Content Post Idle thoughts: the "NEXT" edition.

[FoxboroFan23]

He leads the team in targets. He also plays about 50% of the snaps.

And? We should still throw Diggs the ball more. Our offense is good. It could be better. We should discuss how to make it better.

I would love to get the running game going more but barring an improvement to the starting OL I don't see the running game having a significant change in performance.

Do you have any thoughts on how we could improve the offense?

 

[Gumby]

Well don't hold back list them. Also list what starting caliber players are on the market at those positions.

Hoist by your own petard…..

Philthadelphia says AB is not for sale.

Eagles' Stance On AJ Brown Trade Rumors Revealed.

 

[TommyD4207]

And? We should still throw Diggs the ball more. Our offense is good. It could be better. We should discuss how to make it better.

I would love to get the running game going more but barring an improvement to the starting OL I don't see the running game having a significant change in performance.

Do you have any thoughts on how we could improve the offense?

Do more gap-scheme running like they did to start last week.

Having Onwenu and Moses trying to get out on outside zone runs, which is really what McDaniels wants to do, I think, has been a pretty spectacular failure. They still have to do it sometimes, but they need to transition to a more power-run scheme as the season goes on. Not only does that benefit Onwenu and Moses, but Stevenson too. I think the reason they're still trying to establish zone concepts in the run game is because it's easier to do from shotgun a) and b) it's easier to disguise and c) something rookies Campbell and Wilson are far more used to.

I'd also like to see some more RPO to start drives, hit the slot on a slant once in a while against those 8 man boxes.

Other than that, there's not a lot to improve upon, other than hoping the line continues to get better in pass protection.

I'd like to see Henderson get more involved in space as well, but I'm starting to think that McDaniels is holding that back a little bit.

It's the #2 pass offense in the league, and they're top-10 in scoring, top-half in the red zone. I don't really see a big deficiency. But in terms of overall improvement, there's going to be a hard ceiling until they get some real players on the right side of that line.

 

[patchick]

But speaking of that competition percentage to Diggs it's strongly suggests we should throw Diggs the ball more often.

That's something that actually impressed me looking at the stats. Diggs actually has by far the highest target total on the team, despite Henry and Boutte playing a lot more snaps. I think they're still limiting Diggs' action due to his injury recovery, but he's playing lights out when he's on the field.

In fact, I just ran some numbers. Check this out:

Stephon Diggs has .19 receptions per snap.
NFL receptions leader Ja'Marr Chase has .14 receptions per snap

 

[TommyD4207]

Hoist by your own petard…..

Philthadelphia says AB is not for sale.

Eagles' Stance On AJ Brown Trade Rumors Revealed.

This was always the most likely outcome.

 

[FoxboroFan23]

Yes I expected as much. Teams generally don't give up starters when they are trying to win a Super Bowl. But it was in the news so it was worth discussing.

As I said to Ken I would be very interested in trading for quality players at other positions of need. I am unaware of any available.

Hoist by your own petard…..

Philthadelphia says AB is not for sale.

Eagles' Stance On AJ Brown Trade Rumors Revealed.

 

[FoxboroFan23]

That's something that actually impressed me looking at the stats. Diggs actually has by far the highest target total on the team, despite Henry and Boutte playing a lot more snaps. I think they're still limiting Diggs' action due to his injury recovery, but he's playing lights out when he's on the field.

In fact, I just ran some numbers. Check this out:

Stephon Diggs has .19 receptions per snap.
NFL receptions leader Ja'Marr Chase has .14 receptions per snap

I think you're right about wanting to limit work load as he recovers from injury. Hopefully by playoff time he is ready for more snaps. That would be a nice boost to the offense heading into the playoffs. Don't sleep on this team.

 

[Thelonious]

Though the rebuild is well under way, further advanced than I have expected, for sure, I think it is still too early to waste assets on ANY short-term "proven player" at any position, wide receiver included. The problem with "proven" players is that such proof can only be accomplished over time, which inescapably means that such players are older, typically somewhat past their prime and on a downward arc, but still commanding a hefty, full salary. A team which remains still in all likelihood a year or so away from what I would call full competitiveness, a team with a roster this thin. should not waste resources, certainly not draft resources, on such players, however pleasing that might be to some impatient fans.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Not really, no. I'd like another body, and that should be White, but he's a zombie at this point.

