Article on Hollins working with Chism

[Lavictoire]

Watch this guy be a Malcolm Butler type hero in playoffs or SB.

 

[TommyD4207]

There are threads for the Barmore and Diggs issues. Let's leave them there. Unless you're completely incapable of staying on topic.

Consider the source.
Have to make sure 'uppity' gets implied every time without typing it out.

 

[Huckleberry1]

We'll agree to disagree on when the Pats should look at a receiver. They shouldn't look at one before day 3 unless it's someone who was touted as a 1st rounder and is there at the end of Day 2 and he's better than options at RB, LB, DE, and CB.

I think that you're right about the defense. I was looking at some and there are some areas (currently) where it looks to be stronger than I first thought. That could change by the time FA rolls around when teams who are out of the play-offs start negotiating with their own free agents.

I think it all comes down to where they can get value, not monetarily, but in terms of the quality of the players. Last year people were screaming for a left tackle in free agency, but by the time teams were done re-signing their own Dan Moore was the best left available, and Tennessee wasted their money on him. I think this front office is smarter than that, and they won't make moves out of desperation. They are in much better shape this coming offseason, and a good chunk of money will be needed to sign their own free agents, but there are some guys who could really help them if the opportunity presents itself, e.g...Tyler Lindebaum. As far as the draft goes I think it will be BPA for the most part, especially if they go far in the playoffs. Unfortunately there will be a run on Edge early, and it will be difficult to get near the top prospects, but if they are within range of him I would love to see them go after Kenyon Shadiq TE Oregon. Maye loves throwing to his TE's and Shadiq would be a great option for him. I don't see any WR prospects in the 2nd half of the first round worth the pick, especially with Bell and Brazzell now dealing with significant injuries, but I haven't really looked at the depth of the WR class, but if they see a guy who they believe can really help them I'm all for grabbing them. Same thing goes for moving up or down in the draft.

 

[mgteich]

Pop could most possibly be in season trade target if someone offers a 4th rounder for him .

Sure, we might trade him late in camp. Until then, we should keep our 6 WR's plus the couple we add.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Diggs could very well be a goner.

This whole Chef thing was so easily avoided, but he had to go full AB and drag the team into it. The Pats success or failure in this post season is hitched to what happens to Diggs.

If the team/league were going to suspend him, they would have already. It took them all of two days to get Jabrill Peppers on the Commissioner's Exempt list last year.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

His SALARY, by itself, is meaningless. His compensation this year includes: 2.9M salary, 12M in signing bonus, 3.4M in game day roster bonuses (yes, I'm assuming he dresses tomorrow). So, that's 18.3M for this season. Not including the other "performance incentives".

So, the jump for next year to $20.6M in salary is not as big of a deal as some people would like you to believe because the Roster bonuses are halved.

Also most of that 2026 salary is guaranteed, so if they don't trade him it's going to hit the cap.

 

[patfanken]

Mack Hollins has exceeded all my expectation after a pre-season where he didn't look like much. Glad he's signed for another year. This off the field veteran leadership stuff is not something you can quantify with stats.

I went back and watched a lot of Douglas on tape and then Chism in the last game. I still think Chism will thrive mainly in the slot. HIs strength seems to be finding holes in the zone and sharp cuts that create separation. Both of those attributes work better in the slot.
DD is not a bad player, just doesn't seem to have a standout trait. He gets open more than I thought but Chism's footwork is much better which I think is the difference maker between the 2.
Both here next year on cheap money but I suspect Chism takes more of Pops reps and they move on from Pop after 2026.

Doing a cut in one less step than the other guy, is essentially what makes guys like Puka, Kupp, and JSN into guys who constantly get separation and deep despite the fact that they don't have remarkable speed or outrageous twitch. Maybe Chism has this quality or can develop it.
.
My only qualm with him is that EVERY team has a guy or two just like Chism on their roster. There will always be another Chism to add to your roster and he will need another job to do to keep a roster spot while he adds to his receiver skills. Hollis is going to be 36 next year. My latest binky is that Bleaker (sp?) kid from IU. He's a faster 6'4 Hollins who probably could be had in the 3rd or 4th. This is based on my diligent 3 hours of scouting of one game in front of a TV.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Doing a cut in one less step than the other guy, is essentially what makes guys like Puka, Kupp, and JSN into guys who constantly get separation and deep despite the fact that they don't have remarkable speed or outrageous twitch. Maybe Chism has this quality or can develop it.
.
My only qualm with him is that EVERY team has a guy or two just like Chism on their roster. There will always be another Chism to add to your roster and he will need another job to do to keep a roster spot while he adds to his receiver skills. Hollis is going to be 36 next year. My latest binky is that Bleaker (sp?) kid from IU. He's a faster 6'4 Hollins who probably could be had in the 3rd or 4th. This is based on my diligent 3 hours of scouting of one game in front of a TV.

You're thinking of Charlie Becker who isn't eligible until 2027.

