woolster22

Seems to be a problem, so here's my notes as I re watch the game.

Pick, cannon gets beat like a mule, Thomas does a good job on docket and Brady throws it into his shoulder pad...

Into the second field goal...
Thomas looks good pulling, doing a good job. Ridley getting subbed for woody in the red zone killing drives.

Hoosacutme gets beat (on a massive reach on acho) for the sack. Thomas jumps, then gets beat on a stunt. Line does a good job and woody finds the first free man for the stop...(Ridley!)

Solder gets owned after the missed gronk bomb. Forces Brady to step into mankins man. Woody gets lucky and falls forward for a few yards...can he ever break first contact or am I spoiled by Ridley?

Speaking of which, Ridley makes a great block letting Brady unleash to Wes to start the the third. Solid run and short pass production into a botched Edelman comeback (good protection), botched screen to Ridley, deflected forced pass to Welker with good protection. Fizzles into the third, 51 yard, field goal to go ahead nine six.

A stretch play gets ruined by Washington shooting the gt gap (beating Thomas, a pulling mank would have saved the play), blowing up Ridley for a loss. Derails the possession, leading to the blocked punt...@$+/#!&$ Ebner!

The good news is the cards had to fight for every inch, bad news is that did finally break the plane after being spotted first and goal from the two. As most can probably support, this outcome was far from a certainty. The simple fact that we think this unit is capable of a stop is exciting enough.

Thomas and gronk do enough at the los for Ridley to grab a decent chunk. Ridley runs up Thomas's back for a first on second and one. Brady could have ran behind Thomas and vollmer for ten yards on the next play (throw away). Great protection for a poor pass to Lloyd, caught. Run behind Thomas for the first. Thomas getting beat hurries a poor pass to an open Lloyd. Entire right side getting beat, Brady steps up and lasers it into Ridley incomplete. Docket takes off like he knew what was coming, beats Thomas outside for the pitch to woody. Again, woody can't make anyone miss...wtf

Hoosacutme gets beat by Peterson to kill another drive.

Mank gets owned two plays in a row and Brady forces one to (incomplete) gronk for the fourth field goal.

Honestly, the line isn't the issue. Poor passes, drops, maybe coaching. So far the line has made running lanes, and regularly provided Brady with 3+ seconds to throw. Most problems seem to be coming from mankins side of the middle....running game has been well blocked outside of hieroglyphics' shoddy performance. With a few exceptions, the passing game has been provided for.

Before its too late, I must turn this off. Refs let them play all day, and the gronk call coming...Jones consistently got hooked, and often. Same for Vince and love on a couple broken runs. If gronk is worthy of calling so are three instances of every play. The refs took over the hat few minutes, this much I remember.

Thomas didn't play great, but is showing great flashes, with minor, coachable hiccups. cannon...meh. solder needs to set a deeper corner, escort behind Brady's drop rather than into it. Middle communication could be an issue.

cstjohn17

I hate to use your words against but I will, you say "Honestly, the line isn't the issue..." but describe the incidents below.

Man, we have been spoiled by exceptional Oline play over the last 10 years but this unit has a ways to go. Light got ragged on for getting beat by Freeney or Taylor (when they were all pro players in their prime) It is unacceptable for an offensive lineman to get beat cleanly several times per game, maybe 3 times a year this should happen.

Right now Cannon is terrible, on par with Wayne Hunter, Thomas is a journeyman who flirts between average and below average. As they play more they should gel and improve but it is a stretch to say "the oline isn't the issue", there are other issues but Oline is clearly a main point of concern.


cannon gets beat like a mule...
Hoosacutme gets beat....
Solder gets owned ...
....beating Thomas
Thomas getting beat ...
beats Thomas outside...
Mank gets owned two plays in a row...
Hoosacutme gets beat...

JackBauer

It's not surprising that Mankins is struggling a bit, as he's pretty clearly not 100 percent.

On the bright side, Vollmer appears to be playing well.

IllegalContact

the OL is in a transition.......sometimes this happens....

the pats are free to adjust their tendencied to give the OL time to jell.

dink and dunk all day

__________________
“ I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4. ”
—Hank Bullough, who installed one of the first 3–4 defenses with the New England Patriots.

Bobs My Uncle

The OL is a concern. Biggest one on the team most likely. I believe Scar will iron it all out shortly and, when he does, it won't matter if Edleman is taking snaps away from Welker and it won't matter if Winslow is here or not or if Hern's ankle sprain is hi or low All that will matter is whether or not this defense is still playing light's out because, if it is, this team will be very hard to beat.

BradyManny

The optimistic side:

Solder will get better; he has the tools, his play will improve.
Vollmer could return to full health.
Connolly will return and play G or C well.
Mankins can't be at 100% effectiveness right now, he will improve as well.
Michael Hoomawhatever likely won't be our 3rd TE going forward. He was responsible for two key breakdowns this past Sunday. Fells can't be a worse blocker.

The pessimistic side:

Cannon doesn't appear to be improving greatly when at RT.
Waters is still sitting at home. The line would receive an overall boost were he clawed out of his current hermit state.

Marqui

They really need to either move Cannon to guard or suck it up and bring back Waters.

mgteich

1) Cannon isn't a better RG than Connolly.

2) We need Cannon as our 3rd OT.

Marqui

1) Connolly would move back to C

2) If Cannon is playing G, there's nothing stopping him from being the 3rd OT.