PatsFans.com Menu
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans

Content Post Words on things I watched, read & heard II

This has an opening post with good commentary and information, which we definitely recommend reading.
Status
Not open for further replies.
I think this is thread worthy but I'll leave this here for now bc we'll have more than a few. Not as good but I have my own little space here so why not.

I big believer in "judging." I never understood the hesitancy in it?? Like I'm not talking about religion (you're all crazy), race (you're all assholes) or sensuality (you live once **** your fill) but rather on someone's work.

I just don't see the problem with it so let's have at it.

I've said this a few times but I hope it's sinking in for others. This is an organizational failure from top to bottom. I'm not going deep into ownership here, on this post but it's clear we need that transition to happen sooner than later.

Post-Brady has been an abject failure so far and next year is easily the most important by miles. It's hard to put it in words bc I'm dumb and inarticulate but it's as important as any. Many contracts coming up or able to be moved around, including year 3 with Mac. We have a ton of money. A good amount of picks and overall flexibility. We might suck but not stuck. We're not locked down and again have some overall flexibility. So with how the past few years have gone. Coming up on a half decade since Tom. The decisions we make in the near future will shape this team for the next 5-10 years.

You can tie some of the recent decisions directly to the failures on offense. It's not like we haven't known some of this but with the year coming to an end it's just being highlighted. Loudly and over and over again.


The TE position is particularly concerning when you look at it. I mean we're a running team without a real TE you can leave on the field all 3 downs. And that's ****in unacceptable after drafting Asiasi and Keene. Signing Henry and Smith to huge contracts to the largest spending TE in the league. TE is literally one of the positions of need this off-season. You can't use both TE on the field bc neither can block lol. It's not funny it's sad.


The WR room isn't bad but the definition of average. None really separate themselves literally or physically and it goes against everything we've seen in Bill's tenure here. They're all good to decent #2/3 but desperately need a #1 target to really appreciate what they do. You can't ask guys to be who they're not. All are pretty good but have a ceiling (Meyers), aren't getting targeted (Bourne, who was our best WR today and probablyour best overall) or are good but unreliable (Agholor)


We've always had an option that can get open instantly in the MOF. I've been bringing it up for a while but it's been a huge problem and surprisingly hasn't gone away by not filling that position. Edleman, Amendola, Welker ... even Woodhead and White. Rham has stepped up in that role but we're really missing those quick hitters. Then guys like Brown, Pattern, Branch who were versatile and tough af. I feel like the group we have today is closer to guys like Stallworth, Amendola, Givens and Lloyd as opposed to the group directly above. I'm not even bringing up the all time greats in Moss and Gronk, mostly Gronk but they were game changers that actually made Tom Brady better. So needless to say we need more help in this area of targets.


We traded up and drafted Thornton top 50. So far the returns have been bad. You draft guys like that and they have to make an impact when out there.

OG George Pickens - 69/42 target/rec 643 yards 15.5 Y/R 2 TD


Alec Pierce - 65/32 target/rec 510 yards 15.9 Y/R 2TD


Skyy Moore - 28/18 target/rec 212 yards 11.8 YR 130 something return yards


Wandale Robinson has about the same yards and Christian Watson has obviously exploded lately. Yes those last two were drafted ahead but not much. Just perspective of what to expect from guys drafted around the same spot. TT has 33/17 166 9.8 yr and 1 TD. Few rushing yards and a TD. He's been hurt but the impact isn't there when he's available.


So the group of targets doesn't particularly do anything top tier or outstanding. They don't really get open by themselves consistently. We don't have a real physical presence even after signing Parker, trading for Sanu and drafting Harry. They dont do anything great if we're being honest.


I get that blaming Patricia is cool. And he absolutely deserves his fair share but Bill knew this wasn't the most explosive or talented group and took a former defensive coach, recent fired HC who was lost in Detroit. And put him in charge of this offense for the most part. Like remember that one scene in GoTs where Arya goes to the House of Black and White?? Ik I'm a loser but I think about this from time to time.




"I had nowhere else to go." "You had everywhere else to go"


Bill could have chose anyone. Anyone. Knowing you need a guy, as sad as it is. Like Josh. Like say what you want about Josh he knew how to make a group of misfits work. Very rarely if at all did he get a traditional personnel to run. Granted some players were all time greats but he maximized guys no matter their skillset and made it work. That's what you needed this year. I'm not a super Josh fan. Don't want him as a HC but you needed someone like that to make it work. Not an inexperienced recent failure who's spread to thin. Blame him all you want but Bill gave him the keys to a stick car knowing Patricia couldn't drive it like the best in the world. Like Patricia could have been successful, sure but do we really think that's the best guy if we're objective. Not hindsight either I mean again there's 50 guys in the NFL/college you could name with experience, track record and specific expertise in that space so this was always a big risk.


