Bedard's Jacksonville film review - Brady right to call out offense

[MoLewisrocks]

On further review Greg seems to see some issues looming that may be corrected but whose continued existence is troubling this deep into the season. Seems us OL worrywarts weren't as silly as he seemed to want to portray us as being back in September. And there seems to be a disconnect that remains with Lloyd. Josh is still working on things, which while unfortunately it has to be done is what has cost them probably coasting to HFA even with all the injuries. And it's getting perilously close to getting Brady killed. He cites the usual suspects (Brady, Welker, Branch, Woodhead) plus Ridley as those who came to play. That is my concern going forward, can they be enough once Gronk returns and why the hell aren't the others more consistently focused this late in the season. He categorizes Hernandez as "fading fast". And it's not just the ankle. Mental mistakes and alligator arms. The OL turned in a worst of the season performance across the board. He was unrealistically tough on Brady early in the season, but he seemed to begin to realize that over the last quarter of the season and adjusted his grading curves accordingly. Everyone elses focus and execution simply has not consistently been there.

Tom Brady was right to call out the Patriots offense after Jacksonville game - Patriots - Boston.com

 

[mayoclinic]

So if Brady, Welker, Branch, Woodhead and Ridley came to play that leaves ...

- Hernandez
- Lloyd
- Hoomanawanui
- Bolden (12 snaps), Fells (8 snaps), Vereen (3 snaps) and Aiken (3 snaps)
- The OL

The thing that stands out to me is that Jacksonville - a team known for getting poor pressure all season - pressured Brady on almost 48% of his drop backs despite blitzing only 11% of the time. That can't happen.

 

[livinginthe past]

Patriots fans have generally been spoiled with O-line play over the years.

I've lost count how many times i've read on rival forums the anguish and jealousy of an O-line that plugs JAG's in and does a great job keeping Brady clean.

The Patriots put Brady in quite alot of obvious passing situations (less so this year, thankfully) where D-linemen pin their ears back and go.

Scarnecchia remains the best at his position in the league.

Sure players, and even units, have bad games - this is the NFL - we aren't watching robots perform the samme task over and over - there is human error to be factored in.

This has been an excellent season, offensively, for the Patriots - you can only judge these things relatively and they are tops (or close to tops) in almost every significant category over the season.

You don't achieve that by having an O-line that isn't up to the job.

Less hand wringing please!

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Patriots fans have been spoiled period. But where the OL is concerned Brady has effected their ability to play at the level Dante coaches them up to as much as anything. Unfortunately at the end of the day that level drives the unit cost artificially and that impacts the teams ability to invest elsewhere. Mankins is two years into a top of the market deal and despite what Pro Bowl voters seem to think he hasn't played at that level since 2010 when he only did so for half a season. Now they are already past protecting him and have to try to squeeze $8.5M per of production out of him... They will be facing a similar situation as they assess any offer to Vollmer - with a second deal for Solder looming after 2013 (or a hefty 5th year guaranteed rookie tag cap hit in 2015). A $25M+ OL isn't going to float here even if they were truly worth it.

Don't be surprised to see them squeeze Mankins into a pay cut restructure this off season. And a true one or at least one that requires him to earn money back via playing time incentives...and throughout the remainder of his deal unless he starts earning his pro bowl nods. Otherwise he isn't seeing that deal through to 2016.

 

[Rob0729]

So the o-line is a disaster because of one game? I'm sorry, the o-line worrywarts were very silly in September. All that insulting Waters crap was ridiculous. This o-line for the most part has played very well even with injuries to Vollmer, Mankins, and Connolly.

Yes, the o-line play is something to watch especially since Vollmer and Mankins seem to be significantly less than 100% (which is what Bedard points out as a big reason for the poor performance especially for Vollmer who had a horrible game). But if you rank the o-line units play, the Pats are still near the top for the year.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

So if Brady, Welker, Branch, Woodhead and Ridley came to play that leaves ...

