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EPISODE 14 - Patriots training camp! Brandon Aiyuk! Drake Maye!
126 Plays9 months ago
Football is back. LFG.
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Transcript
Return of the Savage Boston Podcast
00:00:01
savageboston
All right, what's going on, guys? Welcome back to the Savage Boston podcast. We are here ah back. It's been a bit. We took a break kind of at the end of the Celtic season in the summer. Everyone gets kind of busy. I know we're back trying to have in ah preparation for Patriots training camp and coming up on the new season and getting everything squared away. So I just obviously kind of the big news we're recording right now and this is August 7th at 9 p.m.
Patriots' Attempt to Acquire Brandon Ayuk
00:00:32
savageboston
And the big news the last few days that we've all been tracking really carefully is obviously the Brandon Ayuk news, Ayuk Ayuk. You know, we all really wanted
00:00:45
savageboston
I think we all really wanted Brandon Ayuk and iya and i think we I think the Patriots did enough to try to get Brandon Ayuk. um But obviously the disappointing part in all this is is where the organization is right now.
00:01:03
savageboston
And where they are is they're not in a position to even overpay for a wide receiver, ah which really sucks. um So I just want to get everyone's kind of initial thoughts of of where we're at first, starting on the IAC situation before we kind of talk about camp and the team. So how's everyone feeling on IAC, whoever wants to go first?
00:01:26
Snooty
I mean, I'll go first. So I mean, it's disappointing that you don't get that caliber of player. um I know you're gonna have to pay him top three money to get them. And even that obviously seems to not be enough. um We don't know the structure of the deal, but I find it really hard to believe that you could have a deal averaging you know, almost 33 million a year and not have substantial guarantees in it. So I think the concerns over that are well potentially valid. I think it's being overstated a bit.
00:02:00
savageboston
Can I tell you what I've heard about the guarantee?
00:02:03
Snooty
Sure.
00:02:04
savageboston
So this is just from a birdie, not official. I think the number sounds a little high, um but this person was accurate in telling me ah yesterday that the AAV was gonna be about $32 million.
00:02:17
savageboston
dollars um So he said the guarantees are gonna be nearing $100 million dollars on the deal, which is a crazy amount. I think what's like Jefferson or something has like or or I'm on St.
00:02:29
savageboston
Brown has like 77 million guaranteed. So it would be pretty like a very aggressive contract. But that's what this guy said. I absolutely can't back that up. And I don't think that's leaking going to leak anywhere because they're not going to tell anybody.
00:02:42
savageboston
So anyway, sorry. Go ahead.
00:02:43
Snooty
Right. So regardless, right. Um, more to my point that like they've offered, you know, reportedly that time kind of deal and he still
00:02:46
savageboston
Yeah.
Financial Strategies and Future Potential
00:02:52
Snooty
won't take it.
00:02:52
Snooty
So look, does that, is that the region? Is that the franchise? Like I find it hard to believe it's the quarterback. I think it's more. Everything right like it's a new coach.
00:03:04
Snooty
It's a new System if there's no establishment. I don't think it's a winning thing um If it was a winning thing, he wouldn't be pushing his way out of San Francisco, right?
00:03:15
savageboston
yeah
00:03:15
Snooty
um If i I'm not even sure it's it's obviously not a money thing. Otherwise, he'd be taking my eyes bitter. I think it's some combination of both um As much as it sucks it's I get I understand the you know the question surrounding it and You know, but it is what it is.
00:03:31
Snooty
I'm also not going to freak out the fact that they missed out on someone because it is what it is, right? Um, it's still the caps.
00:03:37
savageboston
Yeah.
00:03:38
Snooty
You can roll over cap space to the next year. So they have a ton of, if they end this year with substantial cap space that rolls to next year, which means you have even more cap space and you can still, you know, at that point, presumably drafted tackle in the first round and then start to go chase people there.
00:03:55
Snooty
Um, It's also, and I think it was Barth on 95 was talking about this, this is not going to be the last disgruntled star receiver looking
00:04:03
savageboston
Mhm.
Market Dynamics and Roster Building
00:04:04
Snooty
for a deal.
00:04:04
Snooty
There's still two others right now. I mean, CD-Lam is actively holding out, right? I'm not suggesting they have the ability to trade for CD-Lam, but you know he's still holding out.
00:04:13
savageboston
Yeah.
00:04:15
Snooty
Jamar Chase is coming up. And that's part of why the the reason I'm okay paying that kind of money to ah to a receiver, because You could pay this guy $32 million dollars this year and in like a year or two, he's not even going to be a top five paid receiver.
