After 2 poor preseason games has your outlook on the 2008 Patriots changed? - Page 2 - New England Patriots Forums

***Angry Man*** · 08-18-2008, 02:42 PM

My overall outlook as not changed as I know our Pats will in the end will overcome the odds. Its just a matter of learning of what to do better, adjustments of strategies, changes of people who might do things better, and most importantly.... CONFIDENCE in the ability to win!

PATS68 · 08-18-2008, 02:51 PM

I remember a couple of years ago when the Pats played the Bengals in preseason it was like basketball on grass. Bengals went up and down the field on the Pats D. BB was so pissed he played the starters the whole game. Pats played them in the regular season and beat them pretty good.

PATRIOTSFANINPA · 08-18-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

Realizing that this is just week 2 of the exhibition season is not the same as thinking the team is 100% perfect. Not realizing it, however, seems to be the same as acting like a complete idiot, as evidenced by many of the posts we've seen here recently. Perhaps hearkening all the way back to last season's 0-2 start in the preseason is just too much for some people.

Kindly name one weakness you can definitively say you've seen at the cornerback position. Tell me the coverages involved, the actual failure of the player and how the weakness you saw was

a) a weakness of personnel and not scheme
b) something that can't be fixed with practice
c) something that can't be compensated for by the coaches

Ellis Hobbs was the team's best defensive back last season, when the team went 18-0. He is the only defensive back on the entire team for whom there should be no questions other than health. Tossing out the Champ Bailey reference is just silly, since Bailey is generally considered to be the best corner in the league, and Samuel was no Champ Bailey either. For that matter, neither was Ty Law and neither was Tyrone Poole. Somehow the team got to the Super Bowl with such CBs.

I saw alot of wide open Bucs receivers many of whom are not exactly HOF material but it was preseason and I guess you could say give it a pass but the corners were beaten last night and badly and not all the guys who got burnt were 3rd or 4th stringers -

Can it be fixed? - not just by the coaches but more by the talent of the players they are coaching to get it right

You can be the best coach in the world but that does not necessarily lead to a great player - either they have IT or they don't,you just hope the coaching works to the strength of the player.

And you really have to let the past go in terms of how good a player is or was - If you go by that theory then every player who has a good year will have a good year every year in thier career - does not happen and many do struggle in and out year after year from good to mediocre.

I am not spoiled to the fact that this team has won 3 super bowls and I realize that we are fortunate than most fans to have the success this decade, but the team has not won one in 3 years so you can expect some differences in opinions on the direction of the team and where its going.

***DarrylS*** · 08-18-2008, 02:53 PM

My problem this year is that I am still reeling from the events on Feb. 4... having a difficult time regaining focus and this season as well.. in a couple of weeks I anticipate it will change.. but did not even have the energy to get up to training camp.

***Tunescribe*** · 08-18-2008, 02:53 PM

OK, look: the team has not performed well so far in the preseason in terms of both effort and execution. I see that alone as cause for mild concern, especially in areas that we know are unsettled (cornerback, offensive line). HOWEVER, I will not be SERIOUSLY concerned until this manifests in the first game vs. Kansas City or some of the key walking wounded (Light, Neal, Hochstein, Rodney, Meriweather, etc.) do not return to the opening-day active roster. A solid first half against the Eagles and all this hand-wringing goes away. The Giants game will show us nothing. The PUP list/injury report means much, much more than preseason performance -- that's where my attention will be.

***Deus Irae*** · 08-18-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PATRIOTSFANINPA

I saw alot of wide open Bucs receivers many of whom are not exactly HOF material but it was preseason and I guess you could say give it a pass but the corners were beaten last night and badly and not all the guys who got burnt were 3rd or 4th stringers -

Can it be fixed? - not just by the coaches but more by the talent of the players they are coaching to get it right

You can be the best coach in the world but that does not necessarily lead to a great player - either they have IT or they don't,you just hope the coaching works to the strength of the player.

And you really have to let the past go in terms of how good a player is or was - If you go by that theory then every player who has a good year will have a good year every year in thier career - does not happen and many do struggle in and out year after year from good to mediocre.

I am not spoiled to the fact that this team has won 3 super bowls and I realize that we are fortunate than most fans to have the success this decade, but the team has not won one in 3 years so you can expect some differences in opinions on the direction of the team and where its going.

In other words, you can't come up with a single instance that you can actually break down as I asked, and are just insistent on being a part of the fellowship of the miserable.

Mogamedogz · 08-18-2008, 03:03 PM

gee... i wonder which option is gonna dominate this poll? lol

***ALP*** · 08-18-2008, 03:17 PM

oww, i would really have to look hard to find a more stupid question

(no offense to the OP, i understand where the question is coming from....but the above statement applies none the less)

TheGodInAGreyHoodie · 08-18-2008, 03:22 PM

Honestly, this is my all time favorite for all time dumbest question ever......

Tom Brady: What is the weakest part of his game?

tombonneau · 08-18-2008, 03:23 PM

There was one thing and now there are two things that concern me about this team:

1. Health of Matt Light
2. Health of Brandon Meriweather

That's it. Nothing else is or should be of concern.