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New England Patriots Thread Mod Warning Post #253

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,546 ✭✭✭✭AbusesToilets


    Trade away first this year for an extra one next year, package to move up?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,546 ✭✭✭✭AbusesToilets


    In fairness, the holding and illegal blocks played no small role in that.




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    It's going to take a lot to get that pick. It'll be one of the most expensive picks ever.

    I have a friend whose a Texans fan, they have their pick and the Browns pick this year. I was telling him you should trade the no.1 away, they no longer have it, to a bad team looking to grab a QB for their first round this year and next. Then trade away their pick this year for a second this year and their first next year and have three first rounders next year. If they were lucky one of those picks could be the first one but they'd be in a very strong position to move up and get Williams.

    So a couple of weeks ago my friend calls me to tell me he was listening to Sean Payton saying exactly what I was saying.

    Now it's become clear that Payton wants to coach again. I wonder what's the odds he goes to the Texans?

    On Williams, my comparison is Mahomes. He's going to challenge him for the best in the NFL. Caleb Williams is the most certain QB to make it in the NFL at a high level since Andrew Luck.

    This year he threw for 4537 yards in 14 games with 42 touchdowns, that equates to 5500 yards and 51 TDs over 17 games. On top of that he rushed for 380 yards and 10 TDs.

    Imagine having 6000 yards and being involved as a passer and rusher for 63 TDs in one season?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,213 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    That no call on the holding above is crazy. I mean, holding happens on every play but that is pretty blatant.

    I always think a proven NFL talent is a better option than any draft pick. Plenty of supposed "Sure thing" "Nfl Ready" etc prospects taken in the top 5 were busts too. However I'm not all in on mac jones, he doesnt have the temperment to be an NE leader. He doesnt have the consistency either. He can fit a spiral into a small window one play and completely miss a wide open read the next and throw a bad INT the next. You never know what he's going to do. If he had Brett Favre's talent I'd take the TDs with the INTs but Jones is no Favre. We don't need a generational QB, we need a good game manager. Our D is awesome, our running game can be great, I'd actually prefer some OL improvement, an actual OC to be hired and call better plays, and play Zappe, to drafting a potential generational QB without fixing any of the above.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,147 ✭✭✭✭paulie21


    I see a long term deal is been worked out with Jerod Mayo and interviews for OC beginning next week.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    I'm very surprised to see the media reporting that we are searching for an offensive co-ordinator. These things are usually kept in-house.

    I'd fancy it'll be Bill O'Brien if he wants the job. His contract is up with Alabama so he can go wherever he wants. I doubt he's being considered for an NFL head coaching gig but could get a college head coaching gig. I think it's four of the last six Alabama OC's who have got head coaching gigs in the immediate aftermath of their time in Tuscaloosa. Dabol went straight to Buffalo and Nussmeier took the same job in Michigan.

    Post edited by eagle eye on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,213 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    Yeah I mean we need an OC . We've had a DC playing OC this year and it didnt work. I wouldnt mind Bill O'Brien, can't be any worse.

    My preference of course would be if McDaniels gets fired from LV that we bring him back!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Well Josh isn't getting fired and tbh I think he'll do well there.

    We gotta move on and just get somebody good in. I really hope we take a tackle with our first pick, there's a few really good looking prospects in this draft.

    I doubt Paris Johnson from Ohio State will fall to us but I'd move up to get him. He allowed no sacks on Stroud.

    Skoronski from Northwestern is another massive talent.

    The Georgia guy whose name escapes me is another really good looking prospect.

    If we got one of the top two I think we'd be all set.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,012 ✭✭✭BizzyC


    I'm quite happy to have BoB back.

    All things considered, he's always been a good coach - he did well with us in the past, has worked with Mac before and had a solid record in Texas. He's just a god-awful GM and needs to be kept away from all personnel decisions.

    I actually think he'll do a better job with Mac than McDaniels, as he's more likely to play to Macs strengths than Josh did.


    Aside from getting a real OC in, I think the next highest priority by far is OL coach - we can add a player or two via draft and FA, but the guys we already have need to play a lot better than they did this year.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    I'm with you, great to have BOB back. Things should improve a lot in offense next season. Nice and early hire too, gives him time to plan and be all set long before voluntary and OTA's.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,213 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    At least he's an offensive mind and not defense. Appointment well in time for the next season. I dont really follow college football so I cant speak much for his recent body of work but as an OC rather than HC in the NFL that would appear to maximise his strengths.

