Pats sign JuJu Smith-Schuster

BigJimEd

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Now, let's wait and see the numbers.

930 yds in 16 games last year with the Chiefs.
 

luckiestman

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Had some quotes during the season where it seemed like he loved playing for Andy. Surprised he didn’t stay with KC.
 

Ed Hillel

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Basically traded Myers for JuJu. Upgrade in talent, with bigger upside, but lower floor in Pats system.
 

joe dokes

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I assume 3/33 means nothing until we see the details?
Snooze. Lateral move.
I assume O'Brien likes the new guy better than the old guy for his system going forward and that's the primary impetus.
 

rodderick

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Count me among those that believe this to be a lateral move. Both he and Meyers have virtually identical yards per game and yards per target over the past three seasons. JuJu is a little different in that he has more YAC potential, so we'll see. At those numbers my preference would have been to keep the guy that has proven to be productive in their system.
 

Cellar-Door

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So basically same deal as Jakobi, makes it clear they preferred Juju. I can see it, he's probably a bit better athlete in terms of agility and long speed, better YAC guy. I think he's probably a better slot than Jakobi, where Jakobi might bring more as the Z.
 

Shelterdog

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I mean…why not just keep Myers?
Unless there's something unreported about Myers (like he was part of the unhealthy dynamic among Patricia/Jones/Judge last year, or BB just wants to get rid of a bunch of offensive players to remove the stench from last year) I think the obvious answer is that BB thinks Juju is better.

I'm not sure Juju is better.
 

joe dokes

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Count me among those that believe this to be a lateral move. Both he and Meyers have virtually identical yards per game and yards per target over the past three seasons. JuJu is a little different in that he has more YAC potential, so we'll see. At those numbers my preference would have been to keep the guy that has proven to be productive in their system.
Isn't the "their system" point a big one, with a new OC?
 

Ed Hillel

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Unless I hear different from a reputable source, I don't think Meyers was staying here unless the Pats overpaid. He wanted to go to Vegas.
DMac was on the radio this morning and said he wanted to stay in NE, so whether that's actually true or Meyers just said it to a former teammate to save face I dunno.

I have no problem preferring JuJu.
 

BaseballJones

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Best 3 seasons:

JuJu:
2018: 111 rec, 1,426 yds, 12.8 y/c, 7 td
2017: 79 rec, 917 yds, 15.8 y/c, 7 td
2022: 78 rec, 933 yds, 12.0 y/c, 3 td

Jakobi:
2021: 83 rec, 866 yds, 10.4 y/c, 2 td
2022: 67 rec, 804 yds, 12.0 y/c, 6 td
2020: 59 rec, 729 yds, 12.4 y/c, 0 td

JuJu is better, but it's reasonably close. Given the matched salaries, this probably represents a slight improvement for the Pats. Not a major one, but still...some improvement is better than none, especially if the $$ is the same.
 

Eck'sSneakyCheese

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I’m sorry but Juju is better than Jakobi. I’m a Pats fanboy too but the eyeballs tell me there’s more flash, more big play ability from Smith-Schuster. This is is an upgrade.
 

joe dokes

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BOB is running mostly the traditional Patriots stuff. Have no reason to believe a guy who did well with Josh wouldn't fit.
So maybe it comes down to the YAC potential improvement for the same $$ vs the risk of the new guy. They need substantial improvement at a few positions. Incremental improvement at this one is OK.
 

BunnzMcGinty

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I like it. Feel like he’s better for YAC. Now trade for Jeudy so my husband can get pissed at me repeating “Juju and Jeudy” every Sunday for 3 hours.
 

rodderick

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Best 3 seasons:

JuJu:
2018: 111 rec, 1,426 yds, 12.8 y/c, 7 td
2017: 79 rec, 917 yds, 15.8 y/c, 7 td
2022: 78 rec, 933 yds, 12.0 y/c, 3 td

Jakobi:
2021: 83 rec, 866 yds, 10.4 y/c, 2 td
2022: 67 rec, 804 yds, 12.0 y/c, 6 td
2020: 59 rec, 729 yds, 12.4 y/c, 0 td

JuJu is better, but it's reasonably close. Given the matched salaries, this probably represents a slight improvement for the Pats. Not a major one, but still...some improvement is better than none, especially if the $$ is the same.
If Juju were close to the 2017 version he wouldn't have signed a 4 million dollar prove it deal last year. That guy isn't really relevant in this comparison.
 

sodenj5

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Speed and Yac.
Do you think JuJu is fast? I feel like they’re the same guy.

Maybe JuJu brings a little something to the run game, he’s probably more physical than he gets credit for.
 

Cellar-Door

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Do you think JuJu is fast? I feel like they’re the same guy.

Maybe JuJu brings a little something to the run game, he’s probably more physical than he gets credit for.
he's not that fast, but he has a bit better speed than Jakobi. The big difference is agility. Juju was much better there coming out of college and last year it looked like he hadn't lost any of it. He gets in and out of cuts quick, which is big for a slot.
 

Kliq

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He was John Smith in college. At one point, he decided to formally go by his nickname, JuJu, and also add his step-father's last name on to his own; thus John Smith became Juju Smith-Schuster.
 

rodderick

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I think it evens itself out: Meyers is more proven in the system and has a connection with Mac, Juju had more YAC potential and could provide more explosiveness out of the slot. Don't think this moves the needle, but I get the rationale behind it.
 

