Do you feel reassured that this ship will be righted?

The OL is what worries me the most. The issues on defense are correctable simply by changing the alignment they were in. The OL is critical. Either they'll have to find a line-up that works or Brady is going to end the year on IR. You can't allow a 37 year old quarterback to absorb that kind of punishment. I think the Pats will right the ship in both areas. I just hope it doesn't take them too long to realize it.

KontradictioN said:

The OL is what worries me the most. The issues on defense are correctable simply by changing the alignment they were in. The OL is critical. Either they'll have to find a line-up that works or Brady is going to end the year on IR. You can't allow a 37 year old quarterback to absorb that kind of punishment. I think the Pats will right the ship in both areas. I just hope it doesn't take them too long to realize it.

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The defensive issues were also a matter of poor fundamentals, but I agree that they are correctable, though whether they will be corrected is still to be seen. The OL issues go deeper, and it is not clear that they are entirely correctable with the current roster.

KontradictioN said:

The OL is what worries me the most. The issues on defense are correctable simply by changing the alignment they were in. The OL is critical. Either they'll have to find a line-up that works or Brady is going to end the year on IR. You can't allow a 37 year old quarterback to absorb that kind of punishment. I think the Pats will right the ship in both areas. I just hope it doesn't take them too long to realize it.

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I am not worried about the o-line yet. They need to decide on five guys at designated positions and stick to it. When they do that, there will be much more continuity on the line. Switching guys in and out and moving people in and out of different spots creates confusion.

I am confident the League will rebound....wait wrong thread...

it would take losing the first 3 games in a row for me to really be worried.

Rob0729 said:

I am not worried about the o-line yet. They need to decide on five guys at designated positions and stick to it. When they do that, there will be much more continuity on the line. Switching guys in and out and moving people in and out of different spots creates confusion.

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They're going to have to move guys in and out of the starting line-up. Devey and Wendell are both back-ups, and that's being kind. If we keep seeing the pressure we saw up the A and B gaps this past Sunday throughout the entire season, we might as well pack it up because this bad boy is over before it began.

It's one game. I think they can bounce back as they have based on past performances and their winning % after losses.

That being said, one part of the game that requires major adjustments is the offensive line and our long standing elite OL coach is gone. Can the new guy coach up his guys because game 1 was not a good indicator.

without question it'll turn around

I actually feel pretty good I root for a team that creates this reaction when they lose a game

mayoclinic said:

The defensive issues were also a matter of poor fundamentals, but I agree that they are correctable, though whether they will be corrected is still to be seen. The OL issues go deeper, and it is not clear that they are entirely correctable with the current roster.

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I think Stork is going to need to come on sooner rather than later.

Week 2. Way too early to tell about the Pats or, indeed, virtually any other team (except for the Giants that look like they have real problems and the Broncos that look like they're going to have another great REGULAR season).

My only discomfort is the O-line because of the late in the day curve ball of the Mankins trade, but I think they'll work that out. Otherwise, the pieces all seem to be in place for another Division title and a run into January.

I had them 11--5 in the season prediction thread and that included losing two Division games (Miami has historically been a tough place for the Pats so it might be good that they just got it out of the way early), so that's how I still see it.

Check back with me if they lose to Minnesota, but they won't.

Who knows if the ship can be righted. We think that we are a Superbowl contender because we added one excellent free agent.
At the same time, we traded our best offensive lineman which has left the line in total disarray. We have changed back to a 3-4
defense without the proper personnel to man it. Are Vellano, Wilfork, and Jones a good front three? Cutting Kelly took away
a good big body.

My fear is that Belichick's Cleveland situation will repeat itself any year. Pete Carroll is a player's coach who celebrates along
with his players. Belichick trades away his veterans just as their kids are about to begin school. Tom Brady will join the
list of jilted players a few years down the road. Right now, the resultant salary cap hit keeps him on the team.

Ron Borges had a good comment regarding the Mankin's trade. When is BB going to make a trade for the good of the team
that helps the team now and not two or three years from now.

Jimke said:

Cutting Kelly took away a good big body.

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I don't see how anyone can say that Vellano is a better defensive lineman than Kelly.

Jimke said:

Ron Borges had a good comment regarding the Mankin's trade. When is BB going to make a trade for the good of the team that helps the team now and not two or three years from now.

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To think that Devey or Kline is an upgrade to Mankins is ludicrous.

ATippett56 said:

I don't see how anyone can say that Vellano is a better defensive lineman than Kelly.

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Has a single person said that?

No I dont feel better. Talk is cheap put up or shut up. Until the whistle blows next week and we have a win we are the same stinking hot turd 0-1 team steaming in the miami sun. we are what our record and the scoreboard says we are (and the film) which is not very good.

fxkane said:

Almost every year, if not quite, Miami and the Jets, no matter their record, manage to pull off a split with the Pats. We all wanted to get off right, but the loss did not surprise me too much.

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Totally agree, since Brady took over in 2001, the Pats have only swept Miami 5 times in 13 years. in two of their 3 Lombardi years, they split with them.
They have swept the jets 6 out of 13 seasons. Since 01, neither the Jets or Fins have swept the Pats.
In 6 of the last 13 seasons they have split with both the Jets and fins in the same season.
As good as the Pats have been, road division games are tough.

I suspect many people will be feasting on crow sunday night.