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- Jul 11, 2005
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My computer died on Monday and I couldn't get another until this afternoon, so I had some time to percolate some thoughts. I've had a chance to skim what's the current topics are so hopefully I won't be too redundant. 
1. The OL - This SHOULD be the topic of the day, because it all starts here, just like it did last season. I'm not sure how many QB hits the Bills were credited in that game. I've heard everything from 10-14. But whatever the number is it was WAY too many. That being said, I can understand the problem. We have to remember that Volmer and Cann0n where playing for the first time in a month. That absence is compounded by the fact that NFL rules made sure that it is likely that they didn't even have a padded practice during that month. So the Bills game was the first time both players had seen a full speed snap in over a month. No wonder they were less than effective several times.
2. Rex had more time to prepare this week, and it showed. As much as I think Rex is a complete bozo as a HC, he put together a great game plan for the Pats' offense. It was opined that the Jets used the Pats OL call against them. I agree it could be done, even if they don't know the exact calls.
With the extra time for film work the Bills could figure out what defensive formations would make the Pats OL slide, left or right. So if you can predict what will make them go right (say), you can scheme where the weakness will present themselves. The other thing you can do is present them with formations that make it impossible to clearly determine the "Mike" and essentially make them guess, and hope they get it wrong.
The 3rd thing I think they did was finally someone specifically went after David Andrews and attacked him. He's done a stellar job thus far, but he isn't a physically gifted kid who is also a rookie. There is a reason they lifted him so early. Stork wasn't a whole lot better for a while, but at least he wasn't as overmatched physically.
3. We desperately need some continuity on the OL. IMHO, our best OL would be Cannon, Kline, Stork, Mason, and Volmer, (left to right) We could probably argue the rest of the week about whether Volmer should be the LT or RT, and give great reasons on both sides. But the bottom line is whichever configuration the Pats decide to go with, they HAVE to let these guys start to settle in and get some rhythm. Only Jackson should be getting some snaps at OG.
4. Keeping on the OL theme. We really need to run the ball much better. In order to do that we have to start to be more creative. As creative and inventive as our passing game is, our run game can't be more predictable and plain. We need to run the ball from more varied and unpredictable formations. We need to run the ball more from the shot gun. We need to get our TE's more involved in the run game.
5. How good is Tom Brady? - Getting 277 yds passing while getting hit around 12 times and losing 2 of his 4 top receivers. Brady had his worst night of the season, putting up similar numbers that Cam Newton puts up and is getting MVP hype for. Given how well Brady was doing in protecting the ball from TO's; his throw to Harper for the pick, could only be attributed to a total brain fart.
6. I guess I'm obliged to comment on the "inadvertent whistle", so here is my POV. It's exactly like BB's. It happened. A mistake was made, and they handled it as best they could. I'm on record as saying all the complaints about the refs are overblown. Mistakes happen all over the field. Compared to the players and coaches, the refs make the fewest mistakes of any of them.
The best way to stop all the *****ing and moaning, is to give the HC the option to review any call for any reason. The thing that would keep the time down is that they only get 2 challenges, with the potential for a 3rd if they get the first 2 right. It won't slow the game down any more than it is now. It will add to the strategy of when to use your challenges. Smarter teams will do better. And it will END the constant second guessing of the officials. Lets recognize that everybody is doing their best to get it right the first time, but like this call, **** happens. When it does, just understand its just as much a part of the game as a bad bounce, or a good one; and move on. Which is just what BB did. It was a mistake, but there was nothing he could do about it, except try and overcome the adversity.
7. BTW- In the end, know one knows what the end result of the play would have been had the whistle not have been blown. He could have been tackled right away, or gone for the TD. In the end I don't believe the Pats were treated unfairly.
8. BTW - There is absolutely NO question that Rex should have been called for the 15 yard penalty. He not only was in an area where he shouldn't be, he was actively interfering with the Ref's ability to maneuver on the sideline.
9. The DL keeps getting better an better. Holding that team to 94 yds rushing was OUTSTANDING. McCoy is a great RB, and that OL isn't shabby either. I'm never sure who is playing at any moment, but the end result is getting better and better. This is especially impressive given that we are still missing our best defensive player.
10. Decent but not great pressure put on Taylor. We had 2 sacks but could have had at least 2 more if Taylor hadn't made some H0udini- esque escapes.
11. Good to see Mayo starting to make a bit of an impact. 5 tackles in 16 snaps is good production. Also interesting to hear BB finally admit that Mayo still isn't at 100% physically. It only bodes well for the future of the D to have Mayo back at 100% for the playoffs. BTW- I might be alone, but I thought Freeney played better this week than the last. Maybe it wasn't great, but it was "better".
