Or is he in the "Randy Moss in Oakland" phase of his career?Isn't he a #2 receiver now? ;-)
Isn't he a #2 receiver now? ;-)
ha. I don’t know what number he is but pairing him with Edelman and allowing Harry to move to the 3 spot would be a massive upgrade
Sorry, I was trying to make an (obviously bad) joke about his, um, unusual preferences as hinted at in social mediaOr is he in the "Randy Moss in Oakland" phase of his career?
I missed that one haSorry, I was trying to make an (obviously bad) joke about his, um, unusual preferences as hinted at in social media
Harry looks great as a Z. Seems to have a connection with Cam. Doesn't need mad separation to be useful there.SSS, but only 2 WRs (and Kelce) in the AFC have more catches than Harry so far.
Agreed. Byrd was everything I wished we saw more consistently with Dorsett.I thought Byrd looked terrific last night, he was loose all over the secondary the whole game and caught the ball when he was targeted.
The run blocking was dismal though.It is hard to stress enough how much improved the O-line was last night as compared to most of last season. The time Newton has to throw gives our receivers so much more time to get open and I think that was reflected in the performances of Edelman, Harry and Byrd last night. A lot of guys taking a lot of time to pop open over the middle.
It doesn't help that their RBs are Sony and Rex. Nothing White hurt, too, poor guy.The run blocking was dismal though.
Seattle had a bottom-five run defense in league last year. Adams is new and maybe he's the difference-maker. Most of those other guys were there in 2019.The run blocking wasn’t necessarily bad, it’s just that Seattle has better personnel to stop it (good DL, Wagner, and Adams) but a rather porous secondary. Can’t be good against everything.
Harry has lined up plenty at X this year, but has very little production on those snaps. Almost all his catches are from the slot, or from a tight alignment, or on schemed touches. I haven't charted last night, but I charted the first game. His issues against press and tight coverage persist. Fortunately Byrd's presence lets them use Harry at Z way more.Re Harry...Harry has lined up plenty as the X this year...the biggest difference is Cam. Izzo, Myers and Harry supposedly created "no separation" last year but now are open because they suddenly decided to scheme?
Doesn't Edelman going deep a few times suggest that Adams was a crucial part of the run defense?Seattle had a bottom-five run defense in league last year. Adams is new and maybe he's the difference-maker. Most of those other guys were there in 2019.
Sure, and Adams is a great run defender, but usually one player doesn't make the difference between a bottom-five run D (which Seattle was last year) and a top-five run D (which through two games, they are in 2020). Probably they are an averageish run D and we should be at least somewhat concerned that the running game was so thoroughly shut down Sunday night.Doesn't Edelman going deep a few times suggest that Adams was a crucial part of the run defense?
CeeDee is going to be awesome. Pats could have gotten him but opportunity cost would have been Dugger and Uche.CeeDee Lamb has looked good so far, not that the Pats could have had him without trading up. But it's tough seeing all these first and second year guys succeeding. Promising start for Harry so far though.
There's a lot of shuffle on the OL this year from last and no preseason to work out the kinks. They looked awesome in one game and run blocked poorly in the other. Even in the first game there were some glaring misses in pass protect (some of that was on Cam). It's a work in progress. I'd give it a few more games before being concerned. For the purposes of this thread, it seems that there is hope for pass protection.Sure, and Adams is a great run defender, but usually one player doesn't make the difference between a bottom-five run D (which Seattle was last year) and a top-five run D (which through two games, they are in 2020). Probably they are an averageish run D and we should be at least somewhat concerned that the running game was so thoroughly shut down Sunday night.
Haven't rewatched it yet, but it seems like they had a full box and were blitzing wagner and adams during run plays and absolutely wreaking havoc with whatever the pats were trying to do--I didn't get the sense that the line was being manhandled, more that seahawks were being aggressive and were hitting the right gaps.Sure, and Adams is a great run defender, but usually one player doesn't make the difference between a bottom-five run D (which Seattle was last year) and a top-five run D (which through two games, they are in 2020). Probably they are an averageish run D and we should be at least somewhat concerned that the running game was so thoroughly shut down Sunday night.
The defenses they're facing are dealing with the same reality. The OL will be good, at least. My issue is that running the ball generally is pretty inefficient, so the run game execution has to be outstanding to make a run-first offense worthwhile. I think the run game will be pretty good, with weeks where it looks great (like Week 1), but my fear was that it would be shut down at times and we saw that in action Sunday. And the run game wasn't just inefficient; it was awful, like the worst games of 2019 awful.There's a lot of shuffle on the OL this year from last and no preseason to work out the kinks. They looked awesome in one game and run blocked poorly in the other. Even in the first game there were some glaring misses in pass protect (some of that was on Cam). It's a work in progress. I'd give it a few more games before being concerned. For the purposes of this thread, it seems that there is hope for pass protection.
I took a quick watch of Harry's targets on All-22 and it was the same story Week 2 as Week 1: schemed touches, slot / tight split alignment, working against soft zones. He only got one target when pressed from X and he couldn't get open. He's being used better than last year but I'm not seeing a lot of development.Harry has lined up plenty at X this year, but has very little production on those snaps. Almost all his catches are from the slot, or from a tight alignment, or on schemed touches. I haven't charted last night, but I charted the first game. His issues against press and tight coverage persist. Fortunately Byrd's presence lets them use Harry at Z way more.
