PostGame Thread 2024 Postgame Thread Week 16 - Pats fall to Bills 24-21

[mike_usagisan]

Hard to believe they drafted Drake Maye, and the kid is a star, but somehow the overall team is still WORSE than last year's abomination. It's truly disgusting to be honest

Just think that the rookie growing pains are mostly on the coaching staff.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

Your post made me realize that this set of pass catchers is closer to dynasty Pats than it appears on the surface. They have two TE's that can catch the ball, a WR corps consisting of multiple targets without a clear WR1 and RBs with receiving skills. The big difference is the clutch part of the WR. This set of players always gets 7 yards when they need 8. It used to be that the WR would find a way to gain 7 yards, 13 inches to get that first down. Not having a real third down threat at RB is also a gap. That said, who didn't love Gibson smashing that rusher in pass protection?

This post must be a joke.

2001 had a prime Troy Brown who caught 101 balls for 1200 yards.

2004 had Deion Branch, an elite separator and underrated deep threat.

2014-2016 had the greatest tight end who ever lived and Martellius Bennett. Not some old man in the sea the mummified version of Austin Hooper. They also had Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, and a big red zone target in Brandon Lafell.

Mourn, Soda Pop Douglas, Boohoo, Slow Poke, and Bob the Baker are not even comparable in talent to the above

Also …I might add Maye is no Brady!! If you expect Maye to produce with lesser talent like Brady did, you are in for a rude awakening.

 

[sb1]

Offense is better with Maye than last year. Which isn’t saying much.

Special teams is better

Defense is much worse

 

[h0c2000]

 

[condon84]

Offense is better with Maye than last year. Which isn’t saying much.

Special teams is better

Defense is much worse

Fat Matt's offense with Corky was better than this year and Maye is a far superior player than Corky. That about illustrates what a cluster**** coaching this team is getting this year.

 

[PP2]

Hard to believe they drafted Drake Maye, and the kid is a star, but somehow the overall team is still WORSE than last year's abomination. It's truly disgusting to be honest

Going from a EP system to a west coast system is like going from writing right-handed to writing left-handed and being expected to master it over the course of a summer.

 

[p8ryts]

Going from a EP system to a west coast system is like going from writing right-handed to writing left-handed and being expected to master it over the course of a summer.

I don't know, it's still blocking and tackling.

 

[Ring 6]

I don't know, it's still blocking and tackling.

It’s not that big of an adjustment.

 

[mgteich]

But you add Higgins and Hunter, 2 Offensive linemen, 2 linebackers and an edge rusher I think you are competitive. Assuming Bentley comes back I think much of that is doable (if Higgins stays you have a couple lesser options out there would be OK) between draft and free agency. But you need to pick the right veterans in free agency and at least draft 2 guys that can play outside the first-round pick.
If you draft a Polk like prospect in round 2 and sign a Chuks level lineman again then they are screwed for another year.

add a free safety and I agree.

 

[mgteich]

Just think that the rookie growing pains are mostly on the coaching staff.

I don't see that as a bad thing.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Things are bad. Saturday's game is not sold out on the primary ticket market. Blue dots everyone on ticket master.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Wonder Why...

 

[Tunescribe]

Things are bad. Saturday's game is not sold out on the primary ticket market. Blue dots everyone on ticket master.

Secondary ticket market, you mean. The entire stadium is sold out to season ticket holders. The bigger question is why the hell do you care?

 

[Tunescribe]

Except the season is over... We're not talking April here friend. We're talking 3 games left and your team is ass, winning now is actually insulting.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Blackouts would suck(not sure that happens anymore), but I'm sure that would teach that old fk.

 

[goheels22002]

There are 12 first round talents in this draft. 1 Elite talent. I would not pass on Hunter to draft a lesser talent in round 1 and then pick up a second, which is a 3rd round prospect, at best, in most years (i.e. 16% chance of success). 5 players in the top 85 means you MIGHT get 2 good players in an average year but your first guys is worse than you would have had. By sticking where you are you get 1 possible elite player and only like a 9% worse chance of adding a second starter with your one 2nd round pick vs 2.

Teams need to really reassess the draft strategy. Only 50 players drafted per year become players in the NFL. The BB idea of getting more picks and trading down to have more shots at a player has proven to be a bad strategy.
The average team gets 2 draft picks per year that become solid starting players. The best way to increase your odds is draft higher, not lower.

If you can't get a first in 2026 then it would be very risky to trade the pick this year to trade down. 2026 is a deep draft so at least with that trade you might get an extra starter, trading for a second this year, in the weakest draft in a long time, leaves you with prospects not worth their draft position after the top 10.

You should always try to trade 3rd round picks or later for a pick in the next year's draft 1 round earlier. That's just what the data shows. Trading down at the top of the draft without getting future firsts is fool's gold.

Good analysis but you did not address the fact that the Patriots - in addition to the 2025 draft class - have the most available money on the cap to sign veterans. With that $139 million, they will be able to bring in proven starters that fill immediate needs in 2025. Given that Drake Maye is drawing appreciation from rival players and coaches, the conversations with potential free agent offensive skill players will be much more favorable than in the past three years.

Personally, I would trade the Travis Hunter pick to a team that really wants him for additional top-of-the-draft capital in 2025 and 2026. It's unclear to me what his true NFL position will be, and the need for long-term elite-level Offensive Line talent and a true WR who can separate outweighs everything else with Drake Maye as the QB of the future. Travis Hunter has lots more value to a middle-of-the-pack team on the cusp of becoming a contender than the Patriots who need to build their core in the trenches to get out of the basement. For example, what would the 49ers, Saints, or Bears offer from the #9 to #11 draft slots for Travis Hunter?

 

[festy1986]

This one ain't for you. We don't wanna hear your opinions on Maye or anyone else we draft this year

You weren't ride or die.

 

[Tunescribe]

This one ain't for you. We don't wanna hear your opinions on Maye or anyone else we draft this year

You weren't ride or die.

Whatever any of this means, only you know. One thing I am sure of: you are hell bent on snagging this site's Moronic Post of the Year Award -- in under the wire with multiple entries in just the last week.

 

[festy1986]

Whatever any of this means, only you know. One thing I am sure of: you are hell bent on snagging this site's Moronic Post of the Year Award -- in under the wire with multiple entries in just the last week.

That's cute.

Meanwhile, you advocated to make our team worse by beating the Bills with the season already lost and nothing to win but draft position.

Truly moronic take off the year stuff. Please, don't get too excited. You have to share this award with a few dozen others.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Offense is better with Maye than last year. Which isn’t saying much.

Yup. Still 29th or 30th in the league. Fewer points per game than the year when Matty P was the OC.

Special teams is better

Agreed

Defense is much worse

Agreed