Content Post Idle thoughts: the "one-step back" edition

[imahobgoblin]

Hello Rico Dowdle.

 

[patfanken]

We are really in the first part of the rebuild since we only have 2 members from the 24 draft. Granted getting an elite QB might make it worth it, the loss of shear numbers hurts our depth and made us add more FAs to up grade the roster. We need 2 more drafts that are 80% as good as this one to complete the rebuild.

(very doubtful we can equal what we did this year, especially since we will be picking 22-26 picks lower in each round.)

 

[Mike the Brit]

That's probably, expressions of frustration aside, what I am looking for. Until this conversation, all I've heard are excuses for the guy. If the notion he cannot be part of a fully competitive roster is in place, I suppose that's enough, for now.

15 posts to show that you blame the running back when the offensive line can't block. Carry on.

 

[Thelonious]

15 posts to show that you blame the running back when the offensive line can't block. Carry on.

I haven't said a word about the O-line. They can't block, and Rhamondre can't run. A perfect match. Prance off.

 

[n1997y]

I haven't said a word about the O-line. They can't block, and Rhamondre can't run. A perfect match. Prance off.

I think that was Mike’s point. You haven’t missed an opportunity to bash Stevenson but you haven’t said one word about the OL even though they’re usually not opening holes for Henderson either.

 

[Thelonious]

I think that was Mike’s point. You haven’t missed an opportunity to bash Stevenson but you haven’t said one word about the OL even though they’re usually not opening holes for Henderson either.

I was discussing Rhamondre. My posts, I think, run a little long as it is, without undertaking a comprehensive analysis of the entire team as added baggage each post. There is no question the O-line is not great at pass blocking, that they are as a group not very physically imposing and that that affects the running game, but that is not a sufficient excuse for his dismal performance over at least the last two years as a runner. He simply has not shown the consistency of performance one needs as a lead back,a level of performance consistent with his compensation. For whatever reason, he has been getting the "he's a nice guy" exemption for a while now and I think it's time for that to come to an end. You know: what's best for the team and all. I frankly care about this somewhat less than the duration of the discussion might seem to suggest, but I suppose that in the usual testosterone fug in which sports talk transpires,we all want to get in the last word and pee just a little higher up that pole.

 

[Real fan 02]

Stevenson only got like 12-15 snaps. He lost his starting job.

Plus they are easing him back in management of that TT...

 

[Real fan 02]

I think that was Mike’s point. You haven’t missed an opportunity to bash Stevenson but you haven’t said one word about the OL even though they’re usually not opening holes for Henderson either.

We are and excellent 3rd down offense in 3rd and long.. amongst the worst in short yardage..

 

[n1997y]

…but I suppose that in the usual testosterone fug in which sports talk transpires,we all want to get in the last word and pee just a little higher up that pole.

Just make sure you are on the upwind side when engaging in urinary Olympics!

 

[Ring 6]

We are and excellent 3rd down offense in 3rd and long.. amongst the worst in short yardage..

That’s not true.

 

[Toofy]

If someone fails to pick up the blitz and God forbid ! Maye gets injured we all would start losing our marbles.

That's the value of stevenson . I get it he is not doing great . But let's note even Henderson is struggling to hit the I side gaps.

Stevenson is coming from an injury and also mentally shot with the number of fumbles . So his adjustment towards protection is impacting his ability to grab on contact which is vital for a RB.

We will not get better backups this year and I think his ability as a passing back or ability to pick blitzes and be a blocker is worth a roster spot. We don't have a good fullback nor a very good blocking TE.

Our incomplete roster needs some bits and pieces players with pats experience and rham fills the void .

He knows deep within that he might not be in the plans for future . At some point a cornered tiger attacks or does fighting .

Let's hope it's the case of former. Lot of players will be fighting for their life i.e next big contract . So I expect to see an added impetus and much improved play from stevenson , lowe and others.

Especially when rest of NFL is flawed, we. An win with some consistency and fire in belly.

The Bengals defense wa stopping king Henry yesterday . That's how stout they have started playing . Let's keep that in perspective . We have the worst running offense because of our oline. Unless they improve, blaming rham is pointless. Rham doesn't run on the side zones
He is not that quick like pop or henderson


We need the inside gap run to keep defenses honest . And sprinkle the zone runs now and then . Defenses will start to reduce loading up the box and once I. A while the inside gap will open and you will start seeing the big runs.

When you polish a diamond , you don't taste success immediately. It requires multiple hits before you find em and polish em. Same here . Keep grinding till defenses wear down and open side zone runs and eventually open up inside gaps too.

I am sure Josh is holding back a ton of plays for the post season .

 

[VJCPatriot]

2. Let's get to the injuries. Looks like Campbell suffered an ACL. If it's something less than that and there is a possibility he can make it back for the playoffs, I'd be THRILLED. But, I'm preparing for the worst.

Looks like an MCL sprain. So there's an outside chance Campbell could return just before the playoffs. I'm worried he will be rusty though.

3. I'm hoping Wilson has some sort of ankle thing and will be back in a few weeks. In the meantime I consider Brown to be one of those "adequate" backups who we can live with, if not thrive. Also, it might give us a chance to see Caden Wallace get his opportunity show his development at G this season with Marrone and his guys.

