Breer: Vrabel says the Pats will approach the offseason getting younger, cheaper, & better options

[Joey007]

The QB Maye was last season is who he is, the best young QB in football. I honestly don't know WTF he has to do to convince people. Does he have to be the MVP of the NFL , NBA, and Major League Baseball to convince people?

This place is ****ing ridiculous.

People act like bad teams have college CB’s playing in the back end. This is the NFL, you can’t fake it that long.

 

[Real fan 02]

I thought he was getting more separation deep at the end of the season. Drake just wasn't getting the time to find him.

Kyle Williams' Stars Are Aligning for Patriots Breakout Next Season Kyle Williams' Stars Are Aligning for Patriots Breakout Next Season

 

[Wozzy]

I thought he was getting more separation deep at the end of the season. Drake just wasn't getting the time to find him.

I liked his growth as the season progressed, liked that he was a tenacious blocker when he was out there. Shows he does the little things and understands the big picture for a rookie.

 

[Wozzy]

Drake lead the league in completion %... I believe in 2025. His efficiency is amazing. Again at merely 23 years of age to come in and put in the work last off season with a brand new coaching staff it's still remarkable how he became elite.

Drake elevated this team. Having the experience, being coached hard by Josh and Vrabel is helping him you could see the leadership that was in him come out more and more as the season wore on..

What i believe will help him is an improvement in the running game. I believe we see this with the upcoming season.

He feasted on the bad teams, but wasn't as effective versus the great defenses. In the playoffs almost all you're going to face is great teams. Living on third and long will stifle you in the playoffs.

Being able to spot pressure prior to the snap and knowing what to do, like bring an extra blocker in or audible to a hot route or another play entirely. There's more to the game then "talent," and it was the offense that looked like garbage in the playoffs... not the defense. That wasn't all on Drake either, but he has a lot of improving to do in order to beat playoff teams.

I'm not just being a negative Nancy either, I fully expect him to improve. He's a smart kid. His offensive line will also improve, get more experienced, bigger and better. His weapons will hopefully improve and Josh will hopefully use more RPO and scheme in the future.

I've never seen a QB, no matter how good they ended up, not have a learning curve the first few years. Drake played well his sophomore season, but stats don't tell the entire story.

 

[Wozzy]

Just for shts and giggles I created a projected depth chart with most of the fat cut out.

I put ages next to the old guys who they need to be finding replacements for and general HELP notices on positions of need IMO.

Projected 53

OFFENSE (27)
QB (2) – Drake Maye, Tommy Devito,
LT (2) – Will Campbell, Lorenz Metz,
LG (2) – Alijah Vera-Tucker, Sebastian Gutierrez,
C (2) – Jared Wilson, Ben Brown, (HELP),
RG (2) – Michael Onwenu, Caedan Wallace,
RT (2) – Morgan Moses (35), (HELP), Marcus Bryant,
TE/FB (4) – Hunter Henry (31), (HELP), CJ Dippre, Julian Hill, Reggie Gilliam (FB),
BIG RB (3) – Rhamondre Stevenson, Elijah Mitchell, Deneric Prince,
FAST RB (2) – TreVeyon Henderson, Lan Larison,
BIG WR (2) – Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins (32), (HELP)
FAST WR (2) – Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte,
SLOT WR (2) – Demario Douglas, Efton Chism,

DEFENSE (24)
DT (4) – Christian Barmore, Corey Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory,
DE (3) – Milton Williams, Dre’Mont Jones, Leonard Taylor,
SLB (4) – Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa,
MLB (2) – Robert Spillane (30), Chad Muma, (HELP),
WLB (2) – Christian Elliss, Marte Mapu,
SS (3) – Kevin Byard (32), Brenden Schooler, Dell Pettus/Mike Brown/John Saunders,
FS (1) – Craig Woodson, (HELP),
BIG CB (3) – Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, (HELP), Marcellas Dial,
SLOT CB (2) – Marcus Jones, Kindle Vildor,

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
K – Andres Borregales
P – Bryce Baringer
LS – Julian Ashby

My chart ended up with 54 players, so one too many. Also there's room for one SS to make it among Pettus/Brown/Saunders so choose one or cut them all.

