New England Patriots Forums - PatsFans.com Patriots Fan Messageboard - Blogs http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/ This is a New England Patriots Message Board and Fan Forum. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:07:38 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/images/misc/rss.jpg New England Patriots Forums - PatsFans.com Patriots Fan Messageboard - Blogs http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/ Week 10: New England Patriots @ Indianapolis Colts 11/15/09 - RECAP http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/kontradiction/78-week-10-new-england-patriots-indianapolis-colts-11-15-09-recap.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:48:49 GMT

First, I'd like to apologize to any readers or followers of this blog that I may have for posting this so late. I did not DVR the game and wanted a chance to watch it again before posting to this. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on which way you view it) for us, the game was an instant classic and was aired again on NFL Network last night.

Before we head into this, I want to make it clear up front that I will not get into discussing the Belichick 4th down call. I've stated my opinion, as have many of you, on this subject and it has literally been beaten into the ground both on this forum and in the media for the past couple of days. Instead, I will focus on breakdowns in the game that I believe led to the loss. There are two of them: blocking and play calling.

Blocking:

Before the game, many people in the media and football world recognized that what the Patriots would do against Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis would be of the utmost importance in deciding the victor of the game. Block those two guys well and keep them out of Brady’s face and the Patriots would undoubtedly win. Do not block those two guys well, and they take out our downfield passing game and it would be a long night for #12. Prior to the game, the majority of the concern was directed toward rookie left tackle Sebastian Vollmer, filling in for franchise left tackle Matt Light in his injury absence. Thus far, since stepping in for Light in the Denver game, Vollmer had done well. He had shut down the likes of Elvis Dumervil and Joey Porter. In this game, many people recognized that Vollmer would again have his hands full against the likes of Dwight Freeney, one of the league’s premier pass rushers.

Throughout the course of the winning streak the Pats enjoyed before the Colts game, Pats fans were able to recognize the fact that Vollmer had received blocking help in the form of an extra tight end against those guys that he was going against. That’s why, in this game, many of the same fans that were able to see that were shocked when they saw that Vollmer, this time, was going up against Freeney without help 90% of the time. My best guess would be that putting a blocking tight end like LeVoir in the game to help out Vollmer would take away from what the Pats wanted to do in passing situations, which was to spread the Colts out. Nevertheless, I have to give Vollmer credit - he more than held his own against Freeney. He showed great athletic ability and was able to move his feet side-to-side in order to keep up with the speedster to the outside. Throughout the game, Freeney was never really a factor. He recorded zero tackles and zero sacks. The only time Freeney was ever really relevant in the game was when he was able to get into the backfield, but most of the time that was after Brady had let go of the ball. When he hadn’t, Vollmer had taken Freeney to the outside allowing Brady to step up in the pocket where interior protection was impeccable.

On the other side was Robert Mathis, the Colts other sack demon on the defensive line. Assigned to block him was Nick Kaczur. In the first half, Mathis was not able to get a solid push on Kaczur. Kaczur controlled the line of scrimmage against him and it allowed Brady time to step up and pick the Colts apart at all levels of the defense. Brady was able to hit receivers on passes between five and twenty plus yards. However, the second half was a different story. I’m certainly not in the position to speculate of Kaczur was hurt in the first half or got dinged up. However, if he was, it would certainly be a good excuse. His blocking of Robert Mathis completely broke down in the second half and was the reason for many of our failed drives. Time and time again, Mathis’ name was called as he was constantly in our backfield and in Brady’s face, forcing Brady to let go of many of his passes early. There was one point in the game where Mathis, who was giving up seventy pounds to Kaczur, manhandled him via a bull rush and forced Brady (who was then stepping into a throw to hit Moss down the field) to bail out of his pass and instead throw it away. There was another time where Brady had a wide open man over the middle and Mathis simply ran around Kaczur, who was too slow to respond, and locked onto Brady’s arm forcing what could have been a costly fumble.

In the end, the blocking on the left side of the line was fantastic. The blocking on the right side of the line? Not so much. Robert Mathis had his way with Nick Kaczur and was constantly a headache for Tom Brady. Mathis finished the game with six tackles - two assisted -, one forced fumble, and two sacks. He was one of the biggest reasons for the Colts defense stepping up and stopping the Pats offense in the second half.

Play Calling:

Again, this is a proverbial “Tale of Two Halves”. In the first half, the play calling was excellent on both sides of the ball. Prior to the game, I wrote a preview and explained what I thought should have happened in order for the Pats defense to slow down the Colts offense. I explained that the Pats had to get pressure up the middle of the offense to disrupt Manning who, like Brady, finds it hard to get passes off when he cannot step up into the pocket. Another key was play close and hard to the Colts receivers and hit them hard when they did catch the ball. Well, the first half was a pure example of that. The Pats secondary played bump and run coverage and the linebackers were able to force pressure on Manning, both up the middle and to the outside, which forced a couple of hurried passes from Manning. This was successful as Colts drive after Colts drive stalled as Manning hurried his passes to unexpecting receivers who then either dropped the ball or were out of position for catch.

The second half was a different story on defense. The third quarter is not as noticeable because the Pats offense held the ball for much of the quarter on an extended drive which culminated in Laurence Maroney fumbling the football on the goal line as the Pats were about to drive in for (what would have been) the touchdown that would have sealed the game. In the fourth quarter, however, Dean Pees switched the defense into a type of prevent defense. They seemed content to not give Manning anything over the top and took the pressure off of him, instead relying on a four man rush the majority of the time. I believe it was either the first or the second play of the fourth quarter for the Colts on offense, but the play that would highlight this is when Manning (who had all day) checked down to an underneath pass to Joseph Addai and the nearest man, Jerod Mayo, was well past the first down marker. Simply put, the only thing a prevent defense prevents is winning the football game, and this is what we did. You could almost see Manning’s eyes light up as he recognized that he was going to be given all the time he wanted in the pocket to complete pass after pass. This ultimately led to the Colts driving down the field with ease and scoring 21 points in the second half. I can only imagine what would have happened if Tully Banta-Cain had not been injured and/or we had kept the pressure on Manning throughout the game.

On offense, it is more of the same story. In the first half, the offense was aggressive. I loved the way they were using the run to set up the pass. They did that again in the second half as well. However, the difference in the first half is that, when the Pats would pass, they called plays that would allow Brady to attack the Colts at all levels of their defense. They called plays that attacked the Colts underneath, in the intermediate areas, and in the second level. This play calling was a success because the defense could never get comfortable. The runs were breaking off decent sized chunks. When the defense would step up to contain the run, Brady would hit Moss in the second level of the defense for a huge gain (and one touchdown). The play calling was hard to predict and was a huge reason of why the Pats went into the locker room at halftime with a ten point lead.

Much like the defense, something changed in the second half. The only sustained offense that we got was on that third quarter drive. Even then, one could easily tell that Larry Coyer and the Colts defense were starting to catch up to the Pats. The draw play to Kevin Faulk that was so successful in the first half was now being completely shut down by the Colts. I remember at one point in the fourth quarter, the Patriots were in the shotgun and Brady was calling out the assignments. The Colts defense, who were standing back, saw what we were going to do and audible into a pressure package up the A-Gaps. The play ran and Faulk was stopped for a short loss. However, though that play was being slowed down and then stopped, the Pats kept calling it and it kept resulting plays that achieved little to nothing on the ground. On top of that, the Pats stepped attacking the Colts over the top even though their safeties and corners showed that they could not keep up with Randy Moss and instead tried to dink and dunk their way down the field in plays that were called to take time off the clock. The Colts defense again got used to this and shut it down, especially in the fourth quarter. Though I will not talking about the 4th and 2 decision from Belichick, I will point at the plays called before that. On the third down, we went to the right for a short pass to Welker that almost resulted in a pick six. On the play right after that, one would think that we would attack the middle or left side of the field since the Colts showed that they weren’t going to give us that. What do we do? Short pass to Faulk on the same side of the field. The Colts were all over it even before he caught it and the rest, of course, is history.

To summarize, I thought these were the two biggest reasons why we lost this game, particularly the conservative play calling. I can only hope that the coaches and players pound the mistakes they made in this game into the ground (particularly the terrible use of timeouts) and correct their mistakes for this weeks game, which sees the division rival New York Jets come into town. Look out for another blog either later on tonight or tomorrow in which I will preview that Jets game. As always, feedback (whether it be negative or positive) is encouraged to help me improve.

1. Statistical Source: NFL.com’s Week 10 GameCenter ]]> KontradictioN http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/kontradiction/78-week-10-new-england-patriots-indianapolis-colts-11-15-09-recap.html <![CDATA[Silver Linings & Concerns: Week 10]]> http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/straightcashhomey81/77-silver-linings-concerns-week-10.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:53:54 GMT 11/16/09 This is probably the strangest I have ever felt after a loss. It is the single most disappointing regular season loss in my 22 years as a Pats Fan. It easily tops the 05 blowout loss to the Colts, the 04 21 game win streak snapping demolition in Pittsburgh, or any Pete Carroll era loss... 11/16/09

This is probably the strangest I have ever felt after a loss. It is the single most disappointing regular season loss in my 22 years as a Pats Fan. It easily tops the 05 blowout loss to the Colts, the 04 21 game win streak snapping demolition in Pittsburgh, or any Pete Carroll era loss that ended in a inexplicable penalty or Drew Bledsoe interception. Yet, I remain very, very encouraged by our performance. Brady and the offense are officially back. We went into a tough place to play, against a pretty good defense (albeit not as good as its #1 statistical ranking would indicate) and tore it up. Defensively, we played a tremendous offense and played well for 55 minutes, got the first sign of a pulse from Derrick Burgess, and saw the continued development of our young secondary. We lost because we were on the short end of a couple of close calls by the officials (the 4th quarter pass interference call on Darius Butler, and the ball spot on the Kevin Faulk’s 4th and 2 catch), a couple of very un-Patriot like turnovers (the Maroney fumble at the goal-line and the Brady INT in the 3rd quarter), and a calculated gamble that we just didn’t execute. Maybe I’m an optimist, but I think fumbles like Maroney’s happen to every team every year at some point (I don’t consider Maroney to riddled with the disease of “fumbilitis”. My theory is that our hooded savior developed a secret vaccine for this in 2002, when Kevin Faulk stopped fumbling)

I don’t want to go into the Belichick 4th down decision in great detail here, because you will likely hear it debated ad nauseum on talk radio, TV, and in print for the next week. All I will say is that I agreed with it, and I’d do it again. I had the same feeling as I did at the end of the 06 AFC championship game, when the Troy Brown ran the wrong route on 3rd and 4, Brady’s pass fell incomplete, and the Pats punted from their own 45 to give the Colts the ball back with 3 minutes left. I wish Belichick had gone for it then, because it was obvious Manning had gotten hot and the D was dragging. I felt similarly in this game. Plus, put yourself in the Colts’ shoes. Do you think they were happy when they saw the offense staying out there on 4th down? No, they didn’t want to have to try to stop Brady & Co. again. It was a worthy gamble by the Pats, but the Pats just didn’t execute as well as the Colts did on the play. End of story. I also thought Faulk got the first down, but hey, its over now. The Pats will move on, and us fans need to too.

I still think this team is beginning to peak and here are a few reasons to be encouraged:

-Sebastian Vollmer continues to impress. Stamp All-Pro on his Kraut right now. His length makes it nearly in impossible for even the fastest of speed rushers to get around the edge and his quick feet and technique allowed him to hold his own against Dwight Freeney’s legendary spin move to his inside, although Freeney was a effective with the spin on one, maybe two occasions. With Matt Light likely healthy enough for the Jets game and Nick Kaczur continuing to provide only average play at Right Tackle (Robert Mathis owned in the 4th quarter), it will be interesting to see if Kaczur goes to the bench, with either Light or Vollmer moving to the right side. At this point, I think Belichick and the coaching staff will have a hard time moving Vollmer to the bench.
-Brady is back. Period.
-Julian Edelman being healthy. The middle-class man’s version of Wes Welker should see plenty of one on one coverage and should continue to find himself open as defenses focus more and more on Moss & Welker.
-We ran the ball ok against Indy, But I’m excited to see how much better the running game, (and the play-action plays that comes with it) can be once Morris and Taylor are healthy.
-Myron Pryor continues to flash in every game as an interior pass rusher. He has a good burst and great hands for a kid his size.

My only concerns are the health of the Pats’ best pass rusher, Tully Banta-Cain, and the offense’s struggles in the Red Area. But it appeared TBC’s injury wasn’t season ending, and I fully expect the Offense to continue its steady overall improvement and get it in gear inside the twenty eventually.

Overall, I view the Pats as a team that is peaking now and will be the NFL’s best by years end, with an offense close to 07 level and a faster, younger, defense that tackles well and forces opponents to be patient and drive the length of the field. Their losses I believe are a product of rust (particularly the Jets and Broncos games) and a few unlucky/ boneheaded plays that every team makes during the course of the season (the Colts game). The key is to minimize the impact of those mistakes, and to get them out of the system before real crunch time begins. The key now is to finish 13-3/12-4, and hopefully secure the #2 seed in the AFC playoffs. Sunday Night’s loss may be crushing, but it is not season ending.

