33rd Team Ranks Patriots as #1 Roster Most in Need of Help

[Pape]

They need both. What happened the following year after the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl? While they had injuries, the coaching was clearly inferior. Troy Aikman even said it himself that after Jimmy Johnson left, the coaching was a problem and their eventual downfall after the 1995 season. Switzer was canned two years after winning a Super Bowl.

That was Ken Wisenhut in 2008. I totally forgot about that guy. Two former Steelers offensive coordinators with Cowher/Tomlin staff were the HC of the Arizona Cardinals.

Thanks for the info. i stand corrected. Edited my post, fixing that error.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I get caught up in my own optimism sometimes.. I guess I was just looking at it differently, and liked the fact we have a young future star in Drake. But to your point yes, taking the time to build up the team especially the o line is all a process. To clarify my post I was just referring to the team building aspect of roster building and cohesion during training camp. That's all.

Again, I like the optimism, I just think that building a championship caliber contender takes a good deal of time, great decision making, and great coaching. I want them to get there just as soon as anyone else does, but doing everything right takes time. I am really happy about the Maye pick, I think he has the ability and mentality to turn into a great QB, I just don’t want to see that ruined by hurrying the process.i also really like the approach Wolf is taking. I think he is being smart and methodical. He did a great job resigning players they need to build around, and passing on overpriced free agents in a bid to win now. I think he’s giving Mayo the leeway to put together a program for the long term, and will judge him on reasonable metrics, not just winning immediately. I think it will be based upon how they compete and grow as a team. However if they play soft, and execute like crap for any extended period of time that time frame will shorten accordingly.

I am looking forward to this season more than I have since the end of the Dynasty, but my expectations around wins is going to be forgiving this year, and less so as each season goes by. If they still aren’t a playoff team after 3 seasons then they are going to have to look hard at why that is, and adapt accordingly. Until them I’m willing to gauge them on how the progress is going, but the new management deserves at least that long a leash.

 

[Real fan 02]

Again, I like the optimism, I just think that building a championship caliber contender takes a good deal of time, great decision making, and great coaching. I want them to get there just as soon as anyone else does, but doing everything right takes time. I am really happy about the Maye pick, I think he has the ability and mentality to turn into a great QB, I just don’t want to see that ruined by hurrying the process.i also really like the approach Wolf is taking. I think he is being smart and methodical. He did a great job resigning players they need to build around, and passing on overpriced free agents in a bid to win now. I think he’s giving Mayo the leeway to put together a program for the long term, and will judge him on reasonable metrics, not just winning immediately. I think it will be based upon how they compete and grow as a team. However if they play soft, and execute like crap for any extended period of time that time frame will shorten accordingly.

I am looking forward to this season more than I have since the end of the Dynasty, but my expectations around wins is going to be forgiving this year, and less so as each season goes by. If they still aren’t a playoff team after 3 seasons then they are going to have to look hard at why that is, and adapt accordingly. Until them I’m willing to gauge them on how the progress is going, but the new management deserves at least that long a leash.

I respect this. This is as pinpoint a post on the form. To your point wolf being elsewhere has helped him tremendous. I too love the way he's approaching being GM. He identified pieces on the team to be part of the culture going forward. I know that peppers, ownenu, henry ,Barmore all said they want to be here and be part the team when they start to get back on top. We have the ingredients to build towards the future.

 

[captain stone]

When our OT's become a competent unit, we will have the talent of a contender for the playoffs, needing only that the team learns the Offense and is on the same page, and of course avoids 2023's level of injuries.

Too many holes to be no more than a contender for the 7th seed, maybe, this season, only to be *****-slapped (again) during the opening round.

 

[captain stone]

Gronk is qualified to rate the 3 stooges with Moe, Larry and Curly vs Moe, Larry and Shemp.

That's the order I have them too; with neither of the Joes as a serious contender.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Too many holes to be no more than a contender for the 7th seed, maybe, this season, only to be *****-slapped (again) during the opening round.

A season like that would be a fantastic outcome, even if the playoffs were a bad ending. As long as the team learns from and is not discouraged by the experience it will help build resolve. Most championship teams are built on lessons learned from early failures.

 

[captain stone]

More word candy from Bill.

 

[Real fan 02]

More word candy from Bill.

