Connolly, Warren, Wright, Brace, Ninkovich

[mgteich]

The glaring weaknesses at LG, DE and OLB seem a bit less after our first game.

 

[jmt57]

Absolutely true.

On the other hand I'm not going to name them Pro Bowlers yet either.


Prior to the game I felt the key was for the Pats to gain a lead, and force the Bengals to play catch up. They were at their best last year when they had a lead, and could run the ball.


Next week will be more difficult because I think that even if the Pats get an early lead, the Jets will be more patient and remain more patient to running the ball regardless of the score.

 

[sbpatfan]

Absolutely true.

On the other hand I'm not going to name them Pro Bowlers yet either.


Prior to the game I felt the key was for the Pats to gain a lead, and force the Bengals to play catch up. They were at their best last year when they had a lead, and could run the ball.


Next week will be more difficult because I think that even if the Pats get an early lead, the Jets will be more patient and remain more patient to running the ball regardless of the score.

You make it sound like they have a choice.

 

[ahmed]

I have always been a fan of Ninkovich. The real test will be next week. I am looking forward to Brace and Cunningham, from the front 7, the most because they can really improve us at those positions.

 

[Patspsycho]

The glaring weaknesses at LG, DE and OLB seem a bit less after our first game.

Connolly was never tested. That was a bizarre oversight on the part of Bengals coaching. They didn't pile anyone at him or try to drive anyone through the A gap. But I will review to make sure.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

So far so good. The test has barely even begun though

 

[mgteich]

My point is as simple as I stated. I think these three positions are weaknesses (as I have said at least since the 2009 draft). They continue to be so. But, these are a bit less glaring after this week's play.

BTW, Sanders picked up the slack as our nickel back. Our secondary is very thin indeed.
===================================

But this is a day to celebrate. Our offense is unbelievably great. All we need is health.
My hope is tha Kaczur is healthy before Neal is injured. Or perhaps Ojinnaka will be the answer.

Absolutely true.

On the other hand I'm not going to name them Pro Bowlers yet either.


Prior to the game I felt the key was for the Pats to gain a lead, and force the Bengals to play catch up. They were at their best last year when they had a lead, and could run the ball.


Next week will be more difficult because I think that even if the Pats get an early lead, the Jets will be more patient and remain more patient to running the ball regardless of the score.

 

[TheBeers]

I thought Ninkovich had a very good game.. he seemed to be in there a lot and was in on a lot of plays.

 

[BradyFTW!]

The Bengals never really ran at our DEs until the first drive of the second half, and when they did they did it with success. So I'm still a little concerned there, but not hitting the emergency button yet. After watching today's games so far, every contender seems to have at least one issue that's more glaring than our biggest:

Colts: terrible pass blocking, can't run, terrible run defense
Packers: atrocious OL. Rodgers is going to get killed out there.
Vikings: Favre might have lost it, no WR depth or chemistry
Eagles: Kolb may or may not be any good
Bengals: no pass rush, don't cover all that well either. Ground game isn't as good as it needs to be.
Steelers: Only put up 9 points in regulation, although I didn't see the game so I can't really comment on it.
Dolphins: made the Bills look competent. Their offense isn't scaring anybody.
Cowboys: Wade Phillips sucks even worse than his team's line

Saints are the only team that I've seen so far that have fewer question marks than the Pats do, and even they have a few significant ones.

 

[BradyMossWelker]

Saints are the only team that I've seen so far that have fewer question marks than the Pats do, and even they have a few significant ones.

Well, they only put up 14 points, against a weak Vikings secundary. And to be fair, their defense ain't very good, especially running. Had that dumbass Brad Childress kept AD running, the Vikings win the game. He was picking them apart in the first half.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Well, they only put up 14 points, against a weak Vikings secundary. And to be fair, their defense ain't very good, especially running. Had that dumbass Brad Childress kept AD running, the Vikings win the game. He was picking them apart in the first half.

The Vikings' secondary isn't nearly as bad as people are saying. And yeah, the Saints' run defense isn't fantastic, but neither is ours. If they hadn't dug themselves into such a hole early, the BEngals would have had a lot more opportunity to run right at us.

 

[BradyToAmendola]

The Bengals never really ran at our DEs until the first drive of the second half, and when they did they did it with success. So I'm still a little concerned there, but not hitting the emergency button yet. After watching today's games so far, every contender seems to have at least one issue that's more glaring than our biggest:

Colts: terrible pass blocking, can't run, terrible run defense
Packers: atrocious OL. Rodgers is going to get killed out there.
Vikings: Favre might have lost it, no WR depth or chemistry
Eagles: Kolb may or may not be any good
Bengals: no pass rush, don't cover all that well either. Ground game isn't as good as it needs to be.
Steelers: Only put up 9 points in regulation, although I didn't see the game so I can't really comment on it.
Dolphins: made the Bills look competent. Their offense isn't scaring anybody.
Cowboys: Wade Phillips sucks even worse than his team's line

Saints are the only team that I've seen so far that have fewer question marks than the Pats do, and even they have a few significant ones.

You forgot the Ravens. I would list their main weaknesses at the QB position and their depth in the secondary.

 

[juny]

You forgot the Ravens. I would list their main weaknesses at the QB position and their depth in the secondary.

You are severely undervaluing Flacco if you think he is the Ravens weakness.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

You are severely undervaluing Flacco if you think he is the Ravens weakness.

We shall see. He was nothing special during last years play offs. In our head-to-head game, we failed (miserably) to stop the run.

 

[RayClay]

The glaring weaknesses at LG, DE and OLB seem a bit less after our first game.

We don't have a glaring weakness at left guard, Connolly has played consistently well. Not being an all pro doesn't mean you are a glaring weakness.

I would agree that those other positions need to prove solid before being deemed so.

 

[BradyFTW!]

You forgot the Ravens. I would list their main weaknesses at the QB position and their depth in the secondary.

I agree- only reason why I didn't list them is we haven't actually seen them play yet.

 

[mgteich]

Connolly has played "consistently well"? When was this? Preseason play counts for very little. As as of a month ago, LG was a glaring weakness. It was the HOPE that Kaczur would be able to move over from RT and beat out perennial backup to winning the starting position. Connolly did not look good at RG last year.

IMHO, going into the game, LG was almost much as a weakness as DE or OLB. I say almost because Connolly is an OK backup.

We don't have a glaring weakness at left guard, Connolly has played consistently well. Not being an all pro doesn't mean you are a glaring weakness.

I would agree that those other positions need to prove solid before being deemed so.

 

[Deus Irae]

These positions are still huge question marks. Nothing that happened in this game changed that.

 

[RayClay]

Connolly has played "consistently well"? When was this? Preseason play counts for very little. As as of a month ago, LG was a glaring weakness. It was the HOPE that Kaczur would be able to move over from RT and beat out perennial backup to winning the starting position. Connolly did not look good at RG last year.

IMHO, going into the game, LG was almost much as a weakness as DE or OLB. I say almost because Connolly is an OK backup.

Well, Brady seemed happy with the line...

On the protection from his offensive line:

"They played great, the offensive line. ... I thought they did a good job handling the blitz and I think what happened was we hit some big plays on the blitz early so it slowed them down a little bit, but it's a great offensive line. ... It's as good an offensive line as we've ever had."

New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[D-cleater]

I agree that the OP is being a little hard on Connolly. To me, he looked as solid as anyone on the OL and on a few plays, run blocking and pass blocking, he looked great.

The OL guys are only as good as the man next to them, and in that sense, we're fine at guard. Injuries could change that.