What can Brown do for you? I hope he can be serviceable. As long as Maye stays upright he can make some plays happen.

4. Neither Ponder nor Swinson flashed to me in limited snaps. They'll get some more chances as time goes on. Speaking of edge guys, I'm kid of getting tired of watching Chassion get to the QB and then somehow run by him. He needs to develop the body control at the end of the rush to actually sack the QB. You've done all the hard work, now get the pay off, Klav.

Despite your peeves against him, Chaisson remains one of our more consistent pass rushers. Landry must be struggling with an injury because he doesn't look the same as he did earlier in the season. We all knew Swinson was unpolished or he wouldn't have been on the practice squad for so long. Let's hope he can catch up with more snaps in practice.

6. We ran no huddle for exactly 2 plays and it seemed to help. Josh, take the hint. If we want to use that strategy in the playoffs to slow down rushes, we need to begin working on it NOW. Maye needs to practice it, I don't think he did it much last season, and this is a new offense with new semantics. The whole offense needs to practice it under live conditions.

I feel it's important to get Maye going early. I know run game balance is important but our run game has been poor the past few games averaging around 3 ypc. There's no use banging your head against a brick wall. I'd like to see more plays getting Henderson in space as well as rolling out Maye from the pocket to give him the option to pass or run.

7. Going into this game one of the things that made me feel good about this team is that managed to be winning all these games WITHOUT having to create a lot of turnovers.

The Bears (+16) and Rams (+10) top the league, while the Pats are at zero. The thing is that you can't count on causing TO's. Some, like Marcus' pick are directly caused by a player. But most are very fickle deflections, bounces, or just being in the right place at right time, like the Cinci DB who picked off Maye. If it wasn't for Drake's wildly inaccurate overthrow there would have been no pick. Or if Flacco had looked at his dump off instead of throwing a blind pass to a spot, no pick 6 for us.

Patriots appear to be playing a really good version of bend but don't break.

They are 7th in total yards allowed at 301.2 total yards per game.
They are 2nd in rushing yards allowed at 87.7 rushing yards per pg.
They are also tied for 4th in scoring defense at 18.8 ppg allowed.

The passing game is middling ranked at 17th and 213.5 per game. But like I said it's a bend but don't break D.

Defensive team ranking stats via Fox as of November 28th: 2025 NFL Defense Rankings: Team Pass and Rush Stats | FOX Sports

 

[Ring 6]

Looks like an MCL sprain. So there's an outside chance Campbell could return just before the playoffs. I'm worried he will be rusty though.



What can Brown do for you? I hope he can be serviceable. As long as Maye stays upright he can make some plays happen.



Despite your peeves against him, Chaisson remains one of our more consistent pass rushers. Landry must be struggling with an injury because he doesn't look the same as he did earlier in the season. We all knew Swinson was unpolished or he wouldn't have been on the practice squad for so long. Let's hope he can catch up with more snaps in practice.



I feel it's important to get Maye going early. I know run game balance is important but our run game has been poor the past few games averaging around 3 ypc. There's no use banging your head against a brick wall. I'd like to see more plays getting Henderson in space as well as rolling out Maye from the pocket to give him the option to pass or run.



Patriots appear to be playing a really good version of bend but don't break.

They are 7th in total yards allowed at 301.2 total yards per game.
They are 2nd in rushing yards allowed at 87.7 rushing yards per pg.
They are also tied for 4th in scoring defense at 18.8 ppg allowed.

The passing game is middling ranked at 17th and 213.5 per game. But like I said it's a bend but don't break D.

Defensive team ranking stats via Fox as of November 28th: 2025 NFL Defense Rankings: Team Pass and Rush Stats | FOX Sports

Patriots defense is the opposite of bend don’t break. They are stingy allowing yards and poor in the red zone.

 

[PP2]

The Bengals defense wa stopping king Henry yesterday .

You're going to want to come up with a better nickname for Hunter than that. Not sure if you know any English history but King Henry wasn't known for doing nice things to other people.

 

[Real fan 02]

That’s not true.

Ok

 

[Toofy]

You're going to want to come up with a better nickname for Hunter than that. Not sure if you know any English history but King Henry wasn't known for doing nice things to other people.

I was referring to derrick Henry .

If this was some other subtle reference to something else, I did not get it. Pardon my ignorance .

 

[PP2]

I was referring to derrick Henry .

If this was some other subtle reference to something else, I did not get it. Pardon my ignorance .

No, that brain fart is 100% on me. I blame the tryptophan.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Part of why hopes were low going into the year is that the talent, especially 23-53, was very limited. Vrabel talked about that when pressed why he didn’t go after Micah Parsons- that the team needs future resources to strengthen the team. Instead of being angry about what we lack, which we all knew was significant and would take time to rebuild, why not celebrate the success we are having.


It seems like people lose their minds every snap that Drake Maye doesn’t increase his chances of winning an MVP or set a new record. Enjoy the success and hope we can continue to have a better roster after the offseason.

Right on the money.