Indefinite New England Patriots Thread (3 Viewers)

[Kraft...]

If Burkhead can stay healthy I think he leads the RBs in snaps. I could see them flexing him out to the slot quite a bit, especially while Edleman is out. Could even see them starting with two back in the backfield and motioning him or White out, lots of flexibility there. 

 

[Bossman]

Watching Randy Moss be entered into the HOF ... gave loads of credit to NE, made me think;

Is Dez Bryant watching this? Is there's a chance that Dez would consider playing at a discount ... for the opportunity to have TB as his QB ... potentially getting the best stats of his life and giving him his best chance at a ring? (ala Moss)

Wouldn't put it past BB to go get him after Dez lingers as a free agent long enough for his price to lower.

With Decker not likely to contribute much, Dez would fill a MAJOR void in NE's offense.

 

[Anarchy99]

I give up on trying to figure out who is going to do what this year as far as the receivers go. Depending upon the reporter, some guys are going to play key roles and others will get cut. But they are all suggesting completely different outcomes. 

I have seen Britt is going to a big cog while others have him getting released. I have seen reports Dorsett is having a great camp while others have him not making the final roster. I have heard people oohing and ahhhing over Patterson catches in camp yet others saying he will be a special teamer almost exclusively. I have seen articles that Decker is on the bubble and others that he may be the biggest contributor of all the receivers. I have heard people say Edelman looks fine but Edelman himself says he is a fraction of his old self. The only one I have not seen much feedback on is Hogan.

Based on that, I really have no idea what to expect. Nothing would shock me. Maybe they sign Dez. Maybe they make a trade for a bigger name like they did with Cooks. Maybe B.B. has had enough and cuts Edelman. At this point, I don’t think anything is off the table. 

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Watching Randy Moss be entered into the HOF ... gave loads of credit to NE, made me think;

Is Dez Bryant watching this? Is there's a chance that Dez would consider playing at a discount ... for the opportunity to have TB as his QB ... potentially getting the best stats of his life and giving him his best chance at a ring? (ala Moss)

Wouldn't put it past BB to go get him after Dez lingers as a free agent long enough for his price to lower.

With Decker not likely to contribute much, Dez would fill a MAJOR void in NE's offense.

Moss was a great talent and a great tactian of hia position.....dez is not...he would be another ocho cinco in ne

 

[Boston]

Moss was a great talent and a great tactian of hia position.....dez is not...he would be another ocho cinco in ne

Gotta believe if they had interest in him he would already be there...

 

[Anarchy99]

I probably mentioned 50 pages ago an interview I heard with BB on the radio. He went into great detail for close to half an hour about the impact Moss made on the NE offense when they traded for him. He sat down with Bill, Josh, and Tom and explained from a WR's perspective how to better read defenses, identify coverage patterns, where there would be holes in the coverage, identifying multiple hot routes, when receivers should cut off their routes, setting up pre-snap mismatches, etc. They changed their entire playbook and route trees based on Moss' input. Bill said he had the most profound impact on an offense of any player he's ever seen . . . and not based on his actual play. Bill went on to say he sat down and went over countless hours of game film with those guys and got them to buy in and go all in. The offense improved by 200 points and 1200 yards from 06 to 07. I believe Bill said their play book quadrupled after Moss sat everyone down. The offense hasn't been the same since. 

Given all that, I find it even more perplexing how things went from a bromance and love fest to cancer filled and toxic in three years.

 

[Anarchy99]

Gotta believe if they had interest in him he would already be there...

I don't really think they want him at all, but I am guessing Dez has floated out a number and NE would be a hard pass on what his asking price is. If they proceed these next couple of weeks and don't like what they have, anything is possible, but I doubt Bryant will end up on NE.

 

[Boston]

I don't really think they want him at all, but I am guessing Dez has floated out a number and NE would be a hard pass on what his asking price is. If they proceed these next couple of weeks and don't like what they have, anything is possible, but I doubt Bryant will end up on NE.

