Bright spots, rough spots

[convertedpatsfan]

I can't make up my mind about Arrington. Sometimes he looks great. Sometimes he looks awful. And just when I'm convinced one way, he goes the other.

He played tight coverage on some plays, closed quickly on some others, looked completely lost on others. Feels like he's progressing a bit though, and he's still young so maybe he needs coaching. Or maybe he's not the answer. I give up. I would love to see Wheatley healthy enough to try out for a bit though.

I didn't see Brace at all today. He looked like he was going to be a solid contributor but has disappeared lately.

Cunningham played a solid game. Spikes was a key part of shutting down Rice. And Mayo was everywhere he needed to be. The defense also did a great job on third down, one of their glaring weaknesses in weeks past.

And if there is no official Devin McCourty fan club yet, I would like to start it.

 

[jsull87]

The only reason not to call this team elite is the fact that every pats fan is very afraid of what a good passing offense could do to our secondary. That is about it i think we are solid against the run have improving rookies, have a great dynamic ever changing offense with a HOF QB. Yeah we are a good team but i dunno about elite until we can shut down an elite passer.

Just my opinion... loved todays game though

 

[JackBauer]

Brace hasn't been playing as much because Big Fat Vince has been playing in his spot.

 

[RayClay]

Brace hasn't been playing as much because Big Fat Vince has been playing in his spot.

He was originally training to backup the nose. With the talent we have at DL besides Vince, Brace should be playing somewhere, something seems wrong.

 

[Mack Herron]

Brace had to take a seat today as Deaderick and Wilfork saw 2nd half action at the ends with Pryor in the middle. BB has been changing personnel all season and he found a winning combo. I doubt Brace starts Sun.

 

[captain stone]

I hope Brace isn't regressing again, because we'll need him later in the season to take over starting DE from Gerard Warren. I don't trust that guy.

As for other rough spots, one need look no farther than Stomper Meriweather. What a disgrace, but not a surprise. In the words of the Red Dragon: Do you see?

 

[JackBauer]

I hope Brace isn't regressing again, because we'll need him later in the season to take over starting DE from Gerard Warren. I don't trust that guy.

As for other rough spots, one need look no farther than Stomper Meriweather. What a disgrace, but not a surprise. In the words of the Red Dragon: Do you see?

You must have really hated when they signed Harrison then, huh?

 

[JackBauer]

He was originally training to backup the nose. With the talent we have at DL besides Vince, Brace should be playing somewhere, something seems wrong.

I'll have to see the defensive snaps before I can comment.

Vince has been playing the last two games in Braces' spot. It's not beyond reasonable to assume the other guys who are starting are better in that position than Brace. I think Patspsycho commented on this a while back...

 

[RayClay]

I'll have to see the defensive snaps before I can comment.

Vince has been playing the last two games in Braces' spot. It's not beyond reasonable to assume the other guys who are starting are better in that position than Brace. I think Patspsycho commented on this a while back...

They looked great in the second half, but they were getting gouged up the middle and in an earlier game with Mike Wright. Can't see strengthening one spot and leaving the middle vulnerable.

I hope they're just giving everybody minutes, like they used to with the OL, so they maintain decent play with injuries, or in this case, maybe a rotation to keep fresh bodies in there.

 

[JackBauer]

Has Brace played on the interior at all this season? I can only recall seeing him on the end.

 

[RayClay]

Has Brace played on the interior at all this season? I can only recall seeing him on the end.

I don't think so. I get the impression he wasn't real happy there and figured he'd escaped the drudgery of the nose position playing well at DE.

Not much of a secret that every lineman would rather not play nose if they could play somewhere else. It's an exhausting and thankless job. Pretty tough to play our base without a massive NT, though.

 

[mgteich]

OFFENSE
Our weaknesses are the lack of a deep passing game and a lack of depth at guard. We still may be the best offense in the nfl. The loss of Moss and the addition of Branch forced the full move toward a dink and dunk offense, with reliance on our tight ends.

Green-Ellis and Woodhead have been playing well enough to win, and arguably as good as any running back duo we've had in awhile. They just need to keep it up.

DEFENSE
DL - This unit looks better every week. We're getting all we hoped for from Warren and Deaderick.

LB - This unit looks better every week. Ninkovich and Cunningham can be counted on! We are even getting contributions from Fletcher and Crable. Mayo and Spikes are an awesome combo. How many tackles did they have?

S - This is a fine unit.

CB - Oh well, every team has a serious weakness; we really miss Bodden. McCourty has had a fine rookie season. Belichick has done his best to get the most he can out of Arrington, Wilhite and Butler, but they haven't looked very good at all.

 

[JackBauer]

OFFENSE
Our weaknesses are the lack of a deep passing game and a lack of depth at guard. We still may be the best offense in the nfl. The loss of Moss and the addition of Branch forced the full move toward a dink and dunk offense, with reliance on our tight ends.

Green-Ellis and Woodhead have been playing well enough to win, and arguably as good as any running back duo we've had in awhile. They just need to keep it up.

DEFENSE
DL - This unit looks better every week. We're getting all we hoped for from Warren and Deaderick.

LB - This unit looks better every week. Ninkovich and Cunningham can be counted on! We are even getting contributions from Fletcher and Crable. Mayo and Spikes are an awesome combo. How many tackles did they have?

S - This is a fine unit.

CB - Oh well, every team has a serious weakness; we really miss Bodden. McCourty has had a fine rookie season. Belichick has done his best to get the most he can out of Arrington, Wilhite and Butler, but they haven't looked very good at all.

The answer is 32.

And I dunno, I haven't really noticed much of Wilhite, and that's probably a good thing. He's not a great starter but he seems to acquit himself decently in the nickel.

 

[RayClay]

DEFENSE
DL - This unit looks better every week. We're getting all we hoped for from Warren and Deaderick.

LB - This unit looks better every week. Ninkovich and Cunningham can be counted on! We are even getting contributions from Fletcher and Crable. Mayo and Spikes are an awesome combo. How many tackles did they have?

Very impressed how Deadrick boxed the QB in rather than committing. So smart from a guy obviously giving up speed to a mobile QB. I've resisted it, but maybe he's a late round steal.

Brace? Why is he not playing? Seems like he needs to play to get better, I'm suspicious.

The LBs look better than we could have hoped at this point. Can't remember exactly, but i noted Fletcher making a fine heads up play and Cunningham looks like he might develop the whole package (hope).

CB needs a fix internally or externally.

 

[captain stone]

Another bright spot on offense was the ability to gain the edge on stretch runs,
thanks to the speed of Woody & the blocking of the TEs.

A rough spot on offense, though, was that call on 3rd/2 near the end of regulation.
I think a misdirection run or a draw would've caught the defense, already on its heels, by surprise.
Perhaps then a couple of more runs might've produced a game-winning TD with barely any time remaining.