We're such a different team

[jdlboot14]

1. Yes, JMD and offense can be more simple / talent friendly, because Brady's years (BB's mindset) didn't value top-shelf offense skill players except for a few (Moss, Dillon, Gronk) so they had to out-scheme to win - that took time & brains. rookies and non-cerebral players couldn't make it.

2. This is a whole new team. And a MUCH better roster. Let's hope they can build enough chemistry in one off season of mini camps & training camp to compete. I do think they should have enough to make playoffs, especially with easy schedule. Maybe not win 1st round, but make it... and get back on track to build for future.

 

[Hyped]

It's like a 747 flew in an entirely new organization, different identity, a playoff team. Think of where we are:
1. Vrabel universally respected, demanding, high energy, smart, decisive
2. veteran organized coaching staff in Terrel Williams, Doug Marrone, Josh McDaniels
3. Wolf-Cowden front office that's absolutely killing it
4. on our 2025 schedule: TN, NYG, CAR, CLE, NO, LV, NYJ, NYJ, MIA, MIA, PIT, ATL
5. Drake Maye about to go nuclear
6. receivers Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Pop Douglas, Boutte/Bourne, Henry/Hooper at TE, and take-it-to-the-house Henderson
7. two legit OT's and the stud center from Georgia fixes the OL
8. pound the rock with Rham, Henderson, Gibson, and 2 candidates for FB
8. solid/explosive DL with Barmore, Milton Williams, Tonga, Farmer
9. run-defending LB's in Spillane, Gibbons, Jennings
10. pass rush Landry, White, Chaisson, Swinson
11. plugged the DB holes with Carlton Davis and Epps/Woodson
12. got the best college kicker
13. and the cherry on top is a 2026 4th rounder

10-11 wins is a realistic goal. The talent and coaching are there, it's how quickly can we assimilate everything.

Yes, but we ain't done **** yet. All we have done is won an imaginary "off-season" Lombardi....

We'll know by October though.....

And I love your optimism....I really do. A fresh breath of air in these parts...

 

[jdlboot14]

Ourlads depth chart finally updated and had these moves:
- Henderson is RB1 - I completely agree this is likely by week 2 or 3
- Top 6 WR - Diggs, Hollins, Pop, Boutte, Bourne, Williams - I fully agree
- OL: Campbell, Strange, Bradbury, Onwenu, Moses - with 2nd string: Lowe, Robinson, Wilson, Schweitzer, Wallace
(not sure Bryant, Brown, Sow won't end up on 53)
- Dippre is 5th TE, but I could see him making the team
- LBs & DBs rooms are stacked, going to be hard to pair that down.

 

[patfanken]

Way to throw another wet blanket on it, coach.

Do you have any doubts, given the types of "football character" guys they took and signed in FA, that this team will not become a team? Don't give me the Belichick "I'm not in the locker room" answer, either.

Vrabel has work to do, and yes, it's just beginning. But after last year with the marching orders of Just Don't Be Bill, it's refreshing for everyone to see the difference from last year. Given Mike's track record as a player that was very much part of installing the Patriot Way, and his results as a HC, I have no doubt that he'll mold this unit into a team. Gone are the days of playing minor league football.

360 degrees, right @Toofy ?

Nah. Toof, it's simply the nature of the game. Even at the HS level, every year brings in a crop of new players and that changes the dynamics and character of group. It makes the job more difficult for the coach, but it makes so much more interesting and rewarding as well.

As much as you try to mold your team into YOUR ideal construct, the group dynamics will ALWAYS in some small ways end up molding you. And that's what makes coaching so much fun in the end and each year makes you a better coach. It is NEVER the same.

So, whatever his past experiences have gotten Vrabel to this point, coaching this group of players will in some way change him and make him better. This is his first time with 98% of these guys. It will take time and shared experiences to create the identity of the team. It isn't instantaneous and we won't start to see the true identity of this team emerge until well into October.

I'm not being "gloomy", Toof, I'm thrilled so far as to what we've managed to do. Looks great ... on paper. I can hardly wait to see for myself when TC opens to the public.

 

[Steve102]

Nah. Toof, it's simply the nature of the game. Even at the HS level, every year brings in a crop of new players and that changes the dynamics and character of group. It makes the job more difficult for the coach, but it makes so much more interesting and rewarding as well.

As much as you try to mold your team into YOUR ideal construct, the group dynamics will ALWAYS in some small ways end up molding you. And that's what makes coaching so much fun in the end and each year makes you a better coach. It is NEVER the same.

So, whatever his past experiences have gotten Vrabel to this point, coaching this group of players will in some way change him and make him better. This is his first time with 98% of these guys. It will take time and shared experiences to create the identity of the team. It isn't instantaneous and we won't start to see the true identity of this team emerge until well into October.

I'm not being "gloomy", Toof, I'm thrilled so far as to what we've managed to do. Looks great ... on paper. I can hardly wait to see for myself when TC opens to the public.

I'm not Toof. Just FYI.

For a little background, this is my 21st year coaching football in NH, I think my 15th at HS,. I'd have to go back and look at the dates and do the math.

I'll agree that the kids do mold and change you, but you are the one that sets the direction.

 

[Real fan 02]

I'd add that hopefully we'll see a better season from Keion White who'll no longer be the only DL opposing offences need to worry about. If he can come close to the production he had in his first two games over the course of a whole season, we'll be laughing.

Agreed. The presence of a healthy Barmore, as well as Williams and farmer will pay dividends for White on the D line.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I'm very excited about the defense. I'm bracing myself for offensive struggles (Maye included) given the installation of the McD offense. A sophomore slump isn't out of the question.

