Yeah, well Belichick is one of the greatest coaches ever. I still don't think he can replicate the success he had with Brady. There are going to be games where you need elite level QBing in the playoffs (remember that SB against Atlanta?), and there's a difference between having a good QB, which Mac Jones will probably be, versus having an elite one.

I'm actually more amazed by Brady at 44 years old still playing at an elite level in as physical a sport as the NFL (he's currently ranked 3rd in passer rating). That's just dumbfounding to me.

 

Remember Brady was a game manager just like Jones is early on and at this point he sure reminds me of Brady with his poise in the pocket.Scares me.I can't take another Pats run.

 

Regardless how the season shakes out, I'm really looking forward to our 2nd match-up with the Pats. They've improved all-around and are probably the better team, while we have the better defense. The Pats "should" win but the next one's in Miami and they struggle coming to our house...so it should be a good game. I think we sweep them this year.

 

Their OL and DL are legit. As usual. That sort of stability and competence goes a long way. Then you've got quality scheming and strategy. Once everyone learns and starts to 'do their job' it makes for high quality football.

 

So what's the over/under on Belichick breaking the all-time record for oldest NFL HC? Right now it's 73 years old when Crennel stepped in as interim HC last year for Houston. Belichick is 69 now.

Personally, I think Belichick is aiming for at minimum 30 more wins because that's all he needs to beat Shula for most wins all-time (Belichick is at 318 if you include postseason while Shula is at 347), or potentially 42 more regular season wins to beat Shula there (287 for Belichick and 328 for Shula). That's minimum 3 years and potentially 5 years, right at the boundary for oldest NFL coach. I am not going to feel good if Belichick accomplishes this. Either way, I doubt he can stay on much longer than that due to age.

 

Mac Jones is a robot who is told when and where to throw it. He doesn't know how to manage the clock. After every play he is looking at the sideline because he has no idea what's going on. Let me know when he throws a pass in the air over 10 yards too.

He's a programmed robot.

And, Tua has better arm strength.

 

Tua doesn't have better arm than any starter in this league.

 

His age is definitely a factor but when your almost 55 like me you can't take another run even if it's only a couple of years

 

Via PFF:
Offensive Line Ranking Week 10

11. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (DOWN 4)
Best-graded: G Michael Onwenu | 87.8
Worst-graded: T Justin Herron | 47.9
After struggling through a wave of injuries and COVID-19-related absenses, the Patriots' offensive line is looking more like we expected it to before the 2021 season began. They are a better run-blocking unit than they are in pass protection, and Michael Onwenu leads the way with a 91.4 run-blocking grade.

The starting five all have above-average PFF grades, and if they stay in the lineup for the remainder of the year, this line should rise in the rankings. But the second New England has to go into the bench, the drop in performance is clear and severe. Four of the backups who have played this season have overall PFF grades below 55.5.

 

Why the New England Patriots are once again the NFL team nobody wants to play | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF

"NFL Performance Metrics, Since Week 7 Value (Rank)
Offensive Grade 92.9 (1st)
Defensive Grade 82.0 (1st)
Expected Points Added Per Play .0150 (1st)
Expected Points Allowed Per Play -0.260 (2nd)
In the past four weeks, the Patriots have the best expected points added (EPA) per play and the second-best EPA allowed per play figure, as well as the top offensive and defensive grades in the league.

The recipe for success? Acting like the schematic advances of the past decade never even happened. In a league that’s been 62% pass over the past month, the Patriots are legitimately a run-first offense at 50.4% (and that’s removing all garbage-time snaps). Just four of the 657 RPOs and three of the 243 bootlegs in the NFL since Week 7 came from New England, and only the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens use 21 personnel — two backs and one tight end — more often.

...

Since Week 7, only one of the Patriots' 18 play-action passes out of 21 personnel have resulted in a quarterback hit (and only two pressures altogether). When the quarterback stays clean, he can work the ball downfield efficiently, leading to eight passes going for 15 or more yards. Selling downhill runs brings linebackers forward as well, creating perfect scenarios for Mac Jones to work with."

"Defensively, this is still the best mind the NFL has ever seen, and no one better understands how to match up and find the winning edge situationally. In the past four weeks, New England is edged only by the Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins in percentage of dime snaps (six defensive backs).


When the time comes to play the pass, it’s hard to find better examples of how to make single-high defense work in this era, outside of Foxborough, Massachusetts. Only the Dolphins have more snaps on the year with the middle of the field “closed,” but the Patriots more than eclipse Miami in defensive grade (90.0 to 73.1) and EPA per pass (-0.342 to -0.147).

Playing with six defensive backs will put you in a position to succeed in Cover 1, when you have the players you need to match up with receiving threats. Even in Cover 3, though, you can see underneath defenders nearly perfectly find the balance between protecting the seams of the defense (just outside of the hash marks) and the sideline, where there should be more airspace to throw into."

Check the article for gifs etc.



Also - NFL Week 11 Game Recap: New England Patriots 25, Atlanta Falcons 0 | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics | PFF:


"Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
With the Falcons opting for a lot of single-high coverage on Thursday night, Jones distributed the ball to the short area of the field frequently. Short of fullback Jakob Johnson, every offensive player who ran a route for New England received a target. Jakobi Meyers led the way with six.

Offensive Line
New England's run schemes create clean pockets when it’s time to pass the ball due to how well the Patriots marry their run and pass looks, as both look the same when the ball is snapped. Even without the design, New England's offensive line probably would have been fine against an Atlanta pass-rush unit that has struggled to generate pressure all season long. No Patriots lineman allowed more than one pressure on the night.

Defensive Line
Atlanta's ground attack rarely make it beyond the first level of the Patriots’ defense often, as New England's defensive line finished with five run stops Thursday night. Davon Godchaux and Matthew Judon both recorded sacks.

Linebackers
Dont’a Hightower is once again a destructive force in the run game, as he finished with two tackles for loss. Kyle Van Noy added one of his own, and Ja’Whaun Bentley continued to be a battering ram against guards and lead blockers.


Godchaux and Van Noy released by the Dolphins and Judon was hunted by the Dolphins but who went to NE.

 

I think he will try his hardest to get to 400 but will likely settle for less. Time isnt on his side.

mac jones and that defense are playing lights out but unless they go perfect 3 years in a row itll be impossible

 

I see Van Noy had an INT and is rated 18th by PFF, higher than any Miami LB. why did we get rid of him again?

While we’re on that topic, Flowers is rated 21 spots higher than the best Dolphins G.

 

Because Chris Grier has no clue how to build a roster!

 

That I'm not sure but your right it could be Flores also.