I think this team is coming together

[mgteich]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

Since the team was never falling apart, there is no need for coming together.

The only thing that they are definitely coming together from is all the nonsense regarding Moss, Thomas, Guyton, Burgess and Aiken. All that ridiculous kid's stuff and media hype is now behind us as THE TEAM has circled the wagons and come together.

This supposedly weak run defense played without Wilfork and Warren and still beat a solid running team. That also constitutes coming together.

You are right, but where is the evidence to support that the team is comming together?

 

[Jimke]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

It was a gutsy permance considering the injuries. This team won't

come together until it can put more healthy bodies on the field.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

The defense played nice, but they did the same thing with wilfork and Warren in.

the offense isn't exactly effected by injuries to the DL, so again the offense just continues to falter in the second half. I'm not being a pesimist, just telling it like it is. If a W like yesterday makes you confident you'll see this team dominating Jan. Idk what to tell ya.

 

[D-Money]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

Clay Matthews would have been nice on this team right now,Still cant believe they didnt draft this guy.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

I don't think this team is coming together. This team had 2 statement games, they almost beat the Colts and lets not talk about the Saints. Until this team beats a REAL team, they aint **** I'm sorry but we can play these homer games all we want and continue to look stupid as they lose to good teams.

The thing is though, 'statement' games haven't been needed by any other recent super bowl champ. Last year the Steelers were trounced by the best regular season team and lost to the Giants/Eagles too. They just beat Baltimore who was good but not great. In '07 the Giants lost to us and swept by Dallas, the best teams they played. In '06 the Colts didn't really have any mind blowing victories (didn't have to play any of the top 4 seeded teams the whole reg season). Same case with '05 Steelers and I'd venture to say even our '04 team didn't have a 'statement' win in the regular season, we were crushed by Pittsburgh the #1 seed.

 

[emoney_33]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

clay matthews would have been nice on this team right now,still cant believe they didnt draft this guy.

get... Over.... It

 

[D-Money]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

Hey emoney, i am but i just hope win or lose that this team in the offseas0n makes some changes and starts drafting pass rushers or get one through FA

 

[mgteich]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

Perhaps we should have drafted a passrusher instead of Vollmer.

We had a fine draft. We do need to get over the choices of Chung and Brace instead of Matthews and Laurinitis. It's not like they are busts. And many of you wouldn't have signed Banta-Cain or given him such a strong role. Belichick did indeed pick up a pass-rusher who he figured to be as good as those this board was proposing without using the 23 or 34. Some of the rooks were better this year than Banta-Cain. Some weren't.

I will duck after I post.

However, I would be fine if we didn't DRAFT a linebacker and found another Banta-Cain in free agency. After all, the high pick would then be used for a another top need like a starting OG or TE if Watson doesn't sign.

OBVIOUSLY, we need to draft a top DE or two. Belichick will agree. He has no problems using top picks for defensive linemen or offensive linemen for that matter. I'd be fine with three linemen (including perhaps a TE) and a running back in our first four picks.

Hey emoney, i am but i just hope win or lose that this team in the offseas0n makes some changes and starts drafting pass rushers or get one through FA

 

[borg]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

In the third quarter of the Colts game, this team looked like the team to beat in the AFC. It's defense was clicking, and its offense was looking like vintage 2007.

Since then, both sides of the ball have regressed. It's just a question of a) can the coaching staff adjust to the way they are being played b) will the team be healthy?

