"Ignore the noise"

[supafly]

Says the sign in the locker room...

Let's remember that this is a team who will most likely compete very hard throughout the year, and a bad start (by a point and 2 points) shouldn't make that much of a difference.

I am all for speaking one's mind and respecting others' opinions, but lately all we've heard about are problem after problem. Let's try and remember that the team just went up against 2 very, very formidable defenses at top NFL levels, and they probably should've come away with wins in both of them; at worst at least one which would've made them 2-1.

Sometimes you get the breaks, and sometimes the breaks get you, but all is not lost. That includes the Mankins injury (I'd much rather rest him until next week if that guarantees dramatically helping the injury), the new Gronkowski injury which we have no idea about the severity, the injuries to Edelman, Hernandez, etc.

As we saw in the last game, the execution looked much better than the week before, so it would seem that they made progress with much less when you consider that Hernandez + Edelman were both hurt.

This week they are going to get back on track despite who plays and what the naysayers opine on. It's time to rally around the team and remember that they aren't much different from the ones we saw in the opener.

I think that Llyod is getting on the same page, and that the running game will also give us a bit of balance too. Let's hope the defense can resort back to the first 2 games and make some big plays to go along with it.

I don't like the whole "homer" vs. "chicken little" thing, so I am going to remain optimistic in the face of adversity, and I have a feeling that the team is going to do the same.

 

[Joker]

 

[supafly]

I think that many of us should be taking the "cautiously optimistic" viewpoint.

It sure as hell beats the "we have too much risk."

It's a long season. It may not have gotten off to the start that we'd wanted it to, but I highly doubt that the team will crawl in a corner and give up; nor do I think they have a lack of overall talent.

There may be some areas that could certainly be improved upon, but the same likely goes for just about any team, especially in the current era of salary caps.

We waited all off-season to have football back. No use pissing away the season in my opinion. I don't care if they have a losing record now, or in 2 weeks.

This team has a legitimate shot to win the division, and at the very least (worst case scenario) make a strong late season push via a WC spot. They aren't going away any time soon, despite some early season struggles.

 

[supafly]

It's just strange to me that no one has anything too positive to say lately.

--How about the 2 games where they put up 30+ pts in 3 appearances so far?

--How about the nice progress that the offense made last week, coming back from major disfunction the week before vs. ARZ? And despite losing Hernandez after basically the first game.

--The fact that the 3 top defensive rookie picks look good, along with nice comeback performances from Cunningham and even McCourty (sans poor 4th quarter DPI penalty and dropped INT)?

--Love sure is coming into his own, no?

--Ridley and the balance of the running game look good when they aren't up against a top 3-5 defense.

--Edelman has played a bit better than we thought, showing some nice speed and offering contribution for a guy who many felt was a 'wasted' position at WR. Lord knows the majority didn't see that coming.

--Despite giving up some sacks vs the likes of ARZ and BAL who are 2 teams known for their ability to rush the QB, the offensive line hasn't looked "that" bad. At least realize that many of us thought it'd be a lot worse.

--The worries about Nate Solder being able to take over for Light haven't developed, as he's been one of the better looking OL out there.

--Mankins did not miss ONE game after having offseason ACL surgery. That alone is impressive.

--Even Cannon hasn't looked nearly as bad as he did early on when rotated with Vollmer. At least we can say he's improving. Dante has done a decent job in my opinion. They may not be where they need to be quite yet, but it looks as though they're getting there.

--It appears as though we're going to get Hernandez back in time for the NYJ game, if not even sooner. From first glance, many of us thought it was an ACL injury where he'd be done for the year.

--We all know that there will be injuries, and to this point we haven't lost anyone too significant for any length of time. I'm not sure why people are suddenly 'shocked' that we have guys who will miss a game or two here and there?

--Belichick is as feisty as ever, and any questions that he doesn't fully have his heart and full attention into this has gone completely unwarranted. He isn't looking like a guy who's getting ready to retire in the next few yrs, and judging by his eye set on the future in every possible way, that situation is looking quite good still.

--Llyod has been a nice addition so far, and it looks like they are building chemistry together every single game. He certainly gives his all on those catches, and the circus catches came to town with him. That's a big plus.


There's positives out there, many just choose to focus on the negatives which is understandable, but there are also many here who are smart enough to judge the +'s and -'s together in a fair assessment. We all know that they lost by 1 and 2 pts in unlucky fashion (debatable in the BAL game), but the team still isn't one of the NFL's doormats as some here would like to believe.

