Pats/Bucs postgame notes

[Flying Fungi]

to all who didn't see the game, the start time conditions were: 90F with a heat index of 108F

miserable

 

[stcjones]

WR...Gaffney is on the team, Washington might make it to.

QB...Vinny might not make the team.

LB...Lua and Rogers(sp) looked good.

DB's...Merriweather needs to get there sooner and I think he can.

I think "Washington might make this team"....is an understatement after what he showed tonight.....of course we will have to see what else he brings in the coming weeks.....but he made some great catches and laid out there/went after every ball like a man possessed......meanwhile caldwell got a penalty and was basically ineffective..

 

[RayClay]

to all who didn't see the game, the start time conditions were: 90F with a heat index of 108F

miserable

No s**t. I live in this lovely part of hell.

 

[Rob0729]

What about each of their 2 receptions leads you to believe that they are on the team?

Yeah, I saw in the game thread that some people were already to give Washington a roster spot and cut Caldwell on the limited action tonight. It was two catches by Washington and one false start by Caldwell. So nothing in practice means anything over the last two weeks and five plays, including Gaffney's two catches, in the first preseason game will settle our back up WR position?

And we are judging Washington on his play on two catches being covered by Phillip Buchanon of all people. He couldn't even cut it on Houston's horrible defense.

 

[Kdo5]

I think "Washington might make this team"....is an understatement after what he showed tonight.....of course we will have to see what else he brings in the coming weeks.....but he made some great catches and laid out there/went after every ball like a man possessed......meanwhile caldwell got a penalty and was basically ineffective..

Let's wait another couple games before we consider him a lock for a roster spot over two damn catches.

 

[RayClay]

Yeah, I saw in the game thread that some people were already to give Washington a roster spot and cut Caldwell on the limited action tonight. It was two catches by Washington and one false start by Caldwell. So nothing in practice means anything over the last two weeks and five plays, including Gaffney's two catches, in the first preseason game will settle our back up WR position?

And we are judging Washington on his play on two catches being covered by Phillip Buchanon of all people. He couldn't even cut it on Houston's horrible defense.

I believe we're required to make passionate, impulsive decisions when it comes to wide receivers.

Part of the football fans code.

 

[Rob0729]

I think "Washington might make this team"....is an understatement after what he showed tonight.....of course we will have to see what else he brings in the coming weeks.....but he made some great catches and laid out there/went after every ball like a man possessed......meanwhile caldwell got a penalty and was basically ineffective..

I think calling Washington might make the team an understatement is an overstatement. He caught two balls being covered by Phillip Buchanon. Caldwell was ineffective being covered by Ronde Barber. I wonder how each would have done if they switched people covering them.

 

[Rob0729]

I believe we're required to make passionate, impulsive decisions when it comes to wide receivers.

Part of the football fans code.

People have been doing it since the AFC Championship game when it comes to Caldwell, why stop now.

 

[Flying Fungi]

No s**t. I live in this lovely part of hell.

then you dine with Leonidas? cool!

 

[zippo59]

Jeez Pats1, I made my observations in the other thread I'll try to edit so they make sense.
--------------------------------

Some might disagree, but I bet Rodgers, Mays and Lua might need to keep the tape of this game to show their grandkids.

Rodgers made lots of plays, but they made some big runs outside him. Cardinal sin, got to stay in your lane on this team.

Lua hits hard, but hits with no wrap up and spinning a QB around instead of burying him don't make it for an ILB.

Mays just looks lost.

I predict (jumping to conclusions, obviously) 1 of three makes it at all, either PS or STs. Hopefully their play in future exhibitions changes my mind.

Richardson made 2 good plays in a row, Mills looks agile.

Santonio Thomas, who won't make nothing, continues to look better than the young LBs (who have a real shot), IMO. Oh well.

What's a Quinton Smith and why can't we have one?

I

Learning edge containment in the 3-4 is one of the hardest things to learn in the transition to outside linebacker from defenseive end. Rogers showed a nose for the ball which is what you want to see in these you players learning a completely new system and/or position.

 

[PatsSteve1]

I don't get to see the game until tomorrow on NFLN, but looking at the stats at ESPN aren't real encouraging. I'm reading these posts about Washington and wondering if the camp reports are true. Does he leave his feet when catching a pass even when he doesn't have to? I guess I can see myself tomorrow. It's only a first PS game with a many of the best players out. I thought it was deja vu seeing Caldwell and Gaffney as starting WR's on Riess's blog. It's really more of a evaluation game of individual players than a game where their going to jell together much with the starters not playing much and different combo's out there. So no bridge jumping -

 

[RayClay]

then you dine with Leonidas? cool!

Didn't see the movie, but if he dined here it would be in a crappy chain restaurant.

Compared to the fare in a real city, that might be considered hell.

 

[mac]

*About Rodgers*

Looked great early. The big drives at the end made you wonder why their was no outside containment so I watched.

Obviously not a comprehensive analysis, but that's just such a big no no on this team. Could be, he gets a talking to and looks great.

On the other hand, it could be why he was "always around the ball" early.

Time will tell, but time is quite limited for some.

On the other hand, I don't know diddley, so we must take that into account.

You may not know diddley, but you are one of my favorite posters. Rodgers got run around all night. You forgot to mention that Lua got faked out of his jock on the TB TD. In fact, the entire linebacking core just could not make a play. The Pats front generally holds their ground, but the LBs do not step up. Tampa threw over the middle at will as well. Other posters have been praising Meriwether, but I saw him miss tackles including one which would have been a ten-yard loss. The team to me just looked flat. I do not recall one truly hard hit or one pass deflected. As for Rcihardson, hhe had that pass thrown to him but dropped it. I can't believe the coaching staff would be happy with the team's effort this evening.

