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Since its going to be 20 days before we play a meaningful game, here are some observations, pet peeves, rants, and questions before we play this year's version of pre-season game #3 in week 17.
1. Every week I see posters calling for us to add that "deep threat" to our receiving corps, as if suddenly the clouds would disappear, cancer will be cured, and some Iman somewhere would declare to all Muslims that the 21st century doesn't suck, if ONLY we could find our own version of Julio Jones.
I have long opined that year after year of unbroken history that proven CONCLUSIVELY that having an elite WR is NOT the answer to winning football. And while it certainly is a very nice luxury, it definitely ISN'T a requirement. Unfortunately judging from the amount of WR threads, and demands and pleas from so many to add this so call "critical necessity", I'm clearly not making much headway in my efforts. .
So let me come at it another way. Let me ask those people a question. Why do we need this "missing piece" when there hasn't been a single game all season where, with the talent at hand, we HAVEN'T had a WR open deep on multiple occasions.
Does it really make sense to invest major cap space, or valuable high end draft capital to add an asset with a skill set our QB can't match? Let's face it, the guy who is probably the greatest QB of all time, and one of the more accurate QB's in NFL history, DOESN'T throw an accurate deep ball.
At least once every game we are teased by a Brady long ball that will fall JUST out of reach of an open WR deep down the field. I don't know what the reason is. Its not arm strength. He's got more than enough. Its NOT that we don't have receivers who can get open. That's just not true. We see one open at least a couple of times a game.
So if I can't make a historical case by pointing out that WR's have less impact on winning than you think, maybe I can make the case that having that "deep threat" WR might be a wasted asset, since our QB might have a problem taking advantage of one.
2. Still on the WR topic. CONTINUITY - We all recognize that continuity is a key element in the long term success of the Pats. Continuity in the HC and staff. Continuity with the QB. Continuity in the systems and language. All have played a big part in the unprecedented success the Pats have had over the last 14 years.
To that end, why not have some CONTINUITY in our WR corps. Looking toward next season, the Pats have the RARE opportunity to bring back almost everybody from this year's WR group. To have Brady continue to develop chemistry with these players, to have many of the young WR's continue to develop their skills with the same QB, system, and staff could produce high benefits. Brady has had the luxury of have a somewhat stable WR corp only twice in his career. The 3 year period with Givens and Branch, 2002-2005, and the 2007-09 period with Welker and Moss..
Wouldn't it be nice if he had the opportunity to develop that next level connection by have the same guys to throw to for the 2-4 years. Maybe we'd see an improvement in his long passing game, if he didn't have to keep throwing to new guys every year or 2.
3. With the Rex Ryan era about to close, I started to think about this enigmatic presence that is about to leave. As a former coach, its hard not to admire his ability to get his players to play hard so consistently. Its one of the most important elements any leader can have. One the other hand, its equally impossible NOT to indict him and his staff. for his almost complete failure to develop and improve the talent he has been given over time.
Think about it. How many of his draft choices, and FA's, especially the 2nd and 3rd say choices, have flourished and become something more than their physical talents. Not that many. There haven't been many Ninko's, Arrington's, CJones', Connolly's and Wendell's pulled of the league's scrap heaps and developed over time into productive players.
If one truly wanted to define a difference between BB and Rex, it wouldn't be the opposite personalities and media styles, it would be that one guy gets more from less by better developing their skills than the other....by far. BB has been willing to invest time and effort into a lot of guys over the years, and wait a few years to get his pay off. Steven Neal is just one of several OLmen who fit that mold.
The fact is that what you initially see in a player is NOT what you necessarily get. (good and bad). Some players simply take time, patience, good coaching and the OPPORTUNITY to shine. Julian Edelman was an overnight success, 4 years in the making, and he is just one of many. It's the reason why BB can take a team with 19 players who started their NFL careers as UDFA's to the superbowl, and Rex Ryan could never.
4. Which brings me back to the WR's . Time and patience is why I don't dismiss Aaron Dobson out of hand and call for more new WR blood. People forget that DESPITE his disappointing lost season this year, Aaron Dobson still has more production in his first 2 seasons in a lot fewer games than Golden Tate did with Seattle. Tate didn't have a truly productive season until his FOURTH season in the league. Sometimes it just takes some time to develop
Having some patience with Dobson Tyms, and to a lesser degree with Boyce, is just another reason not to waste cap and draft capital on the WR position.
