Did you all really think all the rookies would not have down games?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I may be considered one of the more pessimistic members of this forum but even I was not surprised that we had a game where rookies were out of place and missed assignments and routes and missed some drop balls,in fact down the line as the season progressed I expected a little more of rookie mistakes because the opposing teams get hungrier and hungrier every week and as the season progresses the games get tougher as each game week after week gets more important.

When rookies are asked to play to perfection sometimes they will have bad games because more and more pressure is placed on their heads,it's a lot of pressure on them and they will make mistakes and maybe cost us a game,it's expected.

Let us go through the baby steps these kids are making and the bad games that may come along...it's all for the better in the end because the true next great players on this team will look back and learn and become a better player.

The bottom line is this,if the team does not lose 2 games in a row (even if they lose at Pitt) they WILL most likely make the playoffs at 10-6 and to me a playoff team with so many youngsters in starting positions is quite a remarkable feat in itself.

 

[WhiZa]

Thanks for creating this. I think we all went from no expectations to high expectations for a team made up mainly of players with less then 3 years experience.

During the offseason if you said Arrington, Nicovich, Woodhead were starting you'd have a lot of fans tell you the Pats were in last place.

 

[I Augustus]

Wild Card Week
Patriots ( 10-6 ) @ San Diego (8-8 ).

 

[Seels]

Tom Brady Sammy Morris Brandon Meriweather James Sanders - Not rookies.

The rookie mistakes hurt, but they're exusable to an extent. Your star quarterback throwing a ball to the feet of a wide open 6'7 TE and your veteran RB going for a ball when the opposing teams player is right in front of him isn't. These are isolated events, but the game was filled with screw ups by veterans and rookies alike. Personally, I want James Sanders off this team like Joey Galloway of this time last year. He provides absolutely nothing, has no upside, and isn't really cheap either.

 

[RayClay]

Good point. I noted that earlier, thinking we'd be barely .500 by now.

^^^ Is there a bridge here, we seem to have a troll.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Tom Brady Sammy Morris Brandon Meriweather James Sanders - Not rookies.

The rookie mistakes hurt, but they're exusable to an extent. Your star quarterback throwing a ball to the feet of a wide open 6'7 TE and your veteran RB going for a ball when the opposing teams player is right in front of him isn't. These are isolated events, but the game was filled with screw ups by veterans and rookies alike. Personally, I want James Sanders off this team like Joey Galloway of this time last year. He provides absolutely nothing, has no upside, and isn't really cheap either.

I really think the injury to McGowan was the primary reason why Sanders was retained..they needed depth and he is it,Page has yet to show much but he is new so he gets a mulligan.

A veteran leader is also why Belichick likes Sanders but I don't really know what Sanders brings to the team in leadership quality skills,only the team knows.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

^^^ Is there a bridge here, we seem to have a troll.

No, but somewhere near Rome, there is a village missing its idiot. . . .

 

[convertedpatsfan]

No, but somewhere near Rome, there is a village missing its idiot. . . .

And if you told me in the pre-season we'd be 6-2 at the halfway mark of the regular season, I'd have taken it, especially after seeing those 8 games included 5 of last year's play-off teams, including 3 division winners, plus 3 divisional games, 2 of which were on the road.

Before the season started, I expected this team to be more up and down. I expected more games like today's. And the team exceeded all of my expectations. And today, they played poorly, and I admit I forgot how far they've come in such a short time.

I don't know if we'll beat Pittsburgh, but I do know BB is going to read them the riot act and make sure they're focused for that game. And I know that the kids will be eager to show they're better than today's performance.

 

[mgteich]

I find it unlikely that the 2nd wildcard will not be one of INDY, TENN, BALT or PITT.

Wild Card Week
Patriots ( 10-6 ) @ San Diego (8-8 ).

 

[mgteich]

I agree with the OP. We are counting on the rooks for alot. Rookies are going to have bad games.

 

[Rob0729]

I said from day one this would be a roller coaster ride with a young team. I mostly thought it would be the defense, but I knew this team would have ups and downs. We just gotta hope that the downs are far fewer than the ups and so far that has been the case.

I am still confident that in a season where there aren't any real elite teams to emerge half way through the season, that the Pats will be in the mix at the end of the season. There really isn't one team right now that you can legitimately say that they are heads and shoulders above the rest. Hence why every team has at least two losses. Usually at this time, there is at least one undefeated team.

 

[Brady_12]

Good point. I noted that earlier, thinking we'd be barely .500 by now.

^^^ Is there a bridge here, we seem to have a troll.

