NEW ARTICLE: Patriots Roster Analysis Part I - Offense

Patriots Roster Analysis Part I - Offense

Mark Morse

The roster stands at 89 players as of this writing. Let's do some analysis of the team, coaches and the approach they might take.

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"I think Stidham will be a much better passer than Brady was last year..."

On what exactly are you basing this presumption? And to whom really was Brady supposed to throw last year?

"Shaq Mason...sometimes gets overpowered on bull rushes, but his pass blocking has greatly improved..."

I suppose it couldn't get any worse after the disaster of SB 52...but he & Cannon were Sieves
all...season...long...Still waiting to hear what the "injury" excuse is...

"Last year was a red-shirt year for Cajuste, who the Patriots knew was hurt when they drafted him. That is why he fell to them in the 3rd round..."

No, he was at the max a 3rd-round talent who would've fallen into the 5th round if Billy didn't jump the gun prematurely.

"Picking up Marquise Lee at a bargain basement price is a no-brainer..."

I wouldn't exactly call it a no-brainer...Chances are > 50/50 that he'll just fall by the wayside as nearly all of these signings do...And it's not like he was anything special before his devastating injury either...

Agree with pretty much everything else about the offense.

captain stone said:

On what exactly are you basing this presumption? And to whom really was Brady supposed to throw last year?

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doesn't matter..........at least based on the Cam Newton convo in another thread......he sucked, and that's that ... 60% completion means you suck

No, he was at the max a 3rd-round talent who would've fallen into the 5th round if Billy didn't jump the gun prematurely.

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On what exactly are you basing this presumption?

"Brady was very inaccurate last year"

This stat surprised me and it should surprise everybody. PFF had TB tied at #1 with the most accurate on contested throws. He ranked 12th on deep passes.

His WR's ranked last in separation.

Good article. I think you meant Jeff Thomas instead of Michael Thomas. Also no mention of Asiasi’s catch percentage in college which was excellent. He is a good blocker but he also catches everything thrown his way...he will be a popular target for Stidham. And Byrd had 359 yards last year...no mention of him...he could make the club as well.

IllegalContact said:

On what exactly are you basing this presumption?

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On every report I've read & saw about him.

captain stone said:

On every report I've read & saw about him.

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Somebody posted a bunch of articles to the contrary, but whatever......

IllegalContact said:

Somebody posted a bunch of articles to the contrary, but whatever......

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A "bunch"?

captain stone said:

A "bunch"?

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noun

1. 1.
   a number of things, typically of the same kind, growing or fastened together.
   "a bunch of grapes"

captain stone said:

A "bunch"?

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Do you just not see stuff that contradicts your opinions? Sciz posted 7 articles that had Cajuste projected preinjury as a 1st or 2nd round pick:

Post Super Bowl NFL Mock Draft 2019: After blockbuster trade, Kyler Murray or Dwayne Haskins No. 1? Giants trade with Jets for QB? Nick Bosa falling?
23rd overall in early February

Top 5 Players The Seahawks Must Target With Their 1st-Round Pick
Top 5 target for pick 29 on March 13

2019 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Miller's Post-Super Bowl Predictions
17th overall in early February

Get ready for the NFL Combine with a 3-round mock draft
31st overall in late February

2019 NFL mock draft: New year, new 4-round projections
26th overall in early January

Yodny Cajuste NFL Draft Profile |
"He will be a first round pick and I’d be surprised if he fell out of the top sixteen" on January 9

2019 NFL Draft Prospect: Yodny Cajuste - Last Word on Pro Football
"it’s easy for me to project Cajuste landing somewhere at the end of day one" at the end of January

Zuma said:

.And Byrd had 359 yards last year...no mention of him...he could make the club as well.

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Of course Byrd isn't mentioned. The primary point of the OP with regard to the passing game is that we will have a more accurate passer passing to youngsters and UDFA's.

I would prefer Hoyer passing to Ecelamn, Sanu and Byrd?LEE (plus Harry) than Stidham to Meyer Hastings and other UDFa's and AsiaSI.

mgteich said:

Of course Byrd isn't mentioned. The primary point of the OP with regard to the passing game is that we will have a more accurate passer passing to youngsters and UDFA's.

I would prefer Hoyer passing to Ecelamn, Sanu and Byrd?LEE (plus Harry) than Stidham to Meyer Hastings and other UDFa's and AsiaSI.

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Err umm....sometimes I don’t always get what your saying MGT...maybe it’s the typos. No question we all agree that we want the best WR’s to make the team. Whether that’s Lee, Byrd, Gunner, Hastings, Zuber or Thomas....I don’t care (Edelman, Harry, Sanu, Meyers are locks IMO). I agree those 6 are fighting for WR 5 / WR 6...if we keep that many.

Zuma said:

Err umm....sometimes I don’t always get what your saying MGT...maybe it’s the typos. No question we all agree that we want the best WR’s to make the team. Whether that’s Lee, Byrd, Gunner, Hastings, Zuber or Thomas....I don’t care (Edelman, Harry, Sanu, Meyers are locks IMO). I agree those 6 are fighting for WR 5 / WR 6...if we keep that many.

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I don't disagree with anything that you said.

I just was responding to the underlying tone of the OP. He seems happy to have a better passer this year. Sanu might be cut; Edelman will have reduced reps. Our hope is with those with whom Stidham has experience plus the new UDFA's.