Agreed...it is not like this position is suddenly looking sketchy...even with Mitchell and Matthews it has plenty of questions...Dez has been out there for quite sometime and it appears they would rather roll the dice on someone like McCarron than bring him in...if that is the case that is quite a statement about Dez because BB has never shied away from bring in iffy characters in the past...

 

[Anarchy99]

Agreed...it is not like this position is suddenly looking sketchy...even with Mitchell and Matthews it has plenty of questions...Dez has been out there for quite sometime and it appears they would rather roll the dice on someone like McCarron than bring him in...if that is the case that is quite a statement about Dez because BB has never shied away from bring in iffy characters in the past...

One would think that if they really felt like they needed receiving help they would revisit Brandon LaFell. He should still know the playbook or could get back to speed quickly. The only team I have heard linked to him so far is the Browns.

 

[Anarchy99]

News and notes from training camp today.

Jeremy Hill fumbled yesterday and today.
Eric Decker dropped a wide open pass . . . one of two Brady incompletions in 11-on-11 (the other was a deflection).
Kenny Britt has come off the PUP but hasn't done much in terms of activity yet.
Cyrus Jones has been spending a lot of time returning punts.
Rex Burkhead is also a punt return option if needed.
Burkhead was a limited participant (was a full participant every other day).
Dorsett caught a deep pass down the sideline but dropped one on a similar play.
 

 

[Anarchy99]

Brady does not get a new deal but got $5 million in incentives added to his contract. Better late than never I guess, depending upon what the incentives are for. If it's for being MVP or winning the SB, he's been there, done that multiple times already.

 

[tombonneau]

Cyrus Jones has been spending a lot of time returning punts.
 

Any time catching them?

 

[Run It Up]

Pats Defense is looking great

 

[Bossman]

Pats Defense is looking great

I hope this was 

I know it's just pre-season game 1. Not supposed to put much stock in what we're seeing. 

... but, all of the issues of last year are still prevalent.

LB's too slow to cover RB's. Safe to assume they still can't cover a TE either. Soooo SLOW!

Can't get off the field on 3rd down.  Was painful watching WAS 2's convert time after time the entire first half.

The one bright spot imo was the front 4. Good push from the middle and edges.

Just a shame the rest of the D couldn't cover anyone for more than 2 seconds or Pats would have had about 9 sacks in the first half.

If I was game-planning for this D, I'd focus on passes to the RB and TE. Expose and abuse the LB's. Unless NE uses a S to cover these, should be money all day.

NE might actually need to make the nickle their base D. Take one of those useless LB's off the field and run another S in the box to spy the RB or cover the TE.

 

[Boston]

I hope this was 

I know it's just pre-season game 1. Not supposed to put much stock in what we're seeing. 

... but, all of the issues of last year are still prevalent.

LB's too slow to cover RB's. Safe to assume they still can't cover a TE either. Soooo SLOW!

Can't get off the field on 3rd down.  Was painful watching WAS 2's convert time after time the entire first half.

The one bright spot imo was the front 4. Good push from the middle and edges.

Just a shame the rest of the D couldn't cover anyone for more than 2 seconds or Pats would have had about 9 sacks in the first half.

If I was game-planning for this D, I'd focus on passes to the RB and TE. Expose and abuse the LB's. Unless NE uses a S to cover these, should be money all day.

NE might actually need to make the nickle their base D. Take one of those useless LB's off the field and run another S in the box to spy the RB or cover the TE.

It is as if BB The GM does not care about the linebackers...it was a brutal weakness last year and I can not believe the lack of attention it got this offseason...I love Hightower but he is not the most durable guy and if they lose him again this year it will be messy...

 

[Anarchy99]

It is as if BB The GM does not care about the linebackers...it was a brutal weakness last year and I can not believe the lack of attention it got this offseason...I love Hightower but he is not the most durable guy and if they lose him again this year it will be messy...

