NoCal Patriot

The Rushing Defense was not good.I know that they weren't using any "Combo Defenses" but when Tampa and The Giants lined up hat to hat ,the defensive line went backwards.It is correctable but it better happen before Larry Johnson comes for a visit.
Smile people,Our next game is a real one !

BelichickFan

The short passing game defensively has been chewed up with the starters in too. Like you I have marginal confidence in the defense right now even though it looks excellent on paper. Getting Tommy back and giving the defense a lead to work with should help - it had better.

PonyExpress

I have only one concern: Brady's foot. I have complete confidence in every other aspect of this team.

Our defensive line consists of a healthy Seymour, the best NT in the NFL, and the great Ty Warren and Jarvis Green. There is none better.

Our LBing corps consists of A. Thomas, maybe our best defensive player, Vrabel a pro bowler, Mayo a top 10 pick who has acclimated faster than anyone could have hoped, and the sage Tedy Bruschi.

Our secondary has two HOFers who can still lay the lumber, a 1st rd FS pick (Meriweather) on the mend who seems to have a borderline psychotic on-field temperament and enjoys throwing his body around like a madman. Our CBs are being mentored by one of the best secondary coaches in NFL history, Dom Capers.

Our offense has the best Qb and WR in NFL history IMO.

Dave Thomas is healthy and ready to lend his stickum hands to the common cause. Maroney demonstrated his worth on the grandest of stages throughout last season's playoffs, Lamont Jordan looks rejuvenated and back to pre-Oakland form, Matt Light is healthy and ready to go.

Our head coach is an acknowledged genius in his profession.

Our draft class, even excluding our top 10 day one starter, looks to be as good as any since 2003.

Wheatley may start immediately. Crable is a freak with enormous upside. O'Connell has shown real talent. Slater can, in time, become an impact safety. Guyton should make the team, and might start immediately on another roster with a simpler scheme.

Our prospects for this season could not be brighter, provided Brady is healthy and upright.

JoeSixPat

My concern is simple.

Sloppy sloppy play

Missed tackles, missed blocks, missed reads, missed opportunities, mental mistakes on the field, penalties etc...

If Brady had played we would have won one or two games in the pre-season and likely there'd be much less preseason concern, but the sloppy play would still be there

those are the mistakes we can't afford when the games become real

Horace's Ivories

BB certainly hasnt shown any concern in his press conferences. That has to be a good sign. So if Bill's ok.. I'm ok...

Patslifer

Your right, nothing to worry about at all. We have the best team in the history of the sport, and should win all our games not problem. ON PAPER means nothing. We have a great team, but the outlook you have leads me to believe you are chugging a little bit to much of the kool-aid.

WAKE UP

borg

Here are the preseason stats ....Patriots vs Opponents

http://www.nfl.com/teams/newenglandp...istics?team=NE

Clearly the first team offense sat out the preseason.
Reviewing the 4 preseason games' drive charts, the opposition has consistently been able to march the ball down the field against the D. Yesterday, there were 5 drives of 9 or more plays. At Tampa, the Bucs opened the game with 17 plays and a TD. The Bucs had 5 drives of 8 or more plays resulting in 4 scores and the end of game.
For those that say...its preseason...if memory serves me correctly...the Pats D showed similar deficiencies last season. Opponents were able to drive down the field on their opening drive (didn't happen in the SB years) and the Pats were disfunctional in the red zone.
Time will tell...and because of the soft schedule, we may have to wait till the Pats play a skilled opponent.

__________________
"In the end, Belichick juiced Moss like an orange, and once all the good pulp was squeezed, he tossed Moss aside. "


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PonyExpress

I think you can't see the forest from the trees. Assuming Brady is healthy, the Pats emerged from the preseason in great physical shape.

They have paced themselves through the preseason, due to the fact they played an extra month of football last year.

The Jets have nothing to prepare for in regards to the offense, which we know BB has adjusted this offseason.

The D has not been scheming or even trying really. The intensity switch will be a thing to behold for the doubters. They may flounder somewhat early one, but will get better as the season goes on and young players become acclimated.

I was somewhat concerned by the lack of intensity earlier, but I don't believe it is a significant issue, or a symptom of some franchise decay. It is simply a different strategy.

Patslifer

I can see perfectly. This website is a place of extremes. We have the posters who act like everything is fine, and we are the greatest team on earth, and during the preseason nothing matters, and that” we weren’t trying”.

Then we have the posters who are doom and gloom, and worried about the team and it’s players.

The answer is somewhere in the middle. Things are not as rosy as you portray them, and not as bad some portray them.

PonyExpress

My prediction is 12-4 and winning the AFC East. That's too rosy for you? You're the one who set up the straw man argument "The team is the best ever and will not lose". There's every reason for optimism and gnawing your fingernails over the 4th preseason game is comical.