shakadave

This might help answer the question I raised in another thread about why we don't run clock in the 4th quarter anymore. (I also theorized that pass blocking is easier than run blocking for new O-line members Waters and --- at that time --- Solder.)

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Please, God, don't let us ever suck as bad as the 2011 Cowboys did in the Jets opener.
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"I got a little shine on and showed you guys a little taste of my speed."

----Vince Wilfork, Jan. 7, 2007

VJCPatriot

Agreed on offense:

This Patriots offense is gonna be something special and put up very eye-popping numbers in 2011. Although we will lose Hernandez for 2 weeks, I don't think this offense will skip a beat.

Our OL is special. Our TEs are amazing. Our WRs all chipped in, yes even Ocho Cinco made a couple of big plays. Our RBs gained enough yardage to keep the defense honest. And this is just the beginning. It gets better.

On the defense:

We still need improvement in pass coverage and long yardage situations. Maybe it was the gameplan to just shutdown Gates and force Rivers to beat us with the receivers, but the unfortunate part was Rivers almost did beat us with his receivers. He did throw up 2 picks though, so we need to credit the D for doing good here, even though they looked shaky in other areas. Overall we need to remember that 21 points isn't bad considering how good of an offense we were facing (#2 overall in 2010). We need to cut down on the yardage given up, but maybe that will come in time.

Pats pass rush was mediocre but they looked downright brilliant compared to the SD pass rush which was really nonexistent on Tom. And let's not forget the 4 turnovers forced. Those were all huge plays. If the defense didn't look stifling, at least it was opportunistic and came up huge at critical junctures, denying the Chargers in the red zone.

On the officiating:
Very inconsistent officiating that looked downright bewildering at times. A textbook tackle on Rivers is called for a penalty. Two below the knee shots by the Chargers' Garay yields no yellow flag. What gives refs? Also why were the refs so focused on the opposite side of the field? They called two holds on Bodden who wasn't even in the vicinity of the play! Shouldn't the refs be focused in on the action? It was pretty bad, fortunately the Chargers were so busy shooting themselves in the foot, even the refs couldn't turn around this game.

Bottom line:
We got the win against a talented Chargers team. We know we still have deficiencies to be addressed, and the coaching staff has their work cut out for them. But that's why they get paid. Let's shore up the defense, eliminate some mistakes, and get ready for Buffalo next week. At least the offense and Tom Brady is a strength that can be counted upon week after week. It's time for the defense to step up now and show that it can carry the team as well.

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patfanken

Italia, the caps are for emphasis in the sentence. I guess my writing style is to write like I'd talk, so getting the right emphasis on the right word is important to getting the right interpretation of what I'm trying to say. Capping is the only way I know to do it, though I understand that its frowned on amongst professionals. That being said, I probably DO use it too often and will TRY to contain myself.

AzPatsFan

So of you can't see the forest for the trees, and are never happy. Despite the gawdy passing stats the Pass Defense is palpably better than last edition, which was better than many think. You can't go 14-2 without a Defense. The Top Five in Points Allowed is the Ultimate defensive statistic.

Despite the critics, This year there is a Pass Rush, on course for 48-56 sacks/year,which is a League leading rate. They are still very young, big, and talented in there secondary witness the turnovers are still coming at a spectacular rate of last year.

This year the rush defense is doing the job, allowing only 93 yards/game. Every good Defense is giving up passing yards this season. It is just the way the rules, now.

I like that Belichick is still emphasizing Read & React principles, despite the 4-3 and an improved pass rush.

SanAngeloState

I was happy that Stinko looked really good on his one long pass reception...not saying that means he has learned the whole playbook but he's a very smooth guy, very nice.

Waters I thought looked great. Amazing getting a guy and plugging him in and having him be so good...why pay mankins huge money again? Oh well.

Interesting to see how the offense changes up with Hernandez gone for a few weeks....

Interesting to see what the injuries to mesko and dowling are. Downling, I hope, is not "made of glass". Yes, that would make him a bust.

