Lets get started, no preamble necessary:
1. OK Gronk broke his arm. He's likely going to be gone for a month or so, and that's that. There will be mediots that will question why he was in the game to be hurt, and will try to make some hay throwing out that line of crap. But the bottom line is he's not going to be there for a while and its time for the back ups to step up.
2. Speaking of back ups stepping up, Julian Edelman finally showed us why life without Wes Welker might just still go on. Perhaps not as well but forget about his punt returns, the 5 catches for 68 yds, with Welker on the field was telling. The key thing for Edelman was that he was getting snaps and looks on a regular basis during a game. That hadn't happened since his rookie year.
I hope this game is an indication that when THAT happens, he can be a productive receiver in this league. Now lets see if he can stay on the field consistently enough the rest of the way to see if that can happen. Clearly people are going to need to step up to make up for Gronk's absence. Edelman will need to be one of those players.
3. I am actually more concerned about Chandler Jones' injury that Gronk's. I can't believe nothing is being said about it. What is most worrisome is that he seemed to be walking without a limp coming off the field, yet went into the locker room and never returned. That's not a good sign. Believe me, if we lose Jones, we truly will need become a gambling, blitzing defense. He will be a very hard guy to replace.
4. When people start tearing down the defense again, please remember that the Colts got 3 extra possessions in the game due to the picks and punt return. That's over 20 extra plays, and over 100 yds of offense in pure 4th quarter garbage time
5. It was hard to believe that the defense that was on the field in the 2nd and 3rd quarters was the same one that was on the field in the first. The Colts first 3 possessions yielded 2 TDs and a FG, but after that nothing much until that 4th quarter garbage time TD
6. Andrew Luck DID have some moments that made it clear what all the fuss is about. The TD pass past Talib was a thing of beauty. The 3rd down pass he made with Ninko on his back was an epic play. The TD pass to Hilton in the 4th was a delicate thing of beauty. there is a lot to like about the entire Colts offense....down the road. They are likely to be a force to be reckoned with, very soon
I think the thing I like the best about him is that he has no fear. He will throw the ball into small windows...and make it happen. I know it will backfire on him from time to time, but the great ones all have that same fearlessness. He made 3 throws in a row in the 3rd quarter, each one was more remarkable than the last. No question the kid is special.
7. Devin McCourty looked much smoother at S than he did vs the Bills. The play he made saving Talib, was the first time I can recall a Patriot's safety making a play play on a ball on the sideline in over 2 years. It almost brought tears to my eyes. If we can get THAT kind of play out of the safety position CONSISTENTLY, it would be worth moving him from CB on a permanent basis
However, last night didn't make me any more confident about Arrington's play, and I don't like relying on a rookie who missed most of TC and beyond to be my #2 guy.
8. Very quietly Dennard and Wilson have racked up 7 picks. That's a pretty pressive total for a pair of rookies who haven't received starter's snaps and 6 more games to go. There are better days ahead for this secondary.
9. Count be among those who are impressed with Talib...who probably needs a good nickname as much as anyone. Not so much because of the pick 6, but his general coverage. Yes I saw him get beat a few times, but for the most part we got to see some very close coverage on some very fast receivers.
BTW- we should expect to see him get beat from time to time. I can recall 3 times last night (once the pass was overthrown, once when McCourty saved him, and the Hilton TD) That's that's what happens to guys who play mostly man coverage. Occasionally they get beat. We have to take comfort that most of the time he will have tight coverage on his man, and accept those, hopefully rare occasions when it happens. There is only one Darelle Revis in the league right now. Even the good ones among the rest get beat.
The bottom line is that as he gets into prime shape and works his way into the defense Talib is going to be a big upgrade to this defense.....and it doesn't hurt that he looks like a real solid tackler as well. It was a great first impression
10. That thread praising Dante Scarnnechia for another job well done is well deserved. Most teams who lose BOTH their OG's in a single week, don't get the performances by the back ups that the Pats got. Its really scary how consistent he gets them ready. Granted the run blocking could have been better, but that's a story for THIS week.
Also, this is one of the reasons I think Nate Solder is going to be an all pro LT for a long time. He was having his troubles with Dwight Freeney in the first quarter, drawing 2 holding calls (though one was kinda weak). What's impressive is that after that, he shut him down. Whatever Freeney was doing to him early, he figured it out. This kid is going to keep getting better and better as time goes on and he adds experience and more strength to his raw ability
11. BB brought in what seemed to be a never ending supply of TE's. In the next month we will get to see how well he did. It will also be interesting to see if Josh stays with the 2 TE set as a base formation, or will we see more 3 Wide groupings like we did last night
12. Interesting to see how different game plans create different Heroes. Last week Woodhead was a virtual legend in his own time, and this week I don't think he made the stat sheet. Now I suspect we will see multi-threads demanding we get Edelman re-signed while we still can.
13. With Jones likely out for Thursday, I'll be interested to see who gets off the bench this week, Francis or Bequette? BTW- Scott seemed to provide "some" pressure in relief of Jones. I can recall at least 2 QB hits from him. He's another FA that we will finally see if we get our money's worth on.
14. The injuries are really starting to pile up. They won't matter much if everyone gets healthy by the playoffs. With both the Ravens and Texans lucking out royally yesterday, getting a bye does not look likely right now. However we still have to get by the Jets and they are catching us at just the right time, coming off a short week with a slew of injuries. What seemed like a romp in the park a few weeks ago, looks more like a dogfight tonight.
15. I have been among the few voices saying that things are going to start to get better for the Pats defense. So I decided to put my money where my mouth is and on one of my 2 FF teams, I picked up the Pats defense, which was pretty much available in about 100% of leagues. 27 points BABY!. The bad news was that in my other league, my opponent this week had the same idea. OUCH!
