So what can be done to fix this (1-2 start)?

Steve:Section 102 said:

If you're point was sarcasm, then...

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not sarcasm..

As always, there are moves that can be made (trades, etc) that shake up the formula a bit. But focusing on just internal fixes, here are a few things that have gone wrong so far, that I'm not ready to assume are "just the way it is now". They might be as bad as they've looked so far, but i'm willing to give it a few more weeks before I just accept it as inevitable:

1) I'm not ready to say Hightower has peaked for the season. It could be that he's lost a step, it could be that a change to his role is in order. But it also could be that he's regaining confidence in his body after his injury, and will look more confident and decisive in his movements as the season goes on. We'll see.

2) Michel is a rookie who missed much of camp. I expect him to get better as the year goes on. How much value that adds remains to be seen, given we have other guys who do similar things on the roster, but options are always good things. Also, I'm not giving up on his receiving ability due to a couple of drops.

3) There are two HUGE potential weapons coming to the offense in the new few weeks. Both carry (different) question marks, but both have the ability to make this offense completely unrecognizable from the version we've seen so far. Edelman not only is a weapon himself, but Brady is different when he has him. He's Tom's safety blanket, even more so than Gronk I think when he's out there. And Gordon... well, there's a LOT to still see about Gordon, so I won't rely on that. But again, potential.

4) Flowers coming back, as we've seen in some twitter posts, seems to make a huge difference. Keep him healthy, and I think Wise is making a similar leap this year. He showed by far the most energy against the Lions in the 2nd half.

5) Bentley is going to keep getting better. He's making rookie mistakes, but those will tighten up. He's shown he has good instincts, can tackle, and can take advantage of turnover opportunities. His development will improve the defense, especially if #1 comes true and Hightower rounds into form.

6) While they haven't been great in some areas, I still like our secondary. I feel like our biggest problems right now on defense are controlling the line of scrimmage, and losing on 1st/2nd down. I don't expect any secondary to consistently cover receivers when they only need to get 3 or 4 yards for the first. It's just a tough position to be in. If the front improves, the back will start to look like they should.

I don't think (or even need) all of these things end up working out. They're just examples of things that can realistically improve with hard work, coaching, and a bit of luck, without having to make any major trades.

Have someone else draft instead of snotnose Bill

Bill's on to 2020!

Lol, the Pats are ranked 24th in the latest power rankings

USA TODAY Week 4 power rankings: Patriots descend to NFL's basement beneath Browns, Jets

Biggest change needed is attitude - that became obvious to me in watching Dietrich Wise's attempt to inject some life into a listless team.

Unfortunately, the next two plays were the deciding factor in the game. The Pats had just made it 13-10 and had all the momentum. Wise sacks Stafford at the 18 (iirc), creating a 2nd and very long (17?).

Two plays later, the Lions are on the 40 with a 1st down. Game over. Maybe it's scheme, maybe talent, maybe energy, maybe all three.

The only way it gets fixed is if the Pats get mad. Something is very wrong in Foxboro right now. It's palpable. The Gronk drama, Brady's attitude...they're carrying a Superbowl Hangover (Butler drama, too).

Sometimes you have to hit the bottom to remember the point of it all and to get rid of the distractions. So fix that first. Come out ready to play.

Beyond that, they need a massive infusion of talent at WR - Gordon and Edelman? Hogan is a good #2, but a great #3 (and a terrible #1). I was beginning to have hopes with Dorsett after week 1, but he's another guy who isn't going to carry the load. And I don't think Brad is enamored of Patterson - was that grounding a statement in pure frustration?

So maybe jettison someone and make the Britt move even after grabbing Gordon?

And no, Danny Amendola wouldn't fix this. I love the guy - clutch, attitude, etc., but he's not THE guy. And no, Brandin Cooks wouldn't fix this. Cooks is excelling in the Rams offense because of Gurley. Cooks is a solid receiver, a #1 even on some teams, but he's not a physical mismatch who fights for the ball. I wouldn't pay him that kind of $.

On D, the linebackers seem to be the biggest problem, again, and yeah, mostly Hightower. He knows it and will work to fix it - if it's fixable with him and not simply the new reality for him.

This unit is screaming for leadership and emotion.

Joey007 said:

I expected snarky one line answers, anyone have anything insightful to say? That’s all I want to hear at this point

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1. Throw the damn ball to Patterson. WTF? He has speed and can catch. Send him deep. Utilize his qualities.

2. Dont leave Sony on an island and I dont get all the east west runs parallel with the LOS. Run him behind Devlin or something.

3. Involve James White. 3 or 4 carries and a couple of receptions is a crime. Give the guy touches.

4. If Burkhead gets well, bring him in the game before the 2 minute warning in the 4th quarter. Does he have to be earned incentives or something?