I think there might be a learning curve as the DC is a first time DC and Vrabel's attention will probably be all over for a while.

 

[Huckleberry1]

It's like a 747 flew in an entirely new organization, different identity, a playoff team. Think of where we are:
1. Vrabel universally respected, demanding, high energy, smart, decisive
2. veteran organized coaching staff in Terrel Williams, Doug Marrone, Josh McDaniels
3. Wolf-Cowden front office that's absolutely killing it
4. on our 2025 schedule: TN, NYG, CAR, CLE, NO, LV, NYJ, NYJ, MIA, MIA, PIT, ATL
5. Drake Maye about to go nuclear
6. receivers Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Pop Douglas, Boutte/Bourne, Henry/Hooper at TE, and take-it-to-the-house Henderson
7. two legit OT's and the stud center from Georgia fixes the OL
8. pound the rock with Rham, Henderson, Gibson, and 2 candidates for FB
8. solid/explosive DL with Barmore, Milton Williams, Tonga, Farmer
9. run-defending LB's in Spillane, Gibbons, Jennings
10. pass rush Landry, White, Chaisson, Swinson
11. plugged the DB holes with Carlton Davis and Epps/Woodson
12. got the best college kicker
13. and the cherry on top is a 2026 4th rounder

10-11 wins is a realistic goal. The talent and coaching are there, it's how quickly can we assimilate everything.

Agree with this 100%.

 

[Huckleberry1]

That's a great point that doesn't get the play it should. As much as Krafty Bob gets dumped on for the Mayo hire he deserves some credit for owning the mistake and moving rapidly to mitigate it. We all know there are owners out there whose egos would dictate a double down on a bad hire (lookin' at you in particular Jimmy Haslam), we should be thankful Kraft isn't one of them.

I think knowing he had to move fast to get a Vrabel seriously hastened his decision. **** around and he ends up in Chicago or New York.

 

[Uptown]

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Hearing about so many of the draftees being team leaders in college and high character / workaholic types who LOVE football gives me some degree of confidence that the "on paper" skills will translate to "on field" production. There will of course be growing pains. A young player very often learns about what mistakes to never make by making those mistakes, at first.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think there might be a learning curve as the DC is a first time DC and Vrabel's attention will probably be all over for a while.

That is true Williams is a first time play caller but unlike last season he's a 20 plus year veteran NFL coach in defenses.

 

[Patsfan1645]

I'm not Toof. Just FYI.

For a little background, this is my 21st year coaching football in NH, I think my 15th at HS,. I'd have to go back and look at the dates and do the math.

I'll agree that the kids do mold and change you, but you are the one that sets the direction.

To add a little something to your statement. I feel this team from the minute Vrabel was hired to all the coaching and staff additions to free agency and now the draft this team feels like its moving in the right direction and that is all we can hope for at this point. I did not think we would be at this point today when Mayo got fired, to be honest I am shocked at just how far this organization has gone in a such a short amount of time to fully change direction.

 

[patfanken]

, but you are the one that sets the direction.

You are 1000% right on the above point.

Sorry Steve about the name mix up

 

[Steve102]

To add a little something to your statement. I feel this team from the minute Vrabel was hired to all the coaching and staff additions to free agency and now the draft this team feels like its moving in the right direction and that is all we can hope for at this point. I did not think we would be at this point today when Mayo got fired, to be honest I am shocked at just how far this organization has gone in a such a short amount of time to fully change direction.

I had not idea Mayo was going to be such and abject failure, but looking back, it's easy to see it in his comments. Complete lack of leadership, like he used year 1 has a training year.

At least they got Maye, and at least RKK recognized his own failure and corrected course. Now they have Vrabel, who has the luxury now of not following Bill and facing those comparisons.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

I like hearing about the lack of 'yes men'. That's something Belichick got away from in the last few years (at least) he was here. When guys get older and seemingly entrenched in their position, they just get tired of being questioned. Happens to all the good coaches at some point, if they stick around long enough.

 

[doesntmatter1]

Pump the breaks. The oline was beyond horrible last year to the point where I'm not going to give them the benefit of the doubt until I see a few games. They didn't even improve from week to week last year. New coaches are all but guaranteed to be better but they still got to show us.

Trey Henderson. Very exciting pick but we have a long history of bringing rookie running backs along very slowly. The great James White did absolutely nothing his rookie year and just sat on the bench and learned.

I expect all of the veteran receiving options like Hunter Henry, Bourne, and Hollins to understand McDaniels' system but the rookies/2nd yr guys are a crap shoot.

I will feel confident once I see us operate a 2 min offense multiple times. I want to see Maye cook the way Jimmy Garrapollo did before he hurt his shoulder the year he filled in during Brady's suspension. A young player in complete control of the offense.

 

[Triumph]

Approximately 30 new players via Free Agency, Draft and Undrafted.

There is competition everywhere but QB Maye, CB Gonzo and TE Henry and Hooper. The WR corp and OL is going to look totally different.

Some of the undrafted guys are very exciting. Training Camp is going to be packed.

 

[rochrist]

Well, we've all been set straight. Felger and Mazz assure us this draft is EXACTLY the same as last year's.

Definitely a failure because they took a worthless running back instead of Luther Burden.

 

[The Gr8est]

Approximately 30 new players via Free Agency, Draft and Undrafted.

There is competition everywhere but QB Maye, CB Gonzo and TE Henry and Hooper. The WR corp and OL is going to look totally different.

Some of the undrafted guys are very exciting. Training Camp is going to be packed.

Bet I’m not the only one who would feel better about our QB room if Milton was still in it.

The potential gadget plays alone would have been great.

Pray for Drake’s health, because the Dobbs-led Pats loses a bit in translation.