12. Between Butler and Ryan, we might actually be BETTER at CB this season than last. Butler certainly isn't on a Revis' level, but Ryan has turned out to be much more effective than Browner was. Fewer penalties, more picks, break ups and tackles. Can you imagine how much MORE successful this secondary could have been if Brown, Coleman and Roberts were available. This is a very young and productive secondary that could be together for a few years.
13. Chung got beat deep a couple of times, but that was because he we being forced into some match ups that weren't exactly fair. When he gets back to playing in match ups that are advantageous to him, his production will improve. The CB position is obviously very thin. Hopefully Coleman will be available soon.
14. Because I didn't have a computer, I was forced to watch the BSPN pregame show (or at least part of it). It was clear to me that now that they don't have Peyton to ball wash, they have moved directly on to Cam Newton and their newest QB to fawn over and over hype. No question that he's having a great year, but he's been great about 4 games THIS year. Brady has been doing this for the last 15 years, and is STILL improving. Comparing Newton to Brady is doing Newton at this point of his career, is doing Newton a disservice.
15. I think the media is FINALLY getting to understand just how amazing this team is, and how much adversity they have been going through, yet are still 10-0. Several times they point out how many OL combinations that they have had to go through and how many receivers they've lost, yet keep on trucking. This is really a team you can really be proud of.
16. Hats off again to special teams for coming up with a big TO. Brandon King another rookie UDFA comes off the PS to become a core special teamer who has made a difference. BTW I'm almost glad Gotskowski missed one. I can finally rest easy over the remembrance of the Vikings kicker who missed his first FG of the season in the NFCCG that would have clinched the game..
17. Finally, I can't stop without issuing a formal apology to James White. I have been very vocal in my questioning even why he's on the roster. Yet in his 2nd real opportunity to make an impression he scored 2 TD's by doing EXACTLY what I always complained about him. He WASN'T brought down by the first guy who hit him. He broke a tackle on his first TD, and drove through contact to make his 2nd.
Granted if Lewis had been out there, on the first TD, the guy wouldn't have even touched him, White proved that while he isn't Dion Lewis, he can be a dependable and capable 3rd down back. And really that is all we need when Amendola and Edelman come back.
OK maybe this wasn't so "abbreviated"
1. The OL - This SHOULD be the topic of the day, because it all starts here, just like it did last season. I'm not sure how many QB hits the Bills were credited in that game. I've heard everything from 10-14. But whatever the number is it was WAY too many. That being said, I can understand the problem. We have to remember that Volmer and Cann0n where playing for the first time in a month. That absence is compounded by the fact that NFL rules made sure that it is likely that they didn't even have a padded practice during that month. So the Bills game was the first time both players had seen a full speed snap in over a month. No wonder they were less than effective several times.
2. Rex had more time to prepare this week, and it showed. As much as I think Rex is a complete bozo as a HC, he put together a great game plan for the Pats' offense. It was opined that the Jets used the Pats OL call against them. I agree it could be done, even if they don't know the exact calls.
With the extra time for film work the Bills could figure out what defensive formations would make the Pats OL slide, left or right. So if you can predict what will make them go right (say), you can scheme where the weakness will present themselves. The other thing you can do is present them with formations that make it impossible to clearly determine the "Mike" and essentially make them guess, and hope they get it wrong.
The 3rd thing I think they did was finally someone specifically went after David Andrews and attacked him. He's done a stellar job thus far, but he isn't a physically gifted kid who is also a rookie. There is a reason they lifted him so early. Stork wasn't a whole lot better for a while, but at least he wasn't as overmatched physically.
3. We desperately need some continuity on the OL. IMHO, our best OL would be Cannon, Kline, Stork, Mason, and Volmer, (left to right) We could probably argue the rest of the week about whether Volmer should be the LT or RT, and give great reasons on both sides. But the bottom line is whichever configuration the Pats decide to go with, they HAVE to let these guys start to settle in and get some rhythm. Only Jackson should be getting some snaps at OG.
4. Keeping on the OL theme. We really need to run the ball much better. In order to do that we have to start to be more creative. As creative and inventive as our passing game is, our run game can't be more predictable and plain. We need to run the ball from more varied and unpredictable formations. We need to run the ball more from the shot gun. We need to get our TE's more involved in the run game.