Vinho Tinto

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Best 3 seasons:
I wouldn't go that far back to compare them. Juju was a playmaker at USC, and the first three seasons with the Steelers. He still has great hands, but he hasn't shown that consistent ability to make a play that flips the field with his speed. Not sure if it is a leg muscle issue that won't go away or if it something else. He was just 21 when he was drafted. Would be good to see him regain that early level he displayed.
 

Deathofthebambino

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So basically same deal as Jakobi, makes it clear they preferred Juju. I can see it, he's probably a bit better athlete in terms of agility and long speed, better YAC guy. I think he's probably a better slot than Jakobi, where Jakobi might bring more as the Z.
I think it's about as lateral a move as can be, honestly.

Both guys are basically the same player, they just get there in different ways. Juju gets more YAC because he catches more balls near the LOS. His average depth of target at his best (first 2 seasons in Pitt) was 8.8 and 9.7. That number dropped to 7.3 last year in KC (I'm eliminating the injury years which fell in between those numbers). Jakob's depth of target has been 10.3, 10.2, 9.8, 9.9. That's how both guys end up with the same ypc last season at 12.0.

That said, I think it could be evidence that Juju gets open quicker, which was a big need for Mac and this offense last year, given the problems on the offensive line. I'm not convinced that's true, when you have Travis Kelce generating so much gravity and Mahomes throwing the ball.

Either way, if this is the big splash, I'm getting myself ready for an offense that doesn't look a whole lot different from a talent standpoint than the one that took the field last year. BoB better have some magic up his sleeve.
 

BaseballJones

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I wouldn't go that far back to compare them. Juju was a playmaker at USC, and the first three seasons with the Steelers. He still has great hands, but he hasn't shown that consistent ability to make a play that flips the field with his speed. Not sure if it is a leg muscle issue that won't go away or if it something else. He was just 21 when he was drafted. Would be good to see him regain that early level he displayed.
Ok, well his 2022 was better than any season Jakobi has had, though barely.

But wait...he had Mahomes throwing to him so that probably means his 2022 doesn't count either, right? (not trying to direct this snark at you personally....just waiting for the inevitable reply by anyone who doesn't like this move)
 

rodderick

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Ok, well his 2022 was better than any season Jakobi has had, though barely.

But wait...he had Mahomes throwing to him so that probably means his 2022 doesn't count either, right? (not trying to direct this snark at you personally....just waiting for the inevitable reply by anyone who doesn't like this move)
I mean, why shouldn't that be part of the equation? Not to mention every offensive player gets a pass for 2022 due to Patricia, but Meyers remained as productive as he was in 2021 and gets no credit for it.
 

Vinho Tinto

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Ok, well his 2022 was better than any season Jakobi has had, though barely.

But wait...he had Mahomes throwing to him so that probably means his 2022 doesn't count either, right? (not trying to direct this snark at you personally....just waiting for the inevitable reply by anyone who doesn't like this move)
Well, yes. He was playing for a hall of fame coach and QB for short money. He was nothing special until the second half of the Super Bowl when he made the big plays. Who he is now may be exactly what they want (A guy who can run routes and not drop passes); but he hasn't looked like the guy who became a household name for a while. It's mostly been headlines about dancing on Tik Tok.
 

BaseballJones

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I mean, why shouldn't that be part of the equation? Not to mention every offensive player gets a pass for 2022 due to Patricia, but Meyers remained as productive as he was in 2021 and gets no credit for it.
Also KC had Kelce, who absorbed a ton of targets, which is also part of it, right?
 

Ale Xander

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Not a fan

I’m just gonna assume Meyers didn’t want to stay here for whatever reason (Bob/Mac/climate)
 

Shaky Walton

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Was the idiot pass to Chandler Jones a lateral move too?

I like Jakobi a lot but Smith-Shuster's numbers are better, he does have more explosion and this does hurt the Chiefs.

I was hoping that they would sign or trade for a more obvious difference maker, like Hopkins, but better is better.

My immediate question is: Does this preclude another signfificant WR move?
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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This is great. I was going to post earlier today that I predicting the Patriots would get DJ Chark for 3/36. This seems better?
 

Ferm Sheller

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How does it work? They get a comp pick in next year's draft for Meyers leaving, and the JuJu signing doesn't affect that? If so, we have to factor that in.
 

BigSoxFan

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Was the idiot pass to Chandler Jones a lateral move too?

I like Jakobi a lot but Smith-Shuster's numbers are better, he does have more explosion and this does hurt the Chiefs.

I was hoping that they would sign or trade for a more obvious difference maker, like Hopkis, but better is better.

My immediate question is: Does this preclude another signfificant WR move?
I don’t think this precludes another big WR move although I’m not expecting anything bigger either. Maybe they sign OBJ.
 

DJnVa

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I mean, why shouldn't that be part of the equation? Not to mention every offensive player gets a pass for 2022 due to Patricia, but Meyers remained as productive as he was in 2021 and gets no credit for it.
He got $33M worth of credit.

The Pats preferred JuJu.