Coming to an Understanding: Optimists and Chicken Littles

After Sunday's narrow victory over the Oakland Raiders the board has been filled with "the sky is falling" posts with almost as many "relax, we won the game, quit complaining" rebuttals.

Why can't the reality be somewhere in the middle?

Sure, a win is a win. I've heard that many times before, and by definition yes a win is in fact a win, but for fans and analysts alike that term really only applies in the Super Bowl. In the Super Bowl, I don't care if we win ugly, lucky, or injured as long as we win we are happy. That can't be said of all other games though, and here's why............

Were these same optimists happy after our victory over Kansas City in the opener of 2008? I imagine not, Brady was hurt and with it our Super Bowl aspirations. What I'm getting that is while we desparately strive for wins, unless it's the Super Bowl we analyze each game to determine our ability to earn future wins.

For a game like Sunday's game, the defense showed plenty of promise for future success, but I think it's clear to us that something is wrong with the offense. Last year we had the Gronk's injuries and the unfamiliarity with guys like Amendola, Thompkins, and Dobson as a natural reason. Sure, Gronk is dinged up still, but the familiartiy issues should be gone by now. The fact that they are still struggling with a porous offensive line is a legit concern. Is the sky falling? no, but it's a legit concern. Whatever your diagnosis, I think it's clear to optimisits and chicken littles alike that something is wrong with our offense right now. And sue, we won against Oakland, but I don't think many of us are content beating the doormats of the league, we're concerned about or ability to defeat teams like Cincinatti, Denver, and Green Bay in the future.

So between the optimists and chicken littles I think the reality lies somewhere in the middle and that's...........

"yes, we understand the three games thus far have left plenty to be concerned with, but history has shown that the Pats get better as the season goes on and I have no reason to think that trend will not continue this year."

My thoughts:

1) All you can do is win or lose, there are no added points for how you win, or deductions either
2) What happened in one game does not impact the next, its over and you start 0-0 next week
3) For 14 years I have seen this team improve its weak areas throughout the season
4) What fans on a message board think the future will hold is meaningless

AndyJohnson said:

My thoughts:

1) All you can do is win or lose, there are no added points for how you win, or deductions either
2) What happened in one game does not impact the next, its over and you start 0-0 next week
3) For 14 years I have seen this team improve its weak areas throughout the season
4) What fans on a message board think the future will hold is meaningless

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Every season has its own unique shape. The 2007 team came out of the gate like gangbusters, then tired down the stretch as other teams adapted. The 2003 team was terrible in its first game, had to make a significant move to address a weakness, and won a lot of ugly games en route to a SB. The 2010 team looked dominant during the second half of the season, only to lay an egg in the playoffs. We've seen some teams that looked pretty ugly during the regular season hoist the Lombardi Trophy in recent years.

We don't know what the shape of this season will be. It's only football, heresy though that may be, and the world won't end if we have a disappointing season. But past history has generally shown that the team can adapt pretty well to adversity, even if it's different than what some of us hope for, and I for one am going to try to enjoy the ride regardless of the final outcome, and not let the fan board ruin it for me.

mayoclinic said:

Every season has its own unique shape. The 2007 team came out of the gate like gangbusters, then tired down the stretch as other teams adapted. The 2003 team was terrible in its first game, had to make a significant move to address a weakness, and won a lot of ugly games en route to a SB. The 2010 team looked dominant during the second half of the season, only to lay an egg in the playoffs. We've seen some teams that looked pretty ugly during the regular season hoist the Lombardi Trophy in recent years.

We don't know what the shape of this season will be. It's only football, heresy though that may be, and the world won't end if we have a disappointing season. But past history has generally shown that the team can adapt pretty well to adversity, even if it's different than what some of us hope for, and I for one am going to try to enjoy the ride regardless of the final outcome, and not let the fan board ruin it for me.

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Great post.

I don't see any need to expound on what Andy and Mayo said, they nailed it . I think the criticism is warranted but the agenda's are old and tiresome.

I think you make some good points. Yes we do analyze who we played and how we played to try and predict future outcomes but as an fan or gambler knows that is what is so hard and so fun to debate.

The real question to me is this team more equipped to challenge for the SB then we were last year. Right now it may not look like it but with the Defensive improvements and if the offense can come along we just might be. No we arent there yet but the season is still young.

Would we all be much happier if we were blowing teams out and putting up huge numbers like we did a few years back, of course we would but for now a win is a win even if its ugly.

