New England Patriots are weaker and everything Aaron Hernandez related

[GrimCoconut]

And then there's the Dolphins whose roster looks better on paper then last years. They'll probably do bad though, and prove once again you can't build a team through free agency.

I thought about them. They have a very good chance if all those acquisitions come through for them. In fact, they look like they're the best out of the entire division in that area but the biggest questions they have to answer to determine whether they make the next step are: 

 

1. Is their OL good enough? I'm not sure about Martin and the gang. I'm very uncertain if he can play LT. He has the potential. 

2. Will their weapons click? 

3. Can their secondary improve? They have the talent. 

4. Will Tannehill take the next step. 

 

I happen to like the Tannehill-Miller combo. 

 

They have a lot of promise. 

[Clutch Ravens]

People at Florida always, apparently, said that Hernandez was either going to the Pro Bowl or Prison.

 

At this rate it looks like both.

[JO_75]

And then there's the Dolphins whose roster looks better on paper then last years. They'll probably do bad though, and prove once again you can't build a team through free agency.

 

 

Dolphins are the only team I see who can challenge for the division title. I just don't trust E.J Manuel for some reason, maybe it's just because he is a rookie quarterback but no way will he be a Cam Newton/RG3 type. The Jets at this point should just tank for Teddy Bridgewater or Manziel because neither Sanchez or Geno will get them anywhere. 

 

At this rate, I can see the Dolphins winning the division and the Patriots at the 5th seed.

[The Raven]

The Patriots are going to be in shambles without a passing game.  They better hope Gronk doesn't break his arm again and that Hernandez doesn't get tried.

 

Slightly disagree. Their running game is easily the most underrated in the league. They can run the ball with the best of em, when they try to.

[SecretAgentMan]

Slightly disagree. Their running game is easily the most underrated in the league. They can run the ball with the best of em, when they try to.

And they will be forced to run the ball (no duh), but if they do get behind and are put into a situation they have to pass....

 

As good as Brady is, he isn't going to have a lot to work with. Gronk, Amendola will most likley be injured. Hernandez might be in prison, Edelmen has injury history.

 

Dobson is only a rookie......

[ratedr]

I don't hear the end of how we've lost too many pieces to make the playoffs let alone the Super Bowl. People have already seemingly counted us out there. I find it remarkable that nobody says this about the Patriots. They have more holes right now on offense than a slice of Swiss cheese.

They lost Welker, Woodhead, Chung and Thomas to free agency. Welker was the biggest blow but Woodhead was a good player for them and Chung was decent. Thomas was great depth and that never hurts. He was a solid player for them and could have started.

Now they have huge question marks at their TE position which is what fuels the NE offense. They might be without both players early in the season. They do have Ballard and I like him a lot but he's not enough. Are they going to run two RB sets with Ridley and Vereen? Lol.

They have major question marks at WR. Edelman is injured and might not do anything remarkable. They had one of the worst defenses last year and cut Kyle Love who was at worst a decent player.

They haven't gotten better. They drafted a few WR but who's really standing out here? Danny Amendola signed with them but he's hardly reliable for 16 games.

Someone tell me why nobody talks about the Patriots missing the playoffs. Because of Belichick and Brady? Please.

Great post. I'm not one to count out perennial contenders but if Hernandez is implicated in any way the Patriots' offense is in serious trouble. People harp on us for losing Boldin, but guess what? We still have Torrey, we still have Rice, we still have Pitta, and we still have Dickson (who was very productive in 2011). There's a very good possibility that Brady will be missing all three of his top targets to start the season (and we already know he's missing his top target in Welker). We all saw that Brady was a less effective player without Gronk, but he was still pretty effective (not against us, but in general) because he still had Welker and Hernandez. I don't care that he's one of the best QBs ever, when you're losing ALL THREE of your top targets (4 I believe if you include Lloyd, and 5 of 6 if you include Woodhead), there's no way you're not going to regress.

 

Now, Amendola imo is better than Welker when he's healthy, but, um, he's NEVER healthy, so that to me is a moot point. Not to mention that Welker's chemistry with Brady was exceptional. I'm not sure that can be duplicated immediately.

 

All that said, New England probably wins 11 or so games once again because their division is an absolute joke. I like Miami a lot, and I've liked them for a long time (even before their FA shopping spree), but I still think they're a year away from truly contending.

[The Raven]

And they will be forced to run the ball (no duh), but if they do get behind and are put into a situation they have to pass....

 

As good as Brady is, he isn't going to have a lot to work with. Gronk, Amendola will most likley be injured. Hernandez might be in prison, Edelmen has injury history.

 

Dobson is only a rookie......

 

Valid points, but I think everyone is forgetting about the HC and the OC in NE. Both are arguably the best at what they do.

[ratedr]

Slightly disagree. Their running game is easily the most underrated in the league. They can run the ball with the best of em, when they try to.

I do agree, the Pats have an underrated rushing offense. We'll see just how good it can be, because they're gonna have to utilize it more.

[The Raven]

I do agree, the Pats have an underrated rushing offense. We'll see just how good it can be, because they're gonna have to utilize it more.

 

Ridley is a monster, and the Patriots have the best OL in football.

 

That's why they're gonna have a top ten offense. The OL, the RB, and the coaching staff.

