MrNathanDrake
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2009
- Messages
- 2,898
- Reaction score
- 1,703
Chung continues to emerge as one of our best defenders. Another solid game from him. Led the team in tackles. Great attitude and leadership, it's easy to see why BB was comfortable giving more responsibility to Chung. Looks like he'll be a cornerstone of our secondary for a long time.
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Mayo looked inconsistent. He's a Top 3 true LB in some games, and then invisible in some games like yesterday. Missed a big goal line tackle on Henne on that first drive. He was in position to tackle Henne, but hesitated and froze up for a split second that was enough for Henne to get in and score. I want to chalk this up to lack of contact practices, but either way he's gotta make those stops in the redzone.
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McCourty got beat by Marshall a few times, but he also won a lot of times as well. I dont think it was as bad as some people make it out to be. Keep in mind he was going one on one with one of the best WR in the league. McCourty showed me he is a fierce competitor who loves competition. He got beat on one play, and then came back and almost got an INT in the endzone on the next play.
I said it in another thread and I'll say it again, DMC never was and probably never will be a shutdown corner like Revis or Asomugha. What McCourty is, however, is a playmaker who gets INT's, makes tackles, and forces fumbles. More in the mold of Charles Woodson.
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Ras-I Dowling is a pleasant surprise. I didn't think he'd be starting already. He made some good stops, especially at crucial times in the redzone. If he can stay healthy we're going to have a VERY good duo of Cornerbacks by the time playoffs come around. He has good size and is very physical. Also strong against the run. It's easy to see why BB liked him in the draft and he could end up being a steal.
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Haynesworth had a big impact on the game and was the most disruptive DLineman on our team. He caused alot of hurries and hit Henne a couple times. It won't show up in stats, but Big Al's impact was definitely felt yesterday. His post-game interviews are positive and he seems genuinely happy to play for the Patriots. Give him another month of conditioning to get his legs back under him, and he's going to look like a downright STEAL for us. I think he'll continue to get even better. BB is the only coach in the NFL that could tame him and get his utmost respect.
He'll never be the "best DT in the league" anymore since Ngata and Suh are #1 and #2. But he could be right behind those guys if he gets in better shape and plays to his full potential.
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Myron Pryor continues to impress me. He gets good penetration and makes plays. Solid back up in our rotation.
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Brandon Spikes seems to have serious mental/emotional issues. Go check his recent tweets that were made right after the game. He's saying he feels "lost and confused in this cold world"... right after our Win. I don't think that type of crap has a place on our team. He's not nearly good enough or proven enough to be pulling saying that. I can see us drafting another MLB next year, with Fletcher and Mayo as our OLB's. Regardless of who you are or where you got drafted, BB will not hesitate to get rid of an insubordinate.
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The "other Safety" was invisible tonight. I barely saw Sergio Brown or Barret last night.
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Solder faced one of the best pass rushers in the league and dominated him. Wake had 1 sack. But we threw the ball 48 times. Where was Wake on every other passing play? His presence was barely felt last night, thanks to Solder's amazing protecting. The broadcast kept showing replays of Solder throwing Wake around and ragdolling him. Warren Sapp was flat out laughing about it on NFLnetwork.
The Offensive Line in general was a bright spot yesterday. Waters was impressive coming in after only being on our team for a week and playing so many snaps. He's a real roadgrader in the run game and adds a lot of nastiness to that OLine. Great pick up.
Connelly was serviceable at Center and should be our new starter since Koppen has a broken ankle.
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Gronk and Hernandez. What can I say that hasnt been said already? Both look like Pro Bowlers out there. Brady looks to both of them as go-to guys. Gronk looks unstoppable and Hernandez looks more and more confident. Gotta love how AHern threw his hand up a la Randy Moss and made a jumping catch.
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I thought 85 would work out fine for us, but I'm starting to doubt it. His body language and demeanor isnt the best. He made a silly penalty that ruined a huge Gronkowski catch. There were times when Brady would be sitting on the sidelines watching the game, and 85 would go and stand right infront of him. Kind of a "give me attention" type thing. Even when Welker caught the 99 yrd TD pass, and everyone was happy and celebrating, 85 was the only player that didnt look excited and happy.
Brady is at his best when he's spreading the ball around. I sure hope 85 doesnt expect to be a superstar Pro Bowler here, because we don't need him to be and he won't.
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The defense has too much confidence in Brady to win games. Miami shouldnt have scored as much as they did. We shouldnt be letting teams get points on us in garbage time. I cut them some slack since it's Week 1 and they were playing in extreme humidity, but they need to put less on Brady to win games for them and start clamping down.
