I am expecting a pro bowl season

[Ring 6]

in no way, shape or form, do I agree that playing smarter, and in certain situations, giving up on the play to avoid a negative outcome, would mitigate Maye's big play ability.
the negative yards. the turn overs. the wear and tear on the body.
of Maye's 47 regular season sacks, 13 were statistically attributed to the OL. The remaining 34 regular-season sacks were attributed to Maye holding onto the ball too long to create extension plays, wandering into defensive traffic, or running out of bounds for a minor loss during scramble drills.
I maintain that if Maye can recognize these situations that will create a negative play sooner, he and by extension the offense, will be that much better.

Then you have no clue.
Did you actually watch the games?
You statistic is ridiculous.

You are trying to argue that if you teach him to give up on plays when there is pressure he will only give up on the ones that would have been sacks and miraculously be able to predict which plays he can escape to a scramble, which he can extend to create a big play and which would end up as a sack. They is ignorant.
But you also attribute “holding onto the ball to create extension plays” as something you want to eliminate. So you do not want him to extend plays.
If you remove all of the sacks and remove all of the plays he made by extending we would have been at best an average offense. The primary reason we were the second best offense in the NFL was the plays Drake Maye extended.

Finally if you really think that the pas protection last year was so good there should have only been 13 sacks, you should find a different hobby to write your thoughts about because you just don’t understand this one.

 

[PatsFan2]

The last thing Campbell needs is more pressure to be a Pro Bowler, or top 10 LT.
We don't need him to have that kind of shine this year, just be a consistent blanket. Improve on his really bad whiffs, and some technique flaws that always got him beat on the inside. If he just improves 10% - with power rush, faster feet, diagnosing the rusher's tells - he'll be fine. Playing next to AVT instead of a rookie out of position should alone help 15%.

We better hope Will Campbell aka *T-Rex* have a career like Matt Light when it's all said and done. Anything less would be a waste of a Fourth overall selection. That said I can't wait to to see Caleb Lomu play.

 

[rkarp1]

Then you have no clue.
Did you actually watch the games?
You statistic is ridiculous.

You are trying to argue that if you teach him to give up on plays when there is pressure he will only give up on the ones that would have been sacks and miraculously be able to predict which plays he can escape to a scramble, which he can extend to create a big play and which would end up as a sack. They is ignorant.
But you also attribute “holding onto the ball to create extension plays” as something you want to eliminate. So you do not want him to extend plays.
If you remove all of the sacks and remove all of the plays he made by extending we would have been at best an average offense. The primary reason we were the second best offense in the NFL was the plays Drake Maye extended.

Finally if you really think that the pas protection last year was so good there should have only been 13 sacks, you should find a different hobby to write your thoughts about because you just don’t understand this one.

we disagree because you cannot comprehend the discussion
therefore, whats to discuss?
the entirety of the football community of this generation believes cutting down turn overs and negative plays (and penalties) leads to better production.
you are on the opposite side of that belief.
so be it

 

[Ring 6]

The last thing Campbell needs is more pressure to be a Pro Bowler, or top 10 LT.
We don't need him to have that kind of shine this year, just be a consistent blanket. Improve on his really bad whiffs, and some technique flaws that always got him beat on the inside. If he just improves 10% - with power rush, faster feet, diagnosing the rusher's tells - he'll be fine. Playing next to AVT instead of a rookie out of position should alone help 15%.

Athletes thrive on pressure.

 

[Wozzy]

We better hope Will Campbell aka *T-Rex* have a career like Matt Light when it's all said and done. Anything less would be a waste of a Fourth overall selection. That said I can't wait to to see Caleb Lomu play.

If Campbell becomes an All Pro guard you think that would be a waste?

I don’t think so, it won’t matter… especially if Lomu next to him looks good.

The goal is to have one of the best OL’s in the NFL. However many eggs need to be cracked to make the omelette doesn’t matter.

 

[PatsFan2]

If Campbell becomes an All Pro guard you think that would be a waste?

I don’t think so, it won’t matter… especially if Lomu next to him looks good.

The goal is to have one of the best OL’s in the NFL. However many eggs need to be cracked to make the omelette doesn’t matter.

Lomu is not a Guard.

