Top 10 Patriots

[Hunter2_1]

Who are the top 10 players on the team heading into the 2018 season

(yes, it's that time of year....)

Mine;

1. Rob Gronkowski

I don't think there's a more consensus 'best player in his position' in the league. Everyone agrees with this, and if they don't, they're in denial. No other TE can combine the receiving skills with the blocking prowess like Rob can. He's the best blocking TE in the league, and also either THE best or second best receiving TE. Our best player, for me.

2. Tom Brady

Enough said.

3. Dont'a Hightower

Defensive leader and playmaker. Continues to come up big for us, and is a very well rounded LB. Bet Bill loves him.

4. Shaq Mason

Graded as PFF's second best guard for most of the season - very athletic, accurate blocker in space and pretty safe in the pass game too. I think we're going to have to pay him.

5. Julian Edelman

Jury is kind of out on him after a season ending injury, but if he comes back in 2016 form, he'll be Brady's favourite target again and will provide separation that was missed at points last season (eg Miami game)

6. David Andrews

As per PFF who have him as 3rd best C; " he allowed just 22 total pressures over the regular season. Andrews also improved dramatically as a run-blocker, dealing much better with big defensive linemen and helping the New England run game continue to be successful even without a big bruising back."

7. Devin McCourty

Slight down season for him last time out, but still dependable to make plays and provide key communication/intelligence/direction on the field. I think we'd have been even more gashed without him

8. Stephon Gillmore

Slow out the blocks, but once he had the time off and learned his stuff, he was easily our best coverage player. Gave up some plays, but made even more plays (highlight was the break up vs Jags)

9. Trey Flowers

Best pass rusher on the team and is getting national recognition too. Athletic freak and strong. At times he was doing it all for us.

10. Patrick Chung

Seems strange having most of our secondary in the top 10 given the yards we gave up, but Chung did shut down pretty much all the TEs he played against. Made a few of them look like children. Very able tackler and run support too.

 

You no doubt disagree with some and/or I've forgot someone, so let's see yours!  

 

 

[AlNFL19]

1 hour ago, Hunter2_1 said:

 

1. Rob Gronkowski

I don't think there's a more consensus 'best player in his position' in the league. Everyone agrees with this, and if they don't, they're in denial. No other TE can combine the receiving skills with the blocking prowess like Rob can. He's the best blocking TE in the league, and also either THE best or second best receiving TE. Our best player, for me.

2. Tom Brady

Enough said.

 

 

 

I get the thing about Gronk being far and away the best at his position, but how on earth can anyone be ahead of Tom Brady?? He's the greatest player who ever walked the earth, I don't care how good Gronk is at playing tight end or how old Brady is. He threw for 505 yards in the Super Bowl so he's not slowing down yet.

My Top 10:

1. QB Tom Brady

2. TE Rob Gronkowski

3. ILB Dont'a Hightower

4. RG Shaq Mason

5. SWR Julian Edelman 

6. RT Marcus Cannon - He's an All-Pro right tackle. Him being off your list is another I don't agree with so much.

7. FS Devin McCourty - McCourty and Hightower are the two "quarterbacks of the defense" and the defense can't play without them.

8. DE Trey Flowers

9. FS Duron Harmon - Harmon is super underrated and I'm glad he's here. He might be the best centerfielding safety in the entire league.

10. K Stephen Gostkowski - Read the part in this article where Belichick says the same thing: https://www.ninersnation.com/2016/5/20/11720434/bucs-may-have-graded-robert-aguayo-as-a-first-round-pick. Having a rock-solid kicker is huge in the NFL no matter if you think kickers are important or not. Heck, the Chargers would've been playoff-bound last season with a kicker who could make some late-game field goals. Instead, they started 0-3 and couldn't crawl back.

 

And here's two guys I think will be Top 10 in a few years:

WR Malcolm Mitchell - If his injuries clear up, Mitchell can be the Pats' No. 1.

DE Deatrich Wise Jr. - Wise had a good rookie year and started trending up during the playoffs.

[Deadpulse]

I dont think Chung or Andrews are top ten players on this team. Chung regresses, slowly but its happening. Andrews is a very good center, but PFF rankings go off of their wonky numbers and nothing else. 

