He stopped playing Stanford.So.....what happened to this guy?
He stopped playing Stanford.So.....what happened to this guy?
Makes sense. But there have been lots of NFL receivers who have been weak at those things but have been big, strong targets, and they've been successful. So maybe he won't live up to his first-round pick status (sunk cost at this point), but maybe he can still be an effective NFL WR if utilized properly. He does have good size and strength and can high point balls well. There's gotta be a legit use for that kind of player. And it's not like he's slow.I think you see some of his weaknesses there, too. First clip, he's pressed, gets squeezed too far to the sideline, isn't fast enough to run past the CB, doesn't stack him ... and makes the grab anyway. But all the stuff he isn't doing (and these were consistent issues for him in college) matter at the NFL level.
He doesn't have to be effective or useful. There have certainly been legions of big, strong, fast targets who have failed as NFL receivers because they weren't good enough at some of this stuff.Makes sense. But there have been lots of NFL receivers who have been weak at those things but have been big, strong targets, and they've been successful. So maybe he won't live up to his first-round pick status (sunk cost at this point), but maybe he can still be an effective NFL WR if utilized properly. He does have good size and strength and can high point balls well. There's gotta be a legit use for that kind of player. And it's not like he's slow.
Agreed. He might end up being useless. But I look at his strengths: size, strength, catch radius, leaping ability, good hands...and I think a quality NFL coach can get something out of that package unless he's painfully slow and non-competitive. Neither of those seem to be issues with him. He's just not a great route-runner. Yet. Hopefully that will change.He doesn't have to be effective or useful. There have certainly been legions of big, strong, fast targets who have failed as NFL receivers because they weren't good enough at some of this stuff.
Well, there is a draft every year - that ‘unless’ in your sentence is applicable to every team, even those with strong roster cores now. Roster quality can be developed or deteriorate fairly quickly such that you go from a top team to merely just another team. Check out Philly and Atlanta, for example. For a converse example, check out Buffalo.I'll take your assessment, but the question is whether scheme can cover for merely "solid". Brady covered tons of inconsistency, even as he aged. Without him, we saw the team ranked in the bottom of talent for this season. Yes, the win against Miami is nice, and positive, but overall, I think most project this team as .500 tops. And carried by 30 something McCourty and Edelman and a buy-low QB in his 30s. Am I wrong to think that to rebuild they need more than solid? My sense, and my knowledge of NFL personnel is somewhat top line, but the elite teams usually get there by hitting on some immediate starters in the drafts, and as they move into the "pick later in the draft" spots, they fill around them with the projects who can grow. The Pats are now lacking the core that had given these guys a chance to grow into their roles, and unless they hit on someone in the next drafts, will have a bunch of scheme guys that may get them to .500.
FWIW, I was pretty taken aback by him being decleated by a guy who he probably outweighed by 40-ish pounds.I think some people are being overly critical of him because of his dumb mistake fumble. Up to that point, I felt like this was going to a whole new, and positive, year for him.
His final stat line was 5 catches on 6 targets for 39 yards. His long was only 14 yards, but he did convert two of those receptions for first downs. Not awesome, but not terrible. And a big improvement on his best day of last year (previous high catches - 3; previous high targets - 7; previous high yardage - 29; previous high long was 18, once, but otherwise only 12).
Teams that are consistently over 500 virtually always have a very good quarterback play; I don't think there's any way to be an "elite team" without that.I'll take your assessment, but the question is whether scheme can cover for merely "solid". Brady covered tons of inconsistency, even as he aged. Without him, we saw the team ranked in the bottom of talent for this season. Yes, the win against Miami is nice, and positive, but overall, I think most project this team as .500 tops. And carried by 30 something McCourty and Edelman and a buy-low QB in his 30s. Am I wrong to think that to rebuild they need more than solid? My sense, and my knowledge of NFL personnel is somewhat top line, but the elite teams usually get there by hitting on some immediate starters in the drafts, and as they move into the "pick later in the draft" spots, they fill around them with the projects who can grow. The Pats are now lacking the core that had given these guys a chance to grow into their roles, and unless they hit on someone in the next drafts, will have a bunch of scheme guys that may get them to .500.
