Pats/Titans postgame notes [merged]

[PonyExpress]

Re: Titan Thoughts

Who's at ILB then ? Bruschi and Seau is fine but there would be no depth whatsoever.

BF,
The greatest defensive mind of all-time obviously agrees with you. I guess the team values Thomas' coverage more than his pass rush, which says something for his talent level. Watching Thomas play ILB last night, he did a much better job fighting off blocks vs the run (other than the 1st play from scrimmage). It's easy to look great playing vs the run behind someone as dominant as Wilfork, and Thomas will gradually make that adjustment and become a dominant ILB. Hopefully it will happen before the SD game. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a 1 year plan, and the team will release Colvin next offseason and move Thomas back to OLB.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Titan Thoughts

Absolutely right. Everything he did looked half-hearted. The way he looked last night, when he gets cut, he may not get picked up by another team. OTOH, I thought I remembered him playing much better last week. Richardson continues to look like this season's surprise.

A quick note on Goots: he is starting to sound like the opposite of Cassel in some ways. Looks bad in practice (from what I've heard) but his game time decisions under pressure are quick and sure. This may be a reflection of the lack of Cassel's live reps, I don't know, but Goots looked pretty good last night. As we know from Brady and Bledsoe, there is no substitute for that ability to see the field and act quickly.

Kerry Collins is a better QB than Vince Young. Young should be ashamed of his performance last night.

Cassel was facing the same D that pummeled Brady. Gutierrez was facing the Titans scrubs. He was also playing with some of our scrubs, like Bam - who actually knows the offense and is fighting for his NFL life and knows that too so be plays balls to the wall and can at least therefore perform in it better than some of our starters when he is competing against third string D's. Belichick actually appeared a little miffed at third string Matt when he ran that ball in for the TD. Not sure if he was displeased with the QB because he failed to make an available play elsewhere or with the rest of the squad for not executing whatever play was called. He's not looking for seat of the pants improv particularly in the preseason. He's trying to evaluate your/everyone's ability to execute within the system.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather hang onto both Matt's and pass on Vinny, but you're comparing apples and oranges. Same for Collins, although I think Vince is unlikely to progress to the elite level because raw talent gets that hype and the $$$ up front and despite what they say they continue to believe it's all about the talent that got them there. They don't often grasp that it's hard work year round and attention to detail and the ability or capacity to develop the ability to read defenses and think quickly on your feet and consistently make good decisions that gets you where you really need to go.

 

[cstjohn17]

Anyone else in favor of seeing the Seau/Thomas ILB combo more frequently?

Nice breakdowns by everyone.

I thought the same thing especially against power running teams like SD. I also like the idea of having improved depth this year.

Collins - This hurts to say but I prefer him over Cassell as a backup QB.

 

[Hoodie]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

Watson did play right? I am pretty sure I saw 84 on the field... just no catches

Oh yeah he was out there. Not sure if "played" is the right word. "Got played" is more like it as his inability to hold his blocks was responsible for getting Brady knocked on his ass at least once.

 

[PatsFan37]

Re: Titan Thoughts

Cassel was facing the same D that pummeled Brady. Gutierrez was facing the Titans scrubs.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather hang onto both Matt's and pass on Vinny, but you're comparing apples and oranges.

No, I'm not comparing the Cassel of today with the Gutierrez of today and I'm not saying Gut is better today than Cassel today. Think back to Cassel's second preseason game, after his remarkable first game. Cassel struggled with pocket presence, with feeling the rush, with deciding when to take a sack, when to run and when to throw. He took a lot of blindside sacks. Today, he is much, much better than he was in his second preseason game.

I am not in the least claiming that Gut is better overall. All I said was that Gut looked good. I assumed (my mistake) that it was understood that he looked good in the context of his development. As you say, apples with apples.

As far as that TD run, so what if BB was upset? If you remember Cassel's first game, he carried his scrubs to a TD-drive mostly by scrambling and we all heralded his grit and determination, though I doubt it was in the game plan. I felt in this case that Gut was a lot cooler, he saw his receivers covered, saw that he was wide open to the goal line and made the right decision, if his purpose was to score. I can't argue with him having that as his purpose.

 

[Keegs]

Re: Titan Thoughts

I never thought there'd actually be a LeKevin Smith fan club. Good to hear! It sounds like we're working on having a D-line that could start for NE, and another D-Line that could start for a decent team elsewhere... as backups.

