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Just when you thought you had seen the worst start of a football game, you find out you weren't even close. What we saw Saturday was the WORST first half of football in the BB era. Only the Ravens playoff game in 2009 surpasses it. However I guess all's well that end's well. So here are my delayed observations on the game and other sundry items that I hope are not now redundant and irrelevant.
I started this post Sunday around 1am, typing in bed, in the dark. Then after spending over 90 minutes making brilliant observations, sparkling remarks, and probing insights; I noticed I had my numbering wrong. To fix it I had to start hitting keys that are above the letters (not my area of expertise) I think I mis-hit the delete key and somehow wiped out my entire post, with a single key stroke. Its not easy having stubby ex-LB fingers. Its not easy being technically deficient... and its not easy being old.
1.I don't think that enough is being made of the remarkable adjustments the Pats had to make on the the OL. Its one thing to have a week to prepare for the loss of someone like Andre Carter. Its a completely different to lose two of your best and most experienced offensive linemen within the first 5 minutes of the game! The Pats had not less than 3 players essentially playing out of position for the bulk of the day, plus Dan Connelly playing his first game in over a month.
Its not a bit remarkable that the offense looked like it did the first half.. That's what SHOULD have happened, especially against a good defense. What is absolutely ASTOUNDING was that they could come back with the same people in the 2nd half and put up close to 250 passing yds, over 80 rushing yards, and 27 unanswered points. I don't know what they pay Dante, but its not enough
2.I found it interesting that the Pats had 5 sacks in the game (a season high IIRC), and none were made by Andre Carter (of course) or last week's hero, Mark Anderson (who surprisingly didn't even have a single tackle, let alone a sack.
3. Over the past two games the Pats have had runs of 34-7 and 27-0. Fantastic offensive output, but you can't have runs like this if the defense isn't doing their job. Just thought I'd point that out.
4. Another surprising apspect of this game was that the Pats survived a day where Brady was FAR than stellar. He missed open guys with balls at their feet. He missed guys who were wide open only to throw the ball to someone else. He looked VERY uncomfortable in the pocket, complete with the happy feet and forcing the ball out even when he didn't have to. It was probably as bad a half as Brady has had in several years... and also somewhat understandable given the situation
You could literally see him relax in the beginning of the 2nd half as he realized that his offensive line was going to start to do the job, and then the production started to flow. It was hard to watch, but its good to know that this team is mentally tough enough to survive a stretch where Brady isn't “Brady”.
5. Say what you want about the Dolphins record, but over the last 7 weeks there weren't a half dozen teams in the entire NFL who were playing better football than them. That's a very good team. Reggie Bush made me a believer that he can be an every down back. He had a lot of plays where he was making something out of nothing, and getting extra yards after contact up the middle. He has finally become the RB that the Saints had hoped he be when the drafted him. Between him and Thomas, if they can stay healthy, the Dolphins have a nice 1-2 running back combo next season.
And speaking of Miami, I think they'd be better off sticking with a Moore/Hennie combination than reach for some QB after RGIII and Luck are gone. Moore looked very competent. I was most impressed with him in how well he passed under pressure. Like I said, Miami is a pretty good team right now, and the Jets better worry less about how to beat us and more on how they will try to beat the Dolphins.
5. Its shocking that even as bad as the Jets have been, they can still make it to the playoffs if they beat the Dolphins and 3 other teams lose. What's scary is that its very possible that every team that the Jets need to lose will be underdogs against teams who need the win. Believe me its not like I am the least bit worried about the Jets as competition. To me its just not FAIR that they could make the playoffs at 9-7 playing like crap, while we got screwed in 08, winning 11....... AND believe me, every Jet fan has been quick to remind us that the Bradyless 08 Pats failed to make the playoffs
6. If you turned off the TV Saturday thinking that the Pats can't run the ball and can't seem to stop the run, you will be pleased to find out that the Stats say something else entirely. The Pats only allowed a respectable 115 total rushing yds for the game, while “somehow” our rushers managed a respectable 120.
