Looking at the Patriots - 2021

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Head coach: Bill Belichick. There were times last season when watching Patriots games felt a lot like seeing Guns N' Roses in the early 2000s, with only Axl Rose left from the original band. I mean, the songs kind of sounded right. And Robin Finck did do an admirable job. But it just wasn't the same.
Now Belichick enters Season 2 A.T., as in, After Tom. And I don't really have any reason to think his title of greatest coach in the history of the NFL (maybe North American sports) is in jeopardy. Not even close. He went into 2020 with a number of key players opting out of the season. He was without Brady and Gronk, and Julian Edelman missed most of the season due to injury. Despite all of that, the Patriots still managed to win seven games. They humiliated the Chargers, and Belichick pretty much did the best he could, given the circumstances. Now he has another chance to -- and this probably isn't the right expression -- prove himself. Or at least remove any doubt about his unparalleled greatness.

Projected 2021 MVP: Dont'a Hightower, linebacker. The Patriots are one of those teams that seemingly make a surprise player cut coming out of camp every year, and we act like it's going to be the downfall of the program. Yet, they still manage to move on. Last year was different. It seemed like the Patriots didn't get over losing Hightower, who opted out of the 2020 season. New England ranked 15th in yards allowed last season. With Hightower coming back to anchor the defense, perhaps the Patriots' D will get back into the top 10 in 2021.
2021 breakout star: J.J. Taylor, running back. The Patriots have a lot of running backs on their roster. Damien Harris is the guy who gets talked about the most (at least in fantasy football terms). Sony Michel is a former first-round pick. And let's not forget about James White. There is a little buzz building for Taylor, though. Remember, even with so many backs in the mix, the Patriots always found a way to get the ball to Rex Burkhead, at least when he was healthy. Burkhead, who signed with the Texans this offseason, was kind of that do-everything back who could both run and catch. Don't be surprised to see Taylor start to steal some touches and touchdowns that will leave your fantasy league-mates looking for him on the waiver wire. But the joke will be on them, because you're reading this right now and will be ahead of the game.
New face to know: Nelson Agholor, wide receiver. The Patriots spent a bunch of money this offseason. And they went in on pass catchers, signing Agholor to a two-year deal worth $26 million. Which seemed like a pretty interesting choice. Agholor was a popular meme at one point for his tendency to drop the football. But his performance with the Raiders in 2020 got him paid by the Patriots. Agholor posted a career-best 896 receiving yards and averaged 18.7 yards per reception to lead the NFL last season (min. 40 catches). I know a lot of people think this might be an instance where the Patriots are chasing a guy after a career year, something that happens way too much in sports. But I don't think this is one of those instances. Nelson was a locker room presence for the Raiders last year. And his leadership might be what drew the Patriots to him as much as his on-field performance. He called out his teammates after Las Vegas blew a lead against the Dolphins in Week 16, per The Athletic. That's the kind of attitude they respect in New England.
 
PFF ranks every team's receivers.

26. New England Patriots

Patriots wide receivers and tight ends have the third-worst receiving grade over the last two years, hence their aggressive moves to rectify that this offseason. They add Nelson Agholor who is coming off a strong 2020 season with 896 yards and 18.7 yards per reception. Agholor has graded above 70.0 just twice in his six-year career, so there is some risk with his signing given a history of drops and inconsistency.

Kendrick Bourne is a solid possession option who has graded at 70.0-plus as a receiver in each of the last two years. Jakobi Meyers has been fantastic when given an opportunity in his two years, and he graded at 78.6 last year while leading the Patriots with 37 first downs. He’s an excellent route runner who works best as a No. 2 or No. 3 option. N’Keal Harry has struggled in his two seasons with route running being a big issue. Harry has been open on just 25.5% of his targets against single coverage, 99th out of 100 qualifiers. Gunner Olszewski adds depth.

Patriots tight ends had a league-low 18 catches last season, but that will certainly change after they signed both Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith in free agency. Henry once looked like the next great young tight end, but he’s settled in as a solid option with a 72.5 overall grade since 2018, 20th-best in the league. Smith has the No. 17 receiving grade during that time, and he’s averaged an impressive 6.7 yards after the catch per reception in his four-year career. New England now has the pieces to add the tight ends back into their passing attack. Henry and Smith push a pair of 2020 third-rounders, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, down the depth chart.

The Patriots have had one of the slowest and most ineffective groups of pass-catchers in the league over the last few years, and they’ve taken great strides to rectify that this offseason.

TB comes in 1st.
No more talk about Brady's lack of weapons.