Hightower spilled the beans in a recent interview by saying he has been practicing extensively with the defensive line group in training camp. Based on that, it sounds like they will be playing him on the line way more. 

IMO, trying to form an opinion on a preseason game is next to impossible as the defense plays as vanilla as possible. The only real thing to takeaway is how well they tackled, which was a huge issue in the SB. They certainly didn’t look any better against the Skins. 

I have seen several reports that B.B. has gone light on full contact in an effort to keep players healthy. So not a lot of full contact tackling in practice so far. And it showed. 

Not sure why crazy personnel schemes and player combos they have up their sleeves, but the biggest weakness is easily the LB corps. I think even the pass rush will be better this year. And we all can agree that has been putrid at best. 

 

[Spike]

Really wish Bill the Drafter would stop going for the guys with significant injury histories, especially in the first few rounds. 

Easley, possibly Michel, others. 

I would be happy with doubles and triples. Don’t have to go for home runs on every pick. 

Depth!

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Oh for the good old days when the minions had the good sense not to question The Dark Lord (tm).

 

[Casting Couch]

Oh for the good old days when the minions had the good sense not to question The Dark Lord (tm).

 

[Anarchy99]

I find your lack of faith disturbing. 

 

[Casting Couch]

I find your lack of faith disturbing. 

That one should be directed to VBD.

I come correct, bowing to the alter of the exalted one, Bill Belichick.   

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

That one should be directed to VBD.

I come correct, bowing to the alter of the exalted one, Bill Belichick.   

Incorrect.  I was not being sarcastic.  All hail The Dark Lord.

 

[Run It Up]

I was commenting on the young DBs who were good in coverage and the young DLmen who were getting consistent pressure - something they didn't have at any point last year.

Derek Rivers is as he was advertised before blowing his knee.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

I was commenting on the young DBs who were good in coverage and the young DLmen who were getting consistent pressure - something they didn't have at any point last year.

Derek Rivers is as he was advertised before blowing his knee.

Yes.  I see, relative to last year, an embarassment of riches on the defensive side of the ball.  Hightower and Rivers are back.  I'm confident in Shelton.  Now that the secondary and the front four are in good shape, everyone wants to cry about the linebackers and talk doom and gloom.  News flash: Belichick is to linebackers as Scar is to o line.  Preseason week 1 rolls in, and some folks want to use it as evidence of the premise that the state of affairs with linebackers is a fatal flaw.  Complete rubbish says I.  Last year's SB result had everything to do with the cumulative effect of injuries on the defensive side of the ball (causal) and not the benching of Butler (symptomatic).  The real issues for this team remain: Brady's age, Gronk's fragility, and waiting for anyone not named Edelman or Hogan to be a value-added contributor at WR (Cooks was decent but not worth the money).  I'm looking at you Kenny Britt (insert Dorsett, Decker, Patterson if you prefer).

 

[Bossman]

Watching Randy Moss be entered into the HOF ... gave loads of credit to NE, made me think;

Is Dez Bryant watching this? Is there's a chance that Dez would consider playing at a discount ... for the opportunity to have TB as his QB ... potentially getting the best stats of his life and giving him his best chance at a ring? (ala Moss)

Wouldn't put it past BB to go get him after Dez lingers as a free agent long enough for his price to lower.

With Decker not likely to contribute much, Dez would fill a MAJOR void in NE's offense.

Dez Bryant meeting with CLE today.

The Browns. 

Would he really consider trying to resurrect his career in CLE? He'd be back to Mr. Irrelevant there.

Might make more sense to sign a 1 or 2 year contract with NE for cheap and pump his numbers.

.----------

What about a guy like NaVorro Bowman? Seems he would be an upgrade there and BB is known for getting good mileage out of older LB's.

Wondering if he'd consider playing for a discount in NE.

