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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Does anyone really think there's gonna be a season
loaded at RB?
since when
The LB comment might be a stretch because you can't really depend on rookies but running back? Cmon! Sony, Sweet Feet, Burkhead, Harris, J.J. Taylor is very intriguing....if the offensive line is steady that might be the strength of the offense. IF.....IF there is a season.
Tell that to E-Rod who recovered from the virus but now has cardiomyopathy (inflammation of the heart). Lots of young people recover but still have ongoing lung issues (fibrosis and shortness of breath) - may not be a big deal for most, but a likely killer for a high-level athlete's career.Meaningless virus for young people.
Eh he’s not terrible, but he’s not anything special. It kills us that he’s totally inept in the passing game though. But he is pretty good when he has blocking.well Sony is terrible
We have a lot of bodies on the roster. But loaded seems like a huge stretch
heh...hah hah....LMAO....The Goon quit chasing the moolah? Is he dead? If not....LMAO...I do not know how the nfl can guarantee the safety of it’s players with this virus running rampart.
maybe they need to quit chasing the dollars and think about what is best for the players.
We’ll be fine as long as Belichick’s here.Patriots fans seem to be having trouble adjusting to the new reality that we won't be in the hunt for an indeterminate amount of time. It's okay guys. It happens to every team. We rode high for a hell of a long time. This was due to happen at some point. We won't be a crap team, but I think we'll be missing the playoffs and we'll need to get use to that happening fairly regularly until we get a top end QB. Maybe Cam will be good enough to get us in. Maybe even get to the top 8, but that's the limit. And I consider it more likely we miss entirely than make it as one of the top 8 teams. We simply don't have the team.
Our defense was pretty damn good last year but it got to beat up on a lot of bad offenses and had the benefit of an offense and STs which didn't put it in bad spots. The amount of turnovers and generally good punt return/kick off returns help the D. It was a bit overrated going by the 14.1PPG number as the second half of the year showed. Not that it was bad or even average. But when all is said and done it wasn't the best. Back end top 5. And it will be worse this year.
On the offensive side there will be some big issues. Brady took arguably the worst cast in the league and led them to respectability as one of the better offenses overall. I don't think Brady gets enough credit for his play last year. It was one of his worst years overall but even an aging Brady is still better than all but 1-3 QBs in the league last year. I don't expect even prime Cam to work those same wonders with what we'll be giving him unless Harry turns into an absolute super star.
There is not another NFL team remotely close to the Patriots in terms of the number of players that have elected to opt out. Nine teams have zero opting out, and no other team has more than two.
Here's a complete list of NFL players opting out of the 2020 season | Sporting News
To me the defensive offseason losses in free agency (and trades) have been overlooked by many outside of this forum, with TB12 moving on to Tampa dominating the discussion by the media and casual fans. That has now been exacerbated by the Patriots that are opting out.
Defensive Snaps -- % -- Rank -- Player
833 --- 81% --- #3 --- Jamie Collins
832 --- 81% --- #4 --- Kyle Van Noy
736 --- 71% --- #5 --- Dont'a Hightower
669 --- 65% --- #7 --- Duron Harmon
653 --- 63% --- #8 --- Patrick Chung
508 --- 49% --- #11 -- Danny Shelton
272 --- 26% --- #18 -- Shilique Calhoun
210 --- 20% --- #20 -- Elandon Roberts
There have also been sizable losses on special teams, though that can more easily be replenished.
ST Snaps -- % -- Rank -- Player
323 ---- 71% ---- #2 ---- Brandon Bolden
319 ---- 70% ---- #3 ---- Nate Ebner
241 ---- 51% ---- #5 ---- Shilique Calhoun
201 ---- 44% ---- #9 ---- Jamie Collins
143 ---- 31% ---- #15 --- Elandon Roberts
104 ---- 23% ---- #18 --- Danny Shelton
Other departed players account for a combined 343 snaps.
Here are the numbers on offense. They look worse than they really are since some were already addressed (David Andrews' return), others were in need of an upgrade anyways (Dorsett, Watson, Ferentz), out of the team's control (Gordon) - and in the case of Cannon there are options such as Cajuste, Froholdt, or re-signing Newhouse.
Snaps ---- % ---- Rank ---- Player
1142 ---- 99% ---- #2 ----- TB12
1046 ---- 94% ---- #4 ---- Ted Karras
1014 ---- 88% ---- #5 ---- Marcus Cannon
567 ----- 49% ---- #8 ---- Phillip Dorsett
467 ----- 40% ---- #11 --- Ben Watson
325 ----- 28% ---- #16 --- Josh Gordon
205 ----- 18% ---- #20 --- James Ferentz
96 ------- 8% ----- #21 --- Brandon Bolden
2019 Snap Counts | Football Outsiders
A few years back I was all over Nostradamus for his knee jerk 'I can't stand it thread'. I am not going to say that the Patriots are doomed, but it appears to me that the 2020 defense is going to take a big step backwards towards the middle of the pack. That is in turn going to put more pressure on an offense that will have to limit its playbook for a new quarterback, and still has quality issues at wide receiver and tight end. The 2019 defense ranked first in points, yardage, turnover differential, third down conversions, third down conversion percentage and DVOA; second in turnovers; and third in total plays and yards per play. It is unreasonable to expect that type of production again.