    First year in a while as an NE (and recently also TB12) fan that I'm not really bothered to stay up to watch the superbowl. I'll watch the replay next day.

    Hopefully next year we can improve and be back in with a shout. To be as close to the playoffs as we were this year with such a garbage offense is an achievement and hopefully with a better offense next year we'll do better. I'd say a few pieces in offense especially in the passing game could elevate us to the next level. Don't think Jones is a generational QB - but we don't need him to be. Just enough to manage the game, dominate the run game and not throw silly picks. Tom never played hero ball in NE really either. It doesnt work. My favorite QB of all time, Brett Favre, was a heroball player and he only got one ring. He should have had more (even in the NFC title game as a viking when he threw the pick).. but the best way to success is a game manager not waiting for the next Mahomes, Brady etc.

    I'm a lot more optimistic for the next season than I was this time last year. We need to get back to the NE of old, where the system was so good that even Matt Cassel went 10-6 as a starter.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    The last time BoB was OC we scored 30 points or more in 12 of the 16 regular season games.

    In the draft that year we got Nate Solder, Vereen, Ridley and Marcus Cannon. I don't know if BoB had much input into those picks but I hope he did.

    We brought in Ochocinco and that didn't work out well.

    The one thing I remember is Vollmer improving massively. We had Scar then too so I'm not putting that down to O'Brien.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,012 ✭✭✭BizzyC


    Klemm in as Oline coach.

    Not sure how good he actually is as a coach, but I'm glad to see some dedicated coaches being brought in for our areas of need rather than moving around existing coaches to work in areas they aren't familiar with.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Just looking at our needs for next season. Obviously left and right tackle have to be looked at. I think the interior of the line is decent enough.

    After that cornerback is another area that needs some help. Free safety all depends on Devin McCourty's decision about retirement. I like Bledsoe but we need something else with potential. Wide receiver has to be looked at as well and even moreso if we can't resign Jakobi Meyers.

    We can look at other positions like defensive end, tight end and linebacker but they are where we have to gamble to improve because I think high draft picks and decent money in FA have to be spent on the positions mentioned above.

    Lets look at FA. Orlando Brown is the star of FA and I'm not sure if the Chiefs can afford to tag him with the money they are already paying Mahomes, Jones, Clark and Thuney which totals somewhere around $130 million. I'd spend the money on him but I can't see Bill doing it if he is available. Kaleb McGarry and George Fant are interesting options for right tackle.

    Jemal Dean is a Patriots type corner in my opinion, he attacks the ball and he has deflected a lot of ball when I've seen him play. He'll cost money but we've done it before on corners so it's a possibility I think. The Bucs can't afford to keep him so he'll definitely be moving.

    At wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is the big one and Meyers isn't far behind given his productivity and age. I'd love if we got a way to keep Jakobi, I think if we fix the tackle spots he could be gold if he's not considered that already. Hopkins will cost money and I think he'll want a three year minimum contract because its likely his last one, he'll be 31 entering the season.

    At FS Jessie Bates is the top guy but I'm happy to use a mid round draft pick on somebody and give Bledsoe his chance. I can't see Bill spending big money on this position. We could bring in a cheaper option in FA to act as cover for Bledsoe.

    The draft has some good prospects.

    I think it's highly unlikely that Peter Skoronski out of Northwestern falls to us at 14. I remember telling a friend to watch out for him in the game played in Ireland last year. He came back to me saying how awesome he was.

    Next up in my opinion is Paris Johnson who is so good he made life easy for CJ Stroud last season. I don't think theres much if anything between Skoronski and Johnson. I'd be very happy to take him with our first pick.

    The other position that could be addressed in the first round is wide receiver. I think Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State will be the first one off the board and if so then Quentin Johnson from TCU is likely going to be available at 14. I really rate Johnson, he's big, fast and very smart. He's a great route runner and looks at his QB for signals if theres an issue. It's possible he'll be the first one off the board but here's hoping he is still there if we can't get a tackle in that spot.

    Now I'm hoping we get Paris Johnson in the first and then his teammate Dawand Jones in the second. Some people are ranking Jones as a third rounder but I don't think he'll make it pass the second. He looked brilliant as well and if we got those two I think we'd be in a very good situation as regards our offensive line with Trent Jones as backup if we keep him. Our situation with Trent Jones is that it'll cost us just over $4 million to cut him but we'll save $8 million. He's going to earn over $12 million this year which sickens me. There are a couple of free agent tackles out there who you'd get for less than $8 million who'd be excellent backups and capable of starting at right tackle if one of your draft picks wasn't up to it.

