Not A Bad Roster

[State]

As such I think the team and probably fans are zen with the notion that if Maye goes down this season we'll be looking at a high draft pick - probably by design.

Well, that may be. But at least the drafting is infinitely better than during the Belichick era. Many here defended the indefensible. Have you owned up to it?

 

[TheRainMaker]

I need to see more preseason games where the starters play against other starters, but this roster should be able to compete on paper.

 

[PWRxWLF]

Larison went on IR today so there will be room for all of the binkies with 1 or 2 more injuries. Happens every year.

Vrabel rests veterans to help them last as long as possible, so we can not judge the final picture based on reps and playing time. Moses is hobbled by a long term knee issue for example. There is a strong similar argument that Vrabel is resting Strange because Pantella injuries can repeat so frequently (Strange insight provided by @signbabybrady). Having said that, Mapu and Jennings appear fighting for a spot.

How is Strange repping with the backups mean he is being rested?

 

[Clonamery]

1) I think that Chism isn't worth a roster spot, considering that we have 6 WR's that can be here for a couple of years and perhaps beyond. We also have a couple of receiving RB's and a couple of receiving TE's.

2) I do like 5th rounder Swinson but will understand if he doesn't make the 53. His roster spot could go to another on the roster or to an acquisition. So, perhaps there are better prospects than Swinson. There are several DE's, OLB's and STers who might be better uses if a roster spot.

I dislike your ANALysis as unserious and short-sighted as usual. Chism can return punts and get 1st downs and block as a rookie udfa. Other WRs on your roster cannot. Everyone loves him, you do not. We get it, you don't like players that work their ass off. He saves kittens from trees, dogs from house fires, trapped kids from school buses in accidents, women from abusive relationships and you have the temerity to put him down.

 

[p8ryts]

Larison went on IR today so there will be room for all of the binkies with 1 or 2 more injuries. Happens every year.

Vrabel rests veterans to help them last as long as possible, so we can not judge the final picture based on reps and playing time. Moses is hobbled by a long term knee issue for example. There is a strong similar argument that Vrabel is resting Strange because Pantella injuries can repeat so frequently (Strange insight provided by @signbabybrady). Having said that, Mapu and Jennings appear fighting for a spot.

both are expendable

 

[p8ryts]

I dislike your ANALysis as unserious and short-sighted as usual. Chism can return punts and get 1st downs and block as a rookie udfa. Other WRs on your roster cannot. Everyone loves him, you do not. We get it, you don't like players that work their ass off. He saves kittens from trees, dogs from house fires, trapped kids from school buses in accidents, women from abusive relationships and you have the temerity to put him down.

Good Job. Chism also is an effective plug in for a likely Pop injury of some limited or lengthy duration.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Well, that may be. But at least the drafting is infinitely better than during the Belichick era. Many here defended the indefensible. Have you owned up to it?

If Belichick were honest with himself even he would admit he wasn't great at drafting, perhaps aside from finding some diamonds in the rough among later picks and UFAs. He always seemed to have more than his fair share of misses in the 2nd round too.

Belichick certainly made up for it in various ways - helped greatly by the fact that a lot of veterans would often take a pay cut to join a winning organization. He was also adept at finding some quality depth among the camp cuts of other teams, not to mention always having a robust shadow roster.

I'm expecting Vrabel will likely take a similar approach, and there will be a few surprose cuts - maybe even some trades with teams in need of quality players - and a few additions from among the castaways of other teams.

 

[Zuma]

1) I think that Chism isn't worth a roster spot, considering that we have 6 WR's that can be here for a couple of years and perhaps beyond. We also have a couple of receiving RB's and a couple of receiving TE's.

I thought that originally but changed my tune the past couple weeks. He should be on the 53.

2) I do like 5th rounder Swinson but will understand if he doesn't make the 53. His roster spot could go to another on the roster or to an acquisition. So, perhaps there are better prospects than Swinson. There are several DE's, OLB's and STers who might be better uses if a roster spot.