 

[Bossman]

Yes.  I see, relative to last year, an embarassment of riches on the defensive side of the ball.  Hightower and Rivers are back.  I'm confident in Shelton.  Now that the secondary and the front four are in good shape, everyone wants to cry about the linebackers and talk doom and gloom.  News flash: Belichick is to linebackers as Scar is to o line.  Preseason week 1 rolls in, and some folks want to use it as evidence of the premise that the state of affairs with linebackers is a fatal flaw.  Complete rubbish says I.  Last year's SB result had everything to do with the cumulative effect of injuries on the defensive side of the ball (causal) and not the benching of Butler (symptomatic).  The real issues for this team remain: Brady's age, Gronk's fragility, and waiting for anyone not named Edelman or Hogan to be a value-added contributor at WR (Cooks was decent but not worth the money).  I'm looking at you Kenny Britt (insert Dorsett, Decker, Patterson if you prefer).

Embarrassment of riches on defense ...  you might be confusing NE with DEN.

Patriots were bad on 3rd down defense all year last season. Could not get off the field.

Teams converted 40% of the time vs NE and the Patriots were ranked 22nd ...just above CLE. Last 3 games (playoffs) 45%  ... and a pathetic 62% in the SB. 

3rd Down Defense by Team

It's great that BB thinks he can work magic with a bunch of nobodies ... but the fact is, they are failing.

Very often 3rd down is where you're counting on your LB's to stuff a run for less than 4 yards ... or cover a RB / TE pass just across the sticks.  

I'm beginning to believe that NE's "bend but don't break" is not a strategy ... but merely a result of their poor LB play.

When opposing teams get close to the goal line, slow LB's are less of a detriment and the defense is finally able to make a stop.

Red Zone Defense - TD %

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

I refer to improvement relative to last year, and you quote stats from last year.

:facepalm:

 

[Anarchy99]

Lots of kvetching about a team that has been to 7 straight AFCC games, advancing to 4 SB's and winning 2 of them. Getting there is an achievement in itself, but advancing further than that has a lot to do with injuries and getting replacements integrated and functioning with the rest of the team. A case can be made that NE advanced way farther than they should have in several of those years . . . and last year could be one of them.

Unlike BB, I will look back at last year before worrying about this year. NE had a ton of injuries on defense, their trading draft picks for established players philosophy didn't pan out as planned, and the few guys they did draft / the rookie class mostly got hurt. If you remember, they had so many injuries to the D-line that they were picking up street free agents and giving them playing time.

And if I hear one more time that not playing Butler cost them the SB, I am going to barf. Butler was in the hospital a few days before the game, was spent in the few practices he managed to struggle through before the game, and was nowhere near 100%. That's the real reason why he didn't play . . . not sure why BB just didn't say that and the whole thing would never have been a major news story. And as rehashed in many threads, NE lost because they got no pass rush, they couldn't tackle, they left the middle of the field wide open for dump offs to RBs and TEs. None of that had anything to do with Butler whether he played or didn't play, as he wasn't going to solve any of those issues. 

If people want to complain, it's that they didn't make many defensive adjustments in the SB and they let PHI bleed the clock. However, from what I remember, there were several drives where they had an Eagles player short of a first down but couldn't wrap him up and get him to the ground. That's way more of an execution problem than a scheme or play calling problem, and was a difference maker in extended drives and giving up points. I won't argue that that is an area of potential concern this season again.

Turning the page to this year, one certainly can look at several things that don't seem to add up. They did nothing to address their LB woes (and getting Hightower back is not enough to give them a passing grade for the LB corps overall), they did nothing to find a legit successor to TB12, and they still are fixated on drafting college players with injury histories.

I am also curious what they are going to do with their WRs and RBs, as on paper it seems like they may have had more talented players in the past. If people stay healthy it may not be an issue or a concern, but they haven't been all that healthy even in training camp.