    I'm gonna start a draft thread and I'll put up my binkies for later rounds in that.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,324 ✭✭✭el Fenomeno


    McCourty announces his retirement. Another need for the offseason.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Maybe, maybe not. I like Bledsoe, I think he'll get his chance now. We'll probably bring somebody in from.tje middle rounds of the draft.

    I seen a guy playing twice last year for Northern Iowa who I never watch but I ended up watching them against Air Force early in the season and then against San Diego State who I watch a lot. Anyway they kept raving about the free safety and with good reason, he was everywhere the ball was thrown in both games. He didn't always make plays and some of the cornerbacks were pretty poor but he was always around the ball. I've no idea if he's ranked but he's a football player and in both games the commentators said he'll do well at the next level so they expect to see him in the NFL. His surname was Sapp I think. He's definitely not in the top 10 ranked safeties in the draft. I'd love if we picked him up, I just think he'll be at least a good bench option.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,324 ✭✭✭el Fenomeno




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    I watched one of their games a few years back and they had a running back called Donald Pumphrey and he was awesome he had over 200 yards so I tuned in the next week and he did it again. I watch him every week for the rest of the season and he broke 200 a couple of more times and was regularly over 150. I was sure he'd be a star in the NFL but it didn't work out.

    I got to like the head coach, his name was Rocky. He became the second winningest head coach in their history.

    Anyway they had a backup running back who had a couple of decent games including a 200 yard game when Pumphrey got injured early in one game. So Pumphrey went to the NFL and I came back to watch this backup take over the next season. His name was Rashaad Penny who I'm sure you know. So I kind of followed them a bit then and wanted them to win the Mountain West.

    It's fun to watch some lesser conferences. I watch FCS football as well.

    I've continued to watch San Diego state since. Rocky decided it was time for him to retire from head coaching a few years ago and left and they brought back Brady Hoake who left them previously to take over as head coach at Michigan.

    I'm a fighting Irish fan but I like the Aztecs a lot too.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,324 ✭✭✭el Fenomeno


    Interesting.

    So the player you're talking about is Benny Sapp III. He plays for Northern Iowa, and his dad used to be in the NFL.

    But you saw Benny Sapp III play because you watch San Diego State a lot, and they happened to be playing Northern Iowa. You specifically remember the commentators talking about him, and you noticed him flying around the field.

    The problem is, San Diego State and Northern Iowa have never played each other. Not just last year, but ever.

    Northern Iowa did play South Dakota State and Sacramento State last year, which maybe you're confusing for San Diego State.

    But you specifically watch San Diego State, so you can't be just confusing them for another team, right?

    I hope this isn't a case of you reading about a player someone else likes, looking at his team's schedule, and picking some games at random to pass off as games that you watched yourself - just so you can have a "binky" from the FCS, but it sure does seem that way.

    And that's before I question how you watched Northern Iowa play Air Force in Week 1 considering that in the middle of the third quarter, you were posting on Boards about how you were currently watching San Diego State play Arizona into the second quarter. Unless you specifically had a stream for Altitude Sports - the only channel showing the Northern Iowa game on - in the background?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Well first of all I have every game that's on unless it's not televised. I have every game, every TV channel even every local channel in the US.

    Secondly I said I watch FCS too so it must have been South Dakota State game I seen him in.

    Your accusation or suggestion is ridiculous. I didn't even have his full name just his surname, not Benny or III. I never knew his father played in the NFL either. When you are watching a player and he's highlighted by the commentator you try and get his number and watch him more closely and I did. And the second time I seen him play I had forgotten about him until he did something and I heard his name.

    I haven't really thought about him since but when I came on here and seen that McCourty retired I started rambling and talking about Bledsoe and I was remembering him in college and then I remembered Sapp last year.

    I don't really know how good Sapp will be, no idea about his speed or vertical jump or anything but he's a football player in my opinion, a guy with a very high football iq. I like players like that. It's not like I said he'd be a starter just that I think he'd definitely be worth a spot on the bench as a special teamer and hopefully develop into a backup role at safety.

    I never even thought of him until I was posting about Bledsoe and only for this ridiculous post of yours I'd probably forget all about him again.

    He definitely wouldn't be a binkie because I only pick players that I believe will contend for a starting role. I'm not going to bother sharing my binkies this year though. I started a draft thread and nobody has posted in it so I've given up on it.

