Reiss with some more team insight

[Box_O_Rocks]

http://www.boston.com/sports/footba..._select_few_reaching_playoffs_new_experience/

Of the 53 players on the Patriots' roster, 13 have never appeared in an NFL playoff game. In addition to Hawkins, the total includes seven rookies -- quarterback Matt Cassel, receiver Bam Childress, cornerback Ellis Hobbs, left tackle Nick Kaczur, left guard Logan Mankins, safety James Sanders, and nose tackle Mike Wright -- as well as second-year players Marquise Hill (defensive line), Billy Yates (offensive line), and Benjamin Watson (tight end), and fifth-year veterans Michael Stone (safety) and Ross Tucker (offensive line).

You wonder if we have enough play-off experience......

 

[rookBoston]

http://www.boston.com/sports/footba..._select_few_reaching_playoffs_new_experience/

You wonder if we have enough play-off experience......

Are you kidding? Our veteran core has seen it all. Brady, Seymour, McGinest, Bruschi, Branch, Faulk, Pass, Dillon, Graham, Vrabel...

I take it just the other way around. This team has seen it all, and the newcomers have enough fresh blood to keep the team hungry and focused.

 

[pats1]

Hmm...let's look at the Jags...

Playoff Experience?

Leftwich - nope - 3rd year
Garrard - nope - 4th year
Quinn - nope - 4th year

Taylor - little - 8th year
Pearman - nope - 1st year
Toefield - nope - 3rd year
Alexis - nope - 2nd year

Jones - nope - 2nd year
Wimbush - nope - 1st year

Smith - some - 13th year
Wilford - nope - 2nd year
Jones - nope - 1st year
Williams - nope - 2nd year
Hankton - nope - 3rd year

Barnes - nope - 1st year
Pearson - nope - 4th year
Williams - nope - 5th year
Salaam - little - 8th year

Manuwai - nope - 3rd year
Connolly - nope - 1st year
Naeole - nope - 9th year
Fletcher - nope - 7th year

Norman - nope - 5th year
Romberg - nope - 3rd year

Hayward - little - 5th year
Wiley - little - 9th year
Davis - nope - 1st year
Spicer - nope - 8th year
McCray - nope - 2nd year

Stroud - nope - 5th year
Henderson - nope - 4th year
Meier - nope - 6th year

Ayodele - nope - 4th year
Thomas - nope - 1st year
Smith - nope - 4th year
Favors - some - 8th year

Peterson - little - 7th year
Gilbert - nope - 3rd year

Mathis - nope - 3rd year
Wright - little - 7th year
Cousin - some - 9th year
Starks - nope - 1st year
Richardson - nope - 2nd year
Roberson - nope - 1st year

Grant - nope - 6th year
Cooper - nope - 6th year
Sensabaugh - nope - 1st year

Hanson - nope - 5th year
Scobee - nope - 2nd year
Zelenka - some - 7th year


That's only 9 players with even a hint of playoff experience.

 

[bigsid05]

I think that was the point of the original post. 40 out of 53 players with playoff experience is pretty darn good.

 

[flutie2phelan]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/01/05/for_select_few_reaching_playoffs_new_experience/

You wonder if we have enough play-off experience......

That very question has been troubling my mind too.

I'm hoping that with, say, 4 more games of playoff experience ... for the regulars, at least ... you'd have to pick the Patriots to be in the mix next year.

 

[onegameatatime]

I've always thought that playoff experience is overrated and that it's mostly a media topic.

Teams that win it all often have playoff experience because they are getting better. And as they get better, they make the playoffs, but still not enough. Then they add a few pieces, and they win it all.

I'm not sure how you would "prove" the value of playoff experience.

Can anyone remember a player on a playoff team say "we will probably lose -- we have much less playoff experience"?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I think that was the point of the original post. 40 out of 53 players with playoff experience is pretty darn good.

You'd think rook was sweating bullets awaiting the game this weekend wouldn't you?