Time to focus on the positives

[Rob0729]

I can't remember so much negativity and overreaction associated with this team after a win (mostly in the media). The offense sucks. The defense isn't really that good and just lucky who they faced. Revis sucks and is upset how the Pats are using them. The Broncos additions have been better and why did the Pats not sign Emmauel Sanders. The o-line is the worst o-line in NFL history. I am getting tired of it especially after a win.

Ok, so I want to do a thread where we look at positive things. I will start.

Considering giving up plays over 20 yards have been an issue with this team for several years, I want to point out the Pats have only given up 6 plays over 20 yards this season all on passing plays (making them the 3rd best in this category on passing plays and first on run downs).

BTW, the #1 teams on passing downs with plays over 20 yards both have 5 each. And the Broncos defense that everyone is gushing over this week have 11 which is the 23rd ranked (plus two running plays).

 

[New England Pride]

Positives.
-They are 2-1
-They have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
-History shows they will coach around the deficiencies of the team. This o line will be no different.
-Defensively they have played well. Don't get on them about the competition. Our 2011 defense would have allowed Carr to throw 400 yards and 3 touchdowns.

 

[Brady6]

There are many positives:

- Stevan Ridley ball security has been much improved this season.
- Julian Edelman appears to have improved even further over an outstanding 2013 campaign.
- Sebastian Vollmer, Jerod Mayo, and Vince Wilfork all appear to have made full comebacks from season ending injuries last year.
- Donta Hightower looks ready to peak as a pro bowl OLB.
- Chandler Jones appears to have taken another step towards being a top 10 DL in the NFL.
- We have not suffered any significant injuries and players who have been question marks in terms of durability in recent years have not missed time thus far (Amendola, Gronkowski, Vereen).
- The secondary is very good, the best we have had in years and that is despite being without Browner and Dennard either all or most of the season.

 

[Efstratios]

There are many positives:

- Stevan Ridley ball security has been much improved this season.
- Julian Edelman appears to have improved even further over an outstanding 2013 campaign.
- Sebastian Vollmer, Jerod Mayo, and Vince Wilfork all appear to have made full comebacks from season ending injuries last year.
- Donta Hightower looks ready to peak as a pro bowl OLB.
- Chandler Jones appears to have taken another step towards being a top 10 DL in the NFL.
- We have not suffered any significant injuries and players who have been question marks in terms of durability in recent years have not missed time thus far (Amendola, Gronkowski, Vereen).
- The secondary is very good, the best we have had in years and that is despite being without Browner and Dennard either all or most of the season.

This is the big one. 3 games into last year, all three of those guys were out. If the O-line stabilizes then I think those guys can do what I expect them to (Gronk being the best TE in the league, Vereen being a dynamic pass catcher, Amendola being a relatively solid number 3 WR who will go off every 4-5 games). I just pray that the injury bug doesn't come down on us as badly as it did last year.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I don't want to jinx Ridley or Edelman, but they look to have upped their game this season -- as do Mayo, Hightower and Jones. Beyond that, it's great to see the way that the run defense appears to have tightened after early struggles. Long may it continue.

 

[mgteich]

If there are zero runs over 20 yards again this week, we will indeed have reason to celebrate.

 

[Rob0729]

If there are zero runs over 20 yards again this week, we will indeed have reason to celebrate.

KC only has three runs over 20 yards this season and one of them was by Alex Smith.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I can't remember so much negativity and overreaction associated with this team after a win (mostly in the media). The offense sucks. The defense isn't really that good and just lucky who they faced. Revis is upset how the Pats are using them. The Broncos additions have been better and why did the Pats not sign Emmauel Sanders. The o-line is the worst o-line in NFL history. I am getting tired of it especially after a win.

Ok, so I want to do a thread where we look at positive things. I will start.

Considering giving up plays over 20 yards have been an issue with this team for several years, I want to point out the Pats have only given up 6 plays over 20 yards this season all on passing plays (making them the 3rd best in this category on passing plays and first on run downs).

The defense has been a huge positive thus far.

272 ypg so far vs 381 last year. Long way to go but it's a good start

3rd down % improved from 26th to 19th. Would like to see that number go lower. But overall an improvement and with all the new rule changes it seems the numbers are increased for most teams. 49ers are 32nd at 51% clip.

Edelman is freakishly good.

Gronkowski is progressing week to week. Shows flashes from time to time.

Dobson ready to return. Not sure why many are instantly assuming he is not going to make a difference? Had a couple of really nice games before getting injured.

0 interceptions thrown by Brady

 

[Joker]

extremely loud venue...Brady re-visiting the scene of the Pollard crime...a team that so far cannot run the ball...a team that so far shows heavy reliance on Edelman and little to no vertical sideline passing to the WR's. Does all this stuff suddenly disappear this Monday?

