Things I Learned From This Game (Buffalo)

[JSn]

Last week I reflected on positives from a great game with a negative outcome.
This week just a couple of things that really stood out to me.

• Between the O-Line getting better and Cassel getting better, a lot of the plays felt like last year. The QB has time to make tea, maybe skim the obits (Bills, DOA) and then find a receiver. Brady is an all-time-great QB, no question. This O-Line does have a share in those accolades though, in my opinion.
  
  
• Cassel has ice in his veins. I guess this has been clear for a while. He took a beating in the media and on the field for the first part of the season. He throws a catchable ball and the receiver blows it, but he goes right back out there. He runs through defensive minefields (sometimes a little hard to watch) and makes a LOT of critical plays on his feet. At this point, if something went wrong and Brady didn't come back (not my wish, obviously), I wouldn't have even the slightest discomfort at Cassel becoming "the guy" in New England. Whether he's headed for big things or a product of the system, who knows and really, who cares?
  
  
• The draft may very well be a crap-shoot, but this year the staff is making the UDFA signings look like science. The Firm and Guyton are amazing system fits and you can only assume Redd is going to shine next.
  
  
• Minus last week's brain-farts, we have stellar coaching. Hobbs and "The Corpse of Deltha O'Neil" (as one article called him) both had picks and generally solid days. The run D is insane and even when Thomas exited, the D stayed tight. We are missing our top choices on both sides of the field at various positions and we're tied for first. The players get a lot of credit, but the coaches are the difference makers. As Heath Evans said, when you're well prepared you're able to succeed and play well.
  
  
• This team will kill you in a game of chess and you're going to be hard pressed to find breathing room. Those blowouts now seem ages ago in football terms. Even when we lost last week, the Pats were chasing the Colts taillights with venom and malice. The Patriots respect your team and will show it by studying your every move, but they're going to put you into a box and see if you have enough lung capacity to come out alive. These games are like the Saw movies. Punish other teams for their extravagances and make them sacrifice what they love in order to get out alive. Edwards had no help on the ground and very little from his enormous o-line. He struggled to find receivers and the only thing making that game a smidge less embarassing was a junk TD after a nice run-back by Leodis McKelvin. Now we sweep Buffalo's remains off the field and set a nice table for the Jets. A battle of wits to the death? That's a fight that will be tough to win against BB and his inner sanctum of scheme geniuses.

So I say let the Jets spend their millions, let the Cowboys spill money all over Dallas, and let our FA's go screaming away for the big payday. Do what you gotta do. Us? We're just gonna play a little football.


A few nice pics from yesterday:

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

Nice summary, thanks for sharing.


And BTW, I agree with you, the Pats are getting better every week.

Our upcoming opponents have to be looking at Cassel and saying, wait a minute, he's throwing long now too, oh $h1t.........

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

To think we could consume almost all of the 4th quarter with a 19-play drive and a lead...

well, that was something I hoped we could do but was in no way sure about until yesterday.

It goes to show you the O-line is getting it together and we can effectively play ball-control / minimal risk football becuase of that, which is our best shot of beating good teams in January.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

I just hope the Pats can continue those long substained drives we had yesterday and last Sunday into Thursday. I think if the Pats can do that, Schottenheimer will feel he has to put it in Favre's hands to speed up the tempo of the game. I think at this point, putting the offense on Favre's shoulders is the worst thing the Jets can do.

 

[strongside]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

What is most impressive to me is Cassel's increased presence while in the pocket. If you have the games DVR'd take a look at Cassel in the pocket from a game by game basis. He is standing tall and is poised. He can now use his running ability less as an escape and more as a weapon.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

I learned that I like "boring". We were in control for the entire game. It felt like last year. The 19 play drive will be long remembered.

 

[MassPats38]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

I learned that I like "boring". We were in control for the entire game. It felt like last year. The 19 play drive will be long remembered.

I agree. It is nice not to watch a game from the edge of the seat or standing and screaming at the television.