Compare that if you will to the 200 yds the all mighty Packers gave up to the Bears, while rushing for only 83 themselves. And that wasn't Matt Forte, or Reggie Bush picking up those yards. That was their 3rd string RB (who did look impressive) and a PS guy just called up. BTW they also gave up close to 250 yds passing to a QB who has thrown 8 completions in the last FOUR seasons. No Martha, the Packers defense is JUST as unimpressive as the Pats D, only without the injuries
Now I'm not saying the Pats are better than the Packer, but I no longer “fear” them. I feel a LOT better about beating them in the superbowl than I did when we played the Rams. I worry more about the Ravens and Steelers in fact. The Packers have had a lot of hype this year, and Rogers IS having a historic year as a QB. But what I don't understand is why is that defense so bad. I UNDERSTAND the Patriots problems. Its tough to defend when you are starting career special teemers at S most of the season, and have lost your 2 best Safeties, 2 CBs, 3 DLmen, and your top rush LB for most of the year, among other injuries. But what's the Packers excuse. They have all pros all over that defense, plus got their best ILB back for that game, and it doesn't seem to help a bit.
7. Right now I'm thinking that the Niners have a real good chance to upset the Packers in Lambeau. If you look at how the 2 teams are structured, the surprising fact is that Niners are much better prepared to play a bad weather game in January in Green Bay, than the pass happy, soft running Packers.
8. I can't believe that the Pats lined up on 3rd and a half yard, in desperate need of a first down, in an empty backfield, only to throw a first look pass to a well covered receiver.. It HAS to be one of the worst calls of the year. Now I'm not upset that they threw the ball. I'm upset that they made it so easy for the defense to defend. With a half yard to go they completely took away the run possibility by formation. Now the D doesn't have worry about the run. There is no play action pull NOTHING.....and then Brady compounds the error by both, not changing he play at the LOS, and throwing the ball exactly where it was expected with his first read. I would be willing to bet the farm that there were guys much more open than Welker was not that play.
9, Disclaimer: I coached HS football for 15 years. I was a DC or HC for most of those years. I know (or more accurately KNEW) a lot of football, but at my best knew about 10% of what the guys coaching at the NFL level know. Also the tools they have to help them coach these days are light years away from the volunteer filmed super 8 and 16MM film taken back in my day.
That being said, I cannot understand why, each week, I keep seeing DOZENS of examples, of NFL caliber DBs and LBs covering receivers with their backs to the ball, never turning their heads. Coaching HS kids who could barely chew gum and walk, I had fewer examples of that BASIC error of pass coverage. I just CAN'T understand why that can't be coached better. Not just with the Pats, but across the entire league. Next to the poor unsafe tackling that I see, its my BIGGEST pet peeve.
10.When Devon McCourty masters this simple (at least to me) technique, he will immediately become an excellent 2 way CB in this league. If he also improves or masters his man coverage techniques as well, he will be elite.
11, I now believe that baring a Brady injury, Ryan Mallett will never throw a meaningful pass for the NE Patriots. Think about how the Pats OL protected Brady in the 2nd half WITHOUT Mankins Light, Volmer and Koppen. Then think about the next 5 years with Brady being protected by an OL of Solder, Mankins, Connolly, Cannon and Volmer plus whoever else Dante finds and develops. If Saturday is any indication of what the Pats can do with their dregs on short notice, Brady can look forward to a lot years behind one of the best OL's in the league. It will absolutely extend h7is effective career.
13, Not for nothin', but this might be a good time to point out that Rod Ninkovich has one sack more than Clay Matthews. He also has 21 more tackles, and only 1 pick and 2 Ffs less than Matthews, despite having to play in a defense that requires him to have less free reign to just “take off and go.”
14. I'll end this (finally, ) with a media b!tch and moan. I'm getting tired of smug media pukes who dismissed all the wins the Pats (and other teams) accumulate with that lame adage that "there aren't any dominant teams this year". As opposed to what, I ask. Outside of 85, and 07 what other year could you say that, based on their criteria. In every year even the best teams have flaws and the records show it. I know I'm nitpicking but it just rubs me the wrong way because it diminishes what this and other teams have managed to accomplish in a tryinng year to begin with.
