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SOLDER
To me, this is our #1 problem. It is difficult to make up for a poorly performing LT, unless you have a top LG.
PASSING GAME
Why isn't Amendola open as a slot receiver? Why isn't anyone open over the middle is the 3 WR set (50% of the reps)? Throwing short over the middle used to be our bread and butter. Obviously, there is no one that Brady trust downfield, even when there is time. Throwing to the check down receiver or running screens seem to be gone from the playbook.
RUNNING GAME
I agree that the RB's should attack the LOS more. I believe that much of the problem is lack of constant blocking from the OL and TE's. And, there is the obvious lack of depth behind Ridley and Vereen.
STEPPING IT UP
You say that what is need is for Josh (and the players) to step it up. This is really difficult when much of the running game is removed without replacement (Blount), and the starting LG is waived with a week to go in the preseason. If Mankins was to be moved, the least that might have been done is to add a veteran lineman. There were lots of JAGs that might have been signed early. PLEASE, let's not ask for a list of those who might be better than one of Devey or Kline. Obviously, there were players out there.
Now, it will take time for the new OL to gel. That sounds like a cliche, but it is true. We haven't even found a starting line yet. It will take time, once the OL is in place.
Perhaps, the OL coach has done poorly in starting Cannon at LG instead of the next man up (Kline or Connolly). I guess that the injuries to Stork and Wendell reduced the options considerably. In both hindsight and foresight, we might have started Kline at LG and Cannon at RG. While I am not a fan of Cannon at OG, he was the next man up after Mankins was traded. Of course, Kline played some LG last year.
DEFENSE
I have the same concern as you do: durability. Ninkovich, Jones, Mayo and Hightower are expected to play ALL the defensive reps. We identified the need for depth at LB and DE throughout the off-season. Skinner is the only backup to get more than 1 rep. Perhaps we will have some help when, and if, Buchanan is healthy.
To me, this is our #1 problem. It is difficult to make up for a poorly performing LT, unless you have a top LG.
PASSING GAME
Why isn't Amendola open as a slot receiver? Why isn't anyone open over the middle is the 3 WR set (50% of the reps)? Throwing short over the middle used to be our bread and butter. Obviously, there is no one that Brady trust downfield, even when there is time. Throwing to the check down receiver or running screens seem to be gone from the playbook.
RUNNING GAME
I agree that the RB's should attack the LOS more. I believe that much of the problem is lack of constant blocking from the OL and TE's. And, there is the obvious lack of depth behind Ridley and Vereen.
STEPPING IT UP
You say that what is need is for Josh (and the players) to step it up. This is really difficult when much of the running game is removed without replacement (Blount), and the starting LG is waived with a week to go in the preseason. If Mankins was to be moved, the least that might have been done is to add a veteran lineman. There were lots of JAGs that might have been signed early. PLEASE, let's not ask for a list of those who might be better than one of Devey or Kline. Obviously, there were players out there.
Now, it will take time for the new OL to gel. That sounds like a cliche, but it is true. We haven't even found a starting line yet. It will take time, once the OL is in place.
Perhaps, the OL coach has done poorly in starting Cannon at LG instead of the next man up (Kline or Connolly). I guess that the injuries to Stork and Wendell reduced the options considerably. In both hindsight and foresight, we might have started Kline at LG and Cannon at RG. While I am not a fan of Cannon at OG, he was the next man up after Mankins was traded. Of course, Kline played some LG last year.
DEFENSE
I have the same concern as you do: durability. Ninkovich, Jones, Mayo and Hightower are expected to play ALL the defensive reps. We identified the need for depth at LB and DE throughout the off-season. Skinner is the only backup to get more than 1 rep. Perhaps we will have some help when, and if, Buchanan is healthy.
OK, I watched the game closely. I’ve read most of the game threads, and here’s where I come down on the current situation. Am I concerned about the OL, of course I am. Do I wish the offense was more productive, absolutely! However, am I ready to panic on any of these issues…..not even close.