00:04:30
savageboston
Yeah, obviously the market keeps going up. I'm just really surprised though that like, you know, San Francisco, if he's that important to their team, that they seem you know so willing to to part with him you know and I obviously like they could probably get a deal done for him but when you think about their the talent on their roster and how deep they are I mean take away pretty and how he's developed a quarterback but having Christian McCaffrey having you know Deebo Samuel having George Kittle
00:05:01
savageboston
And then you know now they have pure salt will be a rookie noise injury prone not to mention the their left tackle who's a weapon and self Trent Williams who's just and absolutely disgusting player. In incredible left tackle so like that team is so loaded so deep no but is I their fourth option. I mean really it's like they might look at it like that like alright like he's yeah he's doing great in our system but he's our fourth guy.
00:05:27
savageboston
I'm not trying to shit on him. I think he's a great route runner. I think he does a really good job. but And he's only 26. But you know for them, I think they're going to try to roll with the punches. And it'll probably be OK for them because their team is so deep. They're at the peak. um Obviously, the Patriots are in a ah heck of a different situation than that. like for this For him coming here, it would have been a huge but been huge move for us.
00:05:49
savageboston
You know, we would have the would have like galvanized the team or the fans would have been into it. It would have been great. But we're just not in the place right now. We're like one or two years behind. like We're not in the place right now to recruit guys.
00:06:03
savageboston
you know, unless they want to deal just for the money. And I thought you paid Ayuk enough, he'd come here for top dollar and they do, they did offer top dollar. And like I said, I think top guaranteed money as well. So clearly like he does care somewhat about winning and not money. So he wants to have his cake and eat it too, as they say, right? Like he wants to go to a team that's going to win a bunch of games and also get a better deal.
00:06:28
savageboston
And so he kind of wants onces it all. Brad, how are you feeling about everything?
00:06:34
Bret
yeah I mean, it's good for him. And I think it's the right move for him to go out there and try to make the money. um And I also think from the Niner standpoint, you know, Shanahan is definitely a run first offensive guy. He likes to do West Coast, you know, out of the backfield, you got Deebo, who's kind of like a utility guy. CMC is a utility guy. And then, you know, getting ah Ayuk got it there.
00:07:00
Bret
I mean it obviously he's a weapon, but I don't think he was the primary weapon for them So I think that's why San Francisco is okay leaving it plus I also I always get that feeling like Shanahan's definitely like the Egotistical guy that just kind of feels like he could plug and play anyone into his system and make it work um So he's okay letting some of those guys go
00:07:18
savageboston
Mmhmm.
00:07:21
Bret
I think ah it sucks, obviously, to miss out on a player like this because I do think Ayuk's a clear number one in this league and he would definitely be a number one on our team ah that would help out our offense, which is sorely lacking there.
00:07:36
Bret
um but Yeah, I mean, I'm hoping that we can get into other guys. I do think he wasn't gonna be a game changer for us because ah I'm still nervous about our offensive line.
00:07:50
Bret
I have a ton of questions about that. And you know I'm sure we're gonna get into the development of Drake May and what the quarterback situation is. you know i I tend to look at it, it's super early in camp and there's so many reports that are out there and I get it, people gotta talk about what's happening today.
00:07:59
savageboston
Yeah.
00:08:07
Bret
Uh, but I don't want to like over exaggerate it, but you know, just sitting warm from where I sit right now, I can understand why a guy like Iuke looks at the teams like, uh, okay, I got the Browns, I got the Patriots, and I got the Steelers, which team is most likely to win now and going to pay me top dollar when I wasn't going to get that in the Niners and Pittsburgh makes sense. So I get why he did it. It just sucks. And it's a, it's a reminder of like.
00:08:36
Bret
Like you know Snooty just said, we have to we have to outpay because that's the only selling point we have. We don't have Brady. We don't have Belichick. We have a lot of unknowns. We have a new head coach. We have a rookie quarterback, new offensive coordinator for our system. But like it's not like he's a highly sought after offensive coordinator. ah you know We have so many unknowns that I think players look at that free agents especially. And they're like, why would I want to come there?
00:09:03
Bret
yeah
00:09:03
savageboston
yeah I mean, I think clearly um we keep hitting what we maybe perceive as rock bottoms. And I think maybe, you know, maybe last year with Mac Jones, like that could have been, you could consider that the true rock bottom in games, like in Indy, where you threw that, you know, they score like six points. either There was that pick in the red zone and you're just like beside yourself, you know, things like that. Those, that did feel like truly rock bottom, not much to root for.
00:09:29
savageboston
And I don't know if you could say this is worse only because, you know, the guy that we'll talk about soon, which is Drake May, you know, obviously they draft Drake May. And so no matter what you say this season, you're like, all right, well, hey, how's Drake May developing?
Quarterback Prospects and Preseason Expectations
00:09:41
savageboston
How's Drake May doing? Like he's the future. Like we at least have hope, which obviously I like, you know, we have something to look forward to. um Whereas last season, you know, we didn't.
