Confessions of an Optimistic Fan

I haven't been around much this week. Mostly because I really didn't have much to say. Unfortunately, after a long day on Monday, I put on the TV around eight, decided to close my eyes for JUST a moment, and when I opened them again, Jimmy Garapolo was the QB and the Pats were down 44-7

Well if the whiners and complainers were out in force after the Oakland VICTORY, then I knew this site would be a bloodbath after the WORST loss since opening day of 2003. Besides what could I add since I didn't even see the game, and the whiners and complainers clearly had the high ground.

So for the beginning of the week I laid low and had a rather productive week. It's amazing all the things you can accomplish when you don't spend hours at a time here or on other football related sites. Late this week, I did spend some time on line listening to how quickly the perception of the Patriots has changed in just a week. None of it surprised me, though it probably was the best week Jet fans have had in years. Certainly the best since January of 2011. (which was the 2nd best day for a Jet fan in their 54 year history).

Since I didn't get to see the game, I can't really comment on what went so horribly wrong to create that kind of result. I'm not shocked when the Pats lose. But I was shocked at by how much. It was unprecedented since 2001. However, I was around football for a long time, and have played and coached in more than my share of lopsided games. To this day, I can recall the feelings of anxiety walking into see the film, knowing too well there were several plays I wish I could erase from existence.

It wasn't until I started coaching that I saw the OTHER side of a lopsided loss. Despite all the pain and anguish, by the second time through the film, you began to believe that "it really wasn't that bad". That if the OL hadn't given the QB just a half second more, we had a guy wide open for a TD. If there had been better tackling on this play, it would have been a loss, not a big gain. If you hadn't gotten a bad call, there could have been a 14 point swing, and so on and so on. In other words, as a coach, you look at the debacle, and think, "We can fix this"

So, what do I expect tonight. It clearly looks bad. We have to play a team that's been the best in the league coming off a bye week, while we just played our worst game in OVER a decade, coming off a short week. I hope we win, but I certainly wouldn't put my rent money on this one....even with the points. Mostly because I have no idea what to expect from this team.

It only goes to show how fragile success is in such a fiercely competitive environment. Bill constantly talks about " building the team" in preseason, and not knowing what he has built until mid November. You can't tell which team will be resilient, and which team won't. Last year's team, was exceedingly resilient, and the 2011 superbowl team, didn't have nearly as much athletic ability as the one that failed so miserably last Monday.

What I DO know is that the talent that goes on the field tonight will be very similar for both teams. Never forget how good ALL these athletes are. What I DO know is that BB will have done EVERYTHING in his arsenal to prepare this team to be competitive tonight. I DO know that I wouldn't want any other HC leading this team in this situation.

So what I'll be looking for in this situation is to see how this team reacts to adversity. To see how this team responds to being smacked in mouth for a change. I know it sounds crazy, but its LESS important that they win tonight. What IS critical is that we see a team that is desperate to compete. A team that won't accept what happened last Monday. I want to see a team that I am more comfortable believing will be a team that will develop into one that can win in November and December. People should remember that in 2001 the Pats were 5-5 coming off a home loss, and truly were a very unremarkable team.....before they went 9-0 to finish the season.

I can understand that there is a LOT to be negative about. But there is a LOT of season to go before the final story of this season has been written. I still believe that his is one of the more talented groups BB has assembled. The question is, can that talent can turn into a TEAM. And when I say TEAM, I mean a group where the sum is better than individual parts. If that happens, then this still can turn out to be a great season. If it doesn't, then we have to be prepared to "take it", because god knows we've been able to "dishing it out" for more than a decade.

As bad as it has appeared to be, one thing the media and even bruschi and Harrison said, it comes down to blocking. Once blocking happens on both lines, the team will instantly change.

Edit: DL has been bad at pass rushing the past 2 games. Time will tell but the issues are correctable which is a great sign

Archeryaddict12 said:

As bad as it has appeared to be, one thing the media and even bruschi and Harrison said, it comes down to blocking. Once blocking happens on both lines, the team will instantly change.

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The way the pass rush looked the last two weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if the DL was trying to block the opposing OL.

Great post, Ken

KontradictioN said:

The way the pass rush looked the last two weeks, I wouldn't be surprised if the DL was trying to block the opposing OL.

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Lol, bad on my part with the DL. I am trying to watch games and type. Need to edit that

Good stuff Ken. As someone else said a couple of weeks ago: I'm glad you're not dead.

patfanken said:

I can understand that there is a LOT to be negative about. But there is a LOT of season to go before the final story of this season has been written. I still believe that his is one of the more talented groups BB has assembled. The question is, can that talent can turn into a TEAM. And when I say TEAM, I mean a group where the sum is better than individual parts. If that happens, then this still can turn out to be a great season. If it doesn't, then we have to be prepared to "take it", because god knows we've been able to "dishing it out" for more than a decade.

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The NFL has been set up very much like a Russian roulette game. The rules, free agency and the cap make it very hard for any team to beat the odds over a prolonged period. The majority of games are close (look at some of today's results, for example, with 2 OT games, a game won on a 58 yard FG, and a one point comeback win by the Browns, among others). Blowouts occur, but few teams can sustain a major advantage over others, and even that is done with a relatively small advantage in talent and/or coaching. The difference between a SB contender and a mediocre team can be quite small. That system favors playoff and champion turnover and competition - keep things exciting and unpredictable and the fans will keep on watching, the ratings will be high, and the money will keep flowing in.

