Well guesss what? It isn't going to be easy rooting for this team. They don't seem to do anything easily, or at least make it easy for their fans.
1. Mayoiclinic made a great point in a thread that this was a statement game by the Pats. I'm not sure if we are at the point where we are at a "statement game" stage, but I do think it DOES say a lot about the team's character.
After 2 VERY tough losses. Not having your best offensive lineman and one of your WRs. THEN droping behind by 2 TDs AND losing one of your top ILBs and the crowd-is-going-wild That is hardly ideal.
Then you have have the Gronk drop 2 TD passes AND fumble. And then have another of your go to guys, Welker, fumble and BOTH turned into 2 TDs..... If there was a time for this team to just let it get to them and figure that it just wasn't their day. This was it AND they didn't. The defnese makes plays and the offense just isn't stopped...or even close to stopped and what might have been a rout against them, turns into a blowout for them..
Make no mitake. This team had its meddle tested today.....and they passed with flying colors. That is what I think is the single most important thing to take from this game
2. ThaT, and that the offensse is good. Lets break it down.
OL - Its getting better all the time, Even when Brady started to get pressured he had time. I don't think that there was a single pass play where he didn't have at least enough time to get the ball off in rythm. That's outstanding
And the running game was even better. If you consider how often Boldin and Ridliey got into the 2ndary untouched, they both better have gotten 100 yds rushing. That being said, both ran hard and smart
TE- Gronk had his worst game as a Patriot and I still wouldn't trade him for any TE in the league. He blocked very well and caught enough balls to make him a threat. I don't have any idea why Fell catches an easy 20 yd pass and is never used again , but more on that later. Dr Hooo was also underutilized
WR - Quinitcential Brandon LLoyd. He isn't big, fast or quick enough to get off of good press coverage, But he can run a great pattern and beat you for a TD if you don't watch itl. He's also willing to run the inside routes that will shack him free.
Aside from the fumble Welker was outstanding again and made one HUGE 3rd down catch that was outstanding
RB's anything I'd say would be redundant. but don't forget that the the Woodhead catch was a key adjustment at a very KEY moment of the game
QB - Brady got better as the game went on. However I really wish he'd sometimes take the easy play over the hard one.
What I mean they had no problem hittinng any TE on short routes, or even Weller on the short outs, yet at a key time in the game when they really need a first down, on a 3rd and 2 they go and try a back shoulder fade on a closely guarded LLoyd.
Hey Josh, it's 3rd and 2. If you don't want to run it, a play action pass was open EVERY time. Why on earth do you throw a pass like th back shouloder fade, where so much has to go so perfectly , when you can accomplish the same thing so easily several other ways.
I also have to ask why they stayed away from the TE's for such a long stretch of the game and that includes Gronk. Now granted its hard to complain when your offense just put up 50 points and close to 600 yds of offense (in fact ludicrous), but we ran the same play in the last drive of the Raven game, and I didn't understand it then.
I love the back shoulder fade, but there is just too many things that have to go right vs what you need to happen. The back shoulder fade is a high risk play....there should be a high reward.e Its just not the pass I'd pick, especially when there are so many other options
So I guess when it comes down to it, in that horrid 2nd quarter, the Bills didn't really do anything to stop the Pats offesne. For the most part, they stopped themselves. We needed to go back to things that worked at the start of the game and keep doing it untill until the defense proves they can stop it. I don't think we do that enough. It seems we always seem to be in such a hurry to get to the next great offensive concept that we forget what already has worked.
Just a thought.
Defense
3. I was looking for Hightower and Jones to rebound after what I thought were sub par games vs the Ravens (especially Hightower). Jones didn't disappoint. (does he ever?
) And neither did Hightower.......until he got hurt. That was a shame.
4. We aren't nearly as good a defense when all 3 LBs aren't in there. I'm sorry but Tracy White is NOT an adequate replacement for Hightower Spikes or Mayo. I miss Dane Fletcher. I wouldn't be surprised to see another LB brought up from the PS if Hightower is going to be out more than a game.
5. I hopw people didn't miss that great play Ninko made on CJ Spiller in the open field on a short catch. Just a super play and sure to be dismissed by his haters. The strip sack wasn't bad either. We should always be so lucky when we go looking to pick up FA long snappers.
6. McCourty continues to improve his game. But the fact that someone caught a pass somewhere near him and the fact he plays on the the QB' right side and right handed QB tend to throw the ball more to the right, so it proves that he sucks. If hi ball skills were better he'd have at least 4 picks in 4 games. But then again, if his ball skills were better, he'd be a WR.
7. For the record it looked to me that Arrington was man to man on Jones on that long pass for the TD It looked like man across the board which accounted for no one being in the middle and caused the TD. Either that or a blown coverage assignment by one of the S's
8.Overall I think the defense did make some progress in their 4th week. 3 of the 4 TDs were the result of turnovers, and 2 were simply great passes. Not a lot the defense (Chung) could do. More importantly, the Defense held the #1 rushing team to less than 100 yds, and some of that in garbage time. Plu they didn't it without a key feature in Higfhtower.
Lets not forget that this is perhaps BB's youngest football team, so ups and downs are bound to occur.
9. Sorry long suffering Bills fans, the Bills have about one chance in 10 of beating the Pats, and they let that chance slip away today. I still think they are getting better, but they are't ready to take on the Pats just yet. OTOH, I will be very disappointed if they don't crush the Jets down the road. No excuses there.
10- Speical teamss did a great job today.....except for Gonzo. Still 49 yd FG's in outdoor stadiums like Buffalo are NOT gimmes. No excuse for the 40 yd one though
I'll be looking forward to Bedards all 22 break down next Thursday to see how all my 'impressions" track with reality.
BOTTOM LINE: This offense could be pretty much unstoppable by the end of the season between all the receiving and rushing targets. Meanwhile if you can't see the improvement inn the overall defense, to go along with the problems, then you just not a happy unless you are unhappy.
The defense already is better than last season and hopefully will continue to improve as the season goes along. Still hoping to see a game when we will really attack the passer, biut I'm not holdikng my breath on that one. :O
18Likes
idle thoughts ......ridin' the rollercoaster.
Linear Mode
