Key Players [Mac Jones/others] Isn't/Aren't Ready to Play

[Tunescribe]

Folks laugh at this post - likely to indirectly express their rage at me that I dare to not think highly of Mac Jones - but I think it could have real merit.

The Patriots posted a video of their nutrition team. They have a head nutritionist, they prepare meals for the players, these meals are served to the team. I recall - perhaps wrongly - that they served the team a larger dinner before an evening game; I'd need to rewatch the video, it's been awhile.

Laugh if you wish but this stuff is real.

Your concern is unfounded conjecture, this kind of thing is tightly managed in professional sports where billions of dollars are at stake. Rest assured the players are getting optimal nutrition down to type of calories and exact time they're ingested pregame.

Bleacherreport article quote: ... having a good night's sleep—something that is usually vital to performing well the next day. Most teams schedule a time to break bread together the next morning. The team meal is vitally important because aside from water and Gatorade, that will likely be the last thing you take into your body until after the game. If your body doesn't have the proper amount of fuel to run on, you may end up getting embarrassed during the game.

I'm absolutely gobsmacked by the lengths folks go to defend Jones, as if he's earned the benefit of the doubt or has accomplished anything meaningful since joining the team that should earn him loyalty. He's certainly not the only problem, but the lengths folks go to prop him up are truly unbelievable.

It's not a matter of "defending" Mac Jones. It's a matter of understanding how things work and what factors impact the offense's functionality.

 

[thecore762]

Honestly I think that if we don't make the playoffs this year Bill "retires" and the new coach gets a year or so to figure out if Mac can be a franchise QB. I would rather tear it down to the studs and start over and deal with the rough 2-3 years than just keep trying to live on the fringes of the playoffs.

With BB gone the team will need a GM, I am hoping we can get a solid GM.

 

[archstanton543]

So are we talking about this stuff in general or are we talking specific guys? You need to name the people you'd take instead.

Any old offensive guy instead of Gonzalez isn't really a compelling argument

If it were me, I'd do what Belichick did, pick the guy who is more likely to become a game changer or future all-pro.

I don't know. I'm not a draftnick. Its BB's job to see who's available and/or see what deals are available in the draft.

 

[upstater1]

You're not improving the team when you're continually using your resources early in the draft on the same areas of the team when their are way more pressing needs. While CB was a major need, you're #1 priority is building around your QB you took at #15 two years ago. Taking a DB, an Edge and a hybrid S/LB will not help him stay upright and throw to an open receiver.

The Pats are turning into the 2014-2018 Jaguars where they were hoarding defensive players while neglecting offense which got them nowhere. The Jets did this as well hoarding defense.

At some point, you have to balance out your team. And you can't say "the Pats took the best available player" as they haven't drafted a Pro Bowl or All Pro on offense since 2010 or defense since 2013.

Just tell me who they should've taken, for heaven's sake?

Kincaid over Gonzalez?

I mean, right now all 3 Jones's are out, Jack, Jon and Marcus. We have Wade and Bryant out there.

Having a guy become an All-Pro at the CB position is crucial when you're going against the likes of Jefferson, etc. So name the WR we should have taken instead of Gonzalez. Or second rounder instead of Keion White?

JSN seems good, but he's right now averaging 1.8 yds per target (last in the NFL among WRs with 5 targets per game).

Quentin Johnson with 3 catches 16 yards in a pass happy offense.

Zay Flowers has been fantastic. Jordan Addison pretty good with 7 catches and 133 yards, 2 catches for 100+, the other 5 for 20+.

Instead of Keion White, we could've taken Jayden Reed who has 6 catches, Rashee Rice for 5 catches.

We don't know if any of these players are better than Demario Douglas with the exception of Zay Flowers.

 

[upstater1]

I don't know. I'm not a draftnick. Its BB's job to see who's available and/or see what deals are available in the draft.

I have no idea what we're talking about anymore. We landed a stud, the kind we're rarely ever in drafting position to take. The last time the Patriots picked as high as 14 was 2010. Those premium players at the top are in high demand, and the drafting of Gonzalez shows why. That's where you land the studs. The last 2 times we picked at 14 or higher we ended up with Jerod Mayo and Richard Seymour.

 

[archstanton543]

Just tell me who they should've taken, for heaven's sake?

Kincaid over Gonzalez?

I mean, right now all 3 Jones's are out, Jack, Jon and Marcus. We have Wade and Bryant out there.

Having a guy become an All-Pro at the CB position is crucial when you're going against the likes of Jefferson, etc. So name the WR we should have taken instead of Gonzalez. Or second rounder instead of Keion White?

JSN seems good, but he's right now averaging 1.8 yds per target (last in the NFL among WRs with 5 targets per game).

Quentin Johnson with 3 catches 16 yards in a pass happy offense.

Zay Flowers has been fantastic. Jordan Addison pretty good with 7 catches and 133 yards, 2 catches for 100+, the other 5 for 20+.

Instead of Keion White, we could've taken Jayden Reed who has 6 catches, Rashee Rice for 5 catches.

We don't know if any of these players are better than Demario Douglas with the exception of Zay Flowers.

Let's put the plans for Gonzo's bust in Canton on hold for a while.