[DoleINGout]

10. Devin McCourty - perpetual team captain and reliable safety

9. Stephen Gostkowski - consistent kickoff specialist and reliable kicker

8. Ryan Allen - consistent placement on punts for optimal field position on defense

7. James White - most consistent runner, receiver, and blocker of all the backs

6. Dont’a Hightower - leads by example with a knack for making major impact plays

5. Julian Edelman - dynamic returner and consistent receiver

4. Adrian Clayborn - consistent pass rusher

3. Stephone Gilmore - consistent coverage

2. Rob Gronkowski - best tight end in NFL history

1. Tom Brady - best quarterback in the NFL

 

Top five Specialists:

5. Brandon King

4. Nate Ebner

3. Jacob Hollister

2. Jonathan Jones

1. Matthew Slater

[Hunter2_1]

21 hours ago, Deadpulse said:

I dont think Chung or Andrews are top ten players on this team. Chung regresses, slowly but its happening. Andrews is a very good center, but PFF rankings go off of their wonky numbers and nothing else. 

Disagree, I think Andrews is quietly becoming one of the best in the league. Made captain as well, already. 

[Hunter2_1]

21 hours ago, AlNFL19 said:

I get the thing about Gronk being far and away the best at his position, but how on earth can anyone be ahead of Tom Brady?? He's the greatest player who ever walked the earth, I don't care how good Gronk is at playing tight end or how old Brady is. He threw for 505 yards in the Super Bowl so he's not slowing down yet.

My Top 10:

1. QB Tom Brady

2. TE Rob Gronkowski

3. ILB Dont'a Hightower

4. RG Shaq Mason

5. SWR Julian Edelman 

6. RT Marcus Cannon - He's an All-Pro right tackle. Him being off your list is another I don't agree with so much.

7. FS Devin McCourty - McCourty and Hightower are the two "quarterbacks of the defense" and the defense can't play without them.

8. DE Trey Flowers

9. FS Duron Harmon - Harmon is super underrated and I'm glad he's here. He might be the best centerfielding safety in the entire league.

10. K Stephen Gostkowski - Read the part in this article where Belichick says the same thing: https://www.ninersnation.com/2016/5/20/11720434/bucs-may-have-graded-robert-aguayo-as-a-first-round-pick. Having a rock-solid kicker is huge in the NFL no matter if you think kickers are important or not. Heck, the Chargers would've been playoff-bound last season with a kicker who could make some late-game field goals. Instead, they started 0-3 and couldn't crawl back.

 

And here's two guys I think will be Top 10 in a few years:

WR Malcolm Mitchell - If his injuries clear up, Mitchell can be the Pats' No. 1.

DE Deatrich Wise Jr. - Wise had a good rookie year and started trending up during the playoffs.

No Gillmore? 

[Deadpulse]

4 hours ago, Hunter2_1 said:

Disagree, I think Andrews is quietly becoming one of the best in the league. Made captain as well, already. 

That has no bearing on his skill level.

[AlNFL19]

4 hours ago, Hunter2_1 said:

No Gillmore? 

Nah

[Hunter2_1]

On 07/06/2018 at 10:26 PM, Deadpulse said:

That has no bearing on his skill level.

I think his skill level is top 5 C in the league, as well, tbh.

[dhunt2402]

1. Brady
2. Gronk
3. Gilmore
4. Hightower
5. Cannon
6. McCourty
7. Flowers
8. Mason
9. Edelman
10. White

[Deadpulse]

I still think Hightower is the most important defensive player

[dhunt2402]

1 hour ago, Deadpulse said:

I still think Hightower is the most important defensive player

When healthy absolutely, but discounting for age/injuries I'd put him below Gilmore overall.

[DoleINGout]

2 hours ago, Deadpulse said:

I still think Hightower is the most important defensive player

I agree. Hightower is the best Patriots defensive player by far. However, I want to see him this season after being on IR and losing weight.

[Soko]

1. Brady

2. Gronk

3. Hightower

4. Gilmore

5. Edelman

6. Cannon

7. Andrews

8. Mason

9. Flowers

10. McCourty

Gilmore’s where he is because I expect him to pick up from where he left off. His latter portion of the season was very good. McCourty is coming off a down year and I still get PTSD from that easy Ertz TD. He was a step slow last year. Hightower is by far the best and most important player on D. Brady the GOAT. Gronk the GOAT minus longevity. Cannon’s a better tackle than Edelman is receiver but both are coming off injury and the former seems to miss time quite often. Andrews and Mason coming off strong seasons. Flowers is 9 because he’s the best edge defender at the moment, but he didn’t leap the way we’d hoped. Hopefully he gets better opportunities with more help (and Rivers lives up to his potential). 

[Hunter2_1]

The rise of Cannon has been excellent. It was only a couple of seasons ago that we considered him a liability, and we surprised he had some kind of immunity with Bill. 

 

Guess who was right yet again. Billy boy;