You say regressed...I say flawed.
IMHO....BB and company have built a flawed team.
1) The failure of the OLine has prevented the offense from expanding. Yesterday, the Pats went 2 tight ends for 80% of the snaps, yet the TE position had zero catches. Max protection for Brady because they want to keep him healthy...and the right side of the line has been horrible all year. Sure, two newbies got the start yesterday, but C, RG, and LT have been weaknesses all year. No push on short yardage runs and unable to hold ground in pass protection
2) Depth a WR....there is none. Imagine if Moss went down
3)Pass rush...Failed FAs and draft neglect...you know the story

Expectations were high going into the first game. BB succeeded in building a roster that can compete vs the AFC East...run heavy, weak passing teams. But the talent is just not ready to compete against competent passing teams.
Frankly , I'm happy that the Pats are still in the hunt. Watching other teams play each other every week, it is clear that the Pats roster is lacking in many areas. I see WRs breaking tackles, RBs zigzagging, guards pulling, DEs winning one on one battles, QBs rolling out, DBs dominating, returnman taking to the endzone....but I don't see much greatness on the Pats roster. I don't see a physical freak that is a man amongst boys...So to be 9-5 with 2 to go is pretty darn good considering the lack of playmakers on this team.

3.....2....1.....

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

I dont get wrapped up about beating the bills.We have owned them.Its about the elite teams.The only way to beat Manning is by putting heavy pressure on him.

you play who is on the schedule

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

Yesterdays second half offense was more a product of the game than anything else. The Bills were not going to score, so all the Pats needed to do is run out the clock and not allow any turnovers on offense. Does anyone think that aside from a pick 6 or strip sack fumble that the Bills were going to overcome a 2 TD lead?

The Pats played a division away game with their QB with cracked ribs and a messed up finger, without 2/3rds of their starting defensive line and the entire starting right side of it's offensive line (granted I think that we are all unanimous in our thoughts that Vollmer should be starting over Kazcur, but still technically he is the starter), and won the game! I guess the people who said that the Panthers were awful must think that the Vikings are the worst team in the league because they lost to them, by 20 POINTS!

Plenty of teams had a chance to make a real push for the playoffs yesterday and set themsleves up. The Pats won a division road game late in the season to put them at "dormee" (golf term, 2 up with 2 to play) in the AFC East. Both the Dophins and Jets LOST!! Do you think the Jets fans would have cared if they won yesterday, that it was an "ugly" win?

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

Absolutely nothing about this win convinced me that the Pats are coming together. Beating the Bills by 7 points, while they are playing two quarterbacks (neither of which is a legit NFL starter), is not impressive. The defense looked good at times yesterday but I think we should all remember that the Bills offense is absolutely terrible. They were able to generate decent amounts of pressure against our banged up O-Line and Brady did not look good.

Now, the positive about this week is that we are now the #3 seed in the AFC playoff race. On top of that, we have finished off our divisional schedule and have Jacksonville coming into Foxborough this weekend reeling off of two straight losses. They may be ready to mail it in. Win this game and we clinch the division and a chance to get into the big dance (though we're going to have to play much, much better than we are now to get there). On top of that, I'm liking the way we are spreading the plays out right now. The run game is helping to take a lot of the pressure off of Brady and the passing game. We should also be able to go into the playoffs relatively healthy. The biggest key to the postseason is going to be the health of the O-Line. If/when the O-Line plays as a cohesive unit, this offense will improve by leaps and bounds.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

We beat a 5-8 football team,that hardly signs this team is coming together

Nothing yesterday indicated that except for the fact that we can win with a horrid and injured front 7 against scrub teams.

The team has faced Elite teams and lost all of those games,As far as my opinion goes they have to face them again and only until they beat them will they look any better than they did prior to the Colts game in November.

This is still an above average team in a below average division.

 

[emoney_33]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

We beat a 5-8 football team,that hardly signs this team is coming together

Nothing yesterday indicated that except for the fact that we can win with a horrid and injured front 7 against scrub teams.

The team has faced Elite teams and lost all of those games,As far as my opinion goes they have to face them again and only until they beat them will they look any better than they did prior to the Colts game in November.

This is still an above average team in a below average division.

Who is elite? We collapsed against Indy in the 2nd half, but still should have won that game if the ref spots the ball correctly. We had a complete meltdown against NO where they got probably like 80% of their yards/points on a handful of plays.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

I don't think this team is coming together. This team had 2 statement games, they almost beat the Colts and lets not talk about the Saints. Until this team beats a REAL team, they aint **** I'm sorry but we can play these homer games all we want and continue to look stupid as they lose to good teams. I hope they go on a run in the playoffs, but if they lost yesterday we'd be in meltdown mode over a loss to terrible Buffalo.

