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... I've been away from the computer for the past few weeks and a lot has happened. There are some things I need to get off my chest. Thanks in advance for your patience.
First the Colts game. I have to say that it was as bad a loss as I can remember....second only to the "the game that shall not be mentioned". Very painful.
Make no mistake, it was a game the Pats LOST, not one that Colts won....and leads to a concern, not about the defense, but the offense. There have now been 3 huge losses the Pats have sustained recently when the offense needed just ONE first down to salt a game away.....and couldn't do it. In every case the problem was self inflicted....a penalty, a drop, a missed pass, a bad run, etc.
While I know this has probably been discussed ad nauseum, I have to weigh in on BB's call to go for it on his own 28. I totally agree with his dicision for the following reasons. Not having TBC, Ninkovich, Warren, Green, etc, meant that the DL who was out there had played the majority of the 70+ plays the Colts offense got. It was clear in the last drive that there would be no pass rush.
For BB the choice was easy. First he was putting the game on the line with his BEST asset, his offense. Secondly he felt, and I agree, that should he fail, it would be a lot easier for the Pats to defend a contained space of 28 yds than a full field of 70+. He probably felt that given the lack of pass rush AND the time the Colts would have had, he probably would have ended up in the same point, ONLY then, he would have a DL who had rushed the passer 4-5 more times without rest. Now he got them knowing they only had to defense a short field and would only have to do it for 6-8 plays. The reward clearly outweighed the risk
On the 4th down play, I thought I saw a replay the CLEARLY showed that Faulk had complete control of the ball right at the 30 yd line. the Pats, IMHO got a bad spot. It happens. Bad luck that they couldn't challenge.
I have MORE of a problem with the play selection. On 3rd and 2, when you KNOW you are in 4 down territory, a running play would have been more appropriate. Clearly the Colts wouldn't have expected it, and even if you DON'T get it you have your 4th down to pick it up. BOTH plays showed the Colts were clearly covering for the 3 yd pass. I thought that they Pats could have done other things, like pick plays to get receivers open.
Now on to other things
1. The fact Ron Brace STILL can't get on the field is now VERY troubling. Still 11 of 12 isn't a bad draft.
2. In the Jet game they clearly saw that the C was a weakness. They BLEW him up on every punt. I thnk we need some more beef in the interior of the punt formation. Not only is the snapper a lightweight, it looked like the other interior guys are also LB types. Other teams will notice this and try to exploit it. One punt got blocked and a few more were uncomfortably close.
3. I'm liking this secondary more and more. Not just because of the pick but because of the tightness of the coverage. Even completions are, for the most part tightly contested. Wilhite's coverage on the Jets TD pass was excellent. It was just a perfectly thrown pass. I was happy his coverage got noticed on Boddin's 3rd pick. This is now a good secondary that will only get better as time goes on.
4. I hate to say it, but Derrell Revis IS that good. Thank god he plays for the Jets, and NOT a team that is relevent.
5. BTW, speaking of the Jets, if I were a fan of them, I would now start to be getting worried that he's a lot more like Jay Cutler than he is Tom Brady. He is capable of making some excellent throws, like the passes up the middle, and the TD throw, but JUST as "capable" of throwing the "I can't believe he just did that" throw. I had originally thought he was the franchise QB that poor Jet fans have longed for since Joe Willie left 40 years ago, but now I'm not sure. On the other hand, it's still real early in his career to make judgments one way or the other.
6. I want to go on record saying that if/when we meet the Colts again in the playoffs, I'm very confident, even in Indy. The Colts are having a dream season. They are getting break after break, and the one thing we know about getting all the breaks, is that eventually the worm turns. The escaped against us, and they did it again in Baltimore. I don't care if they win the rest of their games, because they ARE NOT going to beat the Pats again. Take that to the bank.
7. It should be a great game vs the Saints. They are a very exciting team and a great challenge. Its just bad luck that we have had to play BOTH the Colts and Saints on the road. But this offense doesn't get flustered in domes. I see us winning it.
8. Its pretty heartening when your THIRD string LT gets in the game and performs well. Brady had good time for the most part on Sunday, as his string of 300 yd games continues.
9. I do have a concern with the fact that Issiah Stanback is getting significant time as a WR. I think we need to bolster that position before the end of the season. Too often Brady has had EXTENDED time in the pocket and has been unable to find anyone.
