PatsRI

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/pat...format=&page=1

Nothing earth shattering here but a good read:

"For the Patriots not to make the playoffs, they have to lose the AFC East. That means finishing behind the Jets, Bills or Dolphins.
Chew on that for a second. If those teams were dwarfs their names would be Crappy, Inepty, and Daunte Culpepper. Two of them jousted yesterday, one week after collectively losing 81-7. We’ll be welcoming Kim Jong-il as our munificent overlord before anyone in that trio surpasses the Pats, who took a two-game lead into the bye."

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mosi

Good read except for the knock on Dillion. Cory is running almost as good as he did in 2004. His reps are down, which is good as it should keep him fresh come Jan.

In my opinion, the key to this team is Cory Dillion. L.M is nice, but he a big play guy. Cory is the guy that will get 4-6 yards a pop and give you those nice 5-10 minute drives that win you playoff games.

Willie55

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sieglo

Tomase' balllicking of Vinatieri is absurd. Vinatieri never missed a clutch kick in the playoffs? I can think of a certain Superbowl where he shanked TWO!

JoeSixPat

Looks like Tomase is supporting me in my quasi-agreement with NEM regarding McDaniels' playcalling, though I keep saying that our personnel deserves some of the blame too.

Everyone's been blasting anyone as anti-Patriotic for suggesting that the team's play and playcalling won't cut it come January but here we have some corroboration of that.

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MoLewisrocks

No it was that far right. He is right about the kid kicker not yet facing his toughest kicking situations.

But that said, if he took the time to glance at the schedule beyond crappy and inepty and Daunte Culpepper he would see that it would take more than a rookie kicker struggling for this team to end up 11-5 let alone 10-6.

Getting Jackson on the field and consistently productive, getting the WR's comfortable as a unit, staying healthy on both sides of the ball and playing fundamentally sound across the board on a consistent basis and maintaining focus are the things the Patriots have to concentrate on for the next 11 weeks. If they do that the record will likely get them a playoff bye as well as HFA to start. HFA throughout will be tough with the early loss to Denver, but Denver isn't exactly lighting up the league and after the way they played against Oakland at home last night they could yet fall victim to complacency completing an even easier schedule.

zoostation

Come on. As much as I dislike him for leaving, let's face it...the guy made them when they counted.

brady et al fan

I agree with everything Tomase has to say. The argument is worn out at this point but as he says, the Pats never blew anyone out in the championship runs and counted on AV to make the big kick under the worst and most pressure filled situations imaginable. Don't minimize how valuable he was in all of those years. I remain very concerned about the kid we have now when the game is on the line.

I'm also concerned about our lack of playmakers on defense. A few turnovers last game was nice but lets face it, we don't have a Ty Law and Rodney is not the Rodney of old. Nor is Bruschi the Bruschi of old and who is our Willie McG?

MoLewisrocks

I think you're reading into things what you need to believe you see as corroboration to rationalize even quasi-agreeing with NEM, as well you should.

Tomase acknowledged the critics, he didn't validate the criticism. In fact he gave ample reason why it isn't really justified. The offense has been limited due to inability to execute much of the playbook or even select portions of it on a consistent basis. Much of that relates to the loss of the #1 and #2 and #3 and #'s 5 through whatever WR options of the last 3 years, coupled with their inability to get Jackson, their lone serious deep threat, or Gabriel on the field or even practicing consistently due to health and learning curve issues. The only consistently productive WR on the roster through week 5 has 6 years in the system and 5 with Brady, but he was the 4th option last season at age 35 and he is temporarily back to splitting time on defense because of injuries in the still struggling secondary. Dillon has been hampered just enough by a nagging injury to throw a monkey wrench into a couple of game plans.

Will this game planning and playcalling fly in January - I don't believe anyone is contending it will. But this isn't January, it's October and the season and the team and this offense full of new players is still evolving. NEM has no patience for or appreciation of the process. Never has through three championships in 5 seasons, and likely never will. He pronounces them the bestest ever every July, and then rails against whomever the OC is when they don't live up to his irrational expectations from the first pre season game on. You remember the pre season don't you Joe? That was where he wailed for BB to start the backup QB instead of Brady so he could get a lot more meaningful reps with the first team for evaluation purposes....

JR4

One BIG thing they need to do ( don't know that they will )

PROVE that this OLINE can block well enough against good run defenses to
get even close to 4 yds/carry.

They will meet these kinds of teams in the playoffs. This OLine can do
great against decent run defenses. I want to see them run well against a
good run defense.

Not much to test them in the schedule that's left but they have some
decent run D's yet to play.

Vikes, Lions and Jags are allowing 3.5yd/carry or less.

These teams haven't played all top run offenses but they they have
each played some teams that can run.

You would think Chicago but as of now they are allowing 3.9 yds/carry
and they haven't faced a top 15 running game yet.

Jacksonville should be a good indicator - they played 3 top 10 running
games so far and allowing only 3.5yds/carry.

PATs running game is not as good as some think. At 3.9/yd per carry
it ranks about middle of the road. There needs to be improvemnet here
and I think it has to do with the OLine ... I just hope it is just more
playing time together is what they need.

By the time they face Jacksonville it should be what it will be.
But by that time one or both teams my have clinched a playoff berth
so that may not even be a test.