one of Strange/Leverett/Robinson will be good at the LG spot)

I think you over value our o line

 

[Real fan 02]

The media must be thrilled at all the positivity and access.

Feels good to watch the players and coaches engage with the media... and not acting like hostages.

 

[BTTA]

Milton has already demonstrated serious accuracy issues in these 1st 3 days. As a QB…it’s probably the most important skill.

He demonstrated that all during college. Clearly the Pats think they can improve that or they don't draft the guy.

 

[Clonamery]

Feels good to watch the players and coaches engage with the media... and not acting like hostages.

Each to his own...as Mayo said to the effect about Baker, he still has to back it up on the field.

Confidence is one thing, being a loud-mouth with a target on your back is another. Guy ain't Randy Moss-lite or even mosslost.

I prefer players that show it on the field not in a mini-camp digitalized news representation. But feel free to get off on it.

 

[Zuma]

He demonstrated that all during college. Clearly the Pats think they can improve that or they don't draft the guy.

Or the plan has been all along they are hoping he changes his mind about playing QB and switches to WR / TE.

 

[Real fan 02]

Each to his own...as Mayo said to the effect about Baker, he still has to back it up on the field.

Confidence is one thing, being a loud-mouth with a target on your back is another. Guy ain't Randy Moss-lite or even mosslost.

I prefer players that show it on the field not in a mini-camp digitalized news representation. But feel free to get off on it.

Oh I see your point. I just think some of us as fans got so programmed to the military mind set that Bill even said himself he grew up on and applied to his coaching methods. It works when you win! Same with Mayo. The team IMO is set up bet for future success now than it was the past 3 seasons. Because the organization got a taste of harsh reality the last 2 seasons, flexed out of prime time games, ect. Memes made of the offense and it's bumbling. However I agree bakers a rookie and we know from experience you don't want to take a guys confidence away from him. Bakers comments were pertaining to his draft position nothing more. If the talk with Amps him up and he's performing each week then good. If not then he'll end up in the long line of WR busts.

 

[Real fan 02]

He demonstrated that all during college. Clearly the Pats think they can improve that or they don't draft the guy.

Agreed. We took a talented guy that just needs NFL development and seasonings.. like all rookies do.

 

[Ross12]

I think you over value our o line

Break it down by position:

RT - Onwenu - he had a big market and got paid a lot, he’s at least good
RG - Sow - only one year on tape but got a lot of positive press as one of the higher graded rookies in the league. Would consider him “average” for now
C - Andrews - older but consistent and does his job, not perfect but I would say he’s “good”
LG - not locked down but you figure it’s Strange’s job to lose and they also have Leverett signed and Robinson drafted. Leverett is probably “average”, verdict is out on Robinson still. If Strange gets healthy and stays healthy he can be good.
LT - unknown

So 4 out of 5 spots are “average” at worst and possibly better, and the 5th spot so unknown - maybe it’s bad, maybe not. I don’t think it’s a dumpster fire unit.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

I just think that we are so desperate as fans to see great QB play again in Foxboro that even a meaningless spring mini-camp ,non competition has some of us wowed. LOL.. he definitely has a cannon though.

He's an absolute unit and quite an athlete, plus he has that unreal cannon of an arm. But his lack of accuracy and touch will send him out of the league. He's kind of old for marked improvement on fundamental skills. We'll see! I'm rooting for him.

 

[Real fan 02]

He's an absolute unit and quite an athlete, plus he has that unreal cannon of an arm. But his lack of accuracy and touch will send him out of the league. He's kind of old for marked improvement on fundamental skills. We'll see! I'm rooting for him.

Yeah.. I just believe the whole mantra is player development.. Mayo's got the staff.. he has great QB guys in McAdoo and AVP.. these guys just need to take full advantage and I'm sure they will. Accuracy is definitely important.. however the way the game is played now.. the pocket passer is a thing of the past.. a mobile QB who can throw guys open is what teams want. Drake can do that and so can Milton..

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

Yeah.. I just believe the whole mantra is player development.. Mayo's got the staff.. he has great QB guys in McAdoo and AVP.. these guys just need to take full advantage and I'm sure they will. Accuracy is definitely important.. however the way the game is played now.. the pocket passer is a thing of the past.. a mobile QB who can throw guys open is what teams want. Drake can do that and so can Milton..

You're saying Brady wouldn't be dominating and winning championships now if he was still in his prime? You design your offense around the attributes of your QB.

 

[The Gr8est]

QB all the way.. guys got a rocket launcher for an arm.. love to develop him along with Drake and keep him around.

If the light comes on for this guy who knows how good he could become?

 

[Real fan 02]

You're saying Brady wouldn't be dominating and winning championships now if he was still in his prime? You design your offense around the attributes of your QB.

