Idle Thoughts - The new beginnings edition

For this edition I'm going to start with only football related discussion. If I feel like it at the end I might say something about the usual nonsense that is exploding around us as I speak.

1. Without getting into specifics, my overall feeling for this game was that the offense was much further advanced than I had a right to expect and the defense left something to be desired so lets break it down.

2. The OL - When you come into a game against a team that has a good defensive front, and you are starting your 3rd string C who happens to be an UDFA rookie, plus another rookie who wasn't a high pick, and a supposed journeyman young G without a lot of experience, you have every reason to be concerned....very concerned. Yet in the end the OL operated well within our highest expectations. Room for improvement? Undoubtedly. But for the exception of one very well design blitz Brady remained relatively untouched and unhurried for the great majority of this game

They didn't open any gaping holes in the run game, but when we did run it wasn't horrible, as Lewis averaged 4.6 ypc, and it got better as the game went along. When it did fail it failed due to penetration into the backfield off the edge. I don't know whether the cause was do to a blocking failure from the T's or TE's or was it missed assignments, or simply just good defensive design (they pay the other guys too.) But in the end, Bill will know and I have every reason to expect it to continually improve as the season goes on. a

The biggest surprises on the plus were from Andrews, Kline and Jackson. Both held up remarkably well on pass protection, and seemed OK when we ran. The negative in this game was with Nate Solder (disclaimer: who is a favorite of mine) The penalty was provoked, but totally uncalled for. He has to know better. It was the key element in a scoreless drive. He also was replaced by Cannon at one point. I don't know why or for how long, but I will be interested to find out more about the "Solder situation", and I hope our intrepid media will take time out from their rumor mongering to find out.

Finally, I was surprised when I read that BB had opined in public that the OL talent was better this year than last. Tonight's results proved once again that BB knows what he's talking about. I only expect this OL to keep getting better as the season goes on, regardless of who lines up there.

3. Receivers - On a semantic issue, I think we really need to abandon the concept that makes a distinction between TE's and WR in THIS offense. Both Chandler and Gronk get split wide enough time to blur the definition. They are ALL receivers, who are lined up all across the field. So let's move on.

You would have thought that the Brady/Edelman connection would have suffered some rust after not seeing much of each other this preseason, but the results showed that they have clearly been putting in the work behind the scenes. Edelman consistently got open and Brady consistently found him in the short game. So for the rest of the season it looks like we can expect to see more of the same. Clearly Pittsburgh had no clue how to stop him, so I guess it was the radio signal and not the coaching.

Amendola didn't get a lot of looks, but he too looked like he was getting separation, and provided a good counter point to Edelman's routes, as it seemed they were often working in tandem.

Dobson remains a mystery since he clearly wasn't part of the offensive game plan. One target, one catch is about all you can say except this. At least for now, regardless of who the #3 WR is, he is going to likely be the 5th target on most routes after Edelman, Amendola, Gronk, and Lewis. So lets remember that it isn't a "Dobson thing", its just how the offense is being set up.....at leas for this week

4. RB- I don't want to see Lewis be my main RB each week between the T's, but for this one game, I couldn't be more happy. He averaged 4.6 ypc and when he was stuffed it was never his fault. He rarely got knocked down by the first contact and on most runs made at least one person miss. He's a great find and I think he will make most people quickly forget how important Shane Vareen was to this offense as the 3rd down back. The fact he blocked well vs the blitz was a pleasant surprise. As of now I think the "3rd down RB question we had going into the season has been answered.

But the fact is we really need LGB back. Not having that thumper style RB last night was telling in SY/GL. In fact if I'd have been in charge of the roster, Jonas Gray, not White would still be with the team. I still hope he gets back here on the PS. If we get some injuries to Blount, I think we'd need him.

5 QB - Brady was Brady at his surgical best last night with a 77% completion rate and a great command of the offense as usual. However I would be remiss not to note the several times Rothlessburger threw lasers to his deep receivers perfectly on target, while Tom missed both Amendola and Edleman deep.

I know its hard to say about a 38 year old QB, but I sincerely hope Tom improves on this aspect of his game as the season goes on. Eventually teams will try to sqeeze the mid range zones with 5 under man/zone coverage. I believe we HAVE the receivers to break deep now we need Tom to hit them more consistently

6. DL - Like with the Receivers, semantically we are going to have dispense with the usual DT/DE/NT designations as we are already seeing all those guys playing all those positions in various sets.