Obviously they'll add some players in the draft and remaining free agency, there will be some cuts and alterations to this chart.

 

[Real fan 02]

Just for shts and giggles I created a projected depth chart with most of the fat cut out.

I put ages next to the old guys who they need to be finding replacements for and general HELP notices on positions of need IMO.

Projected 53

OFFENSE (27)
QB (2) – Drake Maye, Tommy Devito,
LT (2) – Will Campbell, Lorenz Metz,
LG (2) – Alijah Vera-Tucker, Sebastian Gutierrez,
C (2) – Jared Wilson, Ben Brown, (HELP),
RG (2) – Michael Onwenu, Caedan Wallace,
RT (2) – Morgan Moses (35), (HELP), Marcus Bryant,
TE/FB (4) – Hunter Henry (31), (HELP), CJ Dippre, Julian Hill, Reggie Gilliam (FB),
BIG RB (3) – Rhamondre Stevenson, Elijah Mitchell, Deneric Prince,
FAST RB (2) – TreVeyon Henderson, Lan Larison,
BIG WR (2) – Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins (32), (HELP)
FAST WR (2) – Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte,
SLOT WR (2) – Demario Douglas, Efton Chism,

DEFENSE (24)
DT (4) – Christian Barmore, Corey Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory,
DE (3) – Milton Williams, Dre’Mont Jones, Leonard Taylor,
SLB (4) – Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa,
MLB (2) – Robert Spillane (30), Chad Muma, (HELP),
WLB (2) – Christian Elliss, Marte Mapu,
SS (3) – Kevin Byard (32), Brenden Schooler, Dell Pettus/Mike Brown/John Saunders,
FS (1) – Craig Woodson, (HELP),
BIG CB (3) – Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, (HELP), Marcellas Dial,
SLOT CB (2) – Marcus Jones, Kindle Vildor,

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
K – Andres Borregales
P – Bryce Baringer
LS – Julian Ashby

My chart ended up with 54 players, so one too many. Also there's room for one SS to make it among Pettus/Brown/Saunders so choose one or cut them all.

Obviously they'll add some players in the draft and remaining free agency, there will be some cuts and alterations to this chart.

Don't Be Surprised If Patriots Sign 'Finisher' At Edge Rusher | NESN Don't Be Surprised If Patriots Sign 'Finisher' At Edge Rusher | NESN

 

[p8ryts]

Just for shts and giggles I created a projected depth chart with most of the fat cut out.

I put ages next to the old guys who they need to be finding replacements for and general HELP notices on positions of need IMO.

Projected 53

OFFENSE (27)
QB (2) – Drake Maye, Tommy Devito,
LT (2) – Will Campbell, Lorenz Metz,
LG (2) – Alijah Vera-Tucker, Sebastian Gutierrez,
C (2) – Jared Wilson, Ben Brown, (HELP),
RG (2) – Michael Onwenu, Caedan Wallace,
RT (2) – Morgan Moses (35), (HELP), Marcus Bryant,
TE/FB (4) – Hunter Henry (31), (HELP), CJ Dippre, Julian Hill, Reggie Gilliam (FB),
BIG RB (3) – Rhamondre Stevenson, Elijah Mitchell, Deneric Prince,
FAST RB (2) – TreVeyon Henderson, Lan Larison,
BIG WR (2) – Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins (32), (HELP)
FAST WR (2) – Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte,
SLOT WR (2) – Demario Douglas, Efton Chism,

DEFENSE (24)
DT (4) – Christian Barmore, Corey Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory,
DE (3) – Milton Williams, Dre’Mont Jones, Leonard Taylor,
SLB (4) – Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa,
MLB (2) – Robert Spillane (30), Chad Muma, (HELP),
WLB (2) – Christian Elliss, Marte Mapu,
SS (3) – Kevin Byard (32), Brenden Schooler, Dell Pettus/Mike Brown/John Saunders,
FS (1) – Craig Woodson, (HELP),
BIG CB (3) – Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, (HELP), Marcellas Dial,
SLOT CB (2) – Marcus Jones, Kindle Vildor,

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
K – Andres Borregales
P – Bryce Baringer
LS – Julian Ashby

My chart ended up with 54 players, so one too many. Also there's room for one SS to make it among Pettus/Brown/Saunders so choose one or cut them all.

