(Fore)Telling Statistic

[Fixit]

The difference from Brady getting killed and not could be as simple as having BJGE instead of Lomo. 2nd and 5 is better than 2nd and 11.

This is actually a great point.

 

[Deus Irae]

In 2007, the tight ends were injured to the point of being worthless. Neal, who was playing excellent football that season, got injured early and the replacement was already injured himself. Brady was trying to recover from a bad ankle injury and was unable to move much in the pocket. Mankins, who's area of 'weakness' is a relative difficulty dealing with stunts, had the worst game of his professional career.

That's why a team that had scored in the 30s against the Giants a few weeks earlier only managed to get into the teens in the Super Bowl.


In 2011, a tight end has a sprain which may limit him, but shouldn't render him moot. Brady has a shoulder issue, but he can play through that with an occasional off pass here and there. The O-line should have better depth in case of another injury to a lineman.

This 2011 team should be able to put more points on the board this time around.

 

[patsfan13]

OL Now vs then

LT - (age) + based on play this year better against speed rushers
RG 0 (could be + given career bad game) 0 due to current physical condition
OC -
RG ++ (Neal OUT most of game)
RT ++

Skill Players
QB 0 (+ Brady played with high ankle sprain limiting his mobility in the pocket)
RB ++
Slot 0
WR --
TE ++

Let's look at top 4 targets

Moss/Gronk 0 (could be minus depending on Gronk's ankle on game day, both matchup nightmare)
Welker/Welker 0
Watson/A Hernandez ++ (better hands + better YAC)
Gaffney/Branch + (based on production)

At this point in the season better O than 2007, O productivity had fallen off towards the end of the season.

 

[Off The Grid]

Differentials

1 ~ Left Tackle is a Wash.

2 ~ Left Guard is a Wash.

3 ~ Center is a Wash. Koppen ≈ Connolly.

4 ~ Right Guard is LIGHT YEARS better.

5 ~ Right Tackle ~ regardless of who ~ is FAR better, this time around.

All told, our O Line is VASTLY superior to its 2007 counterpart.

6 ~ The 2007 Air Patriots were a PERFECT match up for the New York Giants Attack Defense: 87 Step Drops + No Threat of a Running Game allowed those @#$%& to tee OFF on us.

7 ~ The 2011 Good Luck Guessing What We're Doing Patriots are a perfect match up for NOBODY: The fact that Gronk and Aaron the Navigator are both deadly effective in the Passing Game AND the Running Game can PARALYZE Defenses, as we've seen time and again...And our return to more of an incremental Passing Game ~ shades of 2001-2005 ~ goes a LONG way towards obviating that spectral Giants Pass Rush that's haunted so many of our dreams.

8 ~ The 2007 Patriots Defense was full of "names"...but was slowing down.

9 ~ The 2011 Patriots Defense has worked out most of its kinks...and is speeding UP.

10 ~ The Worm has TURNED, my friends.

Enjoy.