...your turn
I started this post Sunday around 1am, typing in bed, in the dark. Then after spending over 90 minutes making brilliant observations, sparkling remarks, and probing insights; I noticed I had my numbering wrong. To fix it I had to start hitting keys that are above the letters (not my area of expertise) I think I mis-hit the delete key and somehow wiped out my entire post, with a single key stroke. Its not easy having stubby ex-LB fingers. Its not easy being technically deficient... and its not easy being old.
1.I don't think that enough is being made of the remarkable adjustments the Pats had to make on the the OL. Its one thing to have a week to prepare for the loss of someone like Andre Carter. Its a completely different to lose two of your best and most experienced offensive linemen within the first 5 minutes of the game! The Pats had not less than 3 players essentially playing out of position for the bulk of the day, plus Dan Connelly playing his first game in over a month.
Its not a bit remarkable that the offense looked like it did the first half.. That's what SHOULD have happened, especially against a good defense. What is absolutely ASTOUNDING was that they could come back with the same people in the 2nd half and put up close to 250 passing yds, over 80 rushing yards, and 27 unanswered points. I don't know what they pay Dante, but its not enough
2.I found it interesting that the Pats had 5 sacks in the game (a season high IIRC), and none were made by Andre Carter (of course) or last week's hero, Mark Anderson (who surprisingly didn't even have a single tackle, let alone a sack.
3. Over the past two games the Pats have had runs of 34-7 and 27-0. Fantastic offensive output, but you can't have runs like this if the defense isn't doing their job. Just thought I'd point that out.
4. Another surprising apspect of this game was that the Pats survived a day where Brady was FAR than stellar. He missed open guys with balls at their feet. He missed guys who were wide open only to throw the ball to someone else. He looked VERY uncomfortable in the pocket, complete with the happy feet and forcing the ball out even when he didn't have to. It was probably as bad a half as Brady has had in several years... and also somewhat understandable given the situation
You could literally see him relax in the beginning of the 2nd half as he realized that his offensive line was going to start to do the job, and then the production started to flow. It was hard to watch, but its good to know that this team is mentally tough enough to survive a stretch where Brady isn't “Brady”.
5. Say what you want about the Dolphins record, but over the last 7 weeks there weren't a half dozen teams in the entire NFL who were playing better football than them. That's a very good team. Reggie Bush made me a believer that he can be an every down back. He had a lot of plays where he was making something out of nothing, and getting extra yards after contact up the middle. He has finally become the RB that the Saints had hoped he be when the drafted him. Between him and Thomas, if they can stay healthy, the Dolphins have a nice 1-2 running back combo next season.
And speaking of Miami, I think they'd be better off sticking with a Moore/Hennie combination than reach for some QB after RGIII and Luck are gone. Moore looked very competent. I was most impressed with him in how well he passed under pressure. Like I said, Miami is a pretty good team right now, and the Jets better worry less about how to beat us and more on how they will try to beat the Dolphins.
5. Its shocking that even as bad as the Jets have been, they can still make it to the playoffs if they beat the Dolphins and 3 other teams lose. What's scary is that its very possible that every team that the Jets need to lose will be underdogs against teams who need the win. Believe me its not like I am the least bit worried about the Jets as competition. To me its just not FAIR that they could make the playoffs at 9-7 playing like crap, while we got screwed in 08, winning 11....... AND believe me, every Jet fan has been quick to remind us that the Bradyless 08 Pats failed to make the playoffs
6. If you turned off the TV Saturday thinking that the Pats can't run the ball and can't seem to stop the run, you will be pleased to find out that the Stats say something else entirely. The Pats only allowed a respectable 115 total rushing yds for the game, while “somehow” our rushers managed a respectable 120.
