The Offense is Loaded

[jimnance]

Kansas City was 6-11 last year. Josh Allen committed 5 turnovers in his last playoff game.

Doesn't mean ****. Denver has a great D but a jag qb. They're basically the Texans.
JVille and Bolts have overrated qbs who have done nothing. Neither can hold Maye's jockstrap.
Allen is the only afc qb you can make a case for being better than Drake. And that won't be for long.

 

[mayoclinic]

Herbert is good. There was a time when I would have been thrilled if Drake Maye's ceiling was Justin Herbert, but that has long since passed.

Lawrence is meh on a good day.

A true franchise QB + a competitive roster on both sides + good coaching is a true contender. The Rams are the only other team that seems to have all 3.

 

[p8ryts]

We have a competitive team. We need a cohesive OL and improvement in the QB's mental game. Get these two and we are very good.

 

[Real fan 02]

We have a competitive team. We need a cohesive OL and improvement in the QB's mental game. Get these two and we are very good.

Agreed. But we had a QB that was a runner up in MVP voting I don't believe his mental is anything close to a problem as the OL was in playoffs.

 

[Steve102]

The Patriots are in the top 4 in odds for the AFC Championship. They aren't rebuilding anymore, they are putting the final pieces together for seriously contending.

The offense should be stellar. They should be putting 40s up on the weaker defenses more than the two games they did last year. They can also get into shootouts if they need to. They should be fun to watch.

 

[p8ryts]

Agreed. But we had a QB that was a runner up in MVP voting I don't believe his mental is anything close to a problem as the OL was in playoffs.

We can agree to disagree. I'm referring to improving pre and post snap recognition, and please take the short gain instead of the sack. I still think he is maybe the best long passer in the game but you can't live with that. Improve those areas and you have TB2 with a better long ball. We can agree on the OL in the playoffs. I still blame the coaches.

 

[Huckleberry1]

We have a competitive team. We need a cohesive OL and improvement in the QB's mental game. Get these two and we are very good.

What's wrong with Maye's "
Mental game?"

 

[p8ryts]

What's wrong with Maye's "
Mental game?"

see my subsequent post

 

[Real fan 02]

We can agree to disagree. I'm referring to improving pre and post snap recognition, and please take the short gain instead of the sack. I still think he is maybe the best long passer in the game but you can't live with that. Improve those areas and you have TB2 with a better long ball. We can agree on the OL in the playoffs. I still blame the coaches.

I get it. However he led the league in completion % was the best in The league.. on deep balls..& he had no AJ.. and a had a suspect OL.. there's only one tb12 as we know it.. I'd compare drakes mentality and desire to be great to that of TB12 and his arm to that of Bledsoe..

 

[Thelonious]

From a short-term perspective (which is in my mind not as important as a long-term perspective, but not all will agree with me on that, and we are talking here about next season), the AJB acquisition is part of a larger picture suggesting the offense should indeed be better this year. I think Drake's presumed improvement and what will likely be a modestly but significantly better O-line are greater factors in this, but again, that's not our topic at the moment.

This year's schedule is tough, Last year's schedule was historically easy. I know it's annoying to hear that, particularly from the likes of Cam Newton, but it's a fact. In my view, failure to appreciate just how weak last year's schedule was, accounts in large measure for the erroneous view, offered by many as a justification for the AJB overpay, that the rebuild is largely complete, so that taking on "that final piece" is justified: it isn't, and I think the AJB trade will ultimately prove to be a significant mistake.

I think we likely will do well this year and make the playoffs, quite possibly as winner of the AFC East. There are some clouds on the horizon, however. The schedule really is tougher. We may not be as fortunate this year re injuries, which is particularly a problem because the rebuild is not complete, leaving us with weak backups at any number of positions, other of our starters are getting a little long in the tooth, and finally, our new Shiny Object is on the cusp of thirty, has shown declining stats over the past couple of years, and has a bum knee.

We'll need a little luck for the various sunny scenarios on offer here to eventuate. We might be lucky; we might not. I think we will be lucky enough to nose our way into the playoffs, but our fate after that seems pretty questionable. In trading for AJB, we acted like the Jets. Hopefully, we will not now over the next few years find ourselves mimicking the Jim Kelly Bills.

 

[Bill Lee]

Let's put it bluntly.

I don't want to hear about the tough schedule. If we don't compete for the AFC title for the next 3 years this will be a massive fail.

You may not want to hear it, but the fact is the more successful you are, the more challenging they make the schedule. It's not like it's a random draw, it is intentionally made more difficult.