I don't see the need for 5 WR's, since the #5 is needed for a punt returner (we have Dugger). We could have six because of the 2019 injuries to Edelman and Sanu. I would note that the #5 gets few reps over the course of the season. Even the #4th is a minor player, except when there are injuries.

mgteich said:

I don't see the need for 5 WR's, since the #5 is needed for a punt returner (we have Dugger). We could have six because of the 2019 injuries to Edelman and Sanu. I would note that the #5 gets few reps over the course of the season. Even the #4th is a minor player, except when there are injuries.

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Barring injury/release/trade, I think that Edelman, Harry, Sanu & Meyers are in the safest positions, in that order...Lee must have the camp of his life in order to even be in the running for the 4/5 spot...Byrd must show that he's healthy and can produce as both a receiver and returner, because he'll be competing against a younger version of himself in Jeff Thomas...The rest of 'em - Quincy, Hastings, Gunner, Riley, Ross, Zuber - are Practice Squad talents competing for Practice Squad spots...I think that carrying at least 5 WRs is still a distinct possibility.

captain stone said:

Barring injury/release/trade, I think that Edelman, Harry, Sanu & Meyers are in the safest positions, in that order...Lee must have the camp of his life in order to even be in the running for the 4/5 spot...Byrd must show that he's healthy and can produce as both a receiver and returner, because he'll be competing against a younger version of himself in Jeff Thomas...The rest of 'em - Quincy, Hastings, Gunner, Riley, Ross, Zuber - are Practice Squad talents competing for Practice Squad spots...I think that carrying at least 5 WRs is still a distinct possibility.

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I have a different view with regard to experienced veterans being replaced by UDFA younger versions of themselves. Maybe they'll be as good in a couple of years; maybe not. For me, that is a reason for the UDFA to make the Practice Squad, not the 53 man roster.

mgteich said:

I have a different view with regard to experienced veterans being replaced by UDFA younger versions of themselves. Maybe they'll be as good in a couple of years; maybe not. For me, that is a reason for the UDFA to make the Practice Squad, not the 53 man roster.

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The only 2019 & '20 UDFA in my opinion with a realistic shot of making the 53, besides Meyers of course, is Jeff Thomas, though if Damiere Byrd can stay healthy through TC even that might not be possible...

Kasmir said:

Do you just not see stuff that contradicts your opinions? Sciz posted 7 articles that had Cajuste projected preinjury as a 1st or 2nd round pick:

Post Super Bowl NFL Mock Draft 2019: After blockbuster trade, Kyler Murray or Dwayne Haskins No. 1? Giants trade with Jets for QB? Nick Bosa falling?
23rd overall in early February

Top 5 Players The Seahawks Must Target With Their 1st-Round Pick
Top 5 target for pick 29 on March 13

2019 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Miller's Post-Super Bowl Predictions
17th overall in early February

Get ready for the NFL Combine with a 3-round mock draft
31st overall in late February

2019 NFL mock draft: New year, new 4-round projections
26th overall in early January

Yodny Cajuste NFL Draft Profile |
"He will be a first round pick and I’d be surprised if he fell out of the top sixteen" on January 9

2019 NFL Draft Prospect: Yodny Cajuste - Last Word on Pro Football
"it’s easy for me to project Cajuste landing somewhere at the end of day one" at the end of January

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I didn't realize Cajuste was that highly regarded. Surgery on his quad was well over a year ago, so he should be ready for sure. If he's as talented as some of these articles say, he could push for a starting job. I could def see Wynn moving inside if we trade Thuney.

Zuma said:

Good article. I think you meant Jeff Thomas instead of Michael Thomas. Also no mention of Asiasi’s catch percentage in college which was excellent. He is a good blocker but he also catches everything thrown his way...he will be a popular target for Stidham. And Byrd had 359 yards last year...no mention of him...he could make the club as well.

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Byrd, Marquise Lee, and Jeff Thomas will be intriguing stories. Byrd and Lee have veteran success & production, Thomas film is eye-popping. All 3 can run and it wouldn't be a shock if all 3 make the team.

40yrpatsfan said:

Byrd, Marquise Lee, and Jeff Thomas will be intriguing stories. Byrd and Lee have veteran success & production, Thomas film is eye-popping. All 3 can run and it wouldn't be a shock if all 3 make the team.

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There is some veteran production there for sure but it’s going to be really hard for for them to all fit on the 53. I think Lee’s nagging injuries will be a problem in camp / preseason and Thomas goes to PS and is grabbed by another team. IMO Byrd makes the 53 out of the 3.

40yrpatsfan said:

Byrd, Marquise Lee, and Jeff Thomas will be intriguing stories. Byrd and Lee have veteran success & production, Thomas film is eye-popping. All 3 can run and it wouldn't be a shock if all 3 make the team.

Click to expand...

Zuma said:

There is some veteran production there for sure but it’s going to be really hard for for them to all fit on the 53. I think Lee’s nagging injuries will be a problem in camp / preseason and Thomas goes to PS and is grabbed by another team. IMO Byrd makes the 53 out of the 3.

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Yeah I'm not sure if there's room on the 53 for both Byrd & Thomas either...They're basically the same player, so it could become a matter of Which of the two performs that role better in camp.