They have $7.7 million in cap space . . . I wonder if they just sit on it or if they make a couple other pick ups before the season picking up castoffs from other teams. I would not be shocked if they worked a couple of minor trades in between now and when the season starts. I also think they still have some contracts they can tinker with to free up more cap room if they need to. Bottom line, there will still be some roster movement before opening day.

 

[Bossman]

Would it be asking too much for NE to build a top 10 defense?

Seems their "bend but don't break" defense was almost responsible for them going 0-3 in their last 3 SB's.  They were pretty lucky to pull out 2 out of 3.

I wonder how other teams have so much more talent on defense vs NE. All teams spend to the cap ... or thereabouts. 

The only answer I can come up with is rookies.

Patriots typically are drafting low ... or losing draft picks for shenanigans. So there's that.

Also, stud rookies are cheap compared to guys on their second contract. Big advantage to teams that drafted a young Joey Bosa, Aaron Donald, or Kalil Mack (until they hold out). 

... and teams with QB's still under their rookie contract have a huge advantage. Leaves several million to be spent elsewhere.

Think about the teams with great defense and many have young (or cheap) QB's.  RAMS, JAX, TEN, DEN, PHI, MIN.

 Good example: a few years ago SEA has an elite defense with a rookie QB. Powerhouse team.  ... then Russell Wilson gets paid and the defense then goes into the toilet (also the offensive line).

Patriots continue to draft crappy and the few rookies that do pan out ... they can't afford to keep (Chandler Jones, Collins).

They'll be just alright again this year and will look good vs some very poor competition ... but I envy teams with defenses like RAMS, DEN, JAX, or dare I say ... even NYJ. 

 

[Anarchy99]

Would it be asking too much for NE to build a top 10 defense?

Seems their "bend but don't break" defense was almost responsible for them going 0-3 in their last 3 SB's.  They were pretty lucky to pull out 2 out of 3.

I wonder how other teams have so much more talent on defense vs NE. All teams spend to the cap ... or thereabouts. 

The only answer I can come up with is rookies.

Patriots typically are drafting low ... or losing draft picks for shenanigans. So there's that.

Also, stud rookies are cheap compared to guys on their second contract. Big advantage to teams that drafted a young Joey Bosa, Aaron Donald, or Kalil Mack (until they hold out). 

... and teams with QB's still under their rookie contract have a huge advantage. Leaves several million to be spent elsewhere.

Think about the teams with great defense and many have young (or cheap) QB's.  RAMS, JAX, TEN, DEN, PHI, MIN.

 Good example: a few years ago SEA has an elite defense with a rookie QB. Powerhouse team.  ... then Russell Wilson gets paid and the defense then goes into the toilet (also the offensive line).

Patriots continue to draft crappy and the few rookies that do pan out ... they can't afford to keep (Chandler Jones, Collins).

They'll be just alright again this year and will look good vs some very poor competition ... but I envy teams with defenses like RAMS, DEN, JAX, or dare I say ... even NYJ. 

You answered your own question and opened a pandora's box in doing so. In this era of football, teams with great defenses have QB's that they are paying peanuts to because they are all on rookie deals. But once those guys get paid the market rate, they will struggle to keep winning because 1) they have to pay their franchise QB and 2) they have to jack up the pay for their other star players.

Take the Rams as an example. They shelled out a ton of money this off season . . . but none of it went to Donald or Goff. They are all in for this year, but their window will be closing extremely fast due to the people they are pot committed to.

Is it a coincidence the Ravens haven't been the same after they gave Flacco a ton of money? You mentioned the Seahawks when Wilson got paid? The Giants with Eli making a pretty penny? The Colts with Luck making bank?

And for those singing the praises of Brady always playing for half what other QBa make, that technically may be true in terms of salary . . . but he has usually taken his money at the beginning in terms of signing bonuses or converting salary to bonuses. His salary cap hit this year is $22 million and next year it will be $27 million.