@mgteich Ponder is the better player...or even Truman Jones.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I dislike your ANALysis as unserious and short-sighted as usual. Chism can return punts and get 1st downs and block as a rookie udfa. Other WRs on your roster cannot. Everyone loves him, you do not. We get it, you don't like players that work their ass off. He saves kittens from trees, dogs from house fires, trapped kids from school buses in accidents, women from abusive relationships and you have the temerity to put him down.

Winner. He has a predetermined mindset that anyone drafted in the first four rounds shouldn’t be cut for years. He has preached for years that the depth at WR and DB has to play special teams or they are worthless, he threw that out the window when it conflicted with his draft pick “ philosophy.” He has had it in for Chism from the moment they signed him, and no amount of evidence will change his position. Like Sam and State he has an agenda, and he just keeps banging the drum on it.

 

[Huckleberry1]

If Belichick were honest with himself even he would admit he wasn't great at drafting, perhaps aside from finding some diamonds in the rough among later picks and UFAs. He always seemed to have more than his fair share of misses in the 2nd round too.

Belichick certainly made up for it in various ways - helped greatly by the fact that a lot of veterans would often take a pay cut to join a winning organization. He was also adept at finding some quality depth among the camp cuts of other teams, not to mention always having a robust shadow roster.

I'm expecting Vrabel will likely take a similar approach, and there will be a few surprose cuts - maybe even some trades with teams in need of quality players - and a few additions from among the castaways of other teams.

Belichick was great at first round picks, despite some of his late career misses, after that he was shaky, but still always out high quality teams out.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Larison went on IR today so there will be room for all of the binkies with 1 or 2 more injuries. Happens every year.

Vrabel rests veterans to help them last as long as possible, so we can not judge the final picture based on reps and playing time. Moses is hobbled by a long term knee issue for example. There is a strong similar argument that Vrabel is resting Strange because Pantella injuries can repeat so frequently (Strange insight provided by @signbabybrady). Having said that, Mapu and Jennings appear fighting for a spot.

I think the issue with Strange is playing style. Strange is a very good athlete who relies on technique to get the job done, Vrabel wants to play a power game, and Strange doesn’t fit that mode. The Jennings/Mapu battle will be interesting, as Mapu fits the speed model Vrabel appears to want from his edge, LB, and secondary players.

 

[signbabybrady]

Winner. He has a predetermined mindset that anyone drafted in the first four rounds shouldn’t be cut for years. He has preached for years that the depth at WR and DB has to play special teams or they are worthless, he threw that out the window when it conflicted with his draft pick “ philosophy.” He has had it in for Chism from the moment they signed him, and no amount of evidence will change his position. Like Sam and State he has an agenda, and he just keeps banging the drum on it.

Can't be predetermined especially with the back end of this WR group.

I went into camp a little skeptical of the Chism hype and the Hollins hype for that matter too. I still have Hollins in the lead more by default. But Chism is starting to peak my interest finally and he needs to build on his momentum the past few days.

Polk might squeak by on an IR slot or something but obviously isn't really doing much for his case at least from what we get to see. Maybe he impresses in the classroom or something.

Baker is really trying to be a good soldier and seems to be buying in with Vrabel and trying to find a role on STs. Remains to be seen if that's enough to beat anyone out but credit to him for not just folding.

Even with Diggs, Pop, Williams, and Boutte I would hesitate to predetermine exactly how the play time will be distributed.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Can't be predetermined especially with the back end of this WR group.

I went into camp a little skeptical of the Chism hype and the Hollins hype for that matter too. I still have Hollins in the lead more by default. But Chism is starting to peak my interest finally and he needs to build on his momentum the past few days.

Polk might squeak by on an IR slot or something but obviously isn't really doing much for his case at least from what we get to see. Maybe he impresses in the classroom or something.

Baker is really trying to be a good soldier and seems to be buying in with Vrabel and trying to find a role on STs. Remains to be seen if that's enough to beat anyone out but credit to him for not just folding.

