PFW: Patriots of today have no chance to duplicate 07 team

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

O.K. Folks so because this is written we might as well expect the team to only average 17 PPG

ProFootballWeekly.com - 2007 numbers not in store for Patriots of today

 

[Gwedd]

O.K. Folks so because this is written we might as well expect the team to only average 17 PPG

ProFootballWeekly.com - 2007 numbers not in store for Patriots of today

Eh, whatever...

There's no possible way to replicate the '07 season, since the players and teams are different, anyway. Besides, that's their opinion and they're welcome to it. Like the man says "That's why they play the game"..

 

[Fixit]

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have done anything differently, but expecting him to rekindle the MVP candle when putting in a fraction of the work will be tough.

I stopped reading right there.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Eh, whatever...

There's no possible way to replicate the '07 season, since the players and teams are different, anyway. Besides, that's their opinion and they're welcome to it. Like the man says "That's why they play the game"..

I'm expecting 640 points.

 

[Gwedd]

I'm expecting 640 points.

I could like that. A lot...

 

[Fixit]

I'm expecting 640 points.

I expect that to be the point differential.

 

[PYPER]

O.K. Folks so because this is written we might as well expect the team to only average 17 PPG

ProFootballWeekly.com - 2007 numbers not in store for Patriots of today

I think it's possible that we could actually be better but still not come close to the 2007 numbers. Mainly, b/c I expect us to run the ball a lot more this year. The 2007 team was a bit unbalanced, in favor of the passing game. If we run the ball more, it'll shorten the games up a bit resulting in less possessions.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think it's possible that we could actually be better but still not come close to the 2007 numbers. Mainly, b/c I expect us to run the ball a lot more this year. The 2007 team was a bit unbalanced, in favor of the passing game. If we run the ball more, it'll shorten the games up a bit resulting in less possessions.

Not if they get more plays like this one against Miami in 2007.

(10:14) NE68-O'Callaghan eligible. 39-L.Maroney left guard for 59 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I don't want to duplicate 2007, I want a super bowl.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I don't want to duplicate 2007, I want to win a super bowl.

I fixed your post for you

 

[miDeuce]

The only thing I agree with is that the whole spygate thing did unify them into the ultimate 'us against the NFL' mentality. I don't think you can quantify the effect people saying they cheated their way to 3 Super Bowls had on people as competitive as Brady, Harrison, etc.

The OLine's dip last year had as much to do with Cassel holding the ball too long and not avoiding the rush like Brady could as it did with Yates and LeVoir filling in here and there. They were much better by the end of the year once Cassel got more comfortable. The Pats will always have a game or two a year where the OLine gets beat up, but 90% of the time they are as good as any in the NFL.

As for Brady not being as focused on football as he once was, I'd just point to his interview where he says he wants to play until he's 40. The guy wants to be one of the best of all time. Just because he's not living in Foxboro every second of the offseason doesn't mean that he's slacking off.

I don't think the Patriots offense needs to be as devastatingly good as it was in 2007 to get back to the Super Bowl. Galloway could be the real X factor. While Stallworth only had a handful of notable plays in 2007, he did have some big plays in the clutch (see Indy, Dallas). Gaffney's only clutch game in 08 as the 3rd WR was the second Jets one that we lost. If they can get better-than-Gaffney production out of Galloway I think this offense will be as dangerous as 2007. They might not score as many points, but they don't need to.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I think it's possible that we could actually be better but still not come close to the 2007 numbers. Mainly, b/c I expect us to run the ball a lot more this year. The 2007 team was a bit unbalanced, in favor of the passing game. If we run the ball more, it'll shorten the games up a bit resulting in less possessions.

Actually if you compare '07 to '08 they are similar in number of possessions.
----------2007 ----------2008
TD --------- 75-----------43
FG att -----24 ------------40
punts -----44------------ 50
Int --------9 --------------11
fumble lost 6 ------------- 10
--------------------------------
total possessions
------------158----------- 154

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

The only thing I agree with is that the whole spygate thing did unify them into the ultimate 'us against the NFL' mentality. I don't think you can quantify the effect people saying they cheated their way to 3 Super Bowls had on people as competitive as Brady, Harrison, etc.

IMO The team still has a chip on it's shoulder and they will until they win one post-spygate. You gotta believe those guys from '04 and prior are still pissed about everything that was said. If not for themselves they will want it for BB.

I fixed your post for you

True, true

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

O.K. Folks so because this is written we might as well expect the team to only average 17 PPG

ProFootballWeekly.com - 2007 numbers not in store for Patriots of today

WE'RE DOOMED

 

[miDeuce]

IMO The team still has a chip on it's shoulder and they will until they win one post-spygate. You gotta believe those guys from '04 and prior are still pissed about everything that was said. If not for themselves they will want it for BB.

I'm sure they are to some extent. But there's no substitute for constant faux outrage from ESPN, Senator Comcast, and uninformed fans to fuel the fire.

I do think this team is coming out with something to prove, but nothing could ever duplicate the spark that spyfake gave the entire organization to obliterate every team they faced.

 

[Kontradiction]

But I'll believe it when I see it. What we need to remember is that Tom Brady molded himself into an all-time standard-bearer by virtue of his Walter Payton-like work ethic. Every single year from his rookie season through 2007 he won the team's offseason training award and the plum parking space that came with it. Since then, he has flown to fashion shoots in Europe, married a bombshell of a wife, and filmed a cameo on "Entourage." Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have done anything differently, but expecting him to rekindle the MVP candle when putting in a fraction of the work will be tough.

Dumbest quote ever. He's been there since mini-camp and has been working harder than anybody in a Pats uniform from what I've gathered.

 

[tombonneau]

Not sure why all the eyerolling. All of his observations (save for the Lazy Brady one) are accurate and legit. There is no way the team duplicates it's record-setting 2007 campaign. That said, it should still be the best offense in the NFL.

 

[spacecrime]

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have done anything differently, but expecting him to rekindle the MVP candle when putting in a fraction of the work will be tough.

I stopped reading right there.

Well, I read it all, but I rolled my eyes when I read that Brady would not be as good because he has a cameo on Entourage and did some photo shoots and that proves he has no work ethic.

Much as I dislike Peyton and all his commercials, I have to admit that he manges to be very good (second best QB in the league) even if he takes time off to shoot the commercials.

I mean, it isn't like these guys watch film 24/7.

They watch a lot, they work a lot, they train hard, and they are good at reading defense. None of that is changed by a photo shoot or a commercial or a cameo appearance.

 

[captain stone]

O.K. Folks so because this is written we might as well expect the team to only average 17 PPG

ProFootballWeekly.com - 2007 numbers not in store for Patriots of today

Nothing there with which to disagree, really.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Dumbest quote ever. He's been there since mini-camp and has been working harder than anybody in a Pats uniform from what I've gathered.

I feel the exact same........... By most accounts his rapid rebound and top notch rehabbing effort has been publicly addressed by all the medical people around him, as were the accolades that said most were "amazed" at his progress.

Didn't his surgeon last week come out and say that he expects him to be not only 100%, but possibly better since he is so much stronger due to his rehab effort.

The above quote from the crappy article seems to not jive with the other stuff we're hearing.