2003-04 playmakers on defense:
Willie Mac, Ted Johnson, Ted Bruschi, ty law, ty Poole, roman Phifper, Assante Samuel, ted Washington, Harrison, Warren, Green, Seymour,

2024-24 playmakers on defense:
Peppers, Gonzo, J. Jones, K. White, Godchaux, dugger, Jennings, judon, Bentley, Tavai, barmore, wise

 

[mgteich]

I stand by my statement. I expect us to play like a contender IF WE HAVE ADEQUATE PLAY AT OT.

I don't expect that to happen for a few games.
===================
But, in 2023, we had no OT's, no QB, and no WR's (other than Douglas). We add Maye, Brissett, Okorafor, Wallace, Anderson, Bourne, Osborn, Polk and Baker.

On Defense, we add back Judon, Gonzo and Marcus Jones. Hawkins and Takitaki should also help.
===========
SOME (many?) of you believe that we will not even win ONE more game. The above just isn't worth even one game.

 

[TheRainMaker]

I stand by my statement. I expect us to play like a contender IF WE HAVE ADEQUATE PLAY AT OT.

I don't expect that to happen for a few games.
===================
But, in 2023, we had no OT's, no QB, and no WR's. We add Maye, Brissette, Okorafor, Wallace, Anderson, Bourne, Osborn, Polk and Baker.

On Defense, we add back Judon, Gonzo and Marcus Jones. Hawkins and Takitaki should also help.
===========
SOME (many?) of you believe that we will not even win ONE more game. The above just isn't worth even one game.

Because you're not taking into account this is a first year HC and DC running the team. It's unlikely Mayo is a savant like Bill and Bill covered up many of his roster building blunders through his coaching. The defense has overachieved the last few seasons (statistically), but I think we'll see the lack of talent showing up this season.

They have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. They could start 0-4 in a blink of an eye.

Everyone on defense is a year older - Judon most importantly.

They don't have a FS where they struggled badly at times last season.

Their lack of team speed on D gets exposed when they play the better teams in the NFL. They still lack it.

Brissett is going to be way too conservative and will fold like a lawn chair if the defense can't hold. Brissett is a downgrade. In fact, Mac Jones has a better winning percentage than Brissett and the guy who just landed $55M per year.

And the offensive line by is rated by critics among the worst in the league. This is the latest:

2025 NFL Offensive Line Rankings, All 32 Teams

Best offensive lines for the 2023 NFL season. Ranking all 32 NFL offensive lines by team, including every positional group in the NFL.

www.sharpfootballanalysis.com

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

But...there are 32 teams...

They are so bad they beat themselves

 

[Huckleberry1]

I stand by my statement. I expect us to play like a contender IF WE HAVE ADEQUATE PLAY AT OT.

I don't expect that to happen for a few games.
===================
But, in 2023, we had no OT's, no QB, and no WR's. We add Maye, Brissette, Okorafor, Wallace, Anderson, Bourne, Osborn, Polk and Baker.

On Defense, we add back Judon, Gonzo and Marcus Jones. Hawkins and Takitaki should also help.
===========
SOME (many?) of you believe that we will not even win ONE more game. The above just isn't worth even one game.

You think winning one more game makes them a contender? For what? Contenders are teams that can challenge for a Lombardi, not teams trying to make the playoffs. IMO last season there were 5 contenders, the Chefs, the Bills, the 49ers, the Lions, and possibly the Eagles. The rest were teams just happy to make the playoffs. The Patriots are not even in the discussion for the playoffs this season, let along “ contending.” As I said to areal Fan 02’ I like the optimism, but this year is just about getting stability and making some gains as a team, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to consider them in the hunt for the playoffs.

 

[mgteich]

You think winning one more game makes them a contender? For what? Contenders are teams that can challenge for a Lombardi, not teams trying to make the playoffs. IMO last season there were 5 contenders, the Chefs, the Bills, the 49ers, the Lions, and possibly the Eagles. The rest were teams just happy to make the playoffs. The Patriots are not even in the discussion for the playoffs this season, let along “ contending.” As I said to areal Fan 02’ I like the optimism, but this year is just about getting stability and making some gains as a team, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to consider them in the hunt for the playoffs.

OK when you use the word contender, we know you are speaking about the top 5 teams in the NFL.

 

[Force Zero Boomer]

SOME (many?) of you believe that we will not even win ONE more game. The above just isn't worth even one game.

