- Joined
- Apr 23, 2008
- Messages
- 17,872
- Reaction score
- 8,917
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.I
HOWEVER, one part of this thread I dislike, is over the past few years there have been plenty of blind homers who vilified posters who brought up valid points that are now undeniable, and these blind homers now in some odd way feel vindicated. One example is how Laurence Maroney was not a good running back. Another example is how the defense needed to generate more turnovers through more creative blitzes or jamming receivers, or how about pushing for a more balanced unpredictable offense, which finally arrived this year? Much of the amazing success this season validates what the naysayers (yet Patriot supporters) had been saying - that BJGE can play, that the defense needed better coaching, and that the offense needed to stop being one-dimensional.
Just because Belichick is so great (yet still one man), some homers here lost major credibility by blindly defending every single move, without admitting that most of their debate position wasn't based on their own judgement but simply to defend whatever it was that the team did.
It isn't a big accomplishment to pat yourself on the back for blindly defending every single move while this team hasn't won any rings over the past 6 years. One can acknowledge that Belichick and Brady are as close to perfect at their jobs that we will ever see, while at the same time not having to feel smug over defending past moves that clearly were not correct in retrospect.
.
I think of all us homers the one due the most kudos is Andy because he's withstood the most overt abuse over fighting the good fight. There is nothing wrong with being positive if you have a rational basis (which is something Bill and Tom and this team have provided him for a decade now) for believing things will work out. There is nothing noble about being negative or critical when you're doing it purely on the basis of insisting it's the only way to be objective.
Homers get accused all the time of insisting BB is perfect and above reproach. With few exceptions that is not at all what we are saying. Like the song says, we're just convinced he is (and Tom is and the organization is) close enough to perfect for us...and nobody is closer despite all the selective kneejerk hype they garner for their fleeting moments of accomplishment. Consistency is the ultimate goal and the basis for believing there is nothing sheepish in admitting IBBWT. I questioned Bill's judgement on Randy Moss and it turns out he was right in the short term but I was in the long run...and the fact that he could see that and see past the siren song of freakish talent or hype to what really mattered which was system fit and heart of a champion means we were both right... kinda like with Bledsoe Brady. Which he where he initially earned my trust.
I've been dismissed off the internets as a huge Boston homer when talking sports, and I actually had money on the Pats going to the Superbowl this year before the regular season.
HOWEVER, one part of this thread I dislike, is over the past few years there have been plenty of blind homers who vilified posters who brought up valid points that are now undeniable, and these blind homers now in some odd way feel vindicated. One example is how Laurence Maroney was not a good running back. Another example is how the defense needed to generate more turnovers through more creative blitzes or jamming receivers, or how about pushing for a more balanced unpredictable offense, which finally arrived this year? Much of the amazing success this season validates what the naysayers (yet Patriot supporters) had been saying - that BJGE can play, that the defense needed better coaching, and that the offense needed to stop being one-dimensional.
Just because Belichick is so great (yet still one man), some homers here lost major credibility by blindly defending every single move, without admitting that most of their debate position wasn't based on their own judgement but simply to defend whatever it was that the team did.
It isn't a big accomplishment to pat yourself on the back for blindly defending every single move while this team hasn't won any rings over the past 6 years. One can acknowledge that Belichick and Brady are as close to perfect at their jobs that we will ever see, while at the same time not having to feel smug over defending past moves that clearly were not correct in retrospect.
.
Threads like this really make the thread starter look like a douche even though I know he isn't. No offense, Rob, as you know I often enjoy your posts. As for the homers in the offseason, I can find plenty of instances where the "homer" in question starts the thread down the vile, ad hominem path. I can find just as many, if not more, instances of this happening than it does with the "chicken littles" or "contrarians".