    You mustn't have much to do when you went trawling through my posts to find I posted about watching San Diego state while Air Force were playing northern Iowa.

    And I was talking about watching San Diego State which you now know is true but you want to believe that the rest of my post is untrue.

    I'm surprised you knew what channel Air Force Vs Northern Iowa was on. How do you know that?

    You may have to zoom in but below you'll see that I have Altitude Sports. It's not on right now though.




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,324 ✭✭✭el Fenomeno


    It's something I've suspected about you for quite some time every draft season, and it's nice that you slipped enough this time for it to be obvious for all to see.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,427 ✭✭✭Shedite27


    Crikey this is some weird ****



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    There's nothing obvious besides the fact that I mistook who they were playing. The fact that in that post I said I watch FCS points to it being likely I watched that game.

    Cop on to yourself and get a life. You clearly have a very sad existence trying to accuse and insult others online hiding behind your phone/laptop.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,213 ✭✭✭✭ELM327


    This thread is even more curious than the cole strange pick last year right now.

    (BTW I like the pick in hindsight but it was a little high considering we could have got him in the second).

    I don't get what you guys are insinuating about EE but I don't see the point either. Who cares if he watched a game or not. I don't really follow college ball at all so any opinions I have on potential draft picks are usually based on a mix of rehashed Bengal opinions and clips on youtube. Does that make me any less of a football fan?



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,495 ✭✭✭✭bucketybuck


    Step away from the keyboard for a while for christs sake.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    I don't get what he was at. I wasn't even talking about a guy who's a potential great, just a potential backup who might work out and I was just rambling after talking about Bledsoe and then remembering him in college. I'm.notbsurevhell even be drafted.

    I'd never post about someone I never seen play.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,147 ✭✭✭✭paulie21


    Jonnu Smith traded to the Falcons. Jonathan Jones extended for 2 years



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    More cap space with the Jonnu trade. Delighted to see Jones back.



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,767 ✭✭✭Mr. Guappa


    Jakobi ends up in Vegas with McDaniels. Not mad money by any means - $33M over 3 years, $21M of that guaranteed according to the early reporting. Diasppointing that we weren't able to keep him around if the price was that reasonable. We paid Agholor $22M over the last 2 years.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,147 ✭✭✭✭paulie21


    Well I suppose Meyers has already thrown them a game winning touchdown



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Yeah I couldn't believe he signed anywhere for that money. He was rightly labelled the best wide receiver in free agency.

    A franchise tagged wide receiver would be getting almost $20 million. I thought he'd be getting a minimum of $15 million per year.

    I'm very disappointed we couldn't keep him in New England at that money.



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Coreyhotline


    It is a surprise we couldn't get him back at that money, but think I read someplace today (boston Globe or herald maybe) that it wasn't just the money, that he didn't want to come back, no reason given for that.

    On the plus side, Riley Reiff signed, presumably to be a bridge tackle. His numbers last year weren't terrible, so we might get a good year out of him. Hard not to think that something big must be coming, don't see that there's any big contracts coming for any of our remaining free agents, and very much doubt Bill would waste the cap space.

    I don't see us drafting a receiver with our 1st, we have an appalling record at identifying and developing receivers in house for as long as I can remember (malcolm mitchell and edelman are the exceptions rather than the rule). That could change, we used to be crap at drafting corners, but started to turn it around about the time of darius butler (I know he didn't too much for us, but he played in the league for a long time). Therefore, I'm guessing we're taking a run at a receiver via trade or free agency, scuttlebutt is we've talked to Denver about both Jeudy and Courtland Sutton, I'd prefer to take a shot at Hopkins but not sure that's possible given his past relationship with O'Brien.

    I wouldn't mind us taking a crack at Darius Slay for a #1 CB, he's best at playing man coverage which Bill likes to play. I'm delighted Jones is back, but I think he's more of an excellent number 2 than a number 1. (Added side benefit is that Rodgers has struggled throwing against Slay in the past)

    My guess is they might move up a little to get the third best OT, or alternatively trade for a receiver and take the next best OT with a view to developing behind/alongside Reiff who is regarded as a good technician.

    Then again, this is Bill, so it might be none of the above.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,147 ✭✭✭✭paulie21


    Smith-Schuster signed to 3 years for 33 million. Same deal as Meyers.



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Coreyhotline


    Meh, like it, don’t love it. It’s a bit like for like for me.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Same as that, actually I don't even like it, I'm non-plussed really.