Great posts, from out here in the hinterlands where we only get a half-dozen Pats games a year or so

(You have no idea how bad it USE to be... but then again, a lot of those games we best left unwatched... they would show up on other teams' highlight reels.)

PFnV

Hey man what are you talking about?

I've been president of the club for like a year now.

 

[PatriotsRiot93]

OK I'll admit it- I'm now on the Le Kevin Smith bandwagon. He's a great replacement for Hill. He was dominating and has a great nose for the ball.

On that second drive with the Pats 1st string O- they completely dominated. I think almost every play was a run inside and the o-line was awesome. Their pass blocking skills leave something to be desired but they are really blowing holes in the Ttians D-line.

Brady kept getting pounded. I was on the edge of my seat the whole night. Cassel took his licks too- I was surprised he stayed in so late after taking that hit on his throwing arm during the throwing motion.

Overall not a bad game. Definetly exciting for preseason. But thank God it was only preseason.

 

[patsox23]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

What's a Pats fan's MO when backed into a corner? Bring up something completely off-topic to get the pressure off the topic at hand. It's a certainty that they will do it, too funny, happens every time I post something negative and true about the Pats.

"Backed into a corner?" LOL! You were just making a joke about Brady getting smacked around and throwing picks. Stuff that's going to be far less prevalent than it was last night. In fact, my whole point was, "Fine, wait 'til the regular season - the phins look great."

Try not being a disingenuous tool and you'll get along a lot better over here.

 

[Vern]

Re: Titan Thoughts

Observations from Sec 326:

1. Pats "1.5 D" (half 1st half 2nd D) played incredible! I am excited all over again. I don't understand these Pats fans who worry about the offense. The job of the Offense on our SB teams has been to score around 17 to 20 points and eat as much clock as possible to give the D rest.

1.a. This team looked a lot like 2003 - killer D that is scary deep, and an offense with emerging weapons that will be inconsistent - score 13 points in some games (which will be plenty) and 38 points in other games when things go right.

2. Safety play looks like the best since 03-04 era.

3. Is Caldwell playing himself right out of a job? While not horrible, he misses all the little things - penalties, mental mistakes, etc. The Yang to Gaffney's Yin. Maybe Gaffney doing all the little things so well just makes it seem worse.

3.a. I did see Caldwell playing LATE into the game, at one point with a bunch of guys who won't make the team.

4. Mills - also on the field with a bunch of guys who won't make the team. Not a good place to be. If he does make the roster, he's there only until the PUPers start to free up after 6 weeks.

5. Secondary vs. front 7 - you can see why guys like Warren and Thomas gets the big $$ while guys like Law and Samuel leave town to get paid. In this scheme, pass defense is about pressure and throwing lanes - the secondary is just a net hung out to gather in the reward from a hurried throw.

6. More shades of 03 - Sammy Morris reminds me of A. Smith that year. Nothing impressive, but gets yards his 3 yards, and does well when you need him. The offense loses a lot without Maroney, but I feel good they can still operate without him. I also like have a real FB in Evans.

7. Welker on Punts could be more a weapon than Welker on O.

8. CJ Jones might have inched closer to the practice squad last night. Several stand out plays.

9. Another great tackle by Rogers, open field in goal line situation.

10. Third string ILBs Mays and Lua looked BAD. Monty Beisel bad.

 

[patsox23]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

You are an easy grader, you were 'happy' with the game? We could have lost our top 2 QBs and threw 4 INTs. I expect to see an improvement next week but holding hope against hope that M&M (Maroney & Moss) save the day seems overly optimistic. There is a reasonable chance these guys are going to miss some action.

The is a fundmental lack of execution and consistency with the offense.

I would sum up the game as:

• Offense bad...
• Defense very good, especially stopping the run. Big improvement from the first game.

Well first of all, you clearly missed the point of the post. And secondly you misrepresent it by only quoting half of it. Let me spell it for you, despite the fact that I already have:

GIVEN that the Patriots OL played like crap, in sloppy weather, without Moss and Maroney, against a pretty tough D, and gave away 3-7 points after going 1st and goal at the 1, they STILL scored 17 points in the first half. That, plus the fact that they came out uninjured is positive.

Do we want it to be that sloppy? No?

Do I expect it to be? No.

Did we still score 17 points, despite all that? Yes.

