Defense Untested; Offense Found Lacking

The DEFENSE has looked very good indeed. Unfortunately, they are untested. They will play many, many stronger teams that what we've seen. That being said, the defense is greatly improved over last year, and could be a top 5 defense. We do lack depth at DE and LB, but there are no glaring weaknesses.

The OFFENSE has looked surprising poor (certainly not playoff quality), compared to what we expected and compared to last year. They have a long way to go. The passing game has gotten little out of Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins. Today, LaFell produced about what we should expect, 2-4 catches a game. Obviously, we are getting more out of the TE position than last year. We have little depth at RB. Bolden seems awful except on Special Teams. We lack depth at RB and TE. Unfortunately, we currently have weakness across the OL and at WR. And yes, the offense is out of sync (Brady, the OL and receivers).

My BOTTOM LINE is that my prediction is still the same as always: a division win (or tie for the division), a place in the playoffs and 11-5. However, I must say that the team that I have seen so far may not make the playoffs. THEREFORE, I expect major improvements over the coming weeks. There is enough talent in players, coaches and ownership to make that happen.

I have learned to always focus on the next game and on the division. We are have enough talent to win both.

mgteich said:

The DEFENSE has looked very good indeed. Unfortunately, they are untested. They will play many, many stronger teams that what we've seen. That being said, the defense is greatly improved over last year, and could be a top 5 defense. We do lack depth at DE and LB, but there are no glaring weaknesses.

The OFFENSE has looked surprising poor (certainly not playoff quality), compared to what we expected and compared to last year. They have a long way to go. The passing game has gotten little out of Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins. Today, LaFell produced about what we should expect, 2-4 catches a game. Obviously, we are getting more out of the TE position than last year. We have little depth at RB. Bolden seems awful except on Special Teams. We lack depth at RB and TE. Unfortunately, we currently have weakness across the OL and at WR. And yes, the offense is out of sync (Brady, the OL and receivers).

My BOTTOM LINE is that my prediction is still the same as always: a division win (or tie for the division), a place in the playoffs and 11-5. However, I must say that the team that I have seen so far may not make the playoffs. THEREFORE, I expect major improvements over the coming weeks. There is enough talent in players, coaches and ownership to make that happen.

I have learned to always focus on the next game and on the division. We are have enough talent to win both.

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Pretty much what I have seen as well.

mgteich, post: 3915878, member: 1930"]The DEFENSE has looked very good indeed. Unfortunately, they are untested. They will play many, many stronger teams that what we've seen. That being said, the defense is greatly improved over last year, and could be a top 5 defense. We do lack depth at DE and LB, but there are no glaring weaknesses.

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Disagree. Pass rush and between the hashes pass defense are both weaknesses.

The OFFENSE has looked surprising poor (certainly not playoff quality), compared to what we expected and compared to last year. They have a long way to go. The passing game has gotten little out of Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins. Today, LaFell produced about what we should expect, 2-4 catches a game. Obviously, we are getting more out of the TE position than last year. We have little depth at RB. Bolden seems awful except on Special Teams. We lack depth at RB and TE. Unfortunately, we currently have weakness across the OL and at WR. And yes, the offense is out of sync (Brady, the OL and receivers).

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I am dumbfounded as to how Bolden is worth a roster spot on any offense. There has to be people on the street with more talent than the guy.

My BOTTOM LINE is that my prediction is still the same as always: a division win (or tie for the division), a place in the playoffs and 11-5. However, I must say that the team that I have seen so far may not make the playoffs. THEREFORE, I expect major improvements over the coming weeks. There is enough talent in players, coaches and ownership to make that happen.

I have learned to always focus on the next game and on the division. We are have enough talent to win both

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7-9. This team is not very talented. Below avg OL. Avg RB. Avg TE (with Gronkowski still not 100%). Terrible WR. Above avg QB.

Avg DL. Avg LB. Above avg CB. Avg S (McCourty brings this up to avg as his counterpart is well below)..
.

To respond to your thread title- I feel like the real test evaluation comes when we face Cincy week 5. With all of the struggles we've had the first few weeks, we'll truly know what condition we're in based on how we perform against a legit contender.

Get the OL playing just decent and watch the offense become a top offense again

We will be 12-4. The defense has looked very good, albeit against weak offenses (although i have to say that Carr looked better than i thought he was, he made a couple of back shoulder throws that were elite). I love the secondary and Browner will only make us better. Don't forget Collins is out and he's a key player for us.

