POST Game Thread: It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times Edition

Great post. I was shocked when I saw Collins, Hightower and C Jones the only three rushing on a few plays and I'm more convinced than ever that the Pats need to sign Revis to a long-term contract. This defense has been the best I've seen since the 04 team.

ArchAngel007 said:

Great review just wanna add that Collins grows on me everyday. The guy is amazing to watch how fast and athletic he is

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Watching Collins develop is beginning to affirm my suspicion that he may have the potential to be the best player of the 2013 draft. The guy is everywhere and given his athleticism, is moving toward unstoppable.

Forgot to mention TB sharing the team lead in rushing average ypc with 6.0.

ausbacker said:

Watching Collins develop is beginning to affirm my suspicion that he may have the potential to be the best player of the 2013 draft. The guy is everywhere and given his athleticism, is moving toward unstoppable.

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That might be a gross overstatement. I really like Collins and the 2013 draft is shaping up to be a mediocre draft class. But you still have some studs like Le'Veon Bell, Sheldon Richardson, and Star Lotulelei.

Rob0729 said:

Let's begin:

• This was definitely a game of two halves. Other than a block kick and an INT, not much went right in the first half. The entire team slept walked through the entire first half. Nothing was going right. The second half adjustments on both sides of the ball were spectacular.

• I think the person who was the most indicative of this was Brady. He just seemed off in the first half. He stared down receivers. He under threw wide open receivers deep. In the second half, he was on fire.

• The biggest adjustments I saw in the second half were sending Gronk out there more where he was blocking on the line a lot in the first half (obviously), but the did something with the o-line. Not 100% sure what it was. The o-line sucked at run blocking in the first half and was inconsistent on pass blocking (some times great, other times not so much). In the second half, they were much better at run blocking although inconsistent. They didn't even let a defender sniff Brady at all in the second half.

• Good to see Chandler Jones back. In his first game back, he definitely made his impact felt. I am not sure how many plays he actually played, but he certainly made the best of his snaps. I still don't know why people think he sucks against the run, he blew up a run in the backfield at one point. He held up against the run when I watched him. He struggled against the run for a few games earlier in the season (who didn't), but typically isn't bad against the run.

• Today was the only time I was upset with Browner's penalties (only mildly). I don't mind him getting physical because it sets a tone, but some of the penalties were stupid and could have been costly.

• I think the initial game plan on offense was working, but they went away from it too quickly. I think they were doing well against the Dolphins with the short passing game, but they seemed to scrap it too soon after the INT. They were right to take advantage of the depleted LB corp. It didn't matter since the Pats made great adjustments in the second half.

• I love the aggressiveness on special teams. This has been the difference between the Pats and a lot of teams this year with their special teams play. Yes, the special teams let the team down a bit at the end of the first half on that horrible punt coverage, but the Pats definitely have the advantage in this area against virtually every team.

• Time to pay Revis whatever he wants. He truly has become Revis Island. Two weeks in a row that the opposing QB doesn't even look in Revis' direction. He truly makes opposing defenses play left handed. He is just as important as Brady to this Super Bowl run.

• And that allows the Pats to be more aggressive up front. The Pats have been able to blitz more and do more exotic things with the front seven. The Pats played a lot of contain in the first half, but they started to send more rushers in the second. Also, it allowed the Pats to get to Tannehill with even a three man rush a time or two.

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Hey Rob, good post. Agree with most of it. Good to see the bath salts wore off.

Ivan said:

Hey Rob, good post. Agree with most of it. Good to see the bath salts wore off.

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I admit I probably went a little overboard fighting my point especially since the running game didn't really do much with whoever was in the game. Although I would say the other side went overboard arguing the other way based on such a little sample size. I figured since the running game was not much of a factor today in either half, I would not rehash that argument again here.

I missed most of the third while grilling for the guests. What changed? I had the car pulled next to the grill with zo on (lol @ most of the people here today can't dance but they don't care! My wife thought I was losing my mind while cracking up flipping steak).

Did like seeing Develin making an impact block on the Blount td. I don't understand why he isn't more involved in the run game (especially against garbage run defenses).

In any case, I'll be watching the third quarter at some point the next few days. I'm interested to see what the changes (or better execution?) were with regards to the offense.

The defense...God Damn. If we stay healthy I like our chances.

With regards to next week, it should be a great game. The bills ***** slapped GB today. Held them to thirteen points?! We could easily lose this one if the bills defense shows up like that against Brady.