- Hernandez
- Lloyd
- Hoomanawanui
- Bolden (12 snaps), Fells (8 snaps), Vereen (3 snaps) and Aiken (3 snaps)
- The OL

The thing that stands out to me is that Jacksonville - a team known for getting poor pressure all season - pressured Brady on almost 48% of his drop backs despite blitzing only 11% of the time. That can't happen.

Bedard doesn't think we see Bolden or Vereen again before camp after this week...

The OL as some of us feared is what it is at this juncture. Have to just squeeze whatever they can out of it and hope it's enough. But they are going to have some tough decisions to make heading into next season. Can't keep rolling the dice that it will somehow all come together in the end. History here doesn't back that contention up. We have enough weapons on offense to adapt and adjust to situations only as long as the OL can facilitate those adaptations or adjustment.

 

[mayoclinic]

Mankins is two years into a top of the market deal and despite what Pro Bowl voters seem to think he hasn't played at that level since 2010 when he only did so for half a season. Now they are already past protecting him and have to try to squeeze $8.5M per of production out of him... They will be facing a similar situation as they assess any offer to Vollmer - with a second deal for Solder looming after 2013 (or a hefty 5th year guaranteed rookie tag cap hit in 2015). A $25M+ OL isn't going to float here even if they were truly worth it.

Don't be surprised to see them squeeze Mankins into a pay cut restructure this off season. And a true one or at least one that requires him to earn money back via playing time incentives...and throughout the remainder of his deal unless he starts earning his pro bowl nods. Otherwise he isn't seeing that deal through to 2016.

Absolutely. I have a very hard time seeing Mankins playing out his deal, no matter what. He got his $20M signing bonus, and he hasn't consistently played up to his pre-2010 level since his holdout. I give him credit for toughness, leadership and playing through injuries, but he has a huge cap hit that is a drain on other areas, and he has to play up to it to continue justifying that kind of money.

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, the Pats should sit Vollmer in place of Cannon this weekend. Vollmer is quickly becoming the weak link of the o-line because he clearly isn't right. Cannon has done a pretty good job filling in for him. Vollmer is a guy who could benefit for a bye (hopefully two bye with this weekend and next weekend).

 

[Kontradiction]

BTW, the Pats should sit Vollmer in place of Cannon this weekend. Vollmer is quickly becoming the weak link of the o-line because he clearly isn't right. Cannon has done a pretty good job filling in for him. Vollmer is a guy who could benefit for a bye (hopefully two bye with this weekend and next weekend).

Definitely agree with this. Vollmer is clearly hurting and his back issues are seemingly becoming chronic. Sit him this weekend and let him rest it.

My biggest concern about the OL is the interior OL. Wendell looks overwhelmed at times and Connolly is clearly injured. The biggest concern when it comes to an opposing pass rush vs. Brady is a pass rush up the A-Gap. Alualu was getting a decent push up the middle last week. Against teams like the Bengals and Texans, that interior OL needs to be stout or Brady's going to be peeling himself up off the turf a good amount.

 

[QB12]

As I said in another thread, sit Mankins' ass down now! SOB is nowhere near starting caliber.

 

[Kontradiction]

As I said in another thread, sit Mankins' ass down now! SOB is nowhere near starting caliber.

 

[mayoclinic]

Bedard doesn't think we see Bolden or Vereen again before camp after this week...

I'm not sure I understand that one. Both guys have shown nice flashes at times during the season, and we may need every man we have during the playoffs. I can understand that they won't be the featured options, but Bedard's view seems a bit extreme.

 

[The Gr8est]

Definitely agree with this. Vollmer is clearly hurting and his back issues are seemingly becoming chronic. Sit him this weekend and let him rest it.

My biggest concern about the OL is the interior OL. Wendell looks overwhelmed at times and Connolly is clearly injured. The biggest concern when it comes to an opposing pass rush vs. Brady is a pass rush up the A-Gap. Alualu was getting a decent push up the middle last week. Against teams like the Bengals and Texans, that interior OL needs to be stout or Brady's going to be peeling himself up off the turf a good amount.

So why don't we see Donald Thomas more? Is he unable to play RG?