The RB room is one of the best in the league even after the past few weeks. This team should absolutely be running over, through and around defenses with the RB Corp we have. Obviously the line has held the attack back a lot. Wynn has not handled the switch well at all. It was visibly effecting the depth step/slide and initial focus on the edge. His hands weren't bad but everything was off. Brown has definitely lost a step and doesn't fire off enough consistent quick twitch reps and it's showing up on false starts and poor weight transfer after his first step. That's been his biggest strength actually, length a strong second but that first step allows his to properly use and distribute all that size and length to the right spaces and bodies. Strange has been good overall. You want someone who flashes rare traits when you draft an IOL that early. We haven't seen that but Strange has been pretty good. I think he could be more efficient with his steps when pulling. Do a better job locating and putting hands on his targets but he's also improved along the way. Handling power, handling games up front. He's been good.


It's just been a ****tshow with the regression of some, injuries causing bodies to move. Some of the techniques used you wouldn't see with Scar here.


Mac hasn't been the biggest problem on this offense but has played poorly by himself. There's no getting around - he panics when pressure is closing in. I saw it very rarely in college. Saw it last year and it's continued on this year. Some of the plays are unnecessary and bonehead. This has absolutely nothing to do with Patricia. His footwork has been poor and release point inconsistent. Again nothing to do with Patricia. They were issues he went to House for and predated Fat Matt. The pre snap penalties. Missing easy passes. Pouty face and chirping. Mac hasn't played well and hasn't handled adversity well at all. Again he's the least of the problems but this isn't what you expect from the 15th overall pick who was a high ceiling/low floor, NFL ready prospect.


All these moves and subsequent results go back to decisions made by Bill. He's done some amazing things for this franchise but we can't let that blind us present day. From the players to coaches, we've become mediocre, sloppy and predictable. We're not as talented on the field and spread to things on the sidelines. Could you imagine describing us like that even 5 years ago?


Biggest offseason coming up in a long time. Fans should put the petty differences aside like "team mac" or w/e and hold who's in charge accountable. Pointing 1000 fingers everywhere isn't productive and exactly what the big shots want you to do. We know where the buck stops and need to be tough. Sending a clear message this isn't acceptable with the resources we've used, expectations set and one of the most expensive tickets in sports.
 
Biggest offseason coming up in a long time. Fans should put the petty differences aside like "team mac" or w/e and hold who's in charge accountable. Pointing 1000 fingers everywhere isn't productive and exactly what the big shots want you to do. We know where the buck stops and need to be tough. Sending a clear message this isn't acceptable with the resources we've used, expectations set and one of the most expensive tickets in sports.

I 100% agree with the above. If BB doesn't get the team back into the play-offs next season, Kraft will move on in all likelihood.

I would work with SCAR, Wolf, and Groh to evaluate the current coaching staff. If I was them, I'd be replacing Patricia and Judge.

I mentioned in the Game Day thread that I think the Pats should bring in B'OB as an advisor and give the reins to Caley. I said it weeks ago that I was wrong about Judge. He hurts QBs. Look at the change in Daniel Jones with Daboll as his HC, Kafka as his OC and Tierney as his QBC. The Giants still have O-line and WR issues, but Jones is succeeding despite them.

The Pats need a REAL O-line coach. Patricia isn't at fault for Wynn's attitude or the plethora of injuries to RTs on the team, but Patricia certainly didn't help the rest of the O-line get better this year. Everyone regressed. I would reach out to Popovich and bring him back. If not Popovich, then they need to look at someone else out of the college ranks. Alex Atkins, Sam Gregg, Brian Braswell, Justin Frye.

I hope that Bill encourages Stephen to spread his wings and find a job with another team. I would love for Bill to promote Mayo to DC and have Mayo be the one in line to replace Belichick.

I expect the Pats to be active in Free Agency. I expect them to to try and bring back Jon Jones, Jabriil Peppers, Jakobi Meyers, Slater, and Cardona. Possibly Cody Davis and Mack Wilson (only 25).
 
Curious if you would trade our 1st + 3rd + 3rd or 1st + 2nd for the following ......

Tee Higgins

Brandon Aiyuk

Terry McLaurin

Michael Pittman

...

And obviously pay them.

The answer should be yes

Let's say Aiyuk or Higgins considering both might be an odd man out in terms of getting paid on their respective teams. Personally I'd rank them very closely. Something like Tee, Terry, Aiyuk and Pittman. Very little separating the top 3 (top 10-15 guys), all legit top 20-30 WRs.