Which brings to my weekly movie quote, which should set the tone for the rest of the week for Pats fans. From the immortal Happy Gilmore, as portrayed by Adam Sandler:

“It ain't over, McGavin. The way I see it... we've only just begun” . ]]> StraightCashHomey81 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/straightcashhomey81/77-silver-linings-concerns-week-10.html Week 10 2009: Who To Root For - Or Against http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/76-week-10-2009-who-root-against.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:43:38 GMT This week's edition of 'who to root for - or against' is not as clear cut as some of the previous weeks games - even before considering emotional factors, such as the concept of rooting for the Jets causing you to throw up in your mouth a little bit.

1.) Denver at Washington
Root for Josh McDaniels and the former Pats while also rooting against Dan Snyder, right? Not so fast. The Broncos hold a tie-breaker for playoff seeding and home field in the AFC over the Patriots right now; we need Denver to lose another game.

2.) Jacksonville at New York Jets
This one has been debated on this board, and a logical case can be made for either side. On one hand the Pats own a Jaguars draft pick, so we want them to lose. On the other hand it's the Jets, a team more universally disliked than any other. But the deciding factor is that the Jets are still in 2nd place in the AFC East. I'd rather take care of the division first; root for a Jets loss.

3.) Tampa Bay at Miami
Continuing on that same theme, root for another loss by a division opponent. In addition, there is an outside chance that Tampa Bay could pass one or both of the teams who traded a draft pick to the Pats.

4.) Buffalo at Tennessee
I don't think the Bills are a threat in the AFC any longer, so it's okay to root for them to win - but only because the Pats own that draft pick from Tennessee.

5.) Kansas City at Oakland
At first glance you want to root for Scott Pioli and all the ex-Pats, and against Al Davis and all those Raider fans still crying about the tuck rule, right? Wrong. I want Oakland to finish ahead of the Chiefs this year. The reason for that is so they play a third-place schedule next season, increasing the chances that they have a bad record in 2010. Should that happen, the draft pick in the Richard Seymour trade is that much closer to the top.

6.) Philadelphia at San Diego
Root for the Chargers to lose to help insure the Pats stay ahead of them in the AFC.

7.) Baltimore at Cleveland
It's doubtful, but there is a slim chance the Browns could pass Jacksonville or Tennessee, pushing those draft picks closer to the top. Besides, another Ravens loss will make me smile.

8.) Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Do you really want to hear Steeler fans talk about how great they are? A loss will keep them quiet for at least a week. Besides, with their experince they are more of a playoff threat than the Bengals are; root for a Steelers loss.

9.) Detroit at Minnesota
Root for the Lions on the chance that they finish with more wins than Jacksonville or Tennessee. A side benefit will be a bit less talk about Brett Favre and Brad Childress.

10.) New Orleans at St. Louis
Root for a Saints loss in order to expose a weakness of theirs that the Pats can exploit, and also to bring their confidence down a notch. Root for a Rams win on the outside chance they end up with more wins than Jacksonville or Tennessee.

11.) Seattle at Arizona
Root for a Seahawks win so they finish with a better record than the Jaguars and Titans.

12.) Atlanta at Carolina
A Panthers win will help them have a better record than Jacksonville and Tennessee.

13.) Dallas at Green Bay
I couldn't really find any logical reason to pick one team or the other, so I'll go with the Packers simply because Aaron Rodgers doesn't deserve to blamed by Packer fans for losing to Favre and the Vikings. ]]> jmt57 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/76-week-10-2009-who-root-against.html Week 10: Patriots at Colts PREVIEW http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/kontradiction/75-week-10-patriots-colts-preview.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:37:18 GMT *_Patriots offense vs. Colts defense_* 1. *Tom Brady vs. Colts pass defense*: With much talk the last week or so about injuries in the Colts secondary, Pats fans have been feeling pretty confident about Brady’s chances vs. the Colts defense. Not so fast, Pats fans. As we all know, the real... Patriots offense vs. Colts defense

1. Tom Brady vs. Colts pass defense: With much talk the last week or so about injuries in the Colts secondary, Pats fans have been feeling pretty confident about Brady’s chances vs. the Colts defense. Not so fast, Pats fans. As we all know, the real line of defense for the Colts against another team’s passing game has always been Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Both have been thorns in the collective sides of teams that the Colts have faced over the years, particularly Freeney. In order to see success against the Patriots pass offense, the Colts will rely on both of these men to apply pressure early and often on Tom Brady.

Historically, left tackle Matt Light has been able to keep Freeney off of Brady long enough to allow Brady to complete throws against the Colts defense, which has seen its secondary traditionally outgunned against the Pats wide receivers if Brady is afforded time in the pocket to complete a pass. In this game, however, the Patriots will be leaning on rookie left tackle Sebastian Vollmer and Mark LeVoir, a blocking tight end, to keep Freeney out of the Pats backfield. If this battle is won, Brady will be given time to pick apart the Colts battered secondary and will allow the Patriots to win the game.

Advantage: Brady

2. Patriots running backs vs. Colts run defense: While the Colts pass defense has been stellar so far this season (16 sacks between Freeney and Mathis so far), their run defense has been anything but. They have allowed 108.1 YPG and six touchdowns so far this season with a 4.3 YPC average. The Colts apparent inability to shut down the run was seen in the Miami game earlier in the year where the Dolphins controlled the clock based on their run offense, allowing the Colts just over a quarter of ball control on offense. However, Miami lost that game due to their secondary being exploited by Manning.

The Patriots enter the game battered at the running back position with long-term injuries sustained to backs Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris. They hold the league’s 16th best rushing attack averaging 114 YPG and having scored 8 rushing touchdowns. Running back Laurence Maroney is coming off of a successful game against the Dolphins, who boast the league’s fifth ranked rushing defense. If the Patriots can commit roughly 30-40% of their offensive snaps to the run, we should see some big yards being broken off against a Colts defensive line that gives up a lot of size to the Patriots offensive line. Also on the roster is Kevin Faulk who has shown time and time again that he can burn the Colts when the ball is in his hands (mostly coming off of designed screen plays). The rushing offenses on both sides of the ball are not what is drawing interest in this game, but it could be pivotal in deciding the victor.

Advantage: Pats running backs

3. Patriots offensive line vs. Colts front seven: This will be the key match-up to watch when the Patriots have the ball. With injuries to both center Dan Koppen and left tackle Matt Light, their replacements (Dan Connolly and Sebastian Vollmer) will be counted on to contain their men at the line of scrimmage. If Koppen cannot go, Connolly will be counted on to stop Colts defensive tackle Antonio Johnson who, if not contained, can cause disruption up the middle and allow Colts MLB Gary Bracket to get into the Patriots backfield on passes. This will be a death blow for the Patriots offense. As Super Bowl XLII showed all of us, if Brady gets pressured up the middle, his movement in the pocket is inhibited and it disrupts his throwing pattern. If Koppen goes, look for the interior to be contained, though I still have faith in Connolly based on what I saw this past Sunday against the Dolphins.

The key match-up will be Sebastian Vollmer against Dwight Freeney, one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. Last week, Vollmer was matched up against Dolphins OLB Joey Porter and, with help from Mark LeVoir, effectively shut the OLB down - allowing him zero tackles all game. Look for LeVoir again to be used as a blocking tight end to help Vollmer against Freeney. Vollmer has size and athletic ability, but he is still very raw and will need help. If Vollmer has to block Freeney alone, it could be a long day for Brady and our offensive line. As of right now, that looks to be the case, but could change come game day.

Advantage: Colts defensive line

4. Patriots wide receivers and tight ends vs. Colts secondary: Randy Moss and Wes Welker make up what is one of the league’s premier wide receiver duos. Given the injury to Colts CB Kelvin Hayden, Moss looks to be matched up against back-up CB T.J. Rushing. Look for the Colts to also give Rushing safety help over the top by double covering Moss with Melvin Bullitt, Bob Sanders’ back-up. Moss has show previously that he can beat double coverage, but the Colts will not let Moss ultimately win the game for the Pats.

Sam Aiken will most likely draw single coverage against Colts CB Tim Jennings, and has been improving. This will be a good match-up as Jennings is giving up several inches to Aiken. If Brady gets time, he could see a wide open Aiken at times available to big catches. The Colts will not double team Aiken as they have to commit their safety Antoine Bethea to helping out against Wes Welker, who should also be able to get open in many cases. That also leaves Patriots tight ends Ben Watson, who is quietly having a great year, and Chris Baker in single coverage against the Colts outside linebackers. Look for either one of them to have big games (most likely Watson) if Brady is awarded time to throw.

Advantage: Pats receiving corps

Colts offense vs. Patriots defense

1. Peyton Manning vs. Patriots pass defense: Manning has had a great year so far, boasting the league’s best passing offense and throwing for 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has seen a sort of rebirth behind a rejuvenated receiving corps that boasts old faces Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark and new faces Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. The Patriots enter the game with the league’s fourth ranked passing defense, allowing 179 YPG and nine touchdowns through the air. Something will have to give.

The main match-up which will impact the Colts passing game lies in two areas. The first is the Patriots ability to generate pressure up the interior of the Colts offensive line. That will rely on ILB Jerod Mayo. Look for Mayo to be used in interior blitzes early on in the game. If he is successful, he will force bad passes from Manning who, like Brady, struggles the most when pressure is coming directly at him instead of from the sides. If he is unsuccessful, the Patriots will abandon that plan as Manning and Clark will feast on the middle of the Patriots defense.

Another match-up to watch will be Manning vs. Brandon Meriweather. Since McGowan will most likely see primary duties covering Dallas Clark, that will leave Meriweather to roam the field. Manning does struggle against speedy and aggressive safeties (see Troy Polamalu) and Meriweather fits that mold. Manning knows how to attack the Patriots defense and will probably not try to force throws into Meriweather’s area or the perimeter of the defense. He has been most successful in the past attacking the middle between 0-15 yards. However, if Manning does decide to attack Meriweather, he will be ready. Combined with any pressure Mayo could create, if these two happen it could be a long day for Manning. However, creating pressure against the interior of the Colts defensive line is easier said then done.

Advantage: Manning

2. Colts running backs vs. Patriots run defense: As I said earlier, the running games are not the marquee match-up here, but could have a big say in determining the winner of this contest. Like the Pats, the Colts have seen injuries to their running backs having lost promising rookie Donald Brown. However, they still have Joseph Addai who, in the past, has been a headache for the Patriots. The past couple of years he has seemed to slow down, but usually has his best game in these weeks. Still, though, the Colts come into the game with one of the league’s worst ranked running attacks, ranking 29th in the league with a paltry 683 rushing yards (3.7 YPC) and having scored eight touchdowns.

The Patriots come into the game having had problems with allowing opposing backs yards. They hold the league’s 20th ranked run defense and have allowed their opponents 900 yards on the ground through eight games. However, the Patriots have only allowed their opponents two touchdowns on the ground. With the loss of Richard Seymour, they have seen that side of the defensive line allow big runs to the opponent. However, that seemed to change this past weekend against the Dolphins, one of the league’s best rushing offenses. Outside of a big carry by Pat White and a touchdown to Ricky Williams, the Patriots effectively shut down the Dolphins running attack through four quarters of play forcing first year starter Chad Henne to attempt more passes than the Dolphins coaching staff would have liked.

If Brown returns for the Colts, it would be a big advantage to Indy. If he does not, they will have to lean on Joseph Addai who, while he has had a good past against the Patriots, is not having a stellar year by any means.

Advantage: Patriots run defense

3. Colts offensive line vs. Patriots front seven: The Colts enter the game boasting the league’s best stats for an offensive line. They have allowed their opponents to hit Manning just 19 times, and have allowed just five sacks. This is one of the reasons why Manning has had a great year. The Colts offensive line is excellent at pass blocking while the Patriots defense is not great at rushing the passer with a standard three to four man rush.

The Patriots defense (primarily their front seven) enter this Sunday’s game 26th in the league in sacks having generated 15 sacks. However, they have seen the pressure turned up the past couple of games as defensive coordinator Dean Pees has turned up the pressure and sent multiple man rushes. Jerod Mayo and Tully Banta-Cain will be huge in this area. For the Patriots to be successful against Manning, they will have to generate pressure up the middle and disrupt Manning’s timing. As I said earlier, look for Mayo to rush the A and B gaps at the beginning of the game. Banta-Cain will be an integral part in generating pressure from the outside, as he has been so adept at doing throughout the year.

The bottom line is that if the Patriots do not disrupt Manning’s timing through a pass rush, it could be a long day for the defense and a big day for Manning. Manning vs. Meriweather is the big match-up in this game for when the Colts are on offense and the Patriots are on defense, but this will be the most important part in determining whether Manning is going to roast the defense or not. So far this season, the Colts offensive line has seen this battle go their way.

Advantage: Colts offensive line

4. Colts wide receivers and tight ends vs. Patriots secondary: The Colts come into the game boasting the league’s top ranked receiving offense (the Patriots are ranked second) having seen their receivers collectively catch 222 passes for 2,567 yards and 17 touchdowns. They are about as high powered as it gets, and this has mostly been fueled by receivers Pierre Garcon and rookie Austin Collie both having great years in their offense. Dallas Clark is one of the league’s premier tight ends and has shown the ability to roast the Patriots defense in the past. He almost single handedly brought the Colts back to win the game in the 2006 AFC Championship Game.

