There's no argument. There's a series of questions waiting to be answered. Admittedly, the questions pretty much answer themselves, but they are on point with regards to your initial post.
Do you think Gronk is back to being Gronk?
Do you think the 2 second year players are actually on the field despite being listed as inactive?
Do you think Hooman has improved significantly as a player since last year?
Do you think LaFell has improved significantly as a player since last year?
Do you think Wright is really a good blocker despite all the reports?
Do you think Amendola is back to 100% pre-injury Amendola?
Unless you believe in miracles (re: Hooman and LaFell), you don't need to see the OL playing well to answer any of those.
Great questions.
1) Gronk is not back to being Gronk, and it's usually a year after an ACL that guys round into form, so there's a while before he single-handedly changes a game. If we're fortunate, we'll see some of that in November and December.
2) This is by far the best question you posed, DI. I expand the list to include all ten of them. There are actually 13 2nd year players if you include the PS which brings Boyce into the conversation.
The second-year players: very mixed bag, but that's why I like this team down the road.
The list in order of current contributions: Collins, Ryan, Develin, Dobson, Thompkins, Harmon, Wright, Vellano, Buchanan, Tyms. Quite a group that could all be around in a couple of years.
It's too bad that so much is coming out about immaturity by Dobson who needs to grow up and understand what it means to be a professional football player. But it looks to me like Ryan, Develin, and Collins are core guys for a long time. Dobson can be one as well. Harmon is a question mark , but has the physical tools to be a good safety. Wright and Thompkins are on the third level and could wash out before next season begins.
3) Hooman? He is what he is, and I would park him next to Solder in any game with an edge rusher that can use Solder like a turnstile the way Tamba Hali did on Monday night. Hooman is a decent counterpart to Gronk and Wright.
4) LaFell looked the best we've seen yet against KC and hopefully will emerge as an outside the hash marks receiver to complement Gronk, Edelman and Vereen.
5) Wright as a blocker? Downfield maybe, but certainly not on the edge. It would be nice to see him emerge as an H-back who could reliably run the corner fade route in the Red Zone (if they ever get there again.) I have little confidence right now that he'll make much of a difference this year.
6) Amendola. Sadly, no. Frankly, I think Amendola never fully recovered from that concussion that he suffered on the sideline when he made that diving catch and his head hit the ground and the defender simultaneously late last season. He was knocked into next week. His routes are not sharp, he runs into defenders, and just doesn't look at all like the guy on video from the Rams days, or the Bills game last season. The guy had real skills and got separation, but we're seeing none of that. You know, I don't blame Belichick for bringing him in. You can't predict stuff like this.
