Patriots’ 2020 Rookies Are ‘Further Behind’ Than Ever, Bill Belichick Says

[SammyBlueCat]

Patriots' 2020 Rookies Are 'Further Behind' Than Ever, Bill Belichick Says - NESN.com

Ahead of the team’s Week 6 matchup with the Denver Broncos, Patriots coach Bill Belichick offered a blunt assessment of New England’s rookie class, which, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, did not have the benefit of offseason workouts or preseason games.

 

[Kontradiction]

That’s okay, Bill. We’ve gotten used to rookies not producing around here. Covid or no Covid. Harry’s running a slant as we speak. He should be in position to catch the ball in a couple of hours.

 

[mikey m]

So we won't be rolling out the rookies for a 2TE offense anytime soon?

 

[A Defiant Goose]

That’s okay, Bill. We’ve gotten used to rookies not producing around here. Covid or no Covid. Harry’s running a slant as we speak. He should be in position to catch the ball in a couple of hours.

Stidham wouldve thrown 30 TDs if he were a rookie on a different team last year. BB holding him back

 

[Kontradiction]

Stidham wouldve thrown 30 TDs if he were a rookie on a different team last year. BB holding him back

30 TDs and 50 INTs. Kid’s a stud.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I am very ignorant so before someone tells me I don't know **** about football for saying this, just know I agree.

I don't know why it's so hard for rookies to catch on. Other than becoming a professional and all the other side things that being paid to play football brings, how much different is the principle? Learn the playbook, learn your job. Is that really so hard that rookies need a whole damn year to pick it up? Do they really need months upon months of offseason workouts that bad to know "when this play is called, I do this." I just don't really get it

 

[Kontradiction]

So we won't be rolling out the rookies for a 2TE offense anytime soon?

Nope. Being a bit less hyperbolic for a minute, at least we got Onwenu out of it and Dugger looks promising.

 

[Kontradiction]

I am very ignorant so before someone tells me I don't know **** about football for saying this, just know I agree.

I don't know why it's so hard for rookies to catch on. Other than becoming a professional and all the other side things that being paid to play football brings, how much different is the principle? Learn the playbook, learn your job. Is that really so hard that rookies need a whole damn year to pick it up? Do they really need months upon months of offseason workouts that bad to know "when this play is called, I do this." I just don't really get it

The schemes are a lot more complicated and the speed of the game is night and day. Doesn’t help when many of our picks since 2013 just aren’t very good football players either.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Even more impressive and amazing that Onwenu is playing like a pro bowl OLine guard.

.

 

[amfootball]

I am very ignorant so before someone tells me I don't know **** about football for saying this, just know I agree.

I don't know why it's so hard for rookies to catch on. Other than becoming a professional and all the other side things that being paid to play football brings, how much different is the principle? Learn the playbook, learn your job. Is that really so hard that rookies need a whole damn year to pick it up? Do they really need months upon months of offseason workouts that bad to know "when this play is called, I do this." I just don't really get it

On other teams, rookies make an impact right away. The Pats run a complex defense and offense with lots of assignments and sight adjustments. It is what give us an edge when designing a game plan but also hampers us as the uptake is much longer.

 

[203Pat]

Odd that this draft class has seemed to contribute more right away than last years did in 2019. Aside from Keene and Uche most of our higher picks are at least suiting up and getting some snaps. Last year Bailey and Wino were really the only ones who contributed.

 

[mikey m]

I am very ignorant so before someone tells me I don't know **** about football for saying this, just know I agree.

I don't know why it's so hard for rookies to catch on. Other than becoming a professional and all the other side things that being paid to play football brings, how much different is the principle? Learn the playbook, learn your job. Is that really so hard that rookies need a whole damn year to pick it up? Do they really need months upon months of offseason workouts that bad to know "when this play is called, I do this." I just don't really get it

I'm not the most knowledgeable on these things either. But, for what it's worth, a link to an old Pats playbook was posted once. I looked at it for about 5 minutes before my head almost exploded. I think it gets far more complex than college, and not only do the players have to learn it, but they have to learn it so well that there is no hesitation or false steps once they are on the field. Then there's the physical development aspect where some rookies need to get stronger, adjust to the speed of the game, wrs/cbs need to learn the finer points of route running and hand fighting, I imagine TEs have a ton on their plate with routes and blocking schemes to learn, etc.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

The schemes are a lot more complicated and the speed of the game is night and day. Doesn’t help when many of our picks since 2013 just aren’t very good football players either.

