Injury Bug

[BigKen]

The injury bug has bitten the Patriots, but has had the venom that other teams have suffered.

Most of the bites have been temporary with the exception of James White so far. Trent Brown's calf, Chase Winovich's hamstrip, Jaimie Collins hamstring and several others.

The owners want to go to an 18 game season with two preseason games and it makes on wonder just how much a human body can withstand? Players across the league have been placed on returnable IR and more are now going out on season ending injuries. Kalil Mack is having season ending surgery on his Achilles, Carson the Seahawks RB will have neck surgery and is out for the year.

As with any team, the Patriots must avoid a rash of serious injuries,

This takes us back to Week 1 of training camp when many people bitched about the new rule of no pads or contact for the first five day of camp. Bill Belichick never once said anything negative about it, but if you remember, the players bitched about BB's conditioning drills and how miserable it was and bad they felt after three days. BB didn't have any contact for 7 days and we all questioned it. Here we are in Week 11 and the Patriots are "getting healthy". The biggest problem over the past two weeks were concussions, not bones, tendons, ligaments or muscles. Not one other team put as much emphasis on conditioning as Belichick did. Makes one wonder if he knew that the one extra week was going put more players on the sideline and made the Patriots suffer in the short dash so they would survive the marathon.

And the odds makers have him at 600+ for Coach of the Year.

 

[Southieinnc]

The injury bug has bitten the Patriots, but has had the venom that other teams have suffered.

Most of the bites have been temporary with the exception of James White so far. Trent Brown's calf, Chase Winovich's hamstrip, Jaimie Collins hamstring and several others.

The owners want to go to an 18 game season with two preseason games and it makes on wonder just how much a human body can withstand? Players across the league have been placed on returnable IR and more are now going out on season ending injuries. Kalil Mack is having season ending surgery on his Achilles, Carson the Seahawks RB will have neck surgery and is out for the year.

As with any team, the Patriots must avoid a rash of serious injuries,

This takes us back to Week 1 of training camp when many people bitched about the new rule of no pads or contact for the first five day of camp. Bill Belichick never once said anything negative about it, but if you remember, the players bitched about BB's conditioning drills and how miserable it was and bad they felt after three days. BB didn't have any contact for 7 days and we all questioned it. Here we are in Week 11 and the Patriots are "getting healthy". The biggest problem over the past two weeks were concussions, not bones, tendons, ligaments or muscles. Not one other team put as much emphasis on conditioning as Belichick did. Makes one wonder if he knew that the one extra week was going put more players on the sideline and made the Patriots suffer in the short dash so they would survive the marathon.

And the odds makers have him at 600+ for Coach of the Year.

Patriots also have reliable backups and players rotate more often - except in the secondary where we cannot afford to sit JC Jackson or McCourtey

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Patriots also have reliable backups and players rotate more often - except in the secondary where we cannot afford to sit JC Jackson or McCourtey

This has been their strategy for years. A couple big name players, a LOT of mid tier guys and proven vets along with some rookies and cast offs.

That mid tier level depth is what has kept them competitive year in and year out.

Add in some great coaching that starts with scouting. Finding players that can do multiple things. Then putting them where they excel for the betterment of the team first. Which ends up raising their value.

Just look at Troy Brown playing DB. I laugh when people use the injury excuse.

No one does it as good as NE does.

 

[BigKen]

This has been their strategy for years. A couple big name players, a LOT of mid tier guys and proven vets along with some rookies and cast offs.

That mid tier level depth is what has kept them competitive year in and year out.

Add in some great coaching that starts with scouting. Finding players that can do multiple things. Then putting them where they excel for the betterment of the team first. Which ends up raising their value.

Just look at Troy Brown playing DB. I laugh when people use the injury excuse.

No one does it as good as NE does.

BB and his staff have been remarkable picking up undrafted players.

Everyone forgets that Kyle Duggar played Div. II and wasn't on anyone's board except BB's.

 

[nefansince75]

This has been their strategy for years. A couple big name players, a LOT of mid tier guys and proven vets along with some rookies and cast offs.

That mid tier level depth is what has kept them competitive year in and year out.

Add in some great coaching that starts with scouting. Finding players that can do multiple things. Then putting them where they excel for the betterment of the team first. Which ends up raising their value.

Just look at Troy Brown playing DB. I laugh when people use the injury excuse.

No one does it as good as NE does.

It's also the heart of the bend but don't break approach (not to be confused with the bend then break approach it sometimes becomes). Get the most talent spread across the team, targeting best value where possible, then build the plan to take advantage of the strengths of the players. Buying based on value means you don't have the same depth with the same skillsets year over year but you do have more talent across the entire team.