Who is going to be the 2022/23 breakout Patriot?

[TheRainMaker]

But when you needed the situational win whether a late 3d down to drain the clock with a slim lead, a second and long down 3 points, a must have it TD...who made that play over and over and over? Edelman did - whether he was statistically a "#1 WR" or not.

Which is more important - the designation #1 WR and the total regular season statistics and massive cap hit that go with it or the player that consistently makes game winning plays? I've never understood this line of thinking and probably never will. I just have a different mindset centered on team play, role execution, and clutch performance.

I'll take clutch guys all day long over the "#1" designation at any position. Bruschi...Brown...Hightower...and there are other Patriots who NEVER put up "best in the league" stats to gain the "#1" career moniker, but if you needed a stop or a sack or a catch in the situation that won or lost the game - those guys made it more times than they didn't.

But how did they get in those situations to begin with? They were on a good team which provided those opportunities. Edelman was on teams that went to 8 consecutive AFC title games and 4 Super Bowls (he played in 3). If the money was equal, you'd be out of your mind saying you'd take Edelman over some of the league's best during his time. On the other hand, if you would rather have him but spread the money out to other players you'd use on a top WR, than that's a better case.

Getting back to the initial argument, the bar isn't that high statistically in order for a drafted WR to be a success.

 

[Triumph]

Edelman converted to WR on draft day.
Bullsht excuses for why BB doesn’t receive credit for drafting Edelman are exactly that… whining from the haters.

Where did your WR go for 3 years?

Was Brandon lets go Tate, Ocho Sinko and Teak Underwood the log jam you were using?

Julian Edelman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Julian Edelman. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[Guts]

I have Jonnu Smith having an excellent year 2 in this offense

 

[Kasmir]

Edelman was NOT a WR when drafted.

Dreamed up Homer excuses and spin wont change a thing.

That's being borderline dishonest. 100% of the 2009 draft day articles that I just reviewed list Edelman as a WR on the Pats post-draft roster. He was certainly drafted to be a WR.

 

[Kasmir]

Without Bill we'd be lucky to have 1-2 super bowls...

I think the BB hater narrative is that BB's coaching and GM incompetence cost Brady several super bowl appearances and wins. The loss to the Eagles is the best evidence of BB hurting Brady.

 

[Wozzy]

Where did your WR go for 3 years?

Was Brandon lets go Tate, Ocho Sinko and Teak Underwood the log jam you were using?

"Edelman caught 37 passes as a rookie then got caught in a roster crunch behind Branch, Welker, Hernandez, Gronk, Lloyd and Moss."

Here was my ^ exact quote, was this not accurate?

Saying BB doesn't get credit for drafting Edelman is akin to those chumps who say he didn't draft Brady because his QB coach liked him over Tim Rattay. Your bias is showing.

 

[Wozzy]

I think the BB hater narrative is that BB's coaching and GM incompetence cost Brady several super bowl appearances and wins. The loss to the Eagles is the best evidence of BB hurting Brady.

What evidence?

Malcom Butler went to Tennessee and lost his starting job to Adoree Jackson, the Titans had absolute buyer's remorse for giving him that contract. Butler sucked in 2017, he sucked afterwards... he peaked in 2016.

They lost that Super Bowl because Hightower, Alan Branch, Jon Jones and Chung got hurt.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I think the BB hater narrative is that BB's coaching and GM incompetence cost Brady several super bowl appearances and wins. The loss to the Eagles is the best evidence of BB hurting Brady.

We can say the same thing about Brady's performance in SB 42 as well as his pregame smack talk about the Giants D.... both him and BB had less than ideal moments in the super bowl. it is what it is.

 

[TheRainMaker]

What evidence?

Malcom Butler went to Tennessee and lost his starting job to Adoree Jackson, the Titans had absolute buyer's remorse for giving him that contract. Butler sucked in 2017, he sucked afterwards... he peaked in 2016.

They lost that Super Bowl because Hightower, Alan Branch, Jon Jones and Chung got hurt.

Regardless of injuries and the benching of Butler, BB really has no excuse allowing 40+ points to a back up QB and their supporting cast on offense.

 

[patfanken]

There are a number of potential "break out players".

#1 on my list is Kendrick Bourne for the following reasons.

a. He had great production last year with 800 receiving yards while playing only 33% of the offensive snaps.

b. He'll get most of his snaps this season from the slot which has traditionally been a high volume position in our passing attack,

c. He'll have a a solid receiving corps around him with speed and size on the outside with Aghular and Parker a plus TE in Henry, as well as 3 plus receivers coming out of the backfield in White Stevenson, and Harris

This passing offense might not have the traditional #1 WR, but like with so many of Brady's good teams, they have a lot of GOOD receivers to target. This is what I don't think most people don't get. There is only ONE ball and on every play 5 potential receivers. So while the bad news is, there is no "go to receiver", the good news is, there is no "go to receiver"

On defense I'd like to see McGrone turn into our version of Devon White. For the first time ever almost, the Pats defense will be among the fastest in the league on the 2nd level. There can be some very scary schemes to do various zone blitzes and create pressure by schemes.

