Not Replaced From Last Year

[mgteich]

EVALUATE
Bill re-signed everyone he wanted to bring back, and replaced Myers, Wynn, Smith, Harris, and Bailey. He still needs a WR and DB.
==================
NOT REPLACED YET
AGHOLOR (we need another WR; our 5th WR is Nixon, Webb or Bowden)
McCOURTY (we need another defensive back (corner if a current corner moves to safety)
===============
IT IS EARLY
I presume 2-3 2023 competitors from the draft or from free agency.
===============
MY THOUGHT FOR NOW
However, my gut feel is that we will draft an OT and CB early, neither of which will contribute much as rookies. Isn't that Belichick's pattern withe picks at OT and CB?

So, I see no real improvements over 2022 other than the obvious. Mac will have the support of a new OC and a new OL coach. This should be enough to make us a contender for a playoff spot, as is the usual case.

 

[Ring 6]

EVALUATE
Bill re-signed everyone he wanted to bring back, and replaced Myers, Wynn, Smith, Harris, and Bailey. He still needs a WR and DB.
==================
NOT REPLACED YET
AGHOLOR (we need another WR; our 5th WR is Nixon, Webb or Bowden)
McCOURTY (we need another defensive back (corner if a current corner moves to safety)
===============
IT IS EARLY
I presume 2-3 2023 competitors from the draft or from free agency.
===============
MY THOUGHT FOR NOW
However, my gut feel is that we will draft an OT and CB early, neither of which will contribute much as rookies. Isn't that Belichick's pattern withe picks at OT and CB?

So, I see no real improvements over 2022 other than the obvious. Mac will have the support of a new OC and a new OL coach. This should be enough to make us a contender for a playoff spot, as is the usual case.

What 1st round OL didn’t contribute s a rookie? What 1st round cb didn’t?

 

[TheRainMaker]

Thornton replaces Agholor.

 

[mgteich]

Thornton replaces Agholor.

Last year, we had 5 receivers who played in more than 50% of the offensive reps.
Meyers 66% replaced by Smith-Shuster
Parker 52% returning
Thronton 50% returning
Agholor 45% NOT replaced
Bourne 42% returning

Sure, Agholor's reps could be spread among Thornton, Parker and Bourne. Perhaps, we will only carry 4 WR's on the 53 in this pass-happy league.
I think it more likely that there will be a 5th receiver NOT named Nixon, Webb or Bowden. Yes, I do hope that Thornton and Bourne have more reps than in 2022.

 

[Pape]

Free safety is a role that they tried to find a body to fill the position... I fear mills, who was brought back to play safety, will be slotted into that role ... It concerns me because I don't think he's good enough ... I might be wrong, so we'll see...

I agree with rain maker that they expect Thornton to step into the agholor role... Time will tell ... Wish we got more out of him on his debut season...

OT is my prediction for round 1... I think that the team is expecting Jack Jones to step up in year 2... So they might not see cb as a pressing need vs trying to fix the oline

 

[BTTA]

Last year, we had 5 receivers who played in more than 50% of the offensive reps.
Meyers 66% replaced by Smith-Shuster
Parker 52% returning
Thronton 50% returning
Agholor 45% NOT replaced
Bourne 42% returning

Sure, Agholor's reps could be spread among Thornton, Parker and Bourne. Perhaps, we will only carry 4 WR's on the 53 in this pass-happy league.
I think it more likely that there will be a 5th receiver NOT named Nixon, Webb or Bowden. Yes, I do hope than Thornton and Bourne have more reps than in 2022.

Agree they will add a WR. Are trying to add one to the top of the list, or the bottom (developmental)? With Gesicki and Hunter as downfield guys, they may think they have enough targets. One of the helpful questions you've often asked is about how many and who will be active. If they go for a top WR in the draft, someone on that list is going to be very unhappy with a lack of playing time.

Belichick likes to have competition in camp, and maybe he (and BOB) wants a fierce one at WR.

For me, every returnee on the list can contribute more except Parker. I'm really hoping Bourne gets resurrected to the top of the playing time list, as his YAC seems like a major asset to be reinstated.