I would assume if he couldn't block he wouldn't have played so many snaps Sunday in a run-heavy game plan.FWIW, I was pretty taken aback by him being decleated by a guy who he probably outweighed by 40-ish pounds.
I keep hearing Harry's strong, but is that because of how he looks, or how he plays?
Maybe he blocks like he's strong, I'm not clued-in enough to know...
Maybe I missed a play but if you mean the fumble that was a linebacker.FWIW, I was pretty taken aback by him being decleated by a guy who he probably outweighed by 40-ish pounds.
I keep hearing Harry's strong, but is that because of how he looks, or how he plays?
Maybe he blocks like he's strong, I'm not clued-in enough to know...
That's a great assumption. He wouldn't see the field.I would assume if he couldn't block he wouldn't have played so many snaps Sunday in a run-heavy game plan.
I imagine the reference is to the play in the first half where he had the ball with a full head of steam and got blasted by a cornerback.Maybe I missed a play but if you mean the fumble that was a linebacker.
I think he generally runs pretty strong but we don't have a particularly large sample size at this point. The coaches think his running is a relative strength and they've manufactured some plays to get him the ball as a runner or in space. But like we've all pointed out, he's done next to nothing as a receiver.
Oh right. Yes, that play didn't go well, but again pretty hard to judge a receiver on a single play where the tackler was in perfect position.I imagine the reference is to the play in the first half where he had the ball with a full head of steam and got blasted by a cornerback.
Myles! FInally - a binkie who makes the grade!https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-two-players-to-the-53-man-roster-from-the-practice-squad-add-two-p
Bryant and Folk to the main roster, Ferentz and Jake Dolegala to the PS.
So guess Bill isn't going to get cute by swapping kickers weekly.
They could send a DB down like Myles Bryant.So when Harris comes back, what does BB do with Taylor?
After the Sunday game, can't imagine him getting past the waiver wire before getting sent down to the PS.
They can't have all of Michel, Bulkhead, White, Taylor, and Harris on the 53-man roster can they? Or they do keep him (since he's lining up as a KO returner also) and carry one less OL?
or cut burkhardt ... or, even burkheadThey could send a DB down like Myles Bryant.
They carried Michel, Burkhead, White, Bolden, and Harris on the 53-man last year, so it's not beyond the pale or anything. I don't think they can get 5 guys active, though.They can't have all of Michel, Bulkhead, White, Taylor, and Harris on the 53-man roster can they? Or they do keep him (since he's lining up as a KO returner also) and carry one less OL?
Thank you. I am ashamed, on oh so many levelsI'm gonna pretend this post doesn't exist.
It's really all about my sky-high binkie level for Burkhead ever since he got here. I'll be shedding sports-tears whenever he's no longer a Patriot.Thank you. I am ashamed, on oh so many levels
Oh, I'm more upset at getting his name wrongIt's really all about my sky-high binkie level for Burkhead ever since he got here. I'll be shedding sports-tears whenever he's no longer a Patriot.
I know I won't suggest Gunner getting cutOh, I'm more upset at getting his name wrong
While true Bolden was on the roster because he played on almost every special teams unit, that he could line up at RB in an emergency was a luxury. Burkhead plays a decent amount of special teams but the other 4 aren't really going to have much of a role on them.They carried Michel, Burkhead, White, Bolden, and Harris on the 53-man last year, so it's not beyond the pale or anything. I don't think they can get 5 guys active, though.
Yeah, and that's why I don't think they can get all these guys active. I'm just pointing out that it's tenable to have 5 RB on the 53-man. It does mean less depth somewhere else.While true Bolden was on the roster because he played on almost every special teams unit, that he could line up at RB in an emergency was a luxury. Burkhead plays a decent amount of special teams but the other 4 aren't really going to have much of a role on them.
Really? He's under control for 3 more years and all his guaranteed money is done for those, so he's an easy cut/restructure. Robinson is causing issues being at the end of his and wanting to get PAID. I'd think the Bears would be more motivated, but I guess one could look at it differently.OBJ seems like an easier get, pick-wise
Pretty standard for Michel when the team falls behind. He had 15 snaps in the Houston and Baltimore games last year and only 9 against KC. Not sure this tells us much, other than his role isn't expanding any.Snap counts can be instructive.