That being said, no one will be happy with giving up over 130 yds rushing and having a RB rush for 6 ypc. But it should also be said that defending a running game with just 6 men in the box is NOT the way to stop the run. I'm not sure Ninko's problems were the result of the holding going on, or that he was just a step too slow getting off the block when setting the edge, or that Williams was just unexpected quick. And it wasn't just Ninko. All the DE's seemed to be having an issue, so it could have been a design problem and BB was asking too much from the DE's The CB's an S's were rarely there to provide run support for the DE's, so perhaps the solution might be simply playing more Zone so the DB's will be in better position to support the outside. Clearly last night we played a lot man and the CB"s were being run off on run plays

Interesting to note that according to Reiss, Geeno Grissom played the most snaps of the DT's last night. Now that could be the result of Easley's injury, but it is another example of some obscure rookie making a significant contribution to a win.

7. LB- Hightower played every well last night and was easily the best defender we had in the front 7.. Collins (another one of my designated Binkies) was much too invisible for the impact player I hope he's to become this season. A number to times I saw him making very "Spike-like) attempts to shoot a random gap, leaving big holes for the rest of the D go cover. We need to see better from our supposed most talented defensive player.

Then there is the mystery of the lack of playing time for Mayo with only 11 of 73 snaps in this game. It seems funny that you'd have your best tackler off the field while someone is running amok on the offense. But I suspect that this is more a function of trying to stop all these explosive passing attacks and Mayo will be the LB who gets take off when we go to 5 or more DB's

8 DB - Yet another group that seems to defy positional definitions playing in the Pats secondary.

Malcom Butler - I thought he did an outstanding job of making life difficult for the best WR in the game. With a single except (what a great double move that was) he made almost every other catch an adventure for Brown. He was in great position for most of the night and it took super accurate throws to just barely get by him.

Now is Butler a true "shut down CB" I still don't know. Even Revis wasn't a true shut down CB in this defense. But I do feel that last night's performance went a long way to alleviate most of the fears fans have had about the Butler question coming into the season.

Fletcher and Brown - Both did OK. Both were beaten at times but most of the time they had good enough position that it took great throws to complete the pass. They are what they are, folk, and I think they passed the test. QB's are going to compete over 60% of their passes. They did last season when we had supposed an all star secondary, so why be shocked this season when we don't. All I know is I feel a little more comfortable with how the secondary played

Safeties - I'm sure McCourty would like to have another shot at that pass that seemed to magically go through his arms, but all in all the S's did a decent job for the first time out.

9. Over all I think the defense did an adequate job for now. Clearly we need to see more of a pass rush and the running game needs to tighten up. But in the only stat that matters, the Pats only allowed 21 points and 7 of those were in garbage time.

Its similar for the offense. I hated that the Pats last 2 drives ended in punts. (one due to penalty). They will need to close out games on offense better than that. Blount will certainly help in that area.

10. Radiogate - All I have to say its crap, **** and dung. Its more of the same from the brain dead media that seems to be following Roger Goodell's. game plan for destroying the Patriots' brand It seems like common sense and the truth is unable to overcome the simple envy, jealousy and general lack of good character from the loser elite. Mike Tomlin should be ashamed and is already trying back off his post game comments, but it's too late. His character has been laid bare, and we now know why the Steelers have devolved from an elite team to being just another example of NFL mediocrity. This was a game the Steelers easily could have won if they'd been better prepared and more disciplined. It won't be nearly as easy if they meet in the playoffs, because the Pats team they face then will be a much better team than they lost to last night

Questions I would ask Mike Tomlin if I had the chance. If he has had communications problems "every time" he came to Gillette, how come he wasn't prepared for for that eventuality. He HAD since April to prepare for it. That's 5 months to figure out a plan.

I would ask them what he did during those 5 months to try and figure out a way to at least slow down Gronk and Edelman. Did he think it might be important to make sure Gronk was always covered when he splits out? Or how come in your "hurry up" offense you only ran 2 plays in 60 seconds? Or if you knew the Pats often shifted their line on GL, why wasn't your team prepared???????