The Patriots have drafted some guys as impact defenders like you mentioned. Law, Seymour, Collins, Jones, etc.. They kept them for a reasonable amount and moved on when they were going to break the bank. People have been saying Brady is doomed with the loss of Solder, but he got the largest per year deal for an offensive lineman in NFL history. In an era when anybody who is anybody makes the Pro Bowl, he never made one, not even as a fill in for people that passed on participating or who ducked out for an injury. The fact of the matter is, cap management is equal part art and science.

The other factor for these strong defensive teams is most of them had multiple years of top of the draft draft picks. NE is not going to get a true impact player very often drafting a 28-32 every year (in the years they were allowed to make a first round pick).

People should have figured out by now the Patriots strategy is to get a bye in the playoffs and hope what they have is enough to get them all the way home with a title. Theire strategy is to be a really good team EVERY year over having ebbs and flows with some mediocre years and then ramping up every few seasons. They get a gift win as a home game in the playoffs and then hope TB and BB are enough to carry them to a title. In the limited time they have near the top, I suspect that's going to stay the same and they aren't going to suddenly start mortgaging the future for one last hurrah to put them over the top. Certainly others might pick a different path . . .

 

[Boston]

Touched on above by Anarchy but the Pats philosophy is to be a Super Bowl contender every year...how they accomplish that can be maddening at times but it is the reason they are doing what is not supposed to be happening in this era...dominate for two decades...that being said I do have my issues with them and quite frankly there is absolutely nothing anyone can say to convince me otherwise...BB’s fatal flaw has been a lack of commitment to the pass rush...when they don’t have a solid one they don’t win titles...show me a a Patriots playoff loss and I will show you an opposing QB under zero duress...I get that BB wants his players to be diverse in their skill-set but would it really hurt to have 1 or 2 bad ### pass rushing specialists on the roster so QBs like Nick Foles can actually get touched during the game...that and a lack of athleticism on defense is something I will just never get...now I understand that they will usually get by during the regular season but to win a title you must get to the QB...it has been this flaw that has cost them another 2 to 3 titles (and yes I am being greedy here)...

 

[Bossman]

Touched on above by Anarchy but the Pats philosophy is to be a Super Bowl contender every year...how they accomplish that can be maddening at times but it is the reason they are doing what is not supposed to be happening in this era...dominate for two decades...that being said I do have my issues with them and quite frankly there is absolutely nothing anyone can say to convince me otherwise...BB’s fatal flaw has been a lack of commitment to the pass rush...when they don’t have a solid one they don’t win titles...show me a a Patriots playoff loss and I will show you an opposing QB under zero duress...I get that BB wants his players to be diverse in their skill-set but would it really hurt to have 1 or 2 bad ### pass rushing specialists on the roster so QBs like Nick Foles can actually get touched during the game...that and a lack of athleticism on defense is something I will just never get...now I understand that they will usually get by during the regular season but to win a title you must get to the QB...it has been this flaw that has cost them another 2 to 3 titles (and yes I am being greedy here)...

BB will draft a top pass rush prospect ... as soon as Rutgers produces one.

.

(let's hope Rivers is that guy ... and pray he stays healthy)

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

I think y'all are missing the point.  The selection of less than superstar status linebackers, o linemen, secondary, receivers, etc. is precisely because the wizard with the economics degree has figured out the calculus to maximize performance.  It's very easy to sit on the sidelines and point to a hypothetical alternate strategy for this position or that position, but unless you think that "second tier" pass rushers (or insert any other "problem area" position you like) is done out of ignorance rather than calculus, you have to accept the premise that the results are undeniable.  Would it be great if Vaughn Miller, Antonio Brown, etc. were on the roster?  Of course it would.  But when you bring your arguments to the table rationalizing why you're right and Bill Belichick is wrong, you just look silly.

