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With the bye week ending today, I thought I'd offer a few thoughts about various unrelated topics that have accumulated over this week when the NFL was focused elsewhere.
1.Playoff expectations - I have none. That's right, no expectations. Rather I have hopes, dreams, and ideal situations, but no expectations. Right now the common wisdom is correct. The Pats can beat any of the teams they can face, and any of those teams are fully capable of beating them. In fact there is a good possibility that the Pats won't be favored in any of the playoff games they play. Perhaps Vegas will give them the nod in the first game, but I would take bets that in an AFCCG vs Denver and any team likely to represent the NFC in the superbowl, the Pats would be big underdogs.
This regular season, this Pats edition has blessed us with great drama and entertainment. They have over come great adversity on numerous occasions and sent us home happy on game day more times than we had the right to expect. Truly they optimized the the phrase, “the sum being greater than the individual parts” So why burden this team of great effort and mental toughness with any expectations. If any team since 2001 deserves a “free ride” its this one. And I don't have to detail all the losses and bad calls. They have all been well documented.
So lets just sit back and enjoy whatever happens, knowing that regardless of what happens, things are going to get a lot better next season, which should be a very, very scary situation for the haters around the league....and the topic of the next item.
2.For 20 teams the fan and media talk has already moved to what FA's they may acquire and which draft choices they are likely to get. Make no mistake, between FA and the draft almost every team in the league will make some kind of improvement. But I propose that NO team in the league will make the kind of improvement that the Pats will make.
Think about it. Imagine a scenario where any team would add 4 proven, probowl caliber players. Usually the addition of 1 would be cause for celebration. The addition of 2 would require duck boats to be unleashed, Well the fact is that regardless of any pick ups we get in March, and draft picks we acquire in April, this current Pats team WILL be adding 4 proven players, all of whom have had multiple probowl selections, in Gronk, Mayo, Vince, and Volmer :eek;
I know this isn't news to anyone, but maybe the impact that this kind of comparative talent infusion is. If Roger Goodell, in the interest of competitive balance took away all the Pats draft picks and FA rights, the addition of those 4 players would make this off season a good one for the Pats. So while every team will improve this off season, I can't see any team making the kind of talent leap that we will. And that's pretty damned exciting, if you ask me.
3.Continuity is a key element in team building, and I for one am rooting strongly that Josh McDaniels does not get the Cleveland job. To that end I offer a really great article by a Cleveland scribe that does a great job stating the case AGAINST the hiring of Josh McDaniels. BTW- after you have done reading this section, I'd recommend continuing reading. This guy writes a very entertaining column and one that should be mandatory reading for us spoiled Pats fans. Sort of a reality check on what its like for the rest of the league's fans
Here's where you can find it.
Cleveland Browns' latest criteria for coaching excellence makes Josh McDaniels a surprising target - Bud Shaw's Sports Spin | cleveland.com
BTW- if the link doesn't work, – go to PFT's Saturday Notes section and go to the Cleveland story, which is the 7th one down and hit the link. Believe me its worth the effort
4.Speaking of coordinators, I'd like to take this opportunity to come to the defense of both of them, since the 2 of them have been much maligned by some recently
Matt Patricia – Any DC who works with BB is going to get a bad rap by fans and the media. Its almost by definition. But believe me, if let go, Matt Patricia would be unemployed for less time than Rob Ryan. He is that well thought of by NFL front offices. BTW- this isn't my opinion (well yes it is, but my opinion doesn't mean much because I'm not privy to what goes on in NFL offices.) This is the opinion of my one true NFL connection who DOES have the sources that would confirm my position.
The fact is people make too much of the fact that it is BB who does the talking to the defense during the game. That is less a reflection of Patricia's skill, than a simple division of labor. On any staff game day responsibilities are divided in many ways. Believe me, while BB is talking to the defense, Patricia isn't standing to the side wondering why BB is doing his job. He is likely the one breaking down and making sense of the raw data the booth is sending down. I wouldn't be surprised if he is giving BB the feedback that BB is passing on to the defense.
For the last few years the Defense has been the area of weakness of team. It would make sense that having BB give the message to the D would have more weight than any other coach in the league, let alone a young DC. Add that to the fact that BB loves to be hands on, it makes sense that when the division of game day responsibilities are doled out. BB would grab the one that satisfies multiple needs, including a personal one
Matt Patricia is truly a rocket scientist. Not because he's an RPI graduate with a degree in rocket science, but because he's a very very smart dude. For the time of his tenure as DC, the talent level he's had to work with limited what he could do. We are only just now getting to see a few of the effects of his creativity, and would have seen a lot more if we hadn't lost Mayo, Wilfolk, Kelly, and all of our secondary for multiple games over the course of the season. It should be no surprise the Pats have had 48 sacks (5th best) this season despite having only one legitimate pass rusher
Make no mistake that each week, it is Matt Patricia who is creating the defensive game plan, NOT Bill Bellichick. BB of course has final say, as any HC would, and I'm sure it doesn't hurt to have his input, but the immediate responsibility is Matt's. And to that end I would note that since he's taken over the job the Pats scoring D had improved every year. Think about this. If the Pats had given up just 15 fewer points over the course of the entire season, they would have ended up with the 6th best scoring D in the league instead of 10th. So personally, I'm glad we have him. I am looking forward to what he produces when his team is at full strength, and I don't want him to leave anytime soon.
