HOW HE TRIES TO FIX THE PATS
truly evaluate the last two, the four drafts before it were pretty much duds. Currently, the Patriots have 10 selections in the 2021 draft, with six coming in the first four rounds.
“They need to do a better job of getting some young talent,” said Harrison. “That’s the only way you’re going to change it. You have to continue to build through the draft, but the key is finding that quarterback, whether it’s Matthew Stafford, if he becomes available, or whoever.”
Whatever the method, Belichick has to find the right players and fix it.
During his weekly appearance on WEEI, Belichick hinted at changes being made, and “hopefully returning to a higher level of
coaching and playing performance for the Patriots.”
Even the players are expecting significant moves.
“When you have a season like we did this year, and you’re not going to the playoffs, you have embarrassing losses, this roster is going to be a lot different,” veteran cornerback Jason McCourty said after Monday’s 38-9 loss to the Bills. “There are a lot of guys that are in the locker room that aren’t going to be next year.”
The Brady Chronicles
It’s hard to ignore how much Rob Gronkowski has come on and once again become a significant target for Tom Brady.
In the past three games, Gronkowski has caught six passes for 89 yards. Three have been for touchdowns.
“I love playing with the guy,” Brady said via the Tampa Bay Times. “He knows how I feel about him. I’ve got a lot of trust and confidence in the biggest moments with him. Sometimes, I think about players. If it was the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, who do I want in the game with me? And you know, he definitely fits that.”
Gronkowski, who started slowly, has played in every game, something he hasn’t done since 2011. His seven touchdown receptions are the most he’s had since hauling in 11 in 2015.
“The experience has been great,” Gronkowski told reporters during his media session. “It’s been a fun season. At times, you know it takes its toll. It feels like it’s going on for a while and then there’s times when it’s Week 17 and you look back and you’re like, ‘Man, time flew.’ … Just overall, man, it’s been a successful journey so far.”
Best-Gase scenario?
Following Sunday’s meeting with the Patriots, the Jets are expected to move on from head coach Adam Gase.
There’s been some speculation he might land a gig with the Patriots, given Belichick’s apparent fondness for him, not to mention an opening for a quarterbacks coach.
Belichick and Josh McDaniels’ familiarity with Gase — he worked with McDaniels in Denver — would be a driving factor, but it’s hard to ignore how the so-called quarterback whisperer has done recently.
The Jets hired him for his offensive chops, but they rank last in scoring offense (15.3 points per game), and were second-worst last season (17.3 ppg). In his final season with the Dolphins, he had the second-worst offense.
He’s gone 9-22 as the Jets head coach, and overall only has one winning season as a head coach.
During the week, he accepted the blame for
what’s gone wrong in New York and wasn’t necessarily worried about his reputation being damaged by all the offensive woes. It certainly doesn’t seem like Belichick would shy away.
“I don’t know if ‘worry’ is the right word,” Gase said Wednesday. “It pisses me off.
If there’s one side of the ball I want to make sure is right, it would be that one. It has not happened, and that’s on me.”
Bledsoe an Allen fan
Drew Bledsoe watched the Bills’ Monday night massacre of the Patriots. The Patriots Hall of Fame quarterback, and former Bill, was part of a virtual watch party on a video call with former teammates from both teams.
Speaking with Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News, Bledsoe said he couldn’t be happier about Josh Allen developing into an elite quarterback, and breaking most of his records along the way.
Thus far, Allen has broken Bledsoe’s franchise marks for completions (378 to Bledsoe’s 375), total yards (4,738 to Bledsoe’s 4,426) and 300-yard passing games (eight to Bledsoe’s seven).
He’s also 39 yards away from Bledsoe’s record for passing yards.
“What Josh is doing, it’s a great credit to him and it’s also a great credit to their coaching staff,” Bledsoe said. “His accuracy, timing, decision-making, everything that he’s doing is at an elite level now. Watching him operate is just really fun. Obviously, I’m a bit biased, but, man, watching great quarterback play just gets me excited.”