The team has shown substantial improvement since the beginning of the season, to include Cassel, the defense and the offensive line. Every recent game has seen its occasional mistake(s), but I suspect few believe the team has no answer for the mistakes personnel-wise.

As an aside, the Colts beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh after eking out a win at home against the Pats. I see good things down the road if the Pats can stay the course.

 

[Sicilian]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

I agree. It is nice not to watch a game from the edge of the seat or standing and screaming at the television.

The team has shown substantial improvement since the beginning of the season, to include Cassel, the defense and the offensive line. Every recent game has seen its occasional mistake(s), but I suspect few believe the team has no answer for the mistakes personnel-wise.

As an aside, the Colts beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh after eking out a win at home against the Pats. I see good things down the road if the Pats can stay the course.

The Colts worry me. They too seem to be getting better every week, and I'd rather not see them make the playoffs if possible. They could be the hot team in the AFC, as they have the talent and are starting to come together.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

These Pats are reminding me more and more of the '03-'04 days. Days which featured a mistake free quarterback dunking his way down the field for long, sustained drives. Days which featured a "punch you in the mouth" style of offensive attack headlined by a strong downhill runner (Dillion to BJGE). And days which featured a defense that also was not afraid to go blow for blow. And finally, days which featured this team hitting it's stride late in the season as opposed to the beginning. Brady may not be here but things are looking up for this franchise this year. Our next step in the process is beating the Jets Thursday night to secure the division lead.

 

[MassPats38]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

The Colts worry me. They too seem to be getting better every week, and I'd rather not see them make the playoffs if possible. They could be the hot team in the AFC, as they have the talent and are starting to come together.

I saw that win as more of a dysfunctional Steelers team than I would a much improved Colts squad. Big Ben looks nowhere near as good as he did in 2004, and the defense is showing cracks.

I still think it is very possible the Colts fall along the way and find themselves watching the playoffs. It still seems very telling that, with few losses to give, the Colts could score only 18 points against the Pats playing on the road and only for pride, winning the game only due to a mistake or two by the Pats. The Colts would not have won that game at the Razor, I have no doubt of that and no fear of a rematch if that comes to be. Any year the Pats send the Colts home for the season is a good year in my book.

 

[Sicilian]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

I saw that win as more of a dysfunctional Steelers team than I would a much improved Colts squad. Big Ben looks nowhere near as good as he did in 2004, and the defense is showing cracks.

I still think it is very possible the Colts fall along the way and find themselves watching the playoffs. It still seems very telling that, with few losses to give, the Colts could score only 18 points against the Pats playing on the road and only for pride, winning the game only due to a mistake or two by the Pats. The Colts would not have won that game at the Razor, I have no doubt of that and no fear of a rematch if that comes to be. Any year the Pats send the Colts home for the season is a good year in my book.

I really, REALLY hope you're right. I've seen enough happy Manning face the last two years to last me seven lifetimes.

 

[JR4]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

Thing I learned.
* PATs are able to sustain drives.
* PATs are still not getting TDs over 50% in red zone. Still middle of the road.
* PATs think using a pass for TD in the red zone is a low percentage
play ( Josh sort of confirmed his thinking on this in a recent interview)

I expect opponents will start making it harder for PATs to run it in.
I expect McDaniels will still think passing in the red zone
it is a low percentage play.
( even when you can get a leaping Moss matched up on a 5'9 CB
The only reason I see for this is JM doesn't have faith in Matt's accuracy
in the red zone)

 

[Sicilian]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

Thing I learned.
* PATs are able to sustain drives.
* PATs are still not getting TDs over 50% in red zone. Still middle of the road.
* PATs think using a pass for TD in the red zone is a low percentage
play ( Josh sort of confirmed his thinking on this in a recent interview)

I expect opponents will start making it harder for PATs to run it in.
I expect McDaniels will still think passing in the red zone
it is a low percentage play.
( even when you can get a leaping Moss matched up on a 5'9 CB
The only reason I see for this is JM doesn't have faith in Matt's accuracy
in the red zone)

As was shown on one of the shots they took to Moss in the end zone, the height advantage a WR has over a CB is only good if the ball is spotted precisely in that 6" area between the WR's high point and the CB's high point. I like Matt Cassel, but I don't trust him to spot the ball in the tiny window where only Moss can get it on a consistent enough basis to use it as the main red zone play. Especially when the end result of a BAD pass could easily be a pick and zero points scored.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

The Colts worry me. They too seem to be getting better every week, and I'd rather not see them make the playoffs if possible. They could be the hot team in the AFC, as they have the talent and are starting to come together.

