Patriots 2023 Season

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

What a weasely, buffoonish move by Bill at the end there, throwing Zappe in. That INT by Mac was terrible,  but this is Bill's offense. It is Bill's fault. Him swapping Mac out there is scapegoating. When is he going to be a man and take accountability for this team.

FWIW Zolak thought it was absolutely the only thing for BB to do.

Anyway, they’re just bad. Unfortunately probably not bad enough to lose the remaining 7.

Losing to the Colts and scoring only 6 points gives me high hopes that they can in fact lose the rest of their games.

I'm a bit torn, though, because on one hand I do want them to lose the rest of the way to get the highest draft pick possible, but on the other hand, it's painful to watch the team be this bad. Colts allow the 7th-most yards per game and are tied for the third-most points allowed per game, and the Pats got a measly 6 points—9 if they'd made that other field goal, but that's still paltry. Missing Bourne hurts, but he's not that impactful a player in this offense. The offense is just plain bad.

[johnnygreen]

Unfortunately, Belichick and Kraft ruined Mac Jones. Has there ever been a good quarterback that had 3 different offensive coordinators in 3 seasons? I'm guessing no.

Was Jakoby Meyers a #1 receiver? No he isn't, but he knew how to get open on third down conversions, ala Troy Brown, Wes Welker, or Julian Edelman. Every QB needs those guys, and this team doesn't have one this year. Why not step up and pay the man?

The team went into the season knowing the offensive line was a disaster. Everyone else but Belichick also knew the wide receiver room was one of the worst in the league. But we're supposed to just blame Mac Jones?

BTW, the NFL is not a quarterback league anymore. It's turned into a wide receiver league. Great wide receivers can turn good QB's into MVP candidates now. Elite tight ends (more receiver than blocking type) also fit into this category too.

If the Patriots do draft a QB in the first round, he should just sit behind Mac during his rookie season. The team will just ruin another QB behind that offensive line and awful receiver corp. Tank another season, and draft an elite receiver and continue to rebuild the offensive line.

[Moranis]

The Bills game Mac's first year where they threw the ball 3 times was the point in which it went downhill.  The team has not been good since that game, especially Mac. I mean the Pats told the world they didn't believe in their QB in that game and it affected Mac.  His numbers went down significantly after that game.  Everything since has just solidified the point thst the team doesn't believe in Mac.

[Goldstar88]

Unfortunately, Belichick and Kraft ruined Mac Jones. Has there ever been a good quarterback that had 3 different offensive coordinators in 3 seasons? I'm guessing no.

Was Jakoby Meyers a #1 receiver? No he isn't, but he knew how to get open on third down conversions, ala Troy Brown, Wes Welker, or Julian Edelman. Every QB needs those guys, and this team doesn't have one this year. Why not stop up and pay the man?

The team went into the season knowing the offensive line was a disaster. Everyone else but Belichick also knew the wide receiver room was one of the worst in the league. But we're supposed to just blame Mac Jones?

BTW, the NFL is not a quarterback league anymore. It's turned into a wide receiver league. Great wide receivers can turn good QB's into MVP candidates now. Elite tight ends (more receiver than blocking type) also fit into this category too.

If the Patriots do draft a QB in the first round, he should just sit behind Mac during his rookie season. The team will just ruin another QB behind that offensive line and awful receiver corp. Tank another season, and draft an elite receiver and continue to rebuild the offensive line.

Couldn’t agree more. TP

[johnnygreen]

The Bills game Mac's first year where they threw the ball 3 times was the point in which it went downhill.  The team has not been good since that game, especially Mac. I mean the Pats told the world they didn't believe in their QB in that game and it affected Mac.  His numbers went down significantly after that game.  Everything since has just solidified the point thst the team doesn't believe in Mac.

I will never understand this idea regarding that game. The coaches executed a game plan that won the game. Isn't that the whole point, to win the game?

[kraidstar]

Unfortunately, Belichick and Kraft ruined Mac Jones. Has there ever been a good quarterback that had 3 different offensive coordinators in 3 seasons? I'm guessing no.

Was Jakoby Meyers a #1 receiver? No he isn't, but he knew how to get open on third down conversions, ala Troy Brown, Wes Welker, or Julian Edelman. Every QB needs those guys, and this team doesn't have one this year. Why not stop up and pay the man?