As far as 'lack of pass rush'...I don't see what you see, I guess. I see a damn good pass rush, especially up the middle.

I see the same from the interior, but the outside rush needs improvement imho.
I’ve lost all hope for White, and I was a big supporter.
I really watched him Sunday and he was god awful.

 

[TommyD4207]

I see the same from the interior, but the outside rush needs improvement imho.
I’ve lost all hope for White, and I was a big supporter.
I really watched him Sunday and he was god awful.

Thankfully my binky has been stepping it up. He's really taking to coaching.

 

[FoxboroFan23]

Do more gap-scheme running like they did to start last week.

Having Onwenu and Moses trying to get out on outside zone runs, which is really what McDaniels wants to do, I think, has been a pretty spectacular failure. They still have to do it sometimes, but they need to transition to a more power-run scheme as the season goes on. Not only does that benefit Onwenu and Moses, but Stevenson too. I think the reason they're still trying to establish zone concepts in the run game is because it's easier to do from shotgun a) and b) it's easier to disguise and c) something rookies Campbell and Wilson are far more used to.

I'd also like to see some more RPO to start drives, hit the slot on a slant once in a while against those 8 man boxes.

Other than that, there's not a lot to improve upon, other than hoping the line continues to get better in pass protection.

I'd like to see Henderson get more involved in space as well, but I'm starting to think that McDaniels is holding that back a little bit.

It's the #2 pass offense in the league, and they're top-10 in scoring, top-half in the red zone. I don't really see a big deficiency. But in terms of overall improvement, there's going to be a hard ceiling until they get some real players on the right side of that line.

Right on. I agree things are going well! I just find discussing how we can improve to be a very interesting topic. Hope it doesn't come across as I think the team sucks. On the contrary I am very optimistic about this team.

One thought I have is that the Pats telegraph plays too much. Orlovsky had a breakdown showing if Maye was under center it's a run and if he's in shotgun it's a pass. That was a couple weeks ago, not sure if things have changed or not.

Couple that with who's on the field at WR (if Diggs is in, it's a pass.... if Hollins is in, it's likely a run) and I think we could improve the offense simply by better disguising our intentions.

 

[TommyD4207]

Right on. I agree things are going well! I just find discussing how we can improve to be a very interesting topic. Hope it doesn't come across as I think the team sucks. On the contrary I am very optimistic about this team.

One thought I have is that the Pats telegraph plays too much. Orlovsky had a breakdown showing if Maye was under center it's a run and if he's in shotgun it's a pass. That was a couple weeks ago, not sure if things have changed or not.

Couple that with who's on the field at WR (if Diggs is in, it's a pass.... if Hollins is in, it's likely a run) and I think we could improve the offense simply by better disguising our intentions.

This has always, unfortunately, been a fair criticism of Josh McDaniels. Whether it's personnel groupings or alignments, his tendencies have usually been pretty easy to read. This goes back to the 2010s Brady teams.

Now, that said, McDaniels has shown me a lot, breaking tendencies in key moments in some of these games a couple of times, and I really feel like the entire coaching staff is taking a long-view rather than a game-to-game view of things.

The other thing to consider is the youth in key positions on that offense. In a lot of cases, we should be happy these guys have their cleats tied, never mind producing at a pretty high level for stretches.

I don't have any insider knowledge on this or anything, but I think after Week 1, Vrabel met with Josh, and talked him into this more long-term approach. It's been a night-and-day difference in the operation since then.

 

[mgteich]

I like the way Elliss is pushing back on that.
Steel sharpens steel.

Elliss is earning his reps, just as Vrabel wants.

Yes, we want an ILB who can rush the passer, be great against the run and can be a great in coverage.

In the meantime, this reality, we have a really great run Defense with Spillane, Gibben and Elliss in the middle, and with Tavai as a fine backup.

 

[mgteich]

No concern at Edge?
That is #1 for me.
Our lack of pass rush in obv passing situations is a big concern for me.
We have been good at times, but reinforcement there would be a definite target for me.