I don't see the Colts getting better. I just see other teams making dump mistakes. Like the Pats did against the Colts. The Steelers did as well.

The Colts are the ultimate opportunists. That doesn't make them good.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

The hot teams in the AFC are TENN, BALT, NE and PITT. I include Pitt even though Big Ben is playing injured at the moment.

The Colts worry me. They too seem to be getting better every week, and I'd rather not see them make the playoffs if possible. They could be the hot team in the AFC, as they have the talent and are starting to come together.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

The hot teams in the AFC are TENN, BALT, NE and PITT. I include Pitt even though Big Ben is playing injured at the moment.

Baltimore's time will come in the next 7 weeks. They have a pretty tough schedule. They face the Giants, Eagles, Bengals, Skins, Steelers, Boys and Jags.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

I don't see the Colts getting better. I just see other teams making dump mistakes. Like the Pats did against the Colts. The Steelers did as well.

The Colts are the ultimate opportunists. That doesn't make them good.

Three of the Colts wins are due to "luck", Texans, Pats and Steelers should have and could have won those games.....Question is, how long can the Colts luck hold?

 

[Krugman]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

Nice post,JSN ,well done.To Sicilian,I too am worried about the Colts,slowly getting back to being a very good team,if the steady improvement continues,they will be a tough opponent.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Re: Things I Learned From This Game (Buff)

I learned that watching the game at a bar with a bunch of Bills fans is an annoying experience. As with most fanbases, it's always one or two in the crowd that ruin it, but there was this one guy behind me who *****ed and moaned about every.damn.thing. Of course to him the Pats held on every offensive snap, but the refs weren't calling it so I had to hear a chorus of "Come on, ref! Throw the flag!" And then of course the Pats hit Edwards late on every snap he threw the ball, but since there was no flag I had to listen to, "Late hit! Late hit! Where's the flag, ref?!?" Of course someone else would back him up on his assertions every now and then with a sarcastic, "This is in Foxboro...what did you expect?" Every now and then I'd whisper "waaah waaah waaah" just loud enough for him to hear.

When he wasn't *****ing about the refs, he did rail quite a bit against the Bills' offensive playcalling and execution. Proof that he wasn't completely blind, I guess.

Regards,
Chris

 

[ctpatsfan77]

This team will kill you in a game of chess and you're going to be hard pressed to find breathing room. Those blowouts now seem ages ago in football terms. Even when we lost last week, the Pats were chasing the Colts taillights with venom and malice. The Patriots respect your team and will show it by studying your every move, but they're going to put you into a box and see if you have enough lung capacity to come out alive. These games are like the Saw movies. Punish other teams for their extravagances and make them sacrifice what they love in order to get out alive. Edwards had no help on the ground and very little from his enormous o-line. He struggled to find receivers and the only thing making that game a smidge less embarassing was a junk TD after a nice run-back by Leodis McKelvin. Now we sweep Buffalo's remains off the field and set a nice table for the Jets. A battle of wits to the death? That's a fight that will be tough to win against BB and his inner sanctum of scheme geniuses.

Since I find the whole "torture porn" genre nauseating, I'll let the Saw references go.

In any case, this was my favorite quote from the article you linked:

No Tom Brady. Few frills. Little flash.

Yet the Patriots still command the presence and blueprint to treat a team like it is a pet they are training for a few hours before patting it on the head and sending it home.

This is exactly what it did to Buffalo.

And Frank Galasso concurs.