Offense - Brady will keep us going and run a wining offense. Gronk is not 100% yet, mini-tron is a man, the rest are a work in progress. i'm confident that we will break out and be a top 5 offense over the 2nd half of the year.

(1) We're 2-1 and tied for the lead in our division. Seattle, Denver and San Diego are also 2-1. SF, Green Bay, Indy and New Orleans are all 1-2. It could be worse.

(2) No one should be under any illusions that we will win anything playing at our current level.

(3) Through 3 games we are reasonably healthy, with no major injuries.

(4) It's a long season, and how we are playing now has little to do with the eventual outcome.

mgteich said:

The DEFENSE has looked very good indeed. Unfortunately, they are untested. They will play many, many stronger teams that what we've seen. That being said, the defense is greatly improved over last year, and could be a top 5 defense. We do lack depth at DE and LB, but there are no glaring weaknesses.

The OFFENSE has looked surprising poor (certainly not playoff quality), compared to what we expected and compared to last year. They have a long way to go. The passing game has gotten little out of Amendola, Dobson and Thompkins. Today, LaFell produced about what we should expect, 2-4 catches a game. Obviously, we are getting more out of the TE position than last year. We have little depth at RB. Bolden seems awful except on Special Teams. We lack depth at RB and TE. Unfortunately, we currently have weakness across the OL and at WR. And yes, the offense is out of sync (Brady, the OL and receivers).

My BOTTOM LINE is that my prediction is still the same as always: a division win (or tie for the division), a place in the playoffs and 11-5. However, I must say that the team that I have seen so far may not make the playoffs. THEREFORE, I expect major improvements over the coming weeks. There is enough talent in players, coaches and ownership to make that happen.

I have learned to always focus on the next game and on the division. We are have enough talent to win both.

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There is zero inside pass rush, there is an inconsistent rush from the ends and the team sorely lacks depth in the front 7. There are glaringly weaknesses if you choose to accept them.

Now, I have been mightily encouraged by the performance of Dont'a Hightower. For mine, at this early stage of the season he is a clear standout as the Patriots MVP.

SalemPats said:

We will be 12-4. The defense has looked very good, albeit against weak offenses (although i have to say that Carr looked better than i thought he was, he made a couple of back shoulder throws that were elite). I love the secondary and Browner will only make us better. Don't forget Collins is out and he's a key player for us.

Offense - Brady will keep us going and run a wining offense. Gronk is not 100% yet, mini-tron is a man, the rest are a work in progress. i'm confident that we will break out and be a top 5 offense over the 2nd half of the year.

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Collins played. It just seemed like he was out because he does absolutely nothing.

I have high hopes for the defense. I am very concerned about the offense especially the OL play.
Looking at the schedule, I could see the next 3 games being losses if this offense continues to play as bad as it did today.

Bobs My Uncle said:

Looking at the schedule, I could see the next 3 games being losses if this offense continues to play as bad as it did today.

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It seems like almost every bleeping year we start out this way, and people claim we are an 8-8 team (or worse), only to have the Pats win the division and finish 12-4 or better:

- 2013: We started out 4-0, but that included ugly squeakers over Buffalo and the Jets to open the season; ugly losses to the Bengals and Jets were salvaged only by a miraculous last-minute comeback against the Saints. Final record 12-4, and an AFCCG appearance. The team had a horrible run of injuries, and pretty much got by on guts and duct-tape the entire season.

- 2012: The team started out 1-2 and then 3-3 before going on a run to finish 12-4, with an AFCCG appearance. The secondary was horrific before BB moved Devin McCourty to safety and traded for Aqib Talib.

- 2011: The team lost to lowly Buffalo and then back-to-back losses to the Steelers and Giants left them at 5-3 before ending the season with an 8 game winning streak to finish 13-3 and go to the SB. The secondary was abysmal.

- 2010: The team lost their second game convincingly to the Jets and then struggled in game 3 against Buffalo, prompting the Randy Moss trade after game 4 and an offensive switch that relied on 2 rookie TEs. The result was a 14-2 record, including 8-0 down the stretch.

Sure, there are problems to be worked out. No question. But it's a long season, and history says that the problems will be addressed.

I know it's looking ahead but I'm worried that if this weeks O-line shows up to play Cincinnati, Brady won't survive the game.

Just so you know OP. If we had Ds of past..they would have given up TDs today and not FGs and given up 28 points. These Os stink....But last 2 games have been 9 and 7 pts. Previous Ds? Carr would have had 4 TDs

7-9. This team is not very talented. Below avg OL. Avg RB. Avg TE (with Gronkowski still not 100%). Terrible WR. Above avg QB.

