Wilfork#75
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2010
- Messages
- 2,348
- Reaction score
- 859
***DISCLAIMER*** THIS IS NOT WHAT I PREDICT THE PATRIOTS WILL DO, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD PERSONALLY DO.
Its a sad time for the Patriots and the end of an era with Tom Brady gone. We all knew it was coming eventually but it still hurts. I was fully prepared to go all in with Brady for 2 more years to try and win another Lombardi trophy. Now we have to move forward and its important to be honest with where we currently sit. I think this team can be competitive in 2020 but I don't think we can compete for a Super Bowl. It's not just losing Brady, its our LB core being decimated, we still haven't found any answers to our offensive weaponry issues and we have very limited cap space. I don't think we should tank and I can't see BB ever doing it, but I think its important to look to the future and make some tough decisions.
We will never be able to replace Brady because he was the offensive system. He is undoubtedly the GOAT but he also had his limitations. What this does is gives us the opportunity to evolve and potentially revolutionize the way the Pats play offense in the NFL. I think this could look very different moving forward, not just from a personnel perspective but from a scheme perspective. I think the heavy reliance on option routes, short passing and methodically moving down the field isn't very sustainable without Brady under center. I would love to see us move forward by borrowing different aspects from other successful teams, in particular KC, Baltimore and New Orleans offenses.
I love the way KC spreads out it weapons to create mismatches in different formations to attack vertically. While it certainly helps to have a generational talent at QB I think Andy Reid needs a lot of credit for his creative play designs to take big shots down the field. Guys like Kelce and Tyreke Hill may not be the most well rounded players but they have elite traits that make them so difficult to match up against and the Chiefs use them very well. I really like the way they use simple passing concepts out of complex formations and would love to see McDaniels get creative. We don't have that kind of talent on offense right now so that would be my focus of this offseason. I really like Stidham's arm and I think he could excel throwing down the field.
I love Baltimore's run game with a dual threat QB, pistol formation, RPO's and zone read. This is something we could never do with Brady's athletic limitations but now everything is on the table. We have two very athletic OG's and an athletic LT that are already well suited to this pull heavy zone running game. I think Rex Burkhead and Damien Harris would also excel in this kind of scheme but I have my reservations if Sony Michel is a fit. While Stidham is no Lamar Jackson he is definitely more athletic than Brady and I think this could be a good way to use his legs.
So how do you combine an offense built around spreading out its weapons and throwing deep down the field with RPO's, zone read and heavy run offense? By taking a page out of the Saints playbook and taking it even further. The Saints have had great success using Taysom Hill as a compliment to Drew Brees at QB in certain situations. I would like to see an even more balanced duo if we can compliment Stidham with a dual threat QB. I'm not talking about a 50-50 split, but two QB's with complimentary skill sets that can be adaptable to any situation. Think Taysom Hill with a better arm playing maybe 15-25% of the snaps depending on the opponent or situation.
This could completely open up the playbook and let McDaniels imagination run wild. We could adapt week to week based on the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents and greatly increase our options for different game situations. In the end the only way this kind of system can work is if you have the right players and that is what makes this draft so important.
Trades
Patriots trade CB Stephon Gilmore + RB Sony Michel + 2021 3rd to Det for 2(35) + 2021 1st + swap 2020 3rds (98 for 67)
This is a pretty complicated trade but one I think works for both teams. Its very difficult moving Gilmore because he has been so good for the Pats and if Brady remained I would have looked to lock him up long term. But if we're not going to be serious Super Bowl contenders in 2020 I think its smart to get maximum value for him now. With Gilmore we have the best secondary in the league, without him I think we still have a top 10 unit. While I think this is selling low on Sony I just don't see him as a great fit for the offense I envisage. He's not a threat in the passing game or as agile or explosive as I would like for this kind of offense.
Why would Detroit do this? Matty P and Bob Quinn are on the hot seat and they probably need a good season in 2020 to keep their jobs. They have still have a huge hole at CB after trading Darius Slay and everyone expects them to draft Jeffrey Okudah from Ohio State. This trade would give them the reigning DPOY at their biggest need who is a perfect fit in their system and is already very familiar with Matty P. This also allows them to draft DT Derrick Brown or LB Isiah Simmons who fill other major needs and are seen by most as the superior players. I expect them to trade down from #3 to either 5 or 6, still be able to get arguably the 3rd or 4th best player in the draft in Brown or Simmons and obtain a nice haul to offset some of the picks they are giving up in this trade. Detroit also desperately needs a RB to pair with Kerryon Johnson and Sony would be a nice fit.
If Detroit thinks they are on the way up and the Pats are on the way down this is a good deal for them. If Stafford gets hurt again and the Lions have another poor season it could be a great trade for the Pats and would help accelerate the rebuild. While the 2020 draft is very talented, the 2021 draft is shaping up to be special, having an extra 1st round pick could be huge for the future of the franchise.