00:09:51
savageboston
People get a little up in arms today on on Twitter because um I don't know why but I just threw out a couple tweets about Bill Belichick midday just because I just felt like the team was just left just a mess and not horrible. I mean I'd rather be us than like the New York Giants you know you know or a team that is locked into a quarterback long term that you actually don't believe in. I think that is more of a mess.
00:10:16
savageboston
like You can maybe make an argument that were you know we're left in a clean slate. You have a ton of cap space and a third overall pick. And you know here you go. but But generally speaking, I mean, the roster was left very depleted.
00:10:29
savageboston
We really, really depleted, and it could have been left in a better position, ah but it wasn't. so um So yeah. So anyway, yeah, I know.
00:10:36
Snooty
Yes, just offensively. So i mean I mean, that's the thing I would push back because like the defense has talent, bar mores, their Duggar peppers, like Gonzalez, like they have legit defensive talent.
00:10:39
savageboston
I do i agree. I agree. you conscious
00:10:48
savageboston
I agree. i agree
00:10:49
Snooty
Um, and they have cap space. They're not, they don't have a ton of outside of probably it will definitely juju, but outside of juju, they don't have a ton of like bad deals.
00:10:55
savageboston
I agree.
00:11:01
Snooty
left. right like like Because Parker's gone, Juju's still here, but for he should be cut.
00:11:01
savageboston
Yeah.
00:11:05
savageboston
Ryuji will be caught.
00:11:08
Snooty
um But like outside of that, they don't have any like horrible contracts.
00:11:09
savageboston
He will be.
00:11:14
Snooty
right So it's an underrated aspect that like They have space. they They have the future to do this. They have valuable picks because nobody thinks they're going to be very good.
00:11:24
savageboston
Mm
00:11:24
Snooty
So fortunes can change very quickly. You know, you could be looking at if you have a decent year, if you hit on even one of the receivers, I'm not even looking for both of you hit on one of the receivers, and certainly if you hit on May, but like, you know, this turn it can turn around very quickly in the NFL.
00:11:42
Snooty
It's designed to do that.
00:11:43
savageboston
When you look at how the offense is constructed, right we don't have to talk about the defense. I think they have enough talent. Maybe we can talk about them if you want. But obviously, the offense is the the focal point because they were historically bad last season.
00:11:54
savageboston
like They truly couldn't score points historically bad. um So you kind of look at it every position group and where they're at. And I think you know starting with Drake May and the development of Drake May, I like how it's going so far.
00:12:10
savageboston
people want to poo poo things or say they thought this was gonna happen or that. like The kid's got like 26 starts, he's 21 years old, you can see the ability, the talent, he's a great kid, learns quickly, processes quickly. He's doing everything you need him to do already. The only thing he hasn't done is just magically look like a 26 year old who can who's ran an offense for the last five years.
00:12:34
savageboston
you know He's not going to appear that way. Brissette's been playing for a bunch of years, for seven years, and he knows Van Pelt. Obviously, he's going to look better. He's ah he's a seven-year professional. you You wouldn't expect the rookie coming into your job you know just the picking everything up in one second you know to someone who's done a profession for a while. so I'm still very high on Drake May, I think again like here and some things. Also, I'm very high on the fact that they say he's starting to pick up things pretty quickly now. Like all of a sudden he's growing with it and they even let him rep with the ones. He's repping with Vidarian Low or worse.
00:13:11
savageboston
you know I think I'm liking the development so far um from when I hear from camp. How are you guys
Offensive Line Challenges
00:13:18
savageboston
feeling? I guess we'll start with Brett because he hasn't chimed in as much. But Brett, how are you feeling so far about Drake May's development?
00:13:25
Bret
Yeah, like I said earlier, you know it's kind of driving me crazy. I'm trying to tune out the noise with the amount of reports coming out about Drake May and, you know oh, he had a really bad rough day this day. And then, oh, he bounced back today and vice versa. Like like he said, he's he's a rookie. you know And this is like his first real go around at it. like It's not even like he's had a ton of reps with these guys to get continuity with them and and figure this stuff out. so We'll see and there's a lot of it that we don't see. right you know There's only so much we see from a media perspective on what they report, but like we're not obviously getting report what's going on in the QB room and like how he's understanding the playbook and what his understanding of you know reads and and how he's dissecting that part.
