Two Major Issues Have Been Solved

[stinkypete]

Shelton does solve the NT role that Branch filled from 2015 - 16.

We are still one RB away, but RBs are a dime a dozen.

 

[maineman209]

Shelton projects nicely, although we have to hope the Pats bring that 1st round talent out of him. Cleveland couldn't.

Actually Cleveland did - in Shelton's first two seasons when they were running a base 3-4 with him at NT, especially in his 2nd season (2016):

16 starts ... 59 tackles ... 1.5 sacks

And then last season, the "defensive mastermind", Gregg Williams, swept in and imposed his 4-3 on 3-4 personnel, and insisted on using Shelton is a role for which he is not suited.

The Pats will use Shelton much more like Cleveland did in 2016.

 

[Seacoast Fan]

A good rule of thumb when posting on the internet is to not say anything that you would not say in person.

Absolutely correct....but talk about a rule honored in the breach......

 

[maineman209]

I have high hopes for Shelton, but he could just as easily be the next Sopoaga.

As for RB? Not even close to solved. The guy we signed today is not a full time player even when healthy, and he isn't healthy full time either.

Burkhead missed four games in 2017 with bruised (cracked?) ribs. I'm fairly confident that won't become a chronic issue.

 

[maineman209]

lol this

They added one guy

And took a major step toward fixing the second worst run-D in the league in 2017.

For a mere $2M 2018 cap hit.

 

[borg]

It seems a lot of energy is going into debating the definition of "solved."

Whose debating? We're mocking

 

[maineman209]

I can't wrap my head around the fact that folks keep putting Gillislie on any kind of depth chart. The guy was inactive from 11/12 thru 12/17, missing six games. He played against Buffalo on 12/24 and then he was done. I'll be surprised if he's on the opening day roster.

The Pats had 4 RBs in 2017 and will have 4 RBs in 2018. One of them will be de-activated for every game.

Gillislee was a more-than-adequate contributor as the #4 RB when he was needed (and active) during the first half of 2017. He has 5 years NFL experience and (now) a year's experience in the Pats' offensive system. His 2018 cap hit is only $2.18M.

How much effort should the Pats invest in "upgrading Gillislee" out of a roster spot just to have an RB with a different name sitting on the bench every week?

 

[maineman209]

Which begs the question how reasonable is an opinion that is not in fact presented in a reasonable manner?*

*(rest assured liking or disliking, agreeing or disagreeing with the above opinion will neither draw my ire nor give me the warm fuzzies however rating it a winner may be construed in some corners of the interwebs as making us bff's)

You had to know that rating was coming, right?

 

[jah]

Burkhead missed four games in 2017 with bruised (cracked?) ribs. I'm fairly confident that won't become a chronic issue.

He definitely has upside, I just hope he can reach it.

 

[borg]

And took a major step toward fixing the second worst run-D in the league in 2017.

For a mere $2M 2018 cap hit.

A Cleveland Brown castoff is NE's "major step"?
Resigning Burkhead solves the RB problem?
The Koolaid is extra tangy this time of year

 

[maineman209]

It seems a lot of energy is going into debating the definition of "solved."
I'm interpreting @mgteich 's definition as "adequate" and not necessarily "championship caliber."
On the other hand, the Pats teams are typically more "adequate" in personnel going into a season than anything else.
I'm thinking that the team is trying to get all positions up to "adequate" prior to the draft so they can draft the BPA rather than have to fill a hole. So getting a RB and DT signed helps with that.

THIS ^^^.

 

[maineman209]

Because I would upgrade and cut Gillislee, the guy telegraphs "run" every time they roll him out there and he's only about as talented as Law Firm.

Gillislee is also the #4 of four RBs - one of whom will be de-activated every week. Gillislee is a more than adequate #4.

 

[maineman209]

Teams have carried fewer then 5 RB's on a roster, RB is a position you can find in the late rounds and UDFA ranks. You can bring in 3 or 4 rookies.

The Patriots don't really carry 5 RBs just like they don't really carry 6 WRs.

Bolden is a core special teamer who just happens to be a dire-emergency backup RB.