5. The play 'em or rest 'em debate is a tough one. Lots of good points on both sides. But here is the one that tips it for me to the side of playing 'em. Football more than any other team sport, relies on having great chemistry in the locker room. "all for one" truly means more than a cliche, and does affect the outcomes of games. For that reason, I'd find it hard to justify to my TEAM, that I'm going to protect "these guys", but the rest of you are expendable. And while in reality everyone on that team knows that Brady and Gronk ARE more important that the rest of them, actually treating them differently WOULD affect that delicate and fragile dynamic that constitutes having a great locker room or not. It might not be logical, but if you've ever experienced it, you know its a fact..
That's just one of the reason's why I expect the starters to all play a full half or more. The only possible exception to that might be Brady, IF and only if, he has a good first 3 series. Then he MIGHT just play the first quarter. And that would be more to see what you have in JG, than getting Brady work.
If you don't play them tomorrow, it will mean, when they finally hit the field, wouldn't have played a live snap in 20 days. That my friends is a recipe for a divisional round upset
6. I'm hoping against hope that the debacle also known as the NFCS might make the owners think twice about expanding the playoffs next season. Its going to be a travesty when an 11 or 12 win team is forced to play an away game with a 7 win team.
One of the big reasons why the NFL is so compelling, is that EVERY game matters so much,and how limited playoff spots are. Adding 2 more wildcard teams waters down the product and makes it more likely we will see "bad" teams playing in the league's finest showcase. Unfortunately the NFL has shown an uncanny ability to do the wrong thing over the last few years, so I'm not expecting on good outcome on this issue either.
7. A while back I ranted about Jeff Fisher and what a scumbag he was by taunting a down and out Washington team by naming all the picks they got for RGIII captains for their game. It was an unnecessary, highly unprofessional act that we've come to expect from that vastly over rated bully of a HC. Its no coincidence that his teams are always dirty and chippy. This was especially irritating, since is OWN team hasn't had a winning team for the 3 season's he's been there, DESPITE a boat load of individual talent and all those draft picks.
Then 2 things happened this week that were just SO...... perfect on this topic. First it was Fisher who complained about another team's player playing too rough. Now that the definition of irony right there. THEN there was this. Isn't it surprising that while so many HC's are constantly being talked about being on the "hot seat" at the end of the season, NO ONE ever mention Jeff Fisher. Yet in NINETEEN years as a HC, Jeff Fisher has had exactly 6 teams that were better than .500. That's right just SIX In fact his last winning season was back in 2008. Kind of makes you wonder whose pictures he must have have in the locked draw that allows HIM to still be an NFL head coach. What a FRAUD!
OK, I've rambled long enough. Just my attempt to lengthen everyone's attention span.
1. Every week I see posters calling for us to add that "deep threat" to our receiving corps, as if suddenly the clouds would disappear, cancer will be cured, and some Iman somewhere would declare to all Muslims that the 21st century doesn't suck, if ONLY we could find our own version of Julio Jones.
I have long opined that year after year of unbroken history that proven CONCLUSIVELY that having an elite WR is NOT the answer to winning football. And while it certainly is a very nice luxury, it definitely ISN'T a requirement. Unfortunately judging from the amount of WR threads, and demands and pleas from so many to add this so call "critical necessity", I'm clearly not making much headway in my efforts. .
So let me come at it another way. Let me ask those people a question. Why do we need this "missing piece" when there hasn't been a single game all season where, with the talent at hand, we HAVEN'T had a WR open deep on multiple occasions.
Does it really make sense to invest major cap space, or valuable high end draft capital to add an asset with a skill set our QB can't match? Let's face it, the guy who is probably the greatest QB of all time, and one of the more accurate QB's in NFL history, DOESN'T throw an accurate deep ball.
At least once every game we are teased by a Brady long ball that will fall JUST out of reach of an open WR deep down the field. I don't know what the reason is. Its not arm strength. He's got more than enough. Its NOT that we don't have receivers who can get open. That's just not true. We see one open at least a couple of times a game.
So if I can't make a historical case by pointing out that WR's have less impact on winning than you think, maybe I can make the case that having that "deep threat" WR might be a wasted asset, since our QB might have a problem taking advantage of one.
2. Still on the WR topic. CONTINUITY - We all recognize that continuity is a key element in the long term success of the Pats. Continuity in the HC and staff. Continuity with the QB. Continuity in the systems and language. All have played a big part in the unprecedented success the Pats have had over the last 14 years.
To that end, why not have some CONTINUITY in our WR corps. Looking toward next season, the Pats have the RARE opportunity to bring back almost everybody from this year's WR group. To have Brady continue to develop chemistry with these players, to have many of the young WR's continue to develop their skills with the same QB, system, and staff could produce high benefits. Brady has had the luxury of have a somewhat stable WR corp only twice in his career. The 3 year period with Givens and Branch, 2002-2005, and the 2007-09 period with Welker and Moss..
