Are Patriots Tanking or is this a “Bridge Year”?

[Pats2000]

I don't think the coaching staff/FO will be judged on the record this year, maybe even next. If Kraft just mindlessly wanted to go back to the playoffs they wouldn't have $50M cap space left. I think the key for them is selling Kraft that the team is progressing.

I think what gets them fired quick would be if they go 4-13 again or something like that, but no one is developing. Like on the OL, if it ends up being Okorafor/Sow/Andrews/Leverett/Onwenu and Wallace/Robinson/Strange all look lost and it feels like a jumbled mess going forward. And at WR if none of the young guys really play well and it's Bourne/Osborn dominating the snap counts and leaving us feeling like we're still close to starting over at WR next year. And of course if Maye plays poorly if they throw him out there and looks lost and/or earns bad practice reviews. So on and so forth.

Heck, even if a bunch of the vets play well like I mentioned where Brissett has one of those random good bridge QB years, Bourne/Osborn play solid at WR, and 1 year vet signings Okorafor/Leverett stabilize the OL and they squeak out 7 wins, I think Kraft grades that more negatively than if they go 4-13 with a lot of young player progress.

I think you can carry unused cap forward to, so they will have a lot of money to spend next year

 

[XLIX]

Look. Cite as many exceptions to the rule as you like.

Maybe there are so many exceptions to the rule that the exceptions are the rule

You build a winning team from the inside out, not by snatching at shiny objects,

WTF does these even mean? What is a "shiny object"...? Sounds to me like that is just another term for "talented player" and I would love to see the organizational philosophy that decides it doesn't want to pursue talented players.

Are we the Jets now?

We will be if we proceed with the philosophy you are advocating....

 

[NE_Zealot]

Look around the league at bad franchises and you’ll find the answer. This Franchise is dysfunctional.

You’re new here, but posters thought this roster and coaching staff was good last season and I had to give them a rude awakening it was among the worst in the NFL. I got the usual resistance from this board. Yet here we are. It’s really not that difficult to see if you watch other NFL teams.

Pepperidge Farms remembers. I said last year we were a 5 win team before the season started and was flamed accordingly. Some folks just didn’t want to face reality. Our best bet is to be terrible for 4-5 years while stacking top 3 picks.

 

[Drunken Cicerone]

They’re not tanking, they’re rebuilding. They had essentially a team void of talent last year, this seasons not much better. I hope they’re awful, I hope they keep some money free until they find FAs they love and I most especially hope they draft well. But the next couple years + are going to be tough

 

[1960Pats]

Hire neophyte coaches
Entrust a 'run first' OC to develop the team's future QB starter
Ignore OL
Sign JAGcoby Brissett to be QB1
Financially reward the core of a 4 win team
Jettison talent
Whiff on FA WRs

This post would actually fit with Bill's last 5 years here. All you need to do is replace Brissett with Cant Newton.

 

[1960Pats]

Recent history has shown that teams with good young quarterbacks plus legit #1 WR's become competitive pretty much right away. It isn't wasting a pick to use one to bring such a WR here.

That doesn't work as well when a good young QB and legit #1 WR are the only good players. Belichick left this offense in a mess and it's going to take a lot of things to go right to fix it.

 

[1960Pats]

They also weren't left with absolute dog **** on offense. BB offensive drafting really left the team in a hole. He couldn't hit on a #1 WR to save his life or his job or his GOAT QB

Bill's the one and only reason the offense is historically pathetic and yet there are fans here who think he needs to come back to right the ship. Incredible.

 

[Steve102]

Why?

Just a gut feeling. Like a Mike Tomlin thing.

 

[Steve102]

So Bob is eager to get back to the playoffs, yet gives an inexperienced HC a long leash? That I doubt. Owners change their minds if nothing improves.

See above.

 

[Spiral]

Can you give me the winning Powerball numbers next week? Maye hasn't played a down in a regular season game yet and you have NO idea what we have at WR yet. Yeah they need more talent but let it play out and see who stays and who goes after this 2024 season. You must of been on "team Michael Bishop" back in the day. Total panic, pre-judging and have no clue what the team and players really are right now.

I can't give you the winning Powerball numbers, but if you're looking for some gambling advice, you should bet the under at 4.5 wins this season.