Brady is a generational talent.. someone who just had the insatiable desire to be great. Brady got better as he career went on. Your making my point for me actually. Brady got really good later in his career as Josh would roll him out the pocket, and slide in and out the pocket he was elite at that. I'm just saying today's QBs all have the ability to use thier legs more so than when Brady came into the league when QBs were statues. So is why you hear the phrase "throw guys open" from Football people.

 

[Real fan 02]

If the light comes on for this guy who knows how good he could become?

Absolutely agree. Personally we drafted him, we should develop him, allow him to acclimate to the league. I'm sure he will on the active roster some weeks and PS others. Then again what if he shows out in camp?

 

[Sicilian]

This could be true, but does "as good a project LT" mean? Switching a tackle from the right to left is always very tricky. Can we agree that a third round "project" switching from RT in college to LT in the NFL is unlikely to work out?

I definitely think this is fair. But I'd add the caveat that the majority of third round picks are unlikely to work out, just by nature of where they're picked. The question is: Is the bigger risk taking a player with less talent, but who already has experience at LT, or a player with more talent who needs to make the switch? I'm not saying the players they could have taken there necessarily fit that hypothetical, just that 3rd round picks all have SOMETHING they need to work on before you can count on them. And I'm not convinced that a position shift is automatically harder than trying to fix something like general athleticism, playing strength, or technique.

You're right though, in that no one should be penciling Wallace in at LT (especially in year one) like it's nothing.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

Brady is a generational talent.. someone who just had the insatiable desire to be great. Brady got better as he career went on. Your making my point for me actually. Brady got really good later in his career as Josh would roll him out the pocket, and slide in and out the pocket he was elite at that. I'm just saying today's QBs all have the ability to use thier legs more so than when Brady came into the league when QBs were statues. So is why you hear the phrase "throw guys open" from Football people.

Brady always had great pocket awareness and movement. He rarely rolled out of the pocket. And Brady was great early in his career: he had won 3 championships by his 5th season in the NFL.

There's been Young, Elway, Rodgers, Luck and many other guys who could move very well. That's always been an element of some QBs' games. It's nothing new. Young played 40 years ago and was well known as a guy who could extend plays and beat you with his legs.

And there are QBs in the league now who are primarily pocket passes, like Stafford, Goff and Purdy. These guys are not really dual threat, but have been successful.

Everybody is trying to find another Mahomes, who like Brady, is a unique talent -- elite athleticism, passing skills and mental makeup -- because he is dominating the league. The game may have changed in that teams are trying hard to find the next Mahomes, but good luck. I'd draft Stafford in a heartbeat.

 

[Real fan 02]

Brady always had great pocket awareness and movement. He rarely rolled out of the pocket.

There's been Young, Elway, Rodgers, Luck and many other guys who could move very well. That's always been an element of some QBs' games. It's nothing new. Young played 40 years ago and was well known as a guy who could extend plays and beat you with his legs.

And there are QBs in the league now who are primarily pocket passes, like Stafford, Goff and Purdy. These guys are not really dual threat, but have been successful.

Everybody is trying to find another Mahomes, who like Brady, is a unique talent -- elite athleticism, passing skills and mental makeup -- because he is dominating the league. The game may have changed in that teams are trying hard to find the next Mahomes, but good luck. I'd draft Stafford in a heartbeat.

True. But Brady did roll out the pocket more as his career went along.. he said he wanted to add more to his game and not just be a one trick pony.. he said Guerrero allowed him pliability to be able to scramble more and become more elusive. Not saying he's Allen or Jackson of course. Mahomes has a baseball background that helped his game tremendously. Stafford is great, but even he credited McVay with his prolonged career. He said he was always hurt in Detroit becuase he was asked to be strictly a pocket passer.

Allen is a dam good pocket passer for example but he's a gun slinger and his ability to run outside the pocket is what allows guys to become open. Today's QB needs to have that element.

 

[gobesmug]

You answered your own question: the Pats are rolling with a RT taken at 68 who didn’t play LT in college, and LT is by far the most important position on the OL. He might work out in the end, but saying we’ll be fine is painfully optimistic. A project player will be trying to stop the best edge rushers in the game. Sure, there are mitigations, but those condense the playbook quite a bit. If the LT can’t do his job, others have to help him (RB trying to slow down the rush), the ball needs to come out quickly (shuts down much of the passing game), the running game better be good, etc.

I can’t say I mind much because we’re rebuilding, but I just don’t want to see Drake become part of this experiment until it is a proven success. I’m confident the Pats will be selecting a LT with their first pick next year.

Tristen Wirfs played only RT at college and his first 2 seasons in the NFL. This past season he was one of the best LT playing that spot for his first time.

Not claiming Wallace is the player Wirfs is, but it shows that a player doesn't need to have been a starter at LT in college in order to play LT in the NFL

 

[jimnance]

I hope players who don"t suck stick.

Cap'n say that 5 times fast