1st Quarter Season Grades

[Ring 6]

QB. A+++ I have not seen a QB play better in a 4 game stretch than Tom brady.
RB A. 2 RBs on pace for over 1000 yards. Averaging 4.7 and 5.0 yards per carry. RB postion has contributed. Faulk has added 10 receptins and 7 rushes for 44 yards (6.3). Evans has done a good job blocking.
WR. A+ Moss has caught 31 of 35 passes thrown to him. Welker has 23 catches (on pace for 92). Stallworth/gaffney have combined for 12. Thats a pace of 264 receptions for the WRs on a team throwing the ball only 30 times a game (pace of 480). In other words WRs alone have caught passes on 55% of the teams pass attmepts. They have a combined 9 TDs.
TE. B. Watson has 3 TDs on 11 catches, Brady is a beast blocking.
OL A+ You cannot run for 157 yards a game, average 4.5 a carry, throw for 275 a game, be sacked 3 times in 4 games(once every FORTY passes), punt 5 times in 4 games, score 37 points a game, average 6.5 yards per play, and have 34.5 minutes of time of possession with an OL that is DOMINATING.

DL- A. Less than 70 yards per game rushing, 3.4 per carry, Jarvis Green has stepped in for seymour and has 3 sacks. No RB has come anywhere near 100 yards in any game.
LB- A+ Vrabel has 4 sacks, Colvin 2 plus an Int. Thomas has been all over the field. Bruschi and Seau have been consistent. 0 rushes of 20+ yards. The LBs make this D go, and being #1 in total defense, and 1.0 per game behind #1 in points allowed, speaks to the LBs.
DB- A+ Especially playing from ahead, and thereby being less aggressive in pass D, some of the pass D #s are astonishing. #1 in the NFL in 3rd down conversions on D. (We are alos #1 in 3rd down conv on offense) 156 passing yards per game. 5 Ints. Only 9.9 yards per completion. 0 40+ yard plays. Longest pass play allowed all season is 23 yards. (WOW) QB rating 75.3

Specials Teams
K- B. Gostyowski is 8th in KO distance. 5th in touchbacks, 8th in average KR allowed. 5/6 on FGs.
P- Inc. 5 punts in 4 games. League average is more than 4 a GAME. 11 teams average as many or more punts PER GAME as the Pats have punted in all 4. How can you grade the punter who never punts?
Returns. A #1 in KO return avarage. #10 in punt returns.

Overall:
Offense A+
Defense A+
Special Teams A
Team A+

 

[miDeuce]

If anyone had tried to predict this before the season I would've thought they were an idiotic homer. It's hard not to think about what kind of season this is going to be if they can sustain this.

 

[OntarioPatsFan]

If anyone had tried to predict this before the season I would've thought they were an idiotic homer. It's hard not to think about what kind of season this is going to be if they can sustain this.

Agreed. But really what are the chances they are able to keep this up? Football season's are so unpredictable (case in point, 2003, Pats have their asses handed to them in Week 1 by Buffalo and then win SB), what will be really interesting and amusing will see the reaction from the media, fans, etc. when the Pats eventually have a bad game or two.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

OL A+ You cannot run for 157 yards a game, average 4.5 a carry, throw for 275 a game, be sacked 3 times in 4 games(once every FORTY passes), punt 5 times in 4 games, score 37 points a game, average 6.5 yards per play, and have 34.5 minutes of time of possession without an OL that is DOMINATING.

I fixed your post for you. Don't want to upset the Metaphors.

 

[Fencer]

I of course agree with your general conclusions.

But A+ is a little high of a grade for a defense that:

1. Has given up 12 points per game.
2. Has been OK but not great in handing good field position to the offense.
3. Has had very little to cope with in the way of good field position being handed to the opposition.

"A" range? Sure. But it's a more ordinary A.

That said -- I'm an old geezer who last received or awarded school grades in the 1970s, before a lot of subsequent grade inflation.

 

[Deus Irae]

Agreed. But really what are the chances they are able to keep this up? Football season's are so unpredictable (case in point, 2003, Pats have their asses handed to them in Week 1 by Buffalo and then win SB), what will be really interesting and amusing will see the reaction from the media, fans, etc. when the Pats eventually have a bad game or two.