00:14:10
Bret
but you do look at it and you say there's still a ton of potential there with that kid and he's he's our future so we'll see what happens my concern right now and we'll see what happens in the near future but you know we have to start dwindling down like i still don't know why zappy's on this freaking team ah We got a dwindle down the QB room and we just got to give the kid more reps like it'll be interesting to see what happens tomorrow night, you know what he gets for reps and who he's playing with in the ah You know offseason games, but like
00:14:45
Bret
This is where you have to tune them up and see what you get for a player because clearly Brissette's gonna start to lead off the season and He already knows the offense and you're kind of building it in with the ones like let's let's let the kid play on Thursday night You know, let's just not shy away from it. And the concern I have is really, like I said, there's too many quarterbacks, so they got to pull a move. And I also just don't know what to expect with Van Pelt. Like, is he going to be brazen? And like, what the kid play? And you know, is Mayo going to push on it? Or are they going to be like,
00:15:19
Bret
ah Like uber reserves because they're trying to get like job security and they're just not gonna show let the kid Try to earn his stripes and put him out there to see what he can do. I don't know I'm interested to see what happens during preseason and how that progresses ah Like I said, though, I'm not gonna buy too much into the early height I still have a lot of hope for the kid, but you know, we'll see I just want to see some action I won't actually see that get more, you know, I
00:15:33
savageboston
Yeah.
00:15:44
savageboston
I'm excited to watch tomorrow. I think, I think so. Brissett's going to start and people think maybe a couple drives, maybe like first quarter or something like that. Cause he only got 12 quarters in, um, there's 12 quarters of preseason, right? It's not a lot of football. Um, and we got too many cooks in the kitchen, right? So you got.
00:16:03
savageboston
I think Brissette's going to take a couple drives. I'm hoping Drake May handles the second quarter or more. I'd love to see him for more of the game. um But again, they're saying like, what if he's getting killed out there?
00:16:13
Bret
Thank
00:16:14
savageboston
but if What if the O-line can't block for him? And it's like, all right, well, this you know this is going to start to look bad.
00:16:19
Bret
you.
00:16:20
savageboston
so If something like that's worst case scenario, if something like that happens, then get them out. And you've still got Joe Milton and Zappy who can play the rest of the game. And Zappy can come in the whole second half. We know exactly how Zappy is going to look. you know We've seen plenty of Zappy. So um I'm excited to see what Drake can do. you know I'd like to see some ability flash. um you know And I think it'll be fun to watch. I'm excited to see to see the game. Now, I don't know, again, like how are they going to block for him?
00:16:51
savageboston
I don't know. you know that's That's the major major concern. I think the old line, yeah which I guess we should probably hit on now, the old line, scares me and should scare everybody.
00:16:59
Bret
Bye.
00:17:01
savageboston
ah It's especially the tackle position, which frankly, pretty darn important position in the NFL, in the passing league. Let's just say, you know, you need offensive tackles. And if these dudes don't show up, if you all don't have rookie, Kayden Wallace develop, if Chukes can't play or, you know, maybe Calvin Anderson plays really well or something.
00:17:20
savageboston
But like, if some of these don't work out and you got Videra in low at left tackle, you're fucked. Like you're fucked and Drake made, I don't want playing under that. I don't want him getting smashed like um what, Andrew Luck getting killed every game. Why did Andrew Luck quit? You know, not to go off on that, but like, you know, this way we have Robert robert ah Griffin the third. You know, there's tons of quarterbacks that just got smashed because their lines were horrible. And I just don't want that scenario happening.
00:17:49
Snooty
I think I have a sneaky hot take. I think the O-line is going to be okay because I think your interior three are going to be fine.
00:17:54
savageboston
three The
00:17:56
Snooty
I think City Sow is an ascending player who played at left guard. Andrews is certainly pe past his prime at this point, but he's he's a stable, solid veteran center. And then you got Big Mike and Wenyu at right guard and he's just been killing people and he's the last person I'm concerned about.
00:18:13
savageboston
yeah
00:18:13
Snooty
So your interior three should be pretty good, right?
00:18:14
savageboston
Yeah.
00:18:17
savageboston
Yep.
00:18:18
Snooty
The tackles are it's probably going to be Calvin Anderson at right and probably troops to start at left, right?
00:18:24
savageboston
Yeah.
00:18:25
Snooty
You just need you throw in I'm more concerned with the depth of tackle because troops is hurt. So, you know You know, like you're not great there.
00:18:30
savageboston
yeah That's a problem.
00:18:33
Snooty
Let me let me Preface this with you're not great at the tackle position, right? Um but maybe the the kid Robinson that they took from Texas A and&M, if he starts to push on, maybe you can swing so over to right guard and put him at left guard and then put, and when you're at right tackle and that would realistically solve you know the right side
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends Analysis
00:18:54
Snooty
of your line.
00:18:54
savageboston
Hmm.
00:18:55
Snooty
Right now you have three definites on your own line that that I feel like you're gonna start. um Anderson is capable of doing okay at right tackle. Ideally you see Wallace start to establish himself there.
00:19:08
Snooty
And then at least you have four of the five locked up and you can try it and scheme as much as you want at that the tackle squad That being said if you have a pocket passer I'd rather get beat off the edge and up the middle.
00:19:20
Snooty
So There's that you know, I'd rather be able to step up I'd rather be able to step up, you know, what I mean I'd rather be able to to step up and let the tackles try and ride the dn You know, out ah you know off the back end um But we'll see
00:19:23
savageboston
um some very command pretty He's pretty darn mobile too. I mean that's one of the features.
