aluminum seats
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2006
- Messages
- 10,453
- Reaction score
- 11,338
It seems that the main point of contention following the Jets’ game is whether the Pats’ struggles in the second half are due to the players or the play calling. While I would hope most of us would agree that it’s probably a combination of the two, there seems to be a contingent here that simply will not accept the idea that coaching may be a factor.
It’s silly to just look at one game and list miscues: this guy dropped a pass, that guy missed a block, etc. But looking back at the last 19 games—inclusive of Pats’ blowouts, Pats getting blown out, close losses, close wins, whatever—allows us to analyze a decent chunk of data.
So. Over the past 19 games, in which the Pats have gone 11-8, they have “won” (meaning, scored more points than the opposition) the second half of those games only 6 times. Six out of 19. Over the last 11 games, the Pats have won the second half ONCE. One time over the last 11 games have the Patriots outscored their opponents in the second half. This would seem to suggest a problem with coaching.
Now, to those who get hysterical over any potential criticism of the coaching staff: you know, the “Oh, so you know more than the best coach in the NFL, leader of the team of the decade!” types….stop. Just stop. It’s a little odd to praise the coaching for years and then decide that, you know, it’s really about the players.
For the record: it’s great Bill Belichick is the coach of this team, there are a lot of young players who will naturally be making young player-type mistakes, and I’m still hopeful for a Super Bowl this year, even with the rebuilding. But the Pats do seem to have a second half problem. The question is, why, and what can be done about it?
It’s silly to just look at one game and list miscues: this guy dropped a pass, that guy missed a block, etc. But looking back at the last 19 games—inclusive of Pats’ blowouts, Pats getting blown out, close losses, close wins, whatever—allows us to analyze a decent chunk of data.
So. Over the past 19 games, in which the Pats have gone 11-8, they have “won” (meaning, scored more points than the opposition) the second half of those games only 6 times. Six out of 19. Over the last 11 games, the Pats have won the second half ONCE. One time over the last 11 games have the Patriots outscored their opponents in the second half. This would seem to suggest a problem with coaching.
Now, to those who get hysterical over any potential criticism of the coaching staff: you know, the “Oh, so you know more than the best coach in the NFL, leader of the team of the decade!” types….stop. Just stop. It’s a little odd to praise the coaching for years and then decide that, you know, it’s really about the players.
For the record: it’s great Bill Belichick is the coach of this team, there are a lot of young players who will naturally be making young player-type mistakes, and I’m still hopeful for a Super Bowl this year, even with the rebuilding. But the Pats do seem to have a second half problem. The question is, why, and what can be done about it?