Thanks for the vent
First the Colts game. I have to say that it was as bad a loss as I can remember....second only to the "the game that shall not be mentioned". Very painful.
Make no mistake, it was a game the Pats LOST, not one that Colts won....and leads to a concern, not about the defense, but the offense. There have now been 3 huge losses the Pats have sustained recently when the offense needed just ONE first down to salt a game away.....and couldn't do it. In every case the problem was self inflicted....a penalty, a drop, a missed pass, a bad run, etc.
While I know this has probably been discussed ad nauseum, I have to weigh in on BB's call to go for it on his own 28. I totally agree with his dicision for the following reasons. Not having TBC, Ninkovich, Warren, Green, etc, meant that the DL who was out there had played the majority of the 70+ plays the Colts offense got. It was clear in the last drive that there would be no pass rush.
For BB the choice was easy. First he was putting the game on the line with his BEST asset, his offense. Secondly he felt, and I agree, that should he fail, it would be a lot easier for the Pats to defend a contained space of 28 yds than a full field of 70+. He probably felt that given the lack of pass rush AND the time the Colts would have had, he probably would have ended up in the same point, ONLY then, he would have a DL who had rushed the passer 4-5 more times without rest. Now he got them knowing they only had to defense a short field and would only have to do it for 6-8 plays. The reward clearly outweighed the risk
On the 4th down play, I thought I saw a replay the CLEARLY showed that Faulk had complete control of the ball right at the 30 yd line. the Pats, IMHO got a bad spot. It happens. Bad luck that they couldn't challenge.
I have MORE of a problem with the play selection. On 3rd and 2, when you KNOW you are in 4 down territory, a running play would have been more appropriate. Clearly the Colts wouldn't have expected it, and even if you DON'T get it you have your 4th down to pick it up. BOTH plays showed the Colts were clearly covering for the 3 yd pass. I thought that they Pats could have done other things, like pick plays to get receivers open.
Now on to other things
1. The fact Ron Brace STILL can't get on the field is now VERY troubling. Still 11 of 12 isn't a bad draft.
2. In the Jet game they clearly saw that the C was a weakness. They BLEW him up on every punt. I thnk we need some more beef in the interior of the punt formation. Not only is the snapper a lightweight, it looked like the other interior guys are also LB types. Other teams will notice this and try to exploit it. One punt got blocked and a few more were uncomfortably close.
3. I'm liking this secondary more and more. Not just because of the pick but because of the tightness of the coverage. Even completions are, for the most part tightly contested. Wilhite's coverage on the Jets TD pass was excellent. It was just a perfectly thrown pass. I was happy his coverage got noticed on Boddin's 3rd pick. This is now a good secondary that will only get better as time goes on.
4. I hate to say it, but Derrell Revis IS that good. Thank god he plays for the Jets, and NOT a team that is relevent.
5. BTW, speaking of the Jets, if I were a fan of them, I would now start to be getting worried that he's a lot more like Jay Cutler than he is Tom Brady. He is capable of making some excellent throws, like the passes up the middle, and the TD throw, but JUST as "capable" of throwing the "I can't believe he just did that" throw. I had originally thought he was the franchise QB that poor Jet fans have longed for since Joe Willie left 40 years ago, but now I'm not sure. On the other hand, it's still real early in his career to make judgments one way or the other.
6. I want to go on record saying that if/when we meet the Colts again in the playoffs, I'm very confident, even in Indy. The Colts are having a dream season. They are getting break after break, and the one thing we know about getting all the breaks, is that eventually the worm turns. The escaped against us, and they did it again in Baltimore. I don't care if they win the rest of their games, because they ARE NOT going to beat the Pats again. Take that to the bank.
7. It should be a great game vs the Saints. They are a very exciting team and a great challenge. Its just bad luck that we have had to play BOTH the Colts and Saints on the road. But this offense doesn't get flustered in domes. I see us winning it.
8. Its pretty heartening when your THIRD string LT gets in the game and performs well. Brady had good time for the most part on Sunday, as his string of 300 yd games continues.
9. I do have a concern with the fact that Issiah Stanback is getting significant time as a WR. I think we need to bolster that position before the end of the season. Too often Brady has had EXTENDED time in the pocket and has been unable to find anyone.
Thanks for the vent