There’s a good chance we will win 2 or 3 games. Why? Too many things have changed across the board, and many of those will have to work out to have a better season than last year. We are so bad, we must hit on a lot of these picks and free agents. We’re not a good team looking to upgrade a few spots. We have massive, gaping holes that we are trying to fill with rookies and JAGs, all while integrating new coaches and systems. And man, we better not get hurt anywhere.

There’s just too much that needs to go right to be sanguine, but I hope we get lucky, since we haven’t had much of it lately. If Drake Maye turns out to be an absolute stud, that’s half the battle.

 

[Huckleberry1]

OK when you use the word contender, we know you are speaking about the top 5 teams in the NFL.

That’s fluid. Some years there are more, some years probably less, but yes, when I use the word “ contender” I am referring to teams in contention for the Championship. With .500 teams competing for playoff spots to do otherwise would include most teams.

 

[mgteich]

That’s fluid. Some years there are more, some years probably less, but yes, when I use the word “ contender” I am referring to teams in contention for the Championship. With .500 teams competing for playoff spots to do otherwise would include most teams.

Yup, most teams (perhaps 20) are contending for the playoffs each year, just as the NFL and the TV media desire.

That leaves quite a lot (16 teams) who are long shots at best.

 

[Wozzy]

Too many holes to be no more than a contender for the 7th seed, maybe, this season, only to be *****-slapped (again) during the opening round.

A wildcard bid with a rookie QB would be a pretty solid outcome. The future would be bright if the collaboration station learned how to identify quality offensive tackles in the draft.

 

[Fuzz]

There’s a good chance we will win 2 or 3 games. Why? Too many things have changed across the board, and many of those will have to work out to have a better season than last year. We are so bad, we must hit on a lot of these picks and free agents. We’re not a good team looking to upgrade a few spots. We have massive, gaping holes that we are trying to fill with rookies and JAGs, all while integrating new coaches and systems. And man, we better not get hurt anywhere.

There’s just too much that needs to go right to be sanguine, but I hope we get lucky, since we haven’t had much of it lately. If Drake Maye turns out to be an absolute stud, that’s half the battle.

Honestly just curious about this - I've heard this a lot and am wondering which positions you consider to have massive holes. I see one huge hole at LT and 4 major question marks at the starter level - QB1, WR1, LG & K. There is a reasonable chance we get adequate level play at most of the question mark positions.

On the defensive side, the starters look set, but there are a couple of depth positions (particularly in the secondary) that seem weak. I expect the defense to perform similarly to last year even though we lost Bill because we have a lot of continuity. There were reports that Bill was focused mostly on the offense in the last couple of years anyway.

 

[Real fan 02]

Honestly just curious about this - I've heard this a lot and am wondering which positions you consider to have massive holes. I see one huge hole at LT and 4 major question marks at the starter level - QB1, WR1, LG & K. There is a reasonable chance we get adequate level play at most of the question mark positions.

On the defensive side, the starters look set, but there are a couple of depth positions (particularly in the secondary) that seem weak. I expect the defense to perform similarly to last year even though we lost Bill because we have a lot of continuity. There were reports that Bill was focused mostly on the offense in the last couple of years anyway.

I believe the LT is on the roster.. we have guys.. just someone needs to perform well there. May the best 5 line up. Mayo's already said the best players, will play. On D. I have 0 concerns.. the same defense will be played, and you have guys returning that were out last season. The 2nd CB spot opp. gonzo looks as if Alex Austin is that guy heading into camp. It would ne nice if he could keep that role.. we would then have 2 physical 6"2 guys on the out to make it tough on QBs..

QB1 is likely Brissett * for now. If the o line performs well in camp and Drake is playing well expect mayo and wolf to make the best decision for the team.

 

[TheRainMaker]

An update on my prior post. PFF ranks the Pats WR room as the worst in the NFL. #28th for OL. I don't care for PFF, but it's pulling teeth finding other articles grading stuff like this.

2024 NFL receiving corps rankings: Bears and Texans crack the top 5

We rank all 32 NFL receiving corps ahead of the 2024 season, beginning with the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins.

www.pff.com

Updated 2024 NFL offensive line rankings: Lions take top spot, led by Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow

We rank all 32 NFL offensive lines ahead of the 2024 season, beginning with the Detroit Lions.

www.pff.com