 

[Bossman]

Which player makes NE the best possible team with their 1.31 draft pick?

a) Darious Leonard OLB S.CAR ST.

b) Harold Landry OLB BC

c) Uchenna Nwosu OLB USC

d) Sony Michel RB Georga

------

The only reason I could see drafting the RB there would be if they want to take the ball out of Bradys hands and be more of a run 1st team.

Problem is, you really need a top defense to win games that way. I just can't understand what they were thinking.

Maybe the Michel kid becomes the next Bo Jackson? (before his career ending injury ... unless Michel already had that when they drafted him)

 

[Anarchy99]

Which player makes NE the best possible team with their 1.31 draft pick?

a) Darious Leonard OLB S.CAR ST.

b) Harold Landry OLB BC

c) Uchenna Nwosu OLB USC

d) Sony Michel RB Georga

------

The only reason I could see drafting the RB there would be if they want to take the ball out of Bradys hands and be more of a run 1st team.

Problem is, you really need a top defense to win games that way. I just can't understand what they were thinking.

Maybe the Michel kid becomes the next Bo Jackson? (before his career ending injury ... unless Michel already had that when they drafted him)

How many Super Bowls have you won, Coach?

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Which player makes NE the best possible team with their 1.31 draft pick?

a) Darious Leonard OLB S.CAR ST.

b) Harold Landry OLB BC

c) Uchenna Nwosu OLB USC

d) Sony Michel RB Georga

------

The only reason I could see drafting the RB there would be if they want to take the ball out of Bradys hands and be more of a run 1st team.

Problem is, you really need a top defense to win games that way. I just can't understand what they were thinking.

Maybe the Michel kid becomes the next Bo Jackson? (before his career ending injury ... unless Michel already had that when they drafted him)

Notwithstanding my comments earlier, I ain't mad at ya....we just look at things differently.

To me, even if Brady was 25, the Pats would still be trying to exploit the impact that a dual threat RB has on opposing defenses.  With the decision to move on from Lewis, and the new information that Burkhead has a "slight tear" in his knee....whatever that means....it seems obviously that this position is far more significant than the pass rush and pass pro provided by the LB position on the currrent roster.

I grant you that there is a common perception that BB did not do "enough" to address that "need", but I'm perfectly comfortable letting him make those calls.

Btw, did you see that end zone pass breakup last night by the rookie who ran back the TD? 

 

[BassNBrew]

Does it ever get old winning all the time?

 

[nittanylion]

@Anarchy99

David, could you please get us some definitive information about the Burkhead injury? TIA.

 

[Anarchy99]

@Anarchy99

David, could you please get us some definitive information about the Burkhead injury? TIA.

LINK

Rex Burkhead sat out Thursday’s preseason game with what was originally an undisclosed injury. It was later reported by The Athletic’s Jeff Howe that Burkhead has a slight tear in his knee, and that Burkhead could have played through the injury if it was during the regular season.

Howe added that from what he understands, surgery would not be necessary on the injury.

After the departure of Dion Lewis, the Patriots have been tinkering with a handful of running backs in training camp. First round pick Sony Michel is already out after having his knee drained, and Burkhead is supposed to be the featured back alongside James White. If Burkhead were to miss any time, it opens the door for Jeremy Hill and Mike Gillislee to enter the mix.

 

[Kraft...]

Wynn out for season  

Link 

 

[Anarchy99]

Wynn out for season  

Link 

Achilles are tough to come back from the more you weigh. Definitely not a good development. Hopefully it is a partial tear, which would greatly improve his chances of a full recovery and and the amount of time he would be out.

 

[Bossman]

Wynn out for season  

Link 

Matt Light isn't walking thru that door. Brady is going to get killed. They're doomed.

Why do I sound like Ron Borges?

 

[Anarchy99]

Matt Light isn't walking thru that door. Brady is going to get killed. They're doomed.

Why do I sound like Ron Borges?

