PatsPropaganda

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Not really an Xs and Os type question, but why do you think people are so infatuated with Kenbrell Thompkins? He did really well at the beginning of the season but seemed to fall off and out of favor with the coaching staff while Dobson and Boyce were getting more playing time. People are convinced he’ll have a bigger role on the team in 2014, but I don’t see it. He’s going to be 26 (LaFell will only be 27) and showed little development. I see him as a 53-man roster cut.

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I haven’t really seen these people who are infatuated with him, but I agree that he’ll very much be in a fight for his roster spot. He had quite the interesting rookie year. He burst onto the scene in training camp, with everyone there singing his praises. We all thought he was going to be a big part of the offense.

He flashed a bit early in the season and I liked some of what I saw, especially his quickness off the line where he could beat press man, a rare feat for most rookie receivers.

But the drops started to add up and he kept seeming to leave his feet every time he even caught the ball. Good stat from Nick Underhill of Masslive.com:

Thompkins left his feet on 22 of the 48 passes thrown his direction (Thompkins has been targeted 56 times, but I removed the passes he no chance on). He also used a “double catch” on seven passes. It’s hard to tell if those dives were necessary, but at least a few were the result of Thompkins putting himself in poor position to receive the ball. 

He was a non-factor after the bye despite six catches against the Broncos in November.

Perhaps no other player is more at a crossroads this season. Can he live up to the training camp hype of last season? Or was that just how he looked in practice and in reality there was a reason he wasn’t drafted – that he’s really just not that good.

Last season, despite the complaints all around and the different injuries, lost of receivers, the Patriots finished second in the league. Personally, I think Amendola and Edelman together would work; but what do you think would be the Patiots offensive blueprint going forward? Do you have a full article coming on that? I particularly liked your Offseason Outlook last year when you’re probably one of the few who outlined a “No Return for Welker” plan that would make the team better.

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Generally I think the plan is always the same, attack all areas of the defense with the pass and have a diverse backfield to do different things.

From that perspective, I think they need to add another back, hopefully it’s Blount, but if he walks I won’t be too upset. Ridley and Vereen are in contract years, so they’ll want to hang on to the ball and not get hurt, respectively. But there needs to be someone under contract past this year and I’m not longer that high on Brandon Bolden, even though I was last season.

As for the passing offense there are some good pieces in place, especially if Gronk comes back. Then you have Edelman/Amendola to control the middle of the field and LaFell/Dobson/Thompkins as the potential outside guys. Maybe Boyce even takes a big step forward.

I’m not sure how it will all pan out with injuries and competition, but the depth is there for guys to emerge. I think the biggest question is how much of a step Dobson (currently rehabbing after foot surgery)/Thompkins /Boyce take. That could very well determine the offense’s ceiling, along with how well LaFell assimilates.

The offense was good last year despite turnover and injuries, but they still lacked much explosiveness.

  • 20+ plays: 15th
  • 30+ plays: 8th
  • 40+ plays: 21st

They can be better. Protection upfront also is a big part of it and I was not satisfied with their interior OL play.

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It’s the cornerback position – you have [Darrelle] Revis and [Brandon] Browner coming in. What Revis can do, No. 1, is if you want to have him take away the best receiver, whether it’s a tight end [like] Jimmy Graham or a receiver, you can do that, and that gives you flexibility with Browner,” Casserly said on the program. “Or how about if you just go press both of these guys and put pressure on that quarterback with blitzes, allowing that quarterback not as much time to throw, and your secondary plenty of time to react to the ball and get after it. It gives you a lot of things you can do with coverages in the secondary when you have two shutdown corners.

Charley Casserly: Give New England Patriots an A-plus – ESPN Boston

https://www.patspropaganda.com/its-the-cornerback-position-you-have/