In case you forget, two seasons ago we sucked, and last season we went to the Super Bowl. That's a huge swing.

Also last year's schedule happened to have us up against some pretty weak conferences. This simply cannot be ignored like you are suggesting.

It's on the team to get better faster than the schedule is made more difficult.

They made the move to get AJB thinking that this is one way to get that much better. They also spent a lot of draft capital and made big FA signings for the OL and other positions of need.

Hopefully it works out that we do get much better, but is far from an easy thing to do, so won't be a "massive fail" if it doesn't turn out as they hope.

IMO I'd look at it the other way: If adding AJB to the team improves it enough to overcome the more difficult schedule, it's a massive win.

 

[Real fan 02]

Doesn't mean ****. Denver has a great D but a jag qb. They're basically the Texans.
JVille and Bolts have overrated qbs who have done nothing. Neither can hold Maye's jockstrap.
Allen is the only afc qb you can make a case for being better than Drake. And that won't be for long.

Absolutely!! Correct. When I said Herbert is what he is last season some on patsfans.com argued with me.. Lawrence was the first overall pick and was expected to be a franchise QB he's been a tier 2 QB where as Drake has ascended into elite Conversations..

 

[mayoclinic]

The fact is the more successful you are, the more challenging they make the schedule. It's not like it's a random draw, it is intentionally made more difficult. It's on the team to get better faster than the schedule is made more difficult.

We should expect to be playing a first place schedule for the foreseeable future.

 

[Patriot Missile]

The team took themselves as far as they could go last season and it ended in a big loss.

Glaring was the oline and wr play in that last game as well as possibly an injured shoulder that was doped up. Coaching needed to better too. Overall the playoffs in general was an offensive sluggish find a way to beat these great defenses look about it. Again, It worked for 3 playoff games up until the last one.

Personally love the AJ Brown trade, opens up everything. Slants, rubs and ladders, elite blocking to help in the run game, accountability to keep the defense honest which helps both the passing and running game. I think it’s safe to say the wr room is trending way upwards and will be interesting to see what they do with Diggs. Check that need off the list.

As far as the oline not sure what we got just yet. Read all the speculation regarding the injury to Campbell. Honestly not sure what to think on him just yet. All over the place, a lot of great, good, ok and bad. An unpopular wish is that Lomu is so good that he beats out Campbell and outright takes the Left Tackle position and shifts Will over to left guard. And that doesn’t mean I’m hoping he fails, it just means that we have the best duo on the left side and one less worry. Interested to see Jared Wilson move back to center. Intrigued actually, he was the best college center in the country when at Georgia. Ross Vera Tucker at rg playing alongside Moses and having Onwenu alternating the swing between the two would make for some serious fresh bodies on the right side. That whole scenario is just my wish list and probably not how it plays out. How it comes together will determine the Patriots 2027 outcome. The schedule is tough and they need to perform as flawlessly as possible over the course of the season if they are going to take the only step forward which to win the whole thing.

 

[bakes781]

You may not want to hear it, but the fact is the more successful you are, the more challenging they make the schedule. It's not like it's a random draw, it is intentionally made more difficult.

In case you forget, two seasons ago we sucked, and last season we went to the Super Bowl. That's a huge swing.

Also last year's schedule happened to have us up against some pretty weak conferences. This simply cannot be ignored like you are suggesting.

It's on the team to get better faster than the schedule is made more difficult.

They made the move to get AJB thinking that this is one way to get that much better. They also spent a lot of draft capital and made big FA signings for the OL and other positions of need.

Hopefully it works out that we do get much better, but is far from an easy thing to do, so won't be a "massive fail" if it doesn't turn out as they hope.

IMO I'd look at it the other way: If adding AJB to the team improves it enough to overcome the more difficult schedule, it's a massive win.

I understand how the schedule works. I.also know how the draft works. They control the players they select and they've shown an inability to select a WR 1. This move is the admission to that failure.

 

[PatsFan2]

The offense should be stellar. They should be putting 40s up on the weaker defenses more than the two games they did last year. They can also get into shootouts if they need to. They should be fun to watch.

Because of say it Steve...A.J. Brown.

 

[Steve102]

Because of say it Steve...A.J. Brown.

It is, no doubt. My concern is what happens after two years. High price to pay for a long term rental. Like a lease I guess.

 

[mikey m]

From a short-term perspective (which is in my mind not as important as a long-term perspective, but not all will agree with me on that, and we are talking here about next season), the AJB acquisition is part of a larger picture suggesting the offense should indeed be better this year. I think Drake's presumed improvement and what will likely be a modestly but significantly better O-line are greater factors in this, but again, that's not our topic at the moment.

