Milton Williams

[Ross12]

This is a homer post. We are a 4-13 team until we prove we are not. Our d-line has never played a single snap together, nor run the Vrabel system, but we are already better than Buffalo's o-line? Just stop it. The prayer, and that's all it is, is that we can be within 10 points against Buffalo. Fine on the Jets. Miami can be tough. We have to play then in FL heat. Hill just ran a 10.10 100 and you ignore Jaylen Waddle as if he is nothing. Miami is in decline, but its dumb to write then off like you do.

You’re right, none of us should make any kind of analysis or projections at all. We should just be collectively miserable and expect nothing but the worst until around November when we have a sense of what the team’s record will look like. That’s all that matters!

 

[Real fan 02]

We’ve certainly strengthened the D enormously with starting-calibre talent.

I’d just like to see a little more depth at two or three of the positions before we start screaming, ‘top 10!’.

Few examples:

NT: I like the Tonga addition as a big, run-stuffing body, and I understand it’s a position with a v limited job description. However, I think we’d be kidding ourselves if we said Tonga and Roy are the ideal pedigree as our only two real options there.

Safety: Again, we made a nice depth addition for 2025 with Epps. We may not extend him, but even if we do, between Epps, Peppers and Dugger, none of our main contenders for the safety positions will be aged under 30 going into 2026. I don’t consider Hawkins more than a depth piece, and I expect Woodson - a nice pick - to mostly compete for the nickel role.

I know we’re generally a lot deeper in the front 7. In particular, I like the Swinson pick and think he’ll develop into an effective edge. Still, I’d just like one more linebacker for depth, especially on the inside.

I know it’s about more than just personnel, and I do believe the scheme will be much improved this year. I just think top 10’s a little premature. Top 15, though? I expect so.

I believe your right. During this time frame, and I remember right at the end of camp Vrabel was saying that he's going to still be evaluating the roster. For example a guy like Hendrickson would immensely help on the edge. But the interior depth is what is most important. You have to have a good rotation of guys to consistently stress offensive lines.. as we know offensive lineman don't sub in and out they are stuck out there. Having a nice rotation on the Defensive front allows guys to stay fresher down the stretch of games and the season.. Farmer, pharms for example will play dividends to help with that.

At safety we know our two studs in Dugger and peppers. Woodson in my eyes has the best chance to potential carve out a role as the deep Safety. Epps and Hawkins are depth/ STs/ rotation guys.

Every one won't be an all pro.. but if the depth can be adequate this season then that will be the biggest benefit for the defense IMO.

 

[Real fan 02]

It is an interesting matchup against BUF defensively. The DL will likely be better than BUF’s OL, and will pressure Allen into throwing bad balls or trying to be the hero and running around. Their RBs are fine. Their WRs are decent but not scary and not much deep speed. Gonzo and Davis will be able to lock those guys down. Kincaid is a solid receiving TE, hopefully Spillane/Ellis/Dugger can hold him down.

The Jets just have… Justin Fields… and Miami has Tua hanging onto his career by a thread and a slowing-down Tyreek. The division isn’t really very scary from a defensive perspective.

Buffalo interior OL is weak.. Dawkins is there best player and he's a OT, Allen helps his OL immensely with his abilities to break outside. Absolutely correct on your assessment.

 

[imahobgoblin]

You’re right, none of us should make any kind of analysis or projections at all. We should just be collectively miserable and expect nothing but the worst until around November when we have a sense of what the team’s record will look like. That’s all that matters!

Yup the drama queens are out in full force, huh? Where did I say we have to be miserable? There is just a difference between reality and the crap you posted. I have high expectations, but they are tempered with reality that we had one of the worst rosters and coaching staff in all of football last year. It was so devoid of talent that one offseason isn't enough to fix it.

 

[imahobgoblin]

No. It’s a new season. We are an 0-0 team until we prove otherwise.

We have totally revamped the coaching staff, turned over most of the roster by adding some very talented players, and started installing new schemes on both sides of the ball. A number of the players have played together in the past, while playing for coaches on the new coaching staff. I think we can assume the coaches have a good idea of how well they’ll play together and how well they’ll do with the new schemes, or those coaches would not be betting their jobs on bringing those players that they already know in here to be the cornerstones of the rebuild. Based on all that it’s asinine to suggest that the 2025 Patriots should be tagged with last year’s record, compiled by different players under an epically bad coaching staff.

