Surprises To Me

[mgteich]

1) Morris is capable of carrying a large part of the load, and also being the short yardage back. I now have no problem with Morris being the Dillon to Maroney. If necessary, he can be the feature back.

2) Gaffney had more reps than any WR not named Moss. I was wrong. You guys were right about Gaffney.

3) Stallworth saw the field nine times. Lots of backups had more plays than that. We don't know why. I certainly expected him to get more WR reps than Washington or Gaffney.

 

[DaBruinz]

1) Morris is capable of carrying a large part of the load, and also being the short yardage back. I now have no problem with Morris being the Dillon to Maroney. If necessary, he can be the feature back.

2) Gaffney had more reps than any WR not named Moss. I was wrong. You guys were right about Gaffney.

3) Stallworth saw the field nine times. Lots of backups had more plays than that. We don't know why. I certainly expected him to get more WR reps than Washington or Gaffney.

I agree with all three of these... Though Morris had me worried when he went down.......

 

[jbb9s]

1) Morris is capable of carrying a large part of the load, and also being the short yardage back. I now have no problem with Morris being the Dillon to Maroney. If necessary, he can be the feature back.

.

In the second half, when he cut and slipped behind the line of scrimmage, got up and ran off a nice 6 or 7 yard gain - now that was impressive. Think he might have tweaked his leg on the play but he was back a few plays later.

 

[mgteich]

It was indeed seeing him come back that was part of me being impressed. I suspect that Maroney wouldn't have returned to the game from the same injury (perhaps I am not being fair, but it is my personal impression).

In the second half, when he cut and slipped behind the line of scrimmage, got up and ran off a nice 6 or 7 yard gain - now that was impressive. Think he might have tweaked his leg on the play but he was back a few plays later.

 

[cstjohn17]

The game was a perfect start, very efficient offense, effective defense and still plenty of room for improvement. Surprises to me:

1) O Line - It looked like varsity verus JV, last year Brady took one of the worst beating of his career against the Jets. Today he had all day.
2) Brady efficiency - A lot of the offense has been missing at different stages of the season but in almost every formation the offense was effortless. The past two years each possesion was a life and death struggle, today it was just like clock work.
3) Jets running defense - The constant body shots opened up the passing game. When the safeties came up Brady made them pay, in the past the deep throws resulted in a bunch of 'almost long plays'
4) Moss is a pure receiver - Sure he is a freak, tall fast, etc. but I had no idea that he was so natural and had such an understanding of the game. He catches the ball with his hands, runs routes at the percise depth required. 180+ yards and I don't think he is even in game shape yet.
5) Offensive distribution - incredible number of people touched tha ball. I was impressed at how in the majority of cases players made the tough catches even though it may have been their first touch of the game. Some times players can't get into a rythm unless they are actively invloved. This group was a much of pros, each making their plays when called upon.
6) Pass rush - much better pressure than last year, the secondary still has to gel / get into game shape but if they can force teams in 3rd and long, advantage Patriots.

I am sure there is a million more, the AFC East race is pretty much over.

 

[DaBruinz]

The game was a perfect start, very efficient offense, effective defense and still plenty of room for improvement. Surprises to me:

1) O Line - It looked like varsity verus JV, last year Brady took one of the worst beating of his career against the Jets. Today he had all day.
2) Brady efficiency - A lot of the offense has been missing at different stages of the season but in almost every formation the offense was effortless. The past two years each possesion was a life and death struggle, today it was just like clock work.
3) Jets running defense - The constant body shots opened up the passing game. When the safeties came up Brady made them pay, in the past the deep throws resulted in a bunch of 'almost long plays'
4) Moss is a pure receiver - Sure he is a freak, tall fast, etc. but I had no idea that he was so natural and had such an understanding of the game. He catches the ball with his hands, runs routes at the percise depth required. 180+ yards and I don't think he is even in game shape yet.
5) Offensive distribution - incredible number of people touched tha ball. I was impressed at how in the majority of cases players made the tough catches even though it may have been their first touch of the game. Some times players can't get into a rythm unless they are actively invloved. This group was a much of pros, each making their plays when called upon.
6) Pass rush - much better pressure than last year, the secondary still has to gel / get into game shape but if they can force teams in 3rd and long, advantage Patriots.

I am sure there is a million more, the AFC East race is pretty much over.

5) The Pats had 10 different people touch the ball, either via rushing or receptions. That is normal for the Pats... And, honestly, normal for most teams... Just reviewing some of the other Box Scores from around the league, I see teams with 10-13 people having rushes or touching the ball.

 

[Pats726]

1) Morris is capable of carrying a large part of the load, and also being the short yardage back. I now have no problem with Morris being the Dillon to Maroney. If necessary, he can be the feature back.

2) Gaffney had more reps than any WR not named Moss. I was wrong. You guys were right about Gaffney.

3) Stallworth saw the field nine times. Lots of backups had more plays than that. We don't know why. I certainly expected him to get more WR reps than Washington or Gaffney.

I agree about Morris...I too was a BIT concerned without Dillon...MUCH LESS so now..
Not sure why they used gaffney more..Stallworth less..but it's OK..that was THIS game..I think next week it will be a different story..Having a ton of receivers really helps things..makes game planning really hard.