Wouldn't it be nice if he had the opportunity to develop that next level connection by have the same guys to throw to for the 2-4 years. Maybe we'd see an improvement in his long passing game, if he didn't have to keep throwing to new guys every year or 2.
3. With the Rex Ryan era about to close, I started to think about this enigmatic presence that is about to leave. As a former coach, its hard not to admire his ability to get his players to play hard so consistently. Its one of the most important elements any leader can have. One the other hand, its equally impossible NOT to indict him and his staff. for his almost complete failure to develop and improve the talent he has been given over time.
Think about it. How many of his draft choices, and FA's, especially the 2nd and 3rd say choices, have flourished and become something more than their physical talents. Not that many. There haven't been many Ninko's, Arrington's, CJones', Connolly's and Wendell's pulled of the league's scrap heaps and developed over time into productive players.
If one truly wanted to define a difference between BB and Rex, it wouldn't be the opposite personalities and media styles, it would be that one guy gets more from less by better developing their skills than the other....by far. BB has been willing to invest time and effort into a lot of guys over the years, and wait a few years to get his pay off. Steven Neal is just one of several OLmen who fit that mold.
The fact is that what you initially see in a player is NOT what you necessarily get. (good and bad). Some players simply take time, patience, good coaching and the OPPORTUNITY to shine. Julian Edelman was an overnight success, 4 years in the making, and he is just one of many. It's the reason why BB can take a team with 19 players who started their NFL careers as UDFA's to the superbowl, and Rex Ryan could never.
4. Which brings me back to the WR's . Time and patience is why I don't dismiss Aaron Dobson out of hand and call for more new WR blood. People forget that DESPITE his disappointing lost season this year, Aaron Dobson still has more production in his first 2 seasons in a lot fewer games than Golden Tate did with Seattle. Tate didn't have a truly productive season until his FOURTH season in the league. Sometimes it just takes some time to develop
Having some patience with Dobson Tyms, and to a lesser degree with Boyce, is just another reason not to waste cap and draft capital on the WR position.
5. The play 'em or rest 'em debate is a tough one. Lots of good points on both sides. But here is the one that tips it for me to the side of playing 'em. Football more than any other team sport, relies on having great chemistry in the locker room. "all for one" truly means more than a cliche, and does affect the outcomes of games. For that reason, I'd find it hard to justify to my TEAM, that I'm going to protect "these guys", but the rest of you are expendable. And while in reality everyone on that team knows that Brady and Gronk ARE more important that the rest of them, actually treating them differently WOULD affect that delicate and fragile dynamic that constitutes having a great locker room or not. It might not be logical, but if you've ever experienced it, you know its a fact..
That's just one of the reason's why I expect the starters to all play a full half or more. The only possible exception to that might be Brady, IF and only if, he has a good first 3 series. Then he MIGHT just play the first quarter. And that would be more to see what you have in JG, than getting Brady work.
If you don't play them tomorrow, it will mean, when they finally hit the field, wouldn't have played a live snap in 20 days. That my friends is a recipe for a divisional round upset
6. I'm hoping against hope that the debacle also known as the NFCS might make the owners think twice about expanding the playoffs next season. Its going to be a travesty when an 11 or 12 win team is forced to play an away game with a 7 win team.
One of the big reasons why the NFL is so compelling, is that EVERY game matters so much,and how limited playoff spots are. Adding 2 more wildcard teams waters down the product and makes it more likely we will see "bad" teams playing in the league's finest showcase. Unfortunately the NFL has shown an uncanny ability to do the wrong thing over the last few years, so I'm not expecting on good outcome on this issue either.
7. A while back I ranted about Jeff Fisher and what a scumbag he was by taunting a down and out Washington team by naming all the picks they got for RGIII captains for their game. It was an unnecessary, highly unprofessional act that we've come to expect from that vastly over rated bully of a HC. Its no coincidence that his teams are always dirty and chippy. This was especially irritating, since is OWN team hasn't had a winning team for the 3 season's he's been there, DESPITE a boat load of individual talent and all those draft picks.
Then 2 things happened this week that were just SO...... perfect on this topic. First it was Fisher who complained about another team's player playing too rough. Now that the definition of irony right there. THEN there was this. Isn't it surprising that while so many HC's are constantly being talked about being on the "hot seat" at the end of the season, NO ONE ever mention Jeff Fisher. Yet in NINETEEN years as a HC, Jeff Fisher has had exactly 6 teams that were better than .500. That's right just SIX In fact his last winning season was back in 2008. Kind of makes you wonder whose pictures he must have have in the locked draw that allows HIM to still be an NFL head coach. What a FRAUD!
OK, I've rambled long enough. Just my attempt to lengthen everyone's attention span.