 

[patsox23]

Maroney, Watson, Brady, Moss, Stallworth, Brady - out. Seymour, Wilfork and Warren (2 plays) - basically all out. Not worried even a little bit. Be nice for BB to use the "so much for the hype" angle in practice, 'though it's not even necessary, really.

No injuries to speak of, that's pretty much the ONLY thing that matters.

 

[RayClay]

Learning edge containment in the 3-4 is one of the hardest things to learn in the transition to outside linebacker from defenseive end. Rogers showed a nose for the ball which is what you want to see in these you players learning a completely new system and/or position.

Not really. If you blow your assignment to go for the ball, you flunk the test in this system.

It's all about doing your job. You get negative, not positive points, even if you make the tackle, when you leave your area of responsibility.

I welcome other comments on this.

 

[zippo59]

I don't get to see the game until tomorrow on NFLN, but looking at the stats at ESPN aren't real encouraging. I'm reading these posts about Washington and wondering if the camp reports are true. Does he leave his feet when catching a pass even when he doesn't have to? I guess I can see myself tomorrow. It's only a first PS game with a many of the best players out. I thought it was deja vu seeing Caldwell and Gaffney as starting WR's on Riess's blog. It's really more of a evaluation game of individual players than a game where their going to jell together much with the starters not playing much and different combo's out there. So no bridge jumping -

I don't believe Washington left his feet at all.

And I wouldn't draw a lot of conclusions from this game, particularly on offense, because Maroney, Stallworth, Watson, Moss, Kyle Brady, and Dave Thomas all were no shows. That's a lot of key contriutors there. Oh yeah, and it's only the first preseason game.

 

[zippo59]

Who was that who pushed Sammy Morris into the endzone? Was it Oldenburg?

 

[Flying Fungi]

You may not know diddley, but you are one of my favorite posters. Rodgers got run around all night. You forgot to mention that Lua got faked out of his jock on the TB TD. In fact, the entire linebacking core just could not make a play. The Pats front generally holds their ground, but the LBs do not step up. Tampa threw over the middle at will as well. Other posters have been praising Meriwether, but I saw him miss tackles including one which would have been a ten-yard loss. The team to me just looked flat. I do not recall one truly hard hit or one pass deflected. As for Rcihardson, hhe had that pass thrown to him but dropped it. I can't believe the coaching staff would be happy with the team's effort this evening.

you must exclude Vrabes from this generalization

 

[JoeSixPat]

I'd love to hear back from all those people who told me I was crazy for thinking that Gaffney, Washington or Caldwell could ever have any trade value!

Also it seems like we've got some young defensive talent - though its tough to tell anything from pre-season game #1

 

[PonyExpress]

missed 2nd half.

1st half:
-Kaczur was solid. Can' t really ask for more from him.
-Morris looks like "just a guy." Durability may be his best asset. That's not necessarily a criticism.
-I like what I saw from K. Washington. He is playing with passion, and it always hurts to cut a player showing heart. I hope we have room for him. Given a chance he could become an asset.
-A. Thomas' physical abilities are obvious. Still a work in progress at ILB. I really would prefer him at weak side OLB, but that's just me. His speed and power seem ideal there. I guess the idea is to move him around constantly like the Cowboys did last season with D. Ware. I hope this doesn't detract from his comfort level with run fits. The 1st teamers were pretty soft up the middle tonight, and from what I saw it wasn't Big Vince's problem.
-I haven't seen Meriweather forced to make a play at cb yet, but he looks at ease out there, like a savvy vet. So many rooks show indecision, nervousness, self-doubt. Not Meriweather. He has a comfort level, a feisty physical side to his game which is unusual in a cb, and great to see.
-Gaffney is getting better and better. Seems like the playoff games may not have been an aberration. It often takes WRs 4-5 years to mature, understanding their bodies, how to prepare mentally and physically. David Carr truly su(ked. I can only imagine how good A. Johnson really is. If Schaub is half decent the Texans could surprise offensively.
-Looks like Tiny is taking it easy. Good. I hope they put him in a glass case labeled "Break on Sept. 9".
-Didn't see Pierre out there.
-Justin Rogers has natural flexibility, an ability to take an odd angled blow, bend and recover. This suggests he has a chance to remain durable. He is relentless, though I'm not sure his strength is adequate yet. It should be interesting to monitor his progress over the next year. He has more natural talent than Chatham ever had, and should be a quality special teams player.
-To me Lua looked slow.
- Not saying I want them back, but in some ways I long for the days of Givens and Branch. You usually knew when Tom released the ball that good things were bound to happen. Now, I sometimes find myself looking away on passing downs, waiting to hear the outcome, then watching it on replay. On passing downs I expect the worst and hope for the best.
-Rodney seemed a bit passive. Is he protecting/pacing himself through meanignless games? If so, I applaud it, although the Rodney we remember played balls to the walls preseason or no.
-I wonder if BB is more cautious exposing key players to injury risk than in the past. Just an impression with no factual support other than gut feeling.
-I wonder if Cassel had some torn cartilage in his hip joint. He usually bounces up from a big hit like a jack in the box, and he looked shaken tonight. Was the plan for Gutierrez to play such extended minutes, or was that a reaction to a problem with Cassel?
-Haven't been to training camp, but this team looked soft tonight, like they weren't ready to take or deliver blows. Maybe the camp hasn't been physical, and that was reflected in tonight's performance.