Take your own advice. Just stop it.

We turned over most of the roster in one offseason? According to my calculations, we didn't even turn over half of the roster. Lol. Where are you getting your drama queen stats? We actually have 47% turnover on the 90 man roster as of today, and that will shrink when we get to the 53.

Your second point argues against you. Two new schemes is not a good thing to begin with. It makes it much more difficult. I think the schemes will be much better once the team picks them up, but there will be growing pains. That is just common sense. Claiming that we are better because a few players/coaches know each other from other teams is just dumb.

I am not going to stop living in reality. We had one of the worst rosters in the league last year. We made great progress this offseason, but its going to take 3 offseason to get this team where it needs to be. We are not better than Buffalo. When Tua, Waddel, and Hill are on the same page, they are as dangerous as any other offense in the league. The Jets suck. I am not going to stop living in reality because you are a ridiculous drama queen. Goal 1 with this team is going 9-8 and having a winning record.

 

[n1997y]

We turned over most of the roster in one offseason? According to my calculations, we didn't even turn over half of the roster. Lol. Where are you getting your drama queen stats? We actually have 47% turnover on the 90 man roster as of today, and that will shrink when we get to the 53.

Your second point argues against you. Two new schemes is not a good thing to begin with. It makes it much more difficult. I think the schemes will be much better once the team picks them up, but there will be growing pains. That is just common sense. Claiming that we are better because a few players/coaches know each other from other teams is just dumb.

I am not going to stop living in reality. We had one of the worst rosters in the league last year. We made great progress this offseason, but its going to take 3 offseason to get this team where it needs to be. We are not better than Buffalo. When Tua, Waddel, and Hill are on the same page, they are as dangerous as any other offense in the league. The Jets suck. I am not going to stop living in reality because you are a ridiculous drama queen. Goal 1 with this team is going 9-8 and having a winning record.

I’m not the poster who made the drama queen comment.

If you can’t keep track of simple stuff like who you’re replying to how do you expect us to take your doom and gloom big picture analyses seriously?

You’re not living in reality.

I’ve already spent as much time as your posts are worth. More, really.

Bye.

 

[Huckleberry1]

You’re right, none of us should make any kind of analysis or projections at all. We should just be collectively miserable and expect nothing but the worst until around November when we have a sense of what the team’s record will look like. That’s all that matters!

Thanks Ross, now I can update my Efton Chism projections: 150 receptions, 1,800 yards, 30 touchdoens.

 

[Ross12]

Yup the drama queens are out in full force, huh? Where did I say we have to be miserable? There is just a difference between reality and the crap you posted. I have high expectations, but they are tempered with reality that we had one of the worst rosters and coaching staff in all of football last year. It was so devoid of talent that one offseason isn't enough to fix it.

I have no idea what you’re talking about. I said the DL will likely be better than Buffalo’s OL, and then a lot of “hopefully’s” in regards to other matchups. What is the problem here? Can you clarify how you have “high expectations” but also think that hoping some position groups match up well is “crap”?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I have no idea what you’re talking about. I said the DL will likely be better than Buffalo’s OL, and then a lot of “hopefully’s” in regards to other matchups. What is the problem here? Can you clarify how you have “high expectations” but also think that hoping some position groups match up well is “crap”?

Thread lightly. It might be Andy's wife.

 

[jimnance]

I have no idea what you’re talking about. I said the DL will likely be better than Buffalo’s OL, and then a lot of “hopefully’s” in regards to other matchups. What is the problem here? Can you clarify how you have “high expectations” but also think that hoping some position groups match up well is “crap”?

Save your breath. Dude is a clueless moron.
You can't say that since youre a mod but I can.
I rarely get into name- calling but in this case it's warranted.

 

[imahobgoblin]

I’m not the poster who made the drama queen comment.

If you can’t keep track of simple stuff like who you’re replying to how do you expect us to take your doom and gloom big picture analyses seriously?

You’re not living in reality.

I’ve already spent as much time as your posts are worth. More, really.

Bye.