Conversely, I think it's pretty clear that this team still hasn't played at its highest level. Just picture Moss and Welker getting a 100% Stallworth and Maroney to help out along with a 100% Neal on the line, and add that to a defense that gets Seymour and Harrison back in the mix.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I of course agree with your general conclusions.

But A+ is a little high of a grade for a defense that:

1. Has given up 12 points per game.
2. Has been OK but not great in handing good field position to the offense.
3. Has had very little to cope with in the way of good field position being handed to the opposition.

"A" range? Sure. But it's a more ordinary A.

That said -- I'm an old geezer who last received or awarded school grades in the 1970s, before a lot of subsequent grade inflation.

(2) is a valid reason for not giving an A+, (3) is open to debate.

But (1) is a rather hard case to argue: since the NFL expanded the season to 16 games, only three teams have averaged <12 PPG (the 2000 Ravens, the 1986 Bears, and the 2000 Titans). I'd like to hope at least 1% of 'students' should get an A+.

 

[PatsWorldChamps]

QB. A+++ I have not seen a QB play better in a 4 game stretch than Tom brady.
RB A. 2 RBs on pace for over 1000 yards. Averaging 4.7 and 5.0 yards per carry. RB postion has contributed. Faulk has added 10 receptins and 7 rushes for 44 yards (6.3). Evans has done a good job blocking.
WR. A+ Moss has caught 31 of 35 passes thrown to him. Welker has 23 catches (on pace for 92). Stallworth/gaffney have combined for 12. Thats a pace of 264 receptions for the WRs on a team throwing the ball only 30 times a game (pace of 480). In other words WRs alone have caught passes on 55% of the teams pass attmepts. They have a combined 9 TDs.
TE. B. Watson has 3 TDs on 11 catches, Brady is a beast blocking.
OL A+ You cannot run for 157 yards a game, average 4.5 a carry, throw for 275 a game, be sacked 3 times in 4 games(once every FORTY passes), punt 5 times in 4 games, score 37 points a game, average 6.5 yards per play, and have 34.5 minutes of time of possession with an OL that is DOMINATING.

DL- A. Less than 70 yards per game rushing, 3.4 per carry, Jarvis Green has stepped in for seymour and has 3 sacks. No RB has come anywhere near 100 yards in any game.
LB- A+ Vrabel has 4 sacks, Colvin 2 plus an Int. Thomas has been all over the field. Bruschi and Seau have been consistent. 0 rushes of 20+ yards. The LBs make this D go, and being #1 in total defense, and 1.0 per game behind #1 in points allowed, speaks to the LBs.
DB- A+ Especially playing from ahead, and thereby being less aggressive in pass D, some of the pass D #s are astonishing. #1 in the NFL in 3rd down conversions on D. (We are alos #1 in 3rd down conv on offense) 156 passing yards per game. 5 Ints. Only 9.9 yards per completion. 0 40+ yard plays. Longest pass play allowed all season is 23 yards. (WOW) QB rating 75.3

Specials Teams
K- B. Gostyowski is 8th in KO distance. 5th in touchbacks, 8th in average KR allowed. 5/6 on FGs.
P- Inc. 5 punts in 4 games. League average is more than 4 a GAME. 11 teams average as many or more punts PER GAME as the Pats have punted in all 4. How can you grade the punter who never punts?
Returns. A #1 in KO return avarage. #10 in punt returns.

Overall:
Offense A+
Defense A+
Special Teams A
Team A+

hate to sound like a homer, but your grades are right on

 

[patsox23]

But A+ is a little high of a grade for a defense that:

1. Has given up 12 points per game.

Um..................??????????????????????????????????????????????????????

 

[Fencer]

While giving up 12 points per game is amazing for team, I think you'll find that it's merely very, very good for a defense.

I.e. -- it's not enough to make a unit A+ if the takeaway performance is more like a C.

And since the takeaway total of 7 is in a 4-way tie for 14th, in a league where a few teams have already had byes -- yeah, the takeaway part is pretty far from A+ territory.

