A Cautionary Note

[Thelonious]

If we are lucky, this year will be year one (forget about all the damned false starts, including the Mayo fiasco) of a two year rebuild. The team had fallen into terrible disrepair under late-stage Bill and under Mayo/Wolf, such disrepair that one year is very unlikely to get the job done. I'm gonna enjoy the progress, which I think is real. It's a buzzkill to harbor expectation so high for the year that they cannot be met. They may or may not make it into the post-season this year, but it doesn't really matter much to me. If they get in, they won't advance very far anyway. I want to be free to celebrate the progress. That's enough for me. I was a fan for many years before the dynasty. Back then we celebrated our hopes, whatever progress we could make. That's how it is for most fans of most teams. No point in moping around because we don't win the Super Bowl every year. Our expectations kinda got skewed there for a while, eh?

Oh yeah: here's a picture for the GIFers:

 

[Steve102]

If we are lucky, this year will be year one (forget about all the damned false starts, including the Mayo fiasco) of a two year rebuild. The team had fallen into terrible disrepair under late-stage Bill and under Mayo/Wolf, such disrepair that one year is very unlikely to get the job done. I'm gonna enjoy the progress, which I think is real. It's a buzzkill to harbor expectation so high for the year that they cannot be met. They may or may not make it into the post-season this year, but it doesn't really matter much to me. If they get in, they won't advance very far anyway. I want to be free to celebrate the progress. That's enough for me. I was a fan for many years before the dynasty. Back then we celebrated our hopes, whatever progress we could make. That's how it is for most fans of most teams. No point in moping around because we don't win the Super Bowl every year. Our expectations kinda got skewed there for a while, eh?

Oh yeah: here's a picture for the GIFers:

Oh well, you tried. I appreciate the effort, but it might be easier just to continue to rail against those of us who use the "moving pictures" with aplomb.

 

[Thelonious]

Oh well, you tried. I appreciate the effort, but it might be easier just to continue to rail against those of us who use the "moving pictures" with aplomb.

Yeah. I'm getting a little bored with it myself. We need more to talk about. We'll get that soon enough, and I can abandoned my little Quixotic gestures.

 

[Huckleberry1]

BB is gone. And thank you very much but I've heard enough about Special teams for a life time. All I want from the unit is a good kicker, a good punter and not to noticably suck at other things. I really don't care who plays as long as they aren't actively bad as long as we have 1 ace for the unit like Scooler.

That’s myopic. Every team uses the guys at the back end of units for special teams. That doesn’t mean you have to take special teamers over guys who are better football players when drafting or signing free agents, but it definitely means that guys who can contribute on special teams have an advantage over guys who can’t when it comes to making the final cuts to the 53.

 

[Steve102]

Yeah. I'm getting a little bored with it myself. We need more to talk about. We'll get that soon enough, and I can abandoned my little Quixotic gestures.

Yup, from now until camp, not much to talk about.

 

[maust]

Yup, from now until camp, not much to talk about.

I did hear something somewhere about something going on with BB's dating life, maybe some mileage can be made out of that. Granted it seems like slim posting material but...

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I think we are now realizing how hard it was to be what we were for 19 years.

I think we want everything to be to 1 person's fault or credit. The Bill Era, the Wolf Era, the Brady Era, Mac Jones wasn't the guy, Drake Maye looks like the real deal, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

We're in the "struggle to be relevant" period (until we're not.) I'd love to see another "magical" era/run. Here's to it starting today. This team has no problem spending. They got a more proven coach and empowered him to truly build the team.

So far, Vrabel has high marks on free agency and the draft (like "won the draft" high marks). I mean, he is still undefeated as a Patriots HC. But the other guys are trying really hard to win the offseason too, and we don't know how anybody did until after some football.

And that's what we know: Some reason to believe we're going the right direction. Nothing much not to like, no proof available that the bright spots aren't illusion. Right now, that's it.

I see folks saying what I am thinking - let's get to around .500 and in the hunt to the end.

