Our Offense Played Like Last Year

[mgteich]

1) The oiffense did not take advantage of the opportunities they had in the first half to score more.

and

2) They scored ZERO in the second half.

The defense was very bad; but we knew there would be days like this, but if the offense had done as well in the second half as the first, the jets would not have time to score what they scored, and even if they did, they might have been playing overtime.

The BOTTOM LINE as in times last year is that the defense needed help from the offense for the ENTIRE GAME, not just the first half. We're supposed to ahve one of best and most explosive offenses in the nfl. ZERO in the second half is an aweful performance, especially given all the added toys that Belichick secured for Brady.

Kudos to Dante; the offensive line played fine against a top defense, even without two of last year's starters.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

The game as a whole was much like last year's week 2 ****fest, just this time our defense was worse.

Both games we controlled the first half but a few lapses/errors kept the Jets in the game. They dominate the 2nd half on both sides of the ball, just kicked our ***. We should have gone into halftime up by at least 10 in both games, each could have wound up way different.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

The offense lost several games last year in the 2nd half, by not converting key 3rd downs or not closing out games.

Today was similar. The 2nd half was almost all 3-and-outs for the offense, and left the defense out there to fry.

Someone in another thread showed that last year 2/3 of the Patriots' points were scored in the 1st half and only 1/3 in the 2nd half, a far departure from the 50/50 split over the past 10 years. This season, small sample size but it's up to 75%/25%.

Any skilled defensive coordinator is going to continue to eat us alive until O'Brien learns that play calling is a lot more like playing poker than it is about relying on just execution. This team has a very real issue with getting outplayed in the 2nd half of games.

The talent excuse doesn't cut it anymore. One can't throw the tight ends and 3rd receiver under the bus, like they were used last year as scapegoats. This year's offense has 3 legit tight ends, plus more talented receivers after Moss and Welker. The issue isn't talent, but play calling which has an influence on ability to execute.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

It played like last year, despite being loaded with more ammunition, because the same doofus is calling the plays this year as last.

 

[mgteich]

I agree 100%..........

It played like last year, despite being loaded with more ammunition, because the same doofus is calling the plays this year as last.

 

[Sciz]

First half of the Bengals game was wonderful on offense and defense. Since then... :bricks:

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

I agree 100%..........

I was hoping that the additional weaponry on offense would offset the mediocre playcalling but, perhaps I was overzealous in that belief.

Maybe O'Brien simply gets flustered because he has too many options to choose from? Or, maybe he truly is just lousy at what he does!

 

[letekro]

It played like last year, despite being loaded with more ammunition, because the same doofus is calling the plays this year as last.

This is the same doofus that threw the ball off Welker's foot on a would be game clinching 3d down at Denver last year? The same one that threw short of Gronkowski on a would be huge gainer against Kyle Wilson, behind Alge Crumpler on another 20 yd pattern, and overthrew Moss on a key third down today? Brady hasn't made a play in the second half of a road game since the injury. Sorry, but great players make great coordinators. How do you like that amazing Kansas City offense helmed by Charlie Weis? How about those great Lions and Bears offenses run by Mike Martz? Coordinators can only do so much. On numerous occasions today, O'Brien's playcalls put Brady in a position to make plays. In the first half, more often than not, he made them. In the second half, he didn't.

 

[The Dynasty]

I agree the team has played exactly like it did all of last season. The difference is they are a lot more talented this year than last year, which gives me confidence that they can turn it around quickly. Brady is 100%, Tate is a huge upgrade over Aiken, Hernandez Gronk and Crumpler are quality tight ends and Edelman is healthy now. The team has the weapons it needs to be successful. They all need to come together as a unit and perform. The talent is there this year something that wasnt last year.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

This is the same doofus that threw the ball off Welker's foot on a would be game clinching 3d down at Denver last year? The same one that threw short of Gronkowski on a would be huge gainer against Kyle Wilson, behind Alge Crumpler on another 20 yd pattern, and overthrew Moss on a key third down today? Brady hasn't made a play in the second half of a road game since the injury. Sorry, but great players make great coordinators. How do you like that amazing Kansas City offense helmed by Charlie Weis? How about those great Lions and Bears offenses run by Mike Martz? Coordinators can only do so much. On numerous occasions today, O'Brien's playcalls put Brady in a position to make plays. In the first half, more often than not, he made them. In the second half, he didn't.