I think the defense will show up true to form so far. Would be nice to get some hits on Smith in the pocket early. I'm looking for a few big plays from the defense to tilt this game in our favor.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Jones
Hightower
Dennard
Ebner

The 2012 draft is turning out to be a heck of a draft.

 

[QB12]

extremely loud venue...Brady re-visiting the scene of the Pollard crime...a team that so far cannot run the ball...a team that so far shows heavy reliance on Edelman and little to no vertical sideline passing to the WR's. Does all this stuff suddenly disappear this Monday?

I think the defense will show up true to form so far. Would be nice to get some hits on Smith in the pocket early. I'm looking for a few big plays from the defense to tilt this game in our favor.

Pollard got Brady at Gillette.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Kyle Arrington playing well with his snaps. I don't think I've used his name with an F in front of it for the first 3 games.

 

[borg]

I can't remember so much negativity and overreaction associated with this team after a win (mostly in the media). The offense sucks. The defense isn't really that good and just lucky who they faced. Revis sucks and is upset how the Pats are using them. The Broncos additions have been better and why did the Pats not sign Emmauel Sanders. The o-line is the worst o-line in NFL history. I am getting tired of it especially after a win.

Ok, so I want to do a thread where we look at positive things. I will start.

Considering giving up plays over 20 yards have been an issue with this team for several years, I want to point out the Pats have only given up 6 plays over 20 yards this season all on passing plays (making them the 3rd best in this category on passing plays and first on run downs).

BTW, the #1 teams on passing downs with plays over 20 yards both have 5 each. And the Broncos defense that everyone is gushing over this week have 11 which is the 23rd ranked (plus two running plays).

Interesting way to begin a "focus on the positives" thread....by focusing on the opinions you feel are too negative.

 

[Rob0729]

extremely loud venue...Brady re-visiting the scene of the Pollard crime...a team that so far cannot run the ball...a team that so far shows heavy reliance on Edelman and little to no vertical sideline passing to the WR's. Does all this stuff suddenly disappear this Monday?

I think the defense will show up true to form so far. Would be nice to get some hits on Smith in the pocket early. I'm looking for a few big plays from the defense to tilt this game in our favor.

The Pats rushed for 150 yards vs. Minnesota and 4.5 YPC vs. Miami. The Pats have shown they can run the ball. They didn't against Oakland.

 

[Froob]

It's nice to look at the positives but you really can't be happy with a 16-9 win over a bad west coast team in New England. It must have felt like a loss this week in practice for the Patriots. Anyways, for positives I'd say the pass defense has been a big plus. Rush defense is hard to say because No-Show Moreno destroyed them and Minny (minus AD) and Oakland have weak running games. I don't think you can win a Super Bowl with a line this bad. Offense should come together if the line does.

 

[Rob0729]

It's nice to look at the positives but you really can't be happy with a 16-9 win over a bad west coast team in New England. It must have felt like a loss this week in practice for the Patriots. Anyways, for positives I'd say the pass defense has been a big plus. Rush defense is hard to say because No-Show Moreno destroyed them and Minny (minus AD) and Oakland have weak running games. I don't think you can win a Super Bowl with a line this bad. Offense should come together if the line does.

People forget that the Pats were two failed goal line drives from blowing out the Raiders. Yes, the fact that the Pats failed on the goal-line is disconcerting, but you can blame one drive failing on a muffed snap, Brady throwing the ball a bit better to Amendola (or Amendola a little faster on his route whichever way you look at it), and not calling Vereen to run the ball on the goal-line and trip on himself. If the Pats converted both those X and goal at the 2-3, the Pats would have won 24-9.

Yes, I know they didn't, but the goal-line stuff can be fixed especially as Gronk gets healthy.

Also, the Pats did better vs. the Vikes than the Saints did (and the Saints were at home). The Saints were barely holding onto the lead going into the 4th quarter (13-9). And the Saints rushed for 108 yards for 3.4 YPC against the Vikes when the Pats ran for 150 with 4.1 YPC. The Vikes have a good defense (their offense sucks) and the Pats scored more points against them offense than the Saints did.

BTW, this is supposed to be a positive thread.

 

[hwc]

OK. I'll play...

It's positive that Gostkowski has been successfully kicking field goals on almost all of the failed trips to the red zone...

 

[RayClay]

I can't remember so much negativity and overreaction associated with this team after a win (mostly in the media).

You forgot early last year? I agree it's ridiculous, but I think maybe Cincinnati beats it. Actually, starting 4-0 with the world's going to end posts has to be a record. we looked crappy, but comre on, a W's a W.

2-1 and leading the division is positive enough for me. Accompanied by an attacking defense? I'm in heaven.

 

[RayClay]

It's nice to look at the positives but you really can't be happy with a 16-9 win over a bad west coast team in New England.

Yes! Yes I can. The object is to win games! This attitude is ridiculous, it's negative loser thinking.

 

[RayClay]

Of course some people are just negative thinkers who undoubtedly turn possible victories into failures in everyday life.