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You must have been the bozo who called into gresh after game saying this team has no one...lucky to win 8 games ect ect......can never win with you guys

Brady_to_Moss said:

You must have been the bozo who called into gresh after game saying this team has no one...lucky to win 8 games ect ect......can never win with you guys

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I think there's more than one bozo in the Patriots' fan base.

mayoclinic said:

It seems like almost every bleeping year we start out this way, and people claim we are an 8-8 team (or worse), only to have the Pats win the division and finish 12-4 or better:

- 2013: We started out 4-0, but that included ugly squeakers over Buffalo and the Jets to open the season; ugly losses to the Bengals and Jets were salvaged only by a miraculous last-minute comeback against the Saints. Final record 12-4, and an AFCCG appearance. The team had a horrible run of injuries, and pretty much got by on guts and duct-tape the entire season.

- 2012: The team started out 1-2 and then 3-3 before going on a run to finish 12-4, with an AFCCG appearance. The secondary was horrific before BB moved Devin McCourty to safety and traded for Aqib Talib.

- 2011: The team lost to lowly Buffalo and then back-to-back losses to the Steelers and Giants left them at 5-3 before ending the season with an 8 game winning streak to finish 13-3 and go to the SB. The secondary was abysmal.

- 2010: The team lost their second game convincingly to the Jets and then struggled in game 3 against Buffalo, prompting the Randy Moss trade after game 4 and an offensive switch that relied on 2 rookie TEs. The result was a 14-2 record, including 8-0 down the stretch.

Sure, there are problems to be worked out. No question. But it's a long season, and history says that the problems will be addressed.

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I hear ya, Mayo. I'm just looking at the troubles on the OL and, seeing the defensive fronts that are soon to be arriving, I see huge potential problems on offense these next 3 games.

I wish they were trying more of the classic Brady spread/shotgun/dink-and-dunk/pseudo-2-minute-drill kind of offense. Maybe that's rarely the lead game plan for a given week; but when the game plan fails for whatever reason, why not pull it out of the hat fairly quickly and see what results?

The personnel still seem to fit well with the model. Brady is Brady. Our three highest-paid receivers are two natural slot guys and a TE. We have Vereen. Hopefully Stork can deliver shotgun snaps on target. It would seem to make sense.

We've played 3 very poor teams, all of whom have only 1 win each. So far our D is #2 in total yards allowed per game, #1 in passing yards allowed per game, and #5 in points allowed per game. Stats look excellent. Only question is how will this D fare against better competition?

Brady_to_Moss said:

Just so you know OP. If we had Ds of past..they would have given up TDs today and not FGs and given up 28 points. These Os stink....But last 2 games have been 9 and 7 pts. Previous Ds? Carr would have had 4 TDs



You must have been the bozo who called into gresh after game saying this team has no one...lucky to win 8 games ect ect......can never win with you guys

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Good point. That's one of those things that quickly fades from memory. Patriots' recent defensive history was often not good. Journeymen and otherwise lower caliber QBs were padding stats. Thank for reminding me of how difficult it was to watch them

As bad as those Ds may have been, BB and staff found a way to make them sufficiently adequate to achieve many Ws. Consider last year with the injuries, mistakes, and ultimately who was starting. Then consider the Patriots found a way to get enough out of them to win most games. Then compare it to this year's D's personnel. I don't know how you can't be somewhat encouraged by what we'll see by December.

Bottom line: we aren't looking great so far but we are 2-1. Being it's only 3 weeks into the season and given the history, while nothing is guaranteed odds are good that both the O and D will be playing distinctly better by December.

ausbacker said:

There is zero inside pass rush, there is an inconsistent rush from the ends and the team sorely lacks depth in the front 7. There are glaringly weaknesses if you choose to accept them.

Now, I have been mightily encouraged by the performance of Dont'a Hightower. For mine, at this early stage of the season he is a clear standout as the Patriots MVP.

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I too, have been impressed with the play of Hightower this year. I think that he's come a long way and doesn't emulate the slower, sluggish, one step late kind of play that we saw in the past couple of years.

Along with Hightower, I believe that Chung has actually had a couple of nice games last week + today. As I mentioned in another thread, it's hard to imagine that continuing, at least in terms of his pass coverage, but for now I am rather impressed.

Chandler Jones is another who seems to have bolstered both his ability to stop the run, along with some more experience in his pass rushing moves.

I'm very happy with the starting talent on defense (base or sub as the case may be). We have depth beyond the JAG level only at CB, it would seem, but that depth happens to be terrific.