You posted a bunch of drama crap and you have no idea that you even did it. Hahaha.

 

[imahobgoblin]

I have no idea what you’re talking about. I said the DL will likely be better than Buffalo’s OL, and then a lot of “hopefully’s” in regards to other matchups. What is the problem here? Can you clarify how you have “high expectations” but also think that hoping some position groups match up well is “crap”?

Ya that is my point. You have no idea. Period. Its just so stupid at this point. My expectations are that we don't have an idiot as a coach and a winning record is possible. I can't fix the foolishness of some fans though.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Thread lightly. It might be Andy's wife.

Oh heck no.

 

[n1997y]

Save your breath. Dude is a clueless moron.
You can't say that since youre a mod but I can.
I rarely get into name- calling but in this case it's warranted.

I muted their thread so I wouldn’t have to waste time reading any more of their crap.

Looks like that mute function does not work the way I’d like. It apparently muted both their posts and Ross’s response, because I didn’t see his response and cannot load it from the link in your response.

I would like the function to just mute posts from the individual that drove me to muting, but not responses to those posts from others. I’ll have to ask Ian to see if it can be tweaked. I’m guessing not easily but worth asking.

Might have to rethink and just block that individual entirely.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I think that "dude", is actually a woman....
Hence the Andy's wife comment.

 

[TheRainMaker]

As much as the potential is there, Williams will have a lot of pressure on him. One concern is whether Williams is product of Fangio and/or surrounding players last year. He's been a rotational guy his entire career before 2024 with the Eagles and nobody has ever heard of him until the playoffs came around. They've used multiple 1st round picks on the DL to keep it that way with him.

Now he's the 3rd highest paid interior lineman per year, 3rd in fully guarantees and 6th in total guarantees. Like Trey Flowers was in Detroit getting one of the highest contracts for a DE at the time in 2019, he will be under a microscope in Boston.

 

[dliverey44]

I think White was dominant in Game 1 and saw double teams the rest of the year. Hard to produce against consistent double teams, and White is not that good. But straight up 1-on-1, White will excel because he can't be double teamed with Milton and Barmore around. I don't think that is disappointing.

I think Milton will play more DE, and White will be a DT next to Barmore.

I agree that they will switch DE/DT often. The mismatches in the front 7 are going to be crazy.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I agree that they will switch DE/DT often. The mismatches in the front 7 are going to be crazy.

Let's hope it works. It would be incredibly disrupted - I think it will surprise people. Pretty well balanced defense.

Have to see how the offense develops being a new scheme but McD is good at tailoring to talent.

 

[patfanken]

As much as the potential is there, Williams will have a lot of pressure on him. One concern is whether Williams is product of Fangio and/or surrounding players last year. He's been a rotational guy his entire career before 2024 with the Eagles and nobody has ever heard of him until the playoffs came around. They've used multiple 1st round picks on the DL to keep it that way with him.

Now he's the 3rd highest paid interior lineman per year, 3rd in fully guarantees and 6th in total guarantees. Like Trey Flowers was in Detroit getting one of the highest contracts for a DE at the time in 2019, he will be under a microscope in Boston.

Well the good news is, he is not exactly surrounded by duds here. Barmore, Young, and Landry will headline 3 other forces who will take a LOT of pressure off of William, or visa versa. If Williams become the focus of opposing OL's, the other good players on the Pats DL will see a LOT of single team protections.

Also we have a bunch of very young players who have a chance to develop into solid depth pieces over the course of the season. On paper at least, the Pats DL has a chance (along with the CB's) to be one of the 2 strongest units on the team.

 

[Ross12]

I muted their thread so I wouldn’t have to waste time reading any more of their crap.

Looks like that mute function does not work the way I’d like. It apparently muted both their posts and Ross’s response, because I didn’t see his response and cannot load it from the link in your response.

I would like the function to just mute posts from the individual that drove me to muting, but not responses to those posts from others. I’ll have to ask Ian to see if it can be tweaked. I’m guessing not easily but worth asking.

Might have to rethink and just block that individual entirely.

I think the point of the tool is that if you are muting someone then you don't want to read what they have to say, which would include other folks' posts which quote that person. If you mute someone but still have to see their posts because people reply to them, it's not solving much for you. But I do understand your position.