How Have We Improved

VOODOOZF said:

To this point it's clear that the Patriots have not improved. In fact they are significantly worse than they were last season. That doesn't mean the team won't improve between now and the start of the season.

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I guess it depends on your definition of "significantly," but I simply don't agree with your characterization.

I don't think Wilfork is a huge loss to this team. In fact, i think their interior D-line is going to be better this year than it was last year (still would like Ellis or Rubin to add to the mix). There are so many good DTs int eh draft and still a couple of run-stuffers out there. Vince was as good a NT as you could want, but there were times last year when I saw him getting no push at all against a single blocker. 34 post-Achilles is a bad thing. I give him tremendous credit for gutting it out last year and playing acceptably, but they can upgrade there cheaper than what he got in Houston.

I also think Easley will certainly contribute this year in a very sizable way.

They lost Ayers and Casillas and replaced them with Mayo and Sheard - huge upgrade 9and I really liked Ayers, but Sheard is a much better DE).

They're already better on offense than they were last year, or they will be if they find even a serviceable 3rd-down back. Chandler is a huge get, Stork and Fleming have a year under their belts, the OL coach has a year with the guys - they won't have to spend the first half of the season experimenting with the OL. I want to see if Cannon can move to guard with a full preseason there, for example, or if Fleming can - and since they don't have many big holes, there are a lot fo good interior OL in the draft, as well.

Amendola wasn't healthy until haflway through last season, and it took a while, but he and Brady seem to be back on the up-and-up. Says a lot that he was willing to restructure, too. he has bought in. That's a solid #3 and a great backup for JE. Tim Wright will get a whole off-season in the system - guy did pretty well last year, ya know?

I'm hoping Gibson can make that comeback from a bad injury. And I'm confident that everyone here has soured way too quickly on Aaron Dobson. The guy can play.

Obviously we're a lot weaker in the secondary without Revis (and without the complimentary Browner), but let's keep some perspective. Flacco threw for 4 tds against our great secondary last year in the playoffs, and Seattle almost put up a 30-burger on us. I think Arrington is a great slot corner. I like Ryan and Dennard and am pretty sure Butler has the goods. McCourty is great back there, and Chung contributes in lots of ways. heck, ever Tayvon Wilson put on a few huge hits in the playoffs - watch the Baltimore game.

you're all acting like we have NO ONE, OMG, back there, when in fact, if half these guys were ont eh FA market, you'd be screaming for us to go get them. I can hear it now.

"Dennard...yeah, he was great his first year, then got hurt. Could be a great reclamation project."
"Arrington, man, did you see what he did to Hilton? Sign the beast!"
"That Butler kid...omg, what instincts! How did they find this kid!"

You know, what you see most of other teams are HIGHLIGHTS, not the common warts. The grass isn't greener.

A man named Brady said:

I think our 3rd down defense will go back to being garbage. The raw PPG always understated how bad we were on defense from 10-13. For example we were 8th in scoring defense in 2010 but the worst 3rd down defense in football.

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Yes, the low points allowed definitely masked the only number that really matters: 3rd down defense.

I've reached critical can't even with this ****.

Fixit said:

You said you never "came close" to saying that. Yet, you previously said that we need to "come close" to replacing Revis.

Therefore, you did actually "come close" to saying we need to replace Revis.

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your statement is an invalid inference based on no known forms of logic. in other words, you are making crap up

Fixit said:

Good idea. If only there was a way to mass mute all of these "I know better than BB" threads, this board might actually be readable again.

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what do we do about helpless groupthinkers?

billdog3484 said:

your statement is an invalid inference based on no known forms of logic. in other words, you are making crap up

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1) You stated that we needed to "come close" to replacing Revis.
2) In response to another poster, you said that you never even "came close" to saying we needed someone as good as Revis.
3) You did come close to saying #2. See #1.
4) I don't care if you can't grasp it.

billdog3484 said:

what do we do about helpless groupthinkers?

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Ah, yes, everyone else is wrong. You're a hero.

We haven't improved. It is March. NE won the SB.

But that doesn't mean "haven't improved" = lost cause. It is early. No one was too too excited about LaFell, Ayers, Branch, Butler......... at this point last year. We didn't even know Butler existed.

The season is a long process of feeling out, improving, trying to stay healthy. The Patriots have more weapons on all phases of the game than most teams. They also have fewer holes to fill than most teams. Hopefully, they will pick up a few key cogs in FA, trades, or the draft - stay healthy - and make another run.

I don't think anyone believes we have improved - but that is not a clear cut sign we aren't in for another good season.

I showed you a post that said : "we dont need a great player, but a good player"
then there was a post that said we at least need someone "close" to revis"

you then said: hahahaha honk honk, this idiot billdog thinks we need to get a Hall of Fame player to replace revis...hahahah what an idiot honk honk. right guys right, hes crazy right

Fixit said:

Ah, yes, everyone else is wrong. You're a hero.

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hahah another illogical jump. somebody help him

billdog3484 said:

I showed you a post that said : "we dont need a great player, but a good player"
then there was a post that said we at least need someone "close" to revis"

you then said: hahahaha honk honk, this idiot billdog thinks we need to get a Hall of Fame player to replace revis...hahahah what an idiot honk honk. right guys right, hes crazy right

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Crazy? I have no idea. Stupid thread? Definitely.

Can anyone tell me what this stupid "honk" thing is? Some unfunny clown is driving an unfunny bit into the ground.

We'll (hopefully) have a healthy Easley and a healthy Mayo. With the addition of Sheard and allowing for the departure of Wilfork & Ayers, that's a stronger front 7 rotation than last year.

billdog3484 said:

UMMMMM NOOOOO. i just want to know how we are going to come close to replacing him

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so, if we are going to fact check...this is what i actually wrote...

the above two statements are what i said. you then said i am crazy bc i think we need a HOF'er to replace Revis...if your logic allows you to jump to that conclusion then god bless you

billdog3484 said:

the above two statements are what i said. you then said i am crazy bc i think we need a HOF'er to replace Revis...if your logic allows you to jump to that conclusion then god bless you

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billdog3484 said:

what do we do about helpless groupthinkers?

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Guilty as charged. I admit it, last year I even thought we had a chance to win the Superbowl!

I'm such a homer.

The team is likely to be younger this year - VW, Browner and Revis were or would turn 30 this year. I know Shane V was under 30 but running backs probably have the shortest shelf life of any position in the game.

By my quick count the Pats have 5 players over 30. Gost, Nink, Slater, Volmer and that one other guy - whatshisname are all over 30. I don't think that is a lot of players and any more that come in will be short term agreements.

Also, Sheard could step into part of Nink's role this year and move to the front in 2016. As usual BB does not build a team for the next year, he builds a team with a plan for several more in the future. My point - overall this team is not aging and that fact can be seen as making it better in the long term.

this is the level we are dealing with;

i can say that i think the patriots will go 11-5 next year and i will be told that would be impossible for me to think that based on my comments in this thread. you guys are unbelievable.

billdog3484 said:

in response i only have one thing to say....HONNNNNNNKKKKKKKKK

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So, you're just a troll. Glad we got that straightened out.