I don't care how they win, what bothers me is the same issues persist. Defense giving up late drives, offense doing NOTHING in the second half, 3 points? My goodness. When will it ever improve if it hasn't already? The same problems persist, and all we can hope for is this team to get hot in the playoffs.

Some team always seems to come out of nowhere to win a Super Bowl. Each of the Contenders has a story to tell. Brady is hurting, obviously but they can be a running team and play enough defense to compete even against the top level competition. Why not the Patriots in 2010?

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

Now, the positive about this week is that we are now the #3 seed in the AFC playoff race. On top of that, we have finished off our divisional schedule and have Jacksonville coming into Foxborough this weekend reeling off of two straight losses. They may be ready to mail it in. Win this game and we clinch the division and a chance to get into the big dance (though we're going to have to play much, much better than we are now to get there). On top of that, I'm liking the way we are spreading the plays out right now. The run game is helping to take a lot of the pressure off of Brady and the passing game. We should also be able to go into the playoffs relatively healthy. The biggest key to the postseason is going to be the health of the O-Line. If/when the O-Line plays as a cohesive unit, this offense will improve by leaps and bounds.

I think the biggest positive is our health. Even though guys are banged up... Warren/Wilfork/Neal/Edelman have gotten time to heal and should get at least another week to rest. Taylor should be ready for January. Brady hopefully gets a much needed week off. Everybody else to my knowledge is healthy, only Tate has been IR'd. It's not perfect but compared to years past I think we are very healthy for the playoff run.

 

[upstater1]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

It was absolutely frigid and freezing at the game yesterday. It impacted both teams badly, especially with dropped balls. It impacted Brady's throwing.

That being said, I do think the team is coming together but I have a major concern still: the offensive play calling.

The empty backfield is killing us. Teams tee off on our OL when there is no back there, and we absolutely need the threat of a running game.

I see Brady with a ton of time on play action plays, and lots of room in the pocket.

Yesterday we ran the ball effectively on a drive, and then we came out without a RB.

Worse, we also came out with double TEs, a FB, a tight formation, and one WR (Aiken). The Bills run blitzed that formation multiple times and stopped Maroney.

The offensive play calling lacks any imagination. It's a huge concern. It's the MAJOR reason why teams are stopping the Patriots on 4th down. They know exactly what we are going to do.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

We beat a 5-8 football team,that hardly signs this team is coming together

Nothing yesterday indicated that except for the fact that we can win with a horrid and injured front 7 against scrub teams.

The team has faced Elite teams and lost all of those games,As far as my opinion goes they have to face them again and only until they beat them will they look any better than they did prior to the Colts game in November.

This is still an above average team in a below average division.

One man's "scrub teams" is another man's "division rival on the road".

As always, thank you all for your varied responses.

 

[emoney_33]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

It was absolutely frigid and freezing at the game yesterday. It impacted both teams badly, especially with dropped balls. It impacted Brady's throwing.

That being said, I do think the team is coming together but I have a major concern still: the offensive play calling.

The empty backfield is killing us. Teams tee off on our OL when there is no back there, and we absolutely need the threat of a running game.

I see Brady with a ton of time on play action plays, and lots of room in the pocket.

Yesterday we ran the ball effectively on a drive, and then we came out without a RB.

Worse, we also came out with double TEs, a FB, a tight formation, and one WR (Aiken). The Bills run blitzed that formation multiple times and stopped Maroney.

The offensive play calling lacks any imagination. It's a huge concern. It's the MAJOR reason why teams are stopping the Patriots on 4th down. They know exactly what we are going to do.

Is all this on tape?

 

[upstater1]

Re: I think this team is coming together.

Is all this on tape?

What?

The obvious we're going to run it formation because the only guy who catches balls on the field is Aiken?