This year's schedule is tough, Last year's schedule was historically easy. I know it's annoying to hear that, particularly from the likes of Cam Newton, but it's a fact. In my view, failure to appreciate just how weak last year's schedule was, accounts in large measure for the erroneous view, offered by many as a justification for the AJB overpay, that the rebuild is largely complete, so that taking on "that final piece" is justified: it isn't, and I think the AJB trade will ultimately prove to be a significant mistake.

I think we likely will do well this year and make the playoffs, quite possibly as winner of the AFC East. There are some clouds on the horizon, however. The schedule really is tougher. We may not be as fortunate this year re injuries, which is particularly a problem because the rebuild is not complete, leaving us with weak backups at any number of positions, other of our starters are getting a little long in the tooth, and finally, our new Shiny Object is on the cusp of thirty, has shown declining stats over the past couple of years, and has a bum knee.

We'll need a little luck for the various sunny scenarios on offer here to eventuate. We might be lucky; we might not. I think we will be lucky enough to nose our way into the playoffs, but our fate after that seems pretty questionable. In trading for AJB, we acted like the Jets. Hopefully, we will not now over the next few years find ourselves mimicking the Jim Kelly Bills.

When exactly did the Jets have a borderline MVP at quarterback and decide to go trade for a bonafide, albeit aging, WR1?

 

[scott99]

Pats were #2 in scoring last year, and have added Brown & Doubs at the WR position. Add in what should be a stabilized and improved line, and what should be a better run game, they should be a top 10 offense, no doubt about it. I think Raridon and Gilliam might be wildcards. Raridon is now TE2. Gilliam is a great blocking FB, but might be a sneaky pass catcher too.

 

[Brotherblues]

I was not a fan of the AJ Brown trade. The Pats overpaid for past production, IMO. But now it is official. From a short-term perspective, the offensive build out is pretty complete. Looking at the next 3 years, the Offense is about as deep and loaded as I can ever recall.

Here's a breakdown by position (* = 5th year option):

QB: Drake Maye (2028*), Tommy DeVito (2027), Behren Morten (2029)

The Gold Standard: Tom Brady circa 2007, 2010, 2016.

The Outlook: The GOAT sets an impossible bar, but if Drake Maye can build on 2025 the Pats will be in the best alternative position imaginable.

RB: TreVeyon Henderson (2028), Rhamondre Stevenson (2028), Lan Larison (2027), Jam Miller (2029), Myles Montgomery (2028)

The Gold Standard: 2004 Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk

The Outlook: If Henderson can make a 2nd year leap, the Pats will have one of the better RB rooms in the NFL.

TE/FB: Hunter Henry (2026), Eli Raridon (2029), Reggie Gilliam (2028)

The Gold Standard: Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, James Develin circa 2012

The Outlook: Not close to the gold standard, but far better than 2025. Raridon has some real potential, and and Gilliam should be a devastating blocking addition. The loss of Julian Hill for 2026 hurts quite a bit.

WR: AJ Brown (2029), Romeo Doubs (2029), Kyle Williams (2028), Kayshon Boutte (2026), Mack Hollins (2026), Pop Douglas (2026), Efton Chism (2027), Kyle Dixon (2028)

The Gold Standard: 2007 - Moss, Welker and Stallworth

The Outlook: The best WR room the Pats have had since 2007, even after Boutte is probably traded.

OT: Will Campbell (2029*), Morgan Moses (2027), Caleb Lomo (2030*), Dametrious Crownover (2029), Marcus Bryant (2028), James Hudson (2026)

The Gold Standard: 2011-2012 Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon

The Outlook: The strongest and deepest unit the Pats have had in a long time.

IOL: Alijah Vera-Tucker (2028), Jared Wilson (2028), Mike Onwenu (2026), Ben Brown (2027), Caedan Wallace (2027)

The Gold Standard: 2011 - Logan Mankins, Brian Waters, Dan Koppen, Dan Connelly, Ryan Wendell

The Outlook: Still 1 player away from dominance IMO, but pretty strong if AVT can stay healthy.

Overall: Paper does not always equate to production, but on paper I've never seen a Pats Offense as loaded and deep as this one is across the board. Individual units have been better at different times, but the combination of a franchise QB, OL strength/depth, and the variety and depth of offensive skill options is unparalleled. If people stay healthy (Julian Hill has already been put on IR since I started this), this should be a championship caliber offense.

Goes to show how special 2011 was on offense. Downright criminal that it happened to be paired with possibly the worst defense of the Brady era.