We play Cincy and Denver so our time to measure up is coming.

mayoclinic said:

Every season has its own unique shape. The 2007 team came out of the gate like gangbusters, then tired down the stretch as other teams adapted. The 2003 team was terrible in its first game, had to make a significant move to address a weakness, and won a lot of ugly games en route to a SB. The 2010 team looked dominant during the second half of the season, only to lay an egg in the playoffs. We've seen some teams that looked pretty ugly during the regular season hoist the Lombardi Trophy in recent years.

We don't know what the shape of this season will be. It's only football, heresy though that may be, and the world won't end if we have a disappointing season. But past history has generally shown that the team can adapt pretty well to adversity, even if it's different than what some of us hope for, and I for one am going to try to enjoy the ride regardless of the final outcome, and not let the fan board ruin it for me.

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Yep. Look back on the BB/Brady years and on one hand you can count the number of seasons the offense came out smoking.

2014- No
2013- No
2012- No. Cards at home was awful. 2nd 1/2 vs Ravens stunk.
2011- Yes
2010- Yes, but 2nd 1/2 vs Jets was awful.
2009- No
2008- No TB IR
2007- Yes
2006- No
2005- No
2004- Yes
2003-No
2002- Yes (but then after averaging almost 40ppg in their 1st 3 games, they average 13 in their next 4)
2001-No (Drew...then Brady)
2000- No. They stunk in general.

they're both blind to logic

AndyJohnson said:

My thoughts:

1) All you can do is win or lose, there are no added points for how you win, or deductions either
2) What happened in one game does not impact the next, its over and you start 0-0 next week
3) For 14 years I have seen this team improve its weak areas throughout the season
4) What fans on a message board think the future will hold is meaningless

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you just nailed it there. Based on what I have been reading so far, too many people tend to forget that this is an just internet forum and BB or pats don't follow or care about any and all of what we think as a group.

AndyJohnson said:

My thoughts:

1) All you can do is win or lose, there are no added points for how you win, or deductions either
2) What happened in one game does not impact the next, its over and you start 0-0 next week
3) For 14 years I have seen this team improve its weak areas throughout the season
4) What fans on a message board think the future will hold is meaningless

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1) or Tie
2) injuries in one game can impact the next game
3) For 9 years the weaknesses reappeared the last game of season
4) It took you 23,000 posts to reach this conclusion

robertweathers said:

Yep. Look back on the BB/Brady years and you can count the number of seasons the offense came out smoking on one hand.

2014- No
2013- No
2012- No. Cards at home was awful. 2nd 1/2 vs Ravens stunk.
2011- Yes
2010- Yes, but 2nd 1/2 vs Jets was awful.
2009- No
2008- No TB IR
2007- Yes
2006- No
2005- No
2004- Yes
2003-No
2002- Yes (but then after averaging almost 40ppg in their 1st 3 games, they average 13 in their next 4)
2001-No (Drew...then Brady)
2000- No. They stunk in general.

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Don't forgot that in 2010 the offense struggled early against defenses that were able to cover Randy Moss deep, and BB traded Moss to Minnesota after week 4 and re-invented the offense around 2 rookie TEs, causing a huge board meltdown.

Many seasons have had a couple of major "turning point" moments in terms of personnel decisions:

2001: Bledsoe getting hurt and TB taking over
2003: picking up Rodney Harrison and cutting Lawyer Milloy; the in-season trade for Ted Washington to fix the run defense
2004: the decision to trade for Corey Dillon and go with a bruising running game
2010: the Moss trade and the switch to the TE-based offense
2011: BB's decision to cut Meriweather and Sanders in pre-season; the post-cutdown signing of Brian Waters to shore up the OL; cutting Albert Haynesworth in mid-season after back-to-back losses and sending a message that the team was bigger than any individual
2012: the mid-season trade for Talib and the move of McCourty to FS to shore up a bleeding secondary
2013: the Hernandez debacle; dealing with a tremendous rash of injuries; a reliance on "Blunt Force Trauma" down the stretch

We've already had one moments personnel bomb this season with the Mankins/Wright trade. My guess is that either the offense will round into form in the next month, or BB will address it.

borg said:

1) or Tie
2) injuries in one game can impact the next game
3) For 9 years the weaknesses reappeared the last game of season
4) It took you 23,000 posts to reach this conclusion

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1) Yup
2) Not really my point
3) No for 9 years we just haven't been able to be the best team of all 32
4) Sadly it took me that long to find reading this board is quickly becoming more of a negative than a positive.

brdmaverick said:

After Sunday's narrow victory over the Oakland Raiders the board has been filled with "the sky is falling" posts with almost as many "relax, we won the game, quit complaining" rebuttals.