Obviously they'll add some players in the draft and remaining free agency, there will be some cuts and alterations to this chart.

Defense isn't too bad with exception of edge and LB. Those backup offensive lineman are a scary group. The starters are kind of scary too.

 

[Real fan 02]

Defense isn't too bad with exception of edge and LB. Those backup offensive lineman are a scary group. The starters are kind of scary too.

I would put an asterisk next to Harold Landry until we see him in action....

 

[Wozzy]

Defense isn't too bad with exception of edge and LB. Those backup offensive lineman are a scary group. The starters are kind of scary too.

The good news is they have their starters assuming health and have the luxury to take the best amiable players with their 11 draft picks. Draft well and this team could be loaded. They could also add some value vets to round off the roster.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Defense isn't too bad with exception of edge and LB. Those backup offensive lineman are a scary group. The starters are kind of scary too.

Edge could be better than expected if the young guys step it up. Their pass rush was great down the stretch when they were rotating young guys in, Ponder had 4 sacks in limited playing time , and if Swinson can become a decent contributor the position may be better off than we thought. They should still draft an Edge but it may not be as much of a need as it seems right now.

 

[BTTA]

And it's another thing to suggest that he still needs to prove himself to Patriot fans. It's like the criticism that he didn't have 4th quarter comebacks after the Buffalo game when they had been ahead all season. Can he continue to get better, sure, but he has nothing to prove to Patriot fans. If they don't believe in him by now then they are ridiculous.

Looks like we are interpreting posts differently.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Looks like we are interpreting posts differently.

Guess so. Had he said that Maye still has room to grow, improve, or things to work on I would agree with it, but what he said was that what he " worried about" wasn't the offensive line. It was Maye, and that to me is ridiculous. Maye was in his first year in MacDaniels offense, which is notoriously difficult to learn, and he was the best player in the league, and led them to a Super Bowl. Will he be the best player in the league again, who knows, but he sure as hell isn't the position that anyone should be the most worried about. It's like saying " I'm not worried about Aaron Dobson or Jabar Gaffney, but that Brady guy, we really need to worry about him ......" And it reminded me completely of the day after the Buffalo game, when their defense fell apart in the 2nd half, yet what a bunch of posters here started shrieking about was Maye not bringing them back in the 4th quarter, and claimed he isn't " clutch," when the truth was that they had been leading in the 4th all season, and he was the primary reason for that. And " clutch" isn't simply 4th quarter comebacks, but delivering on 3rd and longs, and keeping drives alive and scoring, which they hadn't done in years, but Maye was doing every week.

The bottom line for me BTTA, and this applies to life as well as sports, is that credit and blame should go where they are deserved, and unfortunately too often people start ****ting on those who are doing a good or great job, and ignore placing the criticism where it actually belongs, and that tends to piss me off. And Boston sports fans are among the absolute worst in this regard. It's not all of them by any means, but there is a contingent of them, many who cross over into every sport, who always see the negative, and blame those who deserve it the least.

 

[BTTA]

Guess so. Had he said that Maye still has room to grow, improve, or things to work on I would agree with it, but what he said was that what he " worried about" wasn't the offensive line. It was Maye, and that to me is ridiculous. Maye was in his first year in MacDaniels offense, which is notoriously difficult to learn, and he was the best player in the league, and led them to a Super Bowl. Will he be the best player in the league again, who knows, but he sure as hell isn't the position that anyone should be the most worried about. It's like saying " I'm not worried about Aaron Dobson or Jabar Gaffney, but that Brady guy, we really need to worry about him ......" And it reminded me completely of the day after the Buffalo game, when their defense fell apart in the 2nd half, yet what a bunch of posters here started shrieking about was Maye not bringing them back in the 4th quarter, and claimed he isn't " clutch," when the truth was that they had been leading in the 4th all season, and he was the primary reason for that. And " clutch" isn't simply 4th quarter comebacks, but delivering on 3rd and longs, and keeping drives alive and scoring, which they hadn't done in years, but Maye was doing every week.

