Strategy for Next Season

[mgteich]

Despite the pletho

All of the players BB signs will be mid-tier players at best. Can you see him signing a player
like Godwin for $17 mil per year?

A midlevel QB, WR, TE and NT would easily have us in the playoff hunt. Even with this year's team, a midlevel QB would likely have had us in the playoffs (think Dalton, Bridgewater, Tannehill, Fitzy)

 

[Ring 6]

Despite the pletho

All of the players BB signs will be mid-tier players at best. Can you see him signing a player
like Godwin for $17 mil per year?

So. That’s how we have always won.
maybe he will do a Gilmore, but no I wouldn’t want him to spend 17 mill on a wr.

 

[Ring 6]

Really ? So everything’s on scam newton? I’m no the biggest newton fan but there’s other problems beyond the qb. This wr unit is not good and that goes beyond the QB. Also they could use a defensive line player upfront who can create havoc. Still don’t have anything at tight end. You’re dreaming with that 9-4 record.

It’s 3 wins. It’s being Denver Houston and one other game. We beat the Rams with a decent qb.
We have 6 wins with the worst QBs in the nfl. If a qb can’t make the team with the worst QB 3 wins better then QBs are overrated.
I didn’t say they were perfect I said the qb has cost them at least 3 games.

 

[Scotty]

Small article on Asiasi in Lazar's twitter account showing some blocking and a wide open passing route that Stidham did not see. Not much to go on but cant fault Asiasi's effort in the plays ?

 

[mgteich]

That’s no different than any other year. This year they have a plethora of cap room to do it with.

some thoughts on our defense
LB
We will add Hightower or a replacement with his cap money. Our 2020 rookies should be better.
NT
We need a NT
DL
We will re-sign or replace Guy, Butler and Simon. Guy is the key.
DB
We will add our normal couple of DB's.

BOTTOM LINE
The 2020 defense needed a NT and a LB or 2(when Hightower left). This is NOT a huge fix. It is normal transition.

 

[captain stone]

Think of all the extra prep time for 2021 that the organization will have now that they are not (most likely) making the playoffs. Not sure if it is a huge advantage, but it is one we haven't really had much in the past 20 years.

We had extra time at the end of last season too, and that really didn't help much.

 

[jah]

To be honest with the way we are playing i am not even convinced how this is a cupcake schedule and if Lawrence heads to jets with few shiny toys..they have the cap and draft capital to rebuild in a year..

While I agree we can't just assume the schedule will be easy (because that itself assumes teams will not get better or worse), there's also no reason to assume Lawrence on the Jets will be any more successful than Darnold. People seem to have quickly forgotten how good of a prospect Darnold was considered to be. He really wasn't that much worse pre-draft than Lawrence.

 

[Boomer B]

While I agree we can't just assume the schedule will be easy (because that itself assumes teams will not get better or worse), there's also no reason to assume Lawrence on the Jets will be any more successful than Darnold. People seem to have quickly forgotten how good of a prospect Darnold was considered to be. He really wasn't that much worse pre-draft than Lawrence.

That’s not true at all. Lawrence is viewed as a can’t miss, once in a decade talent like Luck, Manning, and Elway. Darnold was viewed as a 1st round talent, but not a once in a decade player like Lawrence.

 

[captain stone]

A midlevel QB, WR, TE and NT would easily have us in the playoff hunt. Even with this year's team, a midlevel QB would likely have had us in the playoffs (think Dalton, Bridgewater, Tannehill, Fitzy)

Dalton sucks, but the 3 others would've absolutely had us in the hunt.

 

[ashley]

some thoughts on our defense
LB
We will add Hightower or a replacement with his cap money. Our 2020 rookies should be better.
NT
We need a NT
DL
We will re-sign or replace Guy, Butler and Simon. Guy is the key.
DB
We will add our normal couple of DB's.

BOTTOM LINE
The 2020 defense needed a NT and a LB or 2(when Hightower left). This is NOT a huge fix. It is normal transition.

I would also like to add defense end/rushing lb to our defense as well. Basically another playmaker. I like what I'm seeing out of some of our young defenders but with all the cap room we have and possibly through the draft, if we can add an impact player up front to go along with Wino, Uche, Guy, Jennings and Dugger, Butler and our secondary, I think our defense will be really good.

 

[Boomer B]

QB round 1
Starting WR in free agency
Starting TE in free agency
Draft LB, D line, WR from rounds 2-4.

 

[Nehalem]

Really ? So everything’s on scam newton? I’m no the biggest newton fan but there’s other problems beyond the qb. This wr unit is not good and that goes beyond the QB. Also they could use a defensive line player upfront who can create havoc. Still don’t have anything at tight end. You’re dreaming with that 9-4 record.

I would say a competent QB gets you the Denver game for sure. And probably the Buffalo game. That gets you to 8-5.

The KC game is hard to predict. Defense played outstanding and QB play was terrible. Game was however delayed due to Cam's COVID. Did the game being delayed impact KC?