Michel only received 15 of them last night--and he got 7 carries and a target. It seems obvious that unless he has a big turnaround in the last game without Harris next week (assuming Harris is healthy) that he's likely going to be phased out of offense, especially with a bye week coming up in a month.
They were never down by more than a score until late in the 3rd. In a game when James White was suddenly unavailable I think it tells us something. He's unable to grab onto his opportunities.Pretty standard for Michel when the team falls behind. He had 15 snaps in the Houston and Baltimore games last year and only 9 against KC. Not sure this tells us much, other than his role isn't expanding any.
Part of that predictability is that Sony is utterly useless to date as a receiver.So one of my big issues is we all hog-pile, myself included on Sony. I wish I had the data but I feel like he is always running against a stacked box in a power 21 personnel look. Everyone knows he is coming and it's either a PA or a run. JJ Taylor ran the same thing last night and got blown up too. Yeah I know Sony doesn't have "it" but they are using him in such a vanilla and predictable way that is it any surprise that the defense can stop him easily? They know the 1-2 things you are going to do.
Which is unfathomable given that he was a really good receiver in college. Like...did he completely forget how to do it?Part of that predictability is that Sony is utterly useless to date as a receiver.
I don't get it either. He just seems uncomfortable in space, like when a team runs a tackle eligible in goal line and that guys catches the ball like a baby being dropped from a burning building.Which is unfathomable given that he was a really good receiver in college. Like...did he completely forget how to do it?
Yeah, I don’t really know how else you’d use him. He is what he is at this point - a low upside 2 down runner who protects the ball well.Part of that predictability is that Sony is utterly useless to date as a receiver.
A better version of BJGE, which is someone you can definitely win with, but isn't worth a first round pick. Or in the case of Lawfirm...any pick at all.Yeah, I don’t really know how else you’d use him. He is what he is at this point - a low upside 2 down runner who protects the ball well.
The biggest issue with me is his lack of explosiveness. It’s fine if he’s one-dimensional if you have the UGA Sony that looked like he was shot out of a cannon at times. Where the hell did that guy go? Last night he was running hard and I was still waiting for another gear that never seems to come.
Sadly, BJGE was actually more productive than what we're seeing last year and so far this year from Sony.A better version of BJGE, which is someone you can definitely win with, but isn't worth a first round pick. Or in the case of Lawfirm...any pick at all.
If you could use him as a receiver even a little, it wouldn't be a billboard that we're running. Deception is good.Yeah, I don’t really know how else you’d use him. He is what he is at this point - a low upside 2 down runner who protects the ball well.
The biggest issue with me is his lack of explosiveness. It’s fine if he’s one-dimensional if you have the UGA Sony that looked like he was shot out of a cannon at times. Where the hell did that guy go? Last night he was running hard and I was still waiting for another gear that never seems to come.
The Pats had effectively no TEs and then a LB playing emergency FB. Was there another team with similar deficiencies last year?Last year, Sony was 40th in the league in yards per carry at 3.7. In 247 attempts, he had 3 big plays of 20+ yards (1.2%).
That's twenty running backs from twenty different teams, all significantly outperforming Michel. Some of these guys must have the same excuses we're making for him. He's just not good enough.
I think the lack of explosiveness and lack of receiving ability go hand-in-hand in some ways. They have guys like White and Burkhead who can line up in the slot and catch a slant against a LB; they don't need Michel to have that skill set. But you can't even throw a dumpoff in the flat or a screen for Sony, because he's not the least bit dynamic in space.Yeah, I don’t really know how else you’d use him. He is what he is at this point - a low upside 2 down runner who protects the ball well.
The biggest issue with me is his lack of explosiveness. It’s fine if he’s one-dimensional if you have the UGA Sony that looked like he was shot out of a cannon at times. Where the hell did that guy go? Last night he was running hard and I was still waiting for another gear that never seems to come.