Looking at the Patriots 2023
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Flagg the Wanderer
Hotblack Desiato's Accountant
Yikes. That would be a big win.
aloyouis
at least generally aware
Personally, I love that Mac is being discounted now because of the Patriots' struggles on offense last year. Being under the radar provides the right environment to focus on incremental improvements without distractions for every player and coach. I also like that the entire org is committed to keeping everything top secret. Focus, learn, practice, repeat - all with a clear goal and a clear mind.
Situation is everything and his situation this year is light years ahead of last year. I'm not ready to sell him short by giving him a ceiling somewhere below Drew Brees.
I don't know his ceiling but I know we should have a lot better idea about his potential ceiling sometime during this season. We'll find out soon enough.
Patriots: Overlooked but not forgotten
There's a lot to like about how the Pats have built their defensive line, but I thought the addition of Georgia Tech star Keion White - in the second round, mind you - was perfect. He's a rare athlete on the edge, checking in at a lean 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, with a sub-4.8-second 40. White should have a huge impact on New England's defensive line right away.Combine him with linebackers Josh Uche (11.5 sacks) and Matthew Judon (15.5 sacks), rising star Christian Barmore (a 2021 second-rounder and All-Rookie selection out of Alabama), Deatrich Wise Jr. (7.5 sacks), and Davon Godchaux (who signed a two-year, $20.8-million extension last offseason), and New England's first two levels will create all sorts of problems.
Further: Think about the QBs they'll face in this division - Tua, Allen, and now Aaron Rodgers - and you can argue that nothing is more important for this defense.
My favorite White stat is his pass-rush win rate of 19.6% in 2023, per PFF. That's the exact same number as Alabama's two-time Nagurski winner and two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Will Anderson Jr., who went third in the draft to the Texans.
A powerful combination of size, length, and quickness, White has the temperament of the quintessential Patriot; he's not flashy, nor does he say a whole lot. Not only was he overlooked in the draft, but the North Carolina native received scant interest as a two-star prep recruit before playing two seasons at tight end (he redshirted as a freshman) for FCS Old Dominion, ultimately making the switch to defense and amassing 19 tackles for a loss as a redshirt sophomore.
Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft may have hit the draft lottery once again.
Examining primary strengths: AFC East
We're going around the league by division, looking at each team's primary strengths. Up next: the AFC East. Dolphins: Speed killsMike McDaniel is one of the game's best when it comes to misdirection, window dressing, and sheer deception. Not only does he have one of the NFL's most accurate...
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Flagg the Wanderer
Hotblack Desiato's Accountant
Here's an interesting stat, considering how bad Mac was last year...
supports the carr for garop swap too.
Roberto71
Well-known member
Was reminded of this earlier on Twitter.
Gronk really was next level at his peak. Almost unplayable. I mean, he destroyed the Steelers here.
View: https://twitter.com/patsbuzz/status/1660334596960002049?s=61
Gronk really was next level at his peak. Almost unplayable. I mean, he destroyed the Steelers here.
View: https://twitter.com/patsbuzz/status/1660334596960002049?s=61
Flagg the Wanderer
Hotblack Desiato's Accountant
I keep coming back to a strong instinct that the Patriots sweep the Fins this year.
aloyouis
at least generally aware
3-3 or better in the division is a must to make the playoffs IF 10-7 can get them in.
3-3 in division
4-2 in other AFC
3-2 in NFC
Mazz22
Always and forever the GOAT TB12
I don't think 10 will be enough in the AFC. I like your records except for 4-2 in other AFC. I think that could likely be 2-4 but hoping for 3-3.
Flagg the Wanderer
Hotblack Desiato's Accountant
Why not? They're all beating up on each other, too. When I look at how the rest of AFC East matches up among each other:
- Phins beat Bills, slight edge
- Jets/Bills are a wash
- Jets beat Phins, slight edge
Then consider that additional schedule is, if anything, tougher on the other AFC East teams except the Jeets:
- Buffalo has Jax on the schedule, plus @KC, @Philly, @CIN,
- Miami has @KC, @Philly, @Bal, and has to travel to @BUF in January.