 

[Ring 6]

we disagree because you cannot comprehend the discussion
therefore, whats to discuss?
the entirety of the football community of this generation believes cutting down turn overs and negative plays (and penalties) leads to better production.
you are on the opposite side of that belief.
so be it

Yes, I can not comprehend your discussion because you are not making an intelligible one.
Mostly you are whining be wise someone disagrees with you without really offering anything to support your side of the argument.

It appears to amount to you are saying Maye should know which times escaping the rush will result in a sack and which times it won’t and he should throw the ball away instead. Except the only way to do that is to change how he plays and throw the ball away all the time.
You even said you want prevent him from extending plays.

Let’s attempt to actually debate.
Just respond to these points.

Do you recognize that off platform plays, scrambles and extending plays to create big plays was the best facet of the 2026 Patriot offense?

Do you realize that Maye had 61 scrambles for 420 vs 47 sacks for 206? The net result is positive, just when he runs. Do you think we are better with him giving up, and why?

The league average is 38 sacks. How are we better by taking away big plays to save a sack every 2 weeks?

On 3rd down we took 13 sacks in 140 drops backs, but converted 57 1st downs and 13 more on scrambles. Is a scheme that converts 50% of 3rd downs something that should be changed?

I don’t know where the stat is to be found but I pays close attention last year to how many times we had a 1st or 2nd dorm sack and still ended up converting. We were exceptionally good at that. The 47 sacks we took had less an impact on our offense that any others teams sacks did.

You mentioned reducing turnovers. We were 9th in the league in fewest turnovers with less than 1 a game. Almost 1/3 of them came in 1 game. We have just 11 in the other 16, including 8 without a single turnover.
Why would you want to change the approach of the 2nd best offense in the NFL to prevent turnovers when turnovers aren’t a problem?

The best thing by far about this team last year was Drake Maye and particularly his ability to get the ball down the field accurately, make big plays, avoid pressure, extend plays and make more big plays. Do you disagree with that, and if so, please explain how you could. You have made numerous posts in the thread literally saying the most important thing to change is what was the best thing about the team.

I think the conundrum in your approach is you refuse to accept that anything you change has consequences. You are arguing that Maye should be coached to give up on plays and pretending that reducing the big plays he creates is the consequence. The big plays are light years more positive than the sacks are negative. It’s not even close.

So if you want to just keep saying you are right because you are right and refuse to debate, counter argue and learn something go ahead. But if you wish to actually discuss the topic respond to my specific points.

 

[Ring 6]

Lomu is not a Guard.

Neither is Campbell

 

[PatsFan2]

Neither is Campbell

Oh boy stop the presses a revelation to me.

 

[Ring 6]

Oh boy stop the presses a revelation to me.

Seemed you were implying otherwise.
I think Lomu is first man off the bench at both T and G spots this year and the starting RT next year.
If we have an injury Lomu should get those snaps.

 

[Wozzy]

Lomu is not a Guard.

If I said Campbell was an All Pro guard and Lomu was next to him… how did you read that as me saying Lomu was a guard?

 

[Wozzy]

Neither is Campbell

I’d say they both could play guard well… assuming Lomu comes as advertised. It’s not a difficult transition for an athletic mobile tackle to slide inside to guard.

 

[PatsFan2]

Seemed you were implying otherwise.
I think Lomu is first man off the bench at both T and G spots this year and the starting RT next year.
If we have an injury Lomu should get those snaps.

I was responding to Wozzy initially... and Lomu was Not Drafted to be a Guard. He has a Perfect Tackle build.

 

[PatsFan2]

If I said Campbell was an All Pro guard and Lomu was next to him… how did you read that as me saying Lomu was a guard?

Sorry Woz I misread what you wrote at first. I would have no problems with that.

 

[PatsFan2]

I’d say they both could play guard well… assuming Lomu comes as advertised. It’s not a difficult transition for an athletic mobile tackle to slide inside to guard.

IF Lomu comes as advertised I could to see him at LT and Campbell at RT or G after Moses retires. OL would be set for to years to come: also Campbells short arms wouldn't be a Problem on the Strong side of our OL.

 

[Wozzy]

IF Lomu comes as advertised I could to see him at LT and Campbell at RT or G after Moses retires. OL would be set for to years to come: also Campbells short arms wouldn't be a Problem on the Strong side of our OL.

If Campbell’s wingspan is a problem at left tackle, it won’t be any better at right tackle.

If Campbell struggles I could see him at guard, either when Vera Tucker gets injured again or after Onwenu leaves in free agency next offseason.