It's possible that a late-round draftee or UDFA RB with no NFL experience and no experience in the Pats offensive system could be a better contributor as a rookie coming off the bench than Gillislee. But I wouldn't count on it.

 

[maineman209]

Except he’s incapable of getting 1 yard when we need it

He actually had one of the top success rates at getting needed yardage last season. He simply didn't get more than what was needed very often at all.

That's not bad for the bench-reserve RB on the active roster.

 

[maineman209]

... but have seen years of backup running backs on this team not rising to the occasion when given more time. Wishing doesn't make it so.

And then there's BGE, Blount (when he first came to the team), Bolden (in his first two seasons), Sammy Morris (when Maroney was lost to IR in 2008) ...

And Gillislee, when Burkhead suffered his rib injury while Lewis was still rounding into form during the first few games of 2017.

 

[borg]

When Gillislee was handed the ball, I thought he was more than an adequate runner, except for his one notable fumble.
I wonder if NE would have deployed Gillislee more if Edelman had remained healthy? McDaniels was determined to always have a pass-catching RB in his backfield that gave Brady options .....pre-snap audibles / post-snap weapon. If the Edelman security blanket was available......who knows? 90 catches per year had to be divvied up...and Gillislee was never going to be a featured pass catcher. The NE offense could have a more traditional look with a healthy Edelperson. The need for 3 pass-catching RBs on the roster may not be as vital.

 

[Huckleberry1]

To the degree that they have NFL caliber talent in the interior line and at RB those issues have been “ solved.” They can and should however add a RB in the draft imo. The major issues, an edge rusher and a LT are still unaddressed and may well have to be resolved through the draft.

The bottom line, at least imo, is that the NFL’s structure for parity is working how they want it to, for the most part. The consistently good teams simply cannot compete in the open market for the top players available, even if they aren’t the top players at their position’s. The contract that Solder got is the best evidence of this. He’s a good player but a top ten LT at best, yet he was paid as the best OL in football, and whether it was the Patriots, Steelers, or Packers they simply can’t afford to make that deal. Whether or not the bad teams, like the Giants, can turn their spending spree into success remains to be seen? For the most part that hasn’t happened, unless you combine that with picking top five every year for years and years to ultimately become a good team, as finally happened with the Jags.

 

[maust]

Yours is an argument for the rating system being done away with altogether. Most of the time when someone gives me a disagree or dislike I don't know them, haven't a clue where they're coming from and would like to understand why they oppose my viewpoint. It's supposed to be a FORUM, where ideas are exchanged. Otherwise, it's like someone entering a real conversation, saying "I don't like what you said," and then leaving. That's rude, counterproductive and cowardly. Icy is right on about this.

Actually my argument is very much the opposite, it advocates for a ratings system not against discussion. Hence the "Understanding it's the nature of being on a sports forum to engage in discussion doesn't mean every douche needs or merits engaging." I am more than content to engage in valid discussion, like you it's the reason I am here. I just don't want to wade through 20 no/u posts to get to one post that has merit. I'm not suggesting for a moment the system be done away with. I will not hesitate to engage when I disagree with a worthwhile post but there still needs to be a quick and simple method for expressing dislike/disagreement that is obvious in it's nature. Telling a Stevenson they are a douche only invites more of the same, which only serves to validate their existence and on and on it goes. There are comments even on this thread that show how pointless it can be to engage some folks.

To sum up, when folks post obvious nonsense they don't deserve an explanation. Short of that by all means let's have at it, it is after all why we are here.

 

[Jimke]

Their most important need right now is an offensive tackle because Cole Croston
would be the starter if the Patriots played today. Fleming and Waddle don't seem
to be breaking down the door to re-sign and Solder was the only top rated tackle in
free agency. Caserio and Belichick will have a big task replacing Solder.

 

[Wozzy]

Their most important need right now is an offensive tackle because Cole Croston
would be the starter if the Patriots played today. Fleming and Waddle don't seem
to be breaking down the door to re-sign and Solder was the only top rated tackle in
free agency. Caserio and Belichick will have a big task replacing Solder.

Agreed, there are many other dire positions of need.