A Month Ago

[mgteich]

A month ago, many here were discussing the total rebuilding of this team, because of its very serious needs at so many positions.

Now, my modest suggestion is that this team will be one of the top 5 again in 2019 after
1) re-signing our free agents
2) bringing back our injured
3) using our draft well (at least 3 front six defensive players, a TE, a QB, and a couple of more.

Obviously, some players will go, being replaced by the additions from the IR and the draft, UDFA's and perhaps a mid-range free agent or two. My BOTTOM LINE is that this team is a top team for at least another year.

 

[IllegalContact]

I wasn't one of them.........2 critical points in time caused me to go full in with what we have

1 - 2014 season
2 - trading of garoppolo

it's all about riding this wave until it crashes into shore

 

[tasmlab]

About four years ago BB started using September as a training/practice/tuning period. Now he just arrogantly uses the entire regular season as a practice.

What ever they do next year, it'll be interesting to see fan sentiment if things aren't always clicking and there are some bad games. Will we just assume that it's all going to come together in the playoffs?

 

[signbabybrady]

There was a lot said a month ago I'm for forgiving them and moving on.

 

[jah]

I really didn't think this team was going to get it together. Happy to be wrong.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

They still have major roster challenges. The idea that this current team was capable of making it to the Super Bowl was never in dispute. They have a huge number of key players on the wrong side of their prime and lacking blue chip young talent. Michel and Jackson have made a pretty noticeable difference, and perhaps Wynn and Dawson may still chip in and make the 2018 draft class a memorable one. Still a lot of major rebuilding required in the next few years, though it's possible they're just going to ride it out with many of their core players and see how long they can play until they hit the wall.

 

[luuked]

A month ago, many here were discussing the total rebuilding of this team, because of its very serious needs at so many positions.

Now, my modest suggestion is that this team will be one of the top 5 again in 2019 after
1) re-signing our free agents
2) bringing back our injured
3) using our draft well (at least 3 front six defensive players, a TE, a QB, and a couple of more.

Obviously, some players will go, being replaced by the additions from the IR and the draft, UDFA's and perhaps a mid-range free agent or two. My BOTTOM LINE is that this team is a top team for at least another year.

What do you mean a month ago... some bozos were asking to rebuild and firesale the team after the Jaguars game.

The overreacting is here every single loss.

 

[ashley]

You even had people on here all year wanting to get rid of Elandon Roberts, can you imagine that?

 

[Adam Seward]

As long as no one went full FourierSeries, you can hang your head in shame for a little and work back into the groove.

 

[PatsDeb]

A month ago I thought there was no way the Pats were winning a playoff game on the road and that they had blown the season at the end of the Miami game. Now I think they are going to win the SB. I love the Patriots! Good thing they are not as mercurial as their fans!

 

[mgteich]

SB win or not, they need to upgrade the D.L. & LB corps. Need a deep threat receiver.

OK, I'll bite.

LB
This group has been very, very good. Hightower was OK. Van Noy has been lights out. Roberts has been very good, and much improved.

Their coverage skills have been so good that both Hightower and Van Noy played 100% of the reps on Sunday.

McClellan has been excellent on ST's. Humber has contributed on ST's.

We will add Bentley next year, who should be good; he certainly had a good start. We even have an additional u=youngster in Sam.

SURE, we could use a stud to eventually replace Hightower (Bentley may already be that player). So, yes, we should spend a high pick on a linebacker.

That is hardly a huge NEED.
======================================
DL

Here there is more need, since players are free agents. We have some players returning: Guy, Butler, Wise, Clayborne and Rivers.

Let us presume that we re-sign Flowers, Simon, Brown and perhaps Kamalu. Of course, we might sign a free agent equivalent of Flowers, and/or Brown and/ or Simon. We would expect to draft at least 2 DL's in the first 3 rounds. Hopefully, one of this would beat out Clayborne.

Is the situation on the DL the is a crisis? I think not.
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WR
Yes, we have the annual hunt for WR's. This is CERTAINLY business as usual. We have our slot receiver (Edelman) and his backup Berrios). Hogan, Patterson and Dorsett are all free agents.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

my wife says during every game as I wring my hands and lament that this play or that call will end the season, "why are you so upset, the players don't seem to be bothered at all".

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

You even had people on here all year wanting to get rid of Elandon Roberts, can you imagine that?

 

[Adam Seward]

Patriots could give up 2 1sts and a 2nd for A.B. They have the draft capital to do it. Still don't know if that would be enough for Pittsburgh though. Maybe look at getting a FA ( I am unsure what FA receivers are even available).

Seems sound and prudent

 

[DarrylS]

Patriots could give up 2 1sts and a 2nd for A.B. They have the draft capital to do it. Still don't know if that would be enough for Pittsburgh though. Maybe look at getting a FA ( I am unsure what FA receivers are even available).

Why would you bring in a selfish receiver to this team at the probable expense of signing anyone else?? His signing would disrupt the Patriots Economic System... AB will wind up with some long suffering team and will contribute to their long suffering.

 

[BTTA]

my wife says during every game as I wring my hands and lament that this play or that call will end the season, "why are you so upset, the players don't seem to be bothered at all".

The fact that our wives are well ahead of most of us, on many things, is hardly a revelation.

 

[ALP]

there were people calling for a rebuild?

on this forum?

that's such an unusual jump to negative conclusions for this forum, how weird...

 

[Hyped]

For the 2019 season, I am not too concerned about the defense. Sure, I'd love to have a hybrid LB/safety that can cover mismatches at receiver, another DE as good as Flowers and a rock solid DT in the middle to shore up the run D too. But IMO, we need more offensive firepower...someone to really replace Gronk/Edelman within the next 1-2 seasons. No, I am not interested in AB...too expensive....but moving up in the draft would help, IMO. Unsure what is out there in FA yet...but people just don't let explosive pass catchers go.....

 

[BTTA]

To be fair to all of us, the team was not executing well at all a month ago, in several phases.
The turnaround from then, to now, is the most progress I've seen a Pats team make, over a few weeks, in memory. That's part of what is so great about these last two wins. Who are these guys in Pats uniforms?
Clearly, the largest reason I'm surprised is my own ignorance about what was actually happening with the team in December, but I don't think I'm alone.

 

[BTTA]

I think safety needs to be addressed, just because the current guys are getting up there.
They could very well give us another really good year, but we've been very lucky there with injuries and performance, given their age.