Funny that you're blaming this on Tom Brady.

The KC Chiefs are now 2-0. Their offense isn't rolling yet but is getting the job done in key situations. Their defense made a HUGE goal line stand last week to win the game, and also made very timely interceptions, and you can bet Romeo Crennel was a reason for those timely plays.

The Bears are 2-0. The Bears offense under Mike Martz is rolling, making Jay Cutler look good, despite the fact that their receivers are all still pretty mediocre.

You have it wrong. Great coordinators and great coaching can make great players. Great players can get by simply on talent, but the issues in the 2nd half of games are a play calling issue.

It makes no sense why you are seemingly claiming that Tom Brady simply plays worse in the 2nd half of games since his injury.

 

[Rob0729]

First half of the Bengals game was wonderful on offense and defense. Since then... :bricks:

Come on. Other than one drive in the third quarter of last week's game, the offense played fine. What you forget that is that there were only three drives in the third quarter and two were by the Bengals. The Pats first drive of the fourth quarter took half the quarter and ended on a TD and their only other drive in that quarter brought the Pats down to the Cincy 7 yard line, but with 1:14 left and up by 14 points, Belichick turned the ball over on downs rather than kick the field goal.

The defense had problems in the second half last game, but they also played a lot of soft defense.

 

[jsull87]

I'm not a the skys faling in type guy. Also i saw him make some great throws e.g that bullet to hernandez. But i actually think brady had a pretty off day today. He missed alot of easier throws in my opinion e.g the seam throw to gronk. he puts that up high and thats a big gain for the rookie. Probably being over critical of the guy but there is no denying he has to shoulder some of the blame for a 0 point 2nd half... just like he deserves all the credit when he has a good game

 

[Ring 6]

1) The oiffense did not take advantage of the opportunities they had in the first half to score more.

and

2) They scored ZERO in the second half.

The defense was very bad; but we knew there would be days like this, but if the offense had done as well in the second half as the first, the jets would not have time to score what they scored, and even if they did, they might have been playing overtime.

The BOTTOM LINE as in times last year is that the defense needed help from the offense for the ENTIRE GAME, not just the first half. We're supposed to ahve one of best and most explosive offenses in the nfl. ZERO in the second half is an aweful performance, especially given all the added toys that Belichick secured for Brady.

Kudos to Dante; the offensive line played fine against a top defense, even without two of last year's starters.

Definitely an enigma. We went against a team that lives and dies on the pass rush, we stoned the pass rush and failed on offense.
Very reminsicent of last year when we clearly were able to move the ball pretty consistently but just short circuited on a key play.
It would be one thing if the Jets D took it to us, and played great, but it just seemed, like the road second halves last year, that we had every opportunity to move the ball at will and just spit the bit.
Whatever the reason, we certainly have to come up with something better to do with the football than hand it to Green-Ellis 10 times on the way to 14 points.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

This is the same doofus that threw the ball off Welker's foot on a would be game clinching 3d down at Denver last year? The same one that threw short of Gronkowski on a would be huge gainer against Kyle Wilson, behind Alge Crumpler on another 20 yd pattern, and overthrew Moss on a key third down today? Brady hasn't made a play in the second half of a road game since the injury. Sorry, but great players make great coordinators. How do you like that amazing Kansas City offense helmed by Charlie Weis? How about those great Lions and Bears offenses run by Mike Martz? Coordinators can only do so much. On numerous occasions today, O'Brien's playcalls put Brady in a position to make plays. In the first half, more often than not, he made them. In the second half, he didn't.

Sure you can cherry pick bad execution plays here and there. What can't be ignored is the trend that this offense goes AWOL after defenses adjust to what it does to start off games. It's not happening because players don't perform after halftime. It happens because the offense can't figure out how to re-adjust. That's squarely on the shoulders of the braintrust employed with the gameplanning and play calling.