00:19:37
Snooty
um I'd like to see May play a bunch, um particularly with the first online, just to see if he can get some real reps with you know actual protection there. um I also don't want to push this kid, because he doesn't have as much college experience as so the other guys that did coming out. um Historically, that hasn't been great, so you got to take your time with that. You got to make sure that you develop him the right way.
00:20:03
Snooty
um I also, I know the reports from camp are up and down and it's all hype and all that, but like, I like to see if he has a couple of shit days in a row, which he did.
00:20:14
Snooty
I like to see him kind of boss back. He can glean a little bit information about the kid from that. You know, he's a fighter. He likes to come back. Um, but we'll see.
00:20:21
savageboston
and
00:20:24
Snooty
ah
00:20:24
savageboston
The least of the least of their concerns is his character but I know that I know that and I you know I saw that little leak on hard knocks from the Giants they had their
00:20:27
Snooty
Right.
00:20:33
savageboston
their draft board and he was their first player in blue, which just said like all around good player, person and teammate. Like that's where they know like he has a strong, strong family. he's He's a good character, good kid and a fast processor. And so there's a reason why the kid got hyped up because he has a processing like they, that was Mack Jones's argument, right? They came out, he was ready to go. He could process it. He could read the defense. He was billed at that like let's go start.
00:21:02
savageboston
But we know Mac Jones is shortcomings. We know what his arm looks like. We know what happens when he gets scared of him in the pocket. like He has lots of problems with that. We watched him last two years. I know Mac Jones haters. ah like I'm not being a hater. like He was fine and in 2021. He had a good season with Josh and Bill. And a lot of they set him up for success. And then he wasn't. He got ruined, whatever.
00:21:23
savageboston
So now here we are again. No, I don't want them to ruin him. I'm more confident now in ah hopefully Van Pelt, who is a quarterback guy. Obviously, he's really good. They got TJ McCartney or some good guys in that room. And I think Drake will develop. And I think he's i think I love what I heard about practice. and He had a couple really rough padded practices with no protection. And then he's really responded. I guess his red zone looks really good.
00:21:49
savageboston
You know, but he's throwing a guys that aren't aren't open either. You know what I mean? It's just it's so you'd like to see some flashes from him. And I and I hope he gets a lot of time, push the ball downfield. I don't care if he throws, checkdowns or pushes it. Doesn't matter to me at all. I just want to see a flash of ability, flash of reading it, see the arm strength. And and I'm definitely excited about that um to touch on the wide receiver position. So obviously we're just going over old line.
00:22:18
savageboston
um I'm kind of optimistic about where the wide receivers are, just like tracing them at camp. um yeah I really like hearing what ah about Jalen Polk already, just steady Eddie kind of guy. He's not going to blow the doors off. I hope he finds a way to get enough separation in the league. My only fear is that he won't separate, um but you know we'll we'll see what happens at game speed. Jayvon Baker can separate that I know, and he can high point the ball. He's an exciting player.
00:22:47
savageboston
um I'm excited to see what he does. I don't know. He's flashing in camp every single day, which you love, which you love to see. He's an exciting, exciting player. So again, we got to see these guys at game speed. Um, pop Douglas is at the next level. He's your best receiver right now. He can get separation every single play. He's just tiny. So you got to get him in the slot. He should be like the check down, you know, security blanket for Drake.
00:23:14
savageboston
So that right there, and that's not including Kendrick Bourne. So like to me, there's three guys there. Yeah, they're young, but you got something to build with there. Like those are some decent players that you can you can you can grow with, you can push, you can build with. And so everything again hinges again on the development of Drake May and protecting Drake May.
00:23:32
savageboston
And that's why it's like so hard to build a good offensive roster. And when you look at good offensive rosters or around the team, they all come with good old lines. They all come with protection, with scheme, and like somehow wide receiver ends up being like the last thing.
00:23:45
savageboston
you know so it's So it's just so hard to build an offense.
00:23:48
Bret
you
00:23:49
savageboston
So and how do you guys feel about the wide receiver position this far?
00:23:54
savageboston
Whoever wants to go.
00:23:57
Snooty
I mean, I think you kind of hit the nail on the head a little bit. like There's upside there, um certainly more athleticism than they've had in the past, which is always a good thing.
00:24:04
savageboston
Mm hmm.
00:24:06
Snooty
um I'm probably just scarred from decades of just absolutely fucking horrible drafting at the wide receiver position. so um'm always My expectations will always be tempered probably for the rest of my life.
00:24:20
Snooty
um But you know, I mean, Polk seems to be, Polk to me seems like, uh, it's almost like they weren't trying to hit a home run. They were trying to go for like a doubles kind of guy. Like, uh, he's like a real steady, not quite possession, but like, you know, a more dynamic, uh,
00:24:39
Snooty
Jacoby Myers kind of guy um Which is good. You need players like that, right?