Josh McDaniels – This guy is truly a great offensive mind. Brady has had some very good OC's over his time with the Pats and McDaniels is clearly his favorite by far, based on Brady's own comments on the matter. That should be enough for every Pats fan, but it clearly isn't. I believe that's because we would all love to be the one to call the plays. It's just the nature of being a fan. We can't help ourselves thinking that every failed play was one we could have called better.
I include myself at times in this. I constantly rail at the TV, when we line up in empty backfields or spread formations on 3rd and short situations. But I also understand that I haven't done the match ups. I don't know the opponents personnel. I don't know the tendencies, or a thousand other pieces of information that McDaniels DOES know when he makes his calls. I also know, that as one who has called the offense, albeit on the HS level, there are a dozen plays over the course of game you wish you can do over. That would be true for EVERY OC in the land. So I think we all tend to be overly critical every game questioning a few calls that Josh is likely questioning himself. No one EVER calls a perfect game.
The thing we should concentrate on is the offensive system that has been successful every year he's run it. That includes a 2008 Bradyless season, and this year which saw the loss of all of his top receivers from the year before, plus the multigame loss of many of the replacements. Every other year the Pats have been a top 3 offense. What's to hate. McDaniels has brought wins when he's been loaded and even when the O has not been.
As fans we have a god given right to question why we aren't throwing screens more, or running the ball more, etc. But I think when we are making evaluations of the coordinator we should take into consideration the job that is being done in its totality. And, at least IMHO, the job he's done here is worthy of our support.
4.And if Josh is reading this, there are 2 plays that I'd like to see this playoff run.
a. This is one that's already in the books, I'd just like to see it more. Its the one where Edelman/Amendola starts their usual crossing pattern at about 7-10 yard deep, and when the S bites, breaks it deep in the seam. Teams are so geared to jump those short routes, the play seems to be always open when we do run it.
b. This is one I saw KC run yesterday, and I thought it would be perfect in our offense. Its also one I have wanted to see us run for a while. Its just a simple fake of the quick screen to the bubble WR, that we've run so successfully for the last several years, and then hitting the post to the other side at 15 yds deep. Teams really are jumping that short bubble screen, especially now that we get so much man to man coverage on the outside. I have long wanted to see a play off that look, and KC ran one to perfection yesterday
1.Playoff expectations - I have none. That's right, no expectations. Rather I have hopes, dreams, and ideal situations, but no expectations. Right now the common wisdom is correct. The Pats can beat any of the teams they can face, and any of those teams are fully capable of beating them. In fact there is a good possibility that the Pats won't be favored in any of the playoff games they play. Perhaps Vegas will give them the nod in the first game, but I would take bets that in an AFCCG vs Denver and any team likely to represent the NFC in the superbowl, the Pats would be big underdogs.
This regular season, this Pats edition has blessed us with great drama and entertainment. They have over come great adversity on numerous occasions and sent us home happy on game day more times than we had the right to expect. Truly they optimized the the phrase, “the sum being greater than the individual parts” So why burden this team of great effort and mental toughness with any expectations. If any team since 2001 deserves a “free ride” its this one. And I don't have to detail all the losses and bad calls. They have all been well documented.
So lets just sit back and enjoy whatever happens, knowing that regardless of what happens, things are going to get a lot better next season, which should be a very, very scary situation for the haters around the league....and the topic of the next item.
2.For 20 teams the fan and media talk has already moved to what FA's they may acquire and which draft choices they are likely to get. Make no mistake, between FA and the draft almost every team in the league will make some kind of improvement. But I propose that NO team in the league will make the kind of improvement that the Pats will make.
Think about it. Imagine a scenario where any team would add 4 proven, probowl caliber players. Usually the addition of 1 would be cause for celebration. The addition of 2 would require duck boats to be unleashed, Well the fact is that regardless of any pick ups we get in March, and draft picks we acquire in April, this current Pats team WILL be adding 4 proven players, all of whom have had multiple probowl selections, in Gronk, Mayo, Vince, and Volmer :eek;
I know this isn't news to anyone, but maybe the impact that this kind of comparative talent infusion is. If Roger Goodell, in the interest of competitive balance took away all the Pats draft picks and FA rights, the addition of those 4 players would make this off season a good one for the Pats. So while every team will improve this off season, I can't see any team making the kind of talent leap that we will. And that's pretty damned exciting, if you ask me.
3.Continuity is a key element in team building, and I for one am rooting strongly that Josh McDaniels does not get the Cleveland job. To that end I offer a really great article by a Cleveland scribe that does a great job stating the case AGAINST the hiring of Josh McDaniels. BTW- after you have done reading this section, I'd recommend continuing reading. This guy writes a very entertaining column and one that should be mandatory reading for us spoiled Pats fans. Sort of a reality check on what its like for the rest of the league's fans
Here's where you can find it.
