First time at Gillette - Post game thoughts

[Brady2Welker]

So I was at the game on Sunday night, and it was my first live Patriots game. And I noticed a few things, first of all about the stadium;

- Whenever I read these forums, I hear people complaining about the fact that it's a bunch of snobs wanting to sit and not making any noise. But I was in section 113 which is around 10-15 yard line at row 20 and as far as I could see on the home side the entire stadium was standing for the ENTIRE game (except for at half time but that's a given). And I don't know it compares to other games, but especially in the fourth quarter it was pretty loud in there (granted in the third it got quieter, as I think people we're getting worried and thus lowing their emotional investment) but on that last drive it was getting loud.

- Patriot place is a nice area, and the stadium its self is very nice. Way better than the **** hole Qualcomm.

- I was really lucky where I was sitting, both of Hernandez's TDs were basically right in front of me, same thing with the McCourty sack. As well as the Arrington pass defended on the corner pylon.


Game observations (A lot of this stuff isn't really hugely inspiring or revelation, just stuff I saw):

- I might as well right a rant about Meriweather, he could have cost us the game on the interception he made. Granted he made the interception, but McCourty was beat and had that ball not been horribly under thrown there's a good possibility that Jennings been hanging out in the end zone doing a little dance, depending on Meriweather's range to get to the top of the play. Not to mention his collision with McCourty, yuck.

- D-Line depth is a huge issue right now, I could visibly see Wilfork losing steam through the game. We need Wright and all those other guys back.

- Brady really is the greatest quarterback in this league along with Manning, you can tell that on TV but in person its even more impressive to watch. How he slides to avoid rushes while keeping his eyes down field to move into better throwing lanes, seriously his pocket presence is incredible. And his mechanics are close to flawless.

- Belichick has a TON of trust in Brady and O'Brien. During their long drive for a TD, Belichick had his headset off and was talking to the defense the entire time with the white board (Don't know if that was observable on the TV version, but I saw it in person). He clearly trusted that pair enough to make sound judgment that he could spend time dealing with other things.

- Wilfork really has stepped up his game as a leader, or appeared to have. After the Kuhn diving TD pass, Wilfork was the last person off the field by a long shot. He was slowly walking back to the sideline, not in an injured way but in a "I can't ******* believe it" way. I saw him later on talking to some of the defensive players which I can only assume he was barking at them about mental toughness, and 60 minutes of football.

- Aaron Hernandez is a beast. I was watching him warm up with Gronkowski and Crumpler, his size to speed ratio is amazing. Someone with his power and strength shouldn't be able to move like he can.

-McCourty is great. He allowed very little and the one pass he allowed for a TD might was all Meriweather's fault for trucking him. I think he had the speed to wrap up even though he gave up the big gain. And his CB blitz he was tenacious enough to get up and get the sack, very Woodson-esque.

-Eric Moore - I don't know who you are really, but keep it up.



All in all it was a fantastic trip back east, and I couldn't have asked for a better game. Go Pats!!!

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Thanks for posting.

I've been to 3 Pats games but all were away. Can't wait to finally make it out to Foxboro one day!

 

[The Brandon Five]

So I was at the game on Sunday night, and it was my first live Patriots game. And I noticed a few things, first of all about the stadium;

- Whenever I read these forums, I hear people complaining about the fact that it's a bunch of snobs wanting to sit and not making any noise. But I was in section 113 which is around 10-15 yard line at row 20 and as far as I could see on the home side the entire stadium was standing for the ENTIRE game (except for at half time but that's a given).

Hey! That's where we sit. What row were you in?

 

[Brady2Welker]

Hey! That's where we sit. What row were you in?

Section 113 Row 20.

 

[BlueThunder]

Hey! That's where we sit. What row were you in?

I think he said row 20

 

[Brady2Welker]

I think he said row 20

I did, but oh well lol



Seriously though, this game was one of the best days I've ever had. Being the Southern California college student I am, I had to save up a lot of money to get all the way to MA and the game, yet alone tickets. But it was worth every cent :rocker:

 

[Gwedd]

Thanks for posting this. It's a;ways nice to get "on the scene" and "there I was" type of reports.

 

[The Brandon Five]

But I was in section 113 which is around 10-15 yard line at row 20

:ugh:

I sit in row 17. Howdy neighbor!

 

[Brady2Welker]

:ugh:

I sit in row 17. Howdy neighbor!

Neigbor for a day sadly . Wish I could go back for more.

 

[sbpatfan]

Granted he made the interception, but McCourty was beat and had that ball not been horribly under thrown there's a good possibility that Jennings been hanging out in the end zone doing a little dance, depending on Meriweather's range to get to the top of the play. Not to mention his collision with McCourty, yuck.

Wait, he takes a good angle and makes the interception but you're still upset because of "what if"? You can do that for every play...

 

[The Brandon Five]

Neigbor for a day sadly . Wish I could go back for more.

If you ever get the chance to come back, PM me.