00:24:44
savageboston
yeah
00:24:44
Snooty
um And well, I love pop Douglas. He just has to stay healthy Baker will see you know I mean if he can be that type of dynamic eye then sure and then I know I like born um I feel like he's been criminally underused for two years because Patricia's a moron um and
00:25:00
savageboston
Yeah He's a good receiver
00:25:03
Snooty
He's I think look is he number one or two or however you want to find it no But like he's just a good receiver like he he gets open he makes plays when he's there and and
Season Potential and Coaching Strategies
00:25:13
Snooty
you know He's reliable. So you can't really ask her too much more than that um I think when you factor in the tight ends it gets a little bit a little bit better um Because I think Henry's a little bit underrated at this point Hooper's old but You know, he's familiar with the system.
00:25:32
Snooty
He's somewhat reliable because he's a veteran. He's been around Should be a good teammate that type of thing And um, and then my guy bell jahim bell.
00:25:39
savageboston
and
00:25:41
Snooty
I think he could as long as he makes the roster I think he's gonna be a yeah Sneaky sneaky good guy to have on the roster because I think he's he's more of that move tight end something that they haven't had for a long time And I won't say the name of the previous guy um yeah He
00:25:56
savageboston
Yeah, similar build, similar similar player.
00:26:01
Snooty
he's ah He's just super uber athletic. He's he's a little bit smaller. than so he can't He's not ah an inline blocking tight end. That's not how he's going to play, but he could take handoffs out of the backfield. He can do swing screens. He can do a whole bunch of different things. so When you kind of look at it as like a pass-catching group, I think there's there's enough upside there that it's exciting. Certainly, we're not going to say they're the greatest show on turf or anything like that, but like there's there's some potential there and some some reason for excitement, some reason to tune in.
00:26:31
savageboston
I do think they're going to win they're goingnna win more games than people think. I have them over four winning four. you know I would take over four and a half. People are really low. I mean they i think even Brissett has been much better than in camp, especially, than people give him credit for. like i mean you know You got people talking about they just had some of your best offensive practices in three years.
00:26:53
savageboston
I mean, literally, we've been hearing about the offense in practice for the last two years about how horrible it looks. I mean, you guys, you know, depending on how close you've tracked it, all they talked about is like the offense just can't move. And then it always reflects it in the games for the last two years that you've been horrible. So, like, I'm encouraged to see that even with Preset even, like, I like how Preset's pushing it. I hope he plays well, you know, and then maybe May gets in halfway through the year.
00:27:20
Snooty
i think it's it's felderman's rotting people's brain from the gawber set sucks and you're like look i get it he is he a top 15 quarterback no but i also don't think he's a bottom five quarterback starting in the week i think he's he's better than people give him credit for he's not super dynamic he's not going to win you a playoff game much less a super bowl but like
00:27:31
savageboston
No.
00:27:34
Bret
And.
Past Performances and Veteran Roles
00:27:42
Snooty
He's also, he's not bad. He's a pretty decent veteran. And I still have a shit ton of respect for him after what he did. And I think it was the, what was the fourth game they played that year when Brady was suspended and Garoppolo got hurt?
00:27:57
Snooty
He got, yeah, no, that was the first one.
00:27:57
savageboston
Hey, Ryan ran for a touchdown something or something. Yeah.
00:28:01
Snooty
The second one, he got fucking killed and he was the only quarterback active because Garoppolo couldn't even fucking dress.
00:28:08
savageboston
Rob Lowe is made of glass, a freaking guy. I thought, I really like think that his career came off the rails.
00:28:11
Snooty
He got...
00:28:14
Bret
He's soft.
00:28:15
savageboston
Like I really thought he was much better.
00:28:17
Bret
He's soft.
00:28:17
savageboston
He's so smart.
00:28:17
Snooty
But like, I remember because Brissett was a rookie. Brissett got fucking crushed. And they had to like help him up off the top off the thing, but he stayed in. And I remember being like, that's a tough motherfucker right there.
00:28:29
Snooty
Like, ton of respect for him for that. um I think he's better than you think. I think they're going to win more games than you than you think, provided they stay healthy. Barmore is the real loss there.
00:28:39
Snooty
um But I think the defense is going to be good enough to keep you in a lot of games.
00:28:40
savageboston
Yeah, that sucks.
00:28:44
Snooty
And their offense was so horrifically bad last year that it's going to be a challenge to be that bad or worse.
00:28:51
savageboston
I promise it looks better than that.
00:28:53
Snooty
like
00:28:53
savageboston
I promise.
00:28:55
Snooty
It's going to be really hard to be that bad or worse.
00:28:58
Bret
yeah it was
00:28:58
savageboston
It can't. To be honest, it can't be worse.