Let's say Higgins. He's up in 2024. On a loaded team, loaded WR corp. It's not completely out of pocket. And again you obviously have to pay him but hes a proven player only getting better. 4/100.

Sign Kobi to a 3/23 - 23.5, would go to 24. I think that's very fair! It would be nice to reward our own guys and Kobi deserves it. Its not charity. He's a hell of a blocker, our 3rd down god, tough as ****, reliable and has Mac's trust.

Higgins with Meyers would easily be our best 1-2 in years. If Thornton hits we're set at WR for 3-5 years and all of a sudden have a dangerous group. Any of those guys provides immediate help though, especially outside/stretching the field/catch point/yac.

Let Agholor walk unless he wants to play for free. Decide on Bourne. I can only assume it's his route running (crazy considering how tight him and Mac were), maybe not a Patricia guy? Bc there's not a lot of reasons why he's not heavily involved after last year. That's another issue or maybe a real issue but have to decide on.

Higgins, Meyers, Thornton and maybe one of Bourne or Agholor isnt bad but we could do better?

If we want to walk away from Agholor and trade Bourne we could look at these guys in FA for reasonable money. Honestly I cant see any breaking the bank ...

Allen Lazard (big bully in the slot, can block and like Higgins, knows how to get open as a big man) would be the most expensive but shouldn't be getting crazy money. GB will have other needs and just drafted two WR. We would have a basketball team as a WR corp.
Kobi - 6'2, TT - 6'3, Tee - 6'4 and AL - 6'5. Big boys and all beside Thornton have shown they can get open consistently in the league. So the size is all pluses. I can't see him getting more than 11-12 million per but that might be a little redundant with Kobi. If we did, we'd have plenty of big bodies in the MOF.

Greg Dortch (has caught 37/42 rec, lots of speed even though his YR is low, he could prob be utilized a little better and returns kicks) would be very cheap money as a WR5.

Zach Pascal (top 5-10 blocker) again another cheap money deal.

I'd take a shot a Jamison Crowder for the right price.

And the draft if we feel like it ....

Take a shot in the middle, 4-7 RD ...

Ladd McConkey, Jayden Reed, Rakim Jarrett, Bru McCoy, Jacob Cowing, Tayvion Robinson, Jacob Copeland, Rome Odunze

Preferably a reliable quick hitter who can get open and create for themselves. Ladd, Reed, Jarrett, Cowing and Robinson all fit that profile. I think the others would fit in as well though.

This obviously doesn't solve the OL problem but this isn't top heavy class. So I wouldn't worry about losing our 1st for a tackle. We'll have 40+ million in FA $ with a few moves and we all they're coming. We'll still have our 2nd and two 4ths to play with in the draft.

I'm not married to the idea but I think it's clear this WR will look different next year and Mac needs as much help as possible in all areas. Not just OL play. Which is more important. Again just throwing this out there.

There looks to be 4-5 top 50 guys at tackle in the draft. I think Harrison will rise but he's a guy I'd take a shot at if he was in reach. Not all of Skor, Paris, Harrison, Johnson Jones X2 and Freeland will go in RD1 so we'll have a good chance at getting someone you can work with. Or use a 2nd and 4th to trade for a proven tackle.

Just throwing something out there. Not very Patriot-y but this team needs a real difference maker on offense. So much is riding on Thornton.

@patsinthesnow @Kontradiction @long distance @dreighver @50-yard-line @captain stone @Ian @patfanken @Dingleberry

Ya or nah










 
Bolles, Jeudy, Hamler. Surtain is a long shot but our secondary would be fun as hell with the Jones bros, Dugger and Phillips.

 
AFC pro bowl roster announced... Joe Thuney voted as top backup at G to starters Quentin Nelson & Joel Bitonio (who should've been drafted here instead of Dom Easily)... But hey who needs Thuney to help protect our young QBs when we can pay Shack Mason & Flapper McCourty, then later Agholor, JonNo Smith & dogChow?
 
We all agree that Kraft is throwing the kitchen sink at offense next year, right? Taken off prime time games. Parking lot empty. Offense one of the worst in the league. QB with less than 10 TD's. OL/WR. Between the money, contracts and picks we have.

All in agreement?
 
Bill Polian (of all people) brings a thoughtful, intelligent take to the table (quotes at the bottom of this post).

