Greg Bedard - Spot-on Analysis in this Morning's Globe

[Jackson 2]

Bedard, who is typically more than fair, has an on-the-money analysis in the Gobe this morning. Worth checking out. Sorry, I am literally on my way out the door and don't have time to post a link.

 

[Jangles]

I look forward to the eventual link

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Don't bother linking to the article. Unless you are enrolled (pay for) on Globe website you can't access their product.

Mod edit: the above statement is not true: This road loss shows they can only go so far | Boston.com | Greg A. Bedard

Bedard's points:
Only 4 starters on defense drafted in first 2 rounds.
Belichick the GM is the problem.
Only Steelers and Texans in AFC have the offensive firepower the Patriots can't overcome. Everyone else in the AFC is flawed enough on O that the Patriots have a shot.

 

[condon84]

He didn't say anything that hasn't been discussed ad nauseum here. Not enough playmakers.

What was interesting though were the comments from Cotchery:

“I think we’ve shown that we have a lot of weapons,’’ Cotchery said. “You’d want to have everyone available for this game. Once you see [Bodden] get released and you see them put a guy on IR, you’re like, ‘OK, what else is left?’ You know? Yes, I was definitely surprised to see him released. Any time you have a veteran presence on your team, it hurts the young guys.’’

But Cotchery also said that because Belichick is the coach, the Patriots still have a chance.

“The thing is about Belichick, I watched them over a number of years, it’s always a building process,’’ Cotchery said. “So later in the year last year, those guys dominated defensively. I felt like they were really beating up some teams. So he’s always building, he always has a plan. He doesn’t do things that are just knee-jerk reactions or anything of that nature. He has a plan, I know he has a plan. I know the guys on the team know he has a plan. So, I think they’ll get better.

“He’s a brilliant mind. You have to give him credit for that.’’

 

[Rob0729]

He didn't say anything that hasn't been discussed ad nauseum here. Not enough playmakers.

What was interesting though were the comments from Cotchery:

Well, Cotchery brings up the most important point. It isn't how you are playing in October. It is how you are playing in December and January. The Pats almost always are a better team late in the season than they are early in the season.

 

[Garbanza]

Well, Cotchery brings up the most important point. It isn't how you are playing in October. It is how you are playing in December and January. The Pats almost always are a better team late in the season than they are early in the season.

Then why the one and done in the playoff's the last two years?

Usually you see progress as the year goes on.....do you see much progress with the LB's and safeties? Be honest.

 

[BlueThunder]

Well, Cotchery brings up the most important point. It isn't how you are playing in October. It is how you are playing in December and January. The Pats almost always are a better team late in the season than they are early in the season.

Not sure I saw anything in the DB that he could build off of......inferior players give you inferior play no matter how much you scheme...

Pats will get 10 or 11 wins due to their potent offense...nothing on the defense excites me so far......

JMHO

 

[Rob0729]

Then why the one and done in the playoff's the last two years?

Usually you see progress as the year goes on.....do you see much progress with the LB's and safeties? Be honest.

Unfortunately, they met teams in the playoffs who just played better than the Pats at that time of the year. Just because the Pats get better doesn't mean that other teams can't.

Before yesterday, I definitely saw a lot of progress with both the safeties and the LBs. Two of the biggest stories out of the Cowboys game were the break out game by Spikes and the fact that Ihedibgo was starting to emerge as a pretty decent starter. So yes, I have seen progress. Obviously, yesterday was a big step back. We have to see if it was a bump in the road or them being exposed.

 

[Rob0729]

Not sure I saw anything in the DB that he could build off of......inferior players give you inferior play no matter how much you scheme...

Pats will get 10 or 11 wins due to their potent offense...nothing on the defense excites me so far......

JMHO

Yeah, imagine this team going through the playoffs with a rookie UDFA starting and most of your CB crew being mediocre journeymen players? That's why the 2004 team went no where. The Pats won a Super Bowl playing players like Earthwind Mooreland, Troy Brown(who had never played the position), and other scrubs playing CB at times during the season. Randall Gay was an undrafted free agent rookie starting.