Why can't the reality be somewhere in the middle?

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Every board has the Chicken Littles. Every board has the White Knights. You'll always get a range of posts when you allow for it.

I think the vast majority of this board would come down as somewhere in the middle, with a very solid homer lean.

brdmaverick said:

After Sunday's narrow victory over the Oakland Raiders the board has been filled with "the sky is falling" posts with almost as many "relax, we won the game, quit complaining" rebuttals.

Why can't the reality be somewhere in the middle?

Sure, a win is a win. I've heard that many times before, and by definition yes a win is in fact a win, but for fans and analysts alike that term really only applies in the Super Bowl. In the Super Bowl, I don't care if we win ugly, lucky, or injured as long as we win we are happy. That can't be said of all other games though, and here's why............

Were these same optimists happy after our victory over Kansas City in the opener of 2008? I imagine not, Brady was hurt and with it our Super Bowl aspirations. What I'm getting that is while we desparately strive for wins, unless it's the Super Bowl we analyze each game to determine our ability to earn future wins.

For a game like Sunday's game, the defense showed plenty of promise for future success, but I think it's clear to us that something is wrong with the offense. Last year we had the Gronk's injuries and the unfamiliarity with guys like Amendola, Thompkins, and Dobson as a natural reason. Sure, Gronk is dinged up still, but the familiartiy issues should be gone by now. The fact that they are still struggling with a porous offensive line is a legit concern. Is the sky falling? no, but it's a legit concern. Whatever your diagnosis, I think it's clear to optimisits and chicken littles alike that something is wrong with our offense right now. And sue, we won against Oakland, but I don't think many of us are content beating the doormats of the league, we're concerned about or ability to defeat teams like Cincinatti, Denver, and Green Bay in the future.

So between the optimists and chicken littles I think the reality lies somewhere in the middle and that's...........

"yes, we understand the three games thus far have left plenty to be concerned with, but history has shown that the Pats get better as the season goes on and I have no reason to think that trend will not continue this year."

Click to expand...

This is an example of Inteligent football discussion with out the wholly unneccesary BILE.

IllegalContact said:

they're both blind to logic

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Considering the source this is absolutely hilarious. Then again I wouldn't expect anything more from a hard core jets fan.

My thoughts overall.

#1 This D is playoff caliber - I know it is early. I know the competition has not been the best. However this D is #2 in YPG, #3 in PPG and I think the best D with passing yards allowed. They have not given up a TD in 115 minutes of play straight. I don't care who you play that is impressive in the NFL.

#2 The OL is holding back the O and that is the only things holding it back. Watch last weeks game made things very clear to me. The weapons are not the issue. Brady has more than enough. When the OL blocked well the offense looked like a top tier offense. I would sit Amendola so we can play Dobson & Thompkins but without that they had enough weapons.

#3 The OL will improve. The only question is will it improve enough. This team can be bounced in the division round or win the SB and I believe (health aside) it will be determined entirely by the OL. I really think we have a SB caliber team everywhere else.

Stork has shown he instantly improves the OL when in. It always allows Connolly to move to guard which instantly improves that G spot. However those improvements alone IMO are not enough. Vollmer is good enough in his RT spot so really it comes down to how much Cannon & Solder improve. I do not believe we have anyone who can replace either at this time.

Here is something to be optimistic about: Pats have not allowed a TD in 7 quarters.

Ivan said:

Considering the source this is absolutely hilarious. Then again I wouldn't expect anything more from a hard core jets fan.

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my case in point..........the hard core underwear dwellers resort to baselessly calling people jets fans....what kind of complete idiot would do that?

FourierSeries said:

Here is something to be optimistic about: Pats have not allowed a TD in 7 quarters.

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115 minutes to be exact

IllegalContact said:

my case in point..........the hard core underwear dwellers resort to baselessly calling people jets fans....what kind of complete idiot would do that?

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lmao-The day you contribute anything of substance to this forum it will be your first time doing so. the only time you pop up around here is when things aren't going well and you see an opportunity to take a sh.t. Long term posters here know your schtick meathead, and no one is buying it.