Patriots 2023 Season

[A Future of Stevens]

The O-line is pathetic right now. Really glad they chose not to address this in the off-season. 

This also.  I honestly don't know what our offense is without talent on the oline.

[Neurotic Guy]

Well, disappointing first look at the Pats. Getting beat soundly despite the tie score. 
Packers running through them pretty easily.

[A Future of Stevens]

Bourne is everything I want of a non elite FA pickup. His first year and this preseason. Last year was absurd. He's a weapon. He's not the elite tier, but he can contribute to a good franchise.

[A Future of Stevens]

Our defense is still a mix of people who won't play. Let's go

[A Future of Stevens]

Part of me has always rooted for the tank. As long as we have Bill, 6+ is going to happen. It's a strange spot to be

[Goldstar88]

Zappe running for his life. SMH…

[green_bballers13]

The O-line is pathetic right now. Really glad they chose not to address this in the off-season. 

This also.  I honestly don't know what our offense is without talent on the oline.

It's not good. I'm liking the Zeke signing more. He's a decent blocker and can catch the ball in the flats. Stevenson looks good, but yes, the o-line will determine a lot.

Mac looked ok when he had time. Not much to read so far, besides the issues with the o-line.

[Goldstar88]

That's how the Pats are going to have to play. Quick 7-10 yard passes and hope the WR's/ RB's can get some more after the catch. Can't do much more with a garbage O-Line

[gouki88]

That's how the Pats are going to have to play. Quick 7-10 yard passes and hope the WR's/ RB's can get some more after the catch. Can't do much more with a garbage O-Line

I think we have some solid RAC talent at the receiving positions, so it is probably our best bet

[Moranis]

I think with an elite target, Mac Is a top 10 or 13 qb. He doesn't have the tangible elite qualities, but his brain is impressive. He just has nothing to work with to quote Moranis. I'd love to see him with one game breaker. His upside with that given is in the ball park of Cousins. He's a cannon that needs to be primed with talent.  That terrifies me.

I don't think he'd be that good, but he could certainly put up those kind of numbers.  They needed Hopkins, or someone like him.  He'd have have just opened everything up.  JuJu, Bourne, Thornton would all just be so much better with a real #1.  It would also create more lanes for Hunter and Gesicki and give bigger holes to Stevenson.  A true top end pass catcher just does so much for a offense and Mac may not have the biggest arm, but he is certainly accurate.  The offense just needs a guy that is THE guy.  They don't have that and couple that with a terrible OL and poor pass catchers (as a whole) and solid but unspectacular RB"s and they just aren't going tonscore enough to be a good team.  Defense is good, so they won't be terrible, but good they are not.

[green_bballers13]

I think with an elite target, Mac Is a top 10 or 13 qb. He doesn't have the tangible elite qualities, but his brain is impressive. He just has nothing to work with to quote Moranis. I'd love to see him with one game breaker. His upside with that given is in the ball park of Cousins. He's a cannon that needs to be primed with talent.  That terrifies me.

I don't think he'd be that good, but he could certainly put up those kind of numbers.  They needed Hopkins, or someone like him.  He'd have have just opened everything up.  JuJu, Bourne, Thornton would all just be so much better with a real #1.  It would also create more lanes for Hunter and Gesicki and give bigger holes to Stevenson.  A true top end pass catcher just does so much for a offense and Mac may not have the biggest arm, but he is certainly accurate.  The offense just needs a guy that is THE guy.  They don't have that and couple that with a terrible OL and poor pass catchers (as a whole) and solid but unspectacular RB"s and they just aren't going tonscore enough to be a good team.  Defense is good, so they won't be terrible, but good they are not.

Hopkins was a non-starter for NE and Belichick. He doesn't practice. What other #1 was available?

I also think they need a #1, but you're making it sound like it was an easy thing to acquire.

[Goldstar88]

I think with an elite target, Mac Is a top 10 or 13 qb. He doesn't have the tangible elite qualities, but his brain is impressive. He just has nothing to work with to quote Moranis. I'd love to see him with one game breaker. His upside with that given is in the ball park of Cousins. He's a cannon that needs to be primed with talent.  That terrifies me.

I don't think he'd be that good, but he could certainly put up those kind of numbers.  They needed Hopkins, or someone like him.  He'd have have just opened everything up.  JuJu, Bourne, Thornton would all just be so much better with a real #1.  It would also create more lanes for Hunter and Gesicki and give bigger holes to Stevenson.  A true top end pass catcher just does so much for a offense and Mac may not have the biggest arm, but he is certainly accurate.  The offense just needs a guy that is THE guy.  They don't have that and couple that with a terrible OL and poor pass catchers (as a whole) and solid but unspectacular RB"s and they just aren't going tonscore enough to be a good team.  Defense is good, so they won't be terrible, but good they are not.

Hopkins was a non-starter for NE and Belichick. He doesn't practice. What other #1 was available?

