"Every team has an unique identity."

[Va_Pats_Fan]

This was a quote from Belichick a few seasons ago. Each team will develop a unique identity 4 to 6 games into the season. I believe this team will develop the identity of a scrapper. Tough D. An offense that has the ability to run the ball, and make the deep throws. Two quality TE's that can split the seams.

If this team gets THAT identity...Think what Tom can do with it when he returns....?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Actually, no. Tom won't be back to this team, he'll have to build the 2009 team with their own identity...but I really like the opportunity Cassel has to lead Stormtroopers for Darth Hoodie.

 

[signbabybrady]

Actually, no. Tom won't be back to this team, he'll have to build the 2009 team with their own identity...but I really like the opportunity Cassel has to lead Stormtroopers for Darth Hoodie.

I think the OP was refering to this team building an Identity of being a scrapper and that they may carry that over to next year. But I think it is just the opposite, this team has dealt with tons of adversity through the years and already showed they can handle it and this should carry into this season.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

I think the OP was refering to this team building an Identity of being a scrapper and that they may carry that over to next year. But I think it is just the opposite, this team has dealt with tons of adversity through the years and already showed they can handle it and this should carry into this season.

A little. This is a little bit of a criticism, but I mean it in a good way. In some ways I think the team has become a little complacent. Tom and Randy will get us through. Well, now its time for the TEAM to step up. It can only help going forward.

 

[signbabybrady]

A little. This is a little bit of a criticism, but I mean it in a good way. In some ways I think the team has become a little complacent. Tom and Randy will get us through. Well, now its time for the TEAM to step up. It can only help going forward.

Not sure where you get any evidence of complacency. Unless you refer to just the SB. They were 18-1 last year you don't get their by watching Brady and Moss throw to eachother and acting complacent.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Not sure where you get any evidence of complacency. Unless you refer to just the SB. They were 18-1 last year you don't get their by watching Brady and Moss throw to eachother and acting complacent.

I disagree a little. We did NOT look good through all of the playoff games. When we got to the tougher teams, we struggled. JMO.

 

[signbabybrady]

I disagree a little. We did NOT look good through all of the playoff games. When we got to the tougher teams, we struggled. JMO.

Wait so when the games got tougher the wins were not as easy and that means we were comlacent. plus wasn't Moss really quite in the Divisional and Championship games? Than how did we win the team was complacent and watching Moss and Brady but the duo was fairly quite in those games

 

[Pats726]

I think the identoty of the team last year shifted a bit from the year's before..complacency is too strong a word..but the team did not have the same exact characteristics of past teams. I understand what OP is saying..and I agree..that if they gut out a solid year this year, it will only help going forward.

 

[signbabybrady]

I think the identoty of the team last year shifted a bit from the year's before..complacency is too strong a word..but the team did not have the same exact characteristics of past teams. I understand what OP is saying..and I agree..that if they gut out a solid year this year, it will only help going forward.

The team had a different identity sure but complacent wasn't too strong of a word it was the wrong word. Just because this team was a high powered offense didn't mean the effort was there any less. And I point to games like the Ravens game and the Chargers playoff games as evidence that this team was still a really tough physical team it just also could air it out.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

The team had a different identity sure but complacent wasn't too strong of a word it was the wrong word. Just because this team was a high powered offense didn't mean the effort was there any less. And I point to games like the Ravens game and the Chargers playoff games as evidence that this team was still a really tough physical team it just also could air it out.

complacent may be the wrong word.

But let me ask this, given the players we have going forward, what identity should the team have if they are to go deep into the playoffs?

 

[signbabybrady]

complacent may be the wrong word.

But let me ask this, given the players we have going forward, what identity should the team have if they are to go deep into the playoffs?

I don't think there is one specific identity they have to adopt to be successful moving forward. Its an unknown right now. If Cassel comes in and proves he can throw than why can't we still be a high powered offense vice versa if he shows he doesn't throw well but is a good game manager maybe we do need to adopt the physical play a little more but I don't think one has to eb the way and if we cant be that than we are doomed.