As for the rookie that will have the most impact this season, it will HAVE to be Cole Strange. He is going to have to become a starting LG right from the start and be good at it.

 

[Patsgofor4]

Edelman was NOT a WR when drafted.

Dreamed up Homer excuses and spin wont change a thing.

Sorry about the long-haul COVID. It’s just unfortunate that you didn’t have much reserve brain power before that set in.

Edelman knew by the time the draft rolled around that he would be tried as a slot receiver by NFL teams. Before Bill decided to draft him, he had a verbal agreement with Green Bay to join them as an undrafted free agent. He and his agent chose Green Bay because their system fit his skills and they didn’t have a slot receiver. That detail is in his book….but you probably know better than Jules himself.

Oh yeah, he also played WR for 100% of his practice and in-game (non-ST, non-trick play) snaps during his Patriot career. If he had failed at WR, he may have bulked up and given third down RB a try but he didn’t fail at wide receiver, the position he was always going to play as a rookie, no matter which team he went to on draft day.

Of all of your freezing cold takes, this may be the most frigid.

 

[Wozzy]

Regardless of injuries and the benching of Butler, BB really has no excuse allowing 40+ points to a back up QB and their supporting cast on offense.

The Eagles were the best team in the league all season, whether we’re talking point differential or wins. They had the best OLine, great D, great everything. There isn’t a big drop off from Wentz to Foles and they were always a power running team.

Missing their 350 pound starting nose tackle in Branch, their overall best defender in Hightower, their nickel corner in Jones before losing their starting strong safety in Chung is what factually happened. Whether that’s “excuse making” is debateable I guess… but it doesn’t make it any less true.

 

[captain stone]

"Edelman caught 37 passes as a rookie then got caught in a roster crunch behind Branch, Welker, Hernandez, Gronk, Lloyd and Moss."

Here was my ^ exact quote, was this not accurate?

Brandon Lloyd didn't appear until 2012.

 

[Pats2000]

That's being borderline dishonest. 100% of the 2009 draft day articles that I just reviewed list Edelman as a WR on the Pats post-draft roster. He was certainly drafted to be a WR.

I think hes probably referencing the call Edelman got from BB on draft day, which I'm paraphrasing l, but was BB saying, We don't know what position you'll play, but you can play football.

 

[Triumph]

Sorry about the long-haul COVID. It’s just unfortunate that you didn’t have much reserve brain power before that set in.

Edelman knew by the time the draft rolled around that he would be tried as a slot receiver by NFL teams. Before Bill decided to draft him, he had a verbal agreement with Green Bay to join them as an undrafted free agent. He and his agent chose Green Bay because their system fit his skills and they didn’t have a slot receiver. That detail is in his book….but you probably know better than Jules himself.

Oh yeah, he also played WR for 100% of his practice and in-game (non-ST, non-trick play) snaps during his Patriot career. If he had failed at WR, he may have bulked up and given third down RB a try but he didn’t fail at wide receiver, the position he was always going to play as a rookie, no matter which team he went to on draft day.

Of all of your freezing cold takes, this may be the most frigid.

Rain

It took 4 years to develop a QB into a WR. 4 juice boxes.

He played college football at Kent State as a quarterback and was selected in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Patriots, where he transitioned to a return specialist and wide receiver. Edelman became a primary offensive starter in 2013

 

[Wozzy]

Brandon Lloyd didn't appear until 2012.

Julian Edelman didn’t receive bulk targets until 2013, when an opportunity arose and depth chart cleared in front of him.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

I think the BB hater narrative is that BB's coaching and GM incompetence cost Brady several super bowl appearances and wins. The loss to the Eagles is the best evidence of BB hurting Brady.

The right decisions outnumber the wrong ones. There have been some miserable decisions (like going for it in AZ&DEN within field goal range), in the regular & postseason. Lots of "What the hell are they doing?!" followed by "They're trying to lose"...

But the good choices matter more.

Over a dozen games, including playoffs, when Eason should NOT have started.

There's a case to be made that the Patriots would never have been competitive at all after 1982 if Eason hadn't been hurt multiple times.

 

[Chevy]

I have Jonnu Smith having an excellent year 2 in this offense

If they can get him in some one on one situations where his RAC ability comes in to play, then yes. Treat him more like a Shannon Sharp than a Gronk.

 

[Kontradiction]

On the offensive side of the ball, my bet would be Rham. Barring injury, I actually think he will emerge as one of the better RBs in the league. On the defensive side of the ball, it would have to be Barmore.

 

[RobertWeathers]

On the offensive side of the ball, my bet would be Rham. Barring injury, I actually think he will emerge as one of the better RBs in the league. On the defensive side of the ball, it would have to be Barmore.

I agree. Seeing how Rham had almost 800yds in offense from the LoC breaking out for him means that # is in the 1300s.