I also think they need a #1, but you're making it sound like it was an easy thing to acquire.

The Pats aren’t a DeAndre Hopkins away from contending. Considering his age and what the Titans ended up paying him, I’m OK with Bill and Bob passing. What I’m not OK with is them not addressing the offensive line, which was bad last year. Before signing Zeke, NE had $15M in cap space. I’m not understanding why that wasn’t used on the O-line or why they didn’t draft an OT. I think the defense will be good this year, but I’m not sold on them being great. My prediction for this season is 9-8.

[Moranis]

I think with an elite target, Mac Is a top 10 or 13 qb. He doesn't have the tangible elite qualities, but his brain is impressive. He just has nothing to work with to quote Moranis. I'd love to see him with one game breaker. His upside with that given is in the ball park of Cousins. He's a cannon that needs to be primed with talent.  That terrifies me.

I don't think he'd be that good, but he could certainly put up those kind of numbers.  They needed Hopkins, or someone like him.  He'd have have just opened everything up.  JuJu, Bourne, Thornton would all just be so much better with a real #1.  It would also create more lanes for Hunter and Gesicki and give bigger holes to Stevenson.  A true top end pass catcher just does so much for a offense and Mac may not have the biggest arm, but he is certainly accurate.  The offense just needs a guy that is THE guy.  They don't have that and couple that with a terrible OL and poor pass catchers (as a whole) and solid but unspectacular RB"s and they just aren't going tonscore enough to be a good team.  Defense is good, so they won't be terrible, but good they are not.

Hopkins was a non-starter for NE and Belichick. He doesn't practice. What other #1 was available?

I also think they need a #1, but you're making it sound like it was an easy thing to acquire.

The Patriots were rumored as the front runner to land Hopkins, but then Tennessee upped their offer and New England didn't match. The Patriots should have paid the money and signed him.  It was a glaring need for them.  Now I don't think Hopkins is the player he once was, but he is still a #1, just not one of the handful of best WR's in the league like he once was.  The Patriots cheaped out, when they had a need and the money.  That has been happening basically for 25 years though.  In my opinion, it is the main reason Brady left.  He was tired of taking discounts only for the team to cheap out. 

I also don't necessarily believe that Hopkins chose the Titans over the Patriots because he thought the Titans had a better chance to win, I think it was purely money driven, but if that rumor is true, it does support a lot of what I've been saying about Mac and the teams future.  Again, I think Hopkins chose the money and had the Patriots offered more, he would have gone there and said the same thing i.e. he went to the team that offered him the best chance to win.

[Neurotic Guy]

I think with an elite target, Mac Is a top 10 or 13 qb. He doesn't have the tangible elite qualities, but his brain is impressive. He just has nothing to work with to quote Moranis. I'd love to see him with one game breaker. His upside with that given is in the ball park of Cousins. He's a cannon that needs to be primed with talent.  That terrifies me.

I don't think he'd be that good, but he could certainly put up those kind of numbers.  They needed Hopkins, or someone like him.  He'd have have just opened everything up.  JuJu, Bourne, Thornton would all just be so much better with a real #1.  It would also create more lanes for Hunter and Gesicki and give bigger holes to Stevenson.  A true top end pass catcher just does so much for a offense and Mac may not have the biggest arm, but he is certainly accurate.  The offense just needs a guy that is THE guy.  They don't have that and couple that with a terrible OL and poor pass catchers (as a whole) and solid but unspectacular RB"s and they just aren't going tonscore enough to be a good team.  Defense is good, so they won't be terrible, but good they are not.

Hopkins was a non-starter for NE and Belichick. He doesn't practice. What other #1 was available?

I also think they need a #1, but you're making it sound like it was an easy thing to acquire.

The Pats aren’t a DeAndre Hopkins away from contending. Considering his age and what the Titans ended up paying him, I’m OK with Bill and Bob passing. What I’m not OK with is them not addressing the offensive line, which was bad last year. Before signing Zeke, NE had $15M in cap space. I’m not understanding why that wasn’t used on the O-line or why they didn’t draft an OT. I think the defense will be good this year, but I’m not sold on them being great. My prediction for this season is 9-8.

Yes!!!  Has there ever been more of a consensus on anything than the Pats need to strengthen their O-line?  I am baffled that they didn’t address it higher in the draft, that they sign a couple of quality linemen, and/or that they didn’t trade for 1.  They can still trade and I think they should be able to pick up late cuts that will bolster their O-line bench.  It is agonizing that Mac once again is going feel that line collapsing as he’s dropping back. 

[gouki88]

The O-line situation is far from ideal. Reiff is not starter material, David Andrews is getting older, and Trent Brown just can't stay on the field.

I'm a big fan of Onwenu, and think Strange is solid (just a bit penalty-prone). 2/5 is not good...

I do like the defence though. Lots of strong talent up near the line there in guys like Judon, Barmore, Uche & Guy. Hope Judon & Uche can combine for 30 sacks this season