Friday Bag: Would Belichick pursue perfection or rest stars?

Share

FOXBORO -- Every Friday Tom E. Curran, Mike Giardi and Phil Perry take your Patriots questions on Twitter and answer them as a joint mailbag -- or a Friday Bag, as they call it.

Got questions? Tweet the trio using the hashtag #FridayBag.

Let's get to this week's:

https://twitter.com/ReganMoney/status/665178578317799424

TC: Ed, rookie corner Justin Coleman has a partial cast on his hand. It doesn’t seem destined to drastically affect his ability to play and cover, though it would obviously be an impediment to catching if a pass gets served up in his direction.

TC: Patrick, I have no information on that. My presumption would be that, from the football side of things the answer would be no. The whole thing was grabassery from the beginning, I couldn’t imagine Bill Belichick deploying the equipment guys to measure and document PSI for his later evaluation. From the corporate side, maybe but I’d still doubt it. Besides, they could only do it at the end of the game, not at halftime when the balls are in possession of the officials and by the time they are measured postgame and returned to the Patriots, the PSI could change. The whole thing ceased being about PSI a long time ago, anyway. It was about power, jealousy, reputation, politics and bringing the Patriots to heel.

TC: Eric, Not sure if you mean historically or potentially. I’m guessing it’s historically because Shane Vereen is playing against the Patriots this week after being with them for four seasons? Dave Meggett is the only guy that leaps out at me. Then Bob Kratch, Myron Guyton, Jake Ballard and Visanthe Shiancoe. I may be missing someone more obvious so feel free to point out my error.

TC: I can only speak for me, but in my experience running that operation in a press conference setting is not designed to elicit an answer to a question but to bring attention to the questioner. In San Francisco, I asked a question of Goodell that he failed to answer candidly and followed up after having handed back the microphone we were using. He sloughed it off and took a question elsewhere. The setting just doesn’t lend itself to a back-and-forth. Ideally, the media as a whole in those settings works in a complementary way so that a line of questioning bounces from one reporter to the next and someone’s feet do get held to the fire. But calling people names does nothing for the reputation of the person posing the question and that results in the person’s viewpoint and reporting being marginalized as not being objective.

https://twitter.com/TherealFTown/status/665168361446248452

TC: We’re only halfway done, Matt, but this team is more daunting offensively because – in my opinion – the quarterback is better. Also, the wide receiver corps is deeper (though not as good at the top as it was with Randy Moss) and the tight end position is obviously stronger. Offensive line would go to the 2007 team. But the biggest difference right now between the two is the command Tom Brady has in his 16th NFL season as opposed to his eighth. He is better mechanically, more accurate, able to decipher defenses more readily and is more attuned with his receivers now than he was in 2007. Defensively, I need to see more shutdown Sundays to say they are better than ’04.

https://twitter.com/kjmsts1/status/665168133020364800

TC: This

TC: I believe they would absolutely pursue 16-0. Bill Belichick, being someone who respects NFL history as he does, would likely view any preservation efforts at that point as being not only a betrayal of his team’s right to author a perfect season, but a failure to respect what it would mean in the grand scheme.

https://twitter.com/bhick22/status/665166405692555265

TC: Brian, I agreed they made the right call but not because Revis is in precipitous decline. He’s better than any corner the Patriots have this year and probably will be in 2016 as well. It was the right call – and a close call – because the asking price of $39M guaranteed for three years doesn’t mesh with their business philosophy and may have tied their hands from being able to add players this past offseason and re-up them in the future. I don’t believe Revis genuinely yearned to stay here. It’s a unique place to play because of the time demands made by the coaching staff and the expectations on what players will say and do. All things (i.e., money) being equal, the pros for Revis of competing for a championship may have won out. But all things weren’t equal.

TC: Maybe experimentally here and there for some plays but you let the running backs do their job in the regular offense. I mean, would you like to see Danny Amendola in blitz pickup standing next to Tom Brady? I will answer that. No. But split out as Lewis sometimes was? Sure. Let Amendola do that and plug Brandon Bolden into Amendola’s spot or Aaron Dobson. That’s my opinion.

https://twitter.com/RwPesche/status/665181479626932224

TC: Aw, jeez…

MG: There’s only two ways Bolden ends up with more touches. Option 1 is LaGarrette Blount going down with an injury and Bolden is the first man up to replicate LGB as the power back. Option 2 is White stumbles and bumbles all over himself, forcing Bolden into the lineup. I don’t think White will. I think he’s ready to be a competent 3rd down back.