The team went into the season knowing the offensive line was a disaster. Everyone else but Belichick also knew the wide receiver room was one of the worst in the league. But we're supposed to just blame Mac Jones?

BTW, the NFL is not a quarterback league anymore. It's turned into a wide receiver league. Great wide receivers can turn good QB's into MVP candidates now. Elite tight ends (more receiver than blocking type) also fit into this category too.

If the Patriots do draft a QB in the first round, he should just sit behind Mac during his rookie season. The team will just ruin another QB behind that offensive line and awful receiver corp. Tank another season, and draft an elite receiver and continue to rebuild the offensive line.

Couldn’t agree more. TP

Seconded. This is exactly what the plan should be.

[Phantom255x]

As a 24-year old admittedly this is kinda new territory for me, but man when your team is 2-8 and blows, it makes watching the rest of the games feel kinda depressing 

At least even in 2020 and 2022 they were in it up until mid-to-late December. They weren't horrific then

[kraidstar]

It's amazing how different it is watching non-pats games. The receivers and rb's are just so quick. Breaking tackles, making 1-handed catches in stride. Makes our guys look like they're running underwater in comparison.

And they just look like they know what they're doing. People are in the right spots, the QB is delivering the ball on time.

[Neurotic Guy]

As a 24-year old admittedly this is kinda new territory for me, but man when your team is 2-8 and blows, it makes watching the rest of the games feel kinda depressing 

At least even in 2020 and 2022 they were in it up until mid-to-late December. They weren't horrific then

TBH, perspective is an interesting thing.  Many of us lived many years without a superbowl -- many years of terrible or mediocre teams.   I'm still living off of the 20-year run.  Try as I might, I can't get anywhere near as bummed out by the Pats as might have 25 years ago.  That said, I'll be excited to see them turn the corner if they can address QB/Line/WR... over the next couple of years.   It's a pretty rare thing in sports for a dynasty to end and the team not have a bit of famine.

[kraidstar]

So Kerwenek posted a link to an article in which a former Broncos player alleged that Josh McDaniels bragged to the team that he "could turn a high-school QB into an all-pro."

The local media has said that they've heard similar claims from Pats coaches.

Which means the coaching staff is completely delusional. It's also ridiculously disrespectful to Tom Brady - and to the players in general.

Are you paying attention,  Mr. Kraft? Are these the sort of people who should be leading a rebuild?

[kraidstar]

As a 24-year old admittedly this is kinda new territory for me, but man when your team is 2-8 and blows, it makes watching the rest of the games feel kinda depressing 

At least even in 2020 and 2022 they were in it up until mid-to-late December. They weren't horrific then

TBH, perspective is an interesting thing.  Many of us lived many years without a superbowl -- many years of terrible or mediocre teams.   I'm still living off of the 20-year run.  Try as I might, I can't get anywhere near as bummed out by the Pats as might have 25 years ago.  That said, I'll be excited to see them turn the corner if they can address QB/Line/WR... over the next couple of years.   It's a pretty rare thing in sports for a dynasty to end and the team not have a bit of famine.

The losing doesn't disturb me so much as the lack of direction and competence within the organization. It was good fun watching the first couple years of the post-KG C's.

Even though we were terrible,  we had assets, young players, etc. We were building towards something.

The Patriots OTOH strike me as being wildly out of touch. I have no confidence in them to turn it around.

[celticsclay]

The Bills game Mac's first year where they threw the ball 3 times was the point in which it went downhill.  The team has not been good since that game, especially Mac. I mean the Pats told the world they didn't believe in their QB in that game and it affected Mac.  His numbers went down significantly after that game.  Everything since has just solidified the point thst the team doesn't believe in Mac.

I will never understand this idea regarding that game. The coaches executed a game plan that won the game. Isn't that the whole point, to win the game?

Yeah mo has posted this a few times and it has not gotten any better with age. If a quarterback is ruined because of how many times his team decides to pass in bad weather his rookie year he is the most mentally fragile quarterback in nfl history and would never succeed in the nfl under any circumstance

[Phantom255x]

The Bills game Mac's first year where they threw the ball 3 times was the point in which it went downhill.  The team has not been good since that game, especially Mac. I mean the Pats told the world they didn't believe in their QB in that game and it affected Mac.  His numbers went down significantly after that game.  Everything since has just solidified the point thst the team doesn't believe in Mac.