 

[randomk1]

It's just strange to me that no one has anything too positive to say lately.

--How about the 2 games where they put up 30+ pts in 3 appearances so far?

--How about the nice progress that the offense made last week, coming back from major disfunction the week before vs. ARZ? And despite losing Hernandez after basically the first game.

--The fact that the 3 top defensive rookie picks look good, along with nice comeback performances from Cunningham and even McCourty (sans poor 4th quarter DPI penalty and dropped INT)?

--Love sure is coming into his own, no?

--Ridley and the balance of the running game look good when they aren't up against a top 3-5 defense.

--Edelman has played a bit better than we thought, showing some nice speed and offering contribution for a guy who many felt was a 'wasted' position at WR. Lord knows the majority didn't see that coming.

--Despite giving up some sacks vs the likes of ARZ and BAL who are 2 teams known for their ability to rush the QB, the offensive line hasn't looked "that" bad. At least realize that many of us thought it'd be a lot worse.

--The worries about Nate Solder being able to take over for Light haven't developed, as he's been one of the better looking OL out there.

--Mankins did not miss ONE game after having offseason ACL surgery. That alone is impressive.

--Even Cannon hasn't looked nearly as bad as he did early on when rotated with Vollmer. At least we can say he's improving. Dante has done a decent job in my opinion. They may not be where they need to be quite yet, but it looks as though they're getting there.

--It appears as though we're going to get Hernandez back in time for the NYJ game, if not even sooner. From first glance, many of us thought it was an ACL injury where he'd be done for the year.

--We all know that there will be injuries, and to this point we haven't lost anyone too significant for any length of time. I'm not sure why people are suddenly 'shocked' that we have guys who will miss a game or two here and there?

--Belichick is as feisty as ever, and any questions that he doesn't fully have his heart and full attention into this has gone completely unwarranted. He isn't looking like a guy who's getting ready to retire in the next few yrs, and judging by his eye set on the future in every possible way, that situation is looking quite good still.

--Llyod has been a nice addition so far, and it looks like they are building chemistry together every single game. He certainly gives his all on those catches, and the circus catches came to town with him. That's a big plus.


There's positives out there, many just choose to focus on the negatives which is understandable, but there are also many here who are smart enough to judge the +'s and -'s together in a fair assessment. We all know that they lost by 1 and 2 pts in unlucky fashion (debatable in the BAL game), but the team still isn't one of the NFL's doormats as some here would like to believe.

Brady can't throw the deep ball

Lloyd can't get seperation

Julian/Wes

Gronk hurt

AH hurt

Mankins hurt

Secondary stinks - questionable coaching,Ras - (M)I(A)

Ninkovich shouldn't play DE

McDaniels

OL can't protect the franchise

Shane "I can't beat Woodhead" Vereen

1-2

See? Much more interesting.

 

[supafly]

Brady can't throw the deep ball

Lloyd can't get seperation

Julian/Wes

Gronk hurt

AH hurt

Mankins hurt

Secondary stinks - questionable coaching,Ras - (M)I(A)

Ninkovich shouldn't play DE

McDaniels

OL can't protect the franchise

Shane "I can't beat Woodhead" Vereen

1-2

See? Much more interesting.

I'm seeing a lot of the usual suspects on this list though. Guys like Vereen, Ninkovich, Dowling, the OC of your choice depending upon the year, etc...they are there every year, or at least the past 2 yrs. I'm not seeing anything different than before.

I know you're being sarcastic, b/c I'm familiar with your posts, but I'm sure there are some who think that these are indeed, "much more interesting."

If all they have to do is point out the negatives, then maybe they should follow some of the flavors of the month like Atlanta, Houston, etc, because it doesn't seem too much like they are true Patsfans.

 

[randomk1]

I'm seeing a lot of the usual suspects on this list though. Guys like Vereen, Ninkovich, Dowling, the OC of your choice depending upon the year, etc...they are there every year, or at least the past 2 yrs. I'm not seeing anything different than before.

I know you're being sarcastic, b/c I'm familiar with your posts, but I'm sure there are some who think that these are indeed, "much more interesting."

I just wanted to be the yin to your yang.

There are definitely many positives but i will feel much better after a W on sunday.

1-3 is a bit of a hole tough breaks or not.

 

[supafly]

I just wanted to be the yin to your yang.

There are definitely many positives but i will feel much better after a W on sunday.

1-3 is a bit of a hole tough breaks or not.