 

[n1997y]

Assuming they want to get another WR somewhere next offseason, who is the odd man out in 2026? Or are we set at WR for next season?

It’s important to always be looking to improve. That said, I think the WRs are better than they are given credit for being. Most of them are young and still improving. Diggs is the oldest and closest to the decline of his abilities but even he may be better next year as he is now just barely a full year past his ACL repair. So if we keep the exact same set of WRs for next season we are probably all set in my book.

We actually need to add Chism to the WRs we regularly target, IMO. Even just doing that, to utilize a receiver already on the roster, may force another one to become the “odd man out”.

We need to find more touches for Kyle Williams next year, too.

Pop Douglas has not been heavily utilized this season, as far as I can recall. There may have been a game or a couple of games where he was targeted fairly often, but most games he’s not gotten many targets iirc. So if that’s an indication of his standing with the staff perhaps he’s the odd man out. Or perhaps that’s just another indication that there is one football and only so many plays and targets to be spread around.

Stepping back to look at the overall offense, the first thing that stands out to me is that by far most pass plays are very successful. That says there is not a deficiency in our receiving corps.

If anyone feels we need to improve our receivers, what is it that needs improvement?

Do we need receivers with better hands, so they don’t drop the ball as much and improve the completion rate?

Do we need receivers that are better at getting open, so everyone isn’t covered so often and Drake doesn’t have the problem of nobody to throw to? Does he have such a problem? To fix it do we need better route running? Or better separation skills? Or what?

Do we need better speed so Drake doesn’t have such problems going deep?

Where is the need for improvement most urgent?

 

[mgteich]

There will always be another Chism to add to your roster and he will need another job to do to keep a roster spot while he adds to his receiver skills.

And every year, we should, and probably will, bring in a 6th or 7th rounder and/or an UDFA.

Boutte, Douglas, Chism

 

[n1997y]

Assuming they want to get another WR somewhere next offseason, who is the odd man out in 2026? Or are we set at WR for next season?

Expanding on my comments about WR, and taking a step back to look at the overall offense, where does the offense most need improvement?

To my eye the passing game is all set. Maye would not be in the running for MVP if the passing game were not elite.

The running game is average, which is an improvement from earlier in the season, but still leaves lots of room for improvement. I’d say that if the running game were as good as the passing game this offense would be truly elite. It shows signs that it has the potential to be that good, so what does it need to make that improvement?

I see two things that could be improved: OL opening holes, and RBs hitting those holes. I think the first is the biggest thing. The OL seems very inconsistent in run blocking. There are occasional big holes and when there are and Rham or Hendo hits them we’ve got good success. The times we don’t have success it seems to me it’s usually because there’s no hole to be hit. Very occasionally I think the RB could find something, but not as much. Basically I think that the RBs doing better at finding holes and following blocks could turn some three yard runs into five yard runs, while OL doing better at opening holes would turn three yard runs into thirty yard runs.

So my conclusion is that the biggest opportunity for improvement on the offense is to get better run blocking from the OL.

I can’t say if that requires an upgrade in personnel, or if the present personnel just need better technique and execution. I suspect a lot may be technique and execution, because the other, or perhaps more specific, opportunity for improvement is in the red zone. That seems to be because of predictability or identification by the opposing defenses, which makes me wonder if there are tips or tells that telegraph intentions especially on running plays.

Anyway,those are the two areas I’d like to see the offense improve: short yardage/red zone plays, and explosive running plays. I think our skill players are good enough to do both, so I’d like to see improved performance by the OL, whether that’s better personnel or just better performance by the existing players.

Of course I would also be quite happy if we added another RB like Breece Hall or Bijon Robinson. lol.

 

[mgteich]

So my conclusion is that the biggest opportunity for improvement on the offense is to get better run blocking from the OL.

I can’t say if that requires an upgrade in personnel, or if the present personnel just need better technique and execution. I suspect a lot may be technique and execution, because the other, or perhaps more specific, opportunity for improvement is in the red zone. That seems to be because of predictability or identification by the opposing defenses, which makes me wonder if there are tips or tells that telegraph intentions especially on running plays.

this

 

[Ross12]

Also most of that 2026 salary is guaranteed, so if they don't trade him it's going to hit the cap.

I don't think that's true, is it? AFAIK only $1.7M of his 2026 salary is guaranteed. I think another $5M or so of it becomes guaranteed if he's still rostered by mid-March. But that's still not even half of the $20M.

That said, I don't think he gets moved. To me, the contract reads like some level of a "prove it" deal where the first year is lower but incentive-heavy and if he proves it then he earns the higher WR1 level salaries that are already baked in. The team can then also convert that salary into a signing bonus and add void years if they'd like to lower his cap hit substantially.

 

[mike_usagisan]

It’s important to always be looking to improve. That said, I think the WRs are better than they are given credit for being. Most of them are young and still improving. Diggs is the oldest and closest to the decline of his abilities but even he may be better next year as he is now just barely a full year past his ACL repair. So if we keep the exact same set of WRs for next season we are probably all set in my book.