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

I'm not sure I understand that one. Both guys have shown nice flashes at times during the season, and we may need every man we have during the playoffs. I can understand that they won't be the featured options, but Bedard's view seems a bit extreme.

For better or worse this seems to be a calling card of Bedard recently.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

BTW, the Pats should sit Vollmer in place of Cannon this weekend. Vollmer is quickly becoming the weak link of the o-line because he clearly isn't right. Cannon has done a pretty good job filling in for him. Vollmer is a guy who could benefit for a bye (hopefully two bye with this weekend and next weekend).

I was hoping to see Vollmer and Mankins sit the Jags and Dolphins games. There's no way the OL could've been worse on Sunday if they did, and I think we'd still beat the fins without them.

 

[fnordcircle]

As I said in another thread, sit Mankins' ass down now! SOB is nowhere near starting caliber.

I'm sure you're a fine and competent person.

But Jesus sometimes I feel like we have the dumbest fans possible.

 

[Kontradiction]

So why don't we see Donald Thomas more? Is he unable to play RG?

I'm sure he can slide over there but Thomas has been inconsistent at best in pass protection.

 

[patfanken]

BTW, the Pats should sit Vollmer in place of Cannon this weekend. Vollmer is quickly becoming the weak link of the o-line because he clearly isn't right. Cannon has done a pretty good job filling in for him. Vollmer is a guy who could benefit for a bye (hopefully two bye with this weekend and next weekend).

Quickly is the key word here because on this board you can so "quickly" go from an asset to a disaster. Volmer was OUTSTANDING vs the Niners, and just 6 and a half days later he's the "weak link of the OL. .

I'm not saying the OL's play vs the Jags wasn't disappointing, but clearly the problems is more about their physical condition than their skills. Just about all of them are now playing with some limitations, and that problem is compounded by the lack of practice time. You can only get so much out of "walk through's"

I'm worried about the effectiveness of the OL going forward too. But I'm worried because of the injuries they are playing with, not because of any questions about whether they can do the job. They have had some great games this season against some very good pass rush combinations.

 

[Rob0729]

Quickly is the key word here because on this board you can so "quickly" go from an asset to a disaster. Volmer was OUTSTANDING vs the Niners, and just 6 and a half days later he's the "weak link of the OL. .

I'm not saying the OL's play vs the Jags wasn't disappointing, but clearly the problems is more about their physical condition than their skills. Just about all of them are now playing with some limitations, and that problem is compounded by the lack of practice time. You can only get so much out of "walk through's"

I'm worried about the effectiveness of the OL going forward too. But I'm worried because of the injuries they are playing with, not because of any questions about whether they can do the job. They have had some great games this season against some very good pass rush combinations.

Vollmer has been up and down for about a month or so. He also gave up a key sack at the end of the 49ers' game (so did Solder). Let's not act like this was the only game he struggled.

And it is probably 95% injuries that is the problem right now. Clearly Vollmer and Mankins are the most injured of the bunch and both are playing below their talent levels. Connolly too. That exposes Wendell.

 

[Buchanty]

Interesting article especially when taken in the context of the MVP race. Understandably TB has dropped to 3rd in that race (not that I want him to win it) in light of the game against the Jaguars. I suspect there is also the notion that he failed to deliver the come from behind victory against the 49'ers. Yet without him it would be fair to say that we would have been humbled against SF and possibly even have lost against the Jags.

I wouldn't go as far as Bedard to say that he was almost flawless after the Ridley interception, but his insights into last Sunday's game suggest that TB has been performing close to heroic levels the past two weeks while gaining smattering praise. Manning, from my perspective, has been playing reasonably well, but not spectacularly. There are even times in the last 3-4 weeks where he has made major mistakes (2 red zone interceptions if I include the deep throw at the Raiders 28yd line), and had his share of floaters and inaccuracies yet he is lionized as having the best season of all QBs. I am crossing my fingers that AP breaks the rushing record on Sunday as that should just be enough for him to win the MVP.

Bedard is rapidly becoming one of my must read writers, as he is cogent, incisive and appreciates quality beyond the score lines and stats.