The Offense Needs 3-4 Players; doable I think

[PScottman]

you almost have to take a bluechip fail proof guy at the top of the draft to solve that or pay a fortune in free agency for an older vet to come to you

I dont hold this to be 100% true. Where I will agree is from two perspectives: one, is build the interior of the line through free agency (G and C) where it's not as cap busting as T - and two then supplement with draftees that you can grow over time. I also concur the two tackles should be high draft picks (at least LT MUST be - see Armstrong, Solder, etc). Stop throwing multiple rookies/street free agents on to a line each year and expecting a quick and successful result.

I disagree that the only signees have to be all-pros/blue chip/no-fail at every position. Simply not realistic and a furtherance of "have to have stars at every position to win". The other aspect you dont talk about is that both kinds (FA or daft) must have high dependability statistics.

One of the biggest issues of the last four years of Patriots OL has been injuries - so zero continuity which is a massively underrated aspect of good OL play. OLs that work well as a unit - passing off, pulling, screening, etc takes more than just individual talent, but coordination with all of the components executing their aspect of each play.

 

[Real fan 02]

The offense needs an entire OL to be replaced. As I mentioned last offseason, Owenu should've been allowed to walk. Even elite players on bad O-lines do their job and don't look like ****.

Need at least 2 WR's.

We're at 7 so far at the bare minimum.

Agreed. I'd say go for 3 WRs. Higgins, dionte Johnson, and 6'4 beast draft pick.

 

[jmt57]

While 'only need 3-4 players on offense' doesn't sound like much, in reality it is quite a bit away from where the unit needs to be. A team can't expect to just snap its fingers and effectively upgrade one-third of their starting personnel in one offseason.

Most young players take a while to become productive. Tedy Bruschi was a third round draft pick, but didn't became a starter until the end of his third season. Julian Edelman was a punt returner and had entire seasons with 86 and 34 yards receiving, before breaking out in his fifth NFL season. Look around the league and it is a similar story. Hall of Famer John Lynch was just a special teams player until his fourth season, for example. Another round of rookies very rarely instantly transforms a team into a contender.


A net-plus of three or four players on one side of the ball is a tall order to fill in one single offseason.
Let's not forget that existing players get injured, regress, or sign elsewhere as free agents. For every one of those, there is an additional player that the team needs to add, or hope existing personnel improves as their replacement.


And as mentioned previously, in reality the offense needs more than 3-4. This offense needs a WR1, WR2, LT, LG, C, RT, RB2, plus upgraded backups at T, G, C, WR and TE. Long term replacements need to be brought in for Andrews and Henry. Hooper will probably depart in free agency, creating another hole to fill. While some younger plays will take a step forward in their year two, this offense is more than just a few new players away, unfortunately.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

Everyone knows what type of players I would draft or sign

 

[vicspats]

Agree… has to start at LT. First pick. Receivers really are hard to draft unless protection is there. Have to start with that. Everyone knows this is the most complimentary sport. If you can give the qb enough time to find his receivers, open the holes for the run game, control the clock. That alone makes the defense better. Control the line of scrimmage is honestly THE most important part of football. If they drafted 5 oline guys and 3-4 stuck with another two free agents ? I’m all in. I didn’t think Maye was going to be this kind of leader. But he is. Protect him at all costs. He got me when I heard him say to his five oline guys , “ it starts with us 6”….cant teach that. Kid had team written all ovah him!!!

 

[Real fan 02]

While 'only need 3-4 players on offense' doesn't sound like much, in reality it is quite a bit away from where the unit needs to be. A team can't expect to just snap its fingers and effectively upgrade one-third of their starting personnel in one offseason.

Most young players take a while to become productive. Tedy Bruschi was a third round draft pick, but didn't became a starter until the end of his third season. Julian Edelman was a punt returner and had entire seasons with 86 and 34 yards receiving, before breaking out in his fifth NFL season. Look around the league and it is a similar story. Hall of Famer John Lynch was just a special teams player until his fourth season, for example. Another round of rookies very rarely instantly transforms a team into a contender.


A net-plus of three or four players on one side of the ball is a tall order to fill in one single offseason.
Let's not forget that existing players get injured, regress, or sign elsewhere as free agents. For every one of those, there is an additional player that the team needs to add, or hope existing personnel improves as their replacement.


And as mentioned previously, in reality the offense needs more than 3-4. This offense needs a WR1, WR2, LT, LG, C, RT, RB2, plus upgraded backups at T, G, C, WR and TE. Long term replacements need to be brought in for Andrews and Henry. Hooper will probably depart in free agency, creating another hole to fill. While some younger plays will take a step forward in their year two, this offense is more than just a few new players away, unfortunately.

Great points! Personally I've said myself 8-9 players of IMPACT is what's needed. The benefits the team has this season is rookies and lesser, unproven guys gave gained experience wich in turn will allow the team to have better depth next season. The obvious is addressing the OL and at least 2 IMPACT WRs on the outside. That will allow the current guys to play to thier talent levels.

 

[vicspats]

In reality, they need a lot to be a legitimate contender, but two starting-caliber linemen and a true number one outside guy at receiver are immediate needs. Money and draft capital won't be restrictions, but an ability to identify the right guys may be a hindrance.

Hold thee horses dear brothah !!!! Gold and silver shall be of abundance ??? Dost thou king of 1 Patriot place share the same wisdom as thee ??? I think not knave !!!