We actually need to add Chism to the WRs we regularly target, IMO. Even just doing that, to utilize a receiver already on the roster, may force another one to become the “odd man out”.

We need to find more touches for Kyle Williams next year, too.

Pop Douglas has not been heavily utilized this season, as far as I can recall. There may have been a game or a couple of games where he was targeted fairly often, but most games he’s not gotten many targets iirc. So if that’s an indication of his standing with the staff perhaps he’s the odd man out. Or perhaps that’s just another indication that there is one football and only so many plays and targets to be spread around.

Stepping back to look at the overall offense, the first thing that stands out to me is that by far most pass plays are very successful. That says there is not a deficiency in our receiving corps.

If anyone feels we need to improve our receivers, what is it that needs improvement?

Do we need receivers with better hands, so they don’t drop the ball as much and improve the completion rate?

Do we need receivers that are better at getting open, so everyone isn’t covered so often and Drake doesn’t have the problem of nobody to throw to? Does he have such a problem? To fix it do we need better route running? Or better separation skills? Or what?

Do we need better speed so Drake doesn’t have such problems going deep?

Where is the need for improvement most urgent?

I think they’ll probably look to upgrade Hooper more than the WRs. Maybe the one from ATL or the one from the Ravens? And then try to improve the line. Then focus on D.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I don't think that's true, is it? AFAIK only $1.7M of his 2026 salary is guaranteed. I think another $5M or so of it becomes guaranteed if he's still rostered by mid-March. But that's still not even half of the $20M.

Yeah, my bad.

 

[patfanken]

Also most of that 2026 salary is guaranteed, so if they don't trade him it's going to hit the cap.

You're thinking of Charlie Becker who isn't eligible until 2027.

now THAT's a shame. Thanks for the info

 

[patfanken]

Expanding on my comments about WR, and taking a step back to look at the overall offense, where does the offense most need improvement?

To my eye the passing game is all set. Maye would not be in the running for MVP if the passing game were not elite.

The running game is average, which is an improvement from earlier in the season, but still leaves lots of room for improvement. I’d say that if the running game were as good as the passing game this offense would be truly elite. It shows signs that it has the potential to be that good, so what does it need to make that improvement?

I see two things that could be improved: OL opening holes, and RBs hitting those holes. I think the first is the biggest thing. The OL seems very inconsistent in run blocking. There are occasional big holes and when there are and Rham or Hendo hits them we’ve got good success. The times we don’t have success it seems to me it’s usually because there’s no hole to be hit. Very occasionally I think the RB could find something, but not as much. Basically I think that the RBs doing better at finding holes and following blocks could turn some three yard runs into five yard runs, while OL doing better at opening holes would turn three yard runs into thirty yard runs.

So my conclusion is that the biggest opportunity for improvement on the offense is to get better run blocking from the OL.

I can’t say if that requires an upgrade in personnel, or if the present personnel just need better technique and execution. I suspect a lot may be technique and execution, because the other, or perhaps more specific, opportunity for improvement is in the red zone. That seems to be because of predictability or identification by the opposing defenses, which makes me wonder if there are tips or tells that telegraph intentions especially on running plays.

Anyway,those are the two areas I’d like to see the offense improve: short yardage/red zone plays, and explosive running plays. I think our skill players are good enough to do both, so I’d like to see improved performance by the OL, whether that’s better personnel or just better performance by the existing players.

Of course I would also be quite happy if we added another RB like Breece Hall or Bijon Robinson. lol.

Since we are going to obsess with WR's, I'll offer this suggestion. To me, I think this would be a great year to use the extra 4th round pick (or one of the 6ths to take a shot if one of those injured players is there. Kind of like what Detroit did with Jameson Williams a couple of years ago. Take next year to keep developing Williams and Boutte and let Diggs and Hollins play out the string, while a high quality talent that you got for a draft bargain heals. This is the kind of thing you can afford to do when you have a QB who elevates his receivers.

 

[mike_usagisan]

His SALARY, by itself, is meaningless. His compensation this year includes: 2.9M salary, 12M in signing bonus, 3.4M in game day roster bonuses (yes, I'm assuming he dresses tomorrow). So, that's 18.3M for this season. Not including the other "performance incentives".

So, the jump for next year to $20.6M in salary is not as big of a deal as some people would like you to believe because the Roster bonuses are halved.

Yeah, it gets a little bigger in 2027, right?

 

[Zuma]

Hollis is going to be 36 next year.

 

[DaBruinz]

Also most of that 2026 salary is guaranteed, so if they don't trade him it's going to hit the cap.

Where are you getting that most of Diggs salary is guaranteed? Are you confusing Guaranteed Money with Guaranteed Salary?

Per OvertheCap, only 1.7M of Diggs 2026 salary is guaranteed, currently. Another 6M will become guaranteed IF he's on the Pats roster as of March 15. Even still, that's only 7.7M and not 20.6M. That's 37%..

EDIT: Just saw that you responded to Ross.