Things I learned from this game - New England Patriots Forums

JSn · 11-03-2008, 06:04 AM

We are progressing well and are a good team.

Gaffney's drop could have happened to anyone. It sucked, but we always forgive those when we manage to win. He is not a bad football player.
Thomas' penalty was a lack of discipline. You can bet he'll get all the discipline he can handle today. It's interesting to see these game-screwing brain-farts from this side. Really drives home how important mistake-free football is.
Manning has lost something. He had some good moments, but I'd be surprised if they do better than .500
Cassel is the real deal. He still has progress to make, but this guy's ceiling may be a long ways off. He had to carry the burden of some screwed up play calling and dealt well with pressure all night. Games are rarely closer than that.
Bill is a genius, but even geniuses step in dog crap sometimes. Bad night for the coach. I'd say he'll learn from it, but he so rarely does those thing, I don't think he has to.
Moss is a weapon even when he's not getting the ball. I think he's a big reason our run game was still good last night.
The Law Firm is very likely the real deal as well. With a nickname like that, and some very decisive running, we now know we can succeed even if we only activate one of our vets on any given day. If they all made it through a game healthy, we would put up some pretty amazing ground yards.
We have some serious ability to control the clock. I was amazed at the length of some of these drives. That will help us win games.
Our Secondary needs leadership. This is more of an assumption, but I think we need someone who can fill the void Rodney has left behind back there. If Wheatley is hurt bad (I really hope not, he looked good) it may yet be time to consider having The Law on both sides of he ball.

Despite that, our secondary could be awesome next year without a lot of changes. It's too bad some of these guys have had to be rushed in, but the speed of our D overall next year will be totally different from last year. That will be interesting, especially if our offense regains its venom.
Finally, some frustrating stuff happened, but we really played a good game. These Patriots, with a few tweaks, are a playoff calibre team.

This game had that sickening feeling of SB42, maybe almost worse in a sense, where we really had the game under control, but got beat by panic rather than adjusting. Luckily it wasn't the SB and it wasn't a division game.

The AFCE is going to be ours.

Pats726 · 11-03-2008, 06:09 AM

Have to agree....it was a team loss...things happen...I could tell BB after the game would be blaming more himself than anyone else...and HE knows it...but it was a team loss...no need to finger point...there were a FEW things that would have changed the game...obviously...but..I really do NOT think teh zebras can be blamed in this one..

nashvillepatsfan · 11-03-2008, 06:11 AM

ooooh, a positive thread. Thank you JSN.

and I agree with your comments

Do you think it's time for BB to admit, that NOT wearing the hoodie is a bad thing for the team?

JSn · 11-03-2008, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nashvillepatsfan

Do you think it's time for BB to admit, that NOT wearing the hoodie is a bad thing for the team?

LOL - Sure if it will save someone from starting a thread about it.

I took off my Pat's hat about the third quarter and stretched out. Maybe that's why they lost, hehe.

nashvillepatsfan · 11-03-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSn

LOL - Sure if it will save someone from starting a thread about it.

I took off my Pat's hat about the third quarter and stretched out. Maybe that's why they lost, hehe.

The other two losses came when I couldnt see the game. Atleast I know it wasnt me, cuz I was watching last night.lol.

Blame the missing hoodie

***ctpatsfan77*** · 11-03-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSn

We have some serious ability to control the clock. I was amazed at the length of some of these drives. That will help us win games.

To wit, the Pats had only six meaningful drives (not counting the desperation shot at the end):
3 plays, 2:09
13 plays, 6:58*
13 plays, 6:18*
15 plays, 7:48*
15 plays, 6:39*
8 plays, 4:11

*Scoring drives

mcgraw_wv · 11-03-2008, 06:25 AM

I think watching last nights game, it did feel like SB$@ all over again towards the end.

And by that I mean, Josh McDaniels needs to put down his "My Sons Down with 30 seconds left Madden Playbook"

Last year in the Super Bowl, and again last night, you have a chance to move the ball on 3 plays, quick plays, workj the sidelines, and move down the field... Like Brady did in 2001 againt the Rams late in the game.

So far, when the chips are down, and his back is against the wall, he has one call... Go deep to the most obvious play in the book... Randy Moss...

HE should have been sending Randy real deep and hitting Watson or thomas on 20 yard post corner patterns underneath that to the side line... I know with 25 seconds and no timeouts it's pretty tough, but if you can excute 50 yards worth of sideline catches, your in a position for atleast an attempt at a long FG.

McDaniels just doesn't know that you can move the ball and work the field, of course if you get tackled it's over, but if you throw it up for grabs against 5 defenders that are all looking for moss its over too...

***ctpatsfan77*** · 11-03-2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgraw_wv

And by that I mean, Josh McDaniels needs to put down his "My Sons Down with 30 seconds left Madden Playbook"

If he had a TO to work with, things would probably have turned out differently. But he didn't.

***Rob0729*** · 11-03-2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgraw_wv

I think watching last nights game, it did feel like SB$@ all over again towards the end.

And by that I mean, Josh McDaniels needs to put down his "My Sons Down with 30 seconds left Madden Playbook"

Last year in the Super Bowl, and again last night, you have a chance to move the ball on 3 plays, quick plays, workj the sidelines, and move down the field... Like Brady did in 2001 againt the Rams late in the game.

So far, when the chips are down, and his back is against the wall, he has one call... Go deep to the most obvious play in the book... Randy Moss...

HE should have been sending Randy real deep and hitting Watson or thomas on 20 yard post corner patterns underneath that to the side line... I know with 25 seconds and no timeouts it's pretty tough, but if you can excute 50 yards worth of sideline catches, your in a position for atleast an attempt at a long FG.

McDaniels just doesn't know that you can move the ball and work the field, of course if you get tackled it's over, but if you throw it up for grabs against 5 defenders that are all looking for moss its over too...

The Pats had to move about 50 yards in 21 seconds with no time outs. There was next to no shot for the Pats to move down the field with sideline catches since the Colts were taking away the sidelines.

Sorry, but McDaniel's only shot was to do what he did. There was probably something like a 5% chance (probably less) the Pats put points on the board no matter what the Pats did. If the Pats had a minute or so or a time out or two, I could see your point. But the Pats' best hope was to huck the ball down field and hope for a blown coverage or a PI penalty.

bbabin · 11-03-2008, 06:57 AM

Thanks Jsn. These are a lot of the same thoughts I was having after the game. I was actually really encouraged by the game and only slightly disappointed with the loss. I think there's little doubt that if Thomas hadn't committed that penalty we would have won last night. And looking at it drive by drive, the Patriots really had offensive control for the entire game. If red zone offense can improve, games like this won't be so close...

Looking forward to the Bills!