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I have so little to actually say about this game that I thought about not even doing a post. However I guess its become a tradition of sorts, so we'll see how it goes.
1. Clearly BB sided with the "better to rest them" crowd, with pretty much everyone who had a marginal ding sitting out.
2. Despite the large number of absences, you couldn't help but be disappointed with the first half of play. I was more disappointed with the defense that I was with the offense. We had enough good players to have done a much better job on a marginal Buffalo offense in that first half.
3. To the defense's credit, it once again played shut out ball in the 2nd half. I think that bodes very well for the playoffs. Over the 2nd half of the season, the defense's work in the 2nd half has been phenomenal. Whatever problems they might have in the first half are dealt with in the second....CONSISTENTLY. I mean how many TD's has this defense given up over the last 8 games in the 2nd half. One?, Two? That is other worldly if you think about it.
What makes it every bit as impressive as what the Seehawks have done recently, is that the Pats have had to do it against decent to good offenses, while the Seahawks have played almost exclusively rookies, back ups and Colin Kapernick during their late season dominant defensive run
4. I have to admit that I only lasted until JG's 3rd offensive series, before I decided running errands would be more interesting. I returned jjust in time to catch that 4th down and one bad call in the 4th when they still had a chance to get back into the game. I was done after that.
5. I hated the play calling during JG's time. Very little in the way of play action passes, no rollouts or bootlegs. Things I think JG would excel at. And the so called designed runs were just stupid. I don't like to criticize the coordinators, but the Josh haters are going to have a fun time this week.
6. I was a little disappointed in what I saw with JG, but I really shouldn't be. Even with the lack of production or success, you can tell he has good poise and presence when he's on the field. And let's not forget where he came from, the offense he ran in college, and how far he has to go. He is really going to need 2-3 more years of development before we can fairly judge what kind of QB he can be.
You can't love what we've seen so far, but you certainly can't hate it. If I had to grade it, I say he's right on track to be what he'll become.....whatever that is.
7. In a weird way I have to feel a little good for Bills fans. They've been loyal supporters of a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1999. Finishing up with a 9-7 record and some hope this offseason is nothing we should begrudge good and loyal fams As Pats fans, we've has SOOOOOO much good fortune over those same 15 years, I can't begrudge them a little joy today.
8. Nice to see LaFell finish with 950 yds. I would think that number far exceeded what most of us hoped for when he was first signed. Not only that he proved to be one of the better WR run blockers in the league. He gave us a lot of production for a very reasonable price.
9. I think we got a bit better insight into Brian Tyms potential today. He proved he could do more than simply run 9 routes. He's adds decent depth for the playoffs, but with a full off season could add a lot more. At any rate between he and Dobson, the 3 vets, I hope we can end this need for a WR insanity and concentrated on upgrading the real needs of this team.
10 Things to watch for going into the playoffs:
a. We aren't getting much traction from our base 4 man rush. We need to improve on that. However the pass rush gets to be a lot more effective when Patricial dials up a stunt or blitz. I think we have to face the fact that when we want to create pressure, we are going to need to do it from a scheme.
b. Assuming Solder's injury was a nick. and Connolly and Volmer will both be ready, I'm more concerned than worried about the OL. I strongly agree that it should be the primary area of need this off season, but for THIS playoff season, (baring injury), its should be adequate enough (as it proved in that 6 game gauntlet), to win this superbowl
c. I'll be interested to see if Tavon Wilson's snaps will continue to grow. I like what I see from him, from what little we get to see. Whether its here of elsewhere, I can see his career mimicking James Ihedigbu's. Ihedigbu was UDFA emergency fill in for us who started a superbowl. Then developed into an adequate starter with the Ravens on their run, and is now a solid, effective, and respected starter with a good Lions defense. In other words another "overnight success" 4 years in the making.
.
Just another example of how sometimes it takes some time for a player from a small school, or making a position change to develop into a good pro. I will be surprised if he isn't battling for a starting role next season.
d. I don't look forward to the media hype we will have to endure the next 2 weeks, making far to much of today's results, the lack of a pass rush, the offensive malaise the the OL issues. It's not to say they don't have a legit reason NOT to talk about them, its just that what they'll say will be so predictable and thus boring and tiresome.
e. I pray we get the Ravens as our first opponent. There are those who will make a big deal about their 2 wins here in years gone by. But this is not NEARLY the same team. This is a team that almost lost to a bad Cleveland team with no offensive weapons and QB'd by Connor freakin' Shaw....at home. The Ravens are frauds of the first order. All mouth, little substance. We will bury them if we are lucky enough to see them.