The Patriots enter the game with the league’s 4th ranked passing/receiving defense having allowed their opponents their opponents 1,550 yards through the air and nine touchdowns. The main match-up to watch for is Brandon McGowan, who will almost assuredly draw the majority of the coverage, against Dallas Clark. McGowan has been credited with shutting down Falcons’ tight end Tony Gonzalez earlier this season and will draw just as big of a match-up against Clark. Since Manning probably will not routinely attack the perimeter of the Pats pass defense, this match-up is going to be important.

If McGowan and whomever else that draws the Clark match-up wins, Manning will have to look for other options, most likely Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, or one of his running backs out of the backfield. Here is where the Patriots need to be physical. The Patriots generated an advantage in the passing game against the Ravens, Dolphins, and Falcons by being physical. Their secondary may be inexperienced in this type of defense and find themselves out of position from time to time, but they are very physical. If they batter the Colts receivers in much the same way, they will see success against the Colts passing game. This could really go either way, however, and it mostly depends on whether or not Manning is afforded time in the pocket. Considering his offensive line, I will assume he is.

Advantage: Colts receiving corps

Coaching

1. Bill Belichick vs. Jim Caldwell: Come on, man! Is this even a question?

Advantage: Belichick :D ]]> KontradictioN http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/kontradiction/75-week-10-patriots-colts-preview.html Week 9: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots 11/08/09 - RECAP http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/kontradiction/74-week-9-miami-dolphins-new-england-patriots-11-08-09-recap.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:21:29 GMT I'd like to start my first blog on this forum with a thought or two. First of all, I can't believe it took me this long to discover this function! I usually love blogging. Secondly, I would like to express my utter love for the fact that I saw Joey Porter look like he was going to cry just before the game ended (for those who don't know, he didn't record a single tackle in the Dolphins loss). My only regret is that I could not capture that in a screen shot. If anybody did, please do not hesitate to post it for our enjoyment. Now, onto my postgame thoughts...

Offense:

1. Quarterback - I thought Brady played a very good game today. Certainly his stats would tell you that. Brady finished 25/37 for 332 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Very solid game. When analyzing Brady at the beginning of the year, many of us noted the flaws in his mechanics: he was not stepping into his throws, he was putting too much weight on his back foot, etc. For the last couple of games, he hasn't exactly been "lights out", but he has been very good. Today, Brady continued that trend. For his deep pass, I think Brady has that touch back between he and Moss. The one INT that he threw today came courtesy of an extremely athletic play by Dolphins rookie cornerback Vontae Davis as he out-leaped Randy Moss for the ball. Without that athletic play, and then another one to save a touchdown pass a few minutes later, Brady would have had two extremely well thrown passes - both most likely going for touchdowns. Brady also did a good job hitting his intermediate routes and I did not see any mechanical flaws to speak of. On a darker and more negative side, I do wish they would stop calling designed plays in which Brady has to throw on the run. Brady's strongsuit has NEVER been his ability to throw on the run and today, by my count, he completed under half of his passes on the move. Other than the interception, which was largely a result of very good coverage and a couple of plays in which he was off with the receiver he was throwing to, Brady had a very good day.

2. Running Backs - I was impressed with how hard Maroney ran the ball today. He was powering through blocks (which were also very good, but I'll get into that in a little bit) and breaking tackles when getting past the first level of the defense. I did see some dancing but, as always, that was a result of the hole getting plugged up at the point of attack by the defense which forced Maroney to change direction. Maroney finished with 20 carries for 82 yards and 1 touchdown for a 4.1 YPC average. Solid day for him with a lot of reps. I would love to see Maroney get this many reps in the rest of the games we play for here on out because I do fully believe that he can handle the load. The only thing I would complain about in regards to Maroney is once again his lack of use in the passing game. Maroney is flat out DANGEROUS in open space and I would love to see the team try to get the ball to him. However, that is more of a complaint on the coaching than it is on Maroney.

As for Kevin Faulk, I don't think I have to explain anymore than just saying that Faulk is ALWAYS solid. I also loved the use of Connolly as a fullback at the goal line for our first touchdown of the game.

3. Wide Receivers/Tight Ends - Randy Moss had an excellent game today, but it didn't start out so well. On the first bomb of the game, I was disappointed because I felt, personally, that Randy could have done a little bit more to battle Davis for the ball. Apparently he agreed as well. Moss didn't look to happy about being outplayed by a rookie on the sideline and when he came back into the game, he let everyone know that Davis was not fully capable of covering him on his own quite yet. The next long pass play saw Moss beat his man then make a highlight reel catch with one hand. From there on in, Moss routinely out-battled his man for the ball and finished the day absolutely burning the Dolphins for 147 yards and a touchdown. His separation on the touchdown was a thing of beauty.

Welker was once again solid, but looked to be taken away at times by some double/tight coverage by the Dolphins. Still, Welker was Welker and he was able to beat his man for a few big plays... most notably just before the half when he caught a nicely thrown ball from Brady for a first down, then went out of bounds to conserve time on the clock. Without that, we don't have one second left on the clock to kick the field goal and go up 16-10 at halftime.

I thought Aiken did suprisingly good today. He was able to get open more times in weeks past and haul in a couple of passes from Brady. However, the most important thing that Aiken was able to do was put his 6'2", 215 pound frame to use on the last drive and cause a couple of key pass interference penalties on the Dolphins that largely fueled that last drive right before the half.

Rookie Bradon Tate was only in for a few handful of plays, but I did see him one time. He was able to beat his man, badly, and was conceivingly wide open for what looked like it could have been a touchdown pass, only to be overthrown by Brady. However, the fact that he has been able to get so wide open in the little amount of time he has been given makes me feel warm and fuzzy about Mr. Tate.

As for the tight ends, Chris Baker was once again all but invisible in the passing game, not having recorded a single catch or a single look from Brady. However, Watson (bad back and all) was visible in the passing game essentially hauling in everything that was thrown to him. He finished the game with 4 catches for 49 yards and was big on a couple of drives converting first downs for us. I, for one, am very glad that Watson has remained relatively healthy throughout the course of the season and is getting a chance to showcase what he can do for the Patriots in this offense.

4. Offensive Line/Blocking - I'd like to start off by wishing Dan Koppen the best and a speedy recovery. It's good that he was able to walk without help, but that doesn't mean that Pats fans and the organization in general are out of the woods as to whether or not the injury sustained was a serious one. I, personally, did not see it so I cannot really comment further on it.

As for the offensive line play, the blocking was superb today. The Dolphins sent some heat on Brady a lot and it very rarely got to him. Vollmer had a great game today, holding Joey Porter to absolutely nothing as did Connolly in his relief of Koppen. I thought the O-Line did a great job of opening up holes for Maroney against one of the league's better run defenses as well. Maroney regularly had a hole to run through on his first read and that can be attributed to the line absolutely mauling Miami's front seven. As usual, the O-Line also did an outstanding job in our screen game as they routinely got out in front of Faulk and opened path after path for him to run through. They were virtually mistake free as well until a boneheaded false start penalty at the end of the game when Brady was attempting to draw the Dolphins offside with a false start penalty. However, all can be forgiven there as the game was already in hand at that point. :cool:

Defense:

1. Defensive Line - We all knew going into the week that the Patriots weren't going to go the route of the Jets when it came to stopping the Wildcat. The Jets used various blitz packages and sent the house (in famous Rex Ryan style) in order to get into Miami's backfield to disrupt their running game. That wasn't the case with the Pats. The defensive line were able to get off of their blocks throughout the game and slow down the Wildcat and Miami's rushing attack with both Brown and Williams. Special shout-out to Vince Wilfork who was being double teamed in every play of the game and was still able to get off of his blocks in order to disrupt the running game. Miami did start to gain bigger chunks of yardage as the game ended, but that is to be expected due to the utter size of our defensive line.

As for a pass rush, I still am not impressed by our four man rush. The only guy on that defensive line that seems to get penetration is Mike Wright, and he did not sniff the backfield when the Patriots employed a three or four man rush. They did get a solid push, but there wasn't any penetration to speak of. The only times I saw the Patriots get penetration is when Pees mixed up the calls with various blitzes (especially ones that employed Pat Chung).

2. Linebackers - Jerod Mayo was solid as usual. He was able to do everything, from cutting off the run at the edges, to helping seal off his gaps at the point of attack, to penetrating Miami's interior offensive line and disrupting the play in the backfield for a loss. Gary Guyton recorded four tackles in his time playing next to Mayo however I can't really say that he stood out to me at any point in the game.

Adalius Thomas really came back in this game. He was literally all over the place, recording a sack and making some big hits on the runners and receivers. He also would have had a big fumble recovery, having been "Johnny on the Spot" if the call had stood in the first quarter regarding Henne losing the ball (it was ultimately decided that his arm was moving forward). Good to see Adalius roaming around that backfield with the intensity that he should have had this entire time. If I didn't know any better, I would think that being a healthy scratch got to him with the way he has responded over the last couple of games.

Tully Banta-Cain was also a demon in the pass rush. He could have been responsible for a fumble that would have been returned for a touchdown. On top of that, I routinely saw him putting pressure on Henne after that. Really happy that we were able to retain him. In the end, Tully recorded five tackles including what (I believe) should have been a forced fumble.

3. Cornerbacks/Safeties - We saw a number of different cornerback formations, including Shawn Springs. Too many to mention and review, so I am going to stick with the starting line-up of Darius Butler and Leigh Bodden.

First, Butler. Let me just start off by saying that I think Butler is going to be very good in our defense. He had a number of plays today in which he blanketed his man. One of them is an instance in which he closed on Devone Bess when Bess caught a quick hitch and held on for a shoe-string tackle where, if he hadn't, the play could have easily gone for another 10-15 yards. However, there were times out there in which he clearly looked like a rookie. He also made a couple of rookie mistakes with a pass interference penalty which wasn't called due to the fact that the Dolphins had gotten a first down, and another pass interference penalty which was also waved off due to a roughing penalty against Pat Chung on Chad Henne. Butler did good enough for us today, but was not outstanding by any means.

The same holds true for Bodden, who was beaten a couple of times in coverage, but was also blanketed to his man many times after that. One of the most notable times was what would have been a clear cut interception had Devonne Bess not turned into a defensive back suddenly and knocked the ball out of his hands.

As for the safeties... WOW. Where in the Hell did we find Brandon McGowan? The dude has really turned into a quality safety for us and has done wonders as the heavy hitter next to Meriweather. He was laying the wood all day long and was routinely in on every passing play. The only complaint that I can find for McGowan was his blown coverage on the tight end near the end of the first half that resulted in the Dolphins' first touchdown. However, he was having to pull dual duty on that play as he was forced to either watch Ronnie Brown, or keep his eye on the tight end. It was a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario for McGowan.

Meriweather is a very good safety, but he wasn't really visible today due to the fact that the Dolphins were trying to keep the ball out of his area. I don't think that will be the case next week against Manning and the Colts. As for what is supposed to be his counterpart in a few years, Chung, I was impressed with what I saw from him in regards to blitzing the opposing offense. He was key on a couple of blitzes today disrupting a pass the first time and putting a big hit on Henne the second time. The only bad part about that big hit was that it was clearly illegal and the team was docked 15 yards for it and also lost an interception that was caused by Chung coming up the middle like a demon.

All in all, the secondary play was also solid but there is some room for improvement.

Special Teams:

What else can I say? Gost was spectacular in his efforts to keep the ball away from Ginn, regularly booming the kick out of bounds to neutralize him. When he couldn't, the special teams (including Kyle Arrington) did a good job to not give Ginn too many yards to work with in the return game. Good overall game plan and execution from the special teams this week.

Well, that's about it for me. Sorry if it's rough, but it's the first blog I've done in quite some time. Like the team, there is room for improvement with me. As of right now, we are 6-2, in firm control of the division, and are looking to end yet another undefeated streak next week.

Now BRING ON INDY!! ]]> KontradictioN http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/kontradiction/74-week-9-miami-dolphins-new-england-patriots-11-08-09-recap.html Week 9 Dolphins at Pats Preview http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/73-week-9-dolphins-pats-preview.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:49:38 GMT Is it just me, or does there seem to be less talk, less of a buzz this year about the Pats-Dolphins game than in years past? Anyways, here are some links and other info on this week’s opponent. * Team Website: Miami Dolphins (http://www.miamidolphins.com) * Newspapers: Miami Herald... Is it just me, or does there seem to be less talk, less of a buzz this year about the Pats-Dolphins game than in years past? Anyways, here are some links and other info on this week’s opponent.
]]> jmt57 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/73-week-9-dolphins-pats-preview.html Week 9 2009: Who to Root For - or Against http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/72-week-9-2009-who-root-against.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:56:49 GMT *Who To Root For – Or Against* *Week Nine 2009 Edition* This seemed to be a pretty good bye-week topic last week, so I figured I would try this once again. Obviously the top choice is for the Patriots to beat Miami, so I’ll just start the list with my second choice. Teams in *Bold*...
Who To Root For – Or Against

Week Nine 2009 Edition




This seemed to be a pretty good bye-week topic last week, so I figured I would try this once again. Obviously the top choice is for the Patriots to beat Miami, so I’ll just start the list with my second choice. Teams in Bold are the ones I want to Win, while those that are Underlined are the ones that I want to Lose; a lot of not-so-easy choices with this week’s games.