Patriots trade TE Rob Gronkowski + WR Julian Edelman + 3rd (87) to TB for 1(14) + TE OJ Howard
Another tough one to swallow but in the end we might be better off long term moving on from these two. With rumors that Gronk might be willing to come out of retirement to play with Brady in TB and Edelman coming towards to end of his career, neither guy figures in the Pats plans long term. To me this feels like the the Pierce/KG trade to the Nets. While it hurts to see two legends of the franchise depart (especially after losing Brady), it might be in our best interests to maximise their value. Gronk will never play for the Pats again and I don't think Edelman will be part of the Pats next Super Bowl run
From a pure value standpoint these two might not be worth a mid 1st round pick at this point in their careers but Tampa is in a unique situation. They are all in on Brady for the next 2 years and it's Super Bowl or bust for them. I think they would be crazy to turn this deal down because adding Gronk and Edelman to Brady, Godwin, Evans and Brate would make them instant NFC favorites. OJ Howard is entering the last year of his contract (I don't see them picking up his 5th year option) so he is expendable. I don't think there are any players they could get at 14 that would make them better than adding Gronk and Jules and they still have the ammo to move up and get an OT to protect Brady. Another factor that TB might consider is with such a disrupted off-season due to COVID-19, adding two players Brady already has chemistry with could be especially valuable due to limited preparation. You could argue Gronk and Edelman have more value to Tampa Bay than any other team in the NFL including the Patriots, so we should be able to squeeze a nice return out of them.
Patriots trade 2(35) + 6(195) to Baltimore for 2(55) + 3(92) + 3(106)
The Pats suddenly have a lot of holes and not a lot of cap space. Moving down and accumulating picks in the middle rounds is always a decent option. Baltimore was aggressive in free agency which allows them to be aggressive in the draft too.
Patriots Picks
1(14). WR- Henry Ruggs III- Alabama
1(23). LB- Kenneth Murray- Oklahoma
2(55). QB- Jalen Hurts- Oklahoma
3(67). WR- Bryan Edwards- South Carolina
3(92). DE- Darrell Taylor- Tennessee
3(100). TE/WR- Chase Claypool- Notre Dame
3(106). RB- Antonio Gibson- Memphis
4(125). IOL- Tyler Biadasz- Wisconsin
5(172). K- Tyler Bass- Georgia Southern
6(204). OG- Kevin Dotson- Lousiana Lafayette
6(212). LB- Markus Bailey- Purdue
6(213). WR- Jauan Jennings- Tennessee
7(230). TE- Stephen Sullivan- LSU
7(241). TE- Matthew Wilkerson- Edward Waters College
Its a sad time for the Patriots and the end of an era with Tom Brady gone. We all knew it was coming eventually but it still hurts. I was fully prepared to go all in with Brady for 2 more years to try and win another Lombardi trophy. Now we have to move forward and its important to be honest with where we currently sit. I think this team can be competitive in 2020 but I don't think we can compete for a Super Bowl. It's not just losing Brady, its our LB core being decimated, we still haven't found any answers to our offensive weaponry issues and we have very limited cap space. I don't think we should tank and I can't see BB ever doing it, but I think its important to look to the future and make some tough decisions.
We will never be able to replace Brady because he was the offensive system. He is undoubtedly the GOAT but he also had his limitations. What this does is gives us the opportunity to evolve and potentially revolutionize the way the Pats play offense in the NFL. I think this could look very different moving forward, not just from a personnel perspective but from a scheme perspective. I think the heavy reliance on option routes, short passing and methodically moving down the field isn't very sustainable without Brady under center. I would love to see us move forward by borrowing different aspects from other successful teams, in particular KC, Baltimore and New Orleans offenses.
I love the way KC spreads out it weapons to create mismatches in different formations to attack vertically. While it certainly helps to have a generational talent at QB I think Andy Reid needs a lot of credit for his creative play designs to take big shots down the field. Guys like Kelce and Tyreke Hill may not be the most well rounded players but they have elite traits that make them so difficult to match up against and the Chiefs use them very well. I really like the way they use simple passing concepts out of complex formations and would love to see McDaniels get creative. We don't have that kind of talent on offense right now so that would be my focus of this offseason. I really like Stidham's arm and I think he could excel throwing down the field.
I love Baltimore's run game with a dual threat QB, pistol formation, RPO's and zone read. This is something we could never do with Brady's athletic limitations but now everything is on the table. We have two very athletic OG's and an athletic LT that are already well suited to this pull heavy zone running game. I think Rex Burkhead and Damien Harris would also excel in this kind of scheme but I have my reservations if Sony Michel is a fit. While Stidham is no Lamar Jackson he is definitely more athletic than Brady and I think this could be a good way to use his legs.