To me the odds being given the Patriots in 2020 are based more on reputation than the reality of the composition of their roster. I believe this will be a rebuilding year, hampered in large part by $24 million in dead cap money. Once that is off the books ($13.5 for Brady, $4.5 for AB, $2 for Bennett, $1.4 for Ghost, $1.25 for Harmon) the Pats will be able to reload in 2021.
2020 NFL Odds
I look forward to watching the Patriots in 2020 (assuming there is an NFL season), but I will be realistic with my expectations.
Fair enough. If we go through the list and assume anyone playing 49% or more of the snaps is difficult to replace we've lost one impossible to replace player (TB12), one irreplaceable player (HT) and 10 difficult to replace players too.Of the defensive players, the only irreplaceable player is Hightower.
Fair enough. If we go through the list and assume anyone playing 49% or more of the snaps is difficult to replace we've lost one impossible to replace player (TB12), one irreplaceable player (HT) and 10 difficult to replace players too.
He could always bring in the QB from Foxboro High like he threatened to do to TFB.. It might mess up the kid's NCAA eligibility but if there was ever a year that will show BB's coaching acumen, this is it....Replacing ( hate that word in this case) the GOAT at QB, and nearly half your defensive snaps......IF and that is a big word, they play the entire season, I think 8-8 is a success....Anything more is gravy...We’ll be fine as long as Belichick’s here.
I do not know how the nfl can guarantee the safety of it’s players with this virus running rampart.
maybe they need to quit chasing the dollars and think about what is best for the players.
There is not another NFL team remotely close to the Patriots in terms of the number of players that have elected to opt out. Nine teams have zero opting out, and no other team has more than two.
Here's a complete list of NFL players opting out of the 2020 season | Sporting News
To me the defensive offseason losses in free agency (and trades) have been overlooked by many outside of this forum, with TB12 moving on to Tampa dominating the discussion by the media and casual fans. That has now been exacerbated by the Patriots that are opting out.
Defensive Snaps -- % -- Rank -- Player
833 --- 81% --- #3 --- Jamie Collins
832 --- 81% --- #4 --- Kyle Van Noy
736 --- 71% --- #5 --- Dont'a Hightower
669 --- 65% --- #7 --- Duron Harmon
653 --- 63% --- #8 --- Patrick Chung
508 --- 49% --- #11 -- Danny Shelton
272 --- 26% --- #18 -- Shilique Calhoun
210 --- 20% --- #20 -- Elandon Roberts
There have also been sizable losses on special teams, though that can more easily be replenished.
ST Snaps -- % -- Rank -- Player
323 ---- 71% ---- #2 ---- Brandon Bolden
319 ---- 70% ---- #3 ---- Nate Ebner
241 ---- 51% ---- #5 ---- Shilique Calhoun
201 ---- 44% ---- #9 ---- Jamie Collins
143 ---- 31% ---- #15 --- Elandon Roberts
104 ---- 23% ---- #18 --- Danny Shelton
Other departed players account for a combined 343 snaps.
Here are the numbers on offense. They look worse than they really are since some were already addressed (David Andrews' return), others were in need of an upgrade anyways (Dorsett, Watson, Ferentz), out of the team's control (Gordon) - and in the case of Cannon there are options such as Cajuste, Froholdt, or re-signing Newhouse.
Snaps ---- % ---- Rank ---- Player
1142 ---- 99% ---- #2 ----- TB12
1046 ---- 94% ---- #4 ---- Ted Karras
1014 ---- 88% ---- #5 ---- Marcus Cannon
567 ----- 49% ---- #8 ---- Phillip Dorsett
467 ----- 40% ---- #11 --- Ben Watson
325 ----- 28% ---- #16 --- Josh Gordon
205 ----- 18% ---- #20 --- James Ferentz
96 ------- 8% ----- #21 --- Brandon Bolden
2019 Snap Counts | Football Outsiders
A few years back I was all over Nostradamus for his knee jerk 'I can't stand it thread'. I am not going to say that the Patriots are doomed, but it appears to me that the 2020 defense is going to take a big step backwards towards the middle of the pack. That is in turn going to put more pressure on an offense that will have to limit its playbook for a new quarterback, and still has quality issues at wide receiver and tight end. The 2019 defense ranked first in points, yardage, turnover differential, third down conversions, third down conversion percentage and DVOA; second in turnovers; and third in total plays and yards per play. It is unreasonable to expect that type of production again.
To me the odds being given the Patriots in 2020 are based more on reputation than the reality of the composition of their roster. I believe this will be a rebuilding year, hampered in large part by $24 million in dead cap money. Once that is off the books ($13.5 for Brady, $4.5 for AB, $2 for Bennett, $1.4 for Ghost, $1.25 for Harmon) the Pats will be able to reload in 2021.
2020 NFL Odds
I look forward to watching the Patriots in 2020 (assuming there is an NFL season), but I will be realistic with my expectations.
Of the defensive players, the only irreplaceable player is Hightower.