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Coreyhotline


    James Robinson signing for 2 years from Jags, which I presume is to replace Harris. Again, more of a replacement of talent than an elevation of talent.

    I'd forgotten that Slay had a big falling out with Patricia, so that's unlikely to happen unless Patricia takes a job somewhere else (apparently he is looking). Looking at remaining available free agent CBs aside from Slay, none of them look like a number 1 corner, couple of solid no 2s at best. Indeed, not a lot to topline talent left out there at any position. OBJ would be worth a flier based on his potential ceiling, but probably not for the money he's looking for. Maybe Dalton Schultz or Mike Gesicki might improve the TE room (I don't know if they block well). Aside from that, I don't see much there that will improve us, so it's either trade or draft (and I don't think we've enough draft capital to get more than one top talent at most, and most likely not a game-changing one).

    On the plus side, assuming we remain with broadly the same talent level as last season, addition of an experienced offensive staff should be enough to put 2-3 more wins on the board. I'd say a good season for us would be 1 playoff win.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,147 ✭✭✭✭paulie21


    Mike Gesicki for 1 year 9 million. Solid if not spectacular. Surely do more than Smith anyway



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,147 ✭✭✭✭paulie21


    Jalen Mills released



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Coreyhotline


    You called it Paulie, Happy with gesicki, talent wise not much different but suspect the production will be much better. Surprised at mills, I’d assumed he was going to safety if they got a cb in. Wonder if that means they’re signing rapp.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,427 ✭✭✭Shedite27


    Gesicki is a nice addition, basically a WR in a TE body.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Mills gone means they are happy with Bledsoe and I'll be happy to see him get his opportunity. I think he's good enough.

    Just like Smith-Schuster I'm not at all excited by the Gesicki signing. He's a player who seems to have been very inconsistent from what I've seen of him. If we'd have signed Dalton Schultz I'd have been excited.

    That Rock Ya Sin, ex Raider, is still available, he'd be a nice signing for the secondary.

    You've got some good veterans our there too like Melvin Engram and Frank Clark who'd be good to bring in for a year for the younger players.

    I presume Chris Board is a ST'er? I've heard of him but nothing of note in a couple of games for the Ravens. I see he was with the Lions last year.



  • Registered Users Posts: 7,767 ✭✭✭Mr. Guappa


    Seems like the Gesicki and Juju deals are pretty team friendly. I'm liking the moves so far... nothing too flashy, but solid improvements in depth, especially on offense.

    From what I've read Board is a stud ST player, but not a complete non-entity at LB either - he'll see some snaps there.

    From the visits and rumours they are still looking for a Safety in particular. We do seem particularly light on DBs, especially after the Mills release.



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Coreyhotline


    Mills back, which I'm not surprised at. I know I didn't say it at the time, but I was wondering if it was a cut and resign type scenario.

    Must take time to acknowledge High officially retiring yesterday. I would view him as being the key piece in the start of the second leg of the dynasty, and one of those rare occasions were Bill went aggressive in the draft. Of course, I don't need to recap his impact in big games. Hopefully, he gets the one-day contract treatment, he'd totally deserve it, and I imagine he'll make the Pats HOF too.

    On draft notes, I saw someone's mock on nfl.com having the Patriots taking a RB at 14. Whilst I have to acknowledge their attempt at replicating Bill's zigging when everyone's zagging on draft day, I'd like to state for the record that even if Emmet Smith, Walter Payton or Eric Dickerson were available, I would be horrified if we did that!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Anybody thinking that Bill would draft a RB in the first round shouldn't have a job. Not only do we have a great one in Rhamondre Stevenson but there's no chance Bill would ever draft a RB in the first. He's always look to find value later in the draft for that position.



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Coreyhotline


    Aglohor gone to the ravens, a case of addition by subtraction. The guy was always just a footstep away from a fumble or a bobble. Part of me wonders if it was just a scheme thing, in La I think he was catching more balls over the top of a defence whereas here he seemed to be catching/ dropping/ bobbling/ fumbling balls on intermediate routes in the teeth of the defence. You would think he would adapt, but just wonder if that was a factor in his averageness.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    He had one good season with the Raiders. He was pretty ordinary with the Eagles. 2021 with us, under 500 yards, was his fourth best season in the eight he's been in the league. He's never had 900 yards in a season.

