- Joined
- Jul 11, 2005
- Messages
- 15,517
- Reaction score
- 27,504
I thought I'd start a thread to highlight a short video by Matt Chatham at NESN who extolled what he's seen of LT Isaiah Wynn. He marveled at his quick feet, and extolled his pad level and power against the hard rush. I have since read several others who pretty much were saying the same thing, pointing out many of the reasons the Pats made him their highest first round pick since Nate Solder at #17 though its kind of ridiculous to think that 23 as a high pick for the last decade, but I guess that's the pain of being a Pats fan. 
).
BTW- I would have had a link to the clip if I knew how to do it, but its on the NESN site. Also there is something wrong in a name that has 3 consecutive vowels in the middle, right?
The point being that everyone legitimately viewed the LT position as being one of few question marks about this team. I know I did. Well, based on the limited reviews we've had, we can all breathe a little easier because it looks like not only will Wynn be our LT, he could be a GREAT one.
When he was first drafted a LOT of the pundits were saying that he's too short and light to be a LT in the NFL but was a perfect fit as a guard. I remember hearing the same thing about another Pats' LT when Matt Light was drafted. I remember posting that while Light was an adequate LT, he'd be an All Pro as a LG. Fortunately Bill wasn't watching the site that day and missed my suggestion.
I was less fearful. I thought Wynn's lightning feet are made for today's game, where 4.6 edge rushers are becoming the norm. Quickness and athleticism are more and more becoming the prerequisites for great offensive linemen. Bulk and strength, while still important, are no longer the only requirements for the job. Granted his height and arm length are about 2-3 inches shorter than the ideal that we've come to expect, but I believe strongly that elite foot speed, agility, and technique beat that minor defect.
Hopefully he will get a series or two on Saturday and make me look like a prophet instead of a fraud.
Now we pause this post for a RANT!
If you caught the talk show circuit the last few days the media's narrative has taken 2 pathways. First, that the Pats were negligent this off season when they didn't sign anyone significant at WR. Second, that the Pats are setting up Brady for failure by NOT providing him with any targets at WR and TE. These are both BULLSH!T narratives and I'm kind of getting pissed at having to hear them day in and day out.
The media (and that includes both national as well as local) has ALWAYS had a very distorted view of the value of WR's. Today Bertrand was saying, "hey, teams like the Falcons can afford to pay big bucks to assemble great WR's," My head almost exploded when I heard that "hot take" drivel.
Think about it. How many times have great WR's led their team to Superbowls. Sure the Falcons went to one with the highly paid Jones and Sanu, but clearly that was a one and done affair. How the F*CK can these local guys watch the last 20 years of Patriots football and come up with that kind of take. Think of all the great WR's who never even sniffed a ring. That number is far greater than the few who actually got one. Overpaying WR's, who if they touch the ball 10 times in a game is HUGE, has been the death knell for many a good team over the years. Often times these teams are paying ONE guy what the Pats are paying ALL their WR's.....and STILL we as Pats fans continually salivate when ANY WR becomes available.
Here are the facts. The WR talent the Pats have in this current TC is BETTER than what was there last season. You know the season where we WON as superbowl. It's bigger, more athletic and more versatile. Harry looks like a keeper. Meyers looks a lot better than a "developmental guy". Harris and Inman have flashed, well enough to make a decent looking slot guy like Berrios in danger of not making the 53. Plus Gunner actually looks like a "developmental guy" worth a PS slot.
AND you have proven NFL quality WR's in Gordon, Thomas and Meredith waiting in the wings
Granted there are a bunch of these guys out with MINOR injuries, but Brady has gone on to win MANY MANY games with receiver corps a LOT worse and thinner than this one. The only FACTUAL complaint that can be made is that the injury situation has lessened the familiarity that the WR's will have with Brady. While the reality is, imho, the Pats will have to make some difficult cuts come September at WR and at least a couple of NFL quality WR's are going to be let go.
If you want proof that the WR hysteria is unjustified you just have to look at the last 2 practices the Pats had with one of the better secondaries in the conference. Based on all reports, the Pats moved the ball through the air far better than Titan with a WR group that included, Inman, Meyers, Berrios and a guy who was playing CB at freakin D-2 Bemiji State getting first team reps as a WR (AND impressing Malcom Butler)
Now a lot of that success had to do with the QB, of course. And it would have been better for him to be working with Harry etc. But the fact is they moved the ball. They were EFFECTIVE, with a WR group made up of guys who are unlikely to make the team, at least most of them. There IS no WR problem!!!!!