 

[Brady2Welker]

Wait, so that time he took a good angle and made the interception but you're still upset because of "what if"? You can do that for every play...

It's a what if because it was an absolutely awful throw. No one knows what would have happened had it been on point because that's not what occurred. I'm not trying to grind my axe for Meriweather, just saying that he had a sloppy performance and that his interception although great, may have been a product of circumstance (underthrown ball) or was it a great play - who knows? I just wonder if he was trying to ball hawk and was out of position, and if the ball was thrown properly if he would have had been there to make the correct play.

 

[blackglass3]

- Belichick has a TON of trust in Brady and O'Brien. During their long drive for a TD, Belichick had his headset off and was talking to the defense the entire time with the white board (Don't know if that was observable on the TV version, but I saw it in person). He clearly trusted that pair enough to make sound judgment that he could spend time dealing with other things.

Wow, great observation! Things like that I find very cool to learn, plus that is something they never show on TV.

And a little OT, but I think BOB and Brady are really getting to know each other, and BOB is growing into his de facto OC position (last drive of the 4th quarter nonwithstanding). I wonder how much of that has to do with Moss leaving, and how much of it is BOB learning the job.

Wait, he takes a good angle and makes the interception but you're still upset because of "what if"? You can do that for every play...

Don't even bother, bro. Patsfans.com went Monkey See/Monkey Do and turned against Meriweather; no amount of good plays/facts will change that. If you want a message board that doesn't bash the guy after one mistake, go over to Patriots Planet. (I am not talking about the OP, I appreicate his live game comments. I am just talking about this site in general)

 

[shmessy]

Great stuff, B2W.

"- D-Line depth is a huge issue right now, I could visibly see Wilfork losing steam through the game. We need Wright and all those other guys back.

- Brady really is the greatest quarterback in this league along with Manning, you can tell that on TV but in person its even more impressive to watch. How he slides to avoid rushes while keeping his eyes down field to move into better throwing lanes, seriously his pocket presence is incredible. And his mechanics are close to flawless.

- Belichick has a TON of trust in Brady and O'Brien. During their long drive for a TD, Belichick had his headset off and was talking to the defense the entire time with the white board (Don't know if that was observable on the TV version, but I saw it in person). He clearly trusted that pair enough to make sound judgment that he could spend time dealing with other things."

Those are 3 observations we could never see at home (well, the 2nd one we can see, but you really hit the nail on the head about his lateral quickness and "feel" for the pocket).

 

[The Brandon Five]

It's a what if because it was an absolutely awful throw. No one knows what would have happened had it been on point because that's not what occurred. I'm not trying to grind my axe for Meriweather, just saying that he had a sloppy performance and that his interception although great, may have been a product of circumstance (underthrown ball) or was it a great play - who knows? I just wonder if he was trying to ball hawk and was out of position, and if the ball was thrown properly if he would have had been there to make the correct play.

Since we sent six on the play, they may have been expecting a bad or hurried throw so Brandon may have been correctly manning his AOR. We don't know that he was freelancing. They might have been counting on Flynn not having enough time to throw the long pass.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Since we sent six on the play, they may have been expecting a bad or hurried throw so Brandon may have been correctly manning his AOR. We don't know that he was freelancing. They might have been counting on Flynn not having enough time to throw the long pass.

I might be thinking of the Arrington pick...not sure they sent six on that play.

I am now reduced to arguing with myself.

:bricks:

 

[Anj]

I was going to make a thread about this because it was my first time at Gillette Stadium too.

I'm home in CT from New Orleans and it was such an awesome experience. Football is made to be played in the cold.

I went to a old Pats-Dolphins game back in the old foxboro stadium, but never been to the new one.

It was an awesome experience. I loved the stadium and the atmosphere.

I'm so glad I'm a pats fan

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I sit behind the Pats D bench in section 110. Belichick has ALWAYS paid minimal attention to what the offense is doing during the game, instead most always spending his time with the D reviewing the prior series and preparing for the next. This was true even when Romeo was defensive coordinator. You only see him on the sideline with the O if all is going well with the D or there's critical coach's decisions to be made such as 2 minute drills.

 

[italian pat patriot]

So I was at the game on Sunday night, and it was my first live Patriots game. And I noticed a few things, first of all about the stadium;

- Whenever I read these forums, I hear people complaining about the fact that it's a bunch of snobs wanting to sit and not making any noise. But I was in section 113 which is around 10-15 yard line at row 20 and as far as I could see on the home side the entire stadium was standing for the ENTIRE game (except for at half time but that's a given). And I don't know it compares to other games, but especially in the fourth quarter it was pretty loud in there (granted in the third it got quieter, as I think people we're getting worried and thus lowing their emotional investment) but on that last drive it was getting loud.

- Patriot place is a nice area, and the stadium its self is very nice. Way better than the **** hole Qualcomm.

All in all it was a fantastic trip back east, and I couldn't have asked for a better game. Go Pats!!!

thks for the report - i always read them with interest