This same time last year...

[Real fan 02]

Is it fair to say this is the most optimism going into a season since Brady was here?

I suppose 2021 was optimistic as well.

2021.. with the FA additions I could probably say we had high optimism. We won like what 7 or 8 games in a row and at one point we had the 1#seed in the AFC. We know how that season crashed and burned.

 

[jlu52]

Last year at this time, heck I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning. Did I have breakfast? I am, however, looking forward to all things New England Patriots this season. I'm particularly pleased with what has been accomplished thus far, looking forward to a good team developing.

 

[Real fan 02]

Last year at this time, heck I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning. Did I have breakfast? I am, however, looking forward to all things New England Patriots this season. I'm particularly pleased with what has been accomplished thus far, looking forward to a good team developing.

Well..last year during camp..can remember how fast my Optimism faded as soon at it was announced Brissett was the starting QB..

 

[Rob0729]

I had very little expectations last year. A new head coach with no head coaching experience. A back up QB as the annointed day one starter. No talent on offense. A coaching staff with little experience. Very few additions in free agency. My only hope was that it was year one of a new rebuild and they would show improvement and that they were heading in the right direction. I had some optimism for it, but I don't know if I was super convinced that the Pats would be significantly better.

I was far higher on the defense than they performed based on the prior year's performance. I don't know if the offense underperformed my expectations by nearly as much although I expected better. Mayo was far worse than I expected. I expected for him to have growing pains, but he clearly wasn't ready for the role he was given. I still think he could turn into a good head coach in the future, but he has a long way to go before he is ready for anothe shot.

 

[DarrylS]

Correct me if I am wrong, but seem to remember that Mayo had difficulty assembling quality staff.. so he was left with slim pickings.
Thought last years coaching all around sucked and was not NFL quality, fast forward to this year and this team's leadership is rife with proven talent.. Marrone as line coach and McDaniels as OC alone are huge upgrades from last year.

 

[Triumph]

It still boggles my mind that Jerod Mayo was actually hired as an NFL head coach. I’ve never seen worse leadership. Thank goodness Kraft saw how horrible of a mistake that was and fired him immediately after the 2024 season ended. I’m extremely thankful that Vrabel is now the Patriots Head Coach.

If Bob made the HOF Mayo would still be here.

Bob knew that Mayo never led people at the DC position before giving him the whole team.

 

[Rob0729]

Correct me if I am wrong, but seem to remember that Mayo had difficulty assembling quality staff.. so he was left with slim pickings.
Thought last years coaching all around sucked and was not NFL quality, fast forward to this year and this team's leadership is rife with proven talent.. Marrone as line coach and McDaniels as OC alone are huge upgrades from last year.

I think AVP was something like the 6th choice. They wanted Nick Caley, but I think the way he was treated here with Belichick (denied being able to follow McDaniels to Las Vegas and then putting Matt Patricia over him at OC) soured him on coming back along with staying with McVey got him a better gig as the OC in Houston with CJ Stroud.

 

[Thelonious]

I worried at this point last year that Mayo was a classic "what a nice guy" mistake, and I said so. I was right. We wasted a year on that BS; now we are back on track. Another couple of years we will be a genuinely competitive team. I think any more optimistic a take is understandable, from an emotional perspective, but delusional.

 

[Real fan 02]

I think AVP was something like the 6th choice. They wanted Nick Caley, but I think the way he was treated here with Belichick (denied being able to follow McDaniels to Las Vegas and then putting Matt Patricia over him at OC) soured him on coming back along with staying with McVey got him a better gig as the OC in Houston with CJ Stroud.

Agreed, and on Caley he refused the OC job here as reportedly BB wouldn't give hint the title of OC. Yes he's landed on his feet in Houston AVP got a senior offensive assistant job with McVay right?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Yes! Mayo skipped the line. What it takes to become a HC in the NFL, what he truly should have done and I'm sure he likely feels as though he should have. Was take one of the many opportunities he had to go elsewhere and become a DC. He chose to stay and wasn't ready at the very least.

FWIW, the original plan was to have Belichick retire after the 2024 season, and for him to mentor Mayo in '23 and '24. I think if the original plan had held, Mayo's first season (which would've been this year) might have gone better than last year turned out. [Although, of course, it's not clear WTF Mayo would've had to work with at QB.]

 

[Vindicate]

You aren't wrong. I mean look at Diggs. That was an issue the local media was salivating over, yet another chance to degrade a local team that pays their salaries. Instead of Mayo tripping over his shoelaces, Vrabel was able to nip it because A) he isn't a dummy and B) players across the league respect the hell out of him.

My guess is the football in 10 days will be a breath of fresh air.