I agree with him. I think there's a prisoner of the moment mindset when it comes to the current state of the Patriots. BB is ultimately responsible for the decisions he makes and his recent choices haven't worked out, but I don't think the team's struggles can be singlehandedly pinned on him, and when you look at the games they've lost, this could be a 9 win team without much changing. This isn't a dark age.

They obviously need a competent OC and QBC. They need a new QB IMO. They need two NFL-caliber OTs. Beyond that, I don't think they're that far away. BB still knows how to build and coach championship football.
-
“You don’t need to make it worse, and (Kraft) won’t,” Polian recently told The Athletic’s Mike Sando. “The Steelers for example have never had a losing season (with Mike Tomlin), but they have been out of the playoffs a few times. That is why I place value on long-term excellence by the franchise, as opposed to a snapshot of today, yesterday, tomorrow.”

“You just sit down and say, ‘OK, this has been an unsatisfactory year and I don’t need to pound the desk and talk about that — you know that, I know that,'” Polian told Sando. “Then you say, ‘You’re the man. What’s the plan going forward?’ And then hold him to that plan going forward. And if you disagree as an owner, you say, ‘OK, I’m not sure I agree with this. Why do you think we should do this or do that?’ And that’s what he can do. Put his faith in Bill. Bill hasn’t forgotten how to coach.”

 
Bill Polian (of all people) brings a thoughtful, intelligent take to the table (quotes at the bottom of this post).

I agree with him. I think there's a prisoner of the moment mindset when it comes to the current state of the Patriots. BB is ultimately responsible for the decisions he makes and his recent choices haven't worked out, but I don't think the team's struggles can be singlehandedly pinned on him, and when you look at the games they've lost, this could be a 9 win team without much changing. This isn't a dark age.

They obviously need a competent OC and QBC. They need a new QB IMO. They need two NFL-caliber OTs. Beyond that, I don't think they're that far away. BB still knows how to build and coach championship football.
-
“You don’t need to make it worse, and (Kraft) won’t,” Polian recently told The Athletic’s Mike Sando. “The Steelers for example have never had a losing season (with Mike Tomlin), but they have been out of the playoffs a few times. That is why I place value on long-term excellence by the franchise, as opposed to a snapshot of today, yesterday, tomorrow.”

“You just sit down and say, ‘OK, this has been an unsatisfactory year and I don’t need to pound the desk and talk about that — you know that, I know that,'” Polian told Sando. “Then you say, ‘You’re the man. What’s the plan going forward?’ And then hold him to that plan going forward. And if you disagree as an owner, you say, ‘OK, I’m not sure I agree with this. Why do you think we should do this or do that?’ And that’s what he can do. Put his faith in Bill. Bill hasn’t forgotten how to coach.”



I think this is probably the way that Kraft moves and the line of questioning "I don't agree with that; why should we do that?" Will be the most important question for both Belichick and Kraft.


What's very difficult is that we lost our on a lot of "reading the tea leaves" this season on a player level (like getting a more thorough read on Mac) because of a very weird season. If it wasn't skewed enough by the weird coaching staff decisions, the NFL as a whole was very up and down.

All I can take away from this season is:

- We somehow kept up with the best teams when we faced them outside of the Bills. Even then, they didn't hang huge numbers on us.


- The defense has shown that it can lose folks like Gilmore and still function to a top level. It can even lose great players mid season and keep up as one of the best. The Bengals game is a perfect example of that.

- This is reason to believe that, with a few changes, the Patriots have the potential to be a very good team. It all comes down to the offensive side. If I'm Kraft, I take a look at that, recognize I'm going into 2023 with good cap space, and boil 2023 down to a year where a hard read can be made.
 
We all agree that Kraft is throwing the kitchen sink at offense next year, right? Taken off prime time games. Parking lot empty. Offense one of the worst in the league. QB with less than 10 TD's. OL/WR. Between the money, contracts and picks we have.

All in agreement?
i agree but who would you go for? The WR FA market sucks, our TE contracts are already league high, two OT i liked with jenkins and conklin signed contracts already and there will be teams overspending here on Brown for example who isn't worth the money.
I don't want to trade a high pick either because we need difference makers via draft cheap, that's the philosophy i would consider esp. picking top 15 in a good class where you may can trade down. Also who would be available?
 
We all agree that Kraft is throwing the kitchen sink at offense next year, right? Taken off prime time games. Parking lot empty. Offense one of the worst in the league. QB with less than 10 TD's. OL/WR. Between the money, contracts and picks we have.

All in agreement?

If they cant fix OL (and that includes coaching) all the rest is throwing $ out the window.

But even before that B&B should have a hard talk about now totally inbreed coaching stable.
The coaching tree blood needs always to be rejuvenated (from within), enriched (from outside) not clogged with old rejects.

