PATRIOTS NEWS OTA's

[Real fan 02]

This team is improved, but there is not a lot of depth behind the starters, at least some of whom are likely - given the way these things go - not to pan out. This is going to multiply the adverse effects of injuries and of the predictable busts. I doubt this has been factored into the thinking of those predicting double-digit wins. I think this season will have a lot of ups and downs as all these projects and prospects find their way onto the field.

I don't think there is anything wrong with this, because I think a lot these newbies really do have sound upside potential. There will be some happy surprises, I think, to go with the unhappy ones. I expect improvement, but I don't expect miracles. In my mind, the team, aside from obtaining Drake Maye, made little progress in the Mayo year; and in the few years previous, with Bill's decline into weird, random incompetence, the team had fallen to the very bottom of the league rosterwise and culturally. Given this, even an optimistic take suggests that there is at least one more year of the rebuild-to-competitiveness, and maybe another year more before the team is a legit contender for the Lombardi.

If they win seven or eight games this year, I'll be fine with that. If they win double-digit games, I'll be surprised and happy about it, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect it. I am optimistic in that I expect genuine, significant progress, but there's still a lot to do. So we are about where we ought to be, and we haven't really been able to say that for while. So that's my version of "optimism."

Good post Thelonious..

I'd add there is substantial depth added this season behind the starters.. Vrabel was adamant this off season about ensuring depth was up to parr especially on the D line.. Pharms, Tonga, to name a few are good depth guys on the line.

 

[Brotherblues]

This team is improved, but there is not a lot of depth behind the starters, at least some of whom are likely - given the way these things go - not to pan out. This is going to multiply the adverse effects of injuries and of the predictable busts. I doubt this has been factored into the thinking of those predicting double-digit wins. I think this season will have a lot of ups and downs as all these projects and prospects find their way onto the field.

I don't think there is anything wrong with this, because I think a lot these newbies really do have sound upside potential. There will be some happy surprises, I think, to go with the unhappy ones. I expect improvement, but I don't expect miracles. In my mind, the team, aside from obtaining Drake Maye, made little progress in the Mayo year; and in the few years previous, with Bill's decline into weird, random incompetence, the team had fallen to the very bottom of the league rosterwise and culturally. Given this, even an optimistic take suggests that there is at least one more year of the rebuild-to-competitiveness, and maybe another year more before the team is a legit contender for the Lombardi.

If they win seven or eight games this year, I'll be fine with that. If they win double-digit games, I'll be surprised and happy about it, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect it. I am optimistic in that I expect genuine, significant progress, but there's still a lot to do. So we are about where we ought to be, and we haven't really been able to say that for while. So that's my version of "optimism."

Give an average team a super easy schedule, and there's a strong likelyhood it performs modestly above average. Winning 10 games doesn't make you a bonafide contender. It makes you 10-7, which is in fact modestly above average.

I wouldn't go as far as saying I expect 10 wins or bust, but I sure would not be surprised.

 

[The Gr8est]

Good post Thelonious..

I'd add there is substantial depth added this season behind the starters.. Vrabel was adamant this off season about ensuring depth was up to parrot especially on the D line.. Pharms, Tonga, to name a few are good depth guys on the line.

Parrot?

Does autocorrect know something we don’t?

 

[40yrpatsfan]

When I put on the rose colored glasses and count 10 wins, it's putting aside the injury factor, and also the fact that a couple of these bad teams on our schedule will probably improve and not be pushovers.

 

[jlu52]

Parrot?

Does autocorrect know something we don’t?

"Polly want a lot of 3 and outs on D"

 

[The Gr8est]

"Polly want a lot of 3 and outs on D"

AND a cracker.

 

[Thelonious]

Give an average team a super easy schedule, and there's a strong likelyhood it performs modestly above average. Winning 10 games doesn't make you a bonafide contender. It makes you 10-7, which is in fact modestly above average.

I wouldn't go as far as saying I expect 10 wins or bust, but I sure would not be surprised.

I'd be surprised, but I wouldn't be shocked to see double-digit wins. You make a good point I had not considered re the schedule, which does look, at this point anyway, to be pretty advantageous.

 

[Thelonious]

Good post Thelonious..

I'd add there is substantial depth added this season behind the starters.. Vrabel was adamant this off season about ensuring depth was up to parrot especially on the D line.. Pharms, Tonga, to name a few are good depth guys on the line.