 

[upstater1]

I don't want to take anything away from our OL, but last year teams were blitzing their strong safety every down. No one respected the Patriots passing game.

What you saw today was fear of Wes Welker and Randy Moss.

That's why I voted for Moss as the key to today's game.

 

[mgteich]

There were lots of bltizes today. The OL and TE's and RB's picked up every single one.

I don't want to take anything away from our OL, but last year teams were blitzing their strong safety every down. No one respected the Patriots passing game.

What you saw today was fear of Wes Welker and Randy Moss.

That's why I voted for Moss as the key to today's game.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I don't want to take anything away from our OL, but last year teams were blitzing their strong safety every down. No one respected the Patriots passing game.

What you saw today was fear of Wes Welker and Randy Moss.

That's why I voted for Moss as the key to today's game.

Yeah the Jets were scared to death to even try blitizing more than only a few occassions.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Not sure why they used gaffney more..

2006 Season, Wildcard round, surprise player of the game was? I'm betting BB & JM had him in there to mess with the Jets in some manner...I wonder what the coaches tape will show Mangini?

Nice of NBC to give Hobbs the play of the week and single out the wedge centered on #61 Stephen Neal for busting him loose.

 

[Water Boy]

My observations after watching the game again on DVR:

1. Moss was very active blocking in the running game.

2. IIRC Jarvis Green was in on 3 sacks including the one where Pennington got hurt. I get the feeling that somewhere on a Jets message board a poster will adopt the screen name "jarvis green rocks".

3. Wilfork was very stout against the run vs. Mangold.

4. I believe on the Welker TD, Simms and Nance commented on what a laser beam that pass was. They said they could hear the sound of the ball hitting Welkers pads up in the press box.

5. On running plays, the Pats used Ryan O'Callahan as a TE eligible blocker on the left side of the line.

6. Last season's offensive woes will be a distant memory soon. Opposing safeties will actually have to defend against the pass. I only recalled seeing Kerry Rhodes named called once yesterday.

7. Ben Watson roared like a wild beast after scoring his TD. I saw him make a decent wham block too in the running game.

8. Its fun to watch Seau sell out as a full-back in goal line situations.

9. The combination of Welker and Moss spells misery for opposing defenses.

 

[DarrylS]

According to Reiss, here is the breakdown..

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

WR snaps
By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
A look at the final tally of snaps played by the Patriots receivers:

Randy Moss -- 39
Jabar Gaffney -- 37
Wes Welker -- 24
Kelley Washington -- 11
Donte' Stallworth -- 9

The Patriots had 65 offensive plays from scrimmage. The totals for the receivers did not include the final kneel-down.

 

[14thDragon]

I think for me the biggest surprise was the number of 3 TE sets with only two active for the game.

I think Stallworth did not get much action due to an empahsis on power. I think he is better used in a 3WR set and with a heavy dose of 2 TE and 3 TE sets alternating Gaffne and Moss on the outside with thier size and Welker in the stacked formations.

 

[OldEnglandPatriot]

Re: Gaffney. Is it a good thing that he saw almost as many snaps as Welker, Stallworth and Washington combined, and caught precisely one pass?

 

[cstjohn17]

According to Reiss, here is the breakdown..

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

Positional groupings..
2 WR/2 TE/1 RB -- 31 snaps
1 WR/3 TE/1 RB -- 12 snaps
1 WR/2 TE/1 FB/1 RB -- 8 snaps
3 WR/1 TE/ 1 RB -- 8 snaps
4 WR/1 RB -- 3 snaps
3 TE/1 FB/1 RB -- 1 snap

The number that jumps out to me is the 3 WR look, only 8 times. The game plan against the Jets was to run the ball, a lot of power formations.

Question - on the bomb to Moss
Was that a max protection? It appeared to be an exact copy of the play against the Steelers in the 2004 AFC Championship (bomb to Branch).

 

[letekro]

Stallworth saw the field nine times. Lots of backups had more plays than that. We don't know why. I certainly expected him to get more WR reps than Washington or Gaffney.

Every WR has their role. When Moss is in the field, it is better to have a possession guy like Gaffney on the other side.

There are occasions when Moss will need a break and Donte can fill the downfield threat role.

Perhaps there will be other times when two speedsters are required on the outside.

All in all, although he may be more talented than Gaffney, it doesn't mean he will get more reps as the #2. (Although I do expect him to get more reps as he continues to practice).

 

[Metaphors]

7. Ben Watson roared like a wild beast after scoring his TD. I saw him make a decent wham block too in the running game.

On the Hobbs return, Watson pancaked the guy who was responsible for the lane Hobbs followed to the endzone. Hobbs outran the first wave to the sideline, but Watson cleared the way so Hobbs could stay at full speed through the hole into the clear.

I know Watson has been criticized on his blocking skills, but there were some positive signs in this game.

 

[WhiZa]

I believe they are reserving Stallworth. When a team is able to stop the run better and they scheme against Moss more and more Stallworth will be getting 1on1 on the outside and could be catching a lot of long balls in the future.

 

[Ring 6]

It was indeed seeing him come back that was part of me being impressed. I suspect that Maroney wouldn't have returned to the game from the same injury (perhaps I am not being fair, but it is my personal impression).

Why would you say that? There is simply no evidence to suggest Maroney would not play through an injury.