I could see Marcus Bryant or Crownover taking over the right tackle position and being good.

The good news is they have a lot of talented options now.

 

[PatsFan2]

If Campbell’s wingspan is a problem at left tackle, it won’t be any better at right tackle.

If Campbell struggles I could see him at guard, either when Vera Tucker gets injured again or after Onwenu leaves in free agency next offseason.

I could see Marcus Bryant or Crownover taking over the right tackle position and being good.

The good news is they have a lot of talented options now.

I'm intrigued about those two too; really hoping one or both make it in the NFL. They're really Big Boys.

 

[rkarp1]

Yes, I can not comprehend your discussion because you are not making an intelligible one.
Mostly you are whining be wise someone disagrees with you without really offering anything to support your side of the argument.

It appears to amount to you are saying Maye should know which times escaping the rush will result in a sack and which times it won’t and he should throw the ball away instead. Except the only way to do that is to change how he plays and throw the ball away all the time.
You even said you want prevent him from extending plays.

Let’s attempt to actually debate.
Just respond to these points.

Do you recognize that off platform plays, scrambles and extending plays to create big plays was the best facet of the 2026 Patriot offense?

Do you realize that Maye had 61 scrambles for 420 vs 47 sacks for 206? The net result is positive, just when he runs. Do you think we are better with him giving up, and why?

The league average is 38 sacks. How are we better by taking away big plays to save a sack every 2 weeks?

On 3rd down we took 13 sacks in 140 drops backs, but converted 57 1st downs and 13 more on scrambles. Is a scheme that converts 50% of 3rd downs something that should be changed?

I don’t know where the stat is to be found but I pays close attention last year to how many times we had a 1st or 2nd dorm sack and still ended up converting. We were exceptionally good at that. The 47 sacks we took had less an impact on our offense that any others teams sacks did.

You mentioned reducing turnovers. We were 9th in the league in fewest turnovers with less than 1 a game. Almost 1/3 of them came in 1 game. We have just 11 in the other 16, including 8 without a single turnover.
Why would you want to change the approach of the 2nd best offense in the NFL to prevent turnovers when turnovers aren’t a problem?

The best thing by far about this team last year was Drake Maye and particularly his ability to get the ball down the field accurately, make big plays, avoid pressure, extend plays and make more big plays. Do you disagree with that, and if so, please explain how you could. You have made numerous posts in the thread literally saying the most important thing to change is what was the best thing about the team.

I think the conundrum in your approach is you refuse to accept that anything you change has consequences. You are arguing that Maye should be coached to give up on plays and pretending that reducing the big plays he creates is the consequence. The big plays are light years more positive than the sacks are negative. It’s not even close.

So if you want to just keep saying you are right because you are right and refuse to debate, counter argue and learn something go ahead. But if you wish to actually discuss the topic respond to my specific points.

how many times do I need to reinforce that Maye can continue to make off platform plays and extend plays with his legs, but still cut down on negative plays?
no one is saying he needs to dink and dunk
no one is saying he needs to play conservatively
but if he comes to the los and he sees the defense is in a formation not conducive to the play call, he needs to audible or kill the play and run something else, or simply run a play that does not result in negative yards or turn overs.
that said, this continues to go over your head, so why further discuss?

 

[n1997y]

If Campbell’s wingspan is a problem at left tackle, it won’t be any better at right tackle.

If Campbell struggles I could see him at guard, either when Vera Tucker gets injured again or after Onwenu leaves in free agency next offseason.

I could see Marcus Bryant or Crownover taking over the right tackle position and being good.

The good news is they have a lot of talented options now.

We now have Campbell and Moses as starting OTs, with Lomu, Bryant, Crownover, Metz, Hudson, Wallace, and possibly even Gutierrez behind them. Seems like good depth at tackle.

Seems to me the bigger questions now are OG and C. Depth at C seems thin, and depth and durability plus future replacements are concerns at guard. After Ben Brown it looks like Rizy, Gutierrez and Wallace are the depth at IOL. Do we see other players listed at OT possibly playing guard, or is that an area of concern?

 

[TheRainMaker]

last season, your comment regarding the OL is completely false.
equating sacks and OL play is short sighted

That's why they drafted a T in the first round, let their starting C go who beat out a 3rd round draft pick, moved that player back to his natural C position and signed a LG. With all that done, the Pats are rated as a middle of the pack OL by media on a good day.

You were better off not responding to my post.