00:29:01
Bret
It was painful the last like three years, right? Since the first rookie year with Josh, you know, working with Mack Jones, like that was a year where we're like, okay, maybe we have something. Maybe we can do something with this kid. Like, yeah, he has a lot of physical qualities, but we have good coaching. If we get the right system around him, it will work. And then like Josh left and we just fucking ruined the kid. And like the slow, the slow,
00:29:28
Bret
regression across the board on everything. And then it's just been painful to watch. So yeah, I'm i'm optimistic there's going to be growth there. But you know, the concern I have is you look at the you look at the offense, right? So like, for set,
00:29:45
Bret
he's ah He's an NFL caliber quarterback. He's not going to start on most teams. He would be a great backup in a lot of situations, but like he's not going to totally fuck you over when he's out there and shit the bed.
00:30:00
Bret
He'll be competent. He's not going to like throw four picks. He's not going to fumble the ball left and right. um you know He's going to be serviceable, but he's also not going to go out there and win you games. And then after that, I think we
00:30:10
savageboston
I mean, just to just really quick, just ah just to float this out there, if you guys, now hopefully you don't know the actual number, if you if I had told you or asked you, what do you think last year the Patriots average in points per game?
00:30:26
Snooty
I know the answer.
00:30:26
savageboston
What do you think the average is? If do if you if you know the number, don't say it.
00:30:30
Bret
I don't know the number.
00:30:30
savageboston
Brett, what do you think the average was last year, Tommy?
00:30:32
Bret
I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say like 11 and a half.
00:30:37
savageboston
That's extraordinarily low. um No, it's it's not that low.
00:30:39
Bret
Yeah.
00:30:41
savageboston
that is That is extremely low. I think that would be the lowest. I could look it up.
00:30:45
Bret
i feel I feel like they had a stretch though for like a few games where like they just, they were like historically low.
00:30:52
savageboston
Well, they were, because in my opinion, I mean, this number between, they were tied with Carolina last year.
00:30:52
Bret
Like they set a record.
00:30:57
savageboston
They're both apparently tied. I'm sure one of them actually has a tiebreaker, right? But um but they got 13.9 points a game. for an entire season.
00:31:09
Snooty
Mm hmm.
00:31:10
savageboston
Do you know how hard that is to do? I mean, looking historically, that is one of the, I think it's like a top five lowest in like the last decade points per game. Like it was, it was that bad.
00:31:20
savageboston
I mean, really like that bad. Pittsburgh, the magical offense that Ayek wants to go to, they were 28th in the league at 17.8. So it's not like they were burning down, you know, burning down the building. And I'm sure they'll be better with Russell Wilson, but but just saying like, you know, if this team gets their average, let's say to, I don't know, 22 points a game, like that's or 20 points a game, like you're looking at 21st, 22nd in the league, they're going to win at at least three more games.
00:31:50
savageboston
You know, so they are gonna win more this year and I think they'll score more, but like that to me is just just shockingly bad to revisit that season. I mean, um to me, that's the worst season since, I don't know, ballot either you could say Belichick's first year or you could say pre-Bledsoe.
00:32:10
savageboston
I mean, really like we're talking, that was that was, I think the worst season I've ever watched. I mean, so um I just hope it's more pleasant to watch than last season is what I'm saying.
00:32:19
Snooty
I think this year, if you break it down kind of who they play and stuff like that, if if you take the six division games, I think they can win one or two.
Season Predictions and Player Development
00:32:30
Snooty
you know maybe Somewhere between one and three. And that sounds silly, but like they beat Buffalo last year. They beat the Jets last year. Admittedly, the Jets didn't have Rogers, but like shit happens. The Patriots, even at their peak, rarely swept, this went 6-0 against the division.
00:32:46
Snooty
shit happens right like so let's say you pick up one or two wins there then there's a handful of games like the indies the bears uh the chicago's the you know there's a handful of teams where you're like the jaguars where you're like well i think you're kind of overrated at this point and you kind of suck too so like I don't know, you could split some of those games.
00:33:06
savageboston
Uh-huh.
00:33:07
Snooty
That brings you up to like three, four wins.
00:33:07
savageboston
Hi.
00:33:09
Snooty
And then there's a bunch of games against like some really good teams that have the potential to overlook you. And you know, you may pick off a game or two where you're like, how the fuck did we win that game? But like, that happens in the NFL.
00:33:20
savageboston
You want to feel?
00:33:21
Snooty
You know what I mean?
00:33:22
savageboston
Yeah.
