Pat Kirwan of NFL.com at Pats TC

[jmt57]

We're usually bashing national writers for their superficial (and/or negative) analysis. Thought folks here might want to check out this column by Pat Kirwan for NFL.com. It's fairly detialed and surprisingly optimistic despite the issues the Pats face heading into the 2010 season.

NFL.com news: Influx of youth gives Pats new feel in bid to stay atop AFC East

Kirwan concludes his column with this reminder for NFL fans nationwide:

"As I leave the camp, there's a quiet confidence that this team is ready to defend its AFC East title. I remind the naysayers, Brady threw for 310 yards as the Patriots put up 31 points in a Week 11 rout of the rival Jets."

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Sounds like one of us kool aid swilling homers...

I just get a sense that we are closer to what he paints this team as being than what the 3rd place naysayers are blathering.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

The Pats offense scored 17 points in the first half but only 7 in the second half. They got lucky Sanchez looked like the worst QB in the NFL on that day.

 

[Sicilian]

The Pats offense scored 17 points in the first half but only 7 in the second half. They got lucky Sanchez looked like the worst QB in the NFL on that day.

Sometimes looks can be deceiving. This time they may be spot on. If it weren't for JaMarcus Russell, Sanchez just might have been the worst QB in the NFL last season. That doesn't change until it changes.

 

[JackBauer]

The Pats offense scored 17 points in the first half but only 7 in the second half. They got lucky Sanchez looked like the worst QB in the NFL on that day.

So what you're saying is that they only put up 24 against (statistically) the best defense in the NFL?

Friggin' newbs.

 

[Rob0729]

The Pats offense scored 17 points in the first half but only 7 in the second half. They got lucky Sanchez looked like the worst QB in the NFL on that day.

The Pats were up 24-7 at halftime (the Jets only points came off a Chris Hansen blocked punt). I don't think think it was lucky that when teams can shut down the Jets running game, Sanchez plays like crap. Sanchez is a game manager and is 1-8 when he passes the ball 20 or more times a game and he was second in the league in INTs eventhough the Jets were 32nd in pass attempts last year. I say it was closer to what Sanchez was last year than any luck.

 

[BionicPatriot]

The Pats were up 24-7 at halftime (the Jets only points came off a Chris Hansen blocked punt). I don't think think it was lucky that when teams can shut down the Jets running game, Sanchez plays like crap. Sachez is a game manager and is 1-8 when he passes the ball 20 or more times a game and he was second in the league in INTs eventhough the Jets were 32nd in pass attempts last year. I say it was closer to what Sanchez was last year than any luck.

Not to go off topic, but this post is exactly what I think as well. Yet the thoughts around the league is that he made some plays to show he has what it takes at QB. My question is, where the hell was I? I never was impressed by one game of his.

 

[reflexblue]

"Even Laurence Maroney was impressed with his blocking skills" ...Kirwan on Gronkowski.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

More homerific than even I could be

He makes an interesting point about Lawfirm though. He's not a capable starting RB, but as far as 5th RBs go, he's quite good. He probably earns a roster spot easily at other clubs, whereas he's a potential cut guy here.

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, Kirwin was the host of Sirius NFL Radio's training camp visit on Saturday and he gushed how he couldn't remember seeing a single pass dropped, how sharp the team played, and how impressed he was with the first and second year players. Kirwin is a friend of Belichick and tends to be a little generous in his praise of Belichick and the Pats so I won't hold a lot of weight to what he says, but he does know football.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Favorite quote:

Jerod Mayo on the defense, "We can't go out there like we did last year and give up 33 (points) to Baltimore or 35 to Indy and 38 to New Orleans. We have work to do and we will fix the problems."

It's time for New England to start beating the good teams again. Color me unimpressed if we manage another 10-6/11-5 records with all losses against good teams. Championship teams play up to their competition, period.

 

[Deus Irae]

BTW, Kirwin was the host of Sirius NFL Radio's training camp visit on Saturday and he gushed how he couldn't remember seeing a single pass dropped, how sharp the team played, and how impressed he was with the first and second year players. Kirwin is a friend of Belichick and tends to be a little generous in his praise of Belichick and the Pats so I won't hold a lot of weight to what he says, but he does know football.

It's good, though, when the reporters seem to be echoing the reports of the "untrained" and unpaid observers like Mrs. B and SBB. It's only training camp, obviously, but it's a lot better to hear about Hernandez and Tate doing well than to hear something like "struggling to make the reads" or some other negatives. In that sense, this team seems to be ahead of last season.

Well, except for Chung, who was kicking Chuck Norris' ass last year and is clearly mortal in this camp.

 

[Uncle Rico]

It's time for New England to start beating the good teams again. Color me unimpressed if we manage another 10-6/11-5 records with all losses against good teams. Championship teams play up to their competition, period.

You got that right. A major hallmark of the 03-04 teams was beating the (second) best in the league. There were a lot of good teams those years and the Pats beat them all. This year's schedule certainly gives them a chance to prove they can get back to doing this.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Favorite quote:



It's time for New England to start beating the good teams again. Color me unimpressed if we manage another 10-6/11-5 records with all losses against good teams. Championship teams play up to their competition, period.

A quick glance at the schedule shows that they will likely be 6-10 or so if they lose to all of the good teams on the schedule.

 

[BradyBranch39]

OHH YEAH!

10c

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

So what you're saying is that they only put up 24 against (statistically) the best defense in the NFL?

Friggin' newbs.

I was stating a trend from the Pats last season. Their second half scoring was awful. The Pats also got off to a quick start because Sanchez was terrible.

 

[Ring 6]

A quick glance at the schedule shows that they will likely be 6-10 or so if they lose to all of the good teams on the schedule.

Depends on how you define good.
We have 6 division games, and the best of those teams were 7-7+gift and 7-9 last year. We also have the Browns, Lions, Bears on the schedule.
Thats 9-7 if we lose to every 'good' team providing you consider the Steelers, who did not make the playoffs last year good, or the Bengals who I think are on their way back to their traditional 6-10 season good.
I know everyone wants to 'respect' the division opponents, but there is no division opponent who has proven to be a 'good' team yet.
Strength of schedule is almost useless in analyzing a season, because what you think strength of schedule will be and what it turns out to be are nothing more than a shot in the dark.

 

[ahmed]

The press can suck the Jets' balls all they want... I have no doubt we will win the AFC East again. The big question is how far we go into the playoffs.

 

[Disco Volante]

Revis "shut-down" Moss by allowing him to easily score a TD against him in the endzone.

 

[Destroyer]

The Pats offense scored 17 points in the first half but only 7 in the second half. They got lucky Sanchez looked like the worst QB in the NFL on that day.

If that's the case, than Jets got lucky Tom Brady looked like Mark Sanchez in their week two match-up at Giants Stadium.