The Pats will still win 12-13 games this season. Let's talk in January to see how this team is playing.

 

[Triumph]

Unfortunately, they met teams in the playoffs who just played better than the Pats at that time of the year. Just because the Pats get better doesn't mean that other teams can't.

Before yesterday, I definitely saw a lot of progress with both the safeties and the LBs. Two of the biggest stories out of the Cowboys game were the break out game by Spikes and the fact that Ihedibgo was starting to emerge as a pretty decent starter. So yes, I have seen progress. Obviously, yesterday was a big step back. We have to see if it was a bump in the road or them being exposed.

The secondary has been flawed for years. Since 2007 at least.

If NE faces a good passing team like the Colts (2010) Saints (2009) Bills 2011, etc, and Brady has a bad game or is limited in his number of plays, the Pats will likely lose.

 

[Bronx Jet]

The idea that the Steelers are this offensive Juggernaut is ridiculous. Rapelisberger has had, and will have more games this season where he will play like garbage. Mark it down. He has also had them in every postseason he has played in.

 

[gregz0r]

Link to the article ->
This road loss shows they can only go so far - The Boston Globe

 

[Triumph]

The idea that the Steelers are this offensive Juggernaut is ridiculous. Rapelisberger has had, and will have more games this season where he will play like garbage. Mark it down. He has also had them in every postseason he has played in.

Ben completed 72% of his passes yesterday and it wasnt by accident.

He is good.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Don't bother linking to the article. Unless you are enrolled (pay for) on Globe website you can't access their product.

I'm not sure why they're charging for stuff while giving it away at the same time, but, here's a link for the (free) boston.com:

This road loss shows they can only go so far - The Boston Globe

Pretty sure it'll work.

 

[Rob0729]

The idea that the Steelers are this offensive Juggernaut is ridiculous. Rapelisberger has had, and will have more games this season where he will play like garbage. Mark it down. He has also had them in every postseason he has played in.

Roethlisberger was the 5th ranked QB in yards coming into the game. He is streaky. When he is on, he is on though. He can go a streak where he sucks, but he can also go a streak where he is as good as any other QB in the NFL. Usually, the Pats have his number, but he changed his game yesterday and the Pats couldn't adjust.

 

[Rob0729]

The secondary has been flawed for years. Since 2007 at least.

If NE faces a good passing team like the Colts (2010) Saints (2009) Bills 2011, etc, and Brady has a bad game or is limited in his number of plays, the Pats will likely lose.

You mean like what happened against the Cowboys two weeks ago. The Cowboys are a good passing team and Brady had a bad game for him. The defense kept the Cowboys out of the endzone and the team won.

 

[Garbanza]

Unfortunately, they met teams in the playoffs who just played better than the Pats at that time of the year. Just because the Pats get better doesn't mean that other teams can't.

Before yesterday, I definitely saw a lot of progress with both the safeties and the LBs. Two of the biggest stories out of the Cowboys game were the break out game by Spikes and the fact that Ihedibgo was starting to emerge as a pretty decent starter. So yes, I have seen progress. Obviously, yesterday was a big step back. We have to see if it was a bump in the road or them being exposed.

Spikes had one good play! I thinks sometimes the Pats fans faithful want something so badly, they make it up. Spikes is horrid. Diggs, bad. Chung, Over-rated. Ninko- bad. Guyton is beyond awful. It's so sad.

 

[JackBauer]

I can't really disagree with anything Bedard wrote. This isn't anyone's fault but BB's.

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Roethlisberger played within the limits of the game plan yesterday. How often do you see him miss his check downs and scramble and force throws deep? He didn't do that yesterday, to his credit.

As for progress, progress is not always linear. There will be steps backwards. The team the last two games before yesterday was showing progress vs the first three weeks of the season. As others have said, let's wait and see if this becomes a pattern.

 

[upstater1]

The Patriots have to go on a spending spree this offseason. Pretty simple.

I'd look at:

WR Vincent Jackson
CB Cortland Finnegan
CB Tracey Porter
S Michael Griffin
LB Steven Tulloch
S Jim Leonhard (at the very least to drive the price up on the Jets)