Yeah, a win will clear things up, and that is what I am expecting.

I felt that we had a shot last week, but I also knew that it would be a very tough game.

This week should get us back on track. The uncertainty is making some very nervous and paranoid.

Tough front 4 or not, the team will adjust accordingly as the game progresses.

 

[supafly]

I'm assuming, hopefully incorrectly, that Mankins probably won't play. Looking at the bigger picture with him is much more important than this one week, despite the outcome.

I'm also assuming that Fells can possibly at least stay in to block on more reps, helping to make Gronkowski more useful in the passing game.

We've seen guys step up before who we haven't expected, so that may have to be the case this week vs Buffalo.

I do expect more pressure from our front 7 though, due to the lack of as many holding plays + a totally different gameplan than that of Baltimore.

 

[DarrylS]

Never taken the time to statistically prove this, but it seems as though after every superbowl appearance there seems to be more injuries in the subsequent season... perhaps it is nothing, or maybe it is a real factor that these bodies do not have enough time to heal in a shorter off season...

Would prefer to be 3-0 instead of 1-2, however somethings you cannot change.. the mantra of the Patriots has always been not how you are playing in September/October buy how you are playing in December....

We will see as our defense is young and our Offense has some new vital parts... I still see 12 wins for this team.

 

[Nikolai]

They hate their coach.

Seriously, though...

The Pats are a missed Ghost kick and a bad call from 3-0. It's not like the Pats have looked bad, with the exception of offensive miscues that plagued them against Arizona.

The defense is better, and I have to admit that for the first time in many years, I almost look forward to seeing the defense more than I look forward to seeing the offense. Gronk and AHern aside, this defense is going to be the thing that helps the Pats transition during the post-apocalyptic post-Brady years. I'm excited to see it rounding into form.

Injuries and poor coaching in the secondary are the two things that concern me the most. The OLine is in good hands with Dante.

This isn't an "ALL IS WELL!" post, but things are about as good as I've seen on a 1-2 team in a long time.

 

[Sfpat]

Just remember, Houston had the worst pass rush in the league when Williams and Anderson were their DEs. Just saying

 

[Reckedtrek]

Are there areas that areas of concern with the Pats? Yes. But I think this team has far more going for it than against it. Some people are not happy unless they have something to complain about, at all times.

The Pats could go 16-0, win the Superbowl, and some people would still say they almost lost this game and that game, and they got lucky here and there. They didn't win by enough points. Or they're classless and ran the score up. We didn't run enough... why didn't we pass more? Our D could be ranked #1 in the league... but the stats are deceiving.

When you want, or in some cases NEED, to find something to complain about, you can find it. Sometimes it's a real concern, sometimes it's nitpicking. I feel sorry for people who cannot allow themselves to be happy and satisfied, even for a moment. When people are truly tested by life and actually learn the lesson that that test provides, you find that life is hard, but life can be good.

A bad day for some people is their Bentley is dirty and the wait staff can't be found.

A good day for some people is their bicycle still runs great after all these years, and they still have two good legs to pedal it with.

Perspective.

 

[Off The Grid]

Are there areas that areas of concern with the Pats? Yes. But I think this team has far more going for it than against it. Some people are not happy unless they have something to complain about, at all times.

The Pats could go 16-0, win the Superbowl, and some people would still say they almost lost this game and that game, and they got lucky here and there. They didn't win by enough points. Or they're classless and ran the score up. We didn't run enough... why didn't we pass more? Our D could be ranked #1 in the league... but the stats are deceiving.

When you want, or in some cases NEED, to find something to complain about, you can find it. Sometimes it's a real concern, sometimes it's nitpicking. I feel sorry for people who cannot allow themselves to be happy and satisfied, even for a moment. When people are truly tested by life and actually learn the lesson that that test provides, you find that life is hard, but life can be good.

A bad day for some people is their Bentley is dirty and the wait staff can't be found.

A good day for some people is their bicycle still runs great after all these years, and they still have two good legs to pedal it with.

Perspective.

PREACH it, Brother Trek!! :rocker:

One'f the best Posts I've ever read, Brothah!!

 

[randomk1]

A bad day for some people is their Bentley is dirty and the wait staff can't be found.

A good day for some people is their bicycle still runs great after all these years, and they still have two good legs to pedal it with.

Perspective.

Tell me about it. You know how much insurance costs for a continental gt? Or how many miles per gallon i get? On top of that i'm giving away 14% on taxes. **** my life.