Indefinite New England Patriots Thread (7 Viewers)

[johnnycakes]

Stevenson is a Harris injury away from top 5 upside IMHO. 
 

league winner alert 

Between Mac-n-Cheese and Stevenson, I think the Patriots will have a couple of ROY contendahs.  

 

[Anarchy99]

Any word on my man Quinn Nordin?  

Per Field Yates, NE is expected to move on from Nick Folk and go with Quinn Nordin as their PK. 

 

[johnnycakes]

Per Field Yates, NE is expected to move on from Nick Folk and go with Quinn Nordin as their PK. 

Whoa.  

I'll be the first to admit he's got to work on his consistency some.  Being able to boot 57-yard field goals is nice, but lets get to where the 30-yarders are gimmes.  

 

[Anarchy99]

Whoa.  

I'll be the first to admit he's got to work on his consistency some.  Being able to boot 57-yard field goals is nice, but lets get to where the 30-yarders are gimmes.  

I am seeing that they figured Nordin would not clear waivers to make it to the practice squad. But Folk likely would. So Folk might be back. Not sure the kicker spot is clear just yet. 

 

[OldMilwaukee]

I am seeing that they figured Nordin would not clear waivers to make it to the practice squad. But Folk likely would. So Folk might be back. Not sure the kicker spot is clear just yet. 

He  is not subject to the waiver wire (more than 4yrs exp).  Nordin could be bound for the practice squad if they resign him.

 

[Anarchy99]

He  is not subject to the waiver wire (more than 4yrs exp).  Nordin could be bound for the practice squad if they resign him.

Folk doesn't have to clear waivers. He can just re-sign with NE and they can add him to the practice squad. If NE is fearful that Nordin would be claimed, they can't just put him on the practice squad as 1) he would have to clear waivers and 2) any player on the practice squad can be claimed by any team at any time.

 

[Anarchy99]

Updated cut players list:

QB Cam Newton
WR Kristian Wilkerson
OL Alex Redmond
TE Matt LaCosse
DB D’Angelo Ross
DT Bill Murray
DB Myles Bryant
WR Isaiah Zuber
DB Adrian Colbert
WR Tre Nixon
CB Dee Virgin
OL Will Sherman
DL Montravius Adams
OL Alex Redmond
DT Akeem Spence
PK Nick Folk (may be back)

CB Stephon Gilmore placed on regular season PUP - will miss at least 6 games (likely part of an arrangement for him to agree to play without a new contract).
DT Byron Cowart also placed on PUP.
LB Cameron McGrone likely on non-football injury list.
The Patriots reportedly acquired 6'6", 331-lb OL Yasir Durant from the Chiefs for a 2022 seventh-round pick.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

James White is next.

#rebuild.

kidding mostly.  thought it was interesting to see the vet QB and the vet kicker go in the same day when the rookie kicker has not looked rock solid.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

The better QB is starting…Curran was spot on in his analysis…people got carried away with who was on the field first not with most…will say this for the 50,000 time…BB always keeps you guessing and if you think he follows a script you will be burnt.

Amen.  Oh look, Bledsoe got a bruised sternum.  He'll be back in a couple weeks.

 

[johnnycakes]

Quinn Nordin, a kicker out of Michigan.  I watched this kid play in college.  My money is on him to replace Folk by the time the season starts.  

Sometimes dreams come true!

 

[johnnycakes]

PK Nick Folk (may be back)

I dunno about Folk returning.  BB just released Cam Newton so Mac Jones wouldn't be looking over his shoulder at every play.  I have to think a symmetrical mentality may be at play with the kicker position,  

 

[Anarchy99]

Doug Kyed @DougKyed 18m

Obviously things are fluid around this time of year, but I'm hearing that WR Gunner Olszewski, RB J.J. Taylor and LB Harvey Langi are safe on the Patriots' initial 53-man roster.

 

[Anarchy99]

There is talk of the Pats cutting Hoyer only to bring him back tomorrow to allow for other roster moves.

 

[johnnycakes]

There is talk of the Pats cutting Hoyer only to bring him back tomorrow to allow for other roster moves.

I call him Chips A-Hoyer.  

 

[Anarchy99]

Here's the first pass 53-man roster . . .

