Game Thoughts: Nice Little Bounce Back Week Edition

Guts · Sep 14, 2014

I really hope they settle down on those penalties most penalties in Belichick tenure today

primetime · Sep 14, 2014

hwc said:
I agree. That's what has been so frustrating with the Pats continuing to play all-pass all-the-time like it's still 2007, when their 37 year old QB is getting killed in the pocket. Brady got hit something like 8 times last week. How long do you think he'd last at that rate? Defenses have been teeing off on Brady for several years now. Small ball is one way to counter that.

I think there are a number of posters on this board who miss (and possibly joined the bandwagon during) the days of 2007 and have Manning envy, where they want Brady to throw 40 times a game and complete 30 of them for 5 TDs every single game like the old days. Winning comes after stats. Overly worried about media and Brady's legacy rather than the Patriots actually winning games. I'll admit (and I think we all will) to having those biases at times, as well, so it's certainly something I can empathize with.

I thought the play calling was good today. Short and medium passes to supplement a smashmouth running game where they fed Ridley early and often. If anything, I thought replacing Ridley for Bolden for a drive when he was riding a hot hand was the most questionable offensive call of the day, but you want to keep your thunder RB fresh later in the season I suppose.

Rob0729 · Sep 14, 2014

hwc said:
I didn't say Brady had a bad game. I said that the coaching staff largely took the ball out of his hands, which, IMO, was a smart strategic decision. He was going to get killed if he kept dropping back 59 times like last week. I think running and running and running was smart. Don't let the offense lose the game. Let the defense win it.

If you recall, the games the Pats won down the stretch last year were the games where they pounded and pounded and pounded with Blount. The games they tried to win throwing and throwing and throwing were disasters.

Did you watch the game? Brady's passing attempts were down because the defense gave them short fields all game and they were protecting a large lead in the second half.

supafly · Sep 14, 2014

hwc said:
If you recall, the games the Pats won down the stretch last year were the games where they pounded and pounded and pounded with Blount. The games they tried to win throwing and throwing and throwing were disasters.

I think part of why they did that (ground and pound down the stretch last year) was due to their lack of credible receiving options. That needs to improve this year, obviously.

We all want better balance and it's great to see some focus on running, but Tom Brady and the passing game are still the bread and butter of this team in my opinion.

I agree with you that I don't want to see "throwing and throwing and throwing" anymore than you do, but I doubt that we'll be going back to weeks 15, 16, 17 from last year either.

Maybe something like the IND game in the playoffs (I'd have to look at the breakdown to be sure) would be a good middle ground? Once Gronk is "really" back things should improve just from that aspect alone.

Patriot Missile · Sep 14, 2014

Sounds like some people here had Brady on their fantasy team and didn't like the final result.

This was an old fashioned type of win today. I'll take it and then some. Team win all around.

patsfan-1982 · Sep 14, 2014

great come back win the defense played great the offense was good and I loved BB big FU to the media by using the 3rd round pick he got in that deal Logan Ryan to shutdown Patterson,

I wont get to high because the Vikings are far from a playoff team and they are starting a QB that will be replaced by midseason and BB also knows him very well we all know how good of a game plan BB can come up with when he knows that team/QB and they did not have there star player but even with that said its hard to win in the NFL and even harder to win on the road so I for one am happy

Brady_to_Moss · Sep 14, 2014

Giving Ridley the rock 25 times was exactly what this team needed and they got it

mrscruff · Sep 14, 2014

The difference today compared to last week was that the Patriots were able to make get positive yardage on early downs. Therefore they could commit to the run game and once they got their noses in front, did enough to put the game away.

When you can get get stuffed on 1st and second downs the defense has the upper hand and inevitably leads to a high number of 3 and outs like last week.

IMO one of the keys for the Patriots on offense is to get the quick pass or run on 1st down. I have heard the Patriots (Brady I think) talk about "drive starters" which help the Patriots get in rhythm, identify mismatches and tilt the pass/run equation in their favor.

I thought early on, the O-line was a little tentative and didn't really open up holes for Ridley (except on plays they were penalized) but with the scoreline in their favor, they started to gain confidence and started to assert their authority a little better.

There is still a lot to work on but this was a step in the right direction for the O and D. Special Teams was the most improved unit and fantastic compared to last week.

RayClay · Sep 14, 2014

hwc said:
- I applaud the decision to take the ball out of Brady's hands and pound it with the running game. It's ugly. It's not very effective. But, it's the only way the Pats have won a game in quite a while.

- They need to take the long sideline pass out of Brady's playbook. Randy Moss is not streaking down the sideline. Those are nothing but drive killers.

- Brady seem to have a new motto: throw to the covered receiver.