BB allowed for two consecutive years of ST coaching incompetence wo consequences. Same for OL, TE and prob more.
Thats the biggest disappointment lately w BB - covering for incompetence (and smiling).

While they have all the assets to significantly improve the team next yr im not sure key things will be addressed..
 
If they cant fix OL (and that includes coaching) all the rest is throwing $ out the window.

But even before that B&B should have a hard talk about now totally inbreed coaching stable.
The coaching tree blood needs always to be rejuvenated (from within), enriched (from outside) not clogged with old rejects.

BB allowed for two consecutive years of ST coaching incompetence wo consequences. Same for OL, TE and prob more.
Thats the biggest disappointment lately w BB - covering for incompetence (and smiling).

While they have all the assets to significantly improve the team next yr im not sure key things will be addressed..

The Coaching Stable isn't totally inbred. They bring in guys from outside as interns and develop them. Ross Douglas and Billy Yates are just two of the guys. While Yates played here, he actually started his coaching career at Texas Tech before going to Bowling Green and then to the Lions under Patricia. V'Angelo Bentley is another Coach who didn't come from inside the Pats.

That being said, I wanted the Pats to either reach back out to Popovich or to go grab someone like Matt Luke or Sam Gregg from the college ranks. An up an coming O-line coach that is well thought of.

Not sure what "Special Teams incompetence" you're referring to from 2021. Are you referring to Bailey playing hurt?
What "TE" incompetence? You mean the Offensive Coordinator not using the TEs properly in the game planning?

What exactly do you mean by "O-line incompetence"? Are you seriously blaming Belichick for the O-Line Coaching staff losing Popovich just prior to the start of the season because of a absolutely f'in moronic NFL policy? I understand some people blame Belichick for the team not retaining Thuney, but Thuney said he chose KC for the same money NE offered. I will agree there the Wynn situation was mishandled. However, I don't think any team is going to be successful using 5 different RTs. Be it from the players regressing (Herron), or injury (Cajuste, Cannon, Wynn, Steuber).

What things do you think are "key" that won't be addressed by Belichick?
 
We need somebody like hm - or like the kid in Miami, Phillips - opposite Judon... Wise, Uche et al aren't starter-caliber EDs; they're rotational-to-backup-quality only.
JOsh Uche with 11.5 sacks isn't a starting caliber pass rusher?
 
The Coaching Stable isn't totally inbred. They bring in guys from outside as interns and develop them. Ross Douglas and Billy Yates are just two of the guys. While Yates played here, he actually started his coaching career at Texas Tech before going to Bowling Green and then to the Lions under Patricia. V'Angelo Bentley is another Coach who didn't come from inside the Pats.

That being said, I wanted the Pats to either reach back out to Popovich or to go grab someone like Matt Luke or Sam Gregg from the college ranks. An up an coming O-line coach that is well thought of.

Not sure what "Special Teams incompetence" you're referring to from 2021. Are you referring to Bailey playing hurt?
What "TE" incompetence? You mean the Offensive Coordinator not using the TEs properly in the game planning?

What exactly do you mean by "O-line incompetence"? Are you seriously blaming Belichick for the O-Line Coaching staff losing Popovich just prior to the start of the season because of a absolutely f'in moronic NFL policy? I understand some people blame Belichick for the team not retaining Thuney, but Thuney said he chose KC for the same money NE offered. I will agree there the Wynn situation was mishandled. However, I don't think any team is going to be successful using 5 different RTs. Be it from the players regressing (Herron), or injury (Cajuste, Cannon, Wynn, Steuber).

What things do you think are "key" that won't be addressed by Belichick?
I'll let @long distance answer this but I believe we've allowed 4 or 5 blocked punts the past few years after none the previous 3 or 4 years. You block a punt and your chances of winning the game go up dramatically.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Patriots News 04-19, Countdown To Draft Day
MORSE: Patriots Mock Draft 6 – A Week Before the Draft
TRANSCRIPT: Eliot Wolf Pre-Draft Press Conference 4/13
Patriots News 04-12, What To Watch For In The NFL Draft
MORSE: Pre-Draft Patriots News and Notes
MORSE: Patriots Mock Draft 5
MORSE: Patriots Mock Draft 5
Mark Morse
2 weeks ago
Patriots Part Ways with Another Linebacker as Offseason Roster Shake-Up Continues
Patriots News 04-05, Mock Draft 2.0, Patriots Look For OL Depth
MORSE: 18 Game Schedule and Other Patriots Notes
TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference at the League Meetings 3/31
Back
Top