Neal, Taylor, and Pryor downgraded to out. Panicking now?

[Dufflebagz]

I wonder if any of the "Bench his ass!" crowd would like to reconsider their position at this time...

Nope.
Just because he's benched doesn't mean he can't come on if needed

 

[jmt57]

BTW, since we're having a spirited debate about missing starters... Gostkowski anyone? I think this one could hurt a LOT tomorrow. Here's hoping the operation is running smooth with new LS and Graham.

Yeah, that's something that's really being overlooked. I guess the assumption is that Ingram was off enough this year that anyone else would be at least the same, if not an improvement for both the kicker as well as the punter.

In my opinion the biggest difference between Graham and Gostkowski is not field goals, but kickoffs. He's had a lot of touchbacks and his career KO stats are better than Graham.

On the other hand I seem to recall that it is usually about this time of year that his kickoffs tend to start going a lot shorter during his career - though I would guess a lot of that has to do with the weather getting colder.

 

[102 Pat]

With all the gloom and doom, I could of swore I was in tomorrow night's game thread!

 

[PittPatriot]

Whens the last time this team lost two games in a row?

2006. 678910

Last season. Saints/Dolphins.

Doesn't the loss at Houston and the playoff embarrassment to Baltimore count?

 

[eagle eye]

Well I'm the type that takes any injuries seriously. I don't care about the opposition's injuries just the Patriots.

I don't like the idea of Pryor being missing. I don't like the thought of Fred Taylor missing this one, he is good in the trenches which would have be a huge bonus to have in this game. I am particularly worried though by the loss of Stephen Neal. And Ghost is a big loss too, bigger than people are thinking. The reason Shayne Graham didn't have a job is that he misses kicks when it matters and every field goal attempt tomorrow is huge.

 

[RayClay]

Did someone take the position that injuries are good?

 

[eagle eye]

Did someone take the position that injuries are good?

No but some people pretty much dismissed them as not that important.

 

[jmt57]

Doesn't the loss at Houston and the playoff embarrassment to Baltimore count?

See page 5, post 41.

Also page 6, post 54.

 

[eagle eye]

See page 5, post 41.

Also page 6, post 54.

Jeez you need to go into edit options and move up to 40 posts per page.

 

[Patspsycho]

With all the gloom and doom, I could of swore I was in tomorrow night's game thread!

Epic. Post of the thread.

 

[jmt57]

Jeez you need to go into edit options and move up to 40 posts per page.

I'm assuming the others left it at the default of ten pages based on their comment - if not, they would have never made that comment.

 

[RayClay]

No but some people pretty much dismissed them as not that important.

It's football. I don't want to be a jinx, but those aren't devastating and we'll cover for them.

 

[eagle eye]

It's football. I don't want to be a jinx, but those aren't devastating and we'll cover for them.

I think you are really underestimating the loss of Neal in particular and our kicker in what should be a very close game.

 

[RayClay]

I think you are really underestimating the loss of Neal in particular and our kicker in what should be a very close game.

To be honest, I don't think Neal has been top notch for a while. Through adversity, we've worked a bunch of people at guard and Mankins is better than him these days anyway. I'm sorry, but the guy is injured all the time and could be ready to go out to pasture soon anyway IMO.

Obviously our kicking game will be worse, but some games don't turn on kicking all that much.

EDIT maybe not...


Graham's field goal percentage is better than Gostkowski's.

There's an injury list every week, most team's are worse.

 

[mgcolby]

I think you are really underestimating the loss of Neal in particular and our kicker in what should be a very close game.

Have you seen Jeff Reed kick this year? I'm guessing not given your statement!

I'm not a tin foil hat kind of guy but..I wouldn't be shocked if they are just giving Neal the day off. They have Mankins back etc...

 

[patriotscpfc]

At least Connelly is game ready.

If somehow, Mankins re-signs for future years, the O-Line we see in front of our eyes tonight could be what we see for a few years.

 

[Calciumee]

I did actually wonder if Connelly would be Neal's successor, but any idea what he is like at RG?

 

[stcjones]

Totally agree. Poor Fragile Fred. Only played in 5 out of the last 21 Patriots games. Thats a DNP percentage of 76 percent !

Even sadder, in the 5 games that Fred did play in, he had a total of 166 yards on 43 carries. Thats right. In the last 21 regular season games, Fred has played only 5 times, averaging 33.2 yards in those 5 games, on 3.86 yards per carry.

Now there are some real concrete stats. I think far too many people were hoping for Freddy to come back and magically save our running game....I wish he could...but THAT Fred Taylor that was quick as hell and hit you in the mouth doesn't play for the pats....unfortunately due to turf toe in both feet....his career may be over...good luck Fred and go pats!!!

 

[convertedpatsfan]

To be honest, I don't think Neal has been top notch for a while. Through adversity, we've worked a bunch of people at guard and Mankins is better than him these days anyway. I'm sorry, but the guy is injured all the time and could be ready to go out to pasture soon anyway IMO.

Agreed. I'm glad Neal came back this season because of the Mankins hold-out, but he hasn't been his usual self. Mankins struggled a bit last week, but that was to be expected, and he'll be a huge upgrade in the long run. Connolly proved he could play at this level consistently and can hopefully play the right side.

Taylor, we haven't really gotten used to having him anyways, and we couldn't run on the Steelers with or without him anyways. Pryor would be nice to have, but not the end of the world.

 

[Ring 6]

Yeah, true. My brain equates 'guy typically on the field the most' with starter.


Pryor has missed practices all week if I'm not mistaken, so I wasn't expecting him. And with Taylor just now returning to practice, I wasn't expecting him to play until next week either. Neal is the only surprise. While there may be a dropoff from him to Connolly, I do feel better putting Connolly in now than I did back in August.

Pryor plated 23 snaps.
Brace played 44 wilfork 43 deadrick 29 wright 23 warren 20
Saying a 'starter' is out is using a technical to exaggerate the issue, but consider the source.