Let's get to where nobody is secretly rooting for a tanked season.

So yes, I boldly predict that I won't be peeking with my hands over my eyes during the final game, unsure whether it's good or bad to win. In today's NFL, you might be in competition at 7-9 going into the final game. Last year it took 10-7 to get a wild card, but teams have entered the playoffs at under .500. Just about everybody is usually alive except the true cellar dwellers. I expect not to regret that we could have been just a little crappier to get a good pick. IOW, that was fun, but grownup teams don't get to pick no. 4 overall. That's a JETE draft position.

 

[Real fan 02]

If we are lucky, this year will be year one (forget about all the damned false starts, including the Mayo fiasco) of a two year rebuild. The team had fallen into terrible disrepair under late-stage Bill and under Mayo/Wolf, such disrepair that one year is very unlikely to get the job done. I'm gonna enjoy the progress, which I think is real. It's a buzzkill to harbor expectation so high for the year that they cannot be met. They may or may not make it into the post-season this year, but it doesn't really matter much to me. If they get in, they won't advance very far anyway. I want to be free to celebrate the progress. That's enough for me. I was a fan for many years before the dynasty. Back then we celebrated our hopes, whatever progress we could make. That's how it is for most fans of most teams. No point in moping around because we don't win the Super Bowl every year. Our expectations kinda got skewed there for a while, eh?

Oh yeah: here's a picture for the GIFers:

This team projects to be night and day from the teams of the last few seasons.. the problems and dysfunction that existed in the front office and seemingly spilled over the field. Last few seasons were a talent devoid version of the Patriots.

Now with the train put back on the tracks I expect things to go much moresmoothly without much derailment. Like all NFL teams they will have thier adversity. However I'm ultra confident in Vrabel keeping everything grounded.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

(I said the same thing as you guys w a bunch more words. I'm just frustrated it's not football yet.)

 

[The Gr8est]

If we are lucky, this year will be year one (forget about all the damned false starts, including the Mayo fiasco) of a two year rebuild. The team had fallen into terrible disrepair under late-stage Bill and under Mayo/Wolf, such disrepair that one year is very unlikely to get the job done. I'm gonna enjoy the progress, which I think is real. It's a buzzkill to harbor expectation so high for the year that they cannot be met. They may or may not make it into the post-season this year, but it doesn't really matter much to me. If they get in, they won't advance very far anyway. I want to be free to celebrate the progress. That's enough for me. I was a fan for many years before the dynasty. Back then we celebrated our hopes, whatever progress we could make. That's how it is for most fans of most teams. No point in moping around because we don't win the Super Bowl every year. Our expectations kinda got skewed there for a while, eh?

Oh yeah: here's a picture for the GIFers:

Now do 2001.

 

[Real fan 02]

But he is undersized to replace either Henry or Hooper; UDFA Dippre is a better fit to learn to play the position at the NFL level; and Lampe at FB is more valuable as he can actually block.

Yeah possible. But we don't know what Bell or the UDFA really are yet until they develop under some real coaching. We signed a FB, UDFA right??

 

[Huckleberry1]

Yup, from now until camp, not much to talk about.

The 2026 Draft? Let’s do it right here in the Main Forum. No one will mind.

 

[Thelonious]

This team projects to be night and day from the teams of the last few seasons.. the problems and dysfunction that existed in the front office and seemingly spilled over the field. Last few seasons were a talent devoid version of the Patriots.

Now with the train put back on the tracks I expect things to go much moresmoothly without much derailment. Like all NFL teams they will have thier adversity. However I'm ultra confident in Vrabel keeping everything grounded.

I have a really skilled carpenter who does work around my house. He's the best, but every job he does is not a one-day job, and every team rebuild is not a one-year rebuild., however good the man in charge might be. We are still reluctant for some reason to acknowledge just what an abysmal failure Bill was in his last few years. He ran this thing right into the ground, and it'll take a while to build it back up.