The brilliance of the Patriots have been that they have been able to "beat the house" and sustain excellence over such a prolonged period with the rules stacked against them, due to the brilliance of Belichick and Brady, and a philosophy which emphasizes teamwork over individual talent, combined with preparation, mental toughness, and endurance. They have consistently optimized their talent and played smart enough to stay ahead of the pack, keeping themselves always enough better to produce a winning season.

It may be that we are coming to the end of this sustained run, but this season has not yet been written. I think this has been a "fun" season so far - one of unexpected obstacles and challenges, for a team. that has won with relative ease over the past decade, avoiding most of the turmoil that other teams have had to face. Now they are being thrown into the crucible for the first time since 2011 and possibly 2001-2002. It's hard to know what intense pressure will do to the team - either break it or forge it into something stronger than the teams of recent years. It will be fun to watch. Regardless of the end result, I think it is fundamentally healthy for the team to have to go through some serious struggles, and so I don't spend too much time paying attention to all of the hand-wringing and beating of breasts that has been occurring in the past few weeks.

I have to ask one quick question. I can understand the 7 points the offense got, since they havle been struggling all season, HOWEVER, I never dreamed this defense was even capabl.e of allowing 44 points or anything close to it. Can someone give me a brief synopsis of what happened

patfanken said:

I have to ask one quick question. I can understand the 7 points the offense got, since they havle been struggling all season, HOWEVER, I never dreamed this defense was even capabl.e of allowing 44 points or anything close to it. Can someone give me a brief synopsis of what happened

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1 The Pats failed to generate offense. At the half, NE had 4 - 1st downs, 24 rushing yards and 74 passing yards.
2. KC gashed NE with Charles and Davis for over 200 yards. Once the run game was established play action ensued.
3. Revis and Ryan had horrible games.
4. KC turned the Rex Ryan defense up in the 2nd half and the turnovers came in bunches.
5 The NE defense was on the field for nearly 1 whole quarter of football more than KC.

patfanken said:

I have to ask one quick question. I can understand the 7 points the offense got, since they havle been struggling all season, HOWEVER, I never dreamed this defense was even capabl.e of allowing 44 points or anything close to it. Can someone give me a brief synopsis of what happened

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It's really inexplicable. I remember we had trouble stopping the run. As for passing, I don't recall any big passing plays over the top - just short-intermediate throws mostly. KC's TE's and RB's made some key plays and we couldn't cover them (Kelce, Charles, Davis)

Also, there was 4-5 times one of our guys slipped like as if were playing on ice. A couple went for 1st downs. Some poor tackling as well.

Sorry, someone else will probably give a better analysis.

patfanken said:

I have to ask one quick question. I can understand the 7 points the offense got, since they havle been struggling all season, HOWEVER, I never dreamed this defense was even capabl.e of allowing 44 points or anything close to it. Can someone give me a brief synopsis of what happened

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They never played press man. They played ZONE.

Missed tackles, players over pursuing. Pretty much bedard couldn't believe how bad the players played fundamentally.

I usually never use the 'blessing in disguise' theme with losses but if we get more of these efforts here on out, last Monday and all the Brady unhappy rumors is probably the best thing that could've happened to this team.

mayoclinic said:

It may be that we are coming to the end of this sustained run, but this season has not yet been written. I think this has been a "fun" season so far - one of unexpected obstacles and challenges, for a team. that has won with relative ease over the past decade, avoiding most of the turmoil that other teams have had to face. Now they are being thrown into the crucible for the first time since 2011 and possibly 2001-2002. It's hard to know what intense pressure will do to the team - either break it or forge it into something stronger than the teams of recent years. It will be fun to watch. Regardless of the end result, I think it is fundamentally healthy for the team to have to go through some serious struggles, and so I don't spend too much time paying attention to all of the hand-wringing and beating of breasts that has been occurring in the past few weeks.

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Based on the intensity and physicality with which the team is playing tonight, I'm reasonably encouraged. They obviously didn't like being made KC's ***** on Monday night. This team has more than enough to be competitive if they can put it together. The talent is there (and some of it isn't on the field tonight). It's a question of focus, desire and toughness, and working out some fundamentals.

The running game looked great to me in the KC game: ridley 6 yards per carry, white 7. The problem was they were hell bent on passing from the shotgun in the loudest stadium in football.

Anyhow, doubt the coaches as I may, I am happy for six things:

We are moving on to Cincinnati.
We are moving on to Cincinnati.
We are moving on to Cincinnati.
We are moving on to Cincinnati.
We are moving on to Cincinnati.
We are moving on to Cincinnati.

Hell yea!

patfanken said:

I have to ask one quick question. I can understand the 7 points the offense got, since they havle been struggling all season, HOWEVER, I never dreamed this defense was even capabl.e of allowing 44 points or anything close to it. Can someone give me a brief synopsis of what happened

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Hi Ken,
should have read your ost before going to bed tonight, than I would have watched it live and enjoyed it evene more.

As for last week, they started ok, but by the second drive there where people Slipping all over the field, and always on the critical 3rd down plays. I think in reaction to this people started to feel insecure and there tackling mechanics failed them, allowing the running back to break more and more tackles once the game got going. Also I think they got a weakness in Jones which he was not able to correct within the context of the game. But mostly it was broken tackles and bad footing which was there undoing on defense.

Also what I know, is that being way down raises the risk for INTs and Sacks by the the offense, because they must try to catch up too hard to play the optimal strategy, but I am not sure, if there are similar effects at play when the defense is trying too hard. Some of the Patriots defensive success was always based on smart ballhawking, which is just not possible, when the Opposing Offe3nse can play it tight because they got an early lead.