Is anyone being a spazzy Chicken Little? Sure seems that way, big guy.

 

[TripleOption]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

Bruschi was there first.

No he wasn't. Brown and Seau met him head on. Bruschi swooped in from behind, but if Brown didn't stand him up, he would have gone right in.

 

[psychoPat]

Re: Titan Thoughts

....
4. Mills - also on the field with a bunch of guys who won't make the team. Not a good place to be. If he does make the roster, he's there only until the PUPers start to free up after 6 weeks.

Beginning to lose faith in Garrett.
He tipped a good throw by Cassel into a DB's diving hands for one of the INTs.
Aren't "good hands" his strong suit?

.... In this scheme, pass defense is about pressure and throwing lanes - the secondary is just a net hung out to gather in the reward from a hurried throw.

Hear! Hear!

 

[mgteich]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

I agree, IMHO, LeKevin has made the team. He started at DE. He plays well at NT. He has a year of experience. The coaches like him. He's inexpensive. He's a keeper. Yes, that is what the preseason is about. He had a chance and he made the best of it. Congrats to LeKevin!!

It seems like Le Kevin Smith could be making the 53 man roster since he started. I don't want to jump the gun, but he seems to be in favor with the coaches if he's starting after Seymour, Warren, and Wright.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

We need to face the fat that Meriweather amy take a bit of time to develop, compared to say Griffin of the Titans.

Thought the safeties made their presence felt.. Harrison, Wilson et al.. did not notice much of Meriweather though.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

We need to face the fat that Meriweather amy take a bit of time to develop, compared to say Griffin of the Titans.

I think he'll be ready by week 1. Lucky for him, there's a lot of depth (at this point, anyway) in the backfield.

I also don't get the hate for Colvin.

 

[Bruschi 3:16]

I woke up this am feeling pretty disappointed with this team. They have been preaching this team's "depth" and for the second straight week, their 'depth' gets beaten late in the game.

Brady looked like a 6th round pick and Matt Light continues to show why he sucks on a daily basis. Thank God that BB still has several weeks to get these guys in gear. Admittedly, no Maroney and Moss, but still..

ps- I was in the Supermarket and saw a milk carton with Ben Watson's picture on it...

 

[JackBauer]

"Brady looked like a 6th round pick"

The sky is falling!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

We need to face the fat that Meriweather amy take a bit of time to develop, compared to say Griffin of the Titans.

Precisely, think back to Hobbs and Gay during their rookie years, Hobbs in particular; BB limited Hobbs to small roles while Duane Starks absorbed our attention, then half way through the season Starks is on IR and Hobbs is out there being picked on, three games later teams start going away from him and by the end of the season few wanted to challenge him. Gay was also a midseason replacement. I believe BB has a training timeline for young players at the CB position, there is probably some form of checklist where certain lessons involving techniques, coverages, route recognition, and communications must be completed to advance. I believe Meriweather is on such a track and won't see a lot of action before midseason, then things will get interesting.

I noted how LeKevin Smith reminded me of 2005 game one Vince Wilfork against Tampa Bay, too aggressive, impatient, fighting to be in the play vs. letting the play come to him. In other words, LeKevin is good enough to rotate with Vince, and maybe Ty, like Vince and Truck did his rookie year. Once Lekevin learns to control his gaps and trust his teammates to control theirs, he's going to sync-up with the first five DL like a good little machine cog - this is going to be a deep DL. (I've read a couple media guys praising Rashad Moore, I have mixed reviews on that praise. Moore is big and strong, but unlike Vince and LeKevin, I don't see the sideline-to-sideline capability. He had a year in NY with Mangini and learned the basics - they cut him. You watch him making the same mistakes LeKevin, and Vince before them, makes, so it's not fair to discredit his efforts, but you see more potential in a LeKevin, which probably means Moore replaces Booger McFarland in a couple weeks.)

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

I also don't get the hate for Colvin.

Indeed, I'm always puzzled by the strong "negative" emotional responses people have to guys who are out on the field entertaining us, let alone someone who has played well for us.

 

[zippo59]

Re: Pats/Titans postgame notes

No he wasn't. Brown and Seau met him head on. Bruschi swooped in from behind, but if Brown didn't stand him up, he would have gone right in.

Bruschi came in more from the side and spun him around. There's a good chance he would have goone in if he hadn't.