So how do you combine an offense built around spreading out its weapons and throwing deep down the field with RPO's, zone read and heavy run offense? By taking a page out of the Saints playbook and taking it even further. The Saints have had great success using Taysom Hill as a compliment to Drew Brees at QB in certain situations. I would like to see an even more balanced duo if we can compliment Stidham with a dual threat QB. I'm not talking about a 50-50 split, but two QB's with complimentary skill sets that can be adaptable to any situation. Think Taysom Hill with a better arm playing maybe 15-25% of the snaps depending on the opponent or situation.
This could completely open up the playbook and let McDaniels imagination run wild. We could adapt week to week based on the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents and greatly increase our options for different game situations. In the end the only way this kind of system can work is if you have the right players and that is what makes this draft so important.
Trades
Patriots trade CB Stephon Gilmore + RB Sony Michel + 2021 3rd to Det for 2(35) + 2021 1st + swap 2020 3rds (98 for 67)
This is a pretty complicated trade but one I think works for both teams. Its very difficult moving Gilmore because he has been so good for the Pats and if Brady remained I would have looked to lock him up long term. But if we're not going to be serious Super Bowl contenders in 2020 I think its smart to get maximum value for him now. With Gilmore we have the best secondary in the league, without him I think we still have a top 10 unit. While I think this is selling low on Sony I just don't see him as a great fit for the offense I envisage. He's not a threat in the passing game or as agile or explosive as I would like for this kind of offense.
Why would Detroit do this? Matty P and Bob Quinn are on the hot seat and they probably need a good season in 2020 to keep their jobs. They have still have a huge hole at CB after trading Darius Slay and everyone expects them to draft Jeffrey Okudah from Ohio State. This trade would give them the reigning DPOY at their biggest need who is a perfect fit in their system and is already very familiar with Matty P. This also allows them to draft DT Derrick Brown or LB Isiah Simmons who fill other major needs and are seen by most as the superior players. I expect them to trade down from #3 to either 5 or 6, still be able to get arguably the 3rd or 4th best player in the draft in Brown or Simmons and obtain a nice haul to offset some of the picks they are giving up in this trade. Detroit also desperately needs a RB to pair with Kerryon Johnson and Sony would be a nice fit.
If Detroit thinks they are on the way up and the Pats are on the way down this is a good deal for them. If Stafford gets hurt again and the Lions have another poor season it could be a great trade for the Pats and would help accelerate the rebuild. While the 2020 draft is very talented, the 2021 draft is shaping up to be special, having an extra 1st round pick could be huge for the future of the franchise.
Patriots trade TE Rob Gronkowski + WR Julian Edelman + 3rd (87) to TB for 1(14) + TE OJ Howard
Another tough one to swallow but in the end we might be better off long term moving on from these two. With rumors that Gronk might be willing to come out of retirement to play with Brady in TB and Edelman coming towards to end of his career, neither guy figures in the Pats plans long term. To me this feels like the the Pierce/KG trade to the Nets. While it hurts to see two legends of the franchise depart (especially after losing Brady), it might be in our best interests to maximise their value. Gronk will never play for the Pats again and I don't think Edelman will be part of the Pats next Super Bowl run
From a pure value standpoint these two might not be worth a mid 1st round pick at this point in their careers but Tampa is in a unique situation. They are all in on Brady for the next 2 years and it's Super Bowl or bust for them. I think they would be crazy to turn this deal down because adding Gronk and Edelman to Brady, Godwin, Evans and Brate would make them instant NFC favorites. OJ Howard is entering the last year of his contract (I don't see them picking up his 5th year option) so he is expendable. I don't think there are any players they could get at 14 that would make them better than adding Gronk and Jules and they still have the ammo to move up and get an OT to protect Brady. Another factor that TB might consider is with such a disrupted off-season due to COVID-19, adding two players Brady already has chemistry with could be especially valuable due to limited preparation. You could argue Gronk and Edelman have more value to Tampa Bay than any other team in the NFL including the Patriots, so we should be able to squeeze a nice return out of them.
Patriots trade 2(35) + 6(195) to Baltimore for 2(55) + 3(92) + 3(106)
The Pats suddenly have a lot of holes and not a lot of cap space. Moving down and accumulating picks in the middle rounds is always a decent option. Baltimore was aggressive in free agency which allows them to be aggressive in the draft too.
Patriots Picks
1(14). WR- Henry Ruggs III- Alabama
1(23). LB- Kenneth Murray- Oklahoma
2(55). QB- Jalen Hurts- Oklahoma
3(67). WR- Bryan Edwards- South Carolina
3(92). DE- Darrell Taylor- Tennessee
3(100). TE/WR- Chase Claypool- Notre Dame
3(106). RB- Antonio Gibson- Memphis
4(125). IOL- Tyler Biadasz- Wisconsin
5(172). K- Tyler Bass- Georgia Southern
6(204). OG- Kevin Dotson- Lousiana Lafayette
6(212). LB- Markus Bailey- Purdue
6(213). WR- Jauan Jennings- Tennessee
7(230). TE- Stephen Sullivan- LSU
7(241). TE- Matthew Wilkerson- Edward Waters College
