The Basic Problem - As I See It

DarrylS said:

That would make sense if they put on the Uniform.. but somewhere along the line players gotta play.

Click to expand...

Oh, okay, so why do we even have coaches? Seems like a huge waste of money.

PATS16N0 said:

Oh, okay, so why do we even have coaches? Seems like a huge waste of money.

Click to expand...

Try to do it without them and let me know how it works out.. to blame one person or group of people for 99% of the problems of this team is folly.

DarrylS said:

Try to do it without them and let me know how it works out.. to blame one person or group of people for 99% of the problems of this team is folly.

Click to expand...

No it isn't. This team is under coached and as a result of that under performing. If you didn't see the MNF game as a complete coaching disaster you weren't watching the same football game as the rest of us. How you can absolve them for not having this team prepared `because they don't take the field` is beyond me.

I actually think the main problem is that all of these "smaller" things have combined to become one very large problem.

We have suspect talent, suspect coaching, perhaps suspect leadership and possibly too young a team to be able to overcome all of the issues when combined.

It may just take time to remedy things or, it might take personnel/coaching changes. Time will tell.

The guy on the team that I personally think sort of epitomizes the current state of the team is Nate Solder. He has talent, but also flaws. Good feet and flexibility but not enough strength to overpower his opponent when that is needed. He has been thrust into a new situation (new position coach and absence of strong albeit declining partner to his right) and is playing slow and indecisively. Exactly what you can't have when you are in a period where there are more speed rushers to contend with than ever. In terms of intangibles, he has the opportunity to step up and lead but is not taking it. I think he is going to play better as the year progresses due to his coachability, but will not have the high ceiling some thought last year or so. He just has too many fundamental flaws, I think.

Thus it is with the team, in my view. They will improve, as the younger players get more acclimated, Gronk and Dobson and Vollmer progress in their recoveries, and the coaches figure out how to adjust to their strengths and unveil more of the options they have held back so far. But they will not overcome some fundamental flaws, notably in the interior of both lines, mid-field coverage, and power running.

I plan to enjoy this anyway, it's Patriots football, not a play or a movie. The disappointment is a small price to pay for the excitement of going through the season. Sure there are a lot of folks who haven't seen the tough stretches we older guys have, so we need to be patient with them just as we should with this year's Pats.

PATS16N0 said:

I think our problems are 99% coaching

Click to expand...

So Brady hasn't declined but Belichick has?

Watching Minnesota-Green Bay. Deja vu, except they're already ON their 3rd string QB.

Kasmir said:

So Brady hasn't declined but Belichick has?

Click to expand...

Brady has 2 seconds per play to do his job.
Belichick has months and months and months to do his.

It is not that complicated; the reason is too little talent.

The reason behind the lack of talent is more complicated, but it has to do with poor drafting, bad free-agent management, and short-sighted greed when dealing with players.

The Gr8est said:

So Garapolo was able to be successful with the same players that Brady was not, and THAT is on Brady.

Click to expand...

The Chiefs were also subbing on defense and were just content to coast and keep plays in front of them by then, so I think you are overinterpreting how the mop-up minutes worked out.

Leadership and youth does not apply to the New England Patriots defense.

Leadership: Wilfork, Ninkovich, Mayo, McCourty

Youth: Not one rookie is starting on the New England Patriots defense

Five of the starters on defense were drafted prior to 2010: Wilfork, Ninkovich, Revis, Mayo, Chung

No excuse for the New England Patriots defense to allow over 300 yards in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs offense.

ATippett56 said:

Leadership and youth does not apply to the New England Patriots defense.

Leadership: Wilfork, Ninkovich, Mayo, McCourty

Youth: Not one rookie is starting on the New England Patriots defense

Five of the starters on defense were drafted prior to 2010: Wilfork, Ninkovich, Revis, Mayo, Chung

No excuse for the New England Patriots defense to allow over 300 yards in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs offense.

Click to expand...

That was coaching. You have to admit the motion and play calling for KC was phenomenal. Some of those run plays using misdirection were brilliant. Our defensive disaster at Arrowhead was Belichick and his Yes-men being completely outclassed by.... Andy Reid & Company

FredFromDartmouth said:

It is not that complicated; the reason is too little talent.

The reason behind the lack of talent is more complicated, but it has to do with poor drafting, bad free-agent management, and short-sighted greed when dealing with players.

Click to expand...

I don't agree with you at all. There's plenty of talent.

Every NFL team in the salary cap era is flawed and has significant holes. The challenge is overcoming them.

Look at how the Cowboys played on Sunday night. It's easy to point to their offensive line and running game dominating with successful high draft picks. But their no-name defense of scrubs was flying around the ball, making plays and playing solid team defense. The Pats' defense has 10 times the talent.

There's tons of talent on offense: Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon, Bryan Stork, Cameron Fleming, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Tim Wright, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley. Not to mention a guy named Brady. There's more than enough talent there. It's not a question of bad drafting, bad free agent management and "short-sighted greed". It's a matter of talented players not making plays, not having the mental and physical fortitude, and lacking clear leadership.

ATippett56 said:

Leadership and youth does not apply to the New England Patriots defense.

Leadership: Wilfork, Ninkovich, Mayo, McCourty

Youth: Not one rookie is starting on the New England Patriots defense

Five of the starters on defense were drafted prior to 2010: Wilfork, Ninkovich, Revis, Mayo, Chung

No excuse for the New England Patriots defense to allow over 300 yards in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs offense.

Click to expand...

As of right now I am calling the last game a coughing up a hairball