As for the past offseason, people who make claims that this team, particularly on defense, had some holes on it that could be exposed shouldn't be thrown in with some of the "chicken littles" on this forum. Hell, the thinness at DE can be at least partially blamed on that very fact. As for our record, I said 12-4 in the offseason. I saw Brady playing well, but not the best football of his career. I saw BB coaching much better than he did in 2009. I didn't see BB doing some of the best coaching of his career. Congrats to the team. 14-2, now let's ride the momentum into the postseason.
n the end, assuming Brady's health, Welker at 90% or so, improved production from WR3 and Mayo being better on that knee, I expect the Patriots to at least match last season's record and win the division.*
By the way, I've got the team winning the division. I'm just not willing to pretend that problems aren't problems.
I've got the team winning the division
As for record, I think I had 13-3 or 12-4.
My preseason prediction (more hope) was for 11-5 with the young D gaining experience and gelling after T-giving...
I saw two great coaches get run out of town with the EXTREMELY STUPID statement: "The Game has passed him by!".
Paul Brown vowed revenge ...
Let me say this (and I know it sounds insulting) but anyone who has been watching the Patriots for a long time knows that the confidence in this coach and QB is like nothing we could have ever imagined experiencing. I strongly feel it's the younger crowd that is so hypercritical and a little doubtful of Belichick and Brady. Those of us that have been around would NEVER make that mistake.
There is a huge difference between judging the quality of the structure, philosophy, work ethic, intelligence, commitment and decision making ability of the organization and supporting its decisions vs someone predicting they will ultimately be wrong, and endorsing every move.I've been dismissed off the internets as a huge Boston homer when talking sports, and I actually had money on the Pats going to the Superbowl this year before the regular season.
HOWEVER, one part of this thread I dislike, is over the past few years there have been plenty of blind homers who vilified posters who brought up valid points that are now undeniable, and these blind homers now in some odd way feel vindicated. One example is how Laurence Maroney was not a good running back. Another example is how the defense needed to generate more turnovers through more creative blitzes or jamming receivers, or how about pushing for a more balanced unpredictable offense, which finally arrived this year? Much of the amazing success this season validates what the naysayers (yet Patriot supporters) had been saying - that BJGE can play, that the defense needed better coaching, and that the offense needed to stop being one-dimensional.
Just because Belichick is so great (yet still one man), some homers here lost major credibility by blindly defending every single move, without admitting that most of their debate position wasn't based on their own judgement but simply to defend whatever it was that the team did.
It isn't a big accomplishment to pat yourself on the back for blindly defending every single move while this team hasn't won any rings over the past 6 years. One can acknowledge that Belichick and Brady are as close to perfect at their jobs that we will ever see, while at the same time not having to feel smug over defending past moves that clearly were not correct in retrospect.
.
I already noted where my post about win totals during Ian's Monday night posts. Here is just a follow up, since a mod saw fit to single me out:
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/353372-predict-patrots-2010-record-page2.html#post1866851
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/556682-reiss-ominous-sign.html#post2103593
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/10/580927-expectations.html#post2131492
http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/19/350902-monday-night-roundtable-wrap-up-chat.html#post1858676
So, I had the Patriots winning the division with 12-13 wins (I recently posted 14, because I'd misremembered my total during the Monday Night threads Ian started, but found the threads and self-corrected the numbers).
The mod who thought he should call me out individually?
Thanks.I think of all us homers the one due the most kudos is Andy because he's withstood the most overt abuse over fighting the good fight. There is nothing wrong with being positive if you have a rational basis (which is something Bill and Tom and this team have provided him for a decade now) for believing things will work out. There is nothing noble about being negative or critical when you're doing it purely on the basis of insisting it's the only way to be objective.
Homers get accused all the time of insisting BB is perfect and above reproach. With few exceptions that is not at all what we are saying. Like the song says, we're just convinced he is (and Tom is and the organization is) close enough to perfect for us...and nobody is closer despite all the selective kneejerk hype they garner for their fleeting moments of accomplishment. Consistency is the ultimate goal and the basis for believing there is nothing sheepish in admitting IBBWT. I questioned Bill's judgement on Randy Moss and it turns out he was right in the short term but I was in the long run...and the fact that he could see that and see past the siren song of freakish talent or hype to what really mattered which was system fit and heart of a champion means we were both right... kinda like with Bledsoe Brady. Which he where he initially earned my trust.