Rant over.
).BTW- I would have had a link to the clip if I knew how to do it, but its on the NESN site. Also there is something wrong in a name that has 3 consecutive vowels in the middle, right?
The point being that everyone legitimately viewed the LT position as being one of few question marks about this team. I know I did. Well, based on the limited reviews we've had, we can all breathe a little easier because it looks like not only will Wynn be our LT, he could be a GREAT one.
When he was first drafted a LOT of the pundits were saying that he's too short and light to be a LT in the NFL but was a perfect fit as a guard. I remember hearing the same thing about another Pats' LT when Matt Light was drafted. I remember posting that while Light was an adequate LT, he'd be an All Pro as a LG. Fortunately Bill wasn't watching the site that day and missed my suggestion.
I was less fearful. I thought Wynn's lightning feet are made for today's game, where 4.6 edge rushers are becoming the norm. Quickness and athleticism are more and more becoming the prerequisites for great offensive linemen. Bulk and strength, while still important, are no longer the only requirements for the job. Granted his height and arm length are about 2-3 inches shorter than the ideal that we've come to expect, but I believe strongly that elite foot speed, agility, and technique beat that minor defect.
Hopefully he will get a series or two on Saturday and make me look like a prophet instead of a fraud.
Now we pause this post for a RANT!
If you caught the talk show circuit the last few days the media's narrative has taken 2 pathways. First, that the Pats were negligent this off season when they didn't sign anyone significant at WR. Second, that the Pats are setting up Brady for failure by NOT providing him with any targets at WR and TE. These are both BULLSH!T narratives and I'm kind of getting pissed at having to hear them day in and day out.
The media (and that includes both national as well as local) has ALWAYS had a very distorted view of the value of WR's. Today Bertrand was saying, "hey, teams like the Falcons can afford to pay big bucks to assemble great WR's," My head almost exploded when I heard that "hot take" drivel.
Think about it. How many times have great WR's led their team to Superbowls. Sure the Falcons went to one with the highly paid Jones and Sanu, but clearly that was a one and done affair. How the F*CK can these local guys watch the last 20 years of Patriots football and come up with that kind of take. Think of all the great WR's who never even sniffed a ring. That number is far greater than the few who actually got one. Overpaying WR's, who if they touch the ball 10 times in a game is HUGE, has been the death knell for many a good team over the years. Often times these teams are paying ONE guy what the Pats are paying ALL their WR's.....and STILL we as Pats fans continually salivate when ANY WR becomes available.
Here are the facts. The WR talent the Pats have in this current TC is BETTER than what was there last season. You know the season where we WON as superbowl.
It's bigger, more athletic and more versatile. Harry looks like a keeper. Meyers looks a lot better than a "developmental guy". Harris and Inman have flashed, well enough to make a decent looking slot guy like Berrios in danger of not making the 53. Plus Gunner actually looks like a "developmental guy" worth a PS slot.AND you have proven NFL quality WR's in Gordon, Thomas and Meredith waiting in the wings
Granted there are a bunch of these guys out with MINOR injuries, but Brady has gone on to win MANY MANY games with receiver corps a LOT worse and thinner than this one. The only FACTUAL complaint that can be made is that the injury situation has lessened the familiarity that the WR's will have with Brady. While the reality is, imho, the Pats will have to make some difficult cuts come September at WR and at least a couple of NFL quality WR's are going to be let go.
If you want proof that the WR hysteria is unjustified you just have to look at the last 2 practices the Pats had with one of the better secondaries in the conference. Based on all reports, the Pats moved the ball through the air far better than Titan with a WR group that included, Inman, Meyers, Berrios and a guy who was playing CB at freakin D-2 Bemiji State getting first team reps as a WR (AND impressing Malcom Butler)
Now a lot of that success had to do with the QB, of course. And it would have been better for him to be working with Harry etc. But the fact is they moved the ball. They were EFFECTIVE, with a WR group made up of guys who are unlikely to make the team, at least most of them. There IS no WR problem!!!!!
Rant over.
Last edited:
