Predict the Patriots record for the upcoming 2024 season

[Actual Pats Fan]

I believe this patriots offense will be far different. They will be zone scheme concepts. Where the back has room to work, the TE, WRs all are involved. Basically what the 49ers and Browns do.

Comparatively speaking, I thought Patricia was a decent OC. Especially with Zappe in there, Bailey obviously took positively to the coaching, and he was hungry to learn.

That was aborted by putting Jones back in and then inserting the disastrous OB.

But Matty still called too many inappropriate passing plays, like everybody else.

Even when the pass is completed, even when it moves the chains, it has a negative cumulative effect in that it

a) reassures the defense that they know what's coming, the offense is going to pass. There's no mystery. Running is usually effective but not used enough.

b) keeps them fresh. Running beats up the defense. Passing doesn't as much, unless you're Tom Brady and he's retired now. Which brings me to

c) does nothing for the O-Line's confidence. Scar and Weis knew that O-Linemen love to run block. Gives them a chance to take out their anger, frustration and aggressions on a defense they hate. Who doesn't love that? Hog Hannah put up with the increased passing in the 80's because he was getting older.

d) surrenders control of the game to the defense, and the opponent. All the things running does like control the clock, the line of scrimmage, the strategy and momentum is lost.

e) artificially makes your quarterback look good at the total expense of the rest of the team and your chance to win the game. People believe that Tony Eason and Drew Bledsoe are two of the greatest quarterbacks in Patriots history. Based on what? Nothing personal, but it's only about passing yards, and that and five cents will get you a nickel.

 

[Thelonious]

Nearly a third believe it'll be 8 wins or more? Maybe they thought the poll was about losses.

 

[Real fan 02]

Comparatively speaking, I thought Patricia was a decent OC. Especially with Zappe in there, Bailey obviously took positively to the coaching, and he was hungry to learn.

That was aborted by putting Jones back in and then inserting the disastrous OB.

But Matty still called too many inappropriate passing plays, like everybody else.

Even when the pass is completed, even when it moves the chains, it has a negative cumulative effect in that it

a) reassures the defense that they know what's coming, the offense is going to pass. There's no mystery. Running is usually effective but not used enough.

b) keeps them fresh. Running beats up the defense. Passing doesn't as much, unless you're Tom Brady and he's retired now. Which brings me to

c) does nothing for the O-Line's confidence. Scar and Weis knew that O-Linemen love to run block. Gives them a chance to take out their anger, frustration and aggressions on a defense they hate. Who doesn't love that? Hog Hannah put up with the increased passing in the 80's because he was getting older.

d) surrenders control of the game to the defense, and the opponent. All the things running does like control the clock, the line of scrimmage, the strategy and momentum is lost.

e) artificially makes your quarterback look good at the total expense of the rest of the team and your chance to win the game. People believe that Tony Eason and Drew Bledsoe are two of the greatest quarterbacks in Patriots history. Based on what? Nothing personal, but it's only about passing yards, and that and five cents will get you a nickel.

Great stuff. Great post. I'll just say this. They weren't really running an offense in 22.. as Bill loyalist Lombardi said just running a bunch of plays. Patricia pretty much had Mac and Bill helping him by seasons end. That should have never been. I truly believe that was the undoing the 22 off season.

 

[mgteich]

First off we have 3 backs that all have different skill sets. Rham is the early down bet the tackles, hit the hole, can block and catch out the back field. Gibson who I'm very high on as the most unheralded best off season pick up for us. He's 6"2 former WR, blocks, catches out the backfield, runs routes on the out in some formations is a mismatch nightmare for defensive coordinators. You need multiple backs in this offense don't want rham worn down. I don't think your giving enough respect to thier game.
Harris is your short yards, goal line type of back who is just a battering ram.

There is little evidence that Harris is any good. If Stevenson or Gibson go down, I don't like the idea of counting on Harris.

Besides, are we really a pass, pass, pass team that only needs two solid RB's and a questionable short yardage back? I think that we need to have four RB's on the roster. And just BTW, if our top two are healthy, I would not even consider sitting them so that Harris can come in short yardage situations. We're fine with our top two and an extra blocker.

 

[Real fan 02]

There is little evidence that Harris is any good. If Stevenson or Gibson go down, I don't like the idea of counting on Harris.