11. Back last spring when we were given the option of picking a number to identify with, I picked 91, because I was so enthralled by Jamie Collins' playoff efforts. And while there's been a learning curve, and some of the efforts haven't always be gems, its been a pleasure to start to see him become a CONSISTENT game changing type of player with tons of upside. The Pats acted very quickly locking up Gronk and Hernandez when they saw what they had, I wouldn't be surprised to see them try and do it with Collins this offseason.
12. Biggest positive surprises:
a. LaFell
b. Chung
c. Stork
d. Connolly/Wendell (as they are inexorably linked)
e. Ayers/Branch (as they are also inexorably linked)
f. Vince Wilfork
13. Biggest negative disappointments
a. Dennard (although we don't know how much health has played in this)
b. Solder (not that he's played so badly, but that he hasn't be the elite player I expected)
c. Chandler Jones (not that he's played badly, but that he hasn't been the elite player I expected)
d. Easley - maybe I set my expectations too high. I expected what Aaron Donald delivered
e. Cannon - he was supposed to solve and upgrade the RG position.....didn't happen
14. Jeff Fisher just finished his season on a losing note.....again. Thus completing his 13th losing season in 19 years as a HC....and yet he not only still gets to keep his job, he remains perceived as a highly respected HC in the league by the mediots. Why does this guy have a job. Let the rant CONTINUE!!!!!!!!!
15. Psych 101 - I think Brady was REALLY pissed he wan't given the opportunity to at least have the opening drive of the 2nd half to move the ball. I think that's EXACTLY where BB wants him. He WANTS him to hear all the talk show blather about the "offensive issues". He wants him angry and with something to prove. So he sat Brady after a bad first half of offense and made him watch the Pats lose a game that would have likely have won if he had finished the game.
Yes, BB really is THAT good.
16.Every team that comes into Gillette with be capable of beating the Pats, but NONE will be better going into that game. In other words, if the opponent plays his A game, and the Pats play THEIR A game, the Pats are going to win. That's what I strongly believe. Its ALL in their own hands how long this playoff run goes.
Well once again I've rambled on far longer than I expected when I started. Thanks for your patience
1. Clearly BB sided with the "better to rest them" crowd, with pretty much everyone who had a marginal ding sitting out.
2. Despite the large number of absences, you couldn't help but be disappointed with the first half of play. I was more disappointed with the defense that I was with the offense. We had enough good players to have done a much better job on a marginal Buffalo offense in that first half.
3. To the defense's credit, it once again played shut out ball in the 2nd half. I think that bodes very well for the playoffs. Over the 2nd half of the season, the defense's work in the 2nd half has been phenomenal. Whatever problems they might have in the first half are dealt with in the second....CONSISTENTLY. I mean how many TD's has this defense given up over the last 8 games in the 2nd half. One?, Two? That is other worldly if you think about it.
What makes it every bit as impressive as what the Seehawks have done recently, is that the Pats have had to do it against decent to good offenses, while the Seahawks have played almost exclusively rookies, back ups and Colin Kapernick during their late season dominant defensive run
4. I have to admit that I only lasted until JG's 3rd offensive series, before I decided running errands would be more interesting. I returned jjust in time to catch that 4th down and one bad call in the 4th when they still had a chance to get back into the game. I was done after that.
5. I hated the play calling during JG's time. Very little in the way of play action passes, no rollouts or bootlegs. Things I think JG would excel at. And the so called designed runs were just stupid. I don't like to criticize the coordinators, but the Josh haters are going to have a fun time this week.
6. I was a little disappointed in what I saw with JG, but I really shouldn't be. Even with the lack of production or success, you can tell he has good poise and presence when he's on the field. And let's not forget where he came from, the offense he ran in college, and how far he has to go. He is really going to need 2-3 more years of development before we can fairly judge what kind of QB he can be.
You can't love what we've seen so far, but you certainly can't hate it. If I had to grade it, I say he's right on track to be what he'll become.....whatever that is.
7. In a weird way I have to feel a little good for Bills fans. They've been loyal supporters of a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1999. Finishing up with a 9-7 record and some hope this offseason is nothing we should begrudge good and loyal fams As Pats fans, we've has SOOOOOO much good fortune over those same 15 years, I can't begrudge them a little joy today.