5. How good is Tom Brady? - Getting 277 yds passing while getting hit around 12 times and losing 2 of his 4 top receivers. Brady had his worst night of the season, putting up similar numbers that Cam Newton puts up and is getting MVP hype for. Given how well Brady was doing in protecting the ball from TO's; his throw to Harper for the pick, could only be attributed to a total brain fart.
6. I guess I'm obliged to comment on the "inadvertent whistle", so here is my POV. It's exactly like BB's. It happened. A mistake was made, and they handled it as best they could. I'm on record as saying all the complaints about the refs are overblown. Mistakes happen all over the field. Compared to the players and coaches, the refs make the fewest mistakes of any of them.
The best way to stop all the *****ing and moaning, is to give the HC the option to review any call for any reason. The thing that would keep the time down is that they only get 2 challenges, with the potential for a 3rd if they get the first 2 right. It won't slow the game down any more than it is now. It will add to the strategy of when to use your challenges. Smarter teams will do better. And it will END the constant second guessing of the officials. Lets recognize that everybody is doing their best to get it right the first time, but like this call, **** happens. When it does, just understand its just as much a part of the game as a bad bounce, or a good one; and move on. Which is just what BB did. It was a mistake, but there was nothing he could do about it, except try and overcome the adversity.
7. BTW- In the end, know one knows what the end result of the play would have been had the whistle not have been blown. He could have been tackled right away, or gone for the TD. In the end I don't believe the Pats were treated unfairly.
8. BTW - There is absolutely NO question that Rex should have been called for the 15 yard penalty. He not only was in an area where he shouldn't be, he was actively interfering with the Ref's ability to maneuver on the sideline.
9. The DL keeps getting better an better. Holding that team to 94 yds rushing was OUTSTANDING. McCoy is a great RB, and that OL isn't shabby either. I'm never sure who is playing at any moment, but the end result is getting better and better. This is especially impressive given that we are still missing our best defensive player.
10. Decent but not great pressure put on Taylor. We had 2 sacks but could have had at least 2 more if Taylor hadn't made some H0udini- esque escapes.
11. Good to see Mayo starting to make a bit of an impact. 5 tackles in 16 snaps is good production. Also interesting to hear BB finally admit that Mayo still isn't at 100% physically. It only bodes well for the future of the D to have Mayo back at 100% for the playoffs. BTW- I might be alone, but I thought Freeney played better this week than the last. Maybe it wasn't great, but it was "better".
12. Between Butler and Ryan, we might actually be BETTER at CB this season than last. Butler certainly isn't on a Revis' level, but Ryan has turned out to be much more effective than Browner was. Fewer penalties, more picks, break ups and tackles. Can you imagine how much MORE successful this secondary could have been if Brown, Coleman and Roberts were available. This is a very young and productive secondary that could be together for a few years.
13. Chung got beat deep a couple of times, but that was because he we being forced into some match ups that weren't exactly fair. When he gets back to playing in match ups that are advantageous to him, his production will improve. The CB position is obviously very thin. Hopefully Coleman will be available soon.
14. Because I didn't have a computer, I was forced to watch the BSPN pregame show (or at least part of it). It was clear to me that now that they don't have Peyton to ball wash, they have moved directly on to Cam Newton and their newest QB to fawn over and over hype. No question that he's having a great year, but he's been great about 4 games THIS year. Brady has been doing this for the last 15 years, and is STILL improving. Comparing Newton to Brady is doing Newton at this point of his career, is doing Newton a disservice.
15. I think the media is FINALLY getting to understand just how amazing this team is, and how much adversity they have been going through, yet are still 10-0. Several times they point out how many OL combinations that they have had to go through and how many receivers they've lost, yet keep on trucking. This is really a team you can really be proud of.
16. Hats off again to special teams for coming up with a big TO. Brandon King another rookie UDFA comes off the PS to become a core special teamer who has made a difference. BTW I'm almost glad Gotskowski missed one. I can finally rest easy over the remembrance of the Vikings kicker who missed his first FG of the season in the NFCCG that would have clinched the game..
17. Finally, I can't stop without issuing a formal apology to James White. I have been very vocal in my questioning even why he's on the roster. Yet in his 2nd real opportunity to make an impression he scored 2 TD's by doing EXACTLY what I always complained about him. He WASN'T brought down by the first guy who hit him. He broke a tackle on his first TD, and drove through contact to make his 2nd.
Granted if Lewis had been out there, on the first TD, the guy wouldn't have even touched him, White proved that while he isn't Dion Lewis, he can be a dependable and capable 3rd down back. And really that is all we need when Amendola and Edelman come back.
OK maybe this wasn't so "abbreviated"