Compare that if you will to the 200 yds the all mighty Packers gave up to the Bears, while rushing for only 83 themselves. And that wasn't Matt Forte, or Reggie Bush picking up those yards. That was their 3rd string RB (who did look impressive) and a PS guy just called up. BTW they also gave up close to 250 yds passing to a QB who has thrown 8 completions in the last FOUR seasons. No Martha, the Packers defense is JUST as unimpressive as the Pats D, only without the injuries
Now I'm not saying the Pats are better than the Packer, but I no longer “fear” them. I feel a LOT better about beating them in the superbowl than I did when we played the Rams. I worry more about the Ravens and Steelers in fact. The Packers have had a lot of hype this year, and Rogers IS having a historic year as a QB. But what I don't understand is why is that defense so bad. I UNDERSTAND the Patriots problems. Its tough to defend when you are starting career special teemers at S most of the season, and have lost your 2 best Safeties, 2 CBs, 3 DLmen, and your top rush LB for most of the year, among other injuries. But what's the Packers excuse. They have all pros all over that defense, plus got their best ILB back for that game, and it doesn't seem to help a bit.
7. Right now I'm thinking that the Niners have a real good chance to upset the Packers in Lambeau. If you look at how the 2 teams are structured, the surprising fact is that Niners are much better prepared to play a bad weather game in January in Green Bay, than the pass happy, soft running Packers.
8. I can't believe that the Pats lined up on 3rd and a half yard, in desperate need of a first down, in an empty backfield, only to throw a first look pass to a well covered receiver.. It HAS to be one of the worst calls of the year. Now I'm not upset that they threw the ball. I'm upset that they made it so easy for the defense to defend. With a half yard to go they completely took away the run possibility by formation. Now the D doesn't have worry about the run. There is no play action pull NOTHING.....and then Brady compounds the error by both, not changing he play at the LOS, and throwing the ball exactly where it was expected with his first read. I would be willing to bet the farm that there were guys much more open than Welker was not that play.
9, Disclaimer: I coached HS football for 15 years. I was a DC or HC for most of those years. I know (or more accurately KNEW) a lot of football, but at my best knew about 10% of what the guys coaching at the NFL level know. Also the tools they have to help them coach these days are light years away from the volunteer filmed super 8 and 16MM film taken back in my day.
That being said, I cannot understand why, each week, I keep seeing DOZENS of examples, of NFL caliber DBs and LBs covering receivers with their backs to the ball, never turning their heads. Coaching HS kids who could barely chew gum and walk, I had fewer examples of that BASIC error of pass coverage. I just CAN'T understand why that can't be coached better. Not just with the Pats, but across the entire league. Next to the poor unsafe tackling that I see, its my BIGGEST pet peeve.
10.When Devon McCourty masters this simple (at least to me) technique, he will immediately become an excellent 2 way CB in this league. If he also improves or masters his man coverage techniques as well, he will be elite.
11, I now believe that baring a Brady injury, Ryan Mallett will never throw a meaningful pass for the NE Patriots. Think about how the Pats OL protected Brady in the 2nd half WITHOUT Mankins Light, Volmer and Koppen. Then think about the next 5 years with Brady being protected by an OL of Solder, Mankins, Connolly, Cannon and Volmer plus whoever else Dante finds and develops. If Saturday is any indication of what the Pats can do with their dregs on short notice, Brady can look forward to a lot years behind one of the best OL's in the league. It will absolutely extend h7is effective career.
13, Not for nothin', but this might be a good time to point out that Rod Ninkovich has one sack more than Clay Matthews. He also has 21 more tackles, and only 1 pick and 2 Ffs less than Matthews, despite having to play in a defense that requires him to have less free reign to just “take off and go.”
14. I'll end this (finally,
) with a media b!tch and moan. I'm getting tired of smug media pukes who dismissed all the wins the Pats (and other teams) accumulate with that lame adage that "there aren't any dominant teams this year". As opposed to what, I ask. Outside of 85, and 07 what other year could you say that, based on their criteria. In every year even the best teams have flaws and the records show it. I know I'm nitpicking but it just rubs me the wrong way because it diminishes what this and other teams have managed to accomplish in a tryinng year to begin with. ...your turn
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