I didn’t post right away because I assumed the self-entitled hand wringers deserved their moment in the sun, and I certainly didn’t want to rain on their parade. It’s not that they don’t have a leg to stand on. 2 sacks aren’t an issue to me, but the SIX QB hits are. So while there ARE things to be concerned about, the LEVEL of anxiety seems way overblown.
Let’s not forget that this is the post 2010 NFL. This is the league of more limited practices, almost non-existent pre-season contact, and team turnover rates of around 20% that coaches are trying to deal with. Is it any wonder why we are seeing such inconsistent football league-wide.
The timing of these complex offenses are such that, I don’t doubt that we will be well into October before we see the kind of consistency we’d all like to see from Brady and company. I am confident that this team is good enough overall to win enough games over the next month or so, that we will be in good position to claim another division crown
One of the keys to the Pats success over the past 13 seasons is the fact that there Pats do a better job coaching up their players than most teams. So while the problems DO exist, why would anyone think they will be issues that won’t improve over time. What in the past 13 seasons would make you feel otherwise.
All that being said, here is what I was thinking about while I was watching the game:
1. It seems to me that the Pats RB’s do better when they attack the LOS quickly. I think too many of their running plays take too long to develop.
2. Brady continues to ignore his check down receivers. I’d like the Pats to do this more. It was very effective for Cutler and the Bears tonight. There were more than a few time I thought I saw Devlin open in this game
3. I think we need to stretch the field more in the passing game. More 15-20 yds intermediate throws. I’m not looking for bombs here. But I get the feeling too many teams are sitting on the short routes. At TC it seemed the Pats were throwing the ball down field more, but for some reason, once the season started, those throws seemed to have disappeared from the play book.
4. My biggest concern about the D was the lack of substitution for Jones and Ninko. Once again they seem to be on the field more than 90% of the time.
5. My other concern is that 2 of my binkies, Collins and Easley, have yet to stand out and have big games and plays. I think they’ve played OK, but I’m expecting more.
6. Revis has been fantastic. It’s been the extremely rare completion where hasn’t been in very tight coverage. I don’t know what anyone else is seeing, but he’s playing up to my high expectations so far
7. Nate Solder is another story. I expect much more than I’m getting from him. No OT is going to win every battle. In the limited time I watched the Jets game, Fergeson was stoning Allen most of the night, but there were 3 or 4 times where they showed Allen beating him for a few hurries and hits. It’s the nature of the game.
8. I thought on one of the sacks, Brady held the ball too long.
9. I’m glad some people are starting to recognize the contributions of Patrick Chung. By the end of the season, he was our best DB in that 2011 superbowl run. There were high expectations for him the next years. Expectations he never reached. Hopefully in this incarnation, and playing with a lot better players, he can elevate his game back to what it was at the end of 2011.
10. I’m a bit surprised I haven’t seen more complaints about the PI call on Logan Ryan, that could have cost the Pats that game (or at least sent it into overtime). I didn’t question the call too much when it first happened. However when they showed the replay, my take was that Ryan had great inside position and it was the receiver who initiated the contact, knocking Ryan down, and not the reverse. Am I nuts, or was it a bad call. I can think of about 3 non-calls made (2 for the Pats and one for the Raiders) that I thought were more worthy of a PI call than THAT one.
11. Speaking of Ryan, he’s taken the next step and has done an excellent job, for the most part. He’s been a very adequate #2 CB thus far. I wish I could say the same for his Rutgers counterpart, Harmon.
12. Nice to see Brady start to spread the ball around in the second half.
13. Danny Amendola can’t catch a break. Open for a TD and Brady misses the throw, then makes a nice gain only to have it called back for the 3rd time this season.
14. Edelman continues to shine on the outside
15. I’m a big Josh McDaniels fan, but I can see how some fans aren’t happy with him and he needs to step it up, like most of the offensive personnel
Tough week coming up in KC. Its not easy to start the season with 3 road games in the first 4 weeks KC is a tough and noisy crowd With KC’s pass rush, it will be a big test for this OL.