.... since there is really no rhyme or reason behind them.
1. The good news is the offense scored on most of their drives and the bad news can be summed up very simply. 2 TDs, FOUR FGs. That TD/FG ratio is not going to do it when the Pats start playing the NO's and Indy's of the league. I think the Pats SELF destructed on a couple of those FG drives with penalties, and then of course there was "Law Firm" dropped pass/bad throw by Brady.
The Firm should've caught that pass, but Brady should've thrown that pass much sooner - as a swing pass. Firm was open during his entire route; if he had been thrown the ball in space & in stride, he would've easily powered his way into the EZ.
RZ play-calling remains an absolute disgrace, esp. considering the non-Lineman talent at Bill & BOB's disposal. A 2-1 FG-TD ratio will = Losses vs. Dolts & Saints.
2. I almost wept when the NFL called what I taught was a perfect tackle a penalty. Pat Chung put his facemask into the CHEST of the QB and not only did the ref throw the flag; the announcers agreed with it, and NO ONE seemed to think anything was wrong. Its one thing to protect the QB, and I'm all for it, especially the knees, but when a guy does EXACTLY the right thing and gets a flag....I'm just scratching my head. It is SOOOOOO sad.
Sad, but unsurprising. As soon as the yellow hankie was thrown, I knew that it was going to be RTP. The top of Chung's helmet might have possibly nicked the bottom of Henne's facemask. It has now become a 50-50 proposition whenever a QB has been hit after throwing the ball.
3. I had another couple of questions of the officials. Tell me, is the uncatchable ball rule still in effect? On the first Dophin TD drive the refs call a PI on Boddin. Since CBS never showed the play again, I have to guess that Boddin cut off his route with a physical act. because the ball was NO WHERE near the player But isn't that illegal contact, a 5yd penalty not the spot foul the refs gave him?
I was complaining about that too; and thanks to the geniuses at CBS, we never got to see that the pass should've been ruled Uncatchable, or at the very worst Illegal Contact.
Late in the game the Doophins were called for a delay of the game penalty, when they tried to call a TO they didn't have. What I found curious was that after the 5 yds was assessed the clock didn't start until the ball was snapped. What I find curious is that the Penalty actually BENEFITTED the Phins. The clock stoppage was more important to the phins at that time than the 5 yds they lost. What's up with that. If the refs called that corrrectly, then the rule should be changed.
You're absolutely right - either the zebras are wrong or the rule is wrong.
BTW- interesting situation for the Pats at the end. Do you go for it on 4th down and an inch. You are moving the ball on the ground. You only need an inch to end the game, and even if you fail, the offense would have to go 83 yds in a about 80 seconds with NO TO's.
Then again you have to think you can execute a 40 yd FG to win/ice a game. Personally I go for it for all the reason's above, but i'm interested in what others think.
I would've gone for it, no question. For this offense, with all of its experience, at home, to end the game, not to be able to execute another F'ed-up RZ play is Inexcusable.
4. The announcers were brutal, they didn't know whose ass to kiss first. However they did make some unusal calls. When they show the replay of the last play in the half, it clearly shows that there WAS one second left when the ball hit off Randy's hands. Yet the announcers make it sound like the Pats got away with something. What's up with that?????
What was up, was nothing more than succumbing to the loutish, classless, unprofessional histrionics of Fat Tony Soprano.
Brady still should never, ever have made that pass; he should've just spiked it.
5. The Phins had ONE drive when they ran the ball well. The rest of the time the Pats stuffed a good running teams run pretty well. The Pat White version of the wildcat looked great for the ONE drive, but after that it did NOTHING. Nice job of the Pats staff to make the correct adjustment, and the players to execute it.
Too bad that TBC didn't nail White on the very first play from scrimmage; that drive might've ended before it ever began.
6. I found it interesting that the Pats moved Vince out to the DT position, and had Mike Wright over the middle most of the game. Interesting adjustment that evidently worked very well.
Bill must've known that most of their running plays were going to go in Jake Long's direction, and that whatever the loss of pass-rush from that edge would be gained by stopping Miami's best weapon - the sweeps, options & reverses off LT.
7. I HATED that 10 minute TD drive that started the first half. It was Miami's best moment. Henne played very well I thought, and looked better than Sanchez. It bodes well for Miami's future. They will be a load to handle if they ever get a couple of real playmakers at WR.
That drive reminded me of the Ravens' 2nd-half-opening drive in '07, and of course the jints' game-opener in the SBWMNBN. Very, very discouraging.
8. I thought the secondary played pretty well for the most part. They came so VERY close to picks on several occassions. However the one play that had me pissed was a 3rd down completion to the WR to the 2 yd line in that long drive. I thought Boddin played that situation WAY too soft. Especially when he was playing it tight, he was so often so effective. I was happy to see that the GL D stopped Miami twice at the one, even though they ended up scoring on a pass (I have Brown on one of my FF teams )
Agreed.
9. I thought the OL had a great game. Very good job by Volmer, though they gave him help a lot. The kid will be a starter next year, but I hope when Light gets back, HE'S the LT. The good news is that the Pats won't have to rush him back until he's 100%. Brady gave up one coverage sack, and the other wasn't that bad either. By and large Brady had plenty of time to throw the ball. The fact he didn't find an open man on a couple of failed passes in the red zone disturbed me, but I have no idea why he couldn't.
If this offense continues to F up in the RZ, incl. Brady taking sacks (see: first drive of Tenn. game), then this season will end sooner than it deserves to end. Nothing less than a 50-50 TD-FG split is Acceptable.
10. Great job by Moroney in finding the open gaps. He was doing his usual stutter step, patiently waiting for something to open up. The DIFFERENCE was NOW creases were opening, and when he spotted them, he SLASHED and got the 4-6 yds. The 2 times he lost ydage, he had no chance. The rest of the time he got was was there...sometimes MORE than what was there.
Agreed. LaMa ran as hard, consistently hard, as I've ever seen him run. I also don't recall him missing many - if any - opportunities to cut back inside or take it outside.
Just think how much damage he could do if he had a legit FB leading the way, and if Bill & BOB would call some pitch-outs & sweeps outside the tackles, instead of the same old same old inside the Tackles. Give LaMa the ball in space, d%#*!@t.
11. It was good to see Porter wind up with a string of ZEROES next to his stat box. It was bad to see Ron Brace had the same stat box. It was good to see how effective Pat Chung was on his blitzes. It was bad to see how the Pats failed to put pressure on the QB when they just went with a 4 man rush. It was good to see AD make some big plays. It was bad to see Burgess make none. It was good to see both Mayo and Boddin get back in the game after going down. It was bad to see Koppen limp off and NOT come back. I hope Kendall Simmons hasn't given up his apt.
Agreed, on all counts.
BOTTOM LINE - IMHO, the Pats showed us a workman like job. It was good, NOT great. The offense HAS to score TDs, NOT FGs if they hope to beat the best teams in the league, and the Defense STILL has to do a better job getting off the field on 3rd down. In today's game Miami had about a 50% success rate. I'd like to see that drop to around 35%. (though I think if we hold Manning to a 50% success rate on 3rd down, we'll win that shoot out in the dome) Both sides of the ball have so room to grow better, and NOW would be a good time.
