Idle thoughts - The short rainy edition

When it comes to Blount and how he ran, I don't believe that it as much about how he has changed as it is how teams wear down over the course of the season and how much harder it is to bring down a fresh mobile 250lb guy in December, with all the bruises opposing players have, as it was in September. This becomes especially true when it comes to how defenses have been forced to become more mobile to defend the pass. Face it, nobody's ever going to pack 8 in the box as long as Brady is QB....

This team is better prepared than anyone to play a game in marginal conditions because their offense is capable of any scheme, and the defense can make enough stops against anyone

It will come down to making the right situational calls, but these guys can win it all given every game from here out could be played in marginal conditions.

I would take the pats over the Seahawks in a cold game in new jersey.......

As for injuries, enough......this team will play who it can and will still be fun to watch. This team lost enough guys to start a new team.......a few more is not going to change the outcome. The next guy who steps up has all the confidence in the world because he's seen so many others successfully and unexpectedly step up before him.....it's all do or die now, and the pats are better prepared in that regards than any other team.

The bigger problem will be to place all these players with obvious skill on a roster next year.

3. Obviously I can't go any longer without discussing Legarrette Blount, who desperately needs to either get a new first name or at least a nickname. He

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I vote for:

Blount Force Trauma

Blount instrument.

patfanken, I just want to tell you that I look forward to your posts every post game. Thank you and have a Happy New Year!

IllegalContact said:

As for injuries, enough......this team will play who it can and will still be fun to watch. This team lost enough guys to start a new team.......a few more is not going to change the outcome. The next guy who steps up has all the confidence in the world because he's seen so many others successfully and unexpectedly step up before him.....it's all do or die now, and the pats are better prepared in that regards than any other team.

The bigger problem will be to place all these players with obvious skill on a roster next year.

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That's a pretty good problem to have, don't you think? I can see several ending up on the Jest or Ratbirds roster. they seem to like to pick up Pat's castoffs....

Pat the Pats Fan said:

That's a pretty good problem to have, don't you think? I can see several ending up on the Jest or Ratbirds roster. they seem to like to pick up Pat's castoffs....

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Absolutely......the other good news is that the quality of depth should be outstanding next year (even better than this year)

shmessy said:

That + No Dennard yesterday + No McCourty yesterday = I'm not worried about the secondary

They'll be back and healthy in 2 weeks.

I'm far more concerned about Spikes' knee with both our starting DT's on IR for the playoffs. With no Spikes backing them up, we are asking an awful lot of Siliga and Chris Jones to win a Super Bowl.

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Maybe I'm just chugging the kool aid, but I have a lot of faith in Siliga (Jones and Vellano not so much), and I think Hightower has looked really good in run support the past few weeks. It's definitely better to have a healthy Spikes than not have him, but Spikes hasn't been anything close to healthy for a while now. In the state he was in before he came out yesterday, he was a liability on the field IMO. I'd rather see Hightower in his role and more of Collins in coverage, if that has the added benefit of meaning that we don't see much/any of Hightower in coverage.

That could also be a preview for what we're likely to see in 2014, and at the same time make Spikes easier to re-sign this offseason if the Pats want to.

sieglo said:

I vote for:

Blount Force Trauma

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I'm going with Juggernaut.

patfanken said:

8. I'm worried about Dobson. It was reported he left with a boot on, and its the same foot he hurt before. Without Gronk he's the ONLY size when we get into the redzone. You can only rely on bunch formation pick plays so much before good D's will start to squeeze them.

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I'm worried about the receivers in general. I remember last year we had this great passing offense but against the Ravens in the AFCCG suddenly the officials decided to stop calling things and our guys (Welker especially) were getting mugged. It always seems that they start calling things much more loosely in the playoffs and because we have not had a size advantage lately we get the short end of the stick. Those PI calls Edelman has been getting lately won't be happening is what I'm saying.

I just wish we had some size back there. Losing Gronk really really hurts us here. The red zone issues are concerning.

Bella*chick said:

I'm worried about the receivers in general.

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Rightly so. It seems that Edelman is the only one of the top 5 WRs who's reliably healthy (even by late-season standards), with Hooman and Vereen in doubt as well.

Hopefully Vereen's wrist is finally healed, and some catch-up Juggs work or other practice will get him near to whole in the receiving game.

If the Patriots win in the Divisional Round, I expect Mallett to be given a black jersey.

patfanken said:

8. I'm worried about Dobson. It was reported he left with a boot on, and its the same foot he hurt before. Without Gronk he's the ONLY size when we get into the redzone. You can only rely on bunch formation pick plays so much before good D's will start to squeeze them.


14. Logan Ryan may have 5 picks but this secondary misses Dennard. I'm starting to get concerned about his extended absence. We need him back.

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The early returns are not encouraging on Dobson, as it appears he has a stress fracture and that sitting out a few weeks was insufficient. I would not count on seeing him for the playoffs. As for Dennard, I expect he will try to play through whatever injuries he is nursing, hopefully with more success than Dobson.

Jeff Howe ‏@jeffphowe 17m

Aggravated stress fracture. No idea how long he'll be out RT @machacapopa: @jeffphowe any updates on Dobson?

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Tough break on Dobson. That really sucks.

This team really hasn't caught a damn break. But it's done a good job of making their own breaks and grinding out wins. Hope we can do it three more times.

scout said:

Blount Trauma

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If Brady can be TFB, why can't he be BFT, Blount F'in Trauma????

patriot lifer said:

Although, I am glad we're in the AFC to be honest. I'd rather not be playing the NFC playoff teams. I do think they're stronger.

Go Pats.

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Lost in all the hype about NFC teams is the fact that AFC playoff teams are a combined 7-1 against NFC playoff teams this year.

FibSeq13478 said:

Lost in all the hype about NFC teams is the fact that AFC playoff teams are a combined 7-1 against NFC playoff teams this year.

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And we're the -1?

BradyManny said:

Tough break on Dobson. That really sucks.

This team really hasn't caught a damn break. But it's done a good job of making their own breaks and grinding out wins. Hope we can do it three more times.

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Ugh. When you count the too-common time lag to initial diagnosis, I suspect stress fractures often lay somebody up longer than more conventional breaks.

IllegalContact said:

When it comes to Blount and how he ran, I don't believe that it as much about how he has changed as it is how teams wear down over the course of the season and how much harder it is to bring down a fresh mobile 250lb guy in December, with all the bruises opposing players have, as it was in September. This becomes especially true when it comes to how defenses have been forced to become more mobile to defend the pass. Face it, nobody's ever going to pack 8 in the box as long as Brady is QB ....
.......

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That's an interesting concept IC. I have no idea if its true or not, but it has made me think about it. Good job.

As to the bolded section, I can only hope its your lips to God's ear. If its true that Dobson has a stress fracture and is gone for the playoffs, then we are going to have some problems in the red zone for sure. Its reached the point where even the great TFB is going to be looking a 8 man fronts now that our passing options have withered again, and run game looks more and more like the way we want to go.

Fencer said:

And we're the -1?

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Yes.

10 chars

Mack Herron said:

The early returns are not encouraging on Dobson, as it appears he has a stress fracture and that sitting out a few weeks was insufficient. I would not count on seeing him for the playoffs. As for Dennard, I expect he will try to play through whatever injuries he is nursing, hopefully with more success than Dobson.

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Here Collie, Collie!
C'mon boy!
Come back here now!
Good boy! Good boy!