00:33:22
Snooty
Like, I'm gonna say it, Cincinnati week one, Cincinnati is a very I know it's their home opener and I know burrows back and I know it sounds absurd and they'll probably get crushed but like Cincinnati's a notoriously slow starting team Like that's the type of game that like you can like what the hell is that like you win Seattle's coming here That's a west coast team coming east Seattle's not a great team at this point I know they probably have better talent overall, but like I don't know. I mean they have fucking Gino Smith still You know I mean like and it's been two years now since his like great season and you know happy for Gino and all that but like
00:33:56
Snooty
You know, I mean, I think there's more winnable games on this schedule than people think. There's definitely games they're going to get fucking crushed. Don't get me wrong. But, and I'm not saying they're going to win, you know, eight, nine games with the playoffs here, but I could see six, seven wins, five, six, seven wins somewhere in there.
00:34:12
savageboston
Yeah, I mean I definitely could have
00:34:13
Bret
Yeah, i wouldn't get I wouldn't get too overhyped in towards it. and like I know you just kind of lifted off different matchups. like I would still say we're the odds on to lose those games. like You just mentioned Seattle coming in here. um They're a better team than us. Definitely a better team than us. My concern is offensively as a, you know, what I was trying to get to is, is like, yeah, we have Brissett, who is an NFL caliber quarterback. And like we have Henry who's an NFL caliber tight end, like we have some NFL caliber, but large, by and large, there's more question marks than there are like not.
00:34:53
Bret
So that's my concern and but it also gives me a level of optimism that like some of these guys could really pop and like turn it like we could get some really you know big hits and then that would be huge for us to be able to go out there and now have you know new wide receivers young wide receivers new new quarterback comes out going great, maybe Kade Wallace steps up and you're like, holy shit, the kid can play tackle. Like, we'll see. But it's just there's so many question marks that it's just like, I'm itching to start getting into games and see where it goes. And I'm like less concerned with the win-loss column as I am just like seeing the development of these guys and like seeing how they look.
00:35:35
Bret
on the field and like do we believe that we have actual competent players that can legit play or did we just draft another Taekwon Thornton who doesn't know what the fuck he's doing or you know we have Mack Jones and Bailey Zappi out there and we're like what the fuck's going on?
00:35:52
savageboston
By the way, just as like to follow up on, to follow up on the stuff I looked up before, okay?
Historical Offensive Performance Review
00:35:58
savageboston
I just looked up from years 2013. Okay, this is 2013 to 2023. Okay, 10 full seasons. How many teams, points per game per season, how many teams do you think were lower in the last 10 seasons than the Patriots and Carolina were this past year?
00:36:18
Snooty
Six and okay It's like That's about right
00:36:20
savageboston
The answer is zero.
00:36:23
savageboston
Okay, so I've just finally hit 2012, where someone was lower. It was the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012, scored 13.2 points a game, they were a dead last.
00:36:34
savageboston
And that's that. So just to, by the way, the Patriots 2012, did you know this?
00:36:35
Bret
That's so bad.
00:36:39
savageboston
Patriots that year scored 33.9 points a game.
00:36:43
Bret
I mean, obviously I didn't know that but...
00:36:44
savageboston
Ridiculous, I'm just let me let me it's ridiculous.
00:36:45
Bret
but
00:36:47
savageboston
Just random winning win that year That's the year after we made the Super Bowl Brady just decides to come out just light it on fire Just thirty three point nine a game You know, it's just insane what they did. um But you know, but anyway, I just want to get across like, truly, like I said, when we're when I say rock bottom, rock bottom, it really is rock bottom. I mean, that is that is actually what rock bottom means. I mean, it is the bottom. So, you know, there there is nowhere to go but up.
00:37:16
savageboston
And I promise you, they won't score less points per game than 13.9.
00:37:16
Snooty
Mm.
00:37:22
savageboston
Statistically, that would be so difficult to do. ah
00:37:27
Bret
We should see. I bet you Vegas has like the odds on what they're going to have for points per game this season for an average.
00:37:34
savageboston
Yeah.
00:37:34
Bret
I'd be curious to see what they have for like a Vegas line because I know their their win loss is what four and a half I think.
00:37:35
savageboston
Yeah.
00:37:42
savageboston
Yeah, thanks for warning me.
00:37:42
Bret
um I'd be curious to see like what is there, what is Vegas having for the points per game average with a season after one of the historical worst offensive seasons in NFL.
00:37:56
savageboston
Oh my god.
00:37:57
Bret
Like that's crazy.
00:37:57
savageboston
I don't know. I don't know, honestly. But all right, well, we'll wrap it just so our time doesn't get
Conclusion and Future Episodes
00:38:03
savageboston
crazy. I'm sure we could keep talking for a while. But hopefully, we have more pods to come just through the season.
00:38:09
savageboston
um you know Obviously, having your regulars is helpful. um But you know we'll do what we can when people are available, whether it's me, Savage, Snooty, or Brett.
00:38:21
savageboston
And yeah, we'll figure it out. So thanks for tuning in. And we will talk to you guys soon.
00:38:26
Bret
Peace.
00:38:27
savageboston
Peace.
00:38:28
Snooty
There.