 

[DarrylS]

I agree completely with the grades, on any team at any one time there will be some minor fluctuations.. however the sum is greater than the equal of its parts.. in this case the difference between an A+ and an A is insignificant..

 

[Bostonian1962]

I fixed your post for you. Don't want to upset the Metaphors.

Just what is a meta for?

 

[psychoPat]

While giving up 12 points per game is amazing for team, I think you'll find that it's merely very, very good for a defense.

I.e. -- it's not enough to make a unit A+ if the takeaway performance is more like a C.

And since the takeaway total of 7 is in a 4-way tie for 14th, in a league where a few teams have already had byes -- yeah, the takeaway part is pretty far from A+ territory.

I guess that's what the standard script for pressers and interviews means.
You know:

"We did some good things and some not-so-good things.
We just have to keep working on trying to become better."

You'd think it was getting a little tough
to sell that message.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

TE. B. Watson has 3 TDs on 11 catches, Brady is a beast blocking.
OL A+ You cannot run for 157 yards a game, average 4.5 a carry, throw for 275 a game, be sacked 3 times in 4 games(once every FORTY passes), punt 5 times in 4 games, score 37 points a game, average 6.5 yards per play, and have 34.5 minutes of time of possession with{out} an OL that is DOMINATING.

How about the fact that the Pats have had more holding penalties accepted on their tight ends (2) than on their O-line (1)?????

 

[sieglo]

Giving up an average of 12 points per game is pretty damned good if two of the four teams you've played are the Bengals and Chargers.

 

[Ring 6]

While giving up 12 points per game is amazing for team, I think you'll find that it's merely very, very good for a defense.

I.e. -- it's not enough to make a unit A+ if the takeaway performance is more like a C.

And since the takeaway total of 7 is in a 4-way tie for 14th, in a league where a few teams have already had byes -- yeah, the takeaway part is pretty far from A+ territory.

I disagree. 12 points a game is unbelievable. Doing that over a season is close to record setting. The D is ranked #1 in yardage. 7 takeaways is not bad. Being #1 in yardage AND 3rd down conversions means that other than getting takeaways, they are also creating field position by stopping teams and making them punt.
They are also first in yards per play. They are 2nd in first downs allowed (by 0.2 per game).
The defense has allowed a TOTAL of 12 3rd downs converted in 4 games.

Everything else aside:
#1 Total D
12 ppg
3.4 ypr
#1 3rd down conversions (# and %)

Is an automatic A+ no matter how they are getting it done.
You cannot be better than #1 in total defense, and allowing 12 points a game is best-ever level.

 

[Metaphors]

I fixed your post for you. Don't want to upset the Metaphors.

Appreciate the correction.

 

[Oswlek]

I know that giving out nothing by A's leads to accusations of homerism, but Watson has the folowing line with footballoutsiders:

DVOA - 59.9%
Rank - 1
Catch % - 92%

He is ranked #8 in DPAR, but that is because of limited targets. But he is 8.9% ahead of the field at DVOA and 8% ahead of the field at catch %. I can't really find any reason to not give him an A. Even his blocking has been adequate to good. Kyle Brady has been outstanding at blocking so he has to earn an A there.

 

[JJDChE]

12 ppg isn't best ever level. 2000 Ravens allowed 10 a game, and there's a huge difference between 12 and 10. Especially since we've played four bad teams (granted, Cincy has a good offense).

I'd give the defense an A or A-. 12ppg is good, but allowing 21 against the Jets and Bills isn't that great. We probably could shut out both those teams. The red zone D has been bad too, but not many teams are only allowing 1.5 RZ appearances per game either.

 

[TruthSeeker]

12 ppg isn't best ever level. 2000 Ravens allowed 10 a game, and there's a huge difference between 12 and 10. Especially since we've played four bad teams (granted, Cincy has a good offense).

I'd give the defense an A or A-. 12ppg is good, but allowing 21 against the Jets and Bills isn't that great. We probably could shut out both those teams. The red zone D has been bad too, but not many teams are only allowing 1.5 RZ appearances per game either.

Tough marker. Fourth best defense in PPG in the last 15 years (at this point - and it's early but these are 1st quarter marks) and he wants more. You remind me of some guy named Bill.