My "concern" on the edge is to keep Landry and Chaisson heathy.

I would not pay a lot for a substitute.

I agree that we are always looking for a quality EDGE rusher. And yes, Vrabel might be able to trade a 6th to upgrade Jennings. That's fine if the contract is through 2027.

I think that White will stay. Like Mapu, he has enough talent for Vrabel to find a role for him. To be clear, I prefer a healthy White to Jennings or Ponder. Vrabel has already brought in another OLB to compete for emergency backup reps.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

My "concern" on the edge is to keep Landry and Chaisson heathy.

I would not pay a lot for a substitute.

I agree that we are always looking for a quality EDGE rusher. And yes, Vrabel might be able to trade a 6th to upgrade Jennings. That's fine if the contract is through 2027.

I think that White will stay. Like Mapu, he has enough talent for Vrabel to find a role for him. To be clear, I prefer a healthy White to Jennings or Ponder. Vrabel has already brought in another OLB to compete for emergency backup reps.

White has shown nothing this year. I was a big supporter of his the past couple of years and really thought he was going to be a player, but he’s regressed.
At this point I would rather get Swinson on the roster and see what he’s got.

 

[Thelonious]

White has shown nothing this year. I was a big supporter of his the past couple of years and really thought he was going to be a player, but he’s regressed.
At this point I would rather get Swinson on the roster and see what he’s got.

He gets how to get where he's going, but he doesn't get where he's suppose to go. Hopefully Henderson isn't cut from similar cloth.

 

[PatsFan2]

White has shown nothing this year. I was a big supporter of his the past couple of years and really thought he was going to be a player, but he’s regressed.
At this point I would rather get Swinson on the roster and see what he’s got.

I hope nobody signs him off our PS. Still wonder Jack Westover is on the active Roster.

 

[mgteich]

White has shown nothing this year. I was a big supporter of his the past couple of years and really thought he was going to be a player, but he’s regressed.
At this point I would rather get Swinson on the roster and see what he’s got.

OK, you disagree with the assessment and evaluation of Vrabel and the staff. That's fine.

For many posters, bring in an untested rookie is the answer to a veteran who hasn't found his role in a new system. I get it.
===========
THE VRABEL AND STAFF, WHEN WHITE IS HEALTHY
1) Jennings gets almost no reps and is sometimes inactive.
2) Ponder gets no reps and is sometimes inactive
3) Swinson isn't worth elevating. Jennings, Ponder and someone off the streets this week are all ahead of him. Swinson isn't even worth elevating.

 

[Ring 6]

And I appreciate that, just haven't gotten a chance to respond yet, but without getting too into the weeds, I reject the premise that the Pats have one of the better WR rooms in the league.

You also phrase the argument in an inaccurate fashion. You spoke as if we were replacing Diggs or Boutte when the whole idea is to add to those players. Not replace them.

Question for you... what do you think of the Patriots chances in the post season? You seem pretty bullish on the team, as am I. Any chance they win the AFC? I don't think it's out of the question.

You can reject whatever you want, but facts are facts.
On the field with real production it has been one of the best in the league, and there really is no counter argument to that.

Wrong. I showed the production of the current WRs which is better than Browns. You can’t put him on the field without taking someone away.

Of course there is a chance. Who scares you? No one has shown they can stop Maye and they just keep expanding him week after week.
The defense concerns me sometimes but they are #5 in the league and are the type of defense that fits this era. You can make plays but we are gonna make one that disrupts you and stops your drive too.
Once you get to the post season anything can happen, and with this schedule we have a good shot at a high seed.

 

[Ring 6]

It's never gonna be exactly the same situation. Another discrepancy would be QB play. Maye is currently in the running for MVP. Brady was never considered an MVP in that year.

But speaking of that competition percentage to Diggs it's strongly suggests we should throw Diggs the ball more often.

This is where analysis becomes paralysis.
Maye is making excellent decisions about where to throw the ball. Because of that and his accuracy he is completing a ridiculously high percentage of his passes and your conclusion is he should change his decision making and throw to Diggs when he doesn’t think he’s open because when he is open he completes most of them.
This is the same as saying our best yards per rush is running to the left C gap, so we should only run to the left C gap.