Polk and Baker are going to tear it up this year for the Patriots, says future HoF QB

[JohnJH]

I have a bigger issue. Are the people who picked Polk and Baker still I'm the room on this next draft?

I suspect that unfortunately,most of them will be. Our only hope is that Vrabel and his guy have the final say.

 

[Drunken Cicerone]

It could have been coaching, it could have been his reaction to coaching and an inability to understand an NFL gameplan.

Either way it was a tremendously disappointing season and the hill to climb to be even a viable NFL WR is still pretty high.

There’s four guys at the WR position who could still blossom

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

Okay bucko well let us all jump in to enjoy a future season or two of some Patriots greatness if you don't mind.

Alright, I just sent an invitation to your parents' house, circa 1985. Look in the attic for a red, white & blue envelope.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Drake is just being a good teammate.

The reality is that both Polk and Baker are busts. History is in my favor of being right about this. This isn't the 90's where teams were run heavy, ran a 2 WR offense and DB's were allowed to chuck players. The fact that both Polk and Baker had every opportunity to get on the field and were awful when they did is a major red flag. This league is tailor made for instant impact rookies no matter where you're drafted.

And with all due respect to Steve Smith (who was a baller), his WR coach had nothing to do with him becoming one of the best WR's in the league. In fact, I don't even care if Matt Patricia was coaching the WR's, he would have no bearing on whether you have what it takes to make it in the NFL. These guys clearly don't have it.

I'm sure many of you have played some sort of organized sports sometime in your lives. You will know right away who's got talent and who's a liability. There isn't any amount of coaching that is going to take a terrible player and make him into a good player.

 

[Real fan 02]

I have a bigger issue. Are the people who picked Polk and Baker still I'm the room on this next draft?

The coaches who were supposed to be coaching polk are no longer in the room.

 

[Real fan 02]

Drake is just being a good teammate.

The reality is that both Polk and Baker are busts. History is in my favor of being right about this. This isn't the 90's where teams were run heavy, ran a 2 WR offense and DB's were allowed to chuck players. The fact that both Polk and Baker had every opportunity to get on the field and were awful when they did is a major red flag. This league is tailor made for instant impact rookies no matter where you're drafted.

And with all due respect to Steve Smith (who was a baller), his WR coach had nothing to do with him becoming one of the best WR's in the league. In fact, I don't even care if Matt Patricia was coaching the WR's, he would have no bearing on whether you have what it takes to make it in the NFL. These guys clearly don't have it.

I'm sure many of you have played some sort of organized sports sometime in your lives. You will know right away who's got talent and who's a liability. There isn't any amount of coaching that is going to take a terrible player and make him into a good player.

Looking back at last season.. Polk was the best WR all training camp. We know now that his injury was more substantial than we thought as he was seen in a shoulder sling. I'm not saying it's not on him to catch balls and run routes.. I firmly believe playing with Brissett for 5 games affected his development big time. I believe he could be properly developed.. this season. I don't think he's going down patriots WR bust highway.. however even if he somehow does he's still got 2 more seasons as N'Keal Harry and Tyquan Thornton lasted at least 3.5 seasons as bust WR.

 

[Real fan 02]

I have more faith in Boutte than those 2. But really any of them still have a chance. The key will be who can grasp the Josh McDaniels offense. We've seen MANY, MANY wide receivers WASH OUT because they couldn't grasp the option route concepts and make the same reads as the QB. When you run the wrong route in that offense it can lead to interceptions. A tough task for any young receiver. Even veterans have failed to pick it up.

This won't be the (Brady) McDaniels offense that Josh ran for Brady and Mac. Josh said he's setting the offense around drakes abilities, and the personnel he has. He said he's not going to overload guys but rather bring them along slowly seeing what they can handle. I believe we see a sound efficiently run professional offense this season.

 

[Real fan 02]

If even one of them (Polk or Baker) can become at least a solid #3 caliber NFL WR (or better yet, a solid #2), that would be an asset. But until either of those scenarios happen, this season will be crucial in determining what their potential (if any) will be. I know within the next 2 years Vrabel will obtain us through the Draft and/or FA, a legit young #1 WR, if not two of them. Just so long as we have a solid OL for Maye's 2nd season, combined with improved RB talent for a solid run-game and perhaps even a couple of good for just a season WR's who can get open and catch the ball to help develop Maye's potential as a passer, that'll be good enough for this coming season.

Snagging Alaric Jackson as our future and for several years LT, combined with adding young talent on the DL and Edge (and the Defense in general), which is where the best available young talent can be obtained in this years FA, and of course nailing this draft, will greatly aid in this rebuild and hopefully new and better team culture.

Agreed the Rams are interesting they recently gave Stafford permission to seek his value from other teams.. I say they are trying to free up cap room.. Jackson is a must have for us at LT.. as I've said send the private jet out for him and never let him leave Foxboro. I believe we are going to have a bevy of FAs some top tier, middle tier and some depth guys.

 

[Salsalife]

The coaches who were supposed to be coaching polk are no longer in the room.

Didn't mean coaching. I meant the evaluation process. This was a 2nd round pick not a 7th. Deion Branch was a second rd pick.

• In his rookie season, Branch had 43 catches for 489 yards and two touchdowns.

Great player. Being paid big money for your gift of choosing. McConkey was the pick most normal GM's had on the board. These people who choose have set us back. I'm still butt hurt. Incompetence should not be rewarded...

 

[Rob0729]

One defense for both Polk and Baker is that both did absolutely nothing their rookie season. Here me out. Odds are good that you cannot whiff on two picks in the first four rounds that both do absolutely nothing. Even if both are busts, they should at least had some production and flashes (see guys like Thornton, Harry, etc.).