I will never understand this idea regarding that game. The coaches executed a game plan that won the game. Isn't that the whole point, to win the game?

Yeah mo has posted this a few times and it has not gotten any better with age. If a quarterback is ruined because of how many times his team decides to pass in bad weather his rookie year he is the most mentally fragile quarterback in nfl history and would never succeed in the nfl under any circumstance

Also even in that game IIRC, I don't even think the Bills had Josh Allen throwing that much either early on. They only started to have him throw a bunch in the 2nd half (4th quarter) when they were trailing and their running game wasn't really doing much. Does that mean they didn't trust Josh Allen either that night?

[Moranis]

The Bills game Mac's first year where they threw the ball 3 times was the point in which it went downhill.  The team has not been good since that game, especially Mac. I mean the Pats told the world they didn't believe in their QB in that game and it affected Mac.  His numbers went down significantly after that game.  Everything since has just solidified the point thst the team doesn't believe in Mac.

I will never understand this idea regarding that game. The coaches executed a game plan that won the game. Isn't that the whole point, to win the game?

Yeah mo has posted this a few times and it has not gotten any better with age. If a quarterback is ruined because of how many times his team decides to pass in bad weather his rookie year he is the most mentally fragile quarterback in nfl history and would never succeed in the nfl under any circumstance

Also even in that game IIRC, I don't even think the Bills had Josh Allen throwing that much either early on. They only started to have him throw a bunch in the 2nd half (4th quarter) when they were trailing and their running game wasn't really doing much. Does that mean they didn't trust Josh Allen either that night?

Allen had 7 throws and a QB run on a passing attempt in the 1st quarter of that game and ended that game with 30 passing attempts.  The Bills had a 1st down at the Patriots 14 yard line with 2.5 minutes to go and down 4.  The Pats defense came up big there, but it isn't like the game wasn't in doubt (and 2 of Mac's throws were in the 4th just before that game ending 4th down stop by the Pats - the completion was towards the end of the 1st quarter - Mac didn't attempt a pass for 2.5 quarters). 

In the 12 games before that game, Mac had a completion % of 70.34 and a rating of 97.1 (with 16 TD's and 8 INT's) and the Pats were 8-4.  In the four regular season games after that game, Mac had a completion % of 59.85 and a rating of 79.7 (a 6 to 5 TD to INT ratio).  The Pats only win was against the post-Meyer Jaguars.  In the playoff game against the Bills, Mac's rating was 75.8 with a 63.18% and a 2 to 2 TD to INT ratio. 

The Patriots went on national TV and told the world they didn't think their QB had a good enough arm to throw in bad weather. Sure, Bill embarrassed the Bills, but he also embarrassed his own QB, who was never the same after that, while the Bills turned that embarrassment into a 12 point win 3 weeks later in NE and a 30 point beat down in the playoffs another 3 weeks later. Mac never recovered though which was just compounded the next year with the terrible offensive coaching staff and the Zappe drama. Bill ruined Mac Jones.  I don't think Mac was ever going to be a franchise guy, but Bill absolutely stunted his growth and diminished whatever his ceiling might have been.

[ozgod]

So Kerwenek posted a link to an article in which a former Broncos player alleged that Josh McDaniels bragged to the team that he "could turn a high-school QB into an all-pro."

The local media has said that they've heard similar claims from Pats coaches.

Which means the coaching staff is completely delusional. It's also ridiculously disrespectful to Tom Brady - and to the players in general.

Are you paying attention,  Mr. Kraft? Are these the sort of people who should be leading a rebuild?

Isn't that part of what the "Patriot Way" supposedly is? That you could pick low draft picks and reclamation projects, expose them to the Patriot Way, make sure they all Did Their Job, and turn them into stars?

That's why they trade for lower picks, skimp on talent to pick people they think will fit the Patriot Way because they think they can turn them into stars.

Maybe they thought they turned Brady into a star as opposed to him having the natural talent and drive to become one...but since him there's little evidence of the Patriot Way being successful, or at least the players they've picked and traded for haven't made those leaps.