This was an issue with Mayo and kinda an indicator of everything. To put it bluntly, how can I trust you to build a defense when you're getting caught off guard in interviews, one of the easiest defenses you'll mount all season: say as little as possible and move along. The time to talk about issues is when you can both teach the team through mistakes AND use the negative media to galvanize your team.

Mayo spent too much time away from football for his own good to come back as a HC with no experience. He carried over the mannerisms of a corporate setting, which prioritizes narrative and fake smiles.

 

[Pape]

... as soon at it was announced Brissett was the starting QB..

i knew we were going to suck when this was announced... and said so.

i was hoping Mayo would be a decent coach... that turned out to be a wasted hope.

This year? hope springs eternal

 

[Ring 6]

With camp next week on Wednesday. I can remember entering training camp at this time. First time Head Coach, a new GM, A first Time OC and DC, with a rookie QB. Unstable OL.

The uncertainty we all had as fans, I personally had some optimism however it quickly faded.

The contract dispute with Judon, the double speak from Mayo, Wolf and the organization just so many blunders. Now we have proven winners. Championship pedigree coaches back in Foxborough, as well as an upgraded roster. I know our wonderful Mods will put up the official training camp thread..however I want to hear the thoughts on my fellow posters on how they feel heading into camp this year, as opposed to last season.

Post your thoughts!

I knew before camp we were screwed.
2 main arguments being had we 1) I expected the defense to fall apart. 2) I wanted Maye to play week 1 because it was going to be a lost season so every possible snap was an opportunity to get him experience and that was the most important thing.

My biggest worry going into last year was that we would win a few games with lucky bounces or the other team choking and it would trick Kraft into thinking we were headed in the right direction.

 

[Real fan 02]

i knew we were going to suck when this was announced... and said so.

i was hoping Mayo would be a decent coach... that turned out to be a wasted hope.

This year? hope springs eternal

Pape I do remember us all talking about Brissett when he was announced as starting QB.. I tried to convince myself ah he's a veteran, he knows AVPs system, he can nurture your Drake.. boy was i wrong.

 

[Pape]

FWIW, the original plan was to have Belichick retire after the 2024 season, and for him to mentor Mayo in '23 and '24. I think if the original plan had held, Mayo's first season (which would've been this year) might have gone better than last year turned out. [Although, of course, it's not clear WTF Mayo would've had to work with at QB.]

there was no way BB would have prepped Mayo to replace him...

Steve? absolutely
Fat Matt? probably

but he would have done it at his own pace, not on a Kraft defined time line

 

[Real fan 02]

there was no way BB would have prepped Mayo to replace him...

Steve? absolutely
Fat Matt? probably

but he would have done it at his own past, not on a Kraft defined time line

And to that point is why BB and Mayo's relationship is non existent.. case and point.. BB raved about the hiring of Vrabel.. shows the level of respect the more you think about it Mayo likely duped RK into giving him the clause.

 

[Real fan 02]

Not to rehash.. but the 2022 and 2023 seasons missing the playoffs gave RK the reasons he was looking for to move on.. that is where I believe he convinced himself. I also believe he gave Mayo every chance.. but finally accepted he made a mistake.

there was no way BB would have prepped Mayo to replace him...

Steve? absolutely
Fat Matt? probably

but he would have done it at his own past, not on a Kraft defined time line

 

[Tunescribe]

With camp next week on Wednesday. I can remember entering training camp at this time. First time Head Coach, a new GM, A first Time OC and DC, with a rookie QB. Unstable OL.

The uncertainty we all had as fans, I personally had some optimism however it quickly faded.

The contract dispute with Judon, the double speak from Mayo, Wolf and the organization just so many blunders. Now we have proven winners. Championship pedigree coaches back in Foxborough, as well as an upgraded roster. I know our wonderful Mods will put up the official training camp thread..however I want to hear the thoughts on my fellow posters on how they feel heading into camp this year, as opposed to last season.

Post your thoughts!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

And to that point is why BB and Mayo's relationship is non existent.. case and point.. BB raved about the hiring of Vrabel.. shows the level of respect the more you think about it Mayo likely duped RK into giving him the clause.

TBF, I don't think there was either true stupidity on Kraft's part or malice on Mayo's.

I think it was a case where Kraft had a sincere belief that he would (or at least could) be a good head coach, and simply failed to think through all of the consequences of his plans when they started to go pear-shaped.

On the flip side, I think Mayo simply was in over his head, and thought that he had a mulligan when he hadn't quite earned one.

 

[jimnance]

I'm not interested in looking back at last year.
All I know is I'm very excited about the upcoming season.
Back to playing competitive football.
Can't wait