 

[Sciz]

Come on. Other than one drive in the third quarter of last week's game, the offense played fine. What you forget that is that there were only three drives in the third quarter and two were by the Bengals. The Pats first drive of the fourth quarter took half the quarter and ended on a TD and their only other drive in that quarter brought the Pats down to the Cincy 7 yard line, but with 1:14 left and up by 14 points, Belichick turned the ball over on downs rather than kick the field goal.

Okay, offense was fine second half in the Bengals game. Defense has not been fine since the first half of that game, offense wasn't fine for the most part today.

 

[Ring 6]

Sure you can cherry pick bad execution plays here and there. What can't be ignored is the trend that this offense goes AWOL after defenses adjust to what it does to start off games. It's not happening because players don't perform after halftime. It happens because the offense can't figure out how to re-adjust. That's squarely on the shoulders of the braintrust employed with the gameplanning and play calling.

Is there more to it? I mean, if the defense adjusts to what we do, and makes us do something else, are they forcing us into doing what we don't do well?
Today, I saw more problems with execution that play calling, but I have to rewatch it to be firm on that opinion.

 

[letekro]

Sure you can cherry pick bad execution plays here and there. What can't be ignored is the trend that this offense goes AWOL after defenses adjust to what it does to start off games. It's not happening because players don't perform after halftime. It happens because the offense can't figure out how to re-adjust. That's squarely on the shoulders of the braintrust employed with the gameplanning and play calling.

Two points: Games are won and lost on a handful of "bad execution plays here and there." That pass to Gronkowski would've been a 40-50 yard gain had it been properly thrown at a time the Patriots desperately needed it.

Second, I just find it hard to believe that the same braintrust that puts together a very effective gameplan can't adjust to changes made by the opposition. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

The execution excuse is dead.
It was repeatedly used last year, and the supposed lack of talent at tight end and 3rd WR were blamed.

This year, that excuse doesn't fly anymore. The team is loaded at tight end and has multiple good receivers behind Moss and Welker.

Last year, 2/3 of the Patriots' points were scored in the 1st half, and 1/3 came in the 2nd half. Several games were lost last year by the offense because of total meltdowns in the 2nd half.

This year, it's early but 75% of points are in the 1st half, 25% in the 2nd half.

This is clearly an issue with play calling and adjustments, not talent or execution. It's not like Tom Brady suddenly becomes a crappier player in the 2nd half of games.

 

[letekro]

Funny that you're blaming this on Tom Brady.

The KC Chiefs are now 2-0. Their offense isn't rolling yet but is getting the job done in key situations. Their defense made a HUGE goal line stand last week to win the game, and also made very timely interceptions, and you can bet Romeo Crennel was a reason for those timely plays.

The Bears are 2-0. The Bears offense under Mike Martz is rolling, making Jay Cutler look good, despite the fact that their receivers are all still pretty mediocre.

You have it wrong. Great coordinators and great coaching can make great players. Great players can get by simply on talent, but the issues in the 2nd half of games are a play calling issue.

It makes no sense why you are seemingly claiming that Tom Brady simply plays worse in the 2nd half of games since his injury.

KC's offense is putrid. I can't believe you're seriously suggesting they're not. As for the Bears, Jay Cutler threw 26 INT's last year -I don't remember Kurt Warner ever throwing 26 INT's, I guess Martz's coordinating skills must have eroded.

I'm not suggesting Tom Brady has some second half phobia. I'm suggesting that when games are tight, when defenses are bearing down, and the crowd is against him -- he hasn't been able to come up with the big play since his injury. This is a fact.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Second, I just find it hard to believe that the same braintrust that puts together a very effective gameplan can't adjust to changes made by the opposition. It just doesn't make a lot of sense.

It makes complete sense. Bill Belichick puts together good game plans during the week, and the Patriots usually start out strong in games, but once the game starts he can't be in 4 places at once. He's only one man. Belichick is stretched so thin, it's clear that in the 2nd half of games the guys working under him are simply getting out-classed.