It seems more of a coaching thing. And it is clear that when both started to struggle early, the coaching staff completely gave up on them all together. Polk would get very rare cameo appearances in games in the second half of the year where he was never a focus. Baker almost never got in. Even the last game when the Patriots pulled starters, neither got much playing time.

 

[Real fan 02]

Didn't mean coaching. I meant the evaluation process. This was a 2nd round pick not a 7th. Deion Branch was a second rd pick.

• In his rookie season, Branch had 43 catches for 489 yards and two touchdowns.

Great player. Being paid big money for your gift of choosing. McConkey was the pick most normal GM's had on the board. These people who choose have set us back. I'm still butt hurt. Incompetence should not be rewarded...

The primary coaching and evaluator was here from 2000-2023. In that span of time. Branch, Givens, Mitchell, pop, Boutte we could say have been productive given the situation everyone else taken in rounds 1 and 2 have flamed out.

Oh your absolutely correct on your assessment as McConkey was there for the taking. I firmly believe Vrabel wouldn't have take the job hadn't he had final day on the roster. It was an organizational failure at the WR position specifically in the drafting.

 

[Salsalife]

One defense for both Polk and Baker is that both did absolutely nothing their rookie season. Here me out. Odds are good that you cannot whiff on two picks in the first four rounds that both do absolutely nothing. Even if both are busts, they should at least had some production and flashes (see guys like Thornton, Harry, etc.).

It seems more of a coaching thing. And it is clear that when both started to struggle early, the coaching staff completely gave up on them all together. Polk would get very rare cameo appearances in games in the second half of the year where he was never a focus. Baker almost never got in. Even the last game when the Patriots pulled starters, neither got much

This is my enemy...

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo provided his thoughts on director of scouting Eliot Wolf’s objective to upgrade the team’s talent on offense. Weaponize..pst...s.m.h....

 

[Salsalife]

The primary coaching and evaluator was here from 2000-2023. In that span of time. Branch, Givens, Mitchell, pop, Boutte we could say have been productive given the situation everyone else taken in rounds 1 and 2 have flamed out.

Oh your absolutely correct on your assessment as McConkey was there for the taking. I firmly believe Vrabel wouldn't have take the job hadn't he had final day on the roster. It was an organizational failure at the WR position specifically in the drafting.

Here is the bottleneck...

New England Patriots
President	Jonathan Kraft
General manager	Eliot Wolf
Head coach	Mike Vrabel

AI Overview



+1

Eliot Wolf is the executive vice president of player personnel for the New England Patriots. He's responsible for managing the salary cap, roster, and personnel department.

Experience:

• Played high school football at Notre Dame Academy
• Worked in the Green Bay Packers' scouting department for 14 years
• Worked as an assistant general manager with the Cleveland Browns from 2018–2019
• Joined the Patriots in 2020

Responsibilities: Directing the personnel department, Managing the salary cap, and Controlling the 53-man roster.

 

[Real fan 02]

Here is the bottleneck...

New England Patriots
President	Jonathan Kraft
General manager	Eliot Wolf
Head coach	Mike Vrabel

Redirect Notice

 

[Real fan 02]

This is my enemy...

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo provided his thoughts on director of scouting Eliot Wolf’s objective to upgrade the team’s talent on offense. Weaponize..pst...s.m.h....

Yeah wolf did make some gaffs as GM Last season.. the difference is Mayo was guided into decisions last season and that is where alot of problems existed internally.. Wolf even saying when mayo was fired that the development of the players is what ultimately led to his firing.

 

[Grogan14]

If by tear it up you mean hamstrings or acls he might be right

 

[Real fan 02]

One defense for both Polk and Baker is that both did absolutely nothing their rookie season. Here me out. Odds are good that you cannot whiff on two picks in the first four rounds that both do absolutely nothing. Even if both are busts, they should at least had some production and flashes (see guys like Thornton, Harry, etc.).

It seems more of a coaching thing. And it is clear that when both started to struggle early, the coaching staff completely gave up on them all together. Polk would get very rare cameo appearances in games in the second half of the year where he was never a focus. Baker almost never got in. Even the last game when the Patriots pulled starters, neither got much playing time.

Agreed. I'm leaning for more on the coaching as well.

 

[Salsalife]

P

Yeah wolf did make some gaffs as GM Last season.. the difference is Mayo was guided into decisions last season and that is where alot of problems existed internally.. Wolf even saying when mayo was fired that the development of the players is what ultimately led to his firing.

Gotta pull the weeds from the roots. Eliot is quite now but still has Krafts ear. I would rather have Vrabel pick his GM NOW who links up with his objectives. His guy, his scouts, his recommendations, his cap. bye Eliot. Rip out ALL the old regime would make me feel better. He'll turn on Vrabel, you watch....

 

[Real fan 02]

P

Gotta pull the weeds from the roots. Eliot is quite now but still has Krafts ear. I would rather have Vrabel pick his GM NOW who links up with his objectives. His guy, his scouts, his recommendations, his cap. bye Eliot. Rip out ALL the old regime would make me feel better. He'll turn on Vrabel, you watch....

Vrabel has final say. Then cowden.. cowden is Vrabels GM and I wouldn't be surprised if after the draft elliot has a reassigned role in the scouting or player personnel dept. All indicators are Vrabel is the man in Foxboro.

 

[Salsalife]

Vrabel has final say. Then cowden.. cowden is Vrabels GM and I wouldn't be surprised if after the draft elliot has a reassigned role in the scouting or player personnel dept. All indicators are Vrabel is the man in Foxboro.

I just worry that Wolf will say keep these players I picked, they will be good someday...Ala thorton, Harry,....Still so pissed off about him saying Chukwuma Okorafor can play left and we are all set there! Fired! Fired! Fired! Can't have him around Vrabel...just my opinion. Personal disaster...