Some interesting tidbits from Curran looking back on the year

I understand the mortar kick is the rock upon which people would like to build their church of 2015 Patriots Failures, but Philly took over at the damn 41. Allowing them to convert on third-and-10 with a 20-yard pass to Jordan Matthews three plays after the mortar kick was a much bigger play in that game but raging through the offseason about that isn’t as easy as simply moaning “morrrtarrrr kick” for the next five months.

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It will be interesting to see how things go with Brandon LaFell in 2016. The toe surgery he had in the offseason really impacted him in 2015. His explosiveness and ability to separate was simply gone and – as a downfield receiver – he just isn’t smooth. So, he played at about 40 percent of the effectiveness he showed in 2014. Nobody can say the offense didn’t work to involve LaFell though. They tried to appease his need for involvement despite drops. They tried to feature him against Kansas City despite minimal returns on plays designed for him. It didn’t work. After the Divisional Playoff game, LaFell stomped from his locker, refusing to talk by saying, “I have nothing good to say.” When I asked him the following Wednesday about his postgame demeanor, he said, “We won, why would I be frustrated?” The fact he played sparingly and didn’t even see a pass from Brady against Denver, however, was a flashing billboard that the Patriots third-best receiver is at a crossroads.

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And that resignation probably can be traced somewhat back to the Dolphins game. Running the ball over and over wasn’t about preserving anyone, as I originally thought. It was about trying to build some confidence in the ability to run. Trying to get on track so that, when the playoffs started and somebody wanted to play with five or six defensive backs, the team would feel confident about its ability to run the football. Once it became clear they were swimming upstream that day and that they just weren’t an effective running team, they set about trying to do what they do and by then, Miami was fully engaged.

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And to see the way Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola (to name just two) were walking/hobbling in the locker room just 20 minutes after trying to sprint and wriggle themselves open was to gain a real appreciation for the punishment these guys take and the lengths they go to ignore the physical pain they are in.

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QuantumMechanic said:

Thought Curran's observation that Brady seemed to be resigned to getting pounded in the AFCCG was telling. I wonder how much of a say Brady had in the OL coach being let go?

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FourierSeries said:

No surprise that Edelman was far from 100%. At (or near) 100% there isn't a CB in the league who can cover him. A healthier Edelman would have gone a long way in that game.

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ViperGTS said:

I agree. His demeanor as I've stated here before in that game was dismal. No energy, no enthusiasm. Just kind of mopey. Also, hearing Matt Lights take on the line performance was eye opening. How can a team that is known to be prepared for everything not do something? The lack of adjustment smacks of something. I mean this team swapped Arrington for Butler, and put Browner on Matthews in the damn Super Bowl.

I've often wondered if players feel something. Such as, the gameplan doesn't feel quite right. Or certain adjustments that they know should be made aren't. I've also wondered if the NFL doesn't ping someone and say don't bring your A game. If you do we will do X to you. Not saying they ask to throw the game (which effectively they are) but to keep it close, especially against Manning. No one but the HC knows it, the players can only sense it. In the end, if the Pats' gameplan is worse than what you would get out of a high school coach, you must ask yourself why.

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Lavictoire said:

it was Rex Ryan all over again with the dime defense. Rex will be gameplanning for us all summer after this debacle.

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ViperGTS said:

I've posted the same thought years ago. When Brady comes out with that mopey body language I wonder if he knows a win is not in the script.

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Lavictoire said:

I've posted the same thought years ago. When Brady comes out with that mopey body language I wonder if he knows a win is not in the script.

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glm said:

You guys really think BB gives any sort of a damn about some NFL script gibberish?

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ViperGTS said:

When it comes to Manning, maybe he doesn't have a choice. I thought it immediately when I saw the off coverage. That isn't being scared of Manning. It's something else. The Steelers D didn't give up a TD to a full rested Manning. Not even close. The Pats lets him walk right down the field


Makes zero sense to anyone who understands football. They had Butler play press-man against much better QB/Reciever combos this season.

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QuantumMechanic said:

I wonder how much of a say Brady had in the OL coach being let go?

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Fencer said:

I don't think he needs one. His views on OL play are surely listened to carefully. The brass can make their own decisions about coaching from there.

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50-yard-line said:

Regarding the point about Edelman and Amendola...throwing 30-35 times a game instead of 50 time a game would go a long way to diminishing the wear and tear on these guys, including Gronk.

The offense became too 1dimensional, for whatever reason. You have to at least make the defense think you might run the ball...sure, you can surprise them now and then, but you can't live on a pass-only offense in the NFL, especially with a bunch of rookies on the OL.

That's my only knock against Josh, but it's one that makes me cringe.

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FourierSeries said:

lol @ these conspiracy theories and comments about body language.

The team was decimated by injury, the OL played like **** due to poor communication, and Ghost uncharacteristically missed an XP. That's why we lost.

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QuantumMechanic said:

Thought Curran's observation that Brady seemed to be resigned to getting pounded in the AFCCG was telling. I wonder how much of a say Brady had in the OL coach being let go?

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ViperGTS said:

Did you not hear Matt Light and what he said? It's far more than than what you said. The question is why?

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