I found it interesting that while Mike Tomlin was blaming everyone BUT himself for the sloppy play his team exhibited, Bill Belechick told the press that he and his staff needed to do a better job as the season goes on.

Eventually I hope that people of good character will discover that its hard work and good preparation that has made the Pats what they are. They should make "Do your Job" mandatory watching for the predatory media. THEN they will understand what has made the Pats so great over the years. And that's all I have to say on this matter. They have already sucked most of the joy out of this win. I won't let them take the rest

Great post as always PFK. The state of the team is typical for this time of the year, its almost like an extended pre-season. If everything goes like it has in the past we should see the defense starting to jell in three or four weeks. I never thought about it until now that J Gray was cut and White is still here. I never saw much from White until maybe the last pre season game.

11. Cheating cheaters cheat cheat Cheatriots! Cheat-flate gate! Cheater Brady! Beli-Cheat! Cheats cheating on cherry cheesecake gulping cheaterade drinking cheat juice and cheat cheat cheat Cheatriots! Radio frequency cheat cheaterable cheateristic cheat cheat cheaterisms! Tainted asterisks Lombardis! Cheatriots!!!

Good stuff as usual

Great post as always. Hopefully all the furor was because we were the only game on and the media loves a controversy.

Butlers stat line vs Brown was way less flattering than his play IMO. He is not Revis but I thought he did all right and he is only going to get better.

My only issue with what you wrote is that I think Tarrell Brown was much better than OK. Only gave up one completion and never looked troubled. Otherwise, an excellent write up.

PS. Second issue is that you didn't credit Shaq Mason when you wrote about the interior OL. He actually had one more snap than Tre Jackson and he had a double block to spring Lewis on one of his longer runs and he and Kline were the only two OL not to give up a pressure.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

11. Cheating cheaters cheat cheat Cheatriots! Cheat-flate gate! Cheater Brady! Beli-Cheat! Cheats cheating on cherry cheesecake gulping cheaterade drinking cheat juice and cheat cheat cheat Cheatriots! Radio frequency cheat cheaterable cheateristic cheat cheat cheaterisms! Tainted asterisks Lombardis! Cheatriots!!!

Click to expand...

I think someone spilled the warm Gatorade for the visitors on the communications wires last night so we can deflate footballs.

Therefore Pats to lose first round pick and Brady suspended 16 games because spygate.

Cheaters!! I have a keyboard so I can type cheaters!!!

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

11. Cheating cheaters cheat cheat Cheatriots! Cheat-flate gate! Cheater Brady! Beli-Cheat! Cheats cheating on cherry cheesecake gulping cheaterade drinking cheat juice and cheat cheat cheat Cheatriots! Radio frequency cheat cheaterable cheateristic cheat cheat cheaterisms! Tainted asterisks Lombardis! Cheatriots!!!

Click to expand...

sb1 said:

Butlers stat line vs Brown was way less flattering than his play IMO. He is not Revis but I thought he did all right and he is only going to get better.

Click to expand...

Revis wasn't Revis his first few years, and neither was Sherman. What we saw that was important was Butler has the physical ability to stay in the pocket of the best WR in the league on most plays. Now the question is, over the next few years, is whether he will take that physical skill to the next level. Then instead of having Brown catch 10 of 11 balls, the number will be more like 5 or 6 of 11. He was real close to making that kind of result happen.

Now when PFF puts up those stats, it will look like Butler was just torched by Brown, but that was far from the truth. We just have to be patient. Remember Butler is only a year away from playing 1AA football and needing to try out just to get an invite to be a camp body. when you think about how far he's come in just on short year its almost beyond amazing

manxman2601 said:

My only issue with what you wrote is that I think Tarrell Brown was much better than OK. Only gave up one completion and never looked troubled. Otherwise, an excellent write up.

PS. Second issue is that you didn't credit Shaq Mason when you wrote about the interior OL. He actually had one more snap than Tre Jackson and he had a double block to spring Lewis on one of his longer runs and he and Kline were the only two OL not to give up a pressure.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the update on Mason and the OG's. Since I no longer go to the BSPN site, I didn't see the numbers on the OL snaps. I wondered what the Pats were doing in the OG rotation. Interesting that they left Kline alone and rotated the rookies.

