Originally Posted by bostonia3333

Pats front office has had several years to add pieces to this team, and they've let so many opportunities slip away. Guys like Fitzgerald/Peppers/Asomuga are players that come to mind...heck we should have at least 2 of those names by now, but instead we are stuck with garbage like Francis/Branch/Arrington.

Originally Posted by bostonia3333

guys like fitzgerald/peppers/asomuga are players that come to mind...heck we should have at least 2 of those names by now, but instead we are stuck with garbage like francis/branch/arrington.

Originally Posted by Fake Nate Ebner

No big deal...only took me 3 defensive plays to be drafted before Tom Brady

Originally Posted by MoLewisrocks

Message to the moron contingent, we don't need less talent we need more. And it would help if it's durable. We lost tonight because we play on a margin driven in part by the value model. Brady is the least of this teams problems. When we lose what other little elite talent or as close to it as we've come of late at critical positions we don't have the pure talent to overcome an opponent who might struggle in season with less depth but if healthy in the post season poses a tougher matchup.

Branch was our 3rd WR on the field tonight. Welker and Lloyd both had drops but there was no alternative but to keep targeting the same two guys. And Hernandez, who simply isn't a $7M TE when not in tandem with another one. Both of whom shape an offense that struggles in their absence. The running game was supposed to counter some of that but for all it's flashes it still struggles when the chips are down. And Vereen's speed and receiving ability that might have been presumed to cause the Raven's D problems simply never was apparently never part of the game plan. The plan itself may be part of the problem because we react and rely so much on scheme it almost renders us incapable of simply stepping up and making plays. Some of that is lack of talent and some of it is over reliance on scheme. The more Belichick coached up that D the worse it played.

Brady had some time at times but no one who could get open. The defense was so worried about Flacco going deep they couldn't stop the run or the intermediate throws that converted 3rd and long. Once Talib went out they just wilted. I think it was one of the more poorly coached games I've seen in a while.

I agree it's time for a change, but that change involves addition rather than subtraction. They need another outside WR who can get open not via scheme but via talent and speed. Probably need to draft that guy since you have $15M per tied up in the TE's. Need to figure out whether to extend or replace Talib with equal or better and more durable talent. Need to figure out what you're doing with the young backs and commit to them or move on. Can't run a two TE offense when you often don't have two available talented enough to. Can't run 3 or 4 wide when you don't have the horses to. Can't count on the running game when you still can't run even when they know you are.

We became one dimentional again, the same thing Belichick supposedly tasked McDaniels last off season with eliminating the possibility of ever happening again. Guys are going to drop balls and even fumble them on occasion. You have to be able to overcome that. We still lack the talent to. Opponents are going to make plays but you have to be able to make stops too. And if you aren't getting any pressure you have to stop banging your head against the wall and change it up. We didn't on either side of the ball and so we end up with the post season headache again.

Originally Posted by bostonia3333

People need to stop blaming injuries on our loss. Gronk needs to stay on the field, the guy is simply made out of glass and while freak injuries occur, it happens more to certain players than others--- at some point you have to credit the team who's most durable. I give guys like Welker and Brady alot of props for being able to stay on the field this year. Those guys took some vicious shots and probably played through injuries.


Pats front office has had several years to add pieces to this team, and they've let so many opportunities slip away. Guys like Fitzgerald/Peppers/Asomuga are players that come to mind...heck we should have at least 2 of those names by now, but instead we are stuck with garbage like Francis/Branch/Arrington. Gronk would not have solved matters tonight, his burst off the line of scrimmage isn't what it used to be since he got injured in the AFCCG.

Lloyd is an EXTREMELY overrated receiver...just merely a shade or hair better than Richochet Caldwell. He's like jack in the box. He catches the ball, falls down immediately, and just gets back up immediately. He has no physicality, speed, or size to his game You can't expect to win Super Bowls when you have those kinds of players. At least ATTEMPT to run after you catch it.

Welker is too small to be the focal point of your offense. His drops have cost this team two super bowls IMO. He catches that pass tonight, and we go up 20-7 and generate momentum and force BALT to adjust their game plan.

Team needs a DNA shift. Who knows if this is it for the Pats great playoff run, but it's quite simple now, Brady can't do it by himself anymore. We have to use Brady like the Cowboys used Aikman in the 90s....make the offensive line the focal point, inject the running game and screen game into the mix more, and use Brady moderately. No more 40-50 pass games please A deep threat would be nice, but the Pats are really stubborn with that stuff .