MG: Pete, I think under normal circumstances, this might be a fling it all over the yard game. But if Vollmer can’t go, the Pats protection schemes will once again have to be dumbed down, and I just don’t think it’s worth it to put Brady under fire. He’s just too important.

MG: Sharks, the numpties have absolutely overtaken Twitter with a fury we haven’t seen since dinosaurs roamed the earth. I mean, the interactions I’ve had make me long for the days pre-technology. And I get it. I should let these people spew their venom and nonsense and not give them the satisfaction of returning fire. But every once in a while… As per your question, I’d think balance would be the desired goal. Give that makeshift crew a chance to go forward in the run game as opposed to stepping back to pass block. Gotta protect that #12 character at all costs.

https://twitter.com/pfitz7/status/664990743732338688

MG: Fitz, fighting is so neanderthal. I’d rather talk it out, especially with Felger, who I find to be a reasonable chap. I mean his take on Revis last year was spot-on. (Not really.) And this year, it was he who uncovered the problem with quarterbacking in the NFL. How could you ever get angry with such genuine goodness? (If you’re buying any of that, I have a bridge to sell you.)

MG: It’s quarterbacking and coaching and impatient ownership that’s causing a downtick in the overall product. Ownership wants to win now. They empower their GM to pick a roster, a roster that sometimes doesn’t fit the coaching style of the guy you hired. Coach scuffles, is told shape up or ship out, and he fired his coordinators. So now the supposed franchise QB has to learn a new offense. Lather, rinse and repeat. Before you know it, everyone has been fired, the QB is now on his 4th coordinator and people wonder why the hell hasn’t he progressed. It’s simple, stupids!

MG: Lisa, it’s gotta be Odell. He wins all his matchups. Thought it was interesting though, watching tape of the Tampa game. Manning threw his way 17 times. Beckham caught 9. That’s actually a win for the Bucs defense, in my opinion. I digress. I wouldn’t leave Butler alone on an island here. Kevin McCourty said it best when he said Beckham can ruin a game for you. Safety help over the top is a necessity.

MG: The Party Starter is not, I repeat, is not playing well. Has he forced some turnovers? Yes. But he is below average in every sense of the word, and one of the most un-Patriot Patriots to come out of Foxboro in the last 15 years. As for benching, what is this? 1988? It’s about resistance bands, and core work, and cardio. And besides, both my shoulders are shredded like lettuce.

MG: It’s Pierre Thomas in a runaway. He was actually in Foxboro back in March for a visit, so we know there was some interest way back when. A reminder though: neither of these guys (or anyone else they bring in for that matter) will look remotely as awesome as Dion Lewis did. And now I pause for a moment of reflection on just how fun it was to watch Lewis play…yep, it still hurts. Speedy recovery please.

https://twitter.com/patriot_paul12/status/664951886005469184

PP: Hey, Paul. With Vollmer missing practice again on Friday, it's looking like he won't be able to play. He could still technically pass the concussion protocol and be active, I guess, but that appears highly unlikely at this point. Therefore I think what we'll see is something very similar to what we saw in the second half last week: Cameron Fleming at left tackle, Shaq Mason at left guard, David Andrews at center, Josh Kline at right guard and Bryan Stork at right tackle. I do expect the Patriots to call up one offensive lineman from the practice squad this week in order to give themselves a little bit more depth. Keep an eye out for either Chris Barker (more of a natural interior guy who has practiced at all five positions during his time with the Patriots) or Blaine Clausell (more of a pure tackle at 6-foot-6) to be that guy.

https://twitter.com/JJensenRF/status/665178370397851648

PP: I understand why people in this area still pine for Jonas Gray. There aren't many guys who have ever had the kind of game he did against the Colts last year. But bringing him aboard after Dion Lewis suffered a torn ACL last week was not the answer. In the eyes of Patriots decision-makers, Gray and Lewis might as well play different positions. One if an elusive, passing-down back who can play on all three downs. One is a capable runner without much in the way of proven pass-catching ability. Now if the team suddenly found itself without LeGarrette Blount? Then Gray might be an option. But for now, with Blount in the fold, and with James White and Brandon Bolden prepared to take on the passing-back duties in the Patriots offense, there's no real room for the former Sports Illustrated cover boy. The Patriots have other needs at the moment -- offensive line, linebacker -- and have to save roster spots for those.

PP: Ross Ventrone. I'm a chaetophobe.

Contact Us