As to the Jets, their opponents are easier overall, but consider the fickleness of their home field advantage. Then consider Rodgers' history of slow starts ("R-E-L-A-X!") and his likelihood of doing something Rodgers-y to trigger the NY media in interviews, especially if they're struggling early. Then consider that they could legitimately have things go reasonably well at a fundamental level and still be 2-4 (or worse!) heading into their early bye. They start with BUF, @DAL, NE (in a game where the crowd may start to turn on them), and then host the Chiefs and Eagles with a trip to Mile High sandwiched in the middle. Now, admittedly their schedule gets very favorable after the bye - (Giants, Chargers, Raiders, Falcons, Texans, Commies, and Browns between week 8 and week 17) - but if they have a rough start they might be in Jets-ian disarray and unable to take advantage of it. Given their history with Buffalo and NE, if they don't win hosting the Chargers for Week 9 MNF, the warm and fuzzy Jets fans (who have no inferiority complex!) might still be looking for the first home victory from their new glorious savior when they host the Phins for a Thanksgiving hangover game!
That said, when I look at this holistically, I'd prefer to have the Jets be excellent, sweep the Bills and Fins, and still knuckle under to the big/little brother syndrome they have going on with the Patriots. Because as everyone knows, if a time traveler put end of season records in front of Jets fans, and they showed 15-2, every d@mn one of them would know in their hearts where those two losses fell, and they would tremble.
Roberto71
Well-known member
What people might be really underestimating next season is how good our defense is going to be. For all the talk about the all singing all dancing offenses in the AFC, NO team will enjoy playing our team with that bad-ass front 7 and the physicality and athleticism in the backfield.
I would like to make an early plea to the officials. For f**k sake, will you at least call some fo the blatant, almost comical holds on Matt Judon next season???
I would like to make an early plea to the officials. For f**k sake, will you at least call some fo the blatant, almost comical holds on Matt Judon next season???
aloyouis
at least generally aware
Flagg the Wanderer
Hotblack Desiato's Accountant
This, too. The team is better than we think.
Flagg the Wanderer
Hotblack Desiato's Accountant
Iz fersrius. Ask @jetsknicks1 , he knows:
Rodgers Is a Jet
Hilarious, yes. Because even if the Patriots were 2-15, everyone knows perfectly well that those two wins would be vs NYJ and @ NYJ. That’s just mean, Flagg. Probably accurate but still mean.
aloyouis
at least generally aware
Oh, I wasn't disagreeing with you at all. I found what you wrote to be hilarious, as in really funny.Iz fersrius. Ask @jetsknicks1 , he knows:
Rodgers Is a Jet
Hilarious, yes. Because even if the Patriots were 2-15, everyone knows perfectly well that those two wins would be vs NYJ and @ NYJ. That’s just mean, Flagg. Probably accurate but still mean.www.patriotsplanet.net
Flagg the Wanderer
Hotblack Desiato's Accountant
I know. My response was designed to be a deadpan continuation. But I couldn't make it come across in this medium, and if you have to explain it, well...
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The defense should be as good as any in the NFL.
I do worry about relying on that in 2023, only because the calls are so skewed towards the offense. I mean a DB can barely brush a WRs jersey and a QB like Rodgers just has to make the fisting motion and get the call.
I remember listening to Bart Scott, I know everyone here hates him, he was saying the Chiefs run an illegal pick play with Kelce half of the time and never get called.
It’s been commanded from the top that the league wants offense, questionable calls in the 3rd and 4th quarter be damned.
And it’s turning into the NBA where the stars get the calls. Unfortunately the pats right now don’t have many stars.
So am I excited about this defense? Yes. Very. I’m just waiting for the BS holding call on a Jets WR, or the late hit on Allen or Tua.
I do worry about relying on that in 2023, only because the calls are so skewed towards the offense. I mean a DB can barely brush a WRs jersey and a QB like Rodgers just has to make the fisting motion and get the call.
I remember listening to Bart Scott, I know everyone here hates him, he was saying the Chiefs run an illegal pick play with Kelce half of the time and never get called.
It’s been commanded from the top that the league wants offense, questionable calls in the 3rd and 4th quarter be damned.
And it’s turning into the NBA where the stars get the calls. Unfortunately the pats right now don’t have many stars.
So am I excited about this defense? Yes. Very. I’m just waiting for the BS holding call on a Jets WR, or the late hit on Allen or Tua.