(2.) 5-3 Texans at 7-0 Colts
Although both teams have winning records and are in the same conference, this is an easy call: root for the Colts to lose. Indy currently holds the top spot in the AFC for home field advantage, so Pats fans want them to lose a few games. On top of that if they lose, it will put an end to their quest to top the Pats’ record of consecutive wins in the regular season as well as end the talk of the Colts’ equaling the Pats’ 2007 16-0 mark. As an added bonus it could put a dent in the Colts’ confidence heading into their game against the Pats, and maybe even distract them just a little bit when they try to focus on that game. And if Houston plays well, the Pats coaching staff might be able to take something from that game in terms of attacking a weakness of the Colts next week – as well as being better prepared for Houston when the Pats meet them later this year.

(3.) 1-6 Chiefs at 3-4 Jaguars
The AFC North games were so hard to choose I just went with this game instead. The Pats have a Jacksonville draft pick so we want them to lose whenever possible, plus there is the rooting interest for Kansas City due to the number of former Patriots that left on good terms that are now with their organization; root for KC to win and the Jags to lose.

(4.) 1-6 Titans at 3-4 49ers
Similar to above, we’re looking for Tennessee to lose every week because the Pats own one of their draft picks. As an added bonus there is the wishing bad things on Jeff Fisher angle, after he led his team’s cheering of Rodney Harrison’s season-ending injury a few years ago, as well as his comments about Bill Belichick after spygate.

(5.) 5-2 Steelers at 6-1 Broncos
This game was tough enough to call that I had to drop it two spots on this ranking. I probably should be wanting Denver to lose since they have a better record than the Pats (and also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker), but I’ll take my chance with the Pats catching up to them later this season. In exchange that will put the Pats a game ahead of Pittsburgh – and if combined with a Cincinnati win it puts the Steelers a game behind a team they have already lost to. As much as I would relish beating Pittsburgh in the playoffs again, I think I would enjoy their missing the playoffs entirely even more. So I’ll go not so much as for Denver to win, but for Pittsburgh to lose this game.

(6.) 4-3 Ravens at 5-2 Bengals
This is actually Part B of the game above. Again I probably should be rooting for the team with the better record to lose, but I think I’ll take more satisfaction in seeing Baltimore lose another game. After all the whining after the last two Pats-Ravens games, I just can’t get myself to pull for Baltimore. On top of that, I like the Pats chances better against the Bengals if they should meet in the playoffs.

(7.) 4-3 Chargers at 5-3 Giants
This is yet another very difficult game to decide on. If San Diego wins it increases their chances of catching Denver, and it sure would be nice to see Mr. Classy and crew miss the playoffs entirely – which could possibly lead to a complete dismantling of their roster. But while the thought of the Chargers, Steelers and Ravens all missing the playoffs is certainly appealing, I have almost no concern with the thought of facing San Diego in the playoffs. Then there are the Giants. Do we really want to hear any more about how great any team from New York is? Do we really want the media to revive talk of a Manning versus Manning Super Bowl? Do we really want to subject ourselves to watching any more slow motion replays of Tyree’s catch? Of course not; therefore I’ll root for the Giants to lose.

(8.) 3-4 Panthers at 7-0 Saints
Enough already with this undefeated talk, and how the Saints offense is the greatest of all-time and New Orleans is the best team in NFL history. I want Carolina to give the Pats coaches some tips on how to beat the Saints, for a little bit less confidence in the minds of the Saints players when they meet the Pats, and for this undefeated talk to end now; I’m rooting for the Saints to lose.

(9.) 2-5 Redskins at 4-3 Falcons
First of all I can’t root for the Redskins as long as Dan Snyder is their owner. Second, the Falcons fans that visited our site earlier were probably the coolest of any fans to come here so far this year. Third, I’d like to see Thomas Dimitroff and Matt Ryan do well. And fourth, an Atlanta win will help stop, in just a very small manner, some of this stupid ‘you haven’t beaten anybody’ talk that inevitably occurs every week.

(10.) 4-3 Cardinals at 4-3 Bears
No dog in this fight, but Arizona fans deserve a bone after coming so close to winning it all last year.

(11.) 1-6 Lions at 2-5 Seahawks
Should I root for Matt Hasselbeck? Should I root against Deion Branch? I guess after all those losses Detroit fans deserve more than just one win, so I’ll go with the Lions in this one.

(12.) 5-2 Cowboys at 5-2 Eagles
Who do you dislike more, Cowboy fans or Eagle fans? I’d say that’s a draw, so how about the owners? That settles it; root for the Eagles to win and Cowboys to lose.

(13.) 4-3 Packers at 0-7 Bucs
On one hand I feel bad for Aaron Rodgers and Packer fans for having to watch Brett Favre and the Vikings beat them twice this season. On the other hand Tampa Bay fans have already suffered enough, from the 0-26 start to all those non-playoff, double-digit losses during the creamsicle winking pirate years. Nobody deserves to have a winless season; root for the Bucs to win.



Okay those are mine; what are yours? ]]> jmt57 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/72-week-9-2009-who-root-against.html Bye Week Update: Milestones for the 2009 Patriots http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/71-bye-week-update-milestones-2009-patriots.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:13:02 GMT *Bye Week Update: Milestones for the 2009 Patriots* Last spring I took a look at possible milestones for the Patriots in the 2009 season (http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/43-2009-season-possible-milestones-patriots.html). With the team off Sunday... Bye Week Update: Milestones for the 2009 Patriots




Last spring I took a look at possible milestones for the Patriots in the 2009 season. With the team off Sunday due to the bye week, it seems too early to talk about the Dolphins – so I thought this would be a good time to revisit that topic.



Team

The franchise now has 382 wins, tied with the Dolphins and Chiefs for 17th most in NFL history. Of course many teams have been around much longer than the Pats. Among the franchises that started play in 1960 or later, that number ranks 5th, behind the Cowboys, Raiders, Vikings and Broncos.

The Pats have passed the Ravens and remain ahead of the Steelers with an all-time winning percentage of .518, which is 15th best of the 32 current franchises; by the end of the year the Pats should move up two notches past .519 Washington and .520 Kansas City, with a chance of moving past Jacksonville as well. Not a particularly significant stat, but something to keep in your back pocket when some fan of another team – particularly one wearing black and gold – starts talking about how the Pats were so bad for so long and their team has such a better history.



Bill Belichick

Belichick now ranks 22nd in years of head coaching, with 15. With 231 wins he is tied with Jim Mora for the 21st most wins by a coach; it now looks like he may pass Jeff Fisher (236) in this category, and possibly catch Hank Stram (19th, with 238) as well. Currently Belichick has won 55 more games than he has lost. If the Pats finish the season 12-4, that would move him past Bill Cowher and tie him with Joe Gibbs for 12th all-time at 60 games over .500.

If the Pats make the playoffs, that will be Belichick’s 8th year in the post-season. That would rank 16th best in NFL history, tied with George Halas, John Madden, Marv Levy and Dennis Green. Belichick ranks 9th all-time with 19 playoff games; he is just one behind Dan Reeves, two behind Bill Cowher, and three behind Bud Grant. And he currently ranks 5th with 15 playoff victories; that is only one behind Chuck Noll and two behind Joe Gibbs. Should the Pats win the AFC championship that would tie Belichick with Tom Landry for 2nd most, with a total of five. And if the Pats win it all, that would equal the most Super Bowl victories by a coach, held by Noll with four; it would place him 5th in NFL history in number of championships, behind only Paul Brown, Curly Lambeau, George Halas and Vince Lombardi.



Tom Brady

Brady currently has 212 career touchdown passes; his next TD pass will move him past Terry Bradshaw, and the next after that will tie him with John Brodie. With twenty TD passes the rest of the way, Brady will match Steve Young’s career total, which is 20th most all-time.

Brady ranks 40th in career passing yards with 28,478. He needs to average only 170 yards per game to become the 32nd player in NFL history to throw for 30,000 yards. Tom needs to complete twenty more passes to reach 2,500 for his career. Right now he ranks 30th in passes completed; his 2,480 are 15 fewer than Kurt Warner, and 14 more than Drew Brees’ total.

Tom currently ranks 60th all-time with 17 playoff starts. One more moves him up in the rankings to 43rd, two more to 22nd, and three more to 14th all-time.


In four more games Brady will move into 2nd place in Pats history in games played by a QB. He needs 64 more completions to set the Pats record for most completions. He needs 1180 more yards to pass Drew Bledsoe as the all time passing yardage leader for the Pats.



Randy Moss

Moss now has 139 touchdown receptions, which is third best all-time; he is now just one behind Terrell Owens’ total. Randy is 9th in career receiving yards with 13,766; he needs only 12 more to pass Henry Ellard, 134 to pass former teammate Cris Carter, and 239 to pass James Lofton, which would put him 6th on the all-time list.

With 75 yards Randy will become the 24th player with 14,000 yards from scrimmage. He needs to average 76 yards per game to pass #20 Marvin Harrison, and 99 yards per game to pass Jim Brown in this category. He has 14,120 all-purpose yards, which is 36th best; he needs 98 yards per game to become the 25th NFL player with 15,000.

Randy now has 140 touchdowns in his career, one of only six players to reach that mark. He is currently two behind both Terrell Owens and LaDainian Tomlinson, and five behind Marcus Allen.

Moss is now 66th in points scored with 846. That means he needs nine touchdowns to reach 900 points; among non-kickers only Emmitt Smith has over 900. Randy is 4th among non-kickers in points scored all-time; he is six points behind LaDainian Tomlinson and twelve behind Terrell Owens.

Randy has now started 164 games; if he starts the rest of the games this season that will be 173, which would put him in 164th place all-time.


With 228 points scored since he arrived 2007, Moss now ranks 16th all-time in Pats history; with two more touchdowns he will move past Corey Dillon, Jim Colclough and Matt Bahr into 13th place.

Moss needs eight touchdowns – 48 points – to match Jim Nance’s total of 276 points as a Pat; that would place him 9th in team history for points scored.

Moss now has 38 receiving touchdowns as a Pat, tying him with Irving Fryar in that category. His next TD will match Colclough’s total, and four more will equal the number Gino Cappelletti scored; he needs twelve to equal Ben Coates’ total of 50 for 2nd place in Pats history behind Stanley Morgan.

Randy has now passed Russ Francis, and is tied with Sam Cunningham and Marv Cook for 13th in receptions as a Patriot with 210. He should be moving up that list soon; he is only three behind Deion Branch and seven in back of Vincent Brisby; Moss needs 51 more catches to move into the top ten.

Moss now ranks 14th in team history with 3066 receiving yards, but that could change quickly. With 96 more yards he will move into 9th place, passing Shawn Jefferson, Art Graham, Brisby, Francis, and Harold Jackson.



Wes Welker

Wes now has 365 career receptions, which is 219th all-time. In the next game against Miami game he should move past many other players on that list, ranging from Frank Gifford to Bob Hayes. Welker should easily pass the 400-reception milestone this year, and could rank in the top 150 of all time by season’s end.

Welker now ranks 43rd with 183 punt returns; with 17 more he will become the 35th player with 200 punt returns. Wes ranks 4th among active players and 37th all-time with 1,792 punt return yards; he needs to average just over 24 yards per game to become the 32nd player in NFL history with 2000 yards in punt returns. Welker also ranks 52nd in number of kickoff returns with 178 and 54th in kickoff yards with 4,060, but I don’t think those totals are going to change very much.


Wes is now 43rd in team history with 92 points; he could be in the high-twenties when the season is done.

Welker’s 56 punt returns as a Pat ties him for 8th in team history with Ron Burton; he needs 18 more to equal Mack Herron’s total of 74.

Welker passed Deion Branch last week and now ranks 16th in team history with 2824 yards receiving. With 339 more yards Welker will pass Harold Jackson, who is currently 9th on the team’s all-time list.



Ben Watson

Watson’s next touchdown will give him 20 as a Pat – he would be the 23rd player in team history to do that. Three more touchdowns would tie him with Terry Glenn and Andy Johnson for 26th place in team history with 132 points, passing John Stephens, Ron Burton, Art Graham and Mosi Tatupu along the way.

Watson needs only 80 more yards receiving to become the 25th player in Pats history to have 2000 yards receiving, and 295 to move past David Givens into 24th place.



Joey Galloway

Assuming his career is over, Galloway fell just short of his bid to become the 30th player in NFL history with 700 receptions; he is ranked 32nd in NFL history with 682. Galloway also fell short of becoming the 23rd player to reach 11,000 yards in pass receptions; he finished 25th with 10,710 – six yards behind Stanley Morgan. And Galloway failed to become the 19th player in NFL history with at least 80 touchdown receptions – he finished his career with 77 – and came up short of the 377 yards he needed this year to become the 52nd player in NFL history with 13,000 all-purpose yards. He also needed only two more touchdowns to move into 40th place all time, ending up with 83. Joey ranks 54th all-time with 11,206 yards from scrimmage.



Kevin Faulk

Faulk caught the 400th pass of his career last week, which puts him at number 180 all-time. If he continues to catch about three passes per game that should move him up to about 150th in NFL history by the end of the season.

Kevin has also now cracked the top-250 in career rushing yardage; he now stands at #245 with 3,264 yards. He is also now #242 with 6,725 total yards from scrimmage; by averaging at least 31 yards per game will become the 225th NFL player with 7,000 yards from scrimmage.