 

[vicspats]

Great points! Personally I've said myself 8-9 players of IMPACT is what's needed. The benefits the team has this season is rookies and lesser, unproven guys gave gained experience wich in turn will allow the team to have better depth next season. The obvious is addressing the OL and at least 2 IMPACT WRs on the outside. That will allow the current guys to play to thier talent levels.

Ya know … we say that absolutely every year. So and so has had an extra year under their belt and will obviously be better next year. And it honestly doesn’t bear fruit. I believe more players regress or stay the same than actually get better. Hence the huge turnover every year. What is it 30-40% every year… Probly 60% after 2-3 years?

 

[vicspats]

While 'only need 3-4 players on offense' doesn't sound like much, in reality it is quite a bit away from where the unit needs to be. A team can't expect to just snap its fingers and effectively upgrade one-third of their starting personnel in one offseason.

Most young players take a while to become productive. Tedy Bruschi was a third round draft pick, but didn't became a starter until the end of his third season. Julian Edelman was a punt returner and had entire seasons with 86 and 34 yards receiving, before breaking out in his fifth NFL season. Look around the league and it is a similar story. Hall of Famer John Lynch was just a special teams player until his fourth season, for example. Another round of rookies very rarely instantly transforms a team into a contender.


A net-plus of three or four players on one side of the ball is a tall order to fill in one single offseason.
Let's not forget that existing players get injured, regress, or sign elsewhere as free agents. For every one of those, there is an additional player that the team needs to add, or hope existing personnel improves as their replacement.


And as mentioned previously, in reality the offense needs more than 3-4. This offense needs a WR1, WR2, LT, LG, C, RT, RB2, plus upgraded backups at T, G, C, WR and TE. Long term replacements need to be brought in for Andrews and Henry. Hooper will probably depart in free agency, creating another hole to fill. While some younger plays will take a step forward in their year two, this offense is more than just a few new players away, unfortunately.

I’d concentrate on spending as much as you can on fixing that oline. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one that bad. That last game sealed the deal. I’m not even sure any of those guys have a job next year, not just on the Patriots but in the league.

 

[Thelonious]

1) Top WR and perhaps another
2) Top LT and another OL or 2


Not a huge ask

Do you trust Wolf to secure these players? I don't.

Do you trust this obviously incompetent coaching group, HC first and foremost, to establish a culture worth a damn or to teach the game well enough that these new players will reach anything like their potential? I don't.

Unfortunately, neither do I trust the Krafts, who ran the amateurish **** show of a hiring process which has left us with these boobs, to do anything about it, first because I doubt they will admit that they failed last hiring cycle, second because any ownership who hired a HC because he charmed the old man on a vacation trip is very unlikely to be able to mend their ways.

We are whistling past the graveyard. This thing needs to be rebuilt - again - from the ground up. Can they do it before Drake's rookie deal expires? I doubt it, barring significant, fundamental change in the team's leadership, if that is the term, starting with a virtual clean sweep of coaches and front office staff.

In football, we hear a lot about learning from your losses, from your failures. It is time for the Krafts to do just that.

 

[Real fan 02]

Ya know … we say that absolutely every year. So and so has had an extra year under their belt and will obviously be better next year. And it honestly doesn’t bear fruit. I believe more players regress or stay the same than actually get better. Hence the huge turnover every year. What is it 30-40% every year… Probly 60% after 2-3 years?

This off season is likely the most important In years for the organization. Finally finding another QB now surrounding him with pieces and getting the defense back to being formidable are must. They MUST do it. They have pressure on them to do so.

 

[Ring 6]

This off season is likely the most important In years for the organization. Finally finding another QB now surrounding him with pieces and getting the defense back to being formidable are must. They MUST do it. They have pressure on them to do so.

Had they done a good job we would be looking at LAST offseason as the most important in years.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Given our current draft position, we have a chance to draft the best WR in the draft! This draft has a couple of good receivers and then the rest are JAG!
No LT prospect in this draft is worthy of first round grade.
LT has to come via free agency! Good thing we have a lot of cap space.
There are a couple of IOL with third round grades that would be amazing picks for us and allow us to discard some of the garbage on our roster now at those positions.

 

[neuronet]

OC and oline coach

 

[Real fan 02]

OC and oline coach

Don't forget DC.. if you think the defense is bad now 2 games against Josh Allen, Murray and Herbert. They may have given up 100 points.

 

[stinkypete]

I think with Maye we can become a middle of the pack offense with three pieces - a starting level LT, RT and WR.

To be better than middle of the pack, we need four - both tackles and two high level skill position players. Going back to the beginning of the dynasty, the offense was only elite in years when it had at least two significant mismatches - weather Moss, Welker, Gronk or Edelman - and a host of complimentary players, to build an offense around. A WR1 alone won't put the offense over the top. An elite TE is my pipe dream, but those are harder to come by than elite QBs.

I think the line can make it with two tackles. Bad as things are, Lowe would be an above average swing tackle at this point, Onwenu should settle back in if he's allowed to reset at RG. If Strange can return to decent form at either LG or C, then you have most of the pieces.

The interesting thing is how you approach the build, because barring a once-a-decade draft, it is going to take two offseasons to do it. The most obvious pathway is to sign Higgins, then draft LT in round 1 and RT in round 2, though I am not convinced that Higgins is a true difference maker. If you want to argue that McMillan's ceiling far surpasses Higgins', then you have to be willing to wait an extra year on the LT. That's just how it is.