Rob0729 said:

I admit I probably went a little overboard fighting my point

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I wouldn't know, I have never had that problem.

ausbacker said:

Watching Collins develop is beginning to affirm my suspicion that he may have the potential to be the best player of the 2013 draft. The guy is everywhere and given his athleticism, is moving toward unstoppable.

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Better than Cordarelle Patterson. Are you sure?


I think Ziggy Ansah and Sheldon Richardson might have something to say about that but I'm happy to put Collins in that conversation.

Rob0729 said:

I admit I probably went a little overboard fighting my point especially since the running game didn't really do much with whoever was in the game.

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(At the risk of poking the bear.....)

It did fine with Gray.

11 for 62 - - all in the 2nd half. Most of Brady's best throws came on play action to him. He was producing even against 10 in the box.

It's amazing why they had him in Siberia for 2 and 1/2 games.


.

shmessy said:

It did fine with Gray.

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Yup. Only Josh McDaniels thinks Blount gives NE a better chance of moving the ball.

shmessy said:

(At the risk of poking the bear.....)

It did fine with Gray.

11 for 62 - - all in the 2nd half. Most of Brady's best throws came on play action to him. He was producing even against 10 in the box.

It's amazing why they had him in Siberia for 2 and 1/2 games.


.

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I am not going to count the garbage time runs against backup. It was 6 for 31 when it mattered. He was good on some runs and bad on others. I don't give a crap about what he did when they were doing mop up duty.

The RBs for the most part were non-factors. That includes Vereen, Blount, and Gray.

Rob0729 said:

I am not going to count the garbage time runs against backup. It was 6 for 31 when it mattered. He was good on some runs and bad on others. I don't give a crap about what he did when they were doing mop up duty.

The RBs for the most part were non-factors. That includes Vereen, Blount, and Gray.

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Backup??? Who did Miami take out??? They had Tannehill going on 4th downs on offense right until their last drive.

But they were putting in their backups on defense?????

C'mon, Rob, you're too good to be doing this.

Rob0729 said:

I am not going to count the garbage time runs against backup. It was 6 for 31 when it mattered. He was good on some runs and bad on others. I don't give a crap about what he did when they were doing mop up duty.

The RBs for the most part were non-factors. That includes Vereen, Blount, and Gray.

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5 YPC. Meh point is still valid. The Vereen draws were trash.

manxman2601 said:

Better than Cordarelle Patterson. Are you sure?


I think Ziggy Ansah and Sheldon Richardson might have something to say about that but I'm happy to put Collins in that conversation.

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No doubt but Collins' body of work is just as impressive.

Oswlek said:

Yup. Only Josh McDaniels think Blount gives NE a better chance of moving the ball.

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I don't want to turn it into a Gray vs. Blount thing. I like them BOTH going double barrel at the opposition. Use 'em both, soften up the opposing D's and keep their legs fresh.

Oswlek said:

Yup. Only Josh McDaniels think Blount gives NE a better chance of moving the ball.

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Blount is fine.... In increments. A Gray like back to preface the Blount force trauma is the ticket. But you can't just hand it to him in a vacuum.

shmessy said:

Backup??? Who did Miami take out??? They had Tannehill going on 4th downs on offense right until their last drive.

But they were putting in their backups on defense?????

C'mon, Rob, you're too good for be doing this.

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He had 30something yards on that last drive that ended the game (after Tannehill's last drive). Some of the guys who tackled him are named D.Shelby, E.Mitchell, and J.Trusnik go look the Dolphins' depth chart and see if they are starters.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=400554353&period=4

West Philly Patriot said:

5 YPC. Meh point is still valid. The Vereen draws were trash.

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Six carries when it counts where he had half his yards on one carry. Brady has 6.0 YPC. Maybe we should start him at RB because he is the best RB on the team.

I am not going to argue this anymore. Gray had six carries when it mattered and against the starting defense. He had two or three good runs and a good pitch and catch. People are making it out to be he is Corey Dillon in his prime. I am not going to rehash this. None of the RB were huge impacts in this game. Each had a few good plays and that is about it.

Rob0729 said:

He had 30something yards on that last drive that ended the game (after Tannehill's last drive). Some of the guys who tackled him are named D.Shelby, E.Mitchell, and J.Trusnik go look the Dolphins' depth chart and see if they are starters.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=400554353&period=4

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You mean J. Trusnik. The guy who knocked the Brady pass out of mid air and intercepted it in the 1st quarter?