 

[maust]

I have a really skilled carpenter who does work around my house. He's the best, but every job he does is not a one-day job, and every team rebuild is not a one-year rebuild., however good the man in charge might be. We are still reluctant for some reason to acknowledge just what an abysmal failure Bill was in his last few years. He ran this thing right into the ground, and it'll take a while to build it back up.

 

[BobDigital]

That’s myopic. Every team uses the guys at the back end of units for special teams. That doesn’t mean you have to take special teamers over guys who are better football players when drafting or signing free agents, but it definitely means that guys who can contribute on special teams have an advantage over guys who can’t when it comes to making the final cuts to the 53.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek there, and yes guys who play STs will have an edge on the back of the roster. But i felt in the past too much emphasis was put on it here. To me the key for STs is don't be The Chargers from a few years ago when their special teams was historically bad and actively costing game.

After your top 4 STs spots LS/K/P/STs ace i think often times special teams ability is overblown. These guys are NFL players and coaches should be able to teach them a few STs teams things. Enough to do that job to a passable level. IMO Sters outside of those 4 spots should be used as a tie breaker only (and damn close to a tie). If 2 players are so close that you can't make up your mind then you look at how well they play STs. I'd rather my 5th WR have some upside as a WR and need to learn to improve his STs play than be a really good STer with little upside as a WR.

 

[signbabybrady]

I was being a bit tongue and check there, and yes guys who play STs will have an edge on the back of the roster. But i felt in the past too much emphasis was put on it here. To me the key for STs is don't be The Chargers from a few years ago when their special teams was historically bad and actively costing game.

After your top 4 STs spots LS/K/P/STs ace i think often times special teams ability is overblown. These guys are NFL players and coaches should be able to teach them a few STs teams things. Enough to do that job to a passable level. IMO Sters outside of those 4 spots should be used as a tie breaker only (and damn close to a tie). If 2 players are so close that you can't make up your mind then you look at how well they play STs. I'd rather my 5th WR have some upside as a WR and need to learn to improve his STs play than be a really good STer with little upside as a WR.

So much field position can be won and lost on Punts. It probably is the most underrated thing in football. Kick offs have obviously been very much undermined by rule changes. And FG kicking with guys being able to hit 60 yard kicks is impacting the game too even more than before.

It's more than just LS/K/P/ace. Punter's personal protector, gunners, and vice guys are just as important.

I do agree with your sentiment that I don't need to hear about it. And typically when you do it's because someone screwed up. I can acknowledge it's importance without stressing over each STs move.

 

[maust]

I do agree with your sentiment that I don't need to hear about it. And typically when you do it's because someone screwed up. I can acknowledge it's importance without stressing over each STs move.

WITHOUT STRESSING???!!!
WTH kind of BB disciple are you? It's like we don't even know you at all

 

[Real fan 02]

I have a really skilled carpenter who does work around my house. He's the best, but every job he does is not a one-day job, and every team rebuild is not a one-year rebuild., however good the man in charge might be. We are still reluctant for some reason to acknowledge just what an abysmal failure Bill was in his last few years. He ran this thing right into the ground, and it'll take a while to build it back up.

Well luckily the guy we hired has 28 years collective as a player and coach in the NFL. He brought all the right tools for the job and has some great assistants to help him.

 

[signbabybrady]

WITHOUT STRESSING???!!!
WTH kind of BB disciple are you? It's like we don't even know you at all

Got me lol

Just acknowledging that it is as important as BB made it to be and as boring to discuss as the poster was suggesting.

 

[Real fan 02]

So much field position can be won and lost on Punts. It probably is the most underrated thing in football. Kick offs have obviously been very much undermined by rule changes. And FG kicking with guys being able to hit 60 yard kicks is impacting the game too even more than before.

It's more than just LS/K/P/ace. Punter's personal protector, gunners, and vice guys are just as important.

I do agree with your sentiment that I don't need to hear about it. And typically when you do it's because someone screwed up. I can acknowledge it's importance without stressing over each STs move.

We had an elite STs unit last least top 5 in the NFL if I'm not mistaken. I expect that to continue this season.