Chiefs come in 3rd.
 
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PFF ranks every team's receivers.

26. New England Patriots

Patriots wide receivers and tight ends have the third-worst receiving grade over the last two years, hence their aggressive moves to rectify that this offseason. They add Nelson Agholor who is coming off a strong 2020 season with 896 yards and 18.7 yards per reception. Agholor has graded above 70.0 just twice in his six-year career, so there is some risk with his signing given a history of drops and inconsistency.

Kendrick Bourne is a solid possession option who has graded at 70.0-plus as a receiver in each of the last two years. Jakobi Meyers has been fantastic when given an opportunity in his two years, and he graded at 78.6 last year while leading the Patriots with 37 first downs. He’s an excellent route runner who works best as a No. 2 or No. 3 option. N’Keal Harry has struggled in his two seasons with route running being a big issue. Harry has been open on just 25.5% of his targets against single coverage, 99th out of 100 qualifiers. Gunner Olszewski adds depth.

Patriots tight ends had a league-low 18 catches last season, but that will certainly change after they signed both Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith in free agency. Henry once looked like the next great young tight end, but he’s settled in as a solid option with a 72.5 overall grade since 2018, 20th-best in the league. Smith has the No. 17 receiving grade during that time, and he’s averaged an impressive 6.7 yards after the catch per reception in his four-year career. New England now has the pieces to add the tight ends back into their passing attack. Henry and Smith push a pair of 2020 third-rounders, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, down the depth chart.

The Patriots have had one of the slowest and most ineffective groups of pass-catchers in the league over the last few years, and they’ve taken great strides to rectify that this offseason.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs showed the value of offensive-weapon depth and how putting multiple effective playmakers on the field puts defenses in a bind.

It starts with a wide receiver room that features Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, the best trio in the league. Evans has graded at 80.0-plus in all but two years of his career, and he finished with over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns (including the playoffs) despite battling injuries throughout the season. He could be even more dangerous with a healthy 2021.

Godwin returns on the franchise tag after grading at 75.0 or better in his four years. He’s been one of the most sure-handed receivers in the league since 2017, though he went through a difficult stretch in the playoffs, with seven of his 13 career drops all occurring during the Bucs' 2020 playoff push. Like Evans, Godwin battled injuries and may be even better this season.

Brown was the highest-graded receiver on the team last year despite not seeing action until Week 9. He has been one of the best receivers in the league throughout his career, and he was a key target down the stretch as he got more acclimated to the offense.

Beyond the top three, Scotty Miller is one of the league’s fastest receivers — he picked up 312 of his 581 yards on passes thrown 20 or more yards downfield. Fifth-rounder Tyler Johnson also made a few key plays, and 2021 fourth-rounder Jaelon Darden adds speed and quickness to the slot.

The tight end room is just as deep, with Rob Gronkowski, Cameron Brate and the returning O.J. Howard. Gronkowski is no longer the best tight end in the league, but he can turn it on in spurts. He finished with 53 catches for 733 yards (13.8 yards per reception) and nine touchdowns last season. Brate recorded 42 receptions and 457 yards of his own, while Howard earned an 85.3 receiving grade prior to his season-ending injury. This trio is as good as it gets in the NFL.

The Bucs are loaded up and down the roster, but their group of playmakers not only has the potential to dominate but has the depth to handle injuries just as it did in 2020.

No more talk about Brady's lack of weapons.

Chiefs come in 3rd.
Get that Shit of the Patriots thread . It belongs on Random Football thread . If your going to meantion TB. We don't need Mazz trolling this F*cking page again.
 
PFF ranks every team's receivers.

26. New England Patriots

Patriots wide receivers and tight ends have the third-worst receiving grade over the last two years, hence their aggressive moves to rectify that this offseason. They add Nelson Agholor who is coming off a strong 2020 season with 896 yards and 18.7 yards per reception. Agholor has graded above 70.0 just twice in his six-year career, so there is some risk with his signing given a history of drops and inconsistency.

Kendrick Bourne is a solid possession option who has graded at 70.0-plus as a receiver in each of the last two years. Jakobi Meyers has been fantastic when given an opportunity in his two years, and he graded at 78.6 last year while leading the Patriots with 37 first downs. He’s an excellent route runner who works best as a No. 2 or No. 3 option. N’Keal Harry has struggled in his two seasons with route running being a big issue. Harry has been open on just 25.5% of his targets against single coverage, 99th out of 100 qualifiers. Gunner Olszewski adds depth.