The bottom line for me BTTA, and this applies to life as well as sports, is that credit and blame should go where they are deserved, and unfortunately too often people start ****ting on those who are doing a good or great job, and ignore placing the criticism where it actually belongs, and that tends to piss me off. And Boston sports fans are among the absolute worst in this regard. It's not all of them by any means, but there is a contingent of them, many who cross over into every sport, who always see the negative, and blame those who deserve it the least.

To your point about responsibility, where I got confused was that your posts seemed to be speaking to a broad group of people with multiple posts each, and above you refer to "he." I don't know who "he" is so didn't know what context you were speaking to.
Internets.

 

[n1997y]

…
The bottom line for me BTTA, and this applies to life as well as sports, is that credit and blame should go where they are deserved, and unfortunately too often people start ****ting on those who are doing a good or great job, and ignore placing the criticism where it actually belongs, and that tends to piss me off. And Boston sports fans are among the absolute worst in this regard. It's not all of them by any means, but there is a contingent of them, many who cross over into every sport, who always see the negative, and blame those who deserve it the least.

Verily it is said “The nail that stands up gets hammered down.”

There are lots of folks who just love seeing anybody placed on a pedestal pulled down. Just because.

Sports commentators love to play to the popular sentiment, so there’s a lot of popularity in criticizing.

Sports exacerbates it because of the competitive nature of the endeavor. Look at how impossible it is for some folks to see praise for Brady not being criticism of Belichick, or vice versa. Like it’s inconceivable that they could both be the GOAT at their particular positions. It’s crazy. But we see it so often.

 

[Huckleberry1]

To your point about responsibility, where I got confused was that your posts seemed to be speaking to a broad group of people with multiple posts each, and above you refer to "he." I don't know who "he" is so didn't know what context you were speaking to.
Internets.

It was Toofy's post, but in truth I have absolutely no problem with Toofy, I just tend to respond to posts, and not the poster, and the idea that Maye was the real concern set me off.

 

[Real fan 02]

Feeling Like outside of him not wanting to restructure his deal.. .maybe it was a good thing the team released Stef...

@TheRainMaker

Who scares you the most in a AFCCG Josh Allen or?......

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Mahomes in an AFCCG is the scariest

 

[TheRainMaker]

@TheRainMaker

Who scares you the most in a AFCCG Josh Allen or?......

Mahomes in an AFCCG is the scariest

Josh Allen still owns the Pats and it was pick your poison moment (go to Denver or face Josh Allen at home?).

Mahomes with a decent team is the other guy I still don't want to mess with (even with his game trending downward). But with his injury and current team, I don't think we'll hear from him for at least this next season.

I didn't want them to face Stafford in the Super Bowl. That would've been a horrible matchup.

Burrow would've been up there as well, but the Bengals are a lost cause. They had a window and they blew it.

 

[Real fan 02]

Mahomes in an AFCCG is the scariest

Wich Mahomes? The Mahomes of the last two seasons or the Mahomes that had tyreek Hill?

 

[Real fan 02]

Josh Allen still owns the Pats and it was pick your poison moment (go to Denver or face Josh Allen at home?).

Mahomes with a decent team is the other guy I still don't want to mess with (even with his game trending downward). But with his injury and current team, I don't think we'll hear from him for at least this next season.

I didn't want them to face Stafford in the Super Bowl. That would've been a horrible matchup.

Burrow would've been up there as well, but the Bengals are a lost cause. They had a window and they blew it.

There it is... some still think Mahomes is the guy who took the league by storm in 2017.. he's not that level of QB anymore.. by all means still great.. however Josh Allen is still the most lethal threat especially being a division opponent.. we benefit from having Brady and other teams dreaded facing us in an elimination game..