There was altogether too much dismissing of the Cardinals, on the part of the fans. After all they have been to the SuperBowl within the last few years.
I think this was a heartbreaking loss, but I am still very heavily impressed with this edition of the Patriots. The Defense is maturing into a very impressive group. All they need is a second pass rusher from the strongside, to be really dominant, and may actually have valid candidates on the roster to do so, in Ninko, Cunningham, and Bequette.
On Offense the brain trust is trying to create a complete Offense, and it hasn't yet completely gelled. The running game is much better than in the past few years. But blocking for the inside run by the new interior blockers is unsteady; but the wide run, the hardest to accomplish, seems to have arrived.
I don't know whether the new guards and centers can consistently open holes or not, but I am willing to let them try to develop over the course of the season. I will offer the observation that Marcus Cannon is a real load in the run game. It will be next season before he is a real candidate at Guard though, as he is needed as the swing tackle now.
The weakest part of Brady's game has always been the very deep pass. He just is not very accurate doing this. He never has been.
The future HOF Randy Moss was run out of town for not continuing to fight and win reception fights, to catch the inaccurate TB deep throws.
In two games has Brady completed a +40 yard play in the air? Tom Brady's talent is recogniton and the ability to complete the short and intermediate throws, with great timing and accuracy. He still does that; but forcing long bombs to no avail, usually ends a drive.
Josh McD is trying to strategically make opponents respect the deep pass, but it hasn't worked so far. I can see if they do become at least adequate vertically, Defenses won't be able to crowd the intermediate zones. We have seen success in extending the short and intermediate zones horizontally already though.
