Tom Curran: Patriots used the Colts game to experiment with players

[Rob0729]

Someone else (Bella*chick who deserves the credit for finding this) posted this in the post game thread, but I think it deserves its own thread to talk the doom and gloomers off the ledge. Curran points out that Belichick tried out players at new positions and gave end of the roster back ups significant time to see what they could do. It was like the Pats turned this game into a glorified preseason game or scrimmage:

Curran: Belichick uses Colts to further experiment

 

[Keyser Söze]

Not buying it. You know why Slater was playing safety? Because sadly he might be the best option out of undrafted scrubs. He preached all weak about taking them seriously, he wouldn't **** off with experimenting.

 

[PatsFan24]

Someone else (Bella*chick who desrves the credit for finding this) posted this in the post game thread, but I think it deserves its own thread to talk the doom and gloomers off the ledge. Curran points out that Belichick tried out players at new positions and gave end of the roster back ups significant time to see what they could do. It was like the Pats turned this game into a glorified preseason game or scrimmage:

Curran: Belichick uses Colts to further experiment

Thanks! I would click "like" but my damn firefox won't let me.

 

[Bella*chick]

Not buying it. You know why Slater was playing safety? Because sadly he might be the best option out of undrafted scrubs. He preached all weak about taking them seriously, he wouldn't **** off with experimenting.

Look, you might be right, but you do remember a week ago they looked pretty solid against the Eagles? Right?

And I hope you don't believe everything BB says to the media.

 

[Rob0729]

Not buying it. You know why Slater was playing safety? Because sadly he might be the best option out of undrafted scrubs.

LOL! And that was why Nick McDonald started at center or Niko Koutouvides started at OLB or Nate Jones got significant time at safety? Sorry, but it was clear the Pats were trying out a lot new players. It wasn't just safety or the secondary where they made changes. There were back ups everywhere from Cannon to Ridley to Underwood who got a decent amount of time.

 

[Rob0729]

Thanks! I would click "like" but my damn firefox won't let me.

I would post the article, but it violates board rules. Don't want Ian sued for copyright infringement.

 

[PatsFan24]

Good read. Not sure how true it is, but I am willing to bet that BB was tough on the team all week to make sure they players didn't get the wrong attitude.

 

[Rob0729]

Look, you might be right, but you do remember a week ago they looked pretty solid against the Eagles? Right?

And I hope you don't believe everything BB says to the media.

He's not right. If Slater was the only deep back up who got significant playing time today, but there were about six or seven guys on both side of the ball who either started or got a ton of playing time.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Makes sense to me.

What would playing the starters and your normal defense in that 4th quarter accomplish exactly or tell you about what we have? We're still missing CHung,Spikes, FLetcher and McCourty is obviously rusty. What would shutting down the pathetic Colts with the players we had prove to anybody? They'd just say oh the Colts are awful on offense that's why you held them to 3 points. But yeah let's wet ourselves over a few garbage time TD's.

 

[Dufflebagz]

Not buying it. You know why Slater was playing safety? Because sadly he might be the best option out of undrafted scrubs. He preached all weak about taking them seriously, he wouldn't **** off with experimenting.

I can't help but laugh when people act like they know what BB is thinking.

 

[PatsFan24]

At least it avoids the issue of running up the score.

 

[Rob0729]

I can't help but laugh when people act like they know what BB is thinking.

Yeah, what was Belichick going to do? Say the Colts aren't that good and he was going to experiment with a bunch of back up with some of them never having played the position they played today? Curran make a far bigger deal that Belichick talked the Colts up too much (he talks up every team they face), but it seems pretty clear that Belichick used this game as a trial run for some players. It is good because now we know that Slater can play safety. We now know McDonald can play center. We know Nate Jones can be a reserve CB.

 

[Bella*chick]

There was just something about BB's media "rant" (it wasn't really a rant but it was about as impassioned as it gets for BB) that felt, I dunno, scripted. Like he was protesting a bit too much. I'm sure he needed to pound it into the team that just because they were trying out new players in this game didn't mean the Colts weren't to be taken seriously.

 

[sbpatfan]

Speculation article. A whole lot about nothing.

 

[Gwedd]

I think that Curran is square in the black with this column, and I have to give Coach B props for this. He took the opportunity offered him to get some real-time, December reps for a bunch of guys that might not have gotten them. He was able to see straight up how they performed, and at the same time, get some rest for s few of the starters.

I have no problem with this at all, and it not only gives the Patriots more options at various positions if they need to use them, but it also gives other teams more things to prepare for.

That's all good in my book.

 

[Bella*chick]

Speculation article. A whole lot about nothing.

I'm not exactly sure hoW many articles about this team that are written during the season are loaded with cold, hard, insider facts.

It's all speculation. But given today's bizarre game, some of it makes sense. I didn't see the game, but I have been reading comments from various people who noticed the Pats doing things they don't normally do and playing players at positions they haven't played before. It's just food for thought.

Of course, it's way easier to piss and moan about how sorry and pathetic we are despite some decent performances in the last few weeks. Around here, it's not "What have you done for me lately?", it's more like,"What have you done for me in the last 24 hours?"

 

[BradyFTW!]

That should have been pretty obvious to everyone the second they saw Slater playing safety and Moore playing CB (a lot of us noted it as it was happening in the game thread), but I guess some people have to invent things to complain about.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Not buying it. You know why Slater was playing safety? Because sadly he might be the best option out of undrafted scrubs. He preached all weak about taking them seriously, he wouldn't **** off with experimenting.

I suggest that you lack any facts to back that up and simply are clinging to a position based on anger or frustration. There is circumstantial evidence to suggest BB was doing exactly what Curran states. To the best of my knowledge, the only circumstantial evidence to support your position is your insistence.
I'm curious to know what harm there is, even if you are frustrated with the coach and team, in giving the benefit of the doubt to BB? You believe BB wouldn't do something like this?

 

[Tunescribe]

I was at the game and nearly fell out of my seat when I saw Slater not only START at safety, but stay there most of the game. And then Jones at corner (who dat?) and "The Greek" at linebacker getting all those reps. Also, so many first-teamers on special teams, including Gronk on kickoff returns.

Your first thought is that the injury situation is much worse than we've been lead to believe. I'm actually very glad for the "experiment" theory put forward with reasonable plausibility. You can't rely on BB to give the straight dope on all this bizarre shifting around.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Not buying it. You know why Slater was playing safety? Because sadly he might be the best option out of undrafted scrubs. He preached all weak about taking them seriously, he wouldn't **** off with experimenting.

:singing: The awesome naivety of this statement is the best. I'm nominating this for "Chicken Little" post of the day.

Congratulations sir.