Besides, are we really a pass, pass, pass team that only needs to solid RB's and a questionable short yardage back? I think that we need to have four RB's on the roster. And just BTW, if our top two are healthy, I would not even consider sitting them so that Harris can come in short yardage situations. We're fine with our top two and an extra blocker.

Oh I agree. We are a team that can have a very balanced offense. The addition of Gibson gives us that RB change of pace player we've been sorely lacking. He is a threat at WR and RB when he's in the game. We likely will pick up another camp player as we always do as we know guys get Knicked up all the time.

 

[Real fan 02]

Nearly a third believe it'll be 8 wins or more? Maybe they thought the poll was about losses.

I waver back and forth between 8-9 wins.. although I made be in the minority, I believe this team is going to suprise people.

 

[Thelonious]

I waver back and forth between 8-9 wins.. although I made be in the minority, I believe this team is going to suprise people.

Every so often, I'll think along the same lines, but then I realize that would involve everything falling just so, all the breaks going our way, and I just don't think that's likely, particularly given that the starting point - the end of last season - was so abysmally low, we have an untested coaching staff, the schedule is tough, and so on. In the medium term, it seems the defense may be approaching the end of a strong run just as the offense is, we hope, rising again to competence. Maybe because I am an older fan who has remained a fan through some pretty extended dry spells, I am neither surprised nor horrified at the prospect of even a four-year rebuild. I'll root for the team, of course, and follow them with interest, but I'll be rooting for and celebrating progress, and not, I suspect, wins. As for the losses; I'll take genuine comfort in remembering that each one does boost us up the draft order a bit. The worst scenario in my mind would lousy progress giving us five or six wins and putting us out of the running for genuine difference-makers in the draft. If it is your 9 wins, and the wins are the result of genuine progress and not a fluke, that would be great, but I think it's unlikely.

 

[Real fan 02]

Every so often, I'll think along the same lines, but then I realize that would involve everything falling just so, all the breaks going our way, and I just don't think that's likely, particularly given that the starting point - the end of last season - was so abysmally low, we have an untested coaching staff, the schedule is tough, and so on. In the medium term, it seems the defense may be approaching the end of a strong run just as the offense is, we hope, rising again to competence. Maybe because I am an older fan who has remained a fan through some pretty extended dry spells, I am neither surprised nor horrified at the prospect of even a four-year rebuild. I'll root for the team, of course, and follow them with interest, but I'll be rooting for and celebrating progress, and not, I suspect, wins. As for the losses; I'll take genuine comfort in remembering that each one does boost us up the draft order a bit. The worst scenario in my mind would lousy progress giving us five or six wins and putting us out of the running for genuine difference-makers in the draft. If it is your 9 wins, and the wins are the result of genuine progress and not a fluke, that would be great, but I think it's unlikely.

Very interesting. I'll say this. Loosing does nothing for this franchise some fans have mentioned the idea of another fist round pick next year.. I say no. Try to win as much as you can. Fans want to be entertained last season watching the offense was terrible. After witnessing perfection at the QB position for so long and then seeing just how bad it was last season is deeply etched in the Patriots Fans head. I feel more optimistic with all the changes and uncertainty surrounding the team than the direction we were heading the Last few seasons. Think of this had we had say 24 TDs and 8 INTS last season this team would have been in the hunt for a playoff berth.

 

[Thelonious]

Very interesting. I'll say this. Loosing does nothing for this franchise some fans have mentioned the idea of another fist round pick next year.. I say no. Try to win as much as you can. Fans want to be entertained last season watching the offense was terrible. After witnessing perfection at the QB position for so long and then seeing just how bad it was last season is deeply etched in the Patriots Fans head. I feel more optimistic with all the changes and uncertainty surrounding the team than the direction we were heading the Last few seasons. Think of this had we had say 24 TDs and 8 INTS last season this team would have been in the hunt for a playoff berth.

I hear what you are saying, and you might be right. If there is progress, I'll be happy. If that progress results in more wins than I expect, that's fine. If there's progress and the wins don't quite come this year, same thing: fine. I'm jjust a bit more focused on the progress than on the wins, I guess, given thr low starting point of the rebuild.