It's mindboggling that they couldn't even get them on the field for maybe even 25% of plays. You figure maybe they'd say "We're weak in this area, so focus your studying on this part of the offense so we can get you on the field and maybe improve there."

Right now TEs are nonexistent in the passing game. I can't imagine that these guys don't at least have 10-15 plays figured out but yea again maybe I'm just not giving enough credit to all the nuance that goes into these plays

 

[amfootball]

It's mindboggling that they couldn't even get them on the field for maybe even 25% of plays. You figure maybe they'd say "We're weak in this area, so focus your studying on this part of the offense so we can get you on the field and maybe improve there."

Right now TEs are nonexistent in the passing game. I can't imagine that these guys don't at least have 10-15 plays figured out but yea again maybe I'm just not giving enough credit to all the nuance that goes into these plays

The TEs have been the most disappointing group.

 

[Kontradiction]

The TEs have been the most disappointing group.

Kind of expected when you take two of them in a bad draft for TEs. I’m looking forward to watching Caserio work his “magic” with Houston.

 

[JMC00]

That’s okay, Bill. We’ve gotten used to rookies not producing around here. Covid or no Covid. Harry’s running a slant as we speak. He should be in position to catch the ball in a couple of hours.

At least he did something in the Chiefs game, unlike Julian Dropman that pretty much cost any slight chance the Pats still had in that game.

But yes go ahead and tell me how Stidham blah blah blah even though Dropman's 2 hands touched the ball

 

[borg]

On other teams, rookies make an impact right away. The Pats run a complex defense and offense with lots of assignments and sight adjustments. It is what give us an edge when designing a game plan but also hampers us as the uptake is much longer.

Did the Pats D have that "edge" at the end of last season when good but "less complex" offenses showed up?

Did the Pats O experience an "uptake" at the end of last season when good teams and their less "complex" systems faced off against the 3-D chess playing Pats?

Love the narratives !!!!!!

 

[Kontradiction]

At least he did something in the Chiefs game, unlike Julian Dropman that pretty much cost any slight chance the Pats still had in that game.

But yes go ahead and tell me how Stidham blah blah blah even though Dropman's 2 hands touched the ball

Yeah. It was a dangerous and stupid throw given where Rover was. Lots of throws are dangerous and stupid even though the receivers get a hand on them. Welcome to football. But yeah... Harry’s 3/21/1 against the Queefs 3rd and 4th corners was very impressive. That’s why we spent first round capital on him. You sound upset. Bad day at McDonald’s?

 

[203Pat]

At least he did something in the Chiefs game, unlike Julian Dropman that pretty much cost any slight chance the Pats still had in that game.

But yes go ahead and tell me how Stidham blah blah blah even though Dropman's 2 hands touched the ball

Julian Dropman? So lame.

 

[lancerman]

I am very ignorant so before someone tells me I don't know **** about football for saying this, just know I agree.

I don't know why it's so hard for rookies to catch on. Other than becoming a professional and all the other side things that being paid to play football brings, how much different is the principle? Learn the playbook, learn your job. Is that really so hard that rookies need a whole damn year to pick it up? Do they really need months upon months of offseason workouts that bad to know "when this play is called, I do this." I just don't really get it

Its a massive speed difference. Imagine playing a sport for four years and every once in awhile you come up against this unreal talent that is just gear and shoulders better than everyone. Like Gronkowski level of dominance in college. Then you realize at the next level that guy is just a standard talent at best and everyone you come up against is about that good and a few guys actually do super human things.

Also schemes are more complicated so in addition to a huge speed and talent upgrade you have to manage more in your head.