Faulk needs one more punt return to become the 153rd player in NFL history with at least 100 punt returns. One player I was surprised to see in this ranking was former Pat Hank Poteat, who has 77. Kevin is also 49th in kickoff returns with 181, and 53rd with 4,098 – just ahead of Wes Welker.


With one more playoff game played Kevin (along with Tom Brady) will move into 97th place all-time with 18; two more will place them 68th with 19; and three more would place them 50th with 20. That would still leave them behind Larry Izzo, however, who has 21 appearances.

Faulk needs two touchdowns to become the 21st player to score 200 points as a Patriot. If he finds the end zone five times he will move past Troy Brown and Steve Grogan, into 18th place on the Patriots’ all-time scoring list. Kevin already ranks first in team history with 11,755 all-purpose yards, 4098 kick return yards, and 181 kickoff returns. He needs 28 more punt return yards to pass Stanley Morgan for 5th place, and 12 more punt returns to pass Mike Haynes for 4th place in team history. His 400 receptions are 4th in team history.

Faulk needs 127 rushing yards to move into 5th place in team history. That would move him past Don Calhoun; earlier this season Faulk past Corey Dillon and John Stephens.



Fred Taylor

Taylor’s injury has postponed his assault on the all-time rushing leader boards. Right now he is about 500 yards behind LaDainian Tomlinson and 600 behind Thurman Thomas. The preseason thought of catching #8, Jim Brown (12,312) won’t happen till the very end of 2010 at the earliest; with each passing week the chance of joining the 12,000-yard club gets slimmer and slimmer.

Fred was just passed by Randy Moss in career yards from scrimmage; he now ranks 26th with 13,850. Only 23 NFL players have reached 14,000 yards from scrimmage in their careers. With 150 more yards Taylor would also become the 38th with 14,000 all-purpose yards.



Sammy Morris

Morris ranks 59th in Pats history with 66 points; three more touchdowns would move him up to 48th. His 11 touchdowns ties him 19th all-time with Craig James; he needs two more to equal the total by Andy Johnson and Leonard Russell for 17th place.

Morris ranks 22nd in Pats history with 1220 rushing yards; he needs 117 more to pass Bob Perryman, Mack Herron and Horace Ivory for 19th place.



Laurence Maroney

Maroney is tied with Wes Welker and Babe Parilli for 43rd place in Pats history with 92 points. His next touchdown will move him past Darryl Stingley and Mack Herron; two more will push him past David Patten, Horace Ivory, Jim Whalen, Daniel Graham, and Charlie Gogolack on the all-time scoring list.

Maroney needs 62 more rushing yards for 2000 on his career; 298 more yards will move him into 14th place in Pats team history, passing Carl Garrett, Steve Grogan and Andy Johnson’s career totals.

Maroney and Kevin Faulk both now have 14 career rushing touchdowns. They need one more to move into 11th place with Carl Garrett, three more to move into 10th with John Stephens, and four more to move up to 9th with Mosi Tatupu.



BenJarvus Green-Ellis

BJGE has five rushing touchdowns as a Pat; two more would put him place him 28th in team history. He now needs 16 more yards to move past LaMont Jordan into 49th place on the Pats all-time rushing yardage list. With 152 more yards he becomes the 41st Patriot with 500 yards rushing.



Stephen Gostkowski

Gostkowski ranks 186th in scoring all-time – at the age of 24 – with 448 points. With an average of six points per game he will pass the 500-point mark – a feat accomplished by 154 others in NFL history. I don’t know for a fact, but I am guessing he may be the youngest player to do that if and when that happens. He has also moved past Tony Franklin into 4th place on the Patriots’ all-time scoring list.

Gostkowski needs to kick 22 more extra points to become the 100th player in NFL history to accomplish that feat. He also needs ten more field goals to become the 109th player to kick 100 field goals in his career.



Junior Seau

Seau has now moved into 19th place in NFL history with 263 games played; in early December he should pass Lou Groza for 18th all-time. Junior is also 10th overall in games started with 243; with five starts he would match Clay Matthews’ total.



Shawn Springs

Springs currently has 32 career interceptions which is 160th all-time – tied with, among others, Tom Landry and Nick Buoniconti. With one more he joins a group of nine others, including Herm Edwards, for 151st place; two more matches the total of 16 other players (including Rodney Harrison and Deltha O’Neal); and four more would match Raymond Clayborn’s career total for 111th on the all-time list.



Logan Mankins

Mankins needs a reception for at least one yard. Why, you ask? Because he is currently in dead last in Pats history in receiving yardage, with negative nine yards. That would break his deadlock with Drew Bledsoe in this category, moving him into sole possession of 255th place in this ranking.



Brian Hoyer

Of the 76 players in franchise history who have attempted at least one pass for the Pats, Hoyer has quickly moved halfway up the chart to 38th with 52 yards passing – leaving him currently 28 yards behind Michael Bishop and 36 behind Rohan Davey. A bit of trivia: among those at the bottom with zero yards is a guy named Tom Dimitroff, who had played in the first-ever CFL game two years earlier, was 0/2 in 1960. The guy worked as a coach in the CFL, and eventually as a scout for the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns in the 1990’s. His son then joined him as a scout – yep, that Thomas Dimitroff – on a staff that included Scot Pioli and Bill Belichick. ]]> jmt57 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/71-bye-week-update-milestones-2009-patriots.html Week 8 Bye Week: Who To Root For - Or Against http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/70-week-8-bye-week-who-root-against.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:27:26 GMT *Week 8 Bye Week* *Who To Root For – or Against* With the Pats not playing next week, other than not watching any NFL games and actually being productive, what teams will Pats fans be rooting for to win? Actually it has nothing to do with who we want to win, but everything to do with...
Week 8 Bye Week
Who To Root For – or Against



With the Pats not playing next week, other than not watching any NFL games and actually being productive, what teams will Pats fans be rooting for to win? Actually it has nothing to do with who we want to win, but everything to do with whom we want to lose. Here is a look at the Week Eight schedule; the teams in Bold are the ones I want to win, and the Underlined teams are the one I want to lose.


1. Dolphins (2-4) at Jets (4-3)
In my opinion this is the easiest call: it’s a division game; the Jets are closest to the Pats in the standings; the Jets currently own a tiebreaker with the Pats since they defeated them earlier this season; and besides, the Jets are probably more hated by New England fans than any other team. Sure, rooting for the Dolphins may be difficult to do, and there is the temptation to want to put them that much further back in the standings. Just look at it not as rooting for Miami, but strictly rooting against the Jets.

2. Texans (4-3) at Bills (3-4)
Really, really hard to put this one number two – originally I had it number six – but the Bills are still in the same division as the Pats. And until they are eliminated, division games come first. No reason to let Buffalo creep back into it, as unlikely as that may seem. Take care of the division first, then worry about where the team stands within the conference.

3. 49ers (3-3) at Colts (6-0)
Number two on this list was a tough call, but I’ll go with rooting for SF/against Indy. In reality the Colts have actually been the Pats biggest rivals this decade, not any of the other AFC East teams. And it’s fairly evident that most here do not relish the media ever talking about how good the Colts are, or talking positively about Peyton Manning. But there is an unemotional element to wanting the Colts to lose that has nothing to do with insuring the Pats’ record for consecutive regular season wins remains intact. Right now Indy has a better record than the Pats do, which will affect playoff seeding and home field at the end of the season. In other words, even if you don’t hate Manning, Polian, or the Colts, there is a rational reason to want them to lose next Sunday.

4. Broncos (6-0) at Ravens (3-3)
This is an extremely difficult call, but I’m going with a Denver loss and Baltimore win in this game. Obviously from strictly an emotional side I would want the Broncos to win because of the connection to Josh McDaniels and all the former Pats – and at the same time wish for the Ravens to lose due to their post-game whining, lack of poise, and (possible) deliberate attempts to injure Brady a few weeks ago. Add to that one Ray Lewis, from what happened in Atlanta to his ‘look-at-me’ schtick, and they are a very easy target to root against. But I want the Broncos to lose for the same reason that I want the Colts to lose: they are an AFC opponent with a better record than the Pats. On top of that I don’t want Baltimore to fold; I want them to continue to play other teams like the Steelers tough.

5. Falcons (4-2) at Saints (6-0)
I’m pulling for Atlanta for a couple reasons. One, I want other teams to get it over with and lose so Pats fans don’t turn into replicas of Don Shula and Mercury Morris, celebrating the last team to lose its first game every year. Just lose so we don’t have to endure that talk and the comparisons. Second, with a win perhaps Atlanta can provide some information that the Pats coaches can use to their benefit in terms of weaknesses about the Saints that they can use to their benefit when those two teams meet later this year. Third, why not root for Matt Ryan and Thomas Dimitroff. Fourth, the Falcon fans that were here a few weeks ago seemed pretty cool. Fifth, with a loss or two before the Saints meet the Pats, maybe they’ll have a bit less confidence in themselves.

6. Browns (1-6) at Bears (3-3)
Two words: Eric Mangini.

7. Vikings (6-1) at Packers (4-2)
Sorry, but I really did not care for the way Brett Favre strung the Packers along every year, I didn’t care for the way he tried to manipulate public opinion in training camp a year ago, and I absolutely do not buy his comments about “this not being about revenge.” If that’s not enough, if Minnesota wins do you really want the media to start trying to tell us what a great coach Brad Childress is?

8. Raiders (2-5) at Chargers (3-3)
I would really like to see the look on Mr. Classy’s face if San Diego loses to Oakland. Besides, Richard Seymour would surely enjoy that as well.

9. Giants (5-2) at Eagles (4-2)
I don’t think we need any more “Eli is great” stories, or rewinds of the Tyree catch for a while.

10. Jaguars (3-3) at Titans (0-6)
Do I feel sorry for Jeff Fisher? I guess not.

11. Seahawks (2-4) at Cowboys (4-2)
I guess I’ll root for former Eagle Matt Hasselbeck. And with some more Dallas losses, maybe the networks will finally stop showing every Cowboy game on television. So sorry, Jerry Jones.

12. Rams (0-7) at Lions (1-5)
If St. Louis loses to Detroit, will Marshall Faulk blame it on the Pats?

13. Jaguars (3-3) at Titans (0-6)
If the two were playing anybody else, I’d be rooting for both of them to lose since the Pats have draft picks obtained from each of these teams. I’m not even going to attempt to try and figure out which of those picks would be better to be higher or lower than the other one.


That’s my list of teams to root for and against this week; what’s yours? ]]> jmt57 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/70-week-8-bye-week-who-root-against.html Week 7 preview versus Tampa Bay Bucs http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/69-week-7-preview-versus-tampa-bay-bucs.html Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:58:51 GMT *Some links for Tampa Bay Bucs info:* Team Web Site: Buccaneers (http://www.buccaneers.com/) Fan Forums: The Buccaneer Bulletin Board (http://bbs.buccaneers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=9), Pewter Report (http://www.pewterreport.com/forum/index.php?board=2.0) Newspapers: St Petersburg... Some links for Tampa Bay Bucs info:


Team Web Site: Buccaneers

Fan Forums: The Buccaneer Bulletin Board, Pewter Report

Newspapers: St Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, Sarasota Herald Tribune

Radio: WDAE 620, WQYK 1010, WHBO 1040

TV: CBS-10, FOX-13, ABC-28, NBC-8, Bay News 9


====================

Some more Buc facts and trivia:


Tampa Bay has an all-time winning percentage of .394 (205-316-1.) Only the Texans (.364) are lower.

Despite three winning season and two playoff appearances in the last four years, the Bucs fired their head coach (Jon Gruden) and general manager (Bruce Allen) after last season. After week 13 they had beaten the Saints for their 4th straight win and were in position for a first round bye with a 9-3 record. But division rival ran for 299 yards gainst them in the next game, and then they lost to the Falcons by a field goal. The Bucs came back home and they turned the ball over three times in a 17-point loss to the then 6-8 Chargers. Despite the three losses all Tampa Bay had to do was beat the lowly Raiders at home in the last game of the season to secure a playoff spot, but Oakland ran for 192 yards and won 31-24.

Going back to those last four games of 2008, Tampa Bay has now lost ten in a row. They've been outscored by an average of 29.1-17 during that span, surrendering an average of 376.5 total yards and 178.6 rushing yards during that time.

Bucs head coach Raheem Morris is only 33 years old. He once said he learned how to coach by 'majoring in Madden' at college. Most of his experience has been as a defensive backs coach; he was a defensive coordinator for just one year - at Kansas State. Originally he had been named the team's new DC after Monte Kiffin announced he would be leaving to join his son Lane at the University of Tennessee. But right after Morris interviewed for the Denver job, Tampa Bay fired Gruden and gave Morris the HC job. Looks right now like the Broncos made the right choice.

Morris was one of three head coaches to fire his offensive coordinator (former BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski) just before the season started. Those three teams - the Bucs, Bills and Chiefs - are a combined 3-15 this year and are collectively averaging about 15.5 points per game.

