Patriots 2023 Season

[Neurotic Guy]

The way Belichick managed and put together this O-Line during the offseason is criminally negligent

He's not doing everything to help Mac Jones. Not even close. Not like the other teams with their young QBs (Herbert, Burrow, Mahomes, Hurts, Tua, etc.)

And the fact that they had to add two depth tackles during the roster cutdown portion proves it. That's not "due diligence", they got really desperate and they basically still are.

I don't like the lack of good O-line starters either, but "criminally negligent" is a huge overreaction based on the (admittedly small) sample size we have this year. It seems like he made the most important improvement he could have: bringing in an O-line coach who is not only competent, but actually good.

We need to get some actual tackles next year if we want to actually do anything in the playoffs, but our patchwork line held up very well against a very strong Eagles' defensive front. If the line keeps playing like that then I'm not too worried about Mac (though admittedly that's a big "if").

the Pats drafted 3 OL this year. Yes they were 4th and 5th rounders which generally means not going to do much as rookies, but it isn't like they ignored the position in the draft.  That is a good start to the depth. Before that they added Reiff, Anderson, and Ferentz in free agency.  They also made the trade in training camp with the Browns to bring in Wheatley.  Now sure, no difference makers, but it was a heavy focus of the team.

They drafted a Center and 2 Guards, on a line with 2 young Guards (1 of which was a 1st rounder last year, while the other was one of the top ranked right guards in the NFL) and a good established Center. The issue last year was our Tackles and we still don't have a long-term solution there (and arguably not even a short term one). There's an argument for moving Onwenu to RT, but he's a better RG than RT so I wouldn't really consider that much of a positive.

The way they addressed the line showed that they understood the need, but didn't place the priority as high as other areas.  If they had gone tackle at 14 (assuming a starter quality player available) instead of Gonzalez, it would have made a big difference on the line but would left the Pats weaker at DB.   Of course you always want to have your cake and eat it too - perhaps they could have gone corner in the 2nd round or traded - but unlikely to have landed anywhere near as good a prospect as Gonzalez.   

I was disappointed that they couldn't get a difference-maker on the O-line, but I was definitely impressed with how the line performed on Sunday -- without 2 starters.   We'll see as the season progresses, but I'm hopeful that the line improves and is able to run block better and not be as reliant on quick throws.  When Mac needed more time, there wasn't much time available, and that is going to restrict them and make them more predictably as the season progress if there isn't improvement.  But again, they exceeded expectations on Sunday.

[Goldstar88]

If only the Pats had an O-line like the Eagles. Man…

[Moranis]

The way Belichick managed and put together this O-Line during the offseason is criminally negligent

He's not doing everything to help Mac Jones. Not even close. Not like the other teams with their young QBs (Herbert, Burrow, Mahomes, Hurts, Tua, etc.)

And the fact that they had to add two depth tackles during the roster cutdown portion proves it. That's not "due diligence", they got really desperate and they basically still are.

I don't like the lack of good O-line starters either, but "criminally negligent" is a huge overreaction based on the (admittedly small) sample size we have this year. It seems like he made the most important improvement he could have: bringing in an O-line coach who is not only competent, but actually good.

We need to get some actual tackles next year if we want to actually do anything in the playoffs, but our patchwork line held up very well against a very strong Eagles' defensive front. If the line keeps playing like that then I'm not too worried about Mac (though admittedly that's a big "if").

the Pats drafted 3 OL this year. Yes they were 4th and 5th rounders which generally means not going to do much as rookies, but it isn't like they ignored the position in the draft.  That is a good start to the depth. Before that they added Reiff, Anderson, and Ferentz in free agency.  They also made the trade in training camp with the Browns to bring in Wheatley.  Now sure, no difference makers, but it was a heavy focus of the team.

They drafted a Center and 2 Guards, on a line with 2 young Guards (1 of which was a 1st rounder last year, while the other was one of the top ranked right guards in the NFL) and a good established Center. The issue last year was our Tackles and we still don't have a long-term solution there (and arguably not even a short term one). There's an argument for moving Onwenu to RT, but he's a better RG than RT so I wouldn't really consider that much of a positive.

The way they addressed the line showed that they understood the need, but didn't place the priority as high as other areas.  If they had gone tackle at 14 (assuming a starter quality player available) instead of Gonzalez, it would have made a big difference on the line but would left the Pats weaker at DB.   Of course you always want to have your cake and eat it too - perhaps they could have gone corner in the 2nd round or traded - but unlikely to have landed anywhere near as good a prospect as Gonzalez.   

I was disappointed that they couldn't get a difference-maker on the O-line, but I was definitely impressed with how the line performed on Sunday -- without 2 starters.   We'll see as the season progresses, but I'm hopeful that the line improves and is able to run block better and not be as reliant on quick throws.  When Mac needed more time, there wasn't much time available, and that is going to restrict them and make them more predictably as the season progress if there isn't improvement.  But again, they exceeded expectations on Sunday.

well Pittsburgh took Broderick Jones at 14 after the trade.  He is a tackle, so the value was enough for the Steelers to trade up for him giving up 17 and 120 to move up to 14 for him.

[A Future of Stevens]

I think we made a great trade. Broderick may be great one day, but he is the first tackle off the bench for the Steelers. Their tackles are pretty good but it isn't like he has two sure fire HOF veterans in front of him.
Jones was billed as a huge upside tackle project that may take a few years. It may hurt us down the line, but Gonzalez already looks awesome.