QB (1): Jones
RB (5): Harris, White, Taylor, Stevenson, Bolden
WR (5): Agholor, Meyers, Bourne, Harry, Olszewski
TE/FB (4): Henry, Smith, Asiasi, Johnson
OL (9): Wynn, Onwenu, Andrews, Mason, Brown, Karras, Herron, Cajuste, Durant
DL (6): Godchaux, Guy, Wise, Anderson, Barmore, Davis
LB (8): Hightower, Bentley, Judon, Van Noy, Uche, Winovich, Langi, Perkins
CB (5): JJackson, Mills, JJones, Williams, Wade
S (3): McCourty, Phillips, Dugger
ST (4): Slater, Bethel, Davis, King
Specialists (3): Nordin, Bailey, Cardona

 

[Boston]

Here's the first pass 53-man roster . . .

QB (1): Jones
RB (5): Harris, White, Taylor, Stevenson, Bolden
WR (5): Agholor, Meyers, Bourne, Harry, Olszewski
TE/FB (4): Henry, Smith, Asiasi, Johnson
OL (9): Wynn, Onwenu, Andrews, Mason, Brown, Karras, Herron, Cajuste, Durant
DL (6): Godchaux, Guy, Wise, Anderson, Barmore, Davis
LB (8): Hightower, Bentley, Judon, Van Noy, Uche, Winovich, Langi, Perkins
CB (5): JJackson, Mills, JJones, Williams, Wade
S (3): McCourty, Phillips, Dugger
ST (4): Slater, Bethel, Davis, King
Specialists (3): Nordin, Bailey, Cardona

That looks a lot better than last year...wish they had one more legit WR but overall a huge upgrade .

 

[Anarchy99]

That looks a lot better than last year...wish they had one more legit WR but overall a huge upgrade .

At a quick glance, that's at least 18 new players.

 

[Anarchy99]

Saw this earlier . . .

Field Yates@FieldYates

The 2018 Alabama football roster had:
* 3 future NFL starting QBs (Tua, Hurts, Mac)
* 2 future 1st round picks at RB (Jacobs, Najee) + Damien Harris
* 4 future 1st round WRs (Jeudy, Ruggs, Waddle, Smith)
* 4 other future 1st round picks (Wills, Leatherwood, Surtain, Q Williams)

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

That looks a lot better than last year...wish they had one more legit WR but overall a huge upgrade .

It's splendid for a 12 personnel rushing blitzkrieg attack with Jonnu and Henry splitting the seams.  The O lineman the pats just picked up is huge.  Pats O line will block out the sun.  Wide receivers are widgets.

 

[elguapo07]

Saw this earlier . . .

Field Yates@FieldYates

The 2018 Alabama football roster had:
* 3 future NFL starting QBs (Tua, Hurts, Mac)
* 2 future 1st round picks at RB (Jacobs, Najee) + Damien Harris
* 4 future 1st round WRs (Jeudy, Ruggs, Waddle, Smith)
* 4 other future 1st round picks (Wills, Leatherwood, Surtain, Q Williams)

Just silly how much talent Saban gets. 

 

[Anarchy99]

From this morning's BB presser:

Q: Did Cam's vaccination status have anything to do with his release? Belichick: "no."

Belichick on Mac Jones: "He has shown an ability to do things in the way we want them done." 

When asked if Cam Newton was offered the backup role, BB said he's not going to get into the particulars of each roster move.

No other info on the decision making process. No other commentary on Cam. Usually he will say something about a player's time with NE after they leave the team.
 

 

[johnnycakes]

From this morning's BB presser:

Q: Did Cam's vaccination status have anything to do with his release? Belichick: "no."

Belichick on Mac Jones: "He has shown an ability to do things in the way we want them done." 

When asked if Cam Newton was offered the backup role, BB said he's not going to get into the particulars of each roster move.

No other info on the decision making process. No other commentary on Cam. Usually he will say something about a player's time with NE after they leave the team.
 

Sounded to me like BB wasn't convinced of the value of vaccination.  He said there was a "high number" of staff who were "affected by" Covid who were vaccinated.  

 

[Boston]

From this morning's BB presser:

Q: Did Cam's vaccination status have anything to do with his release? Belichick: "no."

Belichick on Mac Jones: "He has shown an ability to do things in the way we want them done." 

When asked if Cam Newton was offered the backup role, BB said he's not going to get into the particulars of each roster move.

No other info on the decision making process. No other commentary on Cam. Usually he will say something about a player's time with NE after they leave the team.
 

Belichick on Mac Jones: "He has shown an ability to do things in the way we want them done." 

This is why I have felt all along he is the perfect fit for BB/McDaniels.

 

[Anarchy99]

Added to practice squad:

QB Brian Hoyer
LB Jahlani Tavai
DB Myles Bryant
TE Matt LaCosse
WR Kristian Wilkerson
WR Tre Nixon
DB D’Angelo Ross
OL Alex Redmond
DT Bill Murray
DE Tashawn Bower

NE claimed former Navy QB turned RB Malcolm Perry off waivers.