If we presume that he's simply not a fit for X, then being more productive at other roles is development. There's value in 8/72 on 12 targets, even if not first round value.I took a quick watch of Harry's targets on All-22 and it was the same story Week 2 as Week 1: schemed touches, slot / tight split alignment, working against soft zones. He only got one target when pressed from X and he couldn't get open. He's being used better than last year but I'm not seeing a lot of development.
6 yards per target is actually pretty bad. But it is a step forward from where he was last year, so point taken. I was never a fan of Harry as an X, so his usage so far has been encouraging.If we presume that he's simply not a fit for X, then being more productive at other roles is development. There's value in 8/72 on 12 targets, even if not first round value.
I think this is true but Belichick also had the luxury of the GOAT at QB so he always pretty much knew the offense would be fine in most years. This year is a little different since Cam has more variability but he probably has more upside than recent Brady too.How many times in the last 5 years or so have the Pats looked like dogshit in at least one or two of the first 4-5 games? We as fans read so much into it, but I think BB is simply using these games as the real pre-season where he can get his top units reps against other top units to figure stuff out. Who has made the leap? How do pieces fit together? What schemes fit this year's personnel? etc.
Then he can use that info to figure out what he needs to do differently, as coach or as GM, and then make adjustments over the next 4-5 games, before trying to rev up the machine to carry you through the latter part of the schedule and into the playoffs.
It's not unlike Billy Beane's theory of a baseball season divided into thirds, with the first being evaluation, the second being correction, and the final being acceleration.
Seems that Seattle was making a concerted effort to shut down the run, which is how Newton was able to throw for 400 yards. Even when an average defense sells out like that, it's going to have an effect.Sure, and Adams is a great run defender, but usually one player doesn't make the difference between a bottom-five run D (which Seattle was last year) and a top-five run D (which through two games, they are in 2020). Probably they are an averageish run D and we should be at least somewhat concerned that the running game was so thoroughly shut down Sunday night.
Seattle's pass defense may just be that bad. Didn't Matty Ice hit them for 400 the week prior?Seems that Seattle was making a concerted effort to shut down the run, which is how Newton was able to throw for 400 yards. Even when an average defense sells out like that, it's going to have an effect.
In fairness, Matty Ice has Julio, Ridley, and Hurst so they’ll be lighting up almost everyone this year. I do think that Seattle looked like a mediocre pass defense, even when factoring in the injuries.Seattle's pass defense may just be that bad. Didn't Matty Ice hit them for 400 the week prior?
Yeah, I'm just saying Seattle doesn't look like a team that has to totally sell out to stop the run in order to give up 400 yards passing.In fairness, Matty Ice has Julio, Ridley, and Hurst so they’ll be lighting up almost everyone this year. I do think that Seattle looked like a mediocre pass defense, even when factoring in the injuries.
Agreed.I think this is true but Belichick also had the luxury of the GOAT at QB so he always pretty much knew the offense would be fine in most years. This year is a little different since Cam has more variability but he probably has more upside than recent Brady too.
Ultimately, I think BB has to be encouraged. 1 yard from 2-0 start with potential key guys like Harris, Uche, Jennings, JoeJuan, the rookie TEs, etc. not yet making an impact. Couple that with the expected growth of guys like Harry, Dugger, etc. and you have some reason for optimism. The secondary had a rough game but should be fine.
If we’re 3-2 heading into the bye, we’re right where we need to be.
Was Collins even a contributor by the end of his rookie year? I don't recall him playing much at all.Agreed.
I would also point out that it's a rare rookie who shines right away for BB. And some of those who were starters or key contributors by season's end, were non-factors early. Gronk, Murderer, Jamie Collins.
Murderer was one of the few who was good right away - he had 436 yards in his first 8 games, then tailed off down the stretch.Agreed.
I would also point out that it's a rare rookie who shines right away for BB. And some of those who were starters or key contributors by season's end, were non-factors early. Gronk, Murderer, Jamie Collins.
He basically played exclusively on special teams in the regular season but then balled out at LB in the playoff game against the Colts.Was Collins even a contributor by the end of his rookie year? I don't recall him playing much at all.
I thought the ball was badly thrown on some of Harry's targets.6 yards per target is actually pretty bad. But it is a step forward from where he was last year, so point taken. I was never a fan of Harry as an X, so his usage so far has been encouraging.
Was that the playoff game where Collins made a ridiculous INT dropping high-middle zone? I recall thinking that he was gonna be a game changer after that; turned out not quite that well.Murderer was one of the few who was good right away - he had 436 yards in his first 8 games, then tailed off down the stretch.
He basically played exclusively on special teams in the regular season but then balled out at LB in the playoff game against the Colts.
They're also getting him in the ball in space a lot and he's not making anyone miss. We saw him make some YAC plays last year so I'm no too worried, but he hasn't been getting the job done on those.I thought the ball was badly thrown on some of Harry's targets.
This is a good point. It seems to me they tend to put new arrivals in one spot to make things easier, especially at X receiver. At X, while it's physically more challenging to deal with press and more top corners, the adjustments / choices are easier, so it's less of a mental grind. If Harry's moving around / playing in the slot, it indicates some level of trust in him to make the right reads of the underneath defenders and work through middle-of-the-field traffic.Regarding his usage, wondering if it's due to him being more familiar with the offense. There were some rumblings that Harry was struggling on that regards; I thought Brady made a comment insinuating the same. I'm sure going on IR didn't help in that regards.