Cleveland Browns' latest criteria for coaching excellence makes Josh McDaniels a surprising target - Bud Shaw's Sports Spin | cleveland.com
BTW- if the link doesn't work, – go to PFT's Saturday Notes section and go to the Cleveland story, which is the 7th one down and hit the link. Believe me its worth the effort
4.Speaking of coordinators, I'd like to take this opportunity to come to the defense of both of them, since the 2 of them have been much maligned by some recently
Matt Patricia – Any DC who works with BB is going to get a bad rap by fans and the media. Its almost by definition. But believe me, if let go, Matt Patricia would be unemployed for less time than Rob Ryan. He is that well thought of by NFL front offices. BTW- this isn't my opinion (well yes it is, but my opinion doesn't mean much because I'm not privy to what goes on in NFL offices.) This is the opinion of my one true NFL connection who DOES have the sources that would confirm my position.
The fact is people make too much of the fact that it is BB who does the talking to the defense during the game. That is less a reflection of Patricia's skill, than a simple division of labor. On any staff game day responsibilities are divided in many ways. Believe me, while BB is talking to the defense, Patricia isn't standing to the side wondering why BB is doing his job. He is likely the one breaking down and making sense of the raw data the booth is sending down. I wouldn't be surprised if he is giving BB the feedback that BB is passing on to the defense.
For the last few years the Defense has been the area of weakness of team. It would make sense that having BB give the message to the D would have more weight than any other coach in the league, let alone a young DC. Add that to the fact that BB loves to be hands on, it makes sense that when the division of game day responsibilities are doled out. BB would grab the one that satisfies multiple needs, including a personal one
Matt Patricia is truly a rocket scientist. Not because he's an RPI graduate with a degree in rocket science, but because he's a very very smart dude. For the time of his tenure as DC, the talent level he's had to work with limited what he could do. We are only just now getting to see a few of the effects of his creativity, and would have seen a lot more if we hadn't lost Mayo, Wilfolk, Kelly, and all of our secondary for multiple games over the course of the season. It should be no surprise the Pats have had 48 sacks (5th best) this season despite having only one legitimate pass rusher
Make no mistake that each week, it is Matt Patricia who is creating the defensive game plan, NOT Bill Bellichick. BB of course has final say, as any HC would, and I'm sure it doesn't hurt to have his input, but the immediate responsibility is Matt's. And to that end I would note that since he's taken over the job the Pats scoring D had improved every year. Think about this. If the Pats had given up just 15 fewer points over the course of the entire season, they would have ended up with the 6th best scoring D in the league instead of 10th. So personally, I'm glad we have him. I am looking forward to what he produces when his team is at full strength, and I don't want him to leave anytime soon.
Josh McDaniels – This guy is truly a great offensive mind. Brady has had some very good OC's over his time with the Pats and McDaniels is clearly his favorite by far, based on Brady's own comments on the matter. That should be enough for every Pats fan, but it clearly isn't. I believe that's because we would all love to be the one to call the plays. It's just the nature of being a fan. We can't help ourselves thinking that every failed play was one we could have called better.
I include myself at times in this. I constantly rail at the TV, when we line up in empty backfields or spread formations on 3rd and short situations. But I also understand that I haven't done the match ups. I don't know the opponents personnel. I don't know the tendencies, or a thousand other pieces of information that McDaniels DOES know when he makes his calls. I also know, that as one who has called the offense, albeit on the HS level, there are a dozen plays over the course of game you wish you can do over. That would be true for EVERY OC in the land. So I think we all tend to be overly critical every game questioning a few calls that Josh is likely questioning himself. No one EVER calls a perfect game.
The thing we should concentrate on is the offensive system that has been successful every year he's run it. That includes a 2008 Bradyless season, and this year which saw the loss of all of his top receivers from the year before, plus the multigame loss of many of the replacements. Every other year the Pats have been a top 3 offense. What's to hate. McDaniels has brought wins when he's been loaded and even when the O has not been.
As fans we have a god given right to question why we aren't throwing screens more, or running the ball more, etc. But I think when we are making evaluations of the coordinator we should take into consideration the job that is being done in its totality. And, at least IMHO, the job he's done here is worthy of our support.
4.And if Josh is reading this, there are 2 plays that I'd like to see this playoff run.
a. This is one that's already in the books, I'd just like to see it more. Its the one where Edelman/Amendola starts their usual crossing pattern at about 7-10 yard deep, and when the S bites, breaks it deep in the seam. Teams are so geared to jump those short routes, the play seems to be always open when we do run it.
b. This is one I saw KC run yesterday, and I thought it would be perfect in our offense. Its also one I have wanted to see us run for a while. Its just a simple fake of the quick screen to the bubble WR, that we've run so successfully for the last several years, and then hitting the post to the other side at 15 yds deep. Teams really are jumping that short bubble screen, especially now that we get so much man to man coverage on the outside. I have long wanted to see a play off that look, and KC ran one to perfection yesterday