There is depth. The actual quality of that depth will reveal itself over time, but I'm pretty optimistic about the options we have. The draft looked really good, UDFA group looks surprisingly good, and the veterans they have taken on do as well. Though I am wary of expecting double-digit wins, I haven't on balance been this optimistic in a few years. I'm looking forward to the pre-season games. They should be fascinating this year. And the further we get from the Mayo interlude, the more convinced I am that his firing was classic addition-by-subtraction. I hope he's not too hurt by what went down, but he did have to go.

 

[signbabybrady]

There is depth. The actual quality of that depth will reveal itself over time, but I'm pretty optimistic about the options we have. The draft looked really good, UDFA group looks surprisingly good, and the veterans they have taken on do as well. Though I am wary of expecting double-digit wins, I haven't on balance been this optimistic in a few years. I'm looking forward to the pre-season games. They should be fascinating this year. And the further we get from the Mayo interlude, the more convinced I am that his firing was classic addition-by-subtraction. I hope he's not too hurt by what went down, but he did have to go.

I agree with this. I do think double digits is possible given strength of schedule ultimately clear improvement can come in many forms that may not directly mean more than double last year's wins.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

Diggs sighting during OTA’s

 

[Dec54]

I see your point. What if Diggs isn’t ready? Boutte gets injured? We are relying on a rookie and Hollins at that point on the outside. To me…7.7m is worth it for 2025.

What if, perhaps, might be. who knows........Christel ball time.

 

[Real fan 02]

There is depth. The actual quality of that depth will reveal itself over time, but I'm pretty optimistic about the options we have. The draft looked really good, UDFA group looks surprisingly good, and the veterans they have taken on do as well. Though I am wary of expecting double-digit wins, I haven't on balance been this optimistic in a few years. I'm looking forward to the pre-season games. They should be fascinating this year. And the further we get from the Mayo interlude, the more convinced I am that his firing was classic addition-by-subtraction. I hope he's not too hurt by what went down, but he did have to go.

Due to a number of favorable factors.. this season sets up well for them. Upgrade at basically the entire coaching staff, skill positions, defense of course and I don't want to say easy But it seems like they wont have such a daunting schedule. I feel like with all the positive factors they could be a double digit win team. Mayo i like the person.. he just was in over his head as a HC.

 

[Real fan 02]

Parrot?

Does autocorrect know something we don’t?

Greatest,

Thank you for that.. LOL.. typo error..

 

[Real fan 02]

"Polly want a lot of 3 and outs on D"

Me too

 

[Dec54]

Boutte is a good receiver. He’s ascending. First year meh, second year much improved and had chemistry with Maye. Unless he really ****s the bed in camp and pre season, I can’t see him being cut. He’s shown he has talent and can play in this league.

Top post scott99, I think Boutte has a great upside I have said so lots of times before. As an aside I think Baker could make it also.

 

[Real fan 02]

I don't think Hollins will be making the Patriots Great again.

Well have to look into the big beautiful, crystal ball

 

[Real fan 02]

Their will be some upset posters here when Boutte and possibly Bourne make the 53.

KB already knows Josh offense he has the biggest advantage IMO.. along with rham and Henry.. as well as Hollins.

 

[Real fan 02]

I agree with this. I do think double digits is possible given strength of schedule ultimately clear improvement can come in many forms that may not directly mean more than double last year's wins.

Agreed.. I don't think it's a reach at all to say this team will/could be a double digit win teams. Nonetheless I have them being in every single game.. no one is dominating them. The trenches have been vastly improved. The coaching is elite.

 

[dliverey44]

What's 17 minus14..?

 

[patchick]

It seems every preseason there is a player who gets a lot of run, especially at RB or WR who fans assume and insist will make the roster but who inevitably get cut. Cam Meredith, Bam Childress, Lynn Bowden … the list is long.

Fans forget coaches are often giving these players reps to keep their star players healthy and fresh.

And for some counterexamples, Jacobi Myers, Julian Edelman, JC Jackson, Malcolm Butler… that list is long too. Camp phenoms don’t always pan out, but their hit rate is MUCH higher than late round/UDFA rookies who don’t impress fans in camp. You really can learn things from watching TC practices, which is what makes it fun.