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- Sep 13, 2004
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I wanted to do a "reasons to be cheerful" post because we could all do with being cheered up a bit.
First of all, the Pats' performance against Miami was very poor and there is no getting away from that. I don't want to criticise the comments made this week because I was livid and depressed (one shortly after the other) on Sunday. I sympathise totally with all those who vented and feel that frustration.
However, no "dynasty" wins every game it plays or goes through the "dynasty" without blips. A period of continuous success is even less likely in an era of salary caps.
I think there are some reasons for optimism going into the future. Taking the short term first, we are 9-4 and are still capable of beating anyone else in the league. Do I think we will win the Superbowl this year? Probably not, but I bet we will step up our game after last week and make a reasonable run in the playoffs.
Then there is the medium and long term. We have two 1st round picks and a young team in many positions (obvious exceptions being Safety and Linebacker). I think we have piles of potential at OL and CB, where I am a particular fan of Hobbs' physicality. Days like last Sunday are inevitable when young players are developing.
The receivers clearly need some work but that can be sorted out with some more coaching, perhaps another pickup in the draft and an FA.
TE, QB and DL look particularly strong for the next 5 years hopefully.
I also like our coaching staff and I may be in the minority in thinking this. We have an OC who is still learning . Hopefully, he'll turn out to be a good 'un. I like what I have seen from the D this year and we are still coached by BB. That is worth so much, it really is.
I subscribe strongly to the idea of building through the draft and cheap FA pickups. It is far too risky to put all the eggs into one basket by signing a $5-10 million a year "star name". What if he takes the money and his motivation decreases? What if he is injured? What if he gets to Foxboro and thinks, "these guys are morons. I'm going to play my own way"? Unless he's an all-Pro in an essential position, then it strikes me as too big a gamble.
Short termism in any walk of life hardly ever works. Development of young players takes time but can often be worth the effort in the end.
Go Pats!
First of all, the Pats' performance against Miami was very poor and there is no getting away from that. I don't want to criticise the comments made this week because I was livid and depressed (one shortly after the other) on Sunday. I sympathise totally with all those who vented and feel that frustration.
However, no "dynasty" wins every game it plays or goes through the "dynasty" without blips. A period of continuous success is even less likely in an era of salary caps.
I think there are some reasons for optimism going into the future. Taking the short term first, we are 9-4 and are still capable of beating anyone else in the league. Do I think we will win the Superbowl this year? Probably not, but I bet we will step up our game after last week and make a reasonable run in the playoffs.
Then there is the medium and long term. We have two 1st round picks and a young team in many positions (obvious exceptions being Safety and Linebacker). I think we have piles of potential at OL and CB, where I am a particular fan of Hobbs' physicality. Days like last Sunday are inevitable when young players are developing.
The receivers clearly need some work but that can be sorted out with some more coaching, perhaps another pickup in the draft and an FA.
TE, QB and DL look particularly strong for the next 5 years hopefully.
I also like our coaching staff and I may be in the minority in thinking this. We have an OC who is still learning . Hopefully, he'll turn out to be a good 'un. I like what I have seen from the D this year and we are still coached by BB. That is worth so much, it really is.
I subscribe strongly to the idea of building through the draft and cheap FA pickups. It is far too risky to put all the eggs into one basket by signing a $5-10 million a year "star name". What if he takes the money and his motivation decreases? What if he is injured? What if he gets to Foxboro and thinks, "these guys are morons. I'm going to play my own way"? Unless he's an all-Pro in an essential position, then it strikes me as too big a gamble.
Short termism in any walk of life hardly ever works. Development of young players takes time but can often be worth the effort in the end.
Go Pats!