Even with Diggs, Pop, Williams, and Boutte I would hesitate to predetermine exactly how the play time will be distributed.

I think playing special teams is a prerequisite for depth guys who want to be active game day. If Chism and Hollins are playing first team special teams on both offense and defense then they will be active, and will play a role offensively as well.

 

[Toofy]

Belichick was great at first round picks, despite some of his late career misses, after that he was shaky, but still always out high quality teams out.

Considering we signed no great player after gronk I would say belichick drafting was crapshoot for the last decade and half . We got saved by drafting of 2009 -2012 and emergence of edelman out of the woods. janes white and thuneybwere the last ones he got. Routinely whiffed on top 3 draft picks .

Due to brady lot of free agents came to play for pats at a discount and the opportunity to get a ring . That's what kept us in contention . When Brady was no longer there belichixk couldn't do squat with drafting. His best picks since Brady's last year are

1. Onwenu
2. Pop

Even dugger was overrated . We got lucky with gonzo due to a brain fart by Washington else we would be in a deeper soup. 2023 draft being his last was relatively okay.

As for last year , Mayo was clueless and not sure why wolf took the folks we did in 2024. But that class outside of maye was horrid.


This year fingers crossed looks golden and hope it stays the same.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Considering we signed no great player after gronk I would say belichick drafting was crapshoot for the last decade and half . We got saved by drafting of 2009 -2012 and emergence of edelman out of the woods. janes white and thuneybwere the last ones he got. Routinely whiffed on top 3 draft picks .

Due to brady lot of free agents came to play for pats at a discount and the opportunity to get a ring . That's what kept us in contention . When Brady was no longer there belichixk couldn't do squat with drafting. His best picks since Brady's last year are

1. Onwenu
2. Pop

Even dugger was overrated . We got lucky with gonzo due to a brain fart by Washington else we would be in a deeper soup. 2023 draft being his last was relatively okay.

As for last year , Mayo was clueless and not sure why wolf took the folks we did in 2024. But that class outside of maye was horrid.


This year fingers crossed looks golden and hope it stays the same.

Upon further review you are pretty much right. From 2010 on He picked McCourty, Chandler Jones, and Hightower, but after that Gonzalez is the only great player taken in the first round.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

Since we seem to be kicking that dead horse again, I’ll go out on a limb and and say it was neither bb nor tb but bb, tb, AND jmcd! . Joking aside I’m liking how things are looking so far. Think we will be competitive this year so long as drake tightens things up….

 

[n1997y]

I think playing special teams is a prerequisite for depth guys who want to be active game day. If Chism and Hollins are playing first team special teams on both offense and defense then they will be active, and will play a role offensively as well.

This is a big factor for Baker as well. He’s looking more and more likely to leverage ST play into a roster slot. Once he’s on the roster and active he’ll see the field on some offensive snaps even if it’s just garbage time, with the potential to show enough to earn more significant snaps.

 

[Huckleberry1]

This is a big factor for Baker as well. He’s looking more and more likely to leverage ST play into a roster slot. Once he’s on the roster and active he’ll see the field on some offensive snaps even if it’s just garbage time, with the potential to show enough to earn more significant snaps.

I agree. I think this is why he is being given a shot on special teams, because if he can’t play on them he won’t be active, and there would be no point in keeping him. Better to release him and sign him to the PS.

 

[Grogan14]

Chism has tremendous upside. Would love to see him on final 53 over Baker

 

[JoeSixPat]

I think the issue with Strange is playing style. Strange is a very good athlete who relies on technique to get the job done, Vrabel wants to play a power game, and Strange doesn’t fit that mode. The Jennings/Mapu battle will be interesting, as Mapu fits the speed model Vrabel appears to want from his edge, LB, and secondary players.

The number of positions he's filled in for is an asset in a way as he can be a good utility/backup guy.

But I think he actually might have more value to another team in search of OL depth - and I wouldn't be shocked to see Strange part of a trade, while Vrabel uses his current predicted roster spot on an OL let go from another team that better suits the Pats needs.