What’s Left To Do?

[Huckleberry1]

I want to see what he can do with actual good coaching, he has not really had good coaching since his rookie year in Minny, I assume. He looked alright-ish at Illinois. His feet are slow and he does not change direction very well nor does he get push in the run game. I want to see if he improves some under the tutelage of Marone and McD.

I Think that Cole Birdow is a surprise on the 53 and replace Lowe.

I can see our 9-10 OL being OT-Campbell, Moses, Wallace and Birdow/OG-Owenu, Conley, Robinson, Strange/OC-Bradbury, Wilson

I think you made the case against keeping him pretty well. Slow feet, can’t change direction, can’t run block. Coaching can’t improve those things. Lowe is simply not athletic enough to play left tackle in the NFL.

I’m completely open to the idea that a number of players will improve with a new coaching staff, and improved play from their units as a whole, unfortunately Lowe isn’t one that I believe can get any better, and it’s because of his athletic limitations. Maybe Wallace can be a swing tackle, I’m not sure, but other than that I don’t see an answer on this roster, unless Bryant is good enough to back Campbell up? But overall being weak at a back up position isn’t too bad a place to be at. I will be really interested in tracking all these players this season, to understand what they are going to need to do in the 2026 free agency and Draft.

 

[TommyD4207]

It’s actually surprising that the verdict from pretty much everyone is that they have addressed everything they could this offseason. No one would have thought when the season ended that they would be in a place by May where there really wasn’t anything left to do. Even when Belichick was in charge and they were winning all the time we were usually looking at how to upgrade throughout the summer. I realize that the standard then was higher, and this team will still have plenty of work to do next offseason, but it’s still pretty remarkable.

They did all the things they were supposed to do in the offseason.
Now it's on the coaches and the quarterback.
We're going to know pretty quickly if it looks different.

 

[Real fan 02]

They did all the things they were supposed to do in the offseason.
Now it's on the coaches and the quarterback.
We're going to know pretty quickly if it looks different.

Optimism is high. This just feels much different than the rinse/repeat last few dreadful seasons.

 

[TommyD4207]

Optimism is high. This just feels much different than the rinse/repeat last few dreadful seasons.

It feels different because there seems to be people who know something, doing something. If you're trying to rebuild a team, these are the steps you'd take.

They also had a ****ton of money and high draft picks. They did last year too, and blew most of the draft picks, and spent their money on their own players, who all immediately **** the bed.

I really don't want to be Mr. Negativity, and having Josh McDaniels here, knowing he was able to make Mac Jones a ****ing pro bowler, hiding his flaws from the league for most of the 2021 season, so that should help Maye dramatically. But really now, it falls on Maye to be a good decision maker.

 

[dliverey44]

I think you made the case against keeping him pretty well. Slow feet, can’t change direction, can’t run block. Coaching can’t improve those things. Lowe is simply not athletic enough to play left tackle in the NFL.

I’m completely open to the idea that a number of players will improve with a new coaching staff, and improved play from their units as a whole, unfortunately Lowe isn’t one that I believe can get any better, and it’s because of his athletic limitations. Maybe Wallace can be a swing tackle, I’m not sure, but other than that I don’t see an answer on this roster, unless Bryant is good enough to back Campbell up? But overall being weak at a back up position isn’t too bad a place to be at. I will be really interested in tracking all these players this season, to understand what they are going to need to do in the 2026 free agency and Draft.

I agree that you can't coach athletics but there are coaching points that can put the player in a position of advantage. for example a player with slow feet can line up wider to attempt to force the pass rusher inside where they can get help from the OG.

 

[dliverey44]

Is Birdow being considered for OL or DT? I think I saw a picture of him going up against Will Campbell in the rookie minicamp. I must be hallucinating

They had some drills where OL would hold a bag for other OL. That might be what you are referring to.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

They had some drills where OL would hold a bag for other OL. That might be what you are referring to.

No bags; they were going at it "mano a mano". Birdow did, at one point in college, play DT so it may be possible; I saw some highlights from some dinky college as a DT, and he was a man among boys....whether he can do that in the NFL remains to be seen

 

[mgteich]

I expect our Practice Squad to have 5 or 6 OL's.

 

[Hyped]

I say kick some Pass Rusher tires.... maybe Clowney is willing to take a discount....

Also, bring in some slot corner competition for Jones...in case he gets dinged up again....

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Slot/outside corner, edge rusher, run stuffing NT, coverage LB, blocking TE, coverage FS are positions they could use more vet depth at. X receiver and LG are positions they could use a high end solution if one comes available, but seem to have decent numbers at those spots.

 

[n1997y]

I Think that Cole Birdow is a surprise on the 53 and replace Lowe.

That aged well.

 

[dliverey44]

That aged well.

LOL...thats why its an early 53 projection

 

[dliverey44]

No bags; they were going at it "mano a mano". Birdow did, at one point in college, play DT so it may be possible; I saw some highlights from some dinky college as a DT, and he was a man among boys....whether he can do that in the NFL remains to be seen

Good call

 

[Huckleberry1]

I agree that you can't coach athletics but there are coaching points that can put the player in a position of advantage. for example a player with slow feet can line up wider to attempt to force the pass rusher inside where they can get help from the OG.

I don’t disagree that good coaching can help players deal with some limitations, I just believe that Lowe’s athletic limitation's are too severe to overcome.

