Patriots 2024-25 season thread

Daniels was fine for a rookie on the road: 94 Passer rating plus another 88 yards on the ground. 

He looks like a keeper, or better. He also looks very slender. 

I have a feeling Bill is going to be harder on Drake that he's here rather than any other team not named the Jets. Although, he's high on Aaron, but he loves him.

Bro was getting nuru massaged out of his goddamn mind after every game, it was sheer lust that drove him to be good. Since he couldn't contain himself and moved past paid professionals and started sexually assaulting women who were unaware of his perverse proclivities, he got nabbed for being freaky and had to dial down. I think he could, and should, probably still be pretty good at the Interstate Penitentiary Games.

Jayden Daniels line is exactly why I wasn't high on him. 60% of his passing yards were dump downs to RBs, over 100 yards. Tops on team in rushing attempts. No passing TDs, but two Rushing. 7 first downs with arm, 8 with legs. Only one more completion than rushing attempt. Will be a miracle if he last the season without a major injury and going forward every team with crowd the box playing the run and passes to RBs.

Jordan played all 65 snaps at LG (along with Mike at RT and Layden & Andrews at their spots), Lowe straight replaced Chuks at RT after 12 snaps, while Wallace had 18 in his 6th OL role. I have no idea why it took so long but it appears they've finally realized at least for 2025 keeping Onwenu outside is best for the team (thanks Layden Robinson!). But they were willing to start and stick with the practice squad elevated guy for 100% of the snaps at LG and Sow or even Strange may be back soon so I hope we're done with that shuffle. Mike may not quite have the agility you want in space for pass protection but he's a mauler in the run game and Stevenson running behind him & Layden & occasionally Cayden should be our identity regardless of QB.

Defensively we all saw those flashes but Keion White living up to the hype is great, and for an under the radar guy Jaylinn Hawkins continues to impress me. I was hoping for a Marte Mapu breakout, but if Peppers and Dugger are healthy they're every down players and better up in the box than Mapu. Hawkins can play over the top, that gives us a ton of versatility if he can play the McCourty role and let those two beasts cover TE's and support the run as their primary responsibility.

I'll only ask did they really "finally realize" or were they forced into the decision because of the injury to Lowe? Up until that injury, they were doing whatever it took to keep Onwenu inside, despite him clearly being the best RT on the team. So the question we have been trying to answer is "why?".

And though I've pushed it further than I intended, I'm now asking if the answer to that question impacts their decision making go forward. Despite yesterday's win, I still believe much of their motivation is what's best for NEXT YEAR's (and beyond) team. Is THAT why they were keeping Onwenu inside? IF so, will it play into their decision making this year?

All of the points that have been brought up are spot on BUT not really addressing the point (maybe it's my inability to convey my point that's taking this down the path it has). We're all, seemingly, in agreement on what's best for the OL THIS year. But, as with most of their decision making, is that what they are focused on?

www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/rookie-lineman-layden-robinson-has-a-chance-to-be-a-special-player-jerod-mayo-says/ar-AA1qgMtR?ocid=BingNewsSerp

That's high praise for our young RG, who also played RG in College. Add in Sow and Strange when he gets back, if you're thinking long-term, yeah it seems Onwenu at RT. Wallace likely a swing guy or LT if we get lucky.

I do think what you said about best 5 was true early in year, they wanted to make Robinson earn it and at least it seems Mayo thinks he did.

Were they doing everything they could to keep him at guard or doing everything they could to find a tackle or two knowing he could move there right away. Had to give the other guys reps

www.nfl.com/prospects/jaylinn-hawkins/32004841-5741-6901-ca8d-82f5580f7a66

bleacherreport.com/articles/2884122-jaylinn-hawkins-nfl-draft-2020-scouting-report-for-atlanta-falcons-pick

That's my worry, two different scouting reports saying the same thing, then backed up with his 2022 play at FS. Why I always assumed he's a Phillips type replacement, not McCourty.

The telling part will be as teams watch tape, if he's not playing well in coverage they will start to game plan to attack him. So we'll see what happens, we won't know much for a few more games.

Last point on the Onwenu discussion is that I'd be surprised if the Patriots are looking at Wallace's potential outcomes being limited to LT or Swing T. MOST teams want a 3rd Rd pick to provide a more significant ROI than as a backup OL (even if that's his most likely future). I'm going to be shocked if they don't give him a chance to be a starting RT (should LT not work out).

Whether that's the right call or not is largely irrelevant.

But to UMass point, it's quite possible the decisions they have made were NOT about setting that up now so we may very well be saved from seeing them force that this year UNTIL/UNLESS Wallace becomes a guy you HAVE to start.

Threatening? I would imagine so, yes. That being said, I believe David Andrews went through a similar thing and he's been able to come back.

Robinson was next pick in draft, basically a top 100 pick. So Wallace at RT makes him not have a position. Now if Wallace develops into a good RT that's a good problem to have. Let's face facts though, they had to take an OT literally just for depth reasons. Also as a swing OT with everyone healthy he played 28% of the snaps given the system they run. So that's getting value and the running game was darn good, especially given the lack of downfield throws with Bengals crowding the Box all game. It's just a very high bar for him to be better than Onwenu and per Mayo Robinson has a chance to be special.

I think we can all agree, if we get to a point where we have too many starting caliber OL guys that's a good problem to have. Truth is Wallace didn't displace Okorafor at RT after Lowe took over LT. When Lowe went Down it wasn't keep Onwenu at RG with Wallace at RT, it was Robinson at RG. That's not good given Wallace is the older more experienced player.

You should never be messing with a high-end RT to maybe slightly increase the OG play.