....or at least had reinforced
1. Our team is never as bad as we think in the short run. Consequently, we are rarely as good as we think after a win like this.
2. I was thinking before this game, that it was like the time we went down to Miami in 2003 with several starters out for the game, and much to our surprise we came away with a win, despite the refs giving Miami several breaks (IMHO
)
3. One the the things I haven't seen mentioned by the media was the impact of Randall Gay going on the IR...l.again.
While they mentioned the losses of Wilson & Hobbs, they seemed to have forgotten that it was Gay who was the 3rd CB when the year started. So WE REALLY WERE SHORT HANDED when we went to Cinci to defend their 'juggernaut' offense.
4. Freakin' Hank Poteet - he came up big...again, just like he has every time he's given a shot to come off the street and strap it on for the Pats. For a very limited player (comparatively speaking) he just keeps on plugging away.
5. I don't care if the hit on Reche was a penalty according to the current rules, so I don't think it was a bad call. I think it is a bad rule. He hit Reche with his shoulder, and because he did, he CAUSED an incompletion. it was still a great hit and IMHO it shouldn't be called, just like incidental contact with the QBs head or lower legs shouldn't be called. Its one thing to protect the player, its another thing to baby him. Every new rule lately seems to be designed to increase the offense's advantage over the defense. Its getting ridiculous.
6. I just finished reading, Sunday after the game, "The Education of a Coach" No shockingly revealing for a big BB fan, like myself, but it was an enjoyable light read, and I recommend it. The thing that was reinforced after watching this particular read, was the comment Halberstam made in his acknowledgements at the end of the book. He thanked BB for all the things he taught him about the game and all that goes into it, and commented to the reader that he understood why he was such a successful coach, was because he was such a great TEACHER.
After watching guys like Britt, Poteet, & and the estimable Troy Brown, go out and perform at such high levels with little or no fanfare, you have to admire again and again, the high level of TEACHING that must go on in Foxboro, that year after year, allows the Pats to throw people into the fray on short notice, who not only survive, but are effective parts of the whole.
He uses the phrase 'Bellechick University' throughout the second half of the book to describe the many coaches who have been taught BB's coaching philosophy. Clearly ALL the assistants do a great job of TEACHING, not just coaching. Players who come to the Pats and work at it, generally become BETTER PLAYERS (just ask all the guys with big paychecks who have left the team recently.
7. Speaking of guys who have left the team, I can't help but wonder if David Givens thinks the couple of extra million he got from the Titans was worth it now. It will be interesting to see if Deion Branch is happier being the #3 WR out on the West Coast. For that matter are Damien Woody in Detroit, or Joe Andruzzi & Willie McGinest in Cleveland, & Dave Patten in DC, really enjoying their football experiences??? (For the record all of these guys got fantastic offers that they probably couldn't turndown. Also for the record, I wish them all well, except for Branch who was still under contract and held the FO and his 53 teammates hostage for his own personal gain. If he had done the same thing in his FA year, I'd have had no problem with it. Again, JMHO
8. To those of you ready to panic over Gotkowski, take a chill pill. His KOs have been great, and if you go back to AV's rookie year you will find he kicked LESS than 80% of his FGs in his rookie year, and he had a year in Europe to grow as well. Be patient, in the long run, he will probably work out.
Things I learned Sunday....
Linear Mode