Trent Brown will be better than Nate Solder ever was.

 

[avina1]

Wynn was probably a guard for them this year, right?

Do they have decent back-ups? Now wary of drafting some of the RBs.

 

[Anarchy99]

Wynn was probably a guard for them this year, right?

Do they have decent back-ups? Now wary of drafting some of the RBs.

Wynn wasn't going to start. He was going to be a multi-position back up across the guard and tackle positions. Their OL starters remain the same with Wynn's injury . . . it's the depth that took a hit.

To your point about the OL, Marcus Cannon remains out, and his return would be a great help. But Wynn wasn't even slated to fill in for Cannon. I wouldn't be that concerned about their O-line. They always seem to find a way to make it work. I would guess teams are far more concerned about Brady and the passing game, so they will continue to defend the pass way more than the run. In fact, teams will most likely be thrilled when NE opts to run and take the ball out of Brady's hands.

 

[Bossman]

The Izzo kid, Larrys son, looked really good at TE last week. 

Even had a couple really good blocks that sprung RB's for extra yards.

I didn't see him at all last night. #81 I think.

Anyone else take notice? I may have been in and out of consciousness in the 4th qtr.

 

[Mingooch]

Wynn was probably a guard for them this year, right?

Do they have decent back-ups? Now wary of drafting some of the RBs.

They were trying him at swing tackle to back up both spots, plus play guard

 

[Anarchy99]

Pats releasing Kenny Britt. He looked like a superstar in the spring, hurt his hamstring, and could never get back on the field.

 

[JuniorGong]

How many Super Bowls have you won, Coach?

So because NE has won Super Bowls we can’t question draft choices? Answer me this, how many 1st round draft choices in the last decade have been good picks for the Pats? BB the coach has picked up the slack for BB the GM for years.

 

[Anarchy99]

So because NE has won Super Bowls we can’t question draft choices? Answer me this, how many 1st round draft choices in the last decade have been good picks for the Pats? BB the coach has picked up the slack for BB the GM for years.

People can do whatever they want . . . but the tone of the questioning was pretty aggravated and agitated with a certain degree of venom.

Since you asked about Bill's drafting, limiting things to the first round is too limiting. It's too soon to tell on some of the more recent guys, but here are some of the players GM Belichick has landed since 2005. I included players that started in at least 50 games in the NFL. Not all of them are superstars, but some of these guys have played in the league for 100+ games.

2005 - Logan Mankins, Ellis Hobbs, Nick Kazur, and James Sanders
2006 - Stephen Gostkowski, Jeremy Mincey
2007 - Brandon Meriweather
2008 - Jerod Mayo
2009 - Patrick Chung, Sebastian Vollmer, Darius Butler, Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman
2010 - Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Ted Larsen
2011 - Nate Solder, Shane Vereen, Steven Ridley, Marcus Cannon
2012 - Chandler Jones, Donta Hightower
2013 - Jamie Collins, Logan Ryan
2014 - Jimmy Garoppolo, James White, Cameron Fleming, Malcolm Butler as an UDFA
2015 - Malcolm Brown, Trey Flowers, Shaq Mason
2016 - Joe Thuney, Jacoby Brissett
2017 - Deatrich Wise

The last couple of years have been pretty lean. As I've stated several times, BB has a fixation for drafting guys that are hurt or previously were injured that fell in the draft. That's happened so many times now that it's a given that one or two draft picks won't make it much past two seasons with the team before they determine they can't get on the field. Another issue with BB the GM is his trades sometimes don't make a whole lot of sense and NE probably could have gotten more if they shopped the player around. Instead, Bill decides to call one team and says you can have him for PLAYER X or DRAFT PICK Y, which often times is not a whole lot in value returning back to New England.

But I don't think his body of work drafting wise is that bad, in fact I would say it's probably better than one would expect given that they usually don't sniff a pick in the Top 20-25 picks in the first round.