Hysteria vs. the Calm

[BlitzFritz]

Todays game is a critical contest in the season, and will either assuage the panickers and throw more fuel on the fire to the theory that the NEP are still a shaky work in progress..

After a full week of back and forth, I give you my summary of the debate that has been raging on this Board.

1. The NEP have been the most successful franchise over the last decade. A True testament to BB's skill.

2. We are a top team in the AFC with a real shot at post-season and SB berth. Just as we are every year, which is remarkable.

3. Our offense is a fearsome machine, a top 5 squad. Once in awhile, an opposing defense may be able to confuse or stop it... the O is mortal. It cant carry every single game. But its truly a superb unit.

4. The big concern is that the NEP post season performance for the past 3 years has been uninspiring. And this year looks similar to those years. We are a team that can roll on Offense especially against weaker teams, but will need to play lights-out offense against the best teams, and hang on for dear life on D. The best teams in the post-season will bring both a strong offense and a fearsome defense, something the Pats lack. This is concerning.

5. BB realizes this and is trying everything he knows to improve the D. He massively upgraded the front 4 with veterans in the off season. He turned over the secondary. He added new schemes to let the LBs play to their strengths. Unfortunately, this has been necessary because for some bizarre reason, his defensive drafts have not yielded many playmakers or even proven starters. As a result, he is in a highly creative mode right now.

6. BB knows that the last quarter of the season and the post-season are what matter. Can he get the team on a roll, playing their best football for that stretch. We've seen it before. Can the team run the table beginning pretty soon, gel as a better defense, add in more schemes, and be able to stop top teams. That is the question. And that has been the question for 3 years (tho last year is looked like he had it almost solved).

7. Setting aside 2004 and 2007, we are in the state we might expect to be in every year -- HANGING IN THE BALANCE -- waiting to see how this drama will unfold. But rest assured, there is no one else we would rather have trying to pull it off than BB, despite his flaws. opcorn:

Reactions?

See you guys in Foxboro today. Looks like a sunny crisp day!!:eat2:

-- FRITZ

 

[RhodyPatriot]

What panic??? Where??
The reaction to last week's Steeler game came about because we've "been there and done that" against good teams all too often over the past few years. No panic, just alarm that the team is not any better than what we've previously seen.
D can't stop anybody and the O can be manhandled by a physical defense.
We've seen this movie before and in prior years.
HOF QB Tom Brady has been in the prime of his career over the past 7 years (actually 5 years if we deduct the knee injury year and the physical/psych rehab the next season) and this organization has not capitalized on it.
BB's drafting/FA signings have been mediocre AT BEST. Equally as troubling has been BB's less than stellar coaching staff which seems to have an inability to "coach up" the roster.
I expect the Patriots to win today and it won't be that close a game. But that doesn't mean they have no flaws and weaknesses as a team. They do and when they lay an egg like they did in Pittsburgh we can/will/should criticize them into tomorrow.
That's what good and knowledgable fans do.

 

[BlueThunder]

Just take it a week at a time and hope the walking wounded are healthy down the stretch.....timing is everything and going into the playoffs healthy is a bonus.....

Remember...the D is as bad as it will ever be...it HAS to improve ( I think )

 

[fair catch fryar]

What panic??? Where??
The reaction to last week's Steeler game came about because we've "been there and done that" against good teams all too often over the past few years. No panic, just alarm that the team is not any better than what we've previously seen.
D can't stop anybody and the O can be manhandled by a physical defense.
We've seen this movie before and in prior years.
HOF QB Tom Brady has been in the prime of his career over the past 7 years (actually 5 years if we deduct the knee injury year and the physical/psych rehab the next season) and this organization has not capitalized on it.
BB's drafting/FA signings have been mediocre AT BEST. Equally as troubling has been BB's less than stellar coaching staff which seems to have an inability to "coach up" the roster.
I expect the Patriots to win today and it won't be that close a game. But that doesn't mean they have no flaws and weaknesses as a team. They do and when they lay an egg like they did in Pittsburgh we can/will/should criticize them into tomorrow.
That's what good and knowledgable fans do.

Agree 100%! The Pats have become the team that they use to own and we all chuckled at as fans from 2001-2004, the Colts. If that's the case then BB needs to "pull a Polian" and get on the Rules Committee ASAP so he can change the rules around in order for the Pats to finally win at least one more SB.

 

[BlackandBlue1111]

The fans aren't panicing, they are finally facing reality. Since 2007 the Pats have taken a DB in the 1st or 2nd round, and all they have to show for it is Chung, a good safety, and McCourty who is suffering from a sophmore jinx. I won't even go into the FA D Lineman that have been signed.

 

[DarrylS]

All of you need a ride in the way back machine, stop in at the early 90's, if you think things are bad now..

Hysteria seems to be the ruling force here.. rather than reason. Every year there is hope, at one time the highest hope was that we would not be last..

Indy 0-7, Miami 0-7 (helped built by St. Parcells), Philadelphis 3-4 it goes on and on. This is what the league wants, parity and on any given Sunday.

 

[BlackandBlue1111]

The Pats didn't have the best QB in the NFL in the 90's.

 

[alvinnf]

Great day of football on tap for today. Jets v Bills at 1pm; Giants at PATS two 5-2 teams and then cap it off with a blood bath in Pitt at 8:20 pm. Not to mention a day removed from an epic college football contest played in primetime last night. We are in a football honey hole this weekend, if you can't sit back relax and enjoy it, maybe you should consider being a socccer hooligan!

 

[fair catch fryar]

Great day of football on tap for today. Jets v Bills at 1pm; Giants at PATS two 5-2 teams and then cap it off with a blood bath in Pitt at 8:20 pm. Not to mention a day removed from an epic college football contest played in primetime last night. We are in a football honey hole this weekend, if you can't sit back relax and enjoy it, maybe you should consider being a socccer hooligan!

YES, the perfect sandwich! The first piece of bread is where I hope the Bills pound one more nail in the soon-to-be Jets/Ryan coffin and the 2nd piece of bread, the Steelers/Ravens should be an edgy, physical contest. The sandwich is complete with the Pats/Giants right in the middle all to be washed down with several seasonal brews.

 

[FalconHeavy]

The Pats didn't have the best QB in the NFL in the 90's.

OK you just pulled it right out of my mind ...

 

[Raymond]

We are in a football honey hole this weekend............ maybe you should consider being a socccer hooligan!

This is just too funny an expression.

You've got to be a Brit or maybe a Canadian?

 

[Wax Frog]

See you guys in Foxboro today. Looks like a sunny crisp day!!:eat2:

Life-sitch never allowed it, but I'll be there in spirit

 

[DarrylS]

The Pats didn't have the best QB in the NFL in the 90's.

Nor did they even approach the level of coaching we are used to.. as great as Brady is, there is more to this team.