If you asked for one Identity that they have had in the past that they must continue than that would be smart.

look this team is going to be physical you dont need to worry about that they have been one of the toughest teams in the league over the decade and losing Tom wont effect that.

 

[richpats]

The team had a different identity sure but complacent wasn't too strong of a word it was the wrong word. Just because this team was a high powered offense didn't mean the effort was there any less. And I point to games like the Ravens game and the Chargers playoff games as evidence that this team was still a really tough physical team it just also could air it out.

I think "dependent" is a more appropriate word. Since 2005 Brady has been the primary reason for the Pats' success. He carried a team with no run game and no D in the first half of '05. He carried an offense with no receivers and a spotty run game in '06. In '07 he laid waste to the league with his new weapons on offense and made everyone forget we had cause for concern in the running game and on D.

In '01, '03 and '04 Brady wasn't as crucial to the team's success as he has been recently. Our D was clutch, we had a power running game and our offense was more balanced. He was apart of the machine.

Nowadays we just put Brady in the shotgun and go. What did we do in the first drive against KC? 8 straight passes. I don't blame the coaches, it's easy. It works most of the time too. But it hasn't gotten us where we ultimately want to be. It doesn't help us become a more physical team (when you line up in shotgun 70% of the season, your offense is NOT physical).

Maybe this injury is just the shakeup the team needs. We are forced to balance our offense, run the ball more. Our D will face more pressure to step up. The coaches will have to be more creative. And you know what? It is going to make us a better team from top-to-bottom, even if we go 10-6 this year. Maybe this season will help forge a much tougher, more balanced offense in '09 WITH Tom Brady at the helm. We will see.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

complacent may be the wrong word.

But let me ask this, given the players we have going forward, what identity should the team have if they are to go deep into the playoffs?

I presume you foresee scrappy overachievers?

Myself, I'm expecting professionals, prideful men who know they have a greater challenge. I'm looking for what I saw last Sunday: Morris punching through a hole dug out of the defense, Moss schooling a DB, Welker picking apart the middle, Thomas or Washington being where the 3rd read should be and picking up the yards, a defense that eats RBs for breakfast and likes QB treats anytime, a STs unit that is in-your-face good. That's what I expect.

 

[signbabybrady]

I presume you foresee scrappy overachievers?

Myself, I'm expecting professionals, prideful men who know they have a greater challenge. I'm looking for what I saw last Sunday: Morris punching through a hole dug out of the defense, Moss schooling a DB, Welker picking apart the middle, Thomas or Washington being where the 3rd read should be and picking up the yards, a defense that eats RBs for breakfast and likes QB treats anytime, a STs unit that is in-your-face good. That's what I expect.

exactly...

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I think the identoty of the team last year shifted a bit from the year's before..complacency is too strong a word..but the team did not have the same exact characteristics of past teams. I understand what OP is saying..and I agree..that if they gut out a solid year this year, it will only help going forward.

Had we won that SB - just 1 interception, or 1 helmet-catch difference, or whatever - even by 3 points, and it wouldn't have been called complacency, it would have been "a new swagger." Had we won it by 14 or something, we would be insane about being "perfect" and out of everybody's league last year.

But I'm not so much going after that one word, just how we view things in retrospect. Dudes, one thing I've learned last year... in those 3 SB seasons, we were only a few points better than the Eagles, Panthers, and Rams, on the DAY we beat them.

That's it. It's not grand dynasties or bulletin board arguments about whether the 72 Dolphins were better or anything else. It's just football.

Sounds simple but it took me a long time to get to that realization, and I'll promptly forget it if the CasselPats win in 3 straight. Then he'll be our Steve Young, nothing will be able to stop us, blah blah blah. But really it's all just football.

PFnV