 

[Triumph]

Gesicki is a better receiver and will produce more than Jonnu.

Plus, pick # 14 will be a WR who hopefully isnt another bust. BBs job is on the chopping block, so its time to get it right or hire someone who can get a WR pick right.

 

[FCB02062]

Parker misses 4 games on average the last 3 years and is a concussion guy. Thornton missed 4 games last year. the current receiver group is not good enough or dependable enough.

 

[Triumph]

Toothpick Thornton has hands of stone.

Less than a 50% catch rate.

 

[Triumph]

Parker misses 4 games on average the last 3 years and is a concussion guy. Thornton missed 4 games last year. the current receiver group is not good enough or dependable enough.

Its awesome and better than last season.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Toothpick Thornton has hands of stone.

Less than a 50% catch rate.

Yea they should cut him. He's a bust. He showed nothing last year. The offense was a well-oiled machine and he still sucked as a rookie.

 

[Triumph]

Yea they should cut him. He's a bust. He showed nothing last year. The offense was a well-oiled machine and he still sucked as a rookie.

Plus he has Machomes throwing him the ball.

BOB will fix it.

 

[Triumph]

Yea they should cut him. He's a bust. He showed nothing last year. The offense was a well-oiled machine and he still sucked as a rookie.

Chad Jackson 2.0

 

[RobertWeathers]

Chad Jackson 2.0

Ok thanks

 

[goheels22002]

EVALUATE
Bill re-signed everyone he wanted to bring back, and replaced Myers, Wynn, Smith, Harris, and Bailey. He still needs a WR and DB.
==================
NOT REPLACED YET
AGHOLOR (we need another WR; our 5th WR is Nixon, Webb or Bowden)
McCOURTY (we need another defensive back (corner if a current corner moves to safety)
===============
IT IS EARLY
I presume 2-3 2023 competitors from the draft or from free agency.
===============
MY THOUGHT FOR NOW
However, my gut feel is that we will draft an OT and CB early, neither of which will contribute much as rookies. Isn't that Belichick's pattern withe picks at OT and CB?

So, I see no real improvements over 2022 other than the obvious. Mac will have the support of a new OC and a new OL coach. This should be enough to make us a contender for a playoff spot, as is the usual case.

We can be quite sure that the offensive line will improve over last year. The chief reason for that is Adrian Klemm is the new offensive line coach. He brings a specialist's experience to the role, learned from Scar as a player, and has coached offensive linemen at pro and college levels. Overall I like the collection of veteran tackle-guards they've brought in and will, as you say, select another lineman early. A rookie lineman selected at 14 will help out in 2023 and may be starting by week eight or nine.

As for other improvements. Gesicki and Smith-Schuster are upgrades at receiver. Better receivers with a better line and a genuine OC makes this team much better.

Belichick has lots of draft capital to work with and a boatload of cap space in 2024 (New England Patriots Salary Cap | Over the Cap), He has great flexibility to grab more than one guy on expiring contracts in the coming months and into training camp. I think we should be on the lookout for a Randy Moss type deal or two in the coming weeks.

 

[50-yard-line]

EVALUATE
Bill re-signed everyone he wanted to bring back, and replaced Myers, Wynn, Smith, Harris, and Bailey. He still needs a WR and DB.
==================
NOT REPLACED YET
AGHOLOR (we need another WR; our 5th WR is Nixon, Webb or Bowden)
McCOURTY (we need another defensive back (corner if a current corner moves to safety)
===============
IT IS EARLY
I presume 2-3 2023 competitors from the draft or from free agency.
===============
MY THOUGHT FOR NOW
However, my gut feel is that we will draft an OT and CB early, neither of which will contribute much as rookies. Isn't that Belichick's pattern withe picks at OT and CB?

So, I see no real improvements over 2022 other than the obvious. Mac will have the support of a new OC and a new OL coach. This should be enough to make us a contender for a playoff spot, as is the usual case.

With the line blurred between WR and "move" TE, I wonder if the Agholor replacement could really be a Jonnu Smith replacement (as in, replacing him with an actual in-line blocking/catching TE).