Given your info, I wonder at what point fans are going to start to look at Kline differently, or is he going to have to wait until his 30's, like Connolly before people start to give him some respect.

As for Brown, I was concentrating so hard on watching Butler, Brown's performance slipped thru the cracks. It should only go to alleviate any fears that this secondary is going to be a big problem this season. It won't be a "shut down" secondary (there is no such thing), but it should be solid enough to take us as far as we can go.

Just an FYI.
Cannon replaced Solder for one series and Vollmer for another series.. I believe it was just to get him some snaps. He held up well.

Regarding Amendola, Dobson and Harper. All 3 were getting separation. The "problem" if you call it that, is that Edelman and Gronk were the first two looks and Brady hit them when they were open instead of going through his progressions because he didn't have to look farther more often than not.

DaBruinz said:

Just an FYI.
Cannon replaced Solder for one series and Vollmer for another series.. I believe it was just to get him some snaps. He held up well.

Regarding Amendola, Dobson and Harper. All 3 were getting separation. The "problem" if you call it that, is that Edelman and Gronk were the first two looks and Brady hit them when they were open instead of going through his progressions because he didn't have to look farther more often than not.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info on Cannon, DB. In one of the post game shows, I thought they were implying that Solder was benched. Based on what you said, it sounds like they were just rotating him in there to give Volmer and Solder a blow because it's a long season and we are going to need everyone.

One thing I'd like to note about the Secondary. People are complaining about the amount of time that Roethlisberger was having to throw the ball (4-6 seconds due to 4-man rush). The Pats secondary was keeping their guys covered for that long before the Steelers receivers could get open.. THAT says a lot to me.. You put this defense against a team with an O-line not as stout, a QB less mobile, or receivers who aren't nearly as good and this defense is going to racked up numbers..

patfanken said:

Thanks for the info on Cannon, DB. In one of the post game shows, I thought they were implying that Solder was benched. Based on what you said, it sounds like they were just rotating him in there to give Volmer and Solder a blow because it's a long season and we are going to need everyone.

Click to expand...

Yeah.. Cannon went in and then Solder went back in cause Solder was in to end the game..

Excellent write up as usual. The front seven mystified me. I thought going in the DBs would play more zone, but they were pretty aggressive and I thought with the exception of Fletcher they held up well. Butler was very good. He can definitely stick with pretty much stick with just about any receiver in this league. He also give up some catches because of his size. The front seven just seemed soft outside of Hightower and Sheard on a couple of plays. They were really light at the D-tackle position after Easley went out for a lot of the game. If you bring in lighter quicker guys to get some quick pressure up the middle or to run stunts or shoot gaps then I get that. But I didn't really see that happen.

patfanken said:

9. Over all I think the defense did an adequate job for now. Clearly we need to see more of a pass rush and the running game needs to tighten up. But in the only stat that matters, the Pats only allowed 21 points and 7 of those were in garbage time.

Click to expand...

I'd take more reassurance from that if it weren't for 2 missed FGs.

And for all the very well-executed Pitt passes, there also was the botched TD pass attempt.

patfanken said:

Questions I would ask Mike Tomlin if I had the chance. If he has had communications problems "every time" he came to Gillette, how come he wasn't prepared for for that eventuality. He HAD since April to prepare for it. That's 5 months to figure out a plan.

Click to expand...

Brilliant point!!

DaBruinz said:

Yeah.. Cannon went in and then Solder went back in cause Solder was in to end the game..

Click to expand...

I think they've used Cannon this way early in the season before.

Good write up Ken.. Although Will Allen has to be credited for a great disguise on that delayed blitz, it was in fact, Cannon's fault. IIRC, Cannon passed off his man to Kline and peeled off way too late to fill the open lane vacated by Lewis who nullified the edge rush.

Nice to see Tomlin whining instead of taking responsibility for being completely unprepared for the split out. It wasn't just Gronk or Chandler, but also Lewis, on the first few snaps of the game as well. Very nice attention to detail on the part of BB (or Ernie Adams??) gambling that the lack of familiarity with cover 2 tech would stow confusion in the backfield, leaving Lewis and Gronk in one on one situations.

And the line shift? Please.. that's been done so many times by us over the years. Absolutely no excuse there not to have picked it up by now.