5. The playcalling seems predictable. Obviously you want to save your best plays for the post season because once you unveil them that bell has been rung and its on film. Surely Mickey D can do better.

Your best defense is an offense. 3 and out, 3 and out, 3 and out places too much wear and tear on the defense. Detroit had the ball 18 more minutes than NE.

DaBruinz said:

Garoppolo was traded for a 2nd rounder that became Thuney and Mitchell. How was BB supposed to know that Mitchell's knees would let go after a season. Not to mention that without Mitchell, we don't beat Atlanta in the SB.

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Nitpicking, but Jimmy was on the team in 2017

It’s painfully obvious that the Pats are top heavy team. They have top players like Brady, Gronk, Edelman, and Gilmore but the rest of the roster is made up of average talent. This is the downside to having the GOAT at QB - he carries the rest of the slobs on the team, we end up with a low draft pick that ultimately gets traded for a 2nd rounder, which is used to draft someone that gets put on IR.

I think by November we are gonna be firing on all cylinders offensively and it'll carry us to the divisional MAYBE AFCCG round until the defense lets us down. I really think Gordon and Edelman will open up the offense a whole lot but it'll take a couple weeks to get there. If we get to November with no more than 4 losses I think we'll be fine

Sad to say ,but it seems like every year we say ahhh its just the first few games they will figure it out. There come a day and it just might be this year they won't/can't fix the issues this team has. Missed and terrible draft picks are starting to haunt BB and the GM of this team...

12Brady said:

Sad to say ,but it seems like every year we say ahhh its just the first few games they will figure it out. There come a day and it just might be this year they won't/can't fix the issues this team has. Missed and terrible draft picks are starting to haunt BB and the GM of this team...

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You may be right, and who knows, this could be the year... but the point of bringing up the slow starts in the past are not to say, "This will definitely happen again", but more, "There's no reason to think things can only get better with radical changes." The fact we lost two in a row is bad, but I don't think either game individually was as bad as that Chiefs game in 2014. And things turned around pretty quickly there.

It's a macrocosm of what happens during a game like the one we just saw: We were down, and in the end didn't pull off the comeback. But should anyone have thought that comeback COULDN'T happen? After all the impossible ones we've seen recently? As sloppy as the team looked in the first half, part of me expected them to win once they got it to 13-10. Didn't work out, but this team has given us more reason for benefit of the doubt than it has the other way around.

maineman209 said:

REPORTER: "Coach, what do you think about the execution of the offense?"

BB: "I'm in favor of it."

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John McKay?

PatriotSpy said:

You have to want to fix something first in order to fix something. I don't think BB wants to fix it this year. I think he wants to expedite Brady's retirement. He traded cooks, tried to trade Gronk. Let amendola walk. He wanted to get rid of Brady's weapons. He wants a high draft pick to draft his replacement.

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if thats true why did he got gordon?

ensoul said:

Doesn't change the fact that BB isn't good at drafting and that is why the D(and receivers) looks like it does. He trades Collins and Jones for draft picks and blows the draft picks. This has been going on for years. Defense clearly has holes so what does he draft? A RB in the first round.

I'm sure he's not the only one drafting but the end of the day it's his team in his decisions. He is supposed to be this defensive genius yet his this is D he has been rolling out the past 2 seasons.

Hightower is done, there is no pass rush, LB are slow and the secondary is weak. It's going to take years to fix this D.

I don't even have to get into the fact that Brady, at age 41, hands down has the worst group of receivers in the NFL by a million miles.

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Ok. So go ahead and review 5 other teams and see just how many players they have on their roster from those 5 drafts..

Someone mentioned it earlier. Why not inquire on deone bucannon? He’s obviously not in Steve Wilks defensive plan, and he’s obviously on the lighter side for a LB but he can cover. Compensation would be light.

TommyBrady12 said:

It’s painfully obvious that the Pats are top heavy team. They have top players like Brady, Gronk, Edelman, and Gilmore but the rest of the roster is made up of average talent. This is the downside to having the GOAT at QB - he carries the rest of the slobs on the team, we end up with a low draft pick that ultimately gets traded for a 2nd rounder, which is used to draft someone that gets put on IR.

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I wanted the laugh and agree at the same time well said. Saying the rest of the roster is made up of average talent is being kind...the rest is more like below average talent.

Ras-IR Dowling said:

Someone mentioned it earlier. Why not inquire on deone bucannon? He’s obviously not in Steve Wilks defensive plan, and he’s obviously on the lighter side for a LB but he can cover. Compensation would be light.

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That’s basically Chung at this point. If they didn’t have Chung, I’d be in favor.

TinhWoodhead said:

if thats true why did he got gordon?

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Trolls dont answer questions

PatsFan2 said:

I wanted the laugh and agree at the same time well said. Saying the rest of the roster is made up of average talent is being kind...the rest is more like below average talent.

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Which is perfect for a below average poster (and person) like you.