====================

Pats versus Bucs history


The Bucs have been in the league for 34 years now, but the Pats have only played Tampa Bay on six previous occasions. Contrary to popular belief, the Pats have indeed won in Tampa Bay; the Pats are 4-2 overall against the Bucs and 2-1 in Tampa. The Pats beat the Bucs 31-14 at the Old Sombrero in the final game of the Bucs' innaugural season of 1976 when they were in the midst of an 0-26 franchise start. Tampa Bay led at halftime but Sam Hunt returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown to give the Pats the lead for good in the 4th quarter. Andy Johnson also scored two touchdowns for the Pats in what I am guessing was sloppy conditions; the two teams combined for 84 running plays but only 32 passing plays. The Tampa Bay quarterback that day was Steve Spurrier, who was 12/17/145 with 1 TD and 1 INT; it was his final game of his NFL career. The next game the Pats played was the Ben Dreith playoff game against the Raiders.

The two teams didn't meet again until 1985. By that time the Bucs had gone from being very bad, to a playoff team, back to being very bad again. The Patriots gave them their 8th straight loss to start the year, en route to a 2-12 season. Craig James ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, Tony Collins had 164 yards from scrimmage, and Tony Franklin kicked three field goals for the win in Tampa. The Pats went 11-5 and won their first AFC Championship that year before losing to the Bears in the Super Bowl.

Three years later was Tampa Bay's first game in Foxboro. On the next to last game of the 1988 season the 4-11 Bucs took the 9-6 Patriots into overtime with the score tied at 7. Tampa Bay won the toss, but Bucs' head coach Ray Perkins elected to kickoff, feeling he could get his team in better field position because the game had been a defensive battle all day long. The Pats got the ball, Tony Eason marched the team down the field, and Jason Staurovsky kicked a 27 yard field goal for the 10-7 win - with Tampa Bay never getting their hands on the ball in overtime. The Pats missed the playoffs when they lost at Denver the next week. Perkins was fired a year later but became the Pats offensive coordinator for Bill Parcells from 1993-1996.

Once again it was nine years before the Pats played the Bucs. The 1997 game was held in Tampa and the Bucs got their first win over the Pats, 27-7. The Pats could get nothing done on offense, finishing with just 10 first downs, 168 total yards of offense, three turnovers and were sacked five times. That season was the turning point for their franchise; their defense, led by Warren Sapp, shocked the 49ers in the season opener and started the year with five straight wins. They finished 10-6 in Tony Dungy's second season as a head coach and the team won their first playoff game in 18 years, and only the second in franchise history. The Pats also finished 10-6, beating the Dolphins and then losing to the Steelers.

Three years later the two teams met on opening day of the 2000 season in Foxboro, with Tampa Bay winning 21-16. Troy Brown scored on a 66 yard punt return and a 39-yard TD from Drew Bledsoe to Terry Glenn in the 4th quarter made the final score close, but again it was Tampa Bay's defense that won the game; Bledsoe was sacked for a loss six times in Bill Belichick's first game as head coach of the Patriots. The Pats finished 5-11 while the Bucs were one-and-done in the playoffs, losing (as they often did during Dungy's tenure) to the Eagles.

The last time the two teams met was in week 15 of 2005. The Pats won 28-0 in a game in Foxboro that was never very close - perhaps due in part to Tampa Bay not enjoying the weather in New England in December. Corey Dillon scored on two short runs and Tom Ashworth caught a one-yard pass from Tom Brady, but the real story was the Pats defense. Bucs QB Chris Simms was sacked seven times, while the Pats limited Tampa Bay to 12 first downs, 30 yards rushing on 18 attempts, and just 138 total yards of offense. The Pats went on to beat Jacksonville before losing at Denver in the playoffs that year, while the Bucs lost to the Redskins in the wildcard round; their 11-5 record from that season now being just a distant memory to Buc fans. ]]> jmt57 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/69-week-7-preview-versus-tampa-bay-bucs.html Game Three--Atlanta---Answers May be Found in the Rain http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/pats726/65-game-three-atlanta-answers-may-found-rain.html Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:27:59 GMT This is a big game for this Patriot team, probably larger than any game in awhile. With a loss, the team could put themselves into a hole with a losing record, but that is not the worst part about it. With a loss, this Patriot team could throw gasoline onto a fire that is raging out of control. The... This is a big game for this Patriot team, probably larger than any game in awhile. With a loss, the team could put themselves into a hole with a losing record, but that is not the worst part about it. With a loss, this Patriot team could throw gasoline onto a fire that is raging out of control. The fire that fans and the media have stoked up against the team.
It is sad that a lot of so called fans of this Patriot team have memories like a sieve and act like two year olds. It's not even close to perspective with these ones, if they don't see instant success, now, they will trash this team left and right. And there are many in the media who be right along side them, encouraging them. To keep that fire under control, this team really needs a win, a really big one. If they do that, it will be like taking a football and shoving down the throat of many of the mediots and that needs to be done. I would say shove that ball somewhere else, but I am trying to be nice. That is what is needed.
With the Patriot offense reeling and the defense, just starting to get it all together, this will be a tough match up for the team. The Falcons have a balanced team, a steady potent offense and a big time D. In the rain, it will be even a tougher game for them.
The Falcons look like they are for real this year, starting out of the box with two fairly easy wins. Coming into Foxboro, it will be interesting to see if they have an easier job or not. This is a large task for this Patriot team, but it here that character and hard week pay off.

**Patriots**---The Patriots need to get points on the board and get a lead quickly. They need to generate some confidence running throughout this team on both sides of the ball. This young team needs to find an identity and have some step up to lead this team to a win. The defense must stop Turner and keep long drives to a minimum. Injuries might be key in deciding the outcome as the Pats have so many.

**Falcons**---The key players in a game like this will be Turner and Gonzalez. Turner, obviously, is important as keeping the ball on the ground with long drives will wear the defense out. Third down short passes have been an achilles heel of the Pats for a few years now and what better weapon to have than the best tight end to take advantage of that. The defense, though without household names, is slowly becoming strong.

**Not Being There--Patriots**--Everyone knew Mayo would be out for awhile, but the injury list has grown by leaps and bounds in the last weeks. I think almost all Patriot fans assumed that Welker would play last week. He had played on opening night and all thought he was OK. Who knew his knee problem would get a lot worse and be out? Now, he's a big question mark and add in a surprise addition of Friday with Moss not participating and all of a sudden, the team's two stellar wide outs may not play. But could the same thing happen with Edelman who also is a question mark? Add in Butler, Meriwether and Springs and the defensive backfield could be just as depleted.. With one or two out, it could really hurt the defense, who has to stop a top notch offense with a receivers that are strong. This is a poor situation and in combination with other things, could lead to a disaster.

**Not Being There--Falcons**--Only backup running back Norwood is questionable which is really small compared to a Patriot team that seems beaten up early in the season.

????--Patriots--Again, one has to wonder when Brady will get on track and get this offense into gear. With a sloppy day, it may be more of a ground attack, but this offense needs to get points on the board in 7s, not 3s.

????--Falcons--The big one for the this team is with the D. Sure, they limited both the Fins and Panthers, but both teams were winless. Can they stop the Patriots just as easily? Can they step up from the dark and become a large D to be reckoned with? This game will say a lot about that.

History--The Patriots have won the last 2 meetings, but overall, Atlanta holds the series lead.

The trash talk has been replaced by a deep reality that the Pats could end up with in a big hole with a loss. It's nothing that anyone could not see coming, but even mother nature has not helped, giving them a game in the rain, where many things could happen.
Both teams will try and control the ball with the wet weather and it does seem by far, the Falcons have the advantage. Michael Turner is a beast and it will take a large effort to stop him. But even if that happens, it will be the Matt Ryan attack from the air, with his many weapons to stop. That seems like an incredible uphill climb for the D, almost like climbing a mountain.
Somehow, this Patriot offense needs to get in gear and get momentum and this nameless Falcon D will need to come up and stop it. I do think the Patriots by committee have a shot at a big running the ball, but who knows if that is possible.
This game will show a lot as to where the Patriots are. With a win, they will steady themselves some, but a loss to further throw them into a fire of disappointment and question marks. The possible rain will only reduce the score, as I doubt either offense will be putting up zillions of points. ]]> Pats726 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/pats726/65-game-three-atlanta-answers-may-found-rain.html It Was Not As Bad as it Seemed http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/pats726/64-not-bad-seemed.html Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:25:54 GMT It was all hyped up to the nth degree and at first, the Jets were the ones stumbling. They looked poor and I kept waiting and waiting for the giant to arise and score a touchdown into their wide open mouths and down their throats. But that did not happen. Instead, it was more stumble, bumble and... It was all hyped up to the nth degree and at first, the Jets were the ones stumbling. They looked poor and I kept waiting and waiting for the giant to arise and score a touchdown into their wide open mouths and down their throats. But that did not happen. Instead, it was more stumble, bumble and miss the train. They got field goals, but while they were ahead, I think all Patriot fans knew that the sevens were so much more important. They kept waiting and it did not happen.
And when the Jets struck fast in the second half, it was just the blow to knock the Pats for a loop. They had more opportunities, but with each series that failed, the Green got more powerful. The frustration kept mounting and while a miracle finish seemed possible, the hill grew steeper as time went on. I really did not think they were going to do it and yet of course, I wanted Brady to come up big. The loss I saw coming in the first half, where a touchdown would have crushed the Jets quickly. But that was not in the cards.

Momentum Movement-----The Patriots and Jets exchanged small bits of momentum until the fumble recovery and from there, the Pats had it in the first half. It was tempered though as each drive was stopped with only a field goal, so it was momentum, but not as strong. The Jets grabbed that back with their opening drive in the second half, never letting go of it.

Tipping Point-----This is one of those times that you knew it from the minute it happened. The Jet drive to start the second half was quick and the Sanchez pass to Keller for the touchdown gave the Jets the lead. After that point, it was all New York and the game had changed big time with that score.

Stat Check-----Sometimes statistics lie and in looking at them, it would seem that the Patriots had outplayed them by a bit. They led in first downs, 18 to 14, third down efficiency, 33% to 27% and total yards 299 to 254. Nothing dominant, but leading them. It does not tell the story. It's a matter of timing and of when events happen as well as the flow of the game. Penalties was a big, telling stat, 11-89 for the Patriots versus 8-55 yards. In a tight defensive game those 89 yards adds up. The 0-3 in the Red Zone also was a big stat, while the Jets were 1-3, the difference in the game.

Losing Welker was a real blow to the offense, but even without the standout receiver, they still were able to move the ball. Edelman filled in nicely, even though in the end, it was close, no cigar. The Jet defense rushed Brady which was his first real look at an all out blitz this year. In losing Welker, it left Edelman and Galloway as the ones who would get the quick passes. Both are new to this offense and do not know what is needed on bltizes. With Moss basically blanketed, it left a few things out of place and those small things added up to incomplete passes. And those small things added up to the reason why they lost the game, an ineffective offense.
But the offense just seemed out of sync in how it went downfield. It was far from crisp and the running game was there at times and then without a reason, gone. That was puzzling, especially in the third quarter, when Fred Taylor had back to back runs of 13 and 12 yards. It would have been best to continue with the running attack, but instead they changed up with Morris, had two Delay of Game penalties and when they got the ball back, it was with a bit less than ten minutes left in the game. That may have been a bad mistake to let go of the Taylor running game at that point.
The Jet defense though was tough at times, bringing pressure on Brady when needed and blanketing Moss with Revis and a safety. Both Revis and Sheppard had good game, the latter going out after making a big play swatting a long bomb away from Galloway in the end zone. The blitzing pressured Brady a lot in the first quarter and that helped stop a few drives in their tracks. The Pats adjusted better after that, except for the last part of the game when Ryan was bringing the house and Brady was a bit rattled.
The Patriots D meanwhile played a strong first half, giving up only 57 yards of offense. It would have meant more though if the offense had poured on some more points though as the half time score gave them the lead, but not by a whole lot. One big play, with defenders colliding and the Green was down the field. In a close game, one play can break a game open as it did last Sunday. They played just so so after that first series as the Jets moved the ball easier, with two drives of four and nine minutes. Each of those resulted in a field goal that made a Patriot comeback a lot harder as a lot of time was taken off the clock.
The drives of the Patriots in the first quarter ended with a lot of poorly managed plays. A pass wide to Baker on a 3rd and 7 ended their opening drive and on a 3rd and 5 from about 10 yard further back, Brady threw way wide of Galloway. It was a 3rd and 10 that Brady again threw wide of Galloway, but this time, they did manage a field goal. Opportunities to strike, were nipped quickly. After a solid drive down the field, Brady's ball went flying over Edelman's head and again the Pats added only a field goal. That one was very disappointing as they had started the series at the Jet 12 yard line. Toward the end of the half, it was another series that ended in a field goal as Lowery tipped a third down pass up in the air and Moss almost was able to grab it deep in the end zone.
In the second half, it was a bit worse as there was an overthrow of Moss and Morris on the first two drives. The Jets D came up big on the next Patriot possession, after a long Jet drive that pushed them up by another field goal. The offense went to Taylor on a 3rd and 1 and he lost a yard on the slow developing obvious run left. That stop forced the Pats strictly to the air in desperation in the last two drives. With the last plays resulting in bad passes thrown. But as much as it was sloppy plays, the Jets D did come up with the plays, especially with the blitzing Green players much of the time in Brady's face. It was a bad combination of many things.
The special teams were not horrible, but they allowed Washington to get yardage on three of his kickoffs, the last setting up the big New York go ahead drive.
In many ways, this was the perfect storm for a Jet win. The Patriots had a short week, a star quarterback trying to get back into the rhythm of things, a new offensive system coming to fruition. a top receiver out and two new receivers that needed to be counted on who were not at all in sync with the quarterback. Throw a tough blitz into the mix of things and of the fact that this team had lost eight straight at home and one has the ingredients of a possible loss.
Despite all of the offensive blunders, this team lost by only a touchdown. I think with all of the factors mentioned and the fact that Patriot nation wanted the Pats to win big, placed extremely high expectations on the team. Only a win would have satisfied the fan base and any loss would obviously seem more like mountains than molehills. And there are a lot of those molehills.

