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- Nov 14, 2006
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Let's begin:
- This was definitely a game of two halves. Other than a block kick and an INT, not much went right in the first half. The entire team slept walked through the entire first half. Nothing was going right. The second half adjustments on both sides of the ball were spectacular.
- I think the person who was the most indicative of this was Brady. He just seemed off in the first half. He stared down receivers. He under threw wide open receivers deep. In the second half, he was on fire.
- The biggest adjustments I saw in the second half were sending Gronk out there more where he was blocking on the line a lot in the first half (obviously), but the did something with the o-line. Not 100% sure what it was. The o-line sucked at run blocking in the first half and was inconsistent on pass blocking (some times great, other times not so much). In the second half, they were much better at run blocking although inconsistent. They didn't even let a defender sniff Brady at all in the second half.
- Good to see Chandler Jones back. In his first game back, he definitely made his impact felt. I am not sure how many plays he actually played, but he certainly made the best of his snaps. I still don't know why people think he sucks against the run, he blew up a run in the backfield at one point. He held up against the run when I watched him. He struggled against the run for a few games earlier in the season (who didn't), but typically isn't bad against the run.
- Today was the only time I was upset with Browner's penalties (only mildly). I don't mind him getting physical because it sets a tone, but some of the penalties were stupid and could have been costly.
- I think the initial game plan on offense was working, but they went away from it too quickly. I think they were doing well against the Dolphins with the short passing game, but they seemed to scrap it too soon after the INT. They were right to take advantage of the depleted LB corp. It didn't matter since the Pats made great adjustments in the second half.
- I love the aggressiveness on special teams. This has been the difference between the Pats and a lot of teams this year with their special teams play. Yes, the special teams let the team down a bit at the end of the first half on that horrible punt coverage, but the Pats definitely have the advantage in this area against virtually every team.
- Time to pay Revis whatever he wants. He truly has become Revis Island. Two weeks in a row that the opposing QB doesn't even look in Revis' direction. He truly makes opposing defenses play left handed. He is just as important as Brady to this Super Bowl run.
- And that allows the Pats to be more aggressive up front. The Pats have been able to blitz more and do more exotic things with the front seven. The Pats played a lot of contain in the first half, but they started to send more rushers in the second. Also, it allowed the Pats to get to Tannehill with even a three man rush a time or two.