    I didn't like us signing him, he'll do nothing with the Ravens either.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    I'm gonna predict we take Jaylon Jones with our second or third round pick. He's a cornerback and as we know the Patriots can never have enough Joneses in the secondary. 😁

    Now if I'm wrong about that then there's a projected six rounder called Jack Jones but signing him might cause confusion.



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Coreyhotline


    We've been hit and miss on CBs named Jones', Cyrus Jones anyone? If we did take a Jones, they might just end up balancing our Jones quotient if Mike Florio is to be believed.

    On that note, I hadn't given much head to the Lamar talk at the time, as I just thought it would be too much for the organisation to take on financially and pickwise. However, if we could move Mac for a 2nd (I don't think we'd get a first for him after last season), we could probably package that with our other 2nd to maybe get a mid-1st, so maybe we could pay that price. Kraft has publicly mentioned Lamar and said money would never be an issue in seperate statements, which makes me think he wouldn't be against moving Mac if it was to get Lamar. I think Bill would be well up for this, Lamar could definitely push the timetable on passing Shula's record to just 2 seasons, and Bill wouldn't have to deal with the fallout thereafter, plus if his relationship with Mac is as fractured as is being suggested, I just don't see any coming back from that. Swinging for the fences on Lamar could seal his legacy if it works out, hanging his legacy on repairing and succeeding with Mac seems much more tenuous (not saying he won't, but Lamar would seem like a much quicker solution).

    Assuming the roster stays broadly the same if Lamar arrived, I would think that Lamar could instantly make us contenders. Personally, I'm not his greatest fan but even I can recognise the dual threat would be a significant upgrade. With his movement, he could make receivers open even if they can't make themselves open, so I don't think we'd need significant upgrades at receiver or TE (although an upgrade would be welcome). The only caveat to my "could" is the OL. In my limited understanding of OL play, my guess is that the pass protections and durations for a mobile quarterback are probably very different to the pocket passers we've had for the last 25+ years. Obviously, given the difficulty that the OL had last year installing the outside zone run concepts, I'd be a little worried that they might not adjust to this either. The new coaching will no doubt help, but I genuinely don't know if the OL personnel we have will fit to whatever scheme we would have to devise for a Lamar.

    Anyway, I'm saying it now, let's go for Lamar!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,938 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    I'm of the opinion that Mac deserves a season with a proper offense and by that I mean a proper offensive line and decent wide receivers.

    I still believe in the kid.

    As for Lamar, if he could stay healthy I'd be up for it but he can't and I'm starting to think his shelf like is quite short now.



  • Registered Users Posts: 49 Coreyhotline


    With draft day only a few nights away, I thought I'd avoid my usual habit of going "i thought that was going to happen" after the fact and get my thoughts out in advance. I am not particularly fixed on names, I hardly watched any college football this year so don't have any sense of who we should really hang our hat on. With 11 picks, we should be able to pivot about the draft fairly handily, so purely from a positional perspective, I'd like to see one of 3 things happen:

    (A) As we did in the 2012 draft, keep our first and then bundle a bunch of other picks to get a second go in the first round, with a view to selecting 2 day 1 starters addressing 2 out of the trio of WR, OT and CB. The only way I feel this year is different from 2012 is that overall I don't think we've as much talent on the roster, so 2 high end talents may not be enough. Additionally, I think the general feeling among analysts is that there's really only 15-20 talents with a true first round grade, so we may not be able to get up there. And before anyone gets pedantic, I know we traded our way into 2 first-rounders in 2012, I just mean the end goal should be 2 first rounders.

    (B) As we did in the 2009 draft, trade back from the first and through a combination of other moves end up with 3/4 in the second. If we're not going to get the absolute top line talent, I think we're better to throw a bunch of picks at the next level and see who works out. Certainly worked out well in 2009 (Chung and Vollmer were stalwarts for us, Butler was a stalwart for anybody but us). We might also pick up some good players who aren't necessarily what we directly wanted as it seems there's a lot of depth at TE and the edge positions. I think this would be my preferred move.

    (C) Go for the batshit crazy move I've already posited, namely taking an instant upgrade with Lamar (nothing against Mac, but Lamar would be an instant elevation for not just the position but also for the offence in general). The money would be crazy, the cost in picks would be crazy, the Ravens probably wouldn't deal with us, and like Eagle Eye said, we might not get a full season out of him healthwise. On the plus side, it's hard not to like the thought of Bill yet again sticking 2 fingers up to conventional wisdom.

    What would you folks like to see out of this draft for NE?



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