AzPatsFan
Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal
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Re: Scenario 2: Pittsburgh Steelers
I find so many of these 'comparisons' so simplistic. It was nice to see the Pats beat the Bills, but of far more significance is that critical injured players are returning and getting healthy at the right time as the Patriots head into the Playoffs.
The still injured players have at least adequate depth behind them. Volmer at ORT may not play again this season, but Solder and Cannon appear to both be adequate replacements, as is Connelly replacing Koppens. Branch is battling a groin pull, but Ocho is creditable if not productive, and the play of the two TEs are covering up that problem more than adequately. The loss of Carter hurts, but Anderson seems to be stepping up and for the first time since Bruschi, the ILBs have had success with inside blitzes.
Of much more significance, is that the ILB are buttressed by Spikes return and the previous return of Fletcher and Mayo. The secondary so depleted that the Pats Coaches were playing multiple WR there, has seen the return of Chung, McCourty, and Moore. For the first time in more than half a season, the Pats can actually lineup with four players who were trained as DBs. Having to play WRs, forced the Coaches to employ the most rudimentary of Defenses. Being able to actually call sophisticated NFL-level Defenses, even with pickup players, and even marginal results, is a great step forward.
The 2011 Pats going into the Playoffs are not limping in, unlike the 2007 and 2009 teams, or even, the undermanned 2010 team.
Trying to judge this getting-healthy, Playoff team by the season long statistics is truly suspect, and not very useful.
I find so many of these 'comparisons' so simplistic. It was nice to see the Pats beat the Bills, but of far more significance is that critical injured players are returning and getting healthy at the right time as the Patriots head into the Playoffs.
The still injured players have at least adequate depth behind them. Volmer at ORT may not play again this season, but Solder and Cannon appear to both be adequate replacements, as is Connelly replacing Koppens. Branch is battling a groin pull, but Ocho is creditable if not productive, and the play of the two TEs are covering up that problem more than adequately. The loss of Carter hurts, but Anderson seems to be stepping up and for the first time since Bruschi, the ILBs have had success with inside blitzes.
Of much more significance, is that the ILB are buttressed by Spikes return and the previous return of Fletcher and Mayo. The secondary so depleted that the Pats Coaches were playing multiple WR there, has seen the return of Chung, McCourty, and Moore. For the first time in more than half a season, the Pats can actually lineup with four players who were trained as DBs. Having to play WRs, forced the Coaches to employ the most rudimentary of Defenses. Being able to actually call sophisticated NFL-level Defenses, even with pickup players, and even marginal results, is a great step forward.
The 2011 Pats going into the Playoffs are not limping in, unlike the 2007 and 2009 teams, or even, the undermanned 2010 team.
Trying to judge this getting-healthy, Playoff team by the season long statistics is truly suspect, and not very useful.
