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- Jul 11, 2005
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I haven't been around much this week. Mostly because I really didn't have much to say. Unfortunately, after a long day on Monday, I put on the TV around eight, decided to close my eyes for JUST a moment, and when I opened them again, Jimmy Garapolo was the QB and the Pats were down 44-7
Well if the whiners and complainers were out in force after the Oakland VICTORY, then I knew this site would be a bloodbath after the WORST loss since opening day of 2003. Besides what could I add since I didn't even see the game, and the whiners and complainers clearly had the high ground.
So for the beginning of the week I laid low and had a rather productive week. It's amazing all the things you can accomplish when you don't spend hours at a time here or on other football related sites. Late this week, I did spend some time on line listening to how quickly the perception of the Patriots has changed in just a week. None of it surprised me, though it probably was the best week Jet fans have had in years. Certainly the best since January of 2011. (which was the 2nd best day for a Jet fan in their 54 year history).
Since I didn't get to see the game, I can't really comment on what went so horribly wrong to create that kind of result. I'm not shocked when the Pats lose. But I was shocked at by how much. It was unprecedented since 2001. However, I was around football for a long time, and have played and coached in more than my share of lopsided games. To this day, I can recall the feelings of anxiety walking into see the film, knowing too well there were several plays I wish I could erase from existence.
It wasn't until I started coaching that I saw the OTHER side of a lopsided loss. Despite all the pain and anguish, by the second time through the film, you began to believe that "it really wasn't that bad". That if the OL hadn't given the QB just a half second more, we had a guy wide open for a TD. If there had been better tackling on this play, it would have been a loss, not a big gain. If you hadn't gotten a bad call, there could have been a 14 point swing, and so on and so on. In other words, as a coach, you look at the debacle, and think, "We can fix this"
So, what do I expect tonight. It clearly looks bad. We have to play a team that's been the best in the league coming off a bye week, while we just played our worst game in OVER a decade, coming off a short week. I hope we win, but I certainly wouldn't put my rent money on this one....even with the points. Mostly because I have no idea what to expect from this team.
It only goes to show how fragile success is in such a fiercely competitive environment. Bill constantly talks about " building the team" in preseason, and not knowing what he has built until mid November. You can't tell which team will be resilient, and which team won't. Last year's team, was exceedingly resilient, and the 2011 superbowl team, didn't have nearly as much athletic ability as the one that failed so miserably last Monday.
What I DO know is that the talent that goes on the field tonight will be very similar for both teams. Never forget how good ALL these athletes are. What I DO know is that BB will have done EVERYTHING in his arsenal to prepare this team to be competitive tonight. I DO know that I wouldn't want any other HC leading this team in this situation.
So what I'll be looking for in this situation is to see how this team reacts to adversity. To see how this team responds to being smacked in mouth for a change. I know it sounds crazy, but its LESS important that they win tonight. What IS critical is that we see a team that is desperate to compete. A team that won't accept what happened last Monday. I want to see a team that I am more comfortable believing will be a team that will develop into one that can win in November and December. People should remember that in 2001 the Pats were 5-5 coming off a home loss, and truly were a very unremarkable team.....before they went 9-0 to finish the season.
I can understand that there is a LOT to be negative about. But there is a LOT of season to go before the final story of this season has been written. I still believe that his is one of the more talented groups BB has assembled. The question is, can that talent can turn into a TEAM. And when I say TEAM, I mean a group where the sum is better than individual parts. If that happens, then this still can turn out to be a great season. If it doesn't, then we have to be prepared to "take it", because god knows we've been able to "dishing it out" for more than a decade.
Well if the whiners and complainers were out in force after the Oakland VICTORY, then I knew this site would be a bloodbath after the WORST loss since opening day of 2003. Besides what could I add since I didn't even see the game, and the whiners and complainers clearly had the high ground.
So for the beginning of the week I laid low and had a rather productive week. It's amazing all the things you can accomplish when you don't spend hours at a time here or on other football related sites. Late this week, I did spend some time on line listening to how quickly the perception of the Patriots has changed in just a week. None of it surprised me, though it probably was the best week Jet fans have had in years. Certainly the best since January of 2011. (which was the 2nd best day for a Jet fan in their 54 year history).
Since I didn't get to see the game, I can't really comment on what went so horribly wrong to create that kind of result. I'm not shocked when the Pats lose. But I was shocked at by how much. It was unprecedented since 2001. However, I was around football for a long time, and have played and coached in more than my share of lopsided games. To this day, I can recall the feelings of anxiety walking into see the film, knowing too well there were several plays I wish I could erase from existence.
It wasn't until I started coaching that I saw the OTHER side of a lopsided loss. Despite all the pain and anguish, by the second time through the film, you began to believe that "it really wasn't that bad". That if the OL hadn't given the QB just a half second more, we had a guy wide open for a TD. If there had been better tackling on this play, it would have been a loss, not a big gain. If you hadn't gotten a bad call, there could have been a 14 point swing, and so on and so on. In other words, as a coach, you look at the debacle, and think, "We can fix this"
So, what do I expect tonight. It clearly looks bad. We have to play a team that's been the best in the league coming off a bye week, while we just played our worst game in OVER a decade, coming off a short week. I hope we win, but I certainly wouldn't put my rent money on this one....even with the points. Mostly because I have no idea what to expect from this team.
It only goes to show how fragile success is in such a fiercely competitive environment. Bill constantly talks about " building the team" in preseason, and not knowing what he has built until mid November. You can't tell which team will be resilient, and which team won't. Last year's team, was exceedingly resilient, and the 2011 superbowl team, didn't have nearly as much athletic ability as the one that failed so miserably last Monday.
What I DO know is that the talent that goes on the field tonight will be very similar for both teams. Never forget how good ALL these athletes are. What I DO know is that BB will have done EVERYTHING in his arsenal to prepare this team to be competitive tonight. I DO know that I wouldn't want any other HC leading this team in this situation.
So what I'll be looking for in this situation is to see how this team reacts to adversity. To see how this team responds to being smacked in mouth for a change. I know it sounds crazy, but its LESS important that they win tonight. What IS critical is that we see a team that is desperate to compete. A team that won't accept what happened last Monday. I want to see a team that I am more comfortable believing will be a team that will develop into one that can win in November and December. People should remember that in 2001 the Pats were 5-5 coming off a home loss, and truly were a very unremarkable team.....before they went 9-0 to finish the season.
I can understand that there is a LOT to be negative about. But there is a LOT of season to go before the final story of this season has been written. I still believe that his is one of the more talented groups BB has assembled. The question is, can that talent can turn into a TEAM. And when I say TEAM, I mean a group where the sum is better than individual parts. If that happens, then this still can turn out to be a great season. If it doesn't, then we have to be prepared to "take it", because god knows we've been able to "dishing it out" for more than a decade.