He threw for 68%

supafly · Sep 14, 2014

RayClay said:
He threw for 68%

He also had a QB rating of over 102.

Obviously, they need lots of improvement in the passing game, but Brady didn't exactly have a bad game today as has been suggested.

ausbacker · Sep 14, 2014

mrscruff said:
The difference today compared to last week was that the Patriots were able to make get positive yardage on early downs. Therefore they could commit to the run game and once they got their noses in front, did enough to put the game away.

When you can get get stuffed on 1st and second downs the defense has the upper hand and inevitably leads to a high number of 3 and outs like last week.

IMO one of the keys for the Patriots on offense is to get the quick pass or run on 1st down. I have heard the Patriots (Brady I think) talk about "drive starters" which help the Patriots get in rhythm, identify mismatches and tilt the pass/run equation in their favor.

I thought early on, the O-line was a little tentative and didn't really open up holes for Ridley (except on plays they were penalized) but with the scoreline in their favor, they started to gain confidence and started to assert their authority a little better.

There is still a lot to work on but this was a step in the right direction for the O and D. Special Teams was the most improved unit and fantastic compared to last week.

This is an overly simplistic and overly critical comment but good things happen on the OL when Ryan Wendell isn't a part of it. The OL looked solid and put in a reasonable performance today. It was a far better coaching effort on the Patriots behalf.

Now, I'm happy with the performance of the D but I can't quite shake the feeling that it may be a little Fool's Gold. Cassel was awful today and arguably our defensive MVP.

sb1 · Sep 14, 2014

I'll concur with all the good vibes about this win. Also nice to see Allen and special teams have a much better game than last week's fiasco.

Loathed the penalties though. Hopefully the coaches give them a hard time about that this week.

supafly · Sep 14, 2014

sb1 said:
I'll concur with all the good vibes about this win. Also nice to see Allen and special teams have a much better game than last week's fiasco.

Loathed the penalties though. Hopefully the coaches give them a hard time about that this week.

I think there is still plenty to give them a hard time about, but that can still happen during the first 3-4 games of the season until they get into a rhythm.

On to the home opener vs OAK next week, where they can try to keep improving, but in the end all that's important is the "W."

Bombdog · Sep 14, 2014

Good win for the Pats the Defense played a great game. The offense has me a bit worried only 6 points in the second half today and none in game one. They need to get this straitened out. But all in all a good win

sb1 · Sep 14, 2014

hwc said:
Agreed. The coaching staff took the ball out of Brady's hands and the the offense didn't cost them the game as it did last week. I think that was a smart decision by the coaching staff and a direction that will likely continue.

I don't know if I I'd say they deliberately "took the ball out of Brady's hands" but yes, the "Air Brady" show is over IMO. I don't think that's a bad thing.

Joker · Sep 14, 2014

and THIS has been my point all along since 2004/5. THIS was a great win. I even picked AGAINST them in the Pats picker thread. ....but no, "it's bad...it's all bad!!!Brady is bad!!! They are terrible on offense!!!I didn't get any stats!!!! Bad Bad Bad!!!!".

I have NEVER looked at an NFL game from a FF perspective....maybe that's why i don't get why a perceived negative in this FANTASY WORLD is equatable to the REAL WORLD. WTF?????

TBR · Sep 14, 2014

hwc said:
Brady is starting to look like late career Dan Marino. Trying to do more than he has to. Going for the long ball on 3rd and 2 instead of dumping off to somebody and moving the chains. Staring down receivers. Forcing every throw to Edelman or Gronk. He needs to lower his expectations and start being a little more effective game manager.

Aaaaaand to Ignore you go. You're in 4 different threads bashing Brady as if he was the QB who threw 4 INTs

RayClay · Sep 14, 2014

hwc said:
If you recall, the games the Pats won down the stretch last year were the games where they pounded and pounded and pounded with Blount. The games they tried to win throwing and throwing and throwing were disasters.

I recall two games, including one in a monsoon against a crap buffalo team.

What you don't recall is that Brady directed the offense to 3 wins in the previous four games, throwing 40 times once and 50 times the other two, including the incredible Denver comeback.

I'm all for balance, but check your facts before you go off on a rant, OK

Brady_to_Moss · Sep 14, 2014

2 road games to open up year. Now we start our home stand until the bye week for a bit here..i like it

mayoclinic · Sep 14, 2014

Joker said:
I have NEVER looked at an NFL game from a FF perspective....maybe that's why i don't get why a perceived negative in this FANTASY WORLD is equatable to the REAL WORLD. WTF?????

Nor should you. Fantasy football has absolutely nothing to do with real football. Zero.

Game Thoughts: Nice Little Bounce Back Week Edition

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