[green_bballers13]

I think we made a great trade. Broderick may be great one day, but he is the first tackle off the bench for the Steelers. Their tackles are pretty good but it isn't like he has two sure fire HOF veterans in front of him.
Jones was billed as a huge upside tackle project that may take a few years. It may hurt us down the line, but Gonzalez already looks awesome.

I don't think Broderick Jones was a target after the Pats wiffed on Isiah Wynn, another Georgia tackle.

The Pats haven't had a chance to draft a talented CB like Gonzo since they drafted Ty Law.

[Phantom255x]

Belichick traded with the Steelers to let them get Broderick Jones and not the Jets. Aaron Rodgers gets hurt due to O-Line collapsing on that play and is now out for the season

Chess, not checkers by Belichick   

[Phantom255x]

Burrow has Chase/Higgins. Mahomes has Kelce and had Hill before too. Allen has Diggs. Dak has Lamb. Cousins has Jefferson. Hurts has Brown + Smith. Tua has Hill + Waddle. Lawrence has Chark + Kirk. Even Zach Wilson for the Jets has Garrett Wilson as his alpha.

Like what does Mac Jones have compared to these others?? Most of those guys I listed are considered Top-10 in the league, maybe at worst Top-12. If Mac had an alpha like that I'm sure he'd look a lot better too.

And as I say that, Dak to Lamb again for a beautiful 3rd and long conversion in the NYJ-DAL game.

Meanwhile Mac will have to hope a rookie WR keeps his 2nd foot inbounds, or rely on a guy who is always hurt and isn't even a #1 (Parker)

Could have signed Hopkins for just money, but apparently not... 

[gouki88]

Burrow has Chase/Higgins. Mahomes has Kelce and had Hill before too. Allen has Diggs. Dak has Lamb. Cousins has Jefferson. Hurts has Brown + Smith. Tua has Hill + Waddle. Lawrence has Chark + Kirk. Even Zach Wilson for the Jets has Garrett Wilson as his alpha.

Like what does Mac Jones have compared to these others?? Most of those guys I listed are considered Top-10 in the league, maybe at worst Top-12. If Mac had an alpha like that I'm sure he'd look a lot better too.

And as I say that, Dak to Lamb again for a beautiful 3rd and long conversion in the NYJ-DAL game.

Meanwhile Mac will have to hope a rookie WR keeps his 2nd foot inbounds, or rely on a guy who is always hurt and isn't even a #1 (Parker)

Could have signed Hopkins for just money, but apparently not... 

You didn't just list DJ Chark as some kind of weapon, did you? Bourne is better than him, let alone JuJu & Parker

[green_bballers13]

Deandre Hopkins had 25 yds receiving last week and 40 today. With Tannehill, he's not that big of a threat. Similar if he played with Mac.

We want the next Hopkins.

[gouki88]

Infuriating fumble

[Celtics2021]

Burrow has Chase/Higgins. Mahomes has Kelce and had Hill before too. Allen has Diggs. Dak has Lamb. Cousins has Jefferson. Hurts has Brown + Smith. Tua has Hill + Waddle. Lawrence has Chark + Kirk. Even Zach Wilson for the Jets has Garrett Wilson as his alpha.

Like what does Mac Jones have compared to these others?? Most of those guys I listed are considered Top-10 in the league, maybe at worst Top-12. If Mac had an alpha like that I'm sure he'd look a lot better too.

And as I say that, Dak to Lamb again for a beautiful 3rd and long conversion in the NYJ-DAL game.

Meanwhile Mac will have to hope a rookie WR keeps his 2nd foot inbounds, or rely on a guy who is always hurt and isn't even a #1 (Parker)

Could have signed Hopkins for just money, but apparently not... 

You didn't just list DJ Chark as some kind of weapon, did you? Bourne is better than him, let alone JuJu & Parker

I assume he meant Ridley instead of Chark, since that’s who’s with Trevor Lawrence.  Ridley is definitely a weapon.

[kraidstar]

Infuriating fumble

Yup. That's 2 catastrophic fumbles in 5 quarters so far.

[Phantom255x]

Burrow has Chase/Higgins. Mahomes has Kelce and had Hill before too. Allen has Diggs. Dak has Lamb. Cousins has Jefferson. Hurts has Brown + Smith. Tua has Hill + Waddle. Lawrence has Chark + Kirk. Even Zach Wilson for the Jets has Garrett Wilson as his alpha.

Like what does Mac Jones have compared to these others?? Most of those guys I listed are considered Top-10 in the league, maybe at worst Top-12. If Mac had an alpha like that I'm sure he'd look a lot better too.

And as I say that, Dak to Lamb again for a beautiful 3rd and long conversion in the NYJ-DAL game.

Meanwhile Mac will have to hope a rookie WR keeps his 2nd foot inbounds, or rely on a guy who is always hurt and isn't even a #1 (Parker)

Could have signed Hopkins for just money, but apparently not... 

You didn't just list DJ Chark as some kind of weapon, did you? Bourne is better than him, let alone JuJu & Parker

Yeah sorry I completely messed that up lol. Meant Calvin Ridley

[gouki88]

Infuriating fumble

Yup. That's 2 catastrophic fumbles in 5 quarters so far.

Our offence has had moments of looking solid, but then it is all undone by a catastrophic error. Growing pains

[Phantom255x]

Game isn't over BUT the offense needs to score on this drive right here.

Best bet is a score, defensive stop, then score right before half, since MIA starts the 2nd half with the ball too