 

[Anarchy99]

N'Keal Harry placed on IR . . . must miss 3 weeks before being eligible to return.

 

[SoBeDad]

Malcom Perry has been converted to a WR. Didn't do much last year, but looked good in preseason. He also can return kicks. I think he might be good in the slot, as he's more quick than fast. Shades of Edelman if it works out.

https://twitter.com/MiamiDolphins/status/1432102298134646788?t=vmlwqrx5yXzgPGEw_Dw2MQ&s=19

 

[Anarchy99]

NE added Folk to the practice squad. So the kicking situation could still be undecided. If you remember last year, the Pats didn’t even roster a kicker until Week 2. 

 

[Anarchy99]

I will post some updated team projections from around the web when I have time. I will try to create some of my own over the weekend . . .

Mike Clay ESPN

Mac Jones 353-553-3963-23-14 | 44-161-2

Damien Harris 220-984-6 | 21-166-1
James White 51-216-2 | 55-433-2
Rhamondre Stevenson 84-352-4 | 8-65-0
J.J. Taylor 32-136-1 | 8-65-0

Jakobi Meyers 70-887-4
Nelson Agholor 50-760-5
Kendrick Bourne 28-364-2
N'Keal Harry 10-115-1

Jonnu Smith 60-632-5
Hunter Henry 48-539-4
Devin Asiasi 6-62-0

 

[Teezee]

David Patten rip.

 

[RenegadeRoy]

I will post some updated team projections from around the web when I have time. I will try to create some of my own over the weekend . . .

Mike Clay ESPN

Mac Jones 353-553-3963-23-14 | 44-161-2

Damien Harris 220-984-6 | 21-166-1
James White 51-216-2 | 55-433-2
Rhamondre Stevenson 84-352-4 | 8-65-0
J.J. Taylor 32-136-1 | 8-65-0

Jakobi Meyers 70-887-4
Nelson Agholor 50-760-5
Kendrick Bourne 28-364-2
N'Keal Harry 10-115-1

Jonnu Smith 60-632-5
Hunter Henry 48-539-4
Devin Asiasi 6-62-0

Looks pretty decent. I wouldn't be shocked if Harry doesn't have a snap with the Pats this year. Feel like he's a little low on Meyers, and maybe a little high on the TEs.

David Patten rip.

Bummer. Only 47 too...

 

[Anarchy99]

Combing the web for predictions for the Patriots record in 2021 . . .

Colin Cowherd 12-5
Bleacher Report 11-6
List Wire 11-6
Tom Curran 11-6
Sportsnaut 11-6
Sports Illustrated 11-6
Rob Ninkovich 11-6
Mike Reiss 10-7
NOLA.com 10-7
CBS Sports 10-7
USA Today 9-8
College Football News 9-8
NFL.com 9-8
538 9-8
Doc Sports Under 9 Wins
Action Network Under 9 Wins
Mike Clay ESPN 8-9
The Delite 6-11
New Arena 6-11

I'm guessing there aren't many teams with a 6 game spread in predicted win totals.

 

[SoBeDad]

Combing the web for predictions for the Patriots record in 2021 . . .

Colin Cowherd 12-5
Bleacher Report 11-6
List Wire 11-6
Tom Curran 11-6
Sportsnaut 11-6
Sports Illustrated 11-6
Rob Ninkovich 11-6
Mike Reiss 10-7
NOLA.com 10-7
USA Today 9-8
College Football News 9-8
NFL.com 9-8
Doc Sports Under 9 Wins
Action Network Under 9 Wins
Mike Clay ESPN 8-9
The Delite 6-11
New Arena 6-11

I'm guessing there aren't many teams with a 6 game spread in predicted win totals.

Not surprising given the 2 rookie QBs, Tua in year 2, new OC in Miami, key additions at WR and pass rushers for Miami, new coaches for the Jets and lots of personnel changes, most expensive free agent additions ever and the return from Covid in NE. Stability in the division is the Bills, Buffalo and Bellechick. 

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Combing the web for predictions for the Patriots record in 2021 . . .

The Delite 6-11
New Arena 6-11
 

New Jersey market?

 

[Anarchy99]

Current batch of power rankings . . .

