Sounds about right, at least with Brady. I think a lot of people are too quick to write off the Patriots’ Super Bowl hopes immediately after Brady retires, especially if Garoppolo continues to develop. This was the youngest team ever to win a Super Bowl, and when Brady retires they’ll have a defense in its prime. All they’ll need is a quarterback who can make the right plays and not the killer mistakes and they’ll be in contention just like the ‘01 Pats or the ’13 Seahawks.
Archives for February 11, 2015
Leading up to that game, Josh [McDaniels] was like ‘We’re not going to be like how everybody else played them.’ We’re going to be in attack mode. We’re not going to sit back and let them dictate the style of football we want to play. We’re going to go out there, attack those guys, keep those guys on their heels. Make those d-linemen, instead of playing 40 snaps a game, we want them to play 60 snaps. Over the course of the game, we got down 10 points, everybody was calm. We knew they couldn’t stop us.
Brandon LaFell
In 2014, the Patriots were the worst team in the league in Power Success, allowing opposing offenses to convert 22 of 27 runs (81 percent) in important short-yardage situations (third or fourth down with two yards or less to go and first- or second-and-goal from the two-yard-line or closer). Even the Patriots’ few stops came against the league’s worst running teams. Teams not ranking in the bottom quarter of the league in Football Outsiders’ rushing DVOA ratings converted 16 of 17 chances (94 percent) against the Patriots’ run defense.
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Four Downs: AFC East
Struggling to understand how they were this bad, because the run defense was generally pretty solid in the second half of the season. Something to look closer at because at just 27 plays, it is a pretty small sample set.
If you have to choose as to who stays— Vereen or Ridley?
Vereen. No question.
And I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that 2014 was the first healthy season of Vereen’s career. He played just 8 games in 2013. So it will be a bit of buyer beware if a team wants to give him a huge contract based on what he did in the Super Bowl.
I don’t think the Pats are ready to hand the reigns to James White and the passing-down back is a huge role in the Patriots offense. It will be interesting to see how it plays out, because I don’t think they’ll be willing to spend much on him. They really can’t.
As for Ridley, the one-year prove it deal coming off the injury makes sense, but I could also see them rolling with Blount/Gray/Gaffney and maybe taking an early-down back in the draft. I think they’re in okay shape regardless.
I remember you wrote a great piece about Welker being let go as the best option then. (It has played out that way). I want to get your opinion on Welker contemplating retirement? Do you think he was under-utilized in Denver? PM effect? Or was it just him slowing down?
Thanks, here’s that piece (Why The Patriots Should Let Wes Welker Walk).
It’s not really a surprise that Welker’s slowing down and I think given the number of concussions he’s had, it would be smart for him to retire. The Patriots did what they always do – let a player go a year too early rather than a year too late.
Could Welker have helped them in 2013? Probably. Would anyone want him over Edelman in 2014? Nope.
The only unfortunate part for the Patriots was that they paid Amendola what they probably should’ve given to Edelman. Now they’ve got some decisions to make on Amendola’s hefty salary.
We can’t forget how good Welker was for the Pats for so long. He redefined the slot receiver role to the point where everyone was looking for his clone and still are. But we also have to remember that Welker’s production was a huge function of the Patriots’ system that relies on the kind of routes he runs best.
There’s no surprise that Edelman has essentially slipped into that role and is putting up the same numbers.
Do you think the WR group is set for 2015? Are Dobson /Tyms the best options for the vertical? Or do you see them going after a more polished vertical threat?
I think they’ll add some low-end guys, they always do, but at the top of the depth chart I think they’re pretty well set. LaFell/Amendola/Edelman is a solid trio at the top. Just a tough trio that can make all the tough catches and make plays not only with the ball in their hand, but blocking and playing an all-around game. Then you’ve got Dobson and Boyce coming in with something to prove and who knows what Tyms can do with a full year in the system.
You can win a Super Bowl with that group. Obvs.
To follow up on the comment about Mayo’s return: How about Ayers? Does he have a role if he returns? Or is he an option if Mayo is let go?
I think there’s a spot for him but certainly at a manageable number. After playing a starting role for five games, he played just 24 total snaps in the three playoff games.
I also think his role is minimized with Easley back in the mix as more of the designated pass rusher. He has some versatility and provides good depth on the edge, so I’d like to have him back, but I don’t think he’s a must-sign.
Put it this way – he’s a more proven player than Buchanan or Moore and they have no edge depth beyond them after Chandler/Ninkovich.