 

[Ring 6]

Yes, the roster, without significant injury just about anywhere, is good enough to make a huge leap in victory total, perhaps 100% improvement.

The roster needs two things to happen this year: 1. The QB to take the leap we are all expecting, 2. the new players to push several prior starters into backup roles.

Then it can take the next leap to being a threat to win the division, by adding superstars to at least three of these five units: OL, DL, Edge, DB, WR. Give that team new all pro's at any of those three, on top of what they have, and it is a top 5 AFC roster.

Any team that adds 3 all pros is a top 5 roster.
We may already be there depending upon how the free agents fit in and the rookies and 2nd year guys develop.

It would be a major disappointment if this team doesn’t make the playoffs.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Slot/outside corner, edge rusher, run stuffing NT, coverage LB, blocking TE, coverage FS are positions they could use more vet depth at. X receiver and LG are positions they could use a high end solution if one comes available, but seem to have decent numbers at those spots.

I was thinking that CJ Dippre could be their blocking TE, but I am not sure he is a "high-end" solution there.

 

[mgteich]

I was thinking that CJ Dippre could be their blocking TE, but I am not sure he is a "high-end" solution there.

Perhaps someone will double as a FB and 3rd TE, with us carrying 10 OL, the 4th OT also taking reps as the blocking TE in a jumbo set.

 

[Ring 6]

These are the areas I would be most concerned about.

CORNER. Vrabels defense plays a lot of corners. Over 3 per snap on average. It’s a base nickel with 3 corners, not the base nickel with 3 safeties we are used to. Cb3 is a full time starter.
So Gonzo, Davis and Jones are going to play basically every down. Austin is the primary backup for all 3. If anyone is injured Austin is a starter and the next guy in line will play a lot. I’m not happy with the choices for that next guy in line.

QB. Dont love Dobbs but it’s his job so cross your fingers if he’s needed

OL. It looks like we would be going into the season with a rookie backing up all 3 IOL positions followed by Robinson on the hip he doesn’t stink again, and Lowe and Wallace at OT. A couple of injuries and it might smell like 2024 again. A competent aging vet backup would make me feel better.

Most other positions that I am concerned about we have a lot of options battling for jobs and reps.

WR. 1) Diggs 3) Douglass 4) Hollins and we have Williams, Boutte, Polk, Bourne, Baker all battling for WR2. That’s a lot of guys to hope 1 emerged from.

LB. Off the ball LB Spillane starts and we have Gibbens, Mapu (I think he moves here) Tavai and Ellis competing for or sharing the spot next to him on the downs we have 2.
Edge. Landry and White are good players, but Landry can’t play every down and I think white moves inside on passing downs Chaisson and Swinson are gambles. Jennings can fill in but he can’t rush the passer. Theoretically we have names but all won’t turn out for the best.

Overall I think we filled all starting and backup roles (with the few exceptions above) with capable football players. This won’t be 2024 when pretty much every snap had a guy or guys on the field who weren’t good enough to be in an active NFL roster.

Right now there is a fine line between concern at a few spots and letting the guys we have given the role.

 

[Ring 6]

Perhaps someone will double as a FB and 3rd TE, with us carrying 10 OL, the 4th OT also taking reps as the blocking TE in a jumbo set.

There is no reason to carry 10 OL. The 9th is inactive so the 10th should be on the practice squad. With the CO’s call up rules, no reason to waste a roster spot, and our 10th OL would not be someone we worry about exposing

 

[goheels22002]

It feels different because there seems to be people who know something, doing something. If you're trying to rebuild a team, these are the steps you'd take.

They also had a ****ton of money and high draft picks. They did last year too, and blew most of the draft picks, and spent their money on their own players, who all immediately **** the bed.

I really don't want to be Mr. Negativity, and having Josh McDaniels here, knowing he was able to make Mac Jones a ****ing pro bowler, hiding his flaws from the league for most of the 2021 season, so that should help Maye dramatically. But really now, it falls on Maye to be a good decision maker.

In 2024, we saw a coaching staff full of guys who were in their first year in their specific jobs which was a strategic error by Mayo. Giving guys promotions to create a sense of gratitude to the head coach who gave them a shot at a top job only works if that person has several veterans around them.

As a former HC himself, Vrabel is confident in his role as HC with all the experienced former head coaches and coordinators around him. The offensive coaching staff is downright extraordinary. The players are going to tap into all-time great coaching trees.

McDaniels has been in the HC role twice before and is a master of the OC job with a talented QB. Doug Marrone (OL coach) has been a head coach as has Ben McAdoo (senior offensive assistant.) That's three guys on offense who have been in Vrabel's shoes. McAdoo is a great addition to the staff with the relationship he has with Marrone. Receivers room coach Thomas Brown was an OC for a bit and worked for Sean McVay, an outstanding offensive coach.

Drake Maye is a smart guy who knows he has a lot to learn to lead a winning team. He'll learn a lot from these guys and can count on Josh McDaniels to demand that the players know their roles, read what the defenses are giving them and do the little things to be successful.

I'm very optimistic about the offense taking a giant step forward this season. The Patriots are not an elite team, but they'll be competitive. I hope that one of the rookie or second year receivers steps up and delivers this year. TE, RB, and QB look good to me. It is imperative that WR group step up this year.