 

[Real fan 02]

I hear what you are saying, and you might be right. If there is progress, I'll be happy. If that progress results in more wins than I expect, that's fine. If there's progress and the wins don't quite come this year, same thing: fine. I'm jjust a bit more focused on the progress than on the wins, I guess, given thr low starting point of the rebuild.

We are singing the same tune. Progress is what's most important. Wins of course Matter. I want the team to be playing meaningful games in December. It's such a grind the NFL season, it's truly the strongest survive injuries are so part of the game that teams need to be deep at every position. I'm very optimistic.. we have to remember Bill likely wasn't going to coach beyond 2025 anyway. So I'm happy with what I've seen so far with the organization heading in this direction.

 

[rochrist]

The line isn't necessarily bad. We just have to solidify the tackle positions and I believe that will happen in camp. We have a great running game for Drake to lean on if he starts. Rham and Gibson will help Drake immensely.

Assumes facts not in evidence.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Very interesting. I'll say this. Loosing does nothing for this franchise some fans have mentioned the idea of another fist round pick next year.. I say no. Try to win as much as you can. Fans want to be entertained last season watching the offense was terrible. After witnessing perfection at the QB position for so long and then seeing just how bad it was last season is deeply etched in the Patriots Fans head. I feel more optimistic with all the changes and uncertainty surrounding the team than the direction we were heading the Last few seasons. Think of this had we had say 24 TDs and 8 INTS last season this team would have been in the hunt for a playoff berth.

Walsh & Montana first season: 2-14

JJ & Aikman first season: 1-15

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Every so often, I'll think along the same lines, but then I realize that would involve everything falling just so, all the breaks going our way, and I just don't think that's likely

2001 says hi

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Maybe because I am an older fan who has remained a fan through some pretty extended dry spells, I am neither surprised nor horrified at the prospect of even a four-year rebuild. I'll root for the team, of course, and follow them with interest, but I'll be rooting for and celebrating progress, and not, I suspect, wins. As for the losses; I'll take genuine comfort in remembering that each one does boost us up the draft order a bit. The worst scenario in my mind would lousy progress giving us five or six wins and putting us out of the running for genuine difference-makers in the draft. If it is your 9 wins, and the wins are the result of genuine progress and not a fluke, that would be great, but I think it's unlikely.

1975 & 1981 worked out well for us.

The young talent got important experience and we got a high draft pick.

Plus, the veterans were pissed off and even more determined to win than they were already.*


*This was a major motivating factor for the Red Sox after the Bobby V year in 2012. If Ben Cherington didn't win Executive Of The Year for that 2012-'13 offseason, he should have.

 

[Real fan 02]

Walsh & Montana first season: 2-14

JJ & Aikman first season: 1-15

Doubt we'd be worse than last season. The NFL pretty is begging teams with all the rules to score.. those days were much tougher for offenses to score. Defenses had the ultimate advantages.

 

[Thelonious]

2001 says hi

Heh. I like a good miracle as much as the next fella, but I don't count on 'em.

 

[DarrylS]

Here is my insane reason for picking between 8 & 9, we lost 6 games last year by less that 6 points with a woeful offense and a bush league kicker.
Ryland will either get better or the Pats will move on from him. The O with Brissett is better than the Jones/Zappe **** show from last year and there are some unproven Offensive upgrades...
If I listened to the nattering nabobs of negativity on sportstalk would have picked less wins, but always have been and always will be a Pats believer.. things will be somewhat better.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Heh. I like a good miracle as much as the next fella, but I don't count on 'em.

Things like 2001 Patriots and 2013 Red Sox happen due to a lot of hard work, practicality and paying attention by personnel management, commitment and determination from the players...and just a little bit of luck.

I know this: The Patriots have been losing for a few years now. The players don't like it. And they want to take their frustrations out on our opponents over Kraft's cheapness on amenities and facilities.

 

[VrabelJr]

We could very well be winless by the time we play the Jets again. I think we can beat the Jets once, Arizona, Chicago, and Indy (maybe). Maybe we can steal one away from Buffalo or Miami. 5-12 or worse feels about right.

Realistically we need 2-3 more years of great drafting to be in it again because the defense is going to decline as we figure out the offense. I hope I'm wrong. We could be around 7 or more wins if we absolutely nailed this draft and stay healthy.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

I'd be surprised if they won more than 6. That's the highest I'm willing to go. More realistically probably between 3-5.