You'd figure by bringing in BOB, they'd get a top fight guy he can use. And not Mike "Wait, I'm Supposed To Block Too?!?" Gieseki.

 

[TheRainMaker]

not to mention in todays high flight offense there is never going to be a shut down defense like the ravens or seahawks.

so when you need to win a shootout how do you match the likes of hill, waddle, aj brown etc. with bourne/juju/parker none of whom are too explosive.

These two teams are great examples. Ravens had a one year run in 2000 and then they weren't good enough after that as the offense was putrid. The defense is not capable of doing that every year. Seahawks won one Super Bowl, but their defense cracked against the Pats in the 2014 Super Bowl. Seahawks didn't do anything after that as Seattle neglected the offense while the defense aged. 2015 Broncos are another example. They couldn't duplicate that the following year. It's just not sustainable.

 

[archstanton543]

I have no idea what we're talking about anymore. We landed a stud, the kind we're rarely ever in drafting position to take. The last time the Patriots picked as high as 14 was 2010. Those premium players at the top are in high demand, and the drafting of Gonzalez shows why. That's where you land the studs. The last 2 times we picked at 14 or higher we ended up with Jerod Mayo and Richard Seymour.

You said pick someone you'd rather have. I said I don't know know because I don't follow the draft (or college gane).

That's not that hard to follow.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Just tell me who they should've taken, for heaven's sake?

Kincaid over Gonzalez?

OT was my #1 priority all offseason. So I would've taken the best guy on the board which was Brodrick Jones. You can't keep allocating your resources to the same thing over and over again and expect the team to be better overall. Bill has taken way too many DB's high in the draft for years now with very little to nothing to show for it.

 

[upstater1]

not to mention in todays high flight offense there is never going to be a shut down defense like the ravens or seahawks.

so when you need to win a shootout how do you match the likes of hill, waddle, aj brown etc. with bourne/juju/parker none of whom are too explosive.

The Patriots in 2019 shut down the top 10 offense in NFL history and held them to 3 points in the Super Bowl.

That was just 4 years ago.

Have things changed that much? That Rams team scored an incredible amount of points.

 

[grux]

I was just looking at team cap hits and I hope I was reading the info wrong but from what I read Hunter Henry has a higher cap hit than Travis Kelce.

 

[archstanton543]

Have things changed that much?

Yes.

 

[upstater1]

You said pick someone you'd rather have. I said I don't know know because I don't follow the draft (or college gane).

That's not that hard to follow.

Well, OK, then let me fill you in. There was no WR available who is going to be even remotely close to as good a player as Gonzalez. We want this guy to become Gilmore, Revis, Ty Law and Mike Haynes, guys that could shut down top WRs, and the guys who went after in the draft are not going to be Jefferson or Tyreek Hill.

 

[archstanton543]

Well, OK, then let me fill you in. There was no WR available who is going to be even remotely close to as good a player as Gonzalez. We want this guy to become Gilmore, Revis, Ty Law and Mike Haynes, guys that could shut down top WRs, and the guys who went after in the draft are not going to be Jefferson or Tyreek Hill.

But the WR would immediately be better than at least 75% of the Pats stable of WR's.

 

[upstater1]

Yes.

How? The top offenses in NFL history predate this era.

15 of the top 20 offenses are from between 1998 to 2018. That 20 year era.

Only 2 teams came after that and neither had a top WR (2020 Cowboys and 2019 Ravens). Amari Cooper, Miles Boykin and Willie Snead are the top 3 WRs from those teams.

 

[upstater1]

But the WR would immediately be better than at least 75% of the Pats stable of WR's.

Being 75% better isn't what makes the difference when you want to win a Super Bowl. Neutralizing the opposition with a Ty Law makes you a contender. Drafting Amari Cooper does not.

 

[borg]

The Patriots in 2019 shut down the top 10 offense in NFL history and held them to 3 points in the Super Bowl.

That was just 4 years ago.

Have things changed that much? That Rams team scored an incredible amount of points.

Note: 2018 season (SB played Feb '19)

Note 2.0: 2018 All Pro RB Todd Gurley was a gimp when he played vs NE in the SB.
Gurley was the Rams offense
More so than Chubb in Cleve or Henry in Tenn....2 teams BB has emasculated when those teams' primary/featured weapons were sidelined, even with Mac Jones at the helm.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

I was just looking at team cap hits and I hope I was reading the info wrong but from what I read Hunter Henry has a higher cap hit than Travis Kelce.

That's probably because he got a bonus upfront and a lower salary, doesn't mean anything. Don't confuse cap hit with cash paid.

 

[Wozzy]

That would weaken our shaky OL further right now. Onwenu is very rusty - last year he was our best OL player. I'd love to see them try him at RT again, although he seems to have put on some weight here, so maybe that won't work.

They wouldn’t trade him until the deadline, if they haven’t worked out the problems with the line by that point the season is over anyhow.

 

[Wozzy]

Trade arguably our best lineman on a team with an already shaky offensive line for what? A mid round pick next year?

If he expects to be one of the highest paid players at his position and they’re far apart in negotiations… yeah. Assuming they fix their line execution problems by the deadline. It’s better than losing him and getting nothing in return.