LAR. QB play once again terrible. Then again TB12 only put up 13 points against them in the SB. So maybe Pats just suck vs LAR. Rams offense only scored 17 points, and 7 of those required multiple 4th down conversions.

You can say our WRs suck. But James White is also being underutilized.

I think with a competent QB Pats go 8-5 ->10-3 with 9-4 as the mid point

 

[jdlboot14]

I think we all agree that a decent serviceable QB will suffice in making this offense go - as long as we get a pass catching TE, and WR help.
(Cam does not count)
on D - it's about run stuffers and edge rushers. Butler and Cowart are good young DTs. None of our DE's are sufficient. Wino, Uche, Jennings are not true DEs - but they'll make our LB corp much better next year. I assume Gilmore and JMac will be gone. So a solid #2 after JC will be critical. (maybe Bryant is being auditioned? can Williams step up?) Dugger is the future at Safety, and maybe the long awaited leader.

 

[jah]

That’s not true at all. Lawrence is viewed as a can’t miss, once in a decade talent like Luck, Manning, and Elway. Darnold was viewed as a 1st round talent, but not a once in a decade player like Lawrence.

I think you're understating how good people thought Darnold would be.

 

[Boomer B]

I think you're understating how good people thought Darnold would be.

I disagree. Darnold wasn’t a can’t miss QB. He wasn’t even the first QB taken in his draft class. Pro Football Weekly had him as the 9th best prospect that year. Most other draft sites had him in the mix with Mayfield and Allen. He wasn’t the consensus best QB in his class and definitely not regarded any where near as high as Lawrence is.

 

[slifersd]

Hunter Henry for TE is a must to me. We have nothing at the position, and ignoring that positional group altogether like we did the last couple of years has produced horrendous results.

I would also spend big on a WR. I know it is usually not great business to spend big dollars on WR, but with our track record at drafting and developing WR, drafting young WR just isn't a prudent idea. And for the love of God, spend it on someone who can actually run and stretch the field a little bit. Every WR we invest in is a small slot who has to be schemed open.

I think we have enough track record to spend draft capital on line backers, offense and defensive linemen and maybe a QB if the right opportunity is there. I still think BB is going to try to bring Jimmy G or Brissett back to be the transition QB.

 

[Ring 6]

some thoughts on our defense
LB
We will add Hightower or a replacement with his cap money. Our 2020 rookies should be better.
NT
We need a NT
DL
We will re-sign or replace Guy, Butler and Simon. Guy is the key.
DB
We will add our normal couple of DB's.

BOTTOM LINE
The 2020 defense needed a NT and a LB or 2(when Hightower left). This is NOT a huge fix. It is normal transition.

Here are my thoughts on the D, a combination of my perception of BBS approach and what I would do.

First I will qualify the comments with this is the best cap situation belichick has ever had. So there can and will be moves he has always wanted to make but was cjntrained by the budget.

DT- The prototype for this unit is a guy to clog the middle (branch when his head was in it is a great example) a second starter quality good vs the run and capable as a rusher, a 3rd guy to rotate with the 2, who probably has limitations and is t really starter quality and a 3rd down Dt (such as Butler)
I think we finally get the space eater, keep guy or cowart in that second starter told, and if guy leaves add a replacement (maybe cowart bumps up to 2). Butler stays or the role (which is less than his role this year) is filled by a rookie.

LB/DE. It’s clear the scheme wants to have interchangeable LBs and DEs and play them in varying combinations. We really want 6-7 primary guys rotating through thise 4 spots. This year I think we have a lot of capable guys but they are playing a larger role that ideal. Winovich, Simon, Uche, Jennings, Bentley, Wise plus whoever week to week make up the 6-7. They all have unique skill sets. If we added Hightower to that group everyone of them
becomes better.
We need Hightower back or replaced. This isn’t easy because Hightower is so versatile and so stout vs the run. I could see Wise back because he is the misfit of the group as a big DE that has its own role.
I’d like to see us add a guy in the mold of vannoy who can play all over the place as a de/olb or off the ball.

Secondary. Phillips has been good in his hybrid role, which dugger will take over in time. If dmac is back we are fine here (I don’t expect or want Chung back). Add one in the draft for depth.
Corner is fine, jmac should be done, and I’m sure we will add the next developmental guy late it as udfa.

 

[Ring 6]

I would say a competent QB gets you the Denver game for sure. And probably the Buffalo game. That gets you to 8-5.

The KC game is hard to predict. Defense played outstanding and QB play was terrible. Game was however delayed due to Cam's COVID. Did the game being delayed impact KC?

LAR. QB play once again terrible. Then again TB12 only put up 13 points against them in the SB. So maybe Pats just suck vs LAR. Rams offense only scored 17 points, and 7 of those required multiple 4th down conversions.

You can say our WRs suck. But James White is also being underutilized.

I think with a competent QB Pats go 8-5 ->10-3 with 9-4 as the mid point

Houston

 

[Ring 6]

We had extra time at the end of last season too, and that really didn't help much.

We had a good draft this year.

 

[d312]

Devonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle. One or both may be gone but would be outstanding additions. Hunter Henry is a must.