I'm more impressed with the TE class than the WR class that's coming out, and that includes some really good in-line TE's. Gesicki can live in the slot and even moving out wide.

Trade back at 14 and get a guy like Darnell Washington with one of the two picks you get?

 

[goheels22002]

Last year, we had 5 receivers who played in more than 50% of the offensive reps.
Meyers 66% replaced by Smith-Shuster
Parker 52% returning
Thronton 50% returning
Agholor 45% NOT replaced
Bourne 42% returning

Sure, Agholor's reps could be spread among Thornton, Parker and Bourne. Perhaps, we will only carry 4 WR's on the 53 in this pass-happy league.
I think it more likely that there will be a 5th receiver NOT named Nixon, Webb or Bowden. Yes, I do hope that Thornton and Bourne have more reps than in 2022.

I just want to add that players do not determine what percentage of snaps they play. That is up to the coaching staff. Patricia and Judge made it easier for defenses last year by being a run-first offense, and as the stats above show, playing footsie with playing time. They never let a guy like Bourne or Parker stay on the field and exploit a mismatch if the player found one.

Mostly, Patricia and Judge were completely, utterly, astoundingly clueless in the Red Zone. They almost never had an alignment in the Red Zone where they could put passing pressure on a defense. Parker and Bourne were rarely on the field in the Red Zone and never together. Under Bill O'Brien and Josh McDaniels, it was common to go four wideouts and a TE inside the 20 and take at least two shots into the end zone leaving defenses to sort out crossing routes and letting backs (Kevin Faulk, James White!) free to leak out.

Brady was great, but the coaching helped make him great by his coaches trusting receivers to be where Brady expected them to be. Last season, Mac Jones was playing with his hands tied behind his back.

Bill O'Brien is going to use Bourne and Parker much differently this season if they stick around. We can fully expect a draft pick or two at wideout and possibly a trade for veteran to create lots of competition. Give this a thought. Mac Jones (protected by a competent OL) with five veterans - Gesicki, Smith-Schuster, Bourne, Parker, and Henry - in the Red Zone.

 

[Real fan 02]

EVALUATE
Bill re-signed everyone he wanted to bring back, and replaced Myers, Wynn, Smith, Harris, and Bailey. He still needs a WR and DB.
==================
NOT REPLACED YET
AGHOLOR (we need another WR; our 5th WR is Nixon, Webb or Bowden)
McCOURTY (we need another defensive back (corner if a current corner moves to safety)
===============
IT IS EARLY
I presume 2-3 2023 competitors from the draft or from free agency.
===============
MY THOUGHT FOR NOW
However, my gut feel is that we will draft an OT and CB early, neither of which will contribute much as rookies. Isn't that Belichick's pattern withe picks at OT and CB?

So, I see no real improvements over 2022 other than the obvious. Mac will have the support of a new OC and a new OL coach. This should be enough to make us a contender for a playoff spot, as is the usual case.

EVERYTHING on offense looks to be considerably better. As Mike Lombardi, FOB perfectly stated that the team didn't have an offense all they did was run a bunch of plays last season.

The roster is far from a finished product.. no cohesion or structure last season, red zone was horrible everything was a grind.. so bad the defense scored more than the offense at times.

BOB has full autonomy with the offense.. having someone that knows what to do can only be a positive. There certainly will be more pieces on offense and defense presumably.

I agree OT, and CB will likely be what the target.. I'm fine with that however need to be looking to add some vets to the secondary.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Sitting here reflecting, I still can't believe last year happened. Each week, ya think they're going to get it together ... and it never happened. It's not so much that it happened, but that Bill couldn't fix it!!!

 

[Real fan 02]

Sitting here reflecting, I still can't believe last year happened. Each week, ya think they're going to get it together ... and it never happened. It's not so much that it happened, but that Bill couldn't fix it!!!

Agreed, as the saying goes can't fix stupid.. therefore in my opinion was no other way to describe the decisions other than stupidity.. a man so intelligent, so structured so detailed thinking that offensive football with a 2nd yr QB could come easy to a coach who although was a head coach before, but however never called offense.. was just as a fan frustratingly stupid..