2020 Patriots off season

Did it though? The money they freed up mostly went to Brown and Sanu last year. They did very little, heck you can argue they did more harm than good. Brady focusing on Harry and Myers all year likely makes them better by year's end. Brady just couldn't or wouldn't do it. He didn't want to work with rookies! 

The line had issues at times, yet did you really think it was a huge issue in that playoff game? 4.5 yards per run, zero sacks.

Brady checked out and didn't want to put in the extra work that frankly made him so great. Now in Tampa he is doing that extra work even in a pandemic. Myers was the most impactful rookie we've ever had at receiver during Bills time. Stidham had chemistry with him from day one, Brady never did. Heck he had zero targets in that playoff game. That's the thing with big not crazy fast possession receivers you have to trust them to make plays, use their size and ball skills to make plays. They won't get wide open and Brady didn't all year. They made a few mistakes and that was it. That wasn't Brady from the early 2000s.

Not to say it's all on him, Bill not getting any TEs and not using Harris were head scratchers. The Sanu trade was horrible the minute it was made. Trading for Bennett when you were going 3-4. Taking a CB in the 2nd round when you had the best group in the NFL. Stashing so many draft picks on IR, which hurt OL depth. Not getting a better deep threat than Dorsett, heck trusting Gordon. Heck watching Bolden return kicks all year was painful, even if he was a darn good special teams player in other areas. Yet Brady wanted his guys.

So I really think last year was more Brady than the OL or lack of weapons. He was off all year, not once did we see him have a crazy hot streak. Heck that dates back to the 2018 playoffs when he wasn't that great either. I don't know if it was decline, injury or he was already checked out halfway. Yet he was off and seem pissed he didn't have the best weapons in the NFL. It's a shame because that D was special last year!

www.google.com/amp/s/nesn.com/2020/05/pair-of-nfl-executives-high-on-patriots-third-round-tight-end-devin-asiasi/amp/

Another thing that Bill seems to be changing is LB size. Much smaller and quicker than he normally goes for. Which is likely a good thing in today's NFL.

Also Dalton to Cowboys, so it just reinforces what we already knew, Stidham is the guy.

Even if you don’t buy Dalton because of money or location, if he wanted Winston then he signed a vet minimum deal to back up Brees. You don’t think he’d have rather come to NE to probably start? Newton is still out there. As far as we know, NE hasn’t even checked in on any of these guys. So based off the information we know, it seems pretty clear that Stidham is their guy.

I know it's kinda hard for us to judge what a mobile yet non elite running QB can do. Bledsoe to Brady is 30 years of nothing from our QBs. Yet it really makes a huge difference. Stidham is like Book at Notre Dame, just a better arm. Book just changes things because he makes plays with his arm and legs. No huge plays, but 30-50 yards a game is huge. Makes the D have to defend both and thus limits the pass rush and gets you extra first downs. A few of those and they keep an extra guy in the box, opening up pass plays. Very hard to jam short routes, rush the passer and defend the QB run.

I really think Bill and McDaniel's are giddy at the options they now have. Heck I fully expect some old school college football option plays.

It plays into Keene being a new age fullback who can get out and block down the field and on the sidelines. Overload a side like Baltimore did all last year. Add in big WRs like Harry and Myers, with Asiasi and Keene. Then Stidham and Michel. That's the way Michel dominants like 2018 with Allen and Gronk, we could be better next year. Both guards move very well in space and at the second level. Hopefully had Harris next year as fresh as any RB could be.

Old school football with a modern touch of dual threat QB. I can hardly wait.

www.bostonherald.com/2020/05/02/new-patriots-te-dalton-keene-has-always-strived-wherever-hes-gone/

More on Keene. Played linebacker in HS, hard worker, versatile. Hope he pans out given the price paid.

Looked at draft again seeing how they could have done things differently. Not perfect because it uses hindsight and you don't know how even one pick would change things.

First you couldn't take a safety latter, they all went in the 2nd round. Well the good ones did.

Yet if they didn't trade up for three guys and they just fell to them. You get two extra fourth round picks. Just for fun take WR Quintez Cephus then C Tyler Biadesz. Then in the fifth take DT Larrell Murchison. In the 7th take your kicker over the Memphis center.

That changes the value a ton, that's a B+/A- type draft. Who knows maybe you lose the guys you wanted more. Yet it shows how it wasn't the best value draft either. You missed out on three guys with starter upside.

Just wondering. If A. Brown's dead cap money was converted to roster money, would that affect their salary cap? I think it's 4.5 million. If it doesn't, why not bring him back?

Remember, rookie tight ends are rarely big contributors.

Tight end is just a harder transition than other positions since they need to learn routes and blocking assignments was all I was saying

Just some thoughts after spending more time reading everything I can find about the Patriots.

BB has a lot of confidence in Stidham and I am becoming a believer that he will be a top 10 QB in the league quickly. Maybe not year 1 but he will be good and he will go to some pro bowls. His youth and history of playing in different settings with different receivers will help him and the young core be successful quickly. He won't be like Tom was with new guys having to earn his trust, Stidham will develop with all the young guys together. He showed it last year with all the other rookies who had good preseasons with him throwing them the ball.
This also leads to my confidence in the 2 TE's they took this yr. I know this is hyperbole at this time but those 2 guys could end up being like the FB and TE in San Fran, especially Keene who I think might be a very pleasant surprise. I like Asiani a lot also but I think he will take some time and might need to get in better shape as a pro.
IMO the biggest question mark and the group that has the highest ceiling is the Oline. If everyone is healthy and playing to their potential they can be dominant but another yr like last with all the injuries will derail the O and set Stidham back. That would be a very bad thing and derail the season. If their is one.

On D I really like what I see from the draft and some signings that I think will offset the losses. Uche, Jennings and Duggar could all be significant contributors along with Williams from last year and a 2nd yr bump from Winovich. Once again it is the Dline that concerns me as the Pats usually have more girth up the middle. They have always been best with a monster in the middle like Wilfork or Ted Washington but that depends on if they are playing more 4/3 vs 3/4, looks like it will be 4/3 based on the roster. The strength is still the secondary with DPOY Gilmore, the McCartys and the addition of some big athletic safeties.

As usual I am high on this years draft class as I see what should/could be 6/7 good players with the potential to be really good players. Hope I'm right on that for once but you know how that is, the more you read about them the more optimistic you become.

If they play 16 games I think we are looking at 9-7, I would go 10-6 but they have a tough schedule and not a lot of time to prepare. Maybe that seems optimistic to some but the veteran leadership will be pushing hard on the "Tom gone thing and we are still the Patriots" mantra. It will depend on the Oline and contributions from 1st and 2nd year player but as usual I am leaning towards them having success.

The one area that does worry me is DL. Wise is perfect size for a 3/4 DE and again they have no backup nose tackle. Very limited depth and doesn't allow you to sub guys and keep them fresh. Hopefully Cowart can take a big step forward as he has perfect size. This is definitely a spot were they could make a trade or sign a another guy.

Base 3-4 and 4-3 defenses are a thing of the past. You need to adapt constantly these days. There just isn’t room to build a defense the way you did even 5 years ago.