8. Nice to see LaFell finish with 950 yds. I would think that number far exceeded what most of us hoped for when he was first signed. Not only that he proved to be one of the better WR run blockers in the league. He gave us a lot of production for a very reasonable price.
9. I think we got a bit better insight into Brian Tyms potential today. He proved he could do more than simply run 9 routes. He's adds decent depth for the playoffs, but with a full off season could add a lot more. At any rate between he and Dobson, the 3 vets, I hope we can end this need for a WR insanity and concentrated on upgrading the real needs of this team.
10 Things to watch for going into the playoffs:
a. We aren't getting much traction from our base 4 man rush. We need to improve on that. However the pass rush gets to be a lot more effective when Patricial dials up a stunt or blitz. I think we have to face the fact that when we want to create pressure, we are going to need to do it from a scheme.
b. Assuming Solder's injury was a nick. and Connolly and Volmer will both be ready, I'm more concerned than worried about the OL. I strongly agree that it should be the primary area of need this off season, but for THIS playoff season, (baring injury), its should be adequate enough (as it proved in that 6 game gauntlet), to win this superbowl
c. I'll be interested to see if Tavon Wilson's snaps will continue to grow. I like what I see from him, from what little we get to see. Whether its here of elsewhere, I can see his career mimicking James Ihedigbu's. Ihedigbu was UDFA emergency fill in for us who started a superbowl. Then developed into an adequate starter with the Ravens on their run, and is now a solid, effective, and respected starter with a good Lions defense. In other words another "overnight success" 4 years in the making.
.Just another example of how sometimes it takes some time for a player from a small school, or making a position change to develop into a good pro. I will be surprised if he isn't battling for a starting role next season.
d. I don't look forward to the media hype we will have to endure the next 2 weeks, making far to much of today's results, the lack of a pass rush, the offensive malaise the the OL issues. It's not to say they don't have a legit reason NOT to talk about them, its just that what they'll say will be so predictable and thus boring and tiresome.
e. I pray we get the Ravens as our first opponent. There are those who will make a big deal about their 2 wins here in years gone by. But this is not NEARLY the same team. This is a team that almost lost to a bad Cleveland team with no offensive weapons and QB'd by Connor freakin' Shaw....at home. The Ravens are frauds of the first order. All mouth, little substance. We will bury them if we are lucky enough to see them.
11. Back last spring when we were given the option of picking a number to identify with, I picked 91, because I was so enthralled by Jamie Collins' playoff efforts. And while there's been a learning curve, and some of the efforts haven't always be gems, its been a pleasure to start to see him become a CONSISTENT game changing type of player with tons of upside. The Pats acted very quickly locking up Gronk and Hernandez when they saw what they had, I wouldn't be surprised to see them try and do it with Collins this offseason.
12. Biggest positive surprises:
a. LaFell
b. Chung
c. Stork
d. Connolly/Wendell (as they are inexorably linked)
e. Ayers/Branch (as they are also inexorably linked)
f. Vince Wilfork
13. Biggest negative disappointments
a. Dennard (although we don't know how much health has played in this)
b. Solder (not that he's played so badly, but that he hasn't be the elite player I expected)
c. Chandler Jones (not that he's played badly, but that he hasn't been the elite player I expected)
d. Easley - maybe I set my expectations too high. I expected what Aaron Donald delivered
e. Cannon - he was supposed to solve and upgrade the RG position.....didn't happen
14. Jeff Fisher just finished his season on a losing note.....again. Thus completing his 13th losing season in 19 years as a HC....and yet he not only still gets to keep his job, he remains perceived as a highly respected HC in the league by the mediots. Why does this guy have a job. Let the rant CONTINUE!!!!!!!!!
15. Psych 101 - I think Brady was REALLY pissed he wan't given the opportunity to at least have the opening drive of the 2nd half to move the ball. I think that's EXACTLY where BB wants him. He WANTS him to hear all the talk show blather about the "offensive issues". He wants him angry and with something to prove. So he sat Brady after a bad first half of offense and made him watch the Pats lose a game that would have likely have won if he had finished the game.
Yes, BB really is THAT good.
16.Every team that comes into Gillette with be capable of beating the Pats, but NONE will be better going into that game. In other words, if the opponent plays his A game, and the Pats play THEIR A game, the Pats are going to win. That's what I strongly believe. Its ALL in their own hands how long this playoff run goes.
Well once again I've rambled on far longer than I expected when I started.
Thanks for your patience
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