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Woodhead and BJGE havent missed a beat since last year. Can't wait to see Ridley and Vereen later this year. They should still be fresh by playoff time and really hitting their stride by then.
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Mayo looked inconsistent. He's a Top 3 true LB in some games, and then invisible in some games like yesterday. Missed a big goal line tackle on Henne on that first drive. He was in position to tackle Henne, but hesitated and froze up for a split second that was enough for Henne to get in and score. I want to chalk this up to lack of contact practices, but either way he's gotta make those stops in the redzone.
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McCourty got beat by Marshall a few times, but he also won a lot of times as well. I dont think it was as bad as some people make it out to be. Keep in mind he was going one on one with one of the best WR in the league. McCourty showed me he is a fierce competitor who loves competition. He got beat on one play, and then came back and almost got an INT in the endzone on the next play.
I said it in another thread and I'll say it again, DMC never was and probably never will be a shutdown corner like Revis or Asomugha. What McCourty is, however, is a playmaker who gets INT's, makes tackles, and forces fumbles. More in the mold of Charles Woodson.
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Ras-I Dowling is a pleasant surprise. I didn't think he'd be starting already. He made some good stops, especially at crucial times in the redzone. If he can stay healthy we're going to have a VERY good duo of Cornerbacks by the time playoffs come around. He has good size and is very physical. Also strong against the run. It's easy to see why BB liked him in the draft and he could end up being a steal.
-------------------------------------
Haynesworth had a big impact on the game and was the most disruptive DLineman on our team. He caused alot of hurries and hit Henne a couple times. It won't show up in stats, but Big Al's impact was definitely felt yesterday. His post-game interviews are positive and he seems genuinely happy to play for the Patriots. Give him another month of conditioning to get his legs back under him, and he's going to look like a downright STEAL for us. I think he'll continue to get even better. BB is the only coach in the NFL that could tame him and get his utmost respect.
He'll never be the "best DT in the league" anymore since Ngata and Suh are #1 and #2. But he could be right behind those guys if he gets in better shape and plays to his full potential.
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Myron Pryor continues to impress me. He gets good penetration and makes plays. Solid back up in our rotation.
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Brandon Spikes seems to have serious mental/emotional issues. Go check his recent tweets that were made right after the game. He's saying he feels "lost and confused in this cold world"... right after our Win. I don't think that type of crap has a place on our team. He's not nearly good enough or proven enough to be pulling saying that. I can see us drafting another MLB next year, with Fletcher and Mayo as our OLB's. Regardless of who you are or where you got drafted, BB will not hesitate to get rid of an insubordinate.
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The "other Safety" was invisible tonight. I barely saw Sergio Brown or Barret last night.
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Solder faced one of the best pass rushers in the league and dominated him. Wake had 1 sack. But we threw the ball 48 times. Where was Wake on every other passing play? His presence was barely felt last night, thanks to Solder's amazing protecting. The broadcast kept showing replays of Solder throwing Wake around and ragdolling him. Warren Sapp was flat out laughing about it on NFLnetwork.
The Offensive Line in general was a bright spot yesterday. Waters was impressive coming in after only being on our team for a week and playing so many snaps. He's a real roadgrader in the run game and adds a lot of nastiness to that OLine. Great pick up.
Connelly was serviceable at Center and should be our new starter since Koppen has a broken ankle.
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Gronk and Hernandez. What can I say that hasnt been said already? Both look like Pro Bowlers out there. Brady looks to both of them as go-to guys. Gronk looks unstoppable and Hernandez looks more and more confident. Gotta love how AHern threw his hand up a la Randy Moss and made a jumping catch.
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I thought 85 would work out fine for us, but I'm starting to doubt it. His body language and demeanor isnt the best. He made a silly penalty that ruined a huge Gronkowski catch. There were times when Brady would be sitting on the sidelines watching the game, and 85 would go and stand right infront of him. Kind of a "give me attention" type thing. Even when Welker caught the 99 yrd TD pass, and everyone was happy and celebrating, 85 was the only player that didnt look excited and happy.
Brady is at his best when he's spreading the ball around. I sure hope 85 doesnt expect to be a superstar Pro Bowler here, because we don't need him to be and he won't.
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The defense has too much confidence in Brady to win games. Miami shouldnt have scored as much as they did. We shouldnt be letting teams get points on us in garbage time. I cut them some slack since it's Week 1 and they were playing in extreme humidity, but they need to put less on Brady to win games for them and start clamping down.
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Woodhead and BJGE havent missed a beat since last year. Can't wait to see Ridley and Vereen later this year. They should still be fresh by playoff time and really hitting their stride by then.
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