 

[p8ryts]

Bill's the one and only reason the offense is historically pathetic and yet there are fans here who think he needs to come back to right the ship. Incredible.

In Bill we trust. Deal with it.

 

[Wozzy]

Teams aiming upwards don’t tank, to suggest they would is dumb.

 

[Thelonious]

Maybe there are so many exceptions to the rule that the exceptions are the rule


WTF does these even mean? What is a "shiny object"...? Sounds to me like that is just another term for "talented player" and I would love to see the organizational philosophy that decides it doesn't want to pursue talented players.

We will be if we proceed with the philosophy you are advocating....

Uh huh. I stand by my point.

 

[Patsgofor4]

The Defensive stats last years was overrated minus Judon and Gonzo they will be Exposed from Game 1 this season. Burrow will throw for 500 yds the stage is set.

Have you seen Cincy’s current OT situation? The Pats may be able to get to Burrow off the edge.

 

[PatsFan2]

Have you seen Cincy’s current OT situation? The Pats may be able to get to Burrow off the edge.

Yess: a healthy Trent Brown is better than any Tackle we currently got.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Yess: a healthy Trent Brown is better than any Tackle we currently got.

What does that have to do with my post? I didn’t compare the two teams’ OLs and I’m not saying that they will beat the Bengals but it’s a fact that Cincy has some issues at OT and the Pats may be able to take advantage of that.

Also: Charlie Jones returns to practice; Trent Brown leaves with back injury

 

[XLIX]

Guess the Bengals need to rest Joe Burrow…. I mean we can’t expect QBs to actually play behind sub-par o-lines….

 

[festy1986]

Who is there even to draft for? Now that they have their QB if the future, a number 1 overall pick could lead to a massive haul like Chicago got for their number 1 pick last year.

I'm totally fine with that.

 

[State]

It's a rebuild that didn't have to be a rebuild if Belichick didn't f#kk up many drafts in a row

Yes. Most here were blind to it.

Those of you who carped at critics of Billy’s woeful draft performances, beginning in earnest in 2015–I criticized the Jordan Richards’ pick (something he never gave us) and showed video evidence of his lack of athleticism from the 2014Rose Bowl and many of you asshats poo-poohed it singing your mindless “In Bill We Trust”— need to look in the mirror when we win four or five games this year.

We are likely the least talented team in the AFC. The Jets are going to manhandle the Patsies.

I hope Raekwon McMillan stays healthy and will enjoy Polk becoming a star. I look forward to Sow becoming an all pro at his suitable LG.

But our LT situation could prove disruptive. I hope Caedan Wallace can fill the void or Calvin Anderson can get over his ailments or Chuks Okorafor could become a leader instead of a mediocrity.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I think they are tanking.
Patriots version of “the process” used by sixers

Evidence:

1. Signing Jacoby Brissett
2. Not addressing OL adequately in draft or free agency
3. Trading Judon
4. Drafting Maye who they know will take years to develop
5. Resigning their own average free agents to multiyear contracts
6. Hiring the most inexperienced head coach and DC in the league

I agree with the strategy. They desperately need infusion of blue chip talent over several years and top 5 picks is surest way to do this.

The attempt to sign Ridley or Aiyuk would not have moved the neeedle

Failure to prioritize OL rebuild is surest sign of tank

It's not an intentional tank.

They have targeted a few players but they didn't want to come here because news flash 4-13 teams with almost zero talent on offense is a HARD SELL!

Honestly I wouldn't have resigned half of our free agents because they are pretty mediocre players. But, I do understand the desire to maintain continuity from year to year.

Patriots swung at their top needs in the draft - a new QB and young wide receivers with some upside.

Still two large problems remain - OL, and no WR1. Aiyuk was the attempt to fill that hole, he wouldn't talk to the Patriots or Cleveland, ended up in Pittsburgh and I'm sure the 49ers got less than they wanted.

Patriots plan might be to roll cap space into next year and take another stab at the free agent market then and hope a good LT or WR1 becomes available and to draft the other one with what will probably end up a top 10 pick.

The Patriots drafted a couple of young OL but it's hard to say whether our new 3rd round pick can make the transition to LT or if he will eventually end up at RT in the long term.

In any case it's going to take time to rebuild. You don't start winning overnight.