RayClay

We had twice as many injuries last year and were a better looking team. Every team has injuries, some worse than us.

Our problem is offensive game planning and execution. And It goes right to the top. We have more and better talent than last year and 2001 when we went all the way.

It's almost to the point where I agree with NEM, especially since I always thought having a trainee as OC was a bad idea.

But having read thousands of posts where he vilifies the best offensive co-ordinator we've had, I'll attribute this to the busted clock being right twice a day.

Belichick needs to take over the offense and decide wh's supposed to be our second receiver. If we had settled on someone to get reps like Caldwell, we'd have a solid #2.

Too many formations, to much shifting, too many obvious pass or run situations, it's a mess.

BB needs to get together with Ernie Adams, if he's still around and come up with a core of plays that work. This offense is trying to complete graduate school when they can't pass kindergarten.

I was proud of the way last years team played with tremendous injuries. This team has plenty of horses, they just need to eliminate the horse*****.

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TomBrady'sGoat

I've taken my step back. I no longer consider the Patriots a team with "as good a chance as anybody else." Their chances to win it all have been downgraded to "if they catch fire and the ball bounces their way."

Of course, that means they still have a chance.

vyrago

Since I don't, as a rule, read other boards, I don't know whether fans of other teams fall as easily into chicken little mode as this one does when the team loses--he!! even when it wins!

The Pats history in Miami in December is painful and they certainly laid a very smelly egg down there Sunday. There's plenty of blame to go around, if that's what makes you happy, but the fact remains, several teams--the Jets, the Colts, Seattle, Denver--had bad days yesterday, which makes me continue to think they have "as good a chance as anybody else."

Rob0729

Good coaching can overcome injuries if your back up players are good enough. We survived massive injuries to this team in the past because we had quality back ups. These back ups might not have been great players, but they had a certain skillset and mindset that made them able to be coached up. I think some of that is missing in this year's team.

Rob0729

I think we need the players to step up, not replace the coach. There was nothing wrong with the gameplan last week and other than two drives the only times the Lions could stop us is when we turned it over and most of those turnovers were poor execution, not play calling. Same in the Bears game. The game changer vs. the Jets was a well called play that Gabriel picked up a huge gain and fumbled the ball.

McDaniels didn't call a good game yesterday, but it wasn't his fault the o-line couldn't hold the blocks and missed blocking assignments. That goes to the players. If Weis was calling this game, he would have not done well either (and he has had similiar games vs. Miami in Miami). The only thing McDaniels could have done yesterday to stop our pass blocking to be so porous was to abandon the pass all together and call running plays all game.

PATSNUTme

That performance was pitiful yesterday, no doubt about it. And,the Detriot game was not one othe finest performances either.

However we do have three games to go and one of the better coaching staffs in the NFL. The playoffs, which we will be in, is the start of a whole new season.

So, I'm not counting this team out. Maybe someof you should walk besides the bandwagon so you don't hurt yourselves jumping on and off.

MDD

In the past we've had a lone pro-bowler on offense (Brady) while there were other guys "deserving" but overlooked.

Now we've got that same pro-bowler with no one else who played on offense yesterday being worth a crap.

RayClay

Of course we need the players to step up, but every individual player didn't forget how to play football.

If we need a stud OLineman to block Jason Taylor, we're not going to be able to find one by next week.

I'm not blaming coaches or saying players are executing well. I'm concerned with what we can do this year.

Usually we are scraping the street free agent pool looking for any kind of help.

I think we have players better than what we could pick up ojn the roster now that aren't being utilized. If they don't have their heads in the game, they should be cut and go with players that have the right attitude.

We certainly have thrown some flotsam and jetsam on the OLine before and executed sufficiently.

If any combination of 8-9 guys are rushing every play and the QB doesn't make them pay, there is no Oline that can stop them.

Dillon ran for almost 5 per. Yet we don't stick with it and make them worry about the run. If he's not able to run play after play, use Pass to give him a breather.

If we're only going to use Troy Brown and Faulk, then start cutting some people and use the practice squad receivers.

This team needs a shock treatment. Either use Gabriel and Gaffney or cut them.

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cblesz

I agree wholeheartedly with NEM. He has had it right the entire season. It is an ugly trend with McDaniels. Get off NEM's back and be honest:

McDaniels is awful. O-line was horrible, but when you see them getting beat badly you change things up. Go to three step drops, 5 yard routes. You throw some screens. You run some draws. You don't keep doing what has not worked. In the past, this coaching staff has adjusted on the fly. This staff does not. It is true that we do not have Pro Bowl receivers, but are they being put in the right position to be successful?

Time for Josh to go. BB can call the plays. Didn't do that bad last year.

Rob0729

I just don't think taking away responsibility from McDaniels is going to fix anything is going to fix anything. Players need to keep their head in the game. Having someone else calling the plays or simplifying the playbook is not going to stop players from not protecting the ball correctly or linemen from not adjusting their blocking assignments or half heartily block.

I alway bring up Weis in this case. Charlie Weis was a moron who could coach his way out of a paper bag in 2002 and much of 2003. Fans wanted him fired in 2002. In 2004, he was an offensive genius that would destroy Brady and the offense when he left. Did an experienced OC like Weis all the sudden learn how to coach from 2002 to 2004 or did he not have the talent in 2002 and had it in 2004. I think McDaniels to a certain extent is in the same quandry.