[SecretAgentMan]

Ridley is a monster, and the Patriots have the best OL in football.

 

That's why they're gonna have a top ten offense. The OL, the RB, and the coaching staff.

 Nope. That's one of the other teams I really hate.

 

Pats do have a great oline tho.

[Malkavian Raven]

Talk about gutting an offense.  Terrible off-season for the Patriots.

 

RIP Odin Lloyd.  May his murderer be brought to justice.

[ratedr]

Houston has the best OL in the AFC imo. But the Pats are up there.

 

But I do think their offense will regress. Their offense is worse without Gronkowski alone, so without Welker, Gronkowski (potentially) AND Hernandez (potentially)? I don't think they're gonna be better. But in the end they're still a playoff lock.

[SecretAgentMan]

Houston has the best OL in the AFC imo. But the Pats are up there.

 

But I do think their offense will regress. Their offense is worse without Gronkowski alone, so without Welker, Gronkowski (potentially) AND Hernandez (potentially)? I don't think they're gonna be better. But in the end they're still a playoff lock.

Best oline in the NFL is the 69ers, 40 whiners, whatever.

 

Houston has a good oline

[ratedr]

Best oline in the NFL is the 69ers, 40 whiners, whatever.

 

Houston has a good oline

No doubt, I was talking AFC only. The Niners' OL is incredible.

[GrimCoconut]

Houston has a good OL from the LT to the center.

[Gordo52]

The Patriots running game was so lethal because of their passing game. Gronk is also a great run blocker so their running game takes a hit as well IMO.

[Gordo52]

I think of EJ as a poor mans Kaepernick sort of. I know Buffalo probably wishes they had someone else at QB so they can groom him for a year.

[The Raven]

An interesting aspect of the Patriots offense is  how balanced they are. I did some number crunching a while ago, and they had a 55-45 pass run ratio. One of the most well balanced offenses by far.

[Clutch Ravens]

An interesting aspect of the Patriots offense is  how balanced they are. I did some number crunching a while ago, and they had a 55-45 pass run ratio. One of the most well balanced offenses by far.

 

They also have Brandon Bolden returning from injury and I think they picked up Blount. Having them stable with Ridley and Vereen gives them a potentially deep pool of runningbacks to help spell Stevan.

[display name]

They also have Brandon Bolden returning from injury and I think they picked up Blount. Having them stable with Ridley and Vereen gives them a potentially deep pool of runningbacks to help spell Stevan.

OK so maybe this will stop them from completely and epicly imploding, but what does this mean for Brady? He could be without Hernandez as well. And like Ravens^3 mentioned, they will also be without a great blocker.

[display name]

 But in the end they're still a playoff lock.

You never know. Suring up the D wouldn't be a bad move either.

[redlobster]

No doubt, I was talking AFC only. The Niners' OL is incredible.

Doesn't hurt that both their tackles and their left guard are 1st round picks

[JO_75]

From PFT: Search Yields "Evidence Bags" at Hernandez's home.

 

As explained by the Boston Herald, the authorities engaged in a multi-hour search of the Hernandez property, scouring the house, cars, and even a “playhouse” (which some reporters described as a doghouse) on the lawn.

 

The search included multiple K-9 units and a locksmith.  Per the Herald, police left with what appeared to be multiple evidence bags.  FOX 25 in Boston described them as large brown bags, pegging the amount at “several.”

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/23/search-yields-apparent-evidence-bags-from-hernandezs-home/

[ratedr]

You never know. Suring up the D wouldn't be a bad move either.

In the AFC LEast? Yeah, I know lol.

[TheRavenouseD2008]

Guys people who are pats fans keep bring up ray , this is looking in no way like a self defense they said the wound was to the back of the head that straight execution style .   Hernandez is go over the middle with no helmet and johnny law is playing pollard  this looks like this hit is gonna hurt . 

[GrimCoconut]

Guys people who are pats fans keep bring up ray , this is looking in no way like a self defense they said the wound was to the back of the head that straight execution style . Hernandez is go over the middle with no helmet and johnny law is playing pollard this looks like this hit is gonna hurt .

lol. Funny analogy.

[display name]

In the AFC LEast? Yeah, I know lol.

Good point. Didn't even think about it. That's probably been a big reason for their success over the last decade as well. If you moved them to the AFC North, they would probably still grab a playoff spot, but they'de actually have to fight for it.

[Inqui]

Couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch (fan and franchise).

[The Raven]

OK so maybe this will stop them from completely and epicly imploding, but what does this mean for Brady? He could be without Hernandez as well. And like Ravens^3 mentioned, they will also be without a great blocker.

 

They still have Josh McDaniels, so they'll be able to scheme their offense to excellence. Brady will be fine unless he has a bunch of UDFA bums to work with.

[GrimCoconut]

They still have Josh McDaniels, so they'll be able to scheme their offense to excellence. Brady will be fine unless he has a bunch of UDFA bums to work with.

Eh. I wouldn't be so confident. McDaniels is good but he's not Jesus. He can't turn Dobson into Moss overnight. He can't make Amendola stay healthy. Unless he'd thinking about running 4 RB sets I'm not sure how they will do. Their most proven players are Amendola, Ridley, and Ballard after their two starting TE.