The Ringer - 10
ProFootballTalk - 10
Atlantafalcons.com - 10
CBS - 11
Bleacher Report - 11
Sports Illustrated - 11
Purpleptsd - 11
The Lines - 12
WBSN - 12
Yahoo - 12
Sports Keeda - 13
NBC Boston - 13
TEGNA Network - 13
Press Box - 13
USA Today - 13
Boston Herald - 13
Fox61 - 13
NFL.com - 13
Miami Herald - 14
Jaguars.com - 14
Pro Football Network - 15
Jeff Sagarin - 15
Touchdown Wire - 15
Mercury News - 16
ESPN - 17
538 - 17
The Score - 18
Sporting News - 18
SB Nation - 18
Walter Football - 19
Elite Sports NY - 20
24/7 Sports - 21

 

[Anarchy99]

CBS projections . . .

Jones 399-594-4319-26-15 | 17-68-1

Harris 265-1454-5 | 4-40-0
White 62-256-2 | 63-541-4
Stevenson 133-607-5 | 16-147-1
Bolden 19-111-3 | 6-71-1
Taylor 31-137-1 | 1-6-0

Meyers 80-1047-4 | 2-8-0
Agholor 58-793-6 | 1-5-0

Smith 60-593-5
Henry 59-627-4
Asiasi 31-346-4

 

[Anarchy99]

Fantasy Sharks projections . . .

Jones 3077-16-5 | 385-8
Stidham 83-2-1

Harris 195-965-7 | 31-332-1
White 63-261-2 | 57-523-3
Stevenson 77-278-0 | 18-131-1
Taylor 0-0-0 | 5-15-0

Agholor 57-958-6 | 2-14-0
Meyers 74-901-1 | 3-15-0
Bourne 33-421-1 | 1-4-0
Gunner 15-147-1 | 4-22-0

Henry 71-705-5
Smith 52-578-9
Asiasi 14-205-1

I'll take the under on Mac Jones getting 8 rushing TD.
 

 

[Boston]

CBS projections . . .

Jones 399-594-4319-26-15 | 17-68-1

Harris 265-1454-5 | 4-40-0
White 62-256-2 | 63-541-4
Stevenson 133-607-5 | 16-147-1
Bolden 19-111-3 | 6-71-1
Taylor 31-137-1 | 1-6-0

Meyers 80-1047-4 | 2-8-0
Agholor 58-793-6 | 1-5-0

Smith 60-593-5
Henry 59-627-4
Asiasi 41-346-4

Outside of JJ Taylor there are a lot of best case to very good scenarios here (Asiasi with 41 receptions and Harris with 1,454 jump out at me)...if they hit these numbers and the D plays the way we think they can they will be a very good team.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Fantasy Sharks projections . . .
I'll take the under on Mac Jones getting 8 rushing TD.
 

 

[Anarchy99]

Outside of JJ Taylor there are a lot of best case to very good scenarios here (Asiasi with 41 receptions and Harris with 1,454 jump out at me)...if they hit these numbers and the D plays the way we think they can they will be a very good team.

Asiasi at 41 receptions was a typo. Should have been 31.

 

[Anarchy99]

FFToday projections . . .

Jones 323-529-3812-22-11 | 44-115-1

Harris 204-917-7 | 16-105-0
Stevenson 97-386-3 | 14-88-0
White 50-189-1 | 55-416-2

Meyers 53-688-4
Agholor 52-717-4
Bourne 30-375-2
Harry 18-245-2

Henry 51-565-3
Smith 57-588-4

 

[Anarchy99]

Fantasy Pros projections . . .

Jones 350-548-3906-24-14 | 41-152-2
Hoyer 19-30-211-1-1

Harris 222-1043-7 | 13-99-0
White 53-217-2 | 53-427-2
Stevenson 89-378-3 | 11-80-0
Bolden 25-124-3 | 4-44-1
Taylor 29-125-1 | 7-50-0
Johnson 0-0-0 | 2-20-0

Agholor 51-715-5
Meyers 56-714-4
Bourne 29-372-2
Harry 16-196-1
Gunner 4-46-0
Perry 1-9-0

Smith 56-589-5
Henry 53-572-4
Asiasi 11-118-1
LaCosse 2-20-0

 

[brun]

CBS projections . . .
Bolden 19-111-3 | 6-71-1

Fantasy Pros projections . . .
Bolden 25-124-3 | 4-44-1

I'm a doubter

 

[Boston]

Asiasi at 41 receptions was a typo. Should have been 31.

I think that would still be very good as it would mean he is developing compared to the train-wreck we saw last year.

 

[Boston]

I'm a doubter

New scoring...he gets 15  yards rushing for every special teams tackle he makes.

 

[Anarchy99]

I'm a doubter

There are a lot of things I would ponder over in some of these projections. For starters, the numbers don't add up (ie, the passing and receiving totals don't balance). But beyond that, the number of offensive plays seems too low (especially adding another game this season).

