Going Forward - Choices To Be Made

[mgteich]

The current team is in the playoff hunt at the half way point. It is time to see what might be done to improve, and to maximize the chances of getting into the playoffs.

SPECIAL TEAMS
1) Who should return kicks and punts? This is certainly a place where we might improve.

OFFENSE

2) Should we see more from Ridley and Vareen in the running game, with Ben-Jarvis and Woodhead getting fewer reps (or the the same)? This is part of the decision whether to try to depend more on the running game.

3) Is it time to give up on Brady and Ochocinco ever being able to be on the same page?

4) Is it time for Belichick and Brady to discuss Brady's tendency to deciding too quickly with regard to whom to throw to. For example, it seems that Hernandez could be used more.

DEFENSE
I see no questions under Belichick's control. The lack of talent and depth at FS, coverage LB and FS are choices Belichick made long ago and now must live with. The defense is improving (as was the case last year). The corners (including Adams played a reasonable game. Few have stopped Manning as well this year.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Actually, there are a few more questions in my mind:

(1) Is it possible that Marcus Cannon will help the Pats more than Donald Thomas (inactive) and/or Ryan Wendell (backup)? It seems strange to start the clock on his practice time in Week 7 if they don't see him helping much (they could have waited until this we.

(2) Is there someone who can fill the back-of-the-roster spots better than one of those DBs?

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

brady and ocho are about as compatiable as brady and bethal johnson, brady and chad jackson , brady doug gabrial, brady brandon tate... ive seen enough its not going to happen

the d was solid, but when it counted it cant make a stop... its not good... and we cant win on the road with that defense ... we may win the division but we may lose 3 in a row for the first time since 2002 next week, its a reality....

 

[blackglass3]

Agree with Sean Pa...it's like Brady and Galloway all over again.

 

[letekro]

I think you've got it wrong with Ocho. Ocho needs to get more reps, not less. His reps need to come from Branch, who my eyes tell me is not able to play in the NFL anymore. I think you saw the beginning of that decision being made today.

 

[JFK]

This game is reason I am no longer in favor of releasing Ocho. He got open. The problem our offense faces is that no one expects us to throw deep so short/mid range passes are played tighter and are therefore tougher to complete. We are one of a few teams without a decent deep threat at WR.

 

[hovis]

The current team is in the playoff hunt at the half way point. It is time to see what might be done to improve, and to maximize the chances of getting into the playoffs.

SPECIAL TEAMS
1) Who should return kicks and punts? This is certainly a place where we might improve.

OFFENSE

2) Should we see more from Ridley and Vareen in the running game, with Ben-Jarvis and Woodhead getting fewer reps (or the the same)? This is part of the decision whether to try to depend more on the running game.

3) Is it time to give up on Brady and Ochocinco ever being able to be on the same page?

4) Is it time for Belichick and Brady to discuss Brady's tendency to deciding too quickly with regard to whom to throw to. For example, it seems that Hernandez could be used more.

DEFENSE
I see no questions under Belichick's control. The lack of talent and depth at FS, coverage LB and FS are choices Belichick made long ago and now must live with. The defense is improving (as was the case last year). The corners (including Adams played a reasonable game. Few have stopped Manning as well this year.

Edelman is still a dangerous returner. He just needs to be reminded about the importance of ball security.

Woodhead has had a tough start to the year, but looked pretty good tonight, minus the one drop. He has a good grasp of the playbook and has improved as a blocker. BJGE still runs well. Ridley and Vereen haven't earned playing time.

I think it's **** or get off the pot week for Chad. If Chad was who he's supposed to be, the Pat's could've won. If he isn't a factor against the Jets, it's time for Price.

Brady definitely forced too many throws. He'll correct that.

Aside from their inability to make a stop when it counted, they played well. Alot've positives to look at for a young D. BB needs to stick with some of these guys instead of pulling the plug at the first sign of imperfection. Let them make some mistakes and develop.

 

[alvinnf]

Coaching staff obviously likes the corners they have on the roster currently, actually I thought this group shined up the turd a little today.

Sergio Brown, geez I digress.

If we are pinning our hopes on Chad Johnson solving our problems playing outside, we deserve what we get. Sometimes you have to be man enough to just take your lumps and move on.

As far as the run game goes, until we actually give these two young backs an opportunity to pick up a blitz, we are sort of stuck where we are. Nowhere. There is nothing dynamic about running stretch plays to set up pass protection.

Edelman needs to do a better job securing the ball. I can stand him getting nothing on punt return as long as he doesn't cough it up. Let him return KO's other than Punt returner he's got nothing else going on.
Vereen?

 

[mgteich]

(1) You want Marcus Cannon to be our backup center?????? He could be added but he would not play unless there were two injuries.
(2) We are down to 4 corners and 4 safeties. Obviously Belichick would upgrade one or more if he could. However, we do need at least 8 defensive backs (most would have us add another especially now that Barrett is injured again).

Actually, there are a few more questions in my mind:

(1) Is it possible that Marcus Cannon will help the Pats more than Donald Thomas (inactive) and/or Ryan Wendell (backup)? It seems strange to start the clock on his practice time in Week 7 if they don't see him helping much (they could have waited until this we.

(2) Is there someone who can fill the back-of-the-roster spots better than one of those DBs?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

(1) You want Marcus Cannon to be our backup center?????? He could be added but he would not play unless there were two injuries.
(2) We are down to 4 corners and 4 safeties. Obviously Belichick would upgrade one or more if he could. However, we do need at least 8 defensive backs (most would have us add another especially now that Barrett is injured again).

As far as (1) goes, I'm not saying he should play backup C. I'm just asking if he offers more to the team than those two. [For all we know, he could be better than Matt Light.]

 

[doesntmatter1]

I got this. Cut Guyton(notice how well the d played without him in the first half). Besides Guyton(i've hated him for years), I am usually willing to let defenders have time to improve but i want to pull the plug on Sergio Brown now. I still don't miss our old safeties but Sergio is making it look hard to defend deep passes that you can see coming a mile away. Play the fn ball.

Besides welker, i want to blow up our wideouts. Branch is easily taken away and ocho is actually worse than galloway so far. Edelman has some of the worst hands i have ever seen. Price may never see the field.

I would really like to see vereen run some kicks back. He has great vision.

 

[naF staP]

When will BB listen and realize the offense needs a deep threat. The Offense can be as creative as they like but it won't work without a deep threat. I don't care who they bring in (Moss) as long as it is someone who will give them a chance to go deep down the field. A deep threat will open up the short game and vice versa.

Everyone can ignore this as long as they want but you need both in the NFL to be successful. With less then 30 seconds left and no deep threat, you have to rely on the gimmick play, the catch it short and pass it around the filed hoping to get a score. This hardly ever works. Instead, if you have a deep threat you can throw deep hoping to get one of those PI calls that the Jets seem to always get. Get a deep threat now and see ho well it opens up the offense.