Et tu, Brute?
It's one game. We're not doomed. In fact, we're in pretty good shape (although a win would have been HUGE)

 

[mgteich]

The fact is that we are one of several imperfect teams with a solid chance at the playoffs. One of the top six teams in the AFC won't make it: patriots, jets, steelers, ravens, colts, titans. All of us should be 10-6 or better. One of the teams is likely to be iout of the playoffs on a tie-breaker for the division or for the wildcard.

At this point, there is no reason to believe that we are better or worse than the rest, or that we will have a better or worse record than the rest at the end of the regular season. I think 10-6 or 11-5 are reasonable for this team and for any of these teams. There is a long, long way to go.

Those who think the jets are a lock to win the division should consider than only a missed extra point gave them a victory today against the lions. There are very vulnerable, as are we all.

The good news is that we have 6 wins at the halfway point. GIven the loss of Bodden amd Warren to start the season, 6-2 at this point is a very reasonable position to be in. We all EXPECTED our defense to lose games early. We EXPECTED them the defense to be much better for the playoff run (the last four games). We EXPECTED Welker to take at least half a season to be back at 100%. We didn't coount on a revamped offensive scheme with no downfield threat, but that new offense will also take time to develop.

I will be very happy with 8-4. I will no be greatly distressed with 7-5.

I expect us to be ready for the stretch run and to go 3-1 or 4-0. We shouldn't lose to an NFC team, and we shouldn't lose to bills or phins.

I said from day one this would be a roller coaster ride with a young team. I mostly thought it would be the defense, but I knew this team would have ups and downs. We just gotta hope that the downs are far fewer than the ups and so far that has been the case.

I am still confident that in a season where there aren't any real elite teams to emerge half way through the season, that the Pats will be in the mix at the end of the season. There really isn't one team right now that you can legitimately say that they are heads and shoulders above the rest. Hence why every team has at least two losses. Usually at this time, there is at least one undefeated team.

 

[memento]

A loss should do these rookies good. Especially to the 2 win Browns. Too much success could go to their heads. Every team is dangerous, all it takes is 60 minutes.

 

[RayClay]

Et tu, Brute?
It's one game. We're not doomed. In fact, we're in pretty good shape (although a win would have been HUGE)

Huh? I think you're misreading my post. I said earlier we would struggle with a young defense. The defense has been much more consistent than I thought. I expected to have a worse record than we do now.

Not a doom post at all, more a "damn happy to be 6-2" post. Of course we'll have some let downs.

I did point to the active troll in the post above mine.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I will be very happy with 8-4. I will not be greatly distressed with 7-5.

agreed. Im expecting some more crap performances before the season is over. The youngins are going to make mistakes. Besides, i'd want them to learn from their mistakes NOW, not during the playoffs.

Too bad this forum will be nuts all week

 

[Bella*chick]

Tom Brady Sammy Morris Brandon Meriweather James Sanders - Not rookies.

The rookie mistakes hurt, but they're exusable to an extent. Your star quarterback throwing a ball to the feet of a wide open 6'7 TE and your veteran RB going for a ball when the opposing teams player is right in front of him isn't. These are isolated events, but the game was filled with screw ups by veterans and rookies alike. Personally, I want James Sanders off this team like Joey Galloway of this time last year. He provides absolutely nothing, has no upside, and isn't really cheap either.

Yes, they did and veterans make mistakes too. But there's no denying that Gronk gets a special spotlight for mistakes all to himself. He cost the team big time yesterday and he's a rookie. Yesterday was a huge learning experience for him hopefully.

 

[vyrago]

And if you told me in the pre-season we'd be 6-2 at the halfway mark of the regular season, I'd have taken it, especially after seeing those 8 games included 5 of last year's play-off teams, including 3 division winners, plus 3 divisional games, 2 of which were on the road.

Before the season started, I expected this team to be more up and down. I expected more games like today's. And the team exceeded all of my expectations. And today, they played poorly, and I admit I forgot how far they've come in such a short time.

>>>>I don't know if we'll beat Pittsburgh, <<<<


but I do know BB is going to read them the riot act and make sure they're focused for that game. And I know that the kids will be eager to show they're better than today's performance.

But would you be totally surprised if they beat Pittsburg? I wouldn't and I guess that's the point: we have a Box of chocolates here.

 

[102 Pat]

I think a lot of us are guilty of having high expectations of the rookies after they've performed so well so far. I look at it like this, would you rather these happen in the regular season, or in the playoffs? I would expect BB to read the team the riot act this week and get them focused. This team has a good track record of bouncing back from bad losses.

 

[vyrago]

A loss should do these rookies good. Especially to the 2 win Browns.

>>>Too much success could go to their heads. <<<<

Every team is dangerous, all it takes is 60 minutes.

Maybe it did and yesterday was the result.

PS. I don't know how to change fonts, font size to emphasize stuff, therefore the clunky carets. Could someone help me out here?