Thumbs Down-----1) The Patriot offense--This unit had a number of opportunities and could not get it done with a touchdown. They had drives that ended at the Jets 36 and 44 yard lines and another that started at the 17. Out of those first three drives, they placed only a field goal on the board. Two other drives stalled at the 7 and 11 yard line of the Jets with Gostkowski field goals on the board. Again, they just could not get the big play, getting the ball into the endzone. They got yardage, but when it came to the big play, they found ways not to make the big play. I also must add that the communication system of wrist bands and chalkboard signs might not have helped. It seemed to take a flow out of things, but 2) Tom Brady--Coming back from an injury is hard, but he was again way off the mark on a number of throws. They were not crisp and it seemed like he was rattled by the blitzes by the Jets, instead of finding open receivers and burning the Jets big time. 3) Sam Aiken--A special teams Captain has leadership responsibilities, but having two penalties called was not the best way to do that. Neither was particularly costly, but just not the way to do things. 4) The Patriot kickoff defense team--They were the stars of the show last week, but other than a late bouncing kickoff to Washington that went for only a few, did a really poorly with stopping him. He had three returns that were out past the 30, the last one taking it past the 40. In a close game of field position as this game was, it really put the defense in a big hole.

Thumbs Up-----1) The Patriot defense--This unit played hard, especially in the first half and really stymied the Jets offense. They had only 57 yards total on offense in the first half, which really gave the team a chance at a victory. 2) Julian Edelman--His first game as a pro was quite good, despite the almosts he had that would have broken the game open. He caught 8 for 98 yards and a long one of 29 yards. He was not Wes Welker, but he was not totally poor either as a year ago he was playing quarterback at Kent State. 3) Gary Guyton--He was thrust into the spotlight with Mayo's absence and was quite impressive. He led the team with 10 tackles and did an adequate job as defensive quarterback. I

Bumps and Bruises---New England--S Brandon Meriwether--He went out on a kickoff late in the first quarter, but returned in the third. New York--CB Lito Sheppard--He injured a quad making a great play to break up a deep bomb to Galloway in the first few minutes of the second quarter, but was.out after that..--CB Donald Strickland--He came out of the game in the latter part of the third quarter and did not make it back on the field.--DL Kris Jenkins--He went out briefly in the fourth, aggravating his back injury, but made a quick return.

The overreaction of fans and the media has made the loss bigger than life. It is only one, but it does bring to light a number of areas that need to improve. Brady will get better over time and the offense will find an identity with O'Brien's schemes. It may take time for all to adjust, but what is more important is that once it gets into motion, it doesn't sputter and back fire, but become a real offensive machine. The hope is that losses do not shatter dreams before that happens.
This is a long season and this could be only a bump, but with a few weeks fans will know more about this team. Expectations were far high and quick and the longer and larger picture may be more important.

Play Under the Radar--In the end, it meant nothing, but it could have been a big game turner in the game. Revis made a great play to pick off the Brady long bomb, but he reversed field and could have made a long return as there was a wide open field on his right. Moss made the big play, chasing him down and tossing him down for no gain on the return. A small play, but he stopped what could have been a big turnover.

The Chalkboard---The biggest decision was one by Rex Ryan to pressure Brady and it paid off. Only seven of Brady's twenty three completions were when he was pressured. It was the linebackers, Scott, Harris and Thomas and defensive backs, Rhodes, Leonhard and Smith who brought pressure on all out blitzes from various points. It was very effective in the first quarter when it needed to be with the Patriots in great field position, hitting him a few times and with a number of incomplete passes. It seemed like the Patriots got a bit of a handle on it in the next quarters, but in the last, they brought more players, more often. It was as much when they did it that was important. Third down plays went poorly for the Patriots for a lot of the game and Ryan's defensive scheme was something the Pats could not solve.


The Whistle---The one bad call was on Washington's fumble. From seeing it on several angles, one could deduce that it was not a fumble and that his knee was already down. The problem with it was that there was no one or two views that really could be put it together for the overturn. It states that there has to be "incontrovertible visual evidence" to overturn a play. Because of the views and what could be seen, it was not clear, even though with a few views and some common sense, it was not a fumble. Given what the hurdle is for an overturn, it really makes it hard in some situations to have the right call made. This was one of those times.
This is one of those odd cases that falls through the cracks with visual evidence, cpommon sense and what the rule states. It wasn't a fumble and yet, once the call was made, there was no way to overturn it. This is a weakness in the system, but one that I really don't think can change. I know if the Patriot team scored, the Green fans would have been all over the NFL and officials, so luckily it did not come down to that.
Oddly, there were two holding calls on that drive and I am sure some saw those as possible make up calls. But besides those two drive killers, the Pats continually made mistakes, with four Delay of Game penalties, two back to back in a crucial situation in the third quarter.

Last Thoughts--There is still a lot for the team to do to improve on. The defense despite Mayo's absence seemes to be ahead of the offense at this point. They have a large test against a tough 2-0 Atlanta team. Will it be more of the same or will they make a big improvement? There are many more questions now on offense than defense and in time fans will know and see. There is a reason for optimism, but let us all hope that they have less battle scars before those sunny days appear. ]]> Pats726 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/pats726/64-not-bad-seemed.html Pass-run balance and the shotgun http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/63-pass-run-balance-shotgun.html Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:10:43 GMT After two weeks of play the hot topics of conversation have centered on the Pats offense. The debates have centered on the offensive play calling; specifically the pass-run ratio, number of plays from the shotgun, and offensive formation. I thought I would go back to the Bills and Jets games to see... After two weeks of play the hot topics of conversation have centered on the Pats offense. The debates have centered on the offensive play calling; specifically the pass-run ratio, number of plays from the shotgun, and offensive formation. I thought I would go back to the Bills and Jets games to see if I could find something more specific – you know, to allow myself to come to a semi-intelligent conclusion rather than simply shout “the Pats need to run more!” or “fire/cut (fill in the blank)”. Here’s a look at each of the Pats drives in the first two games. Note the numbers may not exactly match official statistics due to penalties and sacks.



Week One versus Buffalo

1st drive: 2 passes, 1 run; shotgun: 1 pass, 0 runs
2nd drive: 5 passes, 5 runs; shotgun: 4 passes, 2 runs
3rd drive: 2 passes (including 1 sack), 1 run; shotgun: 1 pass, 1 run
2nd quarter
4th drive: 7 passes, 6 runs; shotgun: 5 passes, 1 run
5th drive: 1 pass, 1 run; shotgun: 1 passes, 0 run
2:00 warning
5th drive (continued): 5 passes, 1 run; all from shotgun
3rd quarter
6th drive: 10 passes, 3 runs; shotgun: 7 passes, 0 runs
7th drive (Pats down by 7): 4 passes, 0 runs; shotgun: 4 passes, 0 runs
4th quarter
7th drive (continued): 4 passes, 2 runs; shotgun: 3 passes, 0 runs
8th drive (Pats down by 11, 5:32 remaining): 11 plays, all passes from shotgun
9th drive (Pats down by 5, 1:56 remaining): 3 plays, all passes from shotgun

Totals: 54 passes, 20 runs; shotgun: 45 passes, 5 runs

Very unbalanced, right? But what does it look like if you take away the plays after the two-minute warning in the first half, and the last two drives when the Pats were down by 11 late in the 4th quarter?

Adjusted totals: 35 passes, 19 runs; from the shotgun: 26 passes, 4 runs.

Still fairly unbalanced, but now it doesn’t look quite so bad as the first set of numbers did. Actually the first half doesn’t look bad at all other than a couple of three-and-outs.

But did that have an effect on the play selection to open the second half?

On the first two drives after halftime the Pats almost exclusively passed out of the shotgun: 18 passes and only 5 runs. Look how predictable the Pats became: they passed all 14 times when they went to the shotgun on those two drives; at least when Brady took the snap from under center they passed 4 times and ran 5 times.



Week Two at Jets

1st drive: 3 passes, 4 runs; shotgun: 2 passes, 3 runs
2nd drive: 3 passes, 0 runs; shotgun: 2 passes, 0 runs
3rd drive: 4 passes, 1 run; shotgun: 3 passes, 1 run, 2 penalties
4th drive: 3 passes, 4 runs; shotgun: 2 passes, 2 runs
2nd quarter
5th drive: 6 passes, 3 runs; shotgun: 4 passes, 0 runs, 2 penalties
6th drive: 5 passes, 3 runs; shotgun: 5 passes, 1 run
2-minute warning
6th drive (continued): 5 passes, 0 runs; shotgun: 5 passes, 1 penalty
3rd quarter
7th drive: 2 passes, 1 run; shotgun: 2 passes, 1 run
(Pats down by 4)
8th drive: 3 passes, 5 runs; shotgun: 3 passes, 3 runs, 2 penalties
4th quarter
(Pats down by 7 with 9:48 left)
9th drive: 4 passes, 1 run; shotgun: 4 passes, 0 runs
(Pats down by 7 with 5:01 left)
10th drive: 6 passes, 1 run; shotgun: 6 passes, 1 run
(Pats down by 7 with 1:48 left)
11th drive: 5 passes, 0 runs; shotgun: 5 passes, 0 runs

Totals: 49 passes, 23 runs
From the shotgun: 43 passes, 12 runs, 6 penalties
From under center: 6 passes, 11 runs

Last two minutes of first half and last two drives of the game: 16 passes and one run - all from the shotgun.

Rest of the game: 33 passes, 22 runs
From the shotgun: 27 passes, 11 runs
From under center: 6 passes, 11 runs

At least the runs were split 50-50 between the shotgun and under center. However, the formation still gave the play away, even more so than the Buffalo game. Even after taking away all the plays at the end of the half and at the end of the game, the Pats still pass well over twice as often as they run out of the shotgun, and run about twice as often as they pass when under center. Overall the balance between the run and the pass doesn’t look that bad (3:2), but keep in mind we’re not including those end of half and end of game plays.



So in conclusion it looks like those wanting the Pats to show more commitment to the run may be correct; same holds true for those that would like to see a bit less of the shotgun. Actually as it turns out that’s almost two different ways of saying the same thing: when Brady lines up in the shotgun it’s a near certainty that he’s going to pass, and if the Pats run the ball it most likely will come when Brady’s under center. How about becoming a bit less predictable in order to take advantage of an unsuspecting defense? Set up in a passing formation and let a running back shoot through the gap vacated by the pass rusher looking for a sack. Line up under center then drop back to shotgun, and visa versa. After a few running plays go to a play action pass. Run the ball when the defense is coming all out for the quarterback, expecting him to pass. If they start laying back a bit after getting burnt, now you have more time to throw.

I know I’m guilty of being an armchair quarterback with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, but the Pats just simply need to be less predictable if they are to succeed. One other area that they can improve on in order to achieve that goal is with their personnel, or more specifically with their offensive formations. Against the Jets the Pats utilized a 3-WR, 1-TE, 1-RB set on nearly every single play. One time they used two running backs, and one time they used two tight ends (both with two receivers.) Come on, that’s just flat out pathetic. Pop Warner ten year olds mix up their offense more than that. Let’s not only see some two-tight end sets, but passes thrown out of that formation. Or how about a draw play from a four-wideout formation?