I don't see Bolden doing much unless other guys all get COVID . . . but in 2019 he did have 179 YFS and 4 TD (which is very similar to what was in those projections).

 

[Anarchy99]

I think that would still be very good as it would mean he is developing compared to the train-wreck we saw last year.

It will be interesting to see what the Pats do when everyone is healthy. IMO, Asiasi only gets 30+ receptions if the other TE's go down for multiple games. So sure, good on Asiasi for doing a lot more than last year, but in the long run that probably means he had a negative impact on the offense (in that their shiny expensive tight ends couldn't play).

 

[Boston]

It will be interesting to see what the Pats do when everyone is healthy. IMO, Asiasi only gets 30+ receptions if the other TE's go down for multiple games. So sure, good on Asiasi for doing a lot more than last year, but in the long run that probably means he had a negative impact on the offense (in that their shiny expensive tight ends couldn't play).

You would think that would be the case but their projections reflect Smith and Hunter being relatively healthy.

 

[Anarchy99]

You would think that would be the case but their projections reflect Smith and Hunter being relatively healthy.

Hard to tell. Theoretically, if they felt Henry and Smith would each have 75-80 catches if healthy, they could have trimmed some of that down for injuries and given that chunk to Asiasi. If I had to guess, Asiasi would get 10 catches this year on his own plus whatever extra time he sees because one of the main guys gets hurt. That could be anywhere from a little to a lot, but I would guess another 10 catches for maybe 20 on the season.

Since Jones took over, I have seen some chatter that the biggest beneficiary on the offense will be James White and he could see a resurgence back to peak Brady levels and he could see the second most targets after Meyers. If so, White at RB51 / 156th overall would end up being a fantasy steal.

 

[Boston]

Hard to tell. Theoretically, if they felt Henry and Smith would each have 75-80 catches if healthy, they could have trimmed some of that down for injuries and given that chunk to Asiasi. If I had to guess, Asiasi would get 10 catches this year on his own plus whatever extra time he sees because one of the main guys gets hurt. That could be anywhere from a little to a lot, but I would guess another 10 catches for maybe 20 on the season.

Since Jones took over, I have seen some chatter that the biggest beneficiary on the offense will be James White and he could see a resurgence back to peak Brady levels and he could see the second most targets after Meyers. If so, White at RB51 / 156th overall would end up being a fantasy steal.

No doubt that the RBs in general get a huge boost from the switch to Mac…on the surface I think White benefits a lot but it is gonna be real interesting to see how they use JJT…he maybe that Burkhead Swiss Army knife RB but if the kid pops (which is still TBD but a definite possibility) that will not help White’s value.

 

[Anarchy99]

No doubt that the RBs in general get a huge boost from the switch to Mac…on the surface I think White benefits a lot but it is gonna be real interesting to see how they use JJT…he maybe that Burkhead Swiss Army knife RB but if the kid pops (which is still TBD but a definite possibility) that will not help White’s value.

'Little as s---': Pats coach shares colorful praise of J.J. Taylor
SEP 1, 2021 / BY DARREN HARTWELL

No player in the NFL is shorter than the 5-foot-6 J.J. Taylor. The New England Patriots view that as a good thing. The second-year running back enjoyed a strong preseason, averaging 7.8 yards per carry (23 rushes for 179 yards) while catching 10 passes for 62 yards over three exhibition games.

Those are impressive stats for a former undrafted free agent of Taylor's stature, but as Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears colorfully explained Wednesday, Taylor's size (or lack thereof) can be an advantage.

"As a runner, this son-of-a-gun, I’ll tell you what: He’s gonna cause some people some problems," Fears told reporters in a video press conference. “He’s little as s---, and people kind of find it hard to find his butt. When he goes to the line, they can’t find him.

"So that makes it exciting for him. He gets some plays that (other) guys don’t get because of his size." Earlier this summer, Fears compared Taylor to the 5-foot-8 Dion Lewis, who excelled as an undersized change-of-pace back for New England from 2015 to 2017.

Taylor faces an uphill battle to fill that role for the 2021 Patriots with veteran James White entrenched as the No. 1 to Damien Harris' No. 2. According to Fears, there are still mistakes he needs to clean up as well. But the 23-year-old Arizona product is making progress.

"He still has those moments, but I have to admit J.J. has come a long way. A long way," Fears said. "I mean, last year we wouldn’t have thrown him into the passing game to save his ass. But right now, yeah he stepped up, and he’s made it kind of interesting for us. I think you’re gonna like this kid when he’s out there on the field."

LINK

Fears is a great interview. But the bolded part is potentially concerning. It makes you wonder how much could change from one year to the next. Odd that White is listed as the #1 and Harris as #2.