Metaphors

For every QB/defenseless hit called, the league should release a statement after the game describing the violation. I would find it hilarious to hear how Carter's hit was a penalty and the uncalled hit Matt Ryan took last night was clean.

While a similar hit on Roethlisberger was not only penalized but it is generally assumed that Brock will face a hefty fine.

I would love the NFL to also release a tape of those Bodden plays compared to what Revis does on every play.

Seems like officials are becoming part of the narrative of NFL games. They seem to want to reinforce the game flow that will make for the best story on SportsCenter. Unfortunately this is bad news for the Pats because a loss immediately becomes the lead story.

While officials can't influence a game like in the NBA, they can use holding and illegal contact penalties (which occur to some degree on every play) to great effect. Bodden touching a WR 5.000001 yds down the field away from the play on a failed 3rd down needs to be called. Branch getting his helmet slapped as he tried to catch a 4th and 4 pass? Not so much.

Until someone in the media puts these plays side-by-side, any observations will be categorized as homer whining and dismissed with the "it all evens out" company line. Put these obvious inconsistencies on display and call out the officials in question and watch the quality of officiating improve.

As for Belichick, he may want to consider this before the next 4th-and-whatever call he is forced to make.

Deus Irae

Good comedy.

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"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

patfanken

Well it didn't stifle the Cowboys much on opening day. In fact THEIR pass D was actually WORSE than ours in game one, giving up 9.5 yards per attempt at home, as opposed to the 8.5 we gave up to Miami on the road.

Yesterday the Jets D did put up some good numbers, but against a bad offense who didn't have some of its best weapons. I'd wait a few weeks and see how they fair against some teams with decent offenses before I'll anoint them as one of the better D's in the game. The same way I'll wait before I judge our defense as dysfunctional.

Good question, I wish I knew the answer, I hope we'll find out BEFORE the playoffs. I want to see how this team plays under some adversity. I want to see us win a few games coming from behind, rather than just hanging on at the end. I want to see these things, because those are the situations that WILL come up in the playoffs. We need see if this team has the physical and mental toughness to overcome.

What has happened anytime before this season has no bearing on the issue. This defense has to be judged strictly on its own merit because of the radical changes in personnel and structure.

Thus far, its fair to say that you CANNOT trust this defense to win the game......AT THIS POINT. However that being said, we have to look at this defense within the context of what's going on throughout the league. Plus we have to look at it as a work in progress. One of the things that has been consistent during the BB era. Defenses generally improve as the season goes on. Given lockout, this should be more the case THIS season.

I don't think the purpose of the thread was to "hit on the defense", far from it. Right NOW the defense isn't where it will have to be come January, but baring injury, there isn't any reason to think that it might not be...eventually
The defense was once again "timely" if not consistently effective. The red zone success continued, but the 3rd down efficiency was back to the bad old days.

BradyManny

THIS! I want NFL Films to do a documentary called "The Myth of Darelle Revis" on how a very good, but not great, cornerback becomes one of the greatest to ever play the position just by hyping himself up so much that the refs treat him differently.

As to your further point about the officiating - the fact is, the Patriots have NEVER gotten the benefit of the doubt when it comes to their skill position players, with the exception of Moss, perhaps (occasionally, his reputation actually worked against him). We haven't had a lot of star wideouts, big wideouts, or wideouts who whine to the refs after every incompletion (like Colts wideouts...).

Ochmed Jones

Guys I think we need to take the beer goggles off and quit blaming officiating for our putrid defense.

Instead of casting blame on the refs, how about we review what we know:

1.) Pats secondary is playing vanilla coverages, not a lot of disguising going on back there.

2.) The pass rush is weak, and not scaring quality offenses.

3.) The LBers are still adjusting to their new roles. Hopefully by game #9, they should be more comfortable.

4.) The run defense was wobbly against SD. Could be tied to the previous point.

5.) We have zero playmakers at safety. Although Brown made a good play on the INT.

We can say what we want to make ourselves feel good, but the bottom line is we won our first two games because our offense covered up for a putrid defense.