Mix it up. Keep the opponent guessing. Zig when they expect you to zag. Stay one step ahead and keep the other guys off balance. And whatever you do, don’t take your foot off the accelerator. ]]> jmt57 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/jmt57/63-pass-run-balance-shotgun.html Lost Opportunities as The Offense Ran in Cement http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/pats726/62-lost-opportunities-offense-ran-cement.html Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:38:57 GMT 10:23 AM----It's what I love about Sunday, football there in a few hours and no long wait for it.And this Sunday, it was a BIG game!
I was srill very nervous about the game; a nightmare of a big loss, a gloating Ryan. It's all very possible, but I also think this team has character and will not allow it to happen that way. Granted, Bruschi, Harrison an dother are gone, but this team will stand tall and make the big plays.
The Seymour saga will continue with a Marshall Faulk interview-what to expect. The one thing I felt was troubling was his excuse of family for being away for a week. It's not that family is unimportant, it is, but if it is so much, why didn't he talk to the Raiders, say he needed some time to get things in order and stop the drama. Was that all that there was or more a smokescreen of what was really going on. It smells of a prima donna and pretty low actions and not the real deal. I would feel a lot better if he had exired classy and not trashy with all the spotlight and drama on him.
But I want to see some football! I can't wait! It's going to be a tough hard fight and a really great game…or so I hope.
11:24 AM----Good news and bad news--Good news is that Seymour didn't take the bait and trash the Pats. A bit more respect for the big guy, even if he's hiding things and using his family as an excuse. He could have trashed the team and Faulk, I am sure, wanted that. The bad news is about ESPN. No surprise at all that the bunch all were pumping up the Jets. Tom Jackson and company hyping up how they will take down the Pats; no surpise at all. But what has Ryan ever won? A good defense in Baltimore and he had Lewis and other, he had the players. Now it's Big Bad Rex. They are crowing him king before he has taken a few steps in the big seat, all typical The anti-Patriot fever is still alive and kicking. Only Keshawn was on target with what he said. Very sad, but that is ESPN BS.
12:12 PM----Inactives--Simmons, Ohrenberger, Connolly, Mathews, Wheatley, Mayo, Slater, Welker- Welker??? I was driving my stepdaughter to work when I heard that piece of bad news. And that news hit me deep, my heart sunk; like a dart into me. Welker out? That was the last piece of news needed or expected. And as I imagined it, Patriot Nation would be in a panic and a downward spiral.Now it would be a lot harder-the nightmare scenario of a big time loss loomed larger. But all that thinking was the negative in me. And it will be a much sweeter victory when it happens. Maybe a bit of a letdown by the Jets with a big weapon out and a big player on D. But that is only hoping. I still think the Pats will take it.
12:38 PM----Stomach upset, heart pounding. Ready for a big game. Great to see Gastineau and Hasselbeck fighting and QB Canaaugh getting into the skirmish. I remember that well. That was on the field, now it's Rodney and Rhodes trash talking on Twitter. Time for the game!
12:49 PM----Adversity facing the Pats and they will step it up for the game. Only one team will be 2-0. If the Jets talk is all of that talk, they will go down in flames-not easy in NY with that much on the line.
Sad that this will be the last time the Pats will play in the Meadowlands at that stadium. I know CoachB has many many memories of that place and this could be one of the best memories of all. Tlak, talk, talk, I can not wait to see those loud mouths including Ryan looking like a wind bag.
1:08 PM----A nice drive but stalling at the Jet 36-not the best, but at least not a 3 an dout. The running game looks OK, but now the D must come to life. Just like two boxers warming up with some light punches before the slugfest.
1:12 PM----Sanchez fumbling and the ball loose. Too bad they didn't sprint after the ball and recover it. THAT would have been big, but a loss of 17 to the 3. And a penalty to boot after. A solid D starting big.
1:16 PM----Jones into the line after a False Start. The Jets look tense and the Pats have the ball near midfield. It's here that the offense needs to get the rust off and strike big and hard.
1:20 PM----A dropped Maroney pass and a Galloway catch for 5 and then one to his side. A great opportunity squandered and the Jets get the ball back with some space at the 15. The offense needs to explode an dget points on the board. Not the start that is all that good.
1:24 PM----Washington fumbled, but being reviewed. I do think this might be overturned, but it's really close. Wow, do the Jets look poor. It's going to be close, so close on this one and this could be BIG! I think it goes away as it seems like he's down but you can't see the knee and the ball being loose together. But I would love to see the ball in Brady's hands now. A quick score!
1:31 PM----NE 3 NY Jets 0----Holding penalties after the fumble recover. I mean it was just poor execution. But they did get the FG, but the Jets need to be happy with allowing ONLY 3. It'sgood to score, but 7 would have nailed it.
1:44 PM----End 1stQ----NE 3 NY Jets 0----A Keller pass was stopped way shy of the first down marker, but Revis made a big pick on a log bomb to Moss. And Moss made a big play in chasing him down in the open field and stopping a big run back. The Jets did nothing an dpunted again, but bad field position again.
1:54 PM----NE 6 NY Jets 0----Gostkowski with another field goal. The big play, a pass over the middle to Edelman of 29 yards. A big play, but another drive that ended with no TD. That's a few opportunities and only 6 points. The Jets need to be stopped. the D is playing big time and the Jets can't move the ball, but they need to continue.
1:56 PM----The Pats look good, but they need more points. 6-0 is nothing against this Jets team. The crowd is quiet-keep it that way.
2:04 PM----NE 6 NY Jets 3----The Jets drove with Jones and a screen left to Stuckey. Then, the D kicked in and stopped Jones and Wilhite tackled Stuckey for a 4 yard loss on a screen. Third down play was stopped by Wright and it was Feely that kicked the field goal and got them on the board. The D did the job again.
2:07 PM----A big return and an Aiken Holding call and the ball moved back and a real change in field position. They need a big score here, a TD not 3.
2:17 PM----The Pats started driving, slow and deliberate down the field. Galloway, Faulk and Moss, short passes. They ened to go to Moss and score. Really need to keep the Jets off the field. Meriwether injured-not what they need more injuries.
2:23 PM----NE 9 NY Jets 3---- Passes to Edelman and Morris and then, Watson, but then, a ball bobbled and another tipped at the line and another FG. Missed oppportunities and another drive for only 3. A good drive, but I am feeling more that they will look back in disgust and see these as missed chances and where a game could go south.
2:26 PM----End Half----NE 9 NY Jets 3----This is sort of what I expected, a real slugfest and a low scoring game. The problem is a big play could be large and take the game away with a snap. This Patriot offense continues to look rusty and penalties are killing drives and keeping them from the TDs. They make a few plays, but are out of synch as they go down the field. This has been a real struggle.
The Jets will get the ball to start the half and it is up the the D to really stop them. I am impressed with the D and how they have slowed the Jets attack. Galloway was open deep and it was Sheppard that made a big play coming up and knocking it away. If they can make a big play, get a big score, they can have a big win.
2:42 PM----NY Jets 10 NE 9----How things changed so fast. A Washington return that got out past the 40 yard line. And then immediately a pass over the middle to Cotchery on the run and after a missed tackle, sprinted far down the field to the 11 yard line. Two plays later, Keller is open in the endzone and the pass on the button. Bing bang, the Jets are ahead and the momentum shifted. The Pats more or less dominated that first half and that apple cart pushed over so fast. Not at all the way to start a second half. Very bad for the team.
2:48 PM----Edelman thrown down by Strickland and a loss of 4 and a 3rd down pass too long. And to make it all worse, Hansen then shanked a punt, giving the Jets good field position. It feels like the J-E-T-S are taking over as the crowd goes wild. It's here that the D must stand up and do something.
2:57 PM----There goes the Jets with short passes and then the big one over the middle to Cotchery. And the Pats are back on their heels again. Now, a challenge of a pass into the endzone. I think it's a definite that it's out, but we shall see what happens. The Jets will have another shot at it anyway. The review will help, but a Jet TD will put the Pats in a hole they can not get out of.
3:02 PM----NY Jets 13 NE 9----They overturned the catch, but I think on looking at it, it was quite obvious that two feet were not close to being in bounds. But a wide open receiver and the ball way far. Feely hit the FG. It's here the offense has to get points, a real must.
3:09 PM----Quick passes and a few good runs by Taylor and the Pats on the move again. They need to really strike and get points. A long drive can do it, it's all Brady and they need to move it downfield now. Time is running out, even though it's the 3rd. A really big one needed.
3:23 PM----End 3rdQ----NY Jets 13 NE 9----Back to back Dealy penalties and the Pats go backwards, but the Jets really blew a field position with a penalty on a punt. They lost yardage on that, but what was bad was a batted ball went through Thomas's arms on what could have been a big turnover. And of course, Wahsington cauaght a pass and quickly, the Jets were back upfield with momentum. Just like in the past, a small mishap and the Jets take advantage. A stop would have done wonders, but no.
3:32 PM----NY Jets 16 NE 9----They held the Jets to a field goal again. This time, it was Springs who caught Washington from tearing down for extra yardage. Wright, Banta-Cain playing strong D but it's again in the hands of the offense to score, make a big play and take over the game. Down by 7 and needing that TD. They haven't in the past and now with pressure they have to.
3:35 PM----The ball at the 15, not in great shape, but they have to make a drive and do it. It's Brady time and time to drive and tie the game up. It's now or curtains. While the moe is on the Jets, a big drive could make the change.
3:40 PM----A pass to Moss, an Encroachment call and a first down and they are moving upfield. Jenkins is injured, goes out, but they need a big drive here to score grab mometum. Still upset that they did not get a TD in the first half. It felt bad then and looks worse now.
4:01 PM----Not too good at all. They couldn't get a first down on a 3rd and 1 and the Jets got the ball back. But it was another drive, a Holding penalty and nothing. They called time outs, sacked Sanchez and another punt. Only problem is that there is only 2 minutes to go. I hope they can drive it, but asking for another miracle drive again is just too much. I would love to see it, but they haven't scored in 58 miutes, so why would they be able to now in 2? No reason to think that.
4:09 PM----End Game---NY Jets 16 NE 9----A penalty a first down, it was asking the impossible and with the Jets with tons of coverage back deep. And a last pass incomplete. It was not happening at all.
4:15 PM----It was sort of what I felt early in the game. Many opportunities and none capitolized on at all. A simple TD…but it was not happening for this New England team. A real defensive gem and they played some good D, but gave up that quick score in the third. That blew the game open and the Jets were high flying after that the rest of the game. More of the same, more running in cement. Slowly, slowly those oppportunities melted away to nothing and zilch. No points in the second half. I felt that was what happened as they controlled the game a bit only to have it overtaken and smashed. That was where the game was lost, not in the last moments, but early in the game.
The D played just fine and had a great half, but the offense was the unit that was not up to par at all. They stumbled and bumbled and did nothing once they had light of the endzone. They had opportunities but could do nothing. Field goals instead of touchdowns equals a loss.
(These notes were transcribed from my scribbles as I wrote them during commercials in between watching and keeping a play by play line score.) ]]> Pats726 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/pats726/62-lost-opportunities-offense-ran-cement.html Game Two--NY Jets---Hyped Up to Be a Bigger Game http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/pats726/61-game-two-ny-jets-hyped-up-bigger-game.html Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:48:30 GMT This Patriot team is going from the frying pan into the fire as Coach Ryan is elevating this game into what might be an early Super Bowl. Rhodes has shot off his mouth saying that they want to embarrass the Pats and Rodney has even gotten into the word tussle. This season is quickly in the... This Patriot team is going from the frying pan into the fire as Coach Ryan is elevating this game into what might be an early Super Bowl. Rhodes has shot off his mouth saying that they want to embarrass the Pats and Rodney has even gotten into the word tussle. This season is quickly in the spotlight, which may not be a good thing as a more in the background start would help this team.
All the trash talking has really pushed the importance of this game up a few notches, which could come back to bite them. The pressure is clearly on the Jets and with a home crowd that easily could turn on them, they have to get started immediately.
The Jets did crush the Texans and showed that rookie Sanchez is ready for prime time and that the D is something to be feared. But whether that will translate a week later into pummeling the Patriots is a bit much. The Pats are at a tough point, with a short week, coming off a less than stellar performance and with Mayo out for awhile. It's a big division game, but if I were the Jets, I wouldn't wave that flag too high yet. The Patriots seem to love adversity and I think there will be some interesting maneuvers on the D that will surprise the rookie QB.

**Patriots**---There is no question that Brady will need to get that rust off and put together a full strong game. Moss and Welker are real keys to the offense. The D is young and really hurt by Mayo's absence. They will need a big effort to stop the long drives of the Jets. The special teams, which did a stellar job last week, will need to continue and add some big plays.

**Jets**---Rookie Mark Sanchez is leading the Jets offense, but a lot of the load will be carried by running backs Jones and Washington. Throw in the wildcat and their offense is multidimensional and hard to stop. The attacking D that Ryan employs was big in game one and will get better. Washington is a big time returner and if he breaks one, it will just add to the fire power of this team.

**Not Being There--Patriots**--Mayo is gone for awhile and with Guyton replacing him, that puts a lot of pressure on the D. Slater most likely will not play and the same for rookie Edelman. Neal's injury could force a change in the line and that would be huge.

**Not Being There--Jets**--LB Pace is out, suspended, but other than that, the Jets are healthy. Jenkins and Woody are questionable, but will play.

????--Patriots--Without Mayo, it's soph Guyton who will pick up the torch. The team could find itself in trouble very fast, if the shoes aren't filled quickly. They will morph into a 4-3, but will Guyton help get the defense together for this big game? That is the question.

????--Jets--Rookie Mark Sanchez had a big debut in Texas, but how will he fare at home in a hyped up game. If he can duplicate what he did, the NY media will throw a parade tomorrow as the second coming of Namath, but if he falls, it could be trouble in Gotham City.

History--The Patriots have won the last 8 straight in New York, but their last two games have been tough and emotional.

Rat fink Mangini is gone, but new coach Ryan has come in with much bluster and bravado, easily making himself into the New York villain. His style has let some mouths run afar on the team and whether they can back it all up is questionable. With a short week, injuries,and other factors, it could be the Pats are ripe for picking, but it also could be the Jets are blowing hot air and will embarrass themselves at home.
Both teams may try to do the same thing in keeping the ball on sustained drives and keeping the defense off the field. IN the case of the Pats, it might be more important.
The Jets will try and rattle Brady with their all out blitzes, but they risk getting burned big time with that. They will need to come up with a solution to offset Moss, Welker, Galloway and Watson and I'm not sure they have the defensive backfield for that.
On the other side of the ball, the Jets will throw screens galore and let Washington and Jones drive the ball on the ground. This Patriot D will need to stop drives cold and prevent Keller and Cotchery from making those big third down catches.
This will be a big test for this Patriot team and a barn burner in so many ways. I don't see it as a high scoring free for all, but more as an intense and down in the trenches slugfest. ]]> Pats726 http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/blogs/pats726/61-game-two-ny-jets-hyped-up-bigger-game.html