Patriots tight ends had a league-low 18 catches last season, but that will certainly change after they signed both Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith in free agency. Henry once looked like the next great young tight end, but he’s settled in as a solid option with a 72.5 overall grade since 2018, 20th-best in the league. Smith has the No. 17 receiving grade during that time, and he’s averaged an impressive 6.7 yards after the catch per reception in his four-year career. New England now has the pieces to add the tight ends back into their passing attack. Henry and Smith push a pair of 2020 third-rounders, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, down the depth chart.

The Patriots have had one of the slowest and most ineffective groups of pass-catchers in the league over the last few years, and they’ve taken great strides to rectify that this offseason.

TB comes in 1st.
No more talk about Brady's lack of weapons.

Chiefs come in 3rd.
26 is pretty depressing but pretty much accurate for this season. Hopefully the run game and Oline hold up to carry us.

In terms of Brady, there was zero talk of him not having weapons last year and he won the Super Bowl throwing for 50 total TDs during the season. That was kind of the whole point why he left. And it served him pretty darn well and the Bucs.
 
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26 is pretty depressing but pretty much accurate for this season. Hopefully the run game and Oline hold up to carry us.

In terms of Brady, there was zero talk of him not having weapons last year and he won the Super Bowl throwing for 50 total TDs during the season. That was kind of the whole point why he left. And it served him pretty darn well and the Bucs.
26 is pretty depressing but pretty much accurate for this season. Hopefully the run game and Oline hold up to carry us.

In terms of Brady, there was zero talk of him not having weapons last year and he won the Super Bowl throwing for 50 total TDs during the season. That was kind of the whole point why he left. And it served him pretty darn well and the Bucs.
2021 Patriots thread. She says 26 is depressing. She doesn't exactly say SHE'S depressed. I think she came here just to give Tommy another oral servicing. :hello:

Cheers
 
PFF ranks every team's receivers.

26. New England Patriots

Patriots wide receivers and tight ends have the third-worst receiving grade over the last two years, hence their aggressive moves to rectify that this offseason. They add Nelson Agholor who is coming off a strong 2020 season with 896 yards and 18.7 yards per reception. Agholor has graded above 70.0 just twice in his six-year career, so there is some risk with his signing given a history of drops and inconsistency.

Kendrick Bourne is a solid possession option who has graded at 70.0-plus as a receiver in each of the last two years. Jakobi Meyers has been fantastic when given an opportunity in his two years, and he graded at 78.6 last year while leading the Patriots with 37 first downs. He’s an excellent route runner who works best as a No. 2 or No. 3 option. N’Keal Harry has struggled in his two seasons with route running being a big issue. Harry has been open on just 25.5% of his targets against single coverage, 99th out of 100 qualifiers. Gunner Olszewski adds depth.

Patriots tight ends had a league-low 18 catches last season, but that will certainly change after they signed both Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith in free agency. Henry once looked like the next great young tight end, but he’s settled in as a solid option with a 72.5 overall grade since 2018, 20th-best in the league. Smith has the No. 17 receiving grade during that time, and he’s averaged an impressive 6.7 yards after the catch per reception in his four-year career. New England now has the pieces to add the tight ends back into their passing attack. Henry and Smith push a pair of 2020 third-rounders, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, down the depth chart.

The Patriots have had one of the slowest and most ineffective groups of pass-catchers in the league over the last few years, and they’ve taken great strides to rectify that this offseason.

TB comes in 1st.
No more talk about Brady's lack of weapons.

Chiefs come in 3rd.
I sure hope the coaching staff lets Cam have this season while Mac gets acclimated. At least most of it. The offense isn’t ready. Cam wants to start, let him carry the burden for this year.
 
I sure hope the coaching staff lets Cam have this season while Mac gets acclimated. At least most of it. The offense isn’t ready. Cam wants to start, let him carry the burden for this year.
I would rather Mac play and develop while playing. He is a first round pick for a reason. Lawrence will start as will Wilson and we have better rosters than both the Jags and Jets. Why throw away another season with Cam?
What if Jones looks like Herbert did last year?
 
I sure hope the coaching staff lets Cam have this season while Mac gets acclimated. At least most of it. The offense isn’t ready. Cam wants to start, let him carry the burden for this year.

I'm told BB is treating TC as an open competition for QB and whoever wins the job will play. Most assume it will be Cam bc of his experience but that's not written in stone.
 




Even if it's just lip service, I like it!


